Red Dot - 123

Chapter 123

Kugugugung-!

It was the first time I had ever heard the sound of a building collapsing. The vibration was so intense that it felt like it would break even the windows, which normally block out some of the noise, and it made my head throb with pain.

Because of the deep darkness, only those wearing night vision goggles could see the condition of the hospital. Inside the bus, rushing to avoid getting caught up in the chaos, all they could see were large clouds of dust enveloping where the building had been, and zombies rushing toward it like moths to a flame.

Amidst the tremendous reverberation and constant loud noises, the faint groans of the zombies could be heard. Despite the increased noise from the rapidly moving bus, the zombies seemed completely distracted by the collapse of the building and didn’t even notice the bus.

How far had they gone?

The noise that had been hitting their ears and the dust clouds that followed them like zombies gradually faded.

The driver, panting heavily, let out a sigh of relief and began to slow down the bus. It was very quiet around them, most likely because all the nearby zombies had moved toward the collapsed building.

Thanks to that, the group was able to take a break at a public parking lot, now empty except for their vehicle.

“Phew-!”

Someone let out a long exhale, stretching their body. Since they had been crouched down until now, some of them made creaking sounds as they stood up.

Junseong also tried to sit up, but the way Hanseo had gripped his arm so tightly made his back ache as if it might break.

“Ouch… Hey, how the hell is your arm strength so strong? It feels like my back is going to snap.”

As he tapped the still-gripped arm, Hanseo’s low chuckle reached his ears.

“If your back breaks, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

“What the hell are you talking about, you crazy—just let go of my arm already.”

Junseong grumbled quietly so only Hanseo could hear, and Hanseo reluctantly released his grip.

Placing his hand on his sore back and lifting his upper body, a breath came toward his face.

“O-opp… Oppa, where are you?”

The trembling voice belonged to Kang Chaeyi.

She had been curled up in the center of the bus, and now, without night vision goggles, she could only sense where people were. Crawling toward the front of the bus, she extended her hand toward the presence of several people up front, and Junseong grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him.

“I’m here.”

“Oppa!”

Chaeyi, usually as calm as Junseong, was now visibly emotional. She flung her arms around the person who had grabbed her hand and, feeling him pat her back, she was certain it was her brother.

“Oppa… you idiot… I really…”

“Calling me an idiot as soon as we meet? Really?”

“Shut up! You did something dumb… sniff…”

“Alright, alright. It’s all my fault, okay?”

Junseong gave a small smile as he comforted Chaeyi, who must have been through a lot of emotional turmoil.

“Are you hurt?”

“Mm, I’m fine… not hurt at all. What about you… Ah!”

Chaeyi pushed Junseong away from her, grabbing his right hand. She had managed to find the spot where he had been bitten by an infected person on the first day, and with tears in her eyes, she ran her fingers over the faint scar that still remained.

“When I saw you got bitten… sniff… I was so… sob…”

Although he had been bitten by an infected person, the wound had scabbed over and healed well enough to leave a scar, which was proof that he hadn’t been infected. Even without this proof, he had been alive and well until this moment, so it was clear he hadn’t turned into an infected. But for Chaeyi, this was the tangible sign she needed to be sure her brother was alright.

As he gently patted her back and hugged her again to comfort her, a voice called out from above.

“You look like you’ve been through a lot.”

With a teasing tone, Daewook spoke up, and Junseong lazily lifted his eyes.

“Am I the only one who’s been through hell? You’ve been through a lot too, haven’t you?”

“Well, you probably know everything already.”

Daewook grinned at Junseong, who must have already figured out what had happened to his group over the past week and which routes they had taken. Though, in reality, it was so dark that it was hard to see anything.

Daewook, noticing the exhausted expression on Junseong’s face and the driver who was on the verge of collapse, asked:

“Do you know of another place where we could rest safely? We need to talk.”

Junseong, wanting to ask Daewook about the events that had transpired, particularly about the man named Nam Ki-hyuk who had sent people after Chaeyi, was also interested in hearing Daewook’s thoughts on their plans going forward.

