Red Dot - 47

He swung the machete down on the back of the zombie whose attention was elsewhere. With a sound resembling the splitting of wood, the zombie’s body twitched as if struck by lightning.

After kicking his machete out from the zombie’s back, Junseong swiftly swung it horizontally, as if cutting the zombie’s neck. Even if it went shallow, it inflicted enough damage; the zombie fell, and the machete effortlessly pulled out without the need for a kick.

Kyaah!

A zombie noticed Junseong and, with both hands extended as if to strangle him, opened its mouth wide. Just as the bloody teeth, ready to bite into Junseong’s arm, were about to do so…

Right before the bite.

The zombie’s body twitched. With its mouth wide open, it couldn’t bite down, and it shook its head with a trembling mouth.

Afraid of an actual bite, Junseong quickly wiped away the chest that had momentarily hesitated and pushed the zombie’s face away with his elbow. Then, he swung the machete, beheading it.

The zombie’s body collapsed weakly.

Junseong looked down at the fallen zombie, breathing heavily. Every breath he took sent a sharp pain throughout his body.

‘Hanseo, you really…’

Thinking of Hanseo’s absent face, he fiercely struck the head of another nearby zombie with his machete. Even in doing so, only Hanseo’s calm face floated in his mind.

An hour before going to rescue Seo Changmin.

“Junseong, come here for a moment.”

Hanseo called Junseong from the nurse’s room as he packed his belongings. When he went as called, a blue basket was placed on the glass table in the center of the nurse’s room.

Thinking that perhaps Hanseo had found some useful supplies, he checked the contents.

There were five vials with bright red blood in them, a yellow rubber band used to tie arms, alcohol swabs from the silver container typically used in hospitals, and even tweezers.

It looked so convincingly real, as if a nurse had been here.

“What’s this?”

“My blood.”

“What?”

Junseong understood that there was blood in the vials. However, being unfamiliar with the medical field, even the term ‘blood collection’ was so professional to him. It was doubtful how Hanseo, who had no nursing experience, managed to collect it, not to mention storing it in vials in such a professional manner.

“Did someone collect your blood?”

“I did it. I know how to collect blood by myself.”

More questions arose in Junseong’s mind.

Even if it were related to the medical field, it was quite strange for a guy from the Kendo Department to know how to collect blood alone. Moreover, he didn’t just draw the blood and leave it with a syringe; he neatly stored it in vials.

“Sit here.”

Hanseo removed the chair beside him and picked up a disposable syringe and the yellow rubber band. He rolled up Junseong’s left sleeve up to his elbow and skillfully wrapped the rubber band around it.

‘How does he even know how to tie it…’

Rather than tying a knot carelessly, he did it almost exactly like a nurse would when drawing blood.

Amazed, Junseong watched as Hanseo inserted the needle of the syringe into the lid of the vial. Watching the blood fill the syringe, Junseong was genuinely surprised.

“Are you going to put it in me?”

“Yeah. It might sting a bit.”

“Whether it stings or not…”

Hanseo raised Junseong’s exposed arm towards him and, with a skilled touch, wiped the inside of his elbow with a strong-smelling alcohol swab.

Startled by the cold and ticklish sensation, Junseong quickly pulled his arm away.

“Wait a moment, hold on. You need to explain first.”

“Well, I’m not good at explaining.”

Junseong, pondering on what Hanseo should explain first, asked a series of questions.

“Where did you get all this? From the 5th floor?”

“The blood collection room is on the 2nd floor. I’ve been here often since I was a kid, so I know my way around. I went there and got it myself.”

It was the first time Junseong heard that Hanseo had frequented the hospital. Moreover, the fact that he had been coming and going to the hospital often raised concerns, given the likelihood of something being wrong.

“Where… are you in pain?”

“I have occasional anemia.”

Only the skin color is a bit pale; otherwise, he seems perfectly healthy. Anemia seems quite out of place for him.

With a face expressing both concern and curiosity, Junseong was shown the syringe by Hanseo.

“I want to put this down quickly. Can I answer while I do it?”

“Do you know my blood type?”

“How would I know? But I can receive a transfusion from anyone.”

“What if I’m RH-?”

“RH-?”

“No.”

“Okay, then.”

