Trigger ↬ [ P.JS ]

Chapter 4:

"Well, I am sure of one thing. That is, to protect Hwayoung and Hayoon,"

"Oh goodness gracious. I can't believe this shit is actually happening. Can someone pinch me to make sure this isn't a dream?" Rina fell dramatically on the sofa, grasping her head.

Gray shrugged and went to the girl, raising her hand and swiftly slapping her right cheek.

"Oh, okay. This isn't a dream. Thanks, Gray," Rina rubbed her reddened cheeks and sighed.

Astrid just watched in amusement as the two had the conversation. She suddenly remembered the kids, turning to the flight of stairs and sprinting to their room.

"Woah wait- where are you going?"

She continued to run. Arriving at the kids' room, she turned the brass knob and sighed in relief as she saw the siblings sleeping soundly.

"Aw.. They must've been tired," Astrid heard Rina from behind her.

She didn't say anything, only to step into the room quietly, heading to the bathroom. She took slow agonizing steps, flashes of unwanted memories - it wasn't going to end.

Turning the door knob as slow as she can, she finally entered. Her face was blank but inside, her body was shaking in terror. Looking around the tiled space, careful as she didn't want to be turned, she examined the area.

Seeing the familiar red liquid, she halted in her steps, taking a sharp inhale. Slowly trailing her eyes to the liquid, stopping at the view of the shower tub.

With hesitation, she opened the curtain with a swift, to only gasp at what's been revealed.

A dead zombie. Flies covered the creature, an unbearable stink came from it. It's skin was a dark green hue, almost matching the leaves outside.

Astrid covered her mouth, afraid that she'll throw up. She observed the body more -eyes stopping at the neck of the zombie. There's the bite mark. It was bitten there, then it bit Somi.

She felt her spine tingle at the thought. Closing the shower curtain, she hurriedly stepped outside the bathroom for fresh air.

"Do our parents know about this?" Gray slumped to the fluffy carpet the room had.

Rina shook her head. "No way. They couldn't hear the news since they're on a plane and they traveled a week before the news was announced,"

"Wait, should I try and call mom?" Astrid asked to particularly no one as she held her phone.

Rina nodded, and that was Astrid's signal to dial her mother.

"Mom..?"

"Astrid," Lia said with a shaky breath, obviously worried for her daughter. The younger took this a a notice that she'd already heard the news. Biting her lip again, she felt somehow relieved to know that her mom was safe.

"Baby, I'm so worried. Are you okay? Where are you right now?" her mom asked, Astrid looked to her friends, locking eyes with Gray.

"I'm at the Park's."

"Why... are you at their house?" Lia sounded confused, she remembered saying that she'll start tomorrow rather than today.

"Mom, long story, - but I am safe. I'm with Rina and Gray, we're going to protect the kids, no matter what,"

"Oh, Astrid. Please take care of yourself okay? I can't afford to lose you. There's not that much cases here in South Korea, we're trying to be safe. Please update me everyday okay? I'm so sorry I had to be away. I promise to take care of myself, you should too,"

"I love you," Astrid whispered before hanging up. She couldn't make the promise as she knows for herself that she'll put Hwayoung and Hayoon first, Rina and Gray, her as the last.

Massaging her temples, she huffed out air and faced her bestfriends.

"I'm literally so overwhelmed right now, it's not funny." Gray stated, letting the girls know about her underlying stress.

"We need to make a plan. We're lucky since the kids are sleeping, so we could talk peacefully." Astrid sat with the two, her brain working as hard as it could.

"We have enough supply to survive for the whole month if electricity won't get c-"

Suddenly, darkness filled their vision, all the lights have turned off and the acs did too. Astrid sighed, more stressed than she was before.

"-ut." Rina finished saying.

"I hate myself," she whispered, faking a loud cry.

"Great! Now what?"