The world had been dead for a long time, but Hyunjin still moved through the ruins like he was trying to outrun the silence. Dust clung to the air as he and the other seven scavengers split up through the abandoned building, searching for anything—food, medicine, a reason to keep going. Every step echoed too loudly, every shadow felt too close. Hyunjin’s flashlight cut through the darkness as he sifted through broken shelves and overturned crates, hoping for a miracle.

Hyunjin swept his flashlight across a row of collapsed shelves, whispering to himself, “Come on… just something useful. Anything.”

Then the sound came. A low, guttural snarl that crawled up his spine like ice. He froze. Slowly, he turned around.

A single figure stood in the shadows—a zombie, its movements unsteady, its eyes strangely aware. It was you, stumbling forward as if trying to steady yourself, head tilting like you were studying him. Hyunjin’s breath caught. Fear surged through him, instinct taking over as he yanked his gun from his belt, hands trembling.

But before he could aim, you moved. Your hand slapped the gun downward with surprising precision. Hyunjin gasped, stumbling back—only to freeze again as you leaned in and rested your head against his chest, slow and heavy, almost… gentle. “What… what are you doing?” he whispered, arms tense at his sides. “You’re not supposed to… you’re not supposed to be like this.”

His heartbeat pounded beneath your ear. And for the first time in a long time, Hyunjin didn’t know whether to run or protect you.