Chapter 6: Fading Calm

Ji-hoon, grappling with the gravity of the situation, contemplates the implications of So Mi's bite. As he pieces together the events and the man's ominous words, the unsettling realization dawns upon him – So Mi might have been infected.

Although he wasn't sure if the man was an infected based off everything that was said, he couldn't think of any other reason why what happened could have occurred.

As if to confirm the severity of the situation the abrupt sound of the Emergency Alert System echoed through the city, sending a chill down their spines.

Simultaneously, their phones emitted a collective beep, displaying the same urgent message: "As of February 3, 2020, at 5:04 pm, a state of emergency has been declared. An infection has begun to spread around the city, and to control its spread, it is advisable to remain in your houses. As of right now, the only confirmed symptom for the infected is mindless aggressive behavior.

The infection is believed to be transmitted by a bite or scratch from an infected individual. We strongly advise you to remain cautious and to avoid contact with infected individuals.

Please take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you."

As the gravity of the situation sank in, Ji-hoon and the others exchanged worried glances. The confirmation of an infection spreading through the city heightened their sense of urgency. The clear instructions to stay indoors and the explicit mention of the infected displaying mindless aggressive behavior aligned with the events they had witnessed earlier.

Ji-hoon contemplated the implications of the message, realizing that So Mi's bite might indeed be a cause for serious concern. The collective tension in the room increased, and Soo Won voiced the shared sentiment, "We need to do something. So Mi might be infected."

The urgency in Soo Won words resonated with everyone. Ji-hoon pondered the available options, considering the severity of the situation. The declaration of a state of emergency marked a turning point, and they understood the need to act decisively to ensure their safety.

Ji-hoon took the lead in strategizing, "We can't take any chances. We need to isolate So Mi in one of the rooms. We can wait and observe, if her symptoms worsen, then we'll have to reassess."

Everyone seemed to agree with the plan including So Mi, it was agreed that she'll be isolated in a room in her unit for a day and if nothing happens during that time they'll free her.

Amidst discussions about isolating So Mi and convening an emergency meeting, Ji-hoon's thoughts took a more somber turn. Reflecting on the events from earlier in the day, he realized a potentially more serious problem.

"I just realized something," Ji-hoon interjected, his expression grave. "Those who stepped up earlier to stop the zombie, they might have gotten scratched or bitten. I hadn't thought much of it at the time, but if that man who attacked So Mi was infected, that's likely how he got it."

The weight of the potential threat loomed over them as everyone grasped the severity of the situation.

"Ji-hoon, are you sure about this?" So Mi couldn't help but ask, her eyes reflecting concern.

Ji-hoon sighed, "I can't be sure, but we can't afford to take that risk."

Soo Won, contemplating the best course of action, suggested, "Perhaps we should hold an emergency meeting. We can say its to discuss the State of Emergency that was announced and how to move on from here on. This way, we can address the situation without causing unnecessary panic."

With a collective agreement on the plan, they decided to seek the Landlady's assistance in spreading the word about the upcoming emergency meeting.

With their immediate safety dealt with, they had to discuss their food and water next. Based off what they knew of the situation, they couldn't make an approximate estimate of when things will go back to normal so they had to plan accordingly on how to share the food they currently had.

As they deliberated on their food and water situation, Ji-hoon suggested making an inventory of their current supplies to better understand how long they could sustain themselves. Since they all each had separate units apart from Soo Won. They decided to separate and meet back in Ji-hoon's unit after an hour.

Acknowledging the urgency of So Mi's situation, they decided to prioritize isolating her before conducting the inventory. Soo Won volunteered to handle the isolation process and also take inventory of So Mi's unit since she was the only one that wasn't from the apartment.

An hour passed in a flurry of activity. Soo Won efficiently handled the isolation of So Mi, ensuring she was secure and away from potential contact and taking inventory of her unit.The rest of the group also worked swiftly to take inventory of available supplies in each unit.

Upon reconvening, Min-ji shared the combined results for their collective inventories "Well, we have a mix of canned goods, instant noodles, and some packaged snacks. It's not a lot, but it should last us a few days. Water seems sufficient for now, but we might need to consider a more sustainable source soon."

Ji-hoon considered the information. "Alright, it's a start. We'll have to be resourceful and maybe ration our supplies until we figure out a more sustainable plan."

Deciding the next course of action was to meet the landlady to plan the meeting, they left Min-jae to keep an eye on So Mi, while Ji-hoon, Soo Won, and Min-ji headed to the landlady's unit. The landlady, a kind-hearted and resourceful woman named Miss. Kim, greeted them warmly.

She was a woman around 40 years of age with a comforting demeanour that reassured the anxious group. Explaining the situation, Ji-hoon proposed the idea of an emergency meeting. Miss. Kim listened attentively and, after a moment of consideration, nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's a challenging time, and we need to support each other. Let's have the meeting tomorrow morning. I'll help inform everyone."

With the landlady on board, the group felt a sense of relief. With the meeting set up, they could now confirm if anyone else was infected in the apartment and how many they were. It really seemed like everything was going according to plan. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.