To have that conversation, they needed a well-lit and safe space where they could rest comfortably, instead of this dark and uncomfortable bus.

At first, they considered a container office at a construction site, but the electricity there was already nearly depleted. Plus, given the size of the group, it didn’t seem big enough for everyone to rest in comfortably.

While they were thinking about where else they could go, Hanseo spoke up instead.

“Why don’t we go to the motel we stopped at earlier?”

“Motel?”

“It’s probably in the direction of the public parking lot near Inhan Hospital.”

Just as Junseong was about to ask what he meant, he let out an “Ah” sound and looked up at Daewook.

“Hey, let me borrow that for a sec. The night vision goggles or whatever they’re called.”

Daewook happily took off the bulky night vision goggles and handed them over. Junseong took them, quickly placed them near his eyes, and pulled the curtains by the window aside.

The surroundings through the goggles weren’t easy to make out, but it was enough for Junseong to figure out where they were.

He recalled the motel he had stayed at with Hanseo on the first night and lowered the goggles.

It was clear this place was about halfway between that motel and Inhan Hospital. Since he knew the motel hadn’t been overrun by zombies, it was definitely a safe place. Moreover, the group, exhausted from the intense tension, could rest properly on the beds, and there was enough electricity, food, and water for them to use.

Without thinking further, Junseong led the group to the motel he had stayed at with Hanseo.

The state of the motel hadn’t changed much since the first day. There was no sign that anyone else had entered, and the entrance was closed, so it seemed like no zombies had come in either.

At the counter, they picked an available room, and the group divided into pairs to rest. Junseong and Hanseo decided to use the suite they had stayed in before as a meeting room since it seemed the most suitable for gathering together and talking. Do Hanseo seemed unhappy about using the suite’s bedroom, but didn’t protest.

In the suite’s living room, Junseong, Chaeyi, and Daewook sat together.

But that didn’t last long.

Chaeyi, looking upset, grabbed Junseong’s arm and pulled him into a vacant room.

Daewook and Hanseo were left alone in the living room, looking at each other.

Daewook scratched the back of his head as he watched Junseong and Chaeyi disappear into the room. It seemed like they needed some time alone after finally meeting up again, so he decided not to interrupt.

Turning his attention to Hanseo, who was sitting on the couch as comfortably as if he were at home, Daewook spoke up.

“Are you friends with Junseong?”

“Yeah.”

Hanseo’s response was short, and his face showed no emotion. The smile that had been on his face when Junseong was around had completely disappeared.

“Then you must be friends with me too. I’ll drop the formalities.”

Daewook smiled kindly at Hanseo, sitting across from him.

However, Hanseo gave him a small, almost mocking smile.

“I have no intention of being friends with you.”

Hanseo’s cold words made Daewook’s smile falter for a moment.

‘Looks like it’s not just my imagination.’

Since the first time Daewook had met Hanseo in the darkness, he had felt an unexplainable animosity coming from him. He had brushed it off as a feeling, but it had only grown stronger since then.

The cold aura emanating from the fair-skinned, handsome stranger was filled with hostility.

Suspicion, wariness, discomfort, animosity, and even murderous intent.

For Daewook, those were unsettling emotions.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

He and Hanseo had only met about an hour ago. There hadn’t been enough time for such emotions to build up, and considering Daewook had helped rescue Junseong’s group, he felt Hanseo should show at least some appreciation.

Thinking about it made Daewook more curious than frustrated.

Daewook liked to get along with others without causing conflict. He had a friendly personality and believed that making more allies was more helpful than making enemies.

Especially in a time like this, when survival depended on sticking together with other survivors.

“You’ll become friends eventually as you spend more time together.”

“That won’t happen, so don’t worry about it. Just stop bothering me.”

But Hanseo, sitting in front of him, seemed to have absolutely no intention of becoming friends. His cold atmosphere and icy gaze created an invisible, impenetrable wall.

“Do you not like me or something?”

Daewook asked, and Hanseo’s lips curved into a small, sharp smile.

“Yeah.”

The brief answer was followed by a voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

“I want to rip you apart and kill you.”