Code Apokalypto

01

"Dad, w-what's happening? Where are we going?" Jennie frantically asked her father as they drove past the city now filled with chaos. The two of them were on top of the hill where the city can be seen. Loud car horns can be heard and black smoke can be seen coming out from the buildings.

Her father was all focused on the road, barely even answering his daughter's question. "You should not trust the government, honey." That was the first thing he said during the drive, adding to Jennie's confusion. "For now, just focus on yourself."

"Dad, what about Jisoo? I know Chae and Yeol are at the vacation house right now. But I left Jisoo and we need to go back and Chae is waiting for us-"

"I SAID TO JUST FOCUS ON YOURSELF! IT IS HAPPENING AND THE PERSON YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IS YOURSELF. THAT'S HOW YOU WILL SURVIVE." 

Jennie was taken aback by her father's sudden action. She felt hot tears forming in her eyes, making her vision blurry. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! I ONLY WANT TO SAVE MY FRIEND!" She screamed as she was having enough of her father not telling her anything about what is currently happening.

"THE APOCALYPSE! THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!"

  - 

*3 days after the apocalypse outbreak*

The Survivors walk past the apartments on the highway. They were careful on each of their steps, not wanting to attract the zombies as they pass by. Jennie is wearing her favorite gray hoodie jacket that has 'Unicorns & Rainbows' printed on it and ripped denim jeans, paired with her white Adidas shoes. Her hair was up in a ponytail. She has a blood-stained ax in her hands.

Jisoo is walking beside Jennie wearing her leopard crop top, black pants, and a pair of old Vans shoes. Her hair was messy, but that's the least of her concern right now. She tightly grips her weapon on her right hand which is a bloody stainless steel round tube. Jisoo reaches out for Jennie's hand as she got frightened by the now silent streets. Jennie notices her friend's hand, taking it with her right hand and flashing Jisoo a warm yet shaky smile. She, too, was afraid of what might happen to them.

"Stay on high alert," Junmyeon whispers enough for them to hear. He was wearing a white t-shirt topped with his green and white varsity jacket. His light-colored jeans were stained with zombie's blood, so as his black school shoes. He was leading the way since he's the only one who knows the way to the convenience store. He held his thick alloy steel baseball bat tightly, ready to attack zombies who dare to come in their way.

"Roger, that, Sir," Jongdae whispers back with a small smirk on his face. He had the same weapon as Junmyeon since they were on the same baseball team before the apocalypse started. He wore a white loose t-shirt under his team varsity jacket and black ripped jeans and black Highlander shoes. Jongdae is more excited than being scared of zombies, unlike Junmyeon, Jennie, and Jisoo. 

As they reach the convenience store, Jongdae was ready to kick the glass door open, but Junmyeon stopped him. "We don't want to risk our lives here by creating a loud noise." The vice-captain of the baseball team scolds as he pulls out a bunch of keys from his pocket. Jongdae's eyes went wide upon seeing the keys. He steps aside and lets Junmyeon manage to open the door. "Sorry, Vice Cap, I almost forgot," He bows at Junmyeon as an apology, and the vice-captain shrugs it off.

"Junmyeon, what is that?" Jennie asks in a low voice as she inspects the keys that Junmyeon was holding. "Where did you get that?"

Junmyeon smiles at them proudly, "My family owns this shop. I accidentally brought the keys with me the day before shit happens." He explains, inserting the key into the lock and twisting it open. "There you go." He pushes the door open and a faint smell of the air fragrance greets them as they went inside the shop. The room was a bit dark inside as Junmyeon closes the door and locking it. 

The four of them looked around the room while holding their weapons up as if ready to attack. "We go split into two," Jennie said after inspecting the area. "Jisoo will stick with Junmyeon and Jongdae will come with me. This place is a bit huge and there might be zombies lurking around. Guards up, stay alert, and be safe."

"But-" Jongdae tries to complain but Junmyeon elbows his shoulder, stopping him.

"Sure thing, Jennie." Junmyeon nods then smiles at Jisoo. "Let's go?"

Soon enough, the four of them roam the store. Jongdae let out a sigh as he follows Jennie from behind. "For how long are we gonna be like this?" He picks up a bag of potato chips from the aisle and tears it open.

"As long as we don't see any signs of zombies here," Jennie said in a monotone voice, annoyed that Jongdae is not cooperating with her. "Will you set that chips down?"

"Oh, come on, Jennie," Jongdae whines. "I haven't eaten since yesterday and beating up that zombie then covering our clothes with its blood starves me."

"You are hungry because of a rotten creature?"

"No," Jongdae defends himself. "It's not like that." He groans, stuffing his mouth with chips and devouring it.

"Coast is clear!" They heard Junmyeon shouts from the other side of the store. 

"We should get going," Jennie tells Jongdae which he happily agrees.

The four of them met at the cashier area. Jisoo is now leaning her hips on the counter and munching on a piece of cold sandwich. Upon seeing her best friend, Jisoo offers her sandwich to Jennie but the latter smiles and shakes her head. "Where's Junmyeon anyway?" Jennie asks as she notices that the vice-captain was nowhere to be seen.

"Storage room. He told me he's going to turn on the lights." Jisoo answers with her mouth full of sandwiches. As if on cue, the lights went to life, illuminating the whole store. Then they saw Junmyeon emerging out of the storage room smiling. "Hey, guys. Check what I've found." He gestures for the three to come and they curiously obliged. 

"Good thing the electricity isn't out yet," Junmyeon says as he went inside and grabs a pile of thin commercial plywoods. The storage room is filled with large size dusty cardboard boxes as they went inside. There are also large cans of paint lying beside the wall. "We should cover the windows with these so that the zombies won't find us." He says, referring to the plywoods in hand. "And there are also empty cardboards that we can use if we run out of plywood."

"Or we can use paint to cover up the entire glass window," Jennie suggests, picking up two large paint cans with ease. She looked at the bewildered faces of her small group. "Hurry up, we still had work to do, or else the walkers will come and eat us. Considering it's already getting dark outside, you might as well turn off the lights before we do the task." She left the three inside, still processing what Jennie had said.

"Is she always that bossy?" Jongdae asks Jisoo, who then shakes her head as her answer.

"Maybe because we're here together with her," Junmyeon states, giving the stack of plywood to Jongdae and picking up the unused cardboards from the shelf. "Jongdae, you were grouped with Jennie and Lisa Manoban last year during your Chemistry project and research. You of all people should know why Jennie is acting like that around us."

"Maybe you're right," Jongdae agrees, sighing as he made his way out of the storage room. "I sided with Lisa back when she called Jennie a 'Lazy Ass' and 'Sleeping Beauty with failing grades'. I mean, all of the class sided with Lisa that time. It's just...Jennie is a real pain in the ass and is hella lazy."

"Jennie has her reasons why she's like that, though." Jisoo coughs, defending her best friend. "But nice observation, Junmyeon." She praises as she pats the vice-captain's shoulder. "Though, that's not the main reason why her mood is off."

"May we know the reason?" Jongdae inquires.

"It's the fact that Loey, her cousin, is on their vacation house together with Chaeyoung, Jennie's-"

"Are you guys done chatting there?" Jennie's voice boom behind them, catching the three in surprise. "Jennie!" Jisoo smiles at Jennie, who's currently standing at the door frame with her arms crossed against her chest. "How long have you been there?"

"Just now," The cat-like-eyed girl answers them with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I've been waiting for you guys. Now, turn off the lights. We still had work to do."

But the truth is, Jennie heard everything.