× Classroom ×
The class sit rapt as Taehyung finishes the story of his first mission in the HVF. It hasn’t been easy to re-live this tale. Also he’s aware of Boo Seungkwan and the other PDS students in the class.
"...That was my first mission."
"Any other questions for our war
hero?", asks the professor.
‘War hero’. That sounds... nice.
"How many rabids did you shoot?", asks Jihoon.
The classroom descends into shocked chatter, not helped by Mingyu miming machine-gunning down Seungkwan, Jeonghan and Seungcheol.
"Alright, cut it out.", says Mr. Overton.
The bell goes. The pupils clamour to leave the classroom.
"Show and tell tomorrow, bring in
your objects from the Rising. No
weapons please, Jihoon."
Jihoon makes a face. Taehyung starts packing up his stuff. Jihoon, Mingyu (smiling, friendly) and Hansol (a tight smile) approach.
"Hey, that was cool as shit.", says Mingyu.
"Oh, thanks."
"This is Jihoon and Hansol. I’m Mingyu."
"Hi, I’m Taehyung."
"Wanna hang out with us at lunch?"
"I, yeah sure, I guess."
× Park House ×
Jae and Yon are at the table. Jae, back from work for his lunch, is trying to eat, he gives up.
"Jimin's gonna be alright. It’s good for him to go somewhere new."
"He said he’d call when he got to
the airport, didn’t he?"
"He said he’d call when he landed, love."
The doorbell goes. Yon gets up.
She opens the door and is surprised to see Jimin standing on the doorstep, miserable as hell.
× Cafeteria ×
Taehyung is on the ‘cool kids’ lunch table with Jihoon, Mingyu and a still distant Hansol. Other hip school students are crowded around. Taehyung is the centre of attention. For him it’s nourishing to be noticed after all this time alone, he could
get very used to being known as ‘the bad ass heroic war vet’.
At present Taehyung is teaching Jihoon how to hold a handgun properly.
"Hold the base with your other hand."
Jihoon holds the base of the imaginary pistol.
"Pull back the hammer."
Jihoon does.
"Aim and fire."
Jihoon aims his finger gun at the PDS Student table and “fires”.
"Did you almost ever get bit, Tae?", asks Mingyu.
"Few times."
"Awesome. Tell us.", says Jihoon.
"Well, once I was on a supply mission. Only a few bullets left and this - this PDS Sufferer -"
"You can use the R word, you know.", says Mingyu.
"Yeah, don’t have to be scared.", adds Jihoon.
Taehyung is not scared. He’s a HVF fighter, he’s the opposite. He’s warming up to playing that persona.
"This rabid -"
"You mean rotter.", corrects Mingyu.
"..it comes out of nowhere, its
teeth snapping at me neck. I’m
like, fucking shit, I’m a-gonna.
I’ve got one bullet left. I can’t
miss. I cock the hammer, close my
eyes and fire. And its fucking
head explodes."
"You are so bad ass!", says Mingyu.
Jihoon, excited, “stabs” Mingyu in the head.
"Where was this?", asks Hansol.
"Roarton."
"No, where in Roarton?"
"Save‘n’Shop.", answers Taehyung
This resonates with Hansol. He stares at Jem. Something has clicked in his head.
Seungkwan appears.
"Uh, Taehyung."
Everyone looks up at Seungkwan.
"I was wondering if you had a
partner for the show and tell tomorrow, cause if you don’t -"
"Taehyung was just telling us all the heroic stuff he did during The Rising. What were you doing during The Rising, Seungkwan?", harshly says Mingyu.
Seungkwan looks down ashamed.
"I don’t have a show and tell partner yet and I was thinking...", says Seungkwan to Taehyung.
"I’m Tae's partner.", says Hansol.
"Really?", asks Seungkwan.
"Yeah. That’s right, isn’t it, Tae?"
"Yeah, okay.", says Taehyung.
"Oh right.", says sadly Seungkwan.
"Bye then.", says Mingyu.
Seungkwan nods and walks away, disappointed. Taehyung flashes him an apologetic smile.
"You know that walking corpse?", asks Mingyu.
"He was in my year. Before The
Rising.", says Taehyung.
"Were you guys mates?"
Taehyung can’t help blushing.
"Oh my god, you were boning!", says Mingyu, overly dramatically breathing.
"No! We were fourteen! He just - we just -"
"Boned.", says Mingyu.
"We kissed at the school disco-", tries to say Taehyung.
"Then boned."
Taehyung laughs.
"He was a sweet guy."
Jihoon does an impression of a zombie and comes stumbling towards Taehyung, lips puckered.
"Need...To...Bone...Tae."
Taehyung shrieks / laughs.
Seungkwan is watching all this from the PDS table. He looks depressed.
"To hell with the Living, mate.", says Seungcheol, he makes the ULA fist, "Undead and Proud."
"Yeah, suppose.", says Seungkwan.
"Soon they’re gonna be on their
knees..."
"Here we go.", sighs Jeonghan
"Once second rising happens, it’s
the final countdown for these pulse beaters."
"Been watching too many Undead
Prophet videos, Coups.", says Jeonghan.
"Gotta be careful, man, they find
out you’ve been on that website and they’ll be carting you back to
Norfolk.", warns Seungkwan.
"They might be carting my back
anyway."
Seungcheol goes into his bag and covertly, boastfully shows them a blue oblivion bottle filled with blue pills.
"No way! You got’em!", whispers Jeonghan.
"What are you gonna do with them?", asks Seungkwan.
"Scare this place half to death."
YOU ARE READING
In The Flesh | Yoonmin
FanfictionFour years after the Rising, the government starts to rehabilitate the Undead for reentry into society, including teenager Park Jimin, who returns to his small Lancashire village to face a hostile reception, as well as his own demons. (I do not own...