Usually, if blood types are different, transfusion is not possible. However, if Hanseo is O type, the story changes. O type can donate to anyone, regardless of their blood type—A, B, AB—except for some peculiar blood types like RH-.

Now relieved, Junseong couldn’t help but wonder if there’s any significance in doing this, like giving some kind of stabilizer or a cold shot, rather than a formal transfusion.

And honestly, it’s a bit… scary.

It’s not so much the needle that scares him, but the fact that Hanseo is holding the syringe is oddly unsettling.

‘But still better than a jackknife.’

Thinking of the jackknife that Hanseo used, Junseong secretly nodded his head.

In the end, Junseong reluctantly placed his arm on the uneasy makeshift table.

Hanseo, holding the syringe, penetrated the needle’s end into the thin vein hidden beneath Junseong’s fair skin.

Perhaps because it’s not a thick needle used for blood collection, it stung only a little.

Junseong tensed as he watched Hanseo’s blood entering his veins.

‘Is it really okay?’

Perhaps sensing Junseong’s tension, Hanseo casually spoke as he slowly injected the blood.

“The veins are visible because your skin is so pale. Luckily. I was a bit nervous because it’s my first time giving someone a shot.”

“What? The first time?”

Despite that claim, he’s doing it so well. Almost trustworthy enough to believe he’s a nurse.

As the needle, filled with all the blood, was pulled out, the alcohol swab wiped over it and fell off immediately. Although there was a bit of stinging and a tingling sensation, it wasn’t painful enough to be overly concerned.

Junseong watched Hanseo untie the rubber band from his arm and asked, looking at him.

“Doesn’t this violate any medical laws?”

“Why would it? The world is in chaos.”

With a smirk, Hanseo disposed of the syringe and alcohol swab in the trash bin and stood up.

“Let’s go straight to the experiment.”

“What experiment?”

Held by Hanseo, Junseong descended to the lower floor.

The destination was the 4th floor.

The red letters on the door, someone had written [Zombies Present], suddenly sent shivers down their spines.

“Stay close to me.”

Even without saying it, Junseong knew he should, so he stuck closely behind Hanseo.

The door connected to the emergency staircase on the 4th floor swung open.

Hanseo illuminated the entire 4th floor with the flashlight he brought.

Creak!

Click!

Thanks to the flashlight, the 4th floor, now brightly lit, had so many zombies that Junseong almost took a step back. It would be appropriate to say that it was so crowded that it was impossible to count them.

The zombies, locked in the darkness, turned their attention towards Hanseo and Junseong as the light chased away the darkness.

Growl! Clack!

Kya, Kyakang!

The zombies, initially sluggish, gradually approached Hanseo and Junseong with increasing speed. Although their ferocity and overwhelming speed upon discovering a human were considerably softened, Junseong thought it was all thanks to the vaccine that Hanseo had.

Junseong watched them, thinking that if things got tough, he might have to tightly embrace Hanseo from behind.

“Just stay still.”

Leaving those words, Hanseo quickly distanced himself.

Momentarily surprised by the unexpected action.

Junseong held his breath as he watched the zombies rush towards him from all sides.

Kyaah!

Kya-!

The zombies, having discovered their prey, emitted fierce cries.

At this rate, they would be overwhelmed.

However, contrary to Junseong’s expectations, he was not bitten anywhere.

‘What happened? Why…’

With wide-open eyes, Junseong, who had frozen, had to furrow his brow against the flashlight beam suddenly pointing at his face.

“Our Junseong is quite tough. Doesn’t even close his eyes.”

Hanseo’s calm voice was heard. He was incredibly relaxed, as if he considered the zombies nearby as nothing more than irrelevant sculptures.

Junseong, belatedly exhaling the held breath, breathed heavily. He needed to figure out what had happened, but he was too shocked for his head to spin.

Junseong looked at the zombies, who had stopped abruptly and were now facing him, with their heads raised and their faces lit by the flashlight.

The intense smell and the stiff stench of blood from the zombies at such close range enveloped Junseong. The rough touch of their hands grabbing his arms and clothes was also distinctly felt.

Surrounded by about ten zombies, Junseong could see that they were crowded around him without any gaps, pushing their stiff heads against him, then pulling back as if disappointed.