10. Comfort

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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As the half-hour mark approached, Su-hyeok and the group began to wake Jin-soo and the others, gently shaking them from their light slumber. Jin-soo rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as he joined the others in preparing for their turn to stand guard.

Approaching I-sak, who had stood up for him earlier, Jin-soo offered his thanks. I-sak smiled warmly in response, dismissing Jin-soo's gratitude with a shake of her head. "No need for thanks," she said softly, her expression earnest. "We all owe you for what you did back there. You saved us, Jin-soo."

Jin-soo nodded, appreciating the sentiment, before whispering to I-sak with a playful grin. "That slap you gave Na-yeon earlier must have felt satisfying, huh?"

A smirk played on I-sak's lips as she nodded in agreement, opting to let the gesture speak for itself.

Just then, Nam-ra approached, her gaze flickering between Jin-soo and I-sak. "How's the fever? You don't seem as pale as before," she remarked.

Jin-soo shrugged,"I'm fine now. I have a good physique afterall," he replied, with confidence in his tone.

Nam-ra observed Jin-soo from top to bottom and a small smile appeared on her face.

"What?" Jin-soo was puzzled.

"Nothing," Nam-ra shook her head as the smile disappeared from her face and she excused herself.

"What's with her?" Jin-soo asked I-sak.

"You don't look like you have a good physique," I-sak remarked without any hesitation as she looked at Jin-soo's thin arms.

'Oh yeah,' Jin-soo remembered that this was not his body. The physique he was talking about actually was his past life's physique.

"I can still fight though," Jin-soo quickly retorted.

"Well I am not complaining," I-sak smirked and went back to guarding the doors after patting Jin-soo's shoulder.

As the minutes ticked by, Gyeong-su's voice cut through the quiet, signaling the end of their watch.

"Time's up. Let's wake everyone," Gyeong-su announced, which was followed by waking everyone up.

After waking everyone up, Jin-soo asked a question that had been bugging him,"Does anyone have any idea how all this started?"

On-jo sighed, her expression grave. "In the morning, Hyeon-jo was in a similar condition to those zombies," she explained, her voice tinged with unease. "Her face was bloodied, and by the time we took her to the nurse, her eyes had started to turn red. Maybe she but someone in the nurse's cabin, which could be a probable reason as to how the infection spread. After that she was rushed to the hospital. Maybe the infection spread there too, which would explain why the police aren't responding."

"So that means we might not be the only one who are in trouble," Cheong-san added.

The revelation hung heavy in the air, the group exchanging concerned glances as they contemplated the gravity of their situation.

As the group contemplated their dire circumstances, Joon-yeong's voice broke through the heavy atmosphere. "We need to find a way to access the internet. We have to know what's happening beyond these walls, what measures are being taken, if any," he urged, his tone tinged with urgency.

Just as Woo-jin was about to offer a suggestion, a crackling sound filled the air, catching everyone's attention.

"Students and teachers of Hyosan High School. I am Park Sun-hwa, the English teacher. Something... something strange is happening throughout the school. Some students... they're attacking people indiscriminately. Please, please find a safe place and take shelter. And if any student or faculty hears this and is able, please... please call the police and the fire department. Students, hide somewhere safe until help arrives. If you can get out of the school, please... please get out. I repeat... guys, you're okay, right? You're not hurt, right? I... I don't know what's going on. Still, find a safe place and hide. I'm sorry... I can't be of any help. Let's... let's stay safe and meet again. Okay?"

Her words were met with a mixture of emotions. Some students felt relief hearing a familiar voice, while others were overcome with fear and uncertainty. Tears welled up in the eyes of a few, realizing the magnitude of the situation they were facing. Mrs. Park's reassuring message served as a lifeline amidst the chaos, reminding them that they were not alone in their struggle.

As the broadcast ended, the room fell into a somber silence, the weight of their reality pressing down upon them. Each student grappled with their own thoughts and emotions, clinging to the hope that they would survive the ordeal together.

Joon-yeong's voice cut through the heavy silence, breaking the trance-like state that had enveloped the group. "We need to go to the broadcast room," he declared, his tone firm and resolute. "There's a computer there. We can use it to gather information about what's happening outside these walls. Plus, if Mrs. Park is there, it's likely safe. There might not be any zombies inside."

The mention of Mrs. Park brought a glimmer of hope to the group, a beacon of stability amidst the chaos. They nodded in agreement, recognizing the urgency of the situation and the importance of accessing external information.

Jin-soo chimed in, his voice practical yet tinged with urgency. "But it's not just about knowing what's happening out there," he interjected. "We also need to think about our basic needs. We also need to go. To washroom, toilet. We need food and water."

Su-hyeok took a moment to absorb Jin-soo's and Joon-yeong's practical assessment before adding his own perspective. "Our first priority should be gathering information. We need to know what's happening outside these walls, and when help might arrive," he stated firmly, his gaze sweeping over the group, gauging their reactions.

Before anyone could respond, Na-yeon's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, her concern palpable. "But how are we supposed to get to the broadcast room with all those zombies outside?" she interjected, her eyes darting towards the doors.

As if on cue, the group turned to the doors, where six to seven zombies were relentlessly pounding, their moans echoing through the corridor. It was a sobering sight, a stark reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond their current sanctuary. Na-yeon's worries were not unfounded.

Su-hyeok exchanged a quick glance with the others before addressing Na-yeon's concerns. "We'll have to find a way to deal with them," he replied, his voice steady despite the gravity of their situation. "We can't stay trapped in here forever. We need to be proactive if we want to survive."

Cheong-san nodded in agreement, his mind racing with possible ways. "We'll need to distract them somehow," he mused aloud, his gaze flickering towards the windows lining the corridor. "Maybe we can lure them away with noise or movement, then make a run for it."

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