Archive of Our Own

“Huh?”

When Kim Rok Soo returned to his senses, he found himself standing alone in the middle of a wide, empty road. He twisted his head as he tried to process his unfamiliar surroundings. A few cars were haphazardly parked along the sides of the roads as though they’d been abandoned in a hurry, looking worse for wear with their dented exteriors and cracked windows. Tall office buildings surrounded him on both sides and they blocked the harsh light of the sinking sun, casting long shadows on the streets. 

It was strangely silent. 

Kim Rok Soo inhaled the hot and humid air. There was a distinct smell that hit the back of his nose, one he was intimately familiar with. 

The smell of blood and decay.  

The last thing he remembered was falling asleep in a cinema next to Kim Min Ah. He had been too overworked to stay awake for a movie he wasn’t interested in. They’d been through so much together, fighting monsters in South Korea in a desperate bid to survive and protect their homeland. After almost two decades of desperate battling, society was finally beginning to rebuild itself, and Kim Min Ah had dragged him along on his off day to watch a zombie movie despite them living in a post-apocalyptic world invaded by monsters. 

He should be waking up in the cinema, not in the middle of nowhere.  

Everything felt too real to be a dream. 

But if it wasn’t a dream… why was he here? Did a monster attack them? There were many monsters with strange abilities, and this place might be an isolated place created by a monster to trap people within, or it could simply be an illusion.

“Grrr…”

Kim Rok Soo spun toward the source of the sound instantly. With practiced ease, he fell into a battle stance, ready to face any threat. He stared into the dark alleyway and waited for something to appear. The low growl had been gravelly in its tone and grating on the ears, but it did not sound like a large monster.

He reached for his sword but his hand met empty air instead of a familiar handle. He took a quick glance downward— nothing hung at his belt. All he had were his bare fists. 

In that split second of distraction, the creature ran out of the darkness. 

The sight of it shocked Kim Rok Soo to the core.

A humanoid-shaped creature with stiff, outstretched limbs, sharp claws, bloodshot eyes, and rotting skin… wasn’t this a zombie?! 

Cussing under his breath, Kim Rok Soo turned tail and ran for his life. If it was a small monster, he would still be able to do something, but a zombie? A single bite of those sharp fangs would be dangerous. He didn’t have any ranged weapons to protect himself.

He leaped over a handrail and dashed down the street. Extremely alert, Kim Rok Soo looked out for more zombies as he ran. In zombie movies, zombies usually moved in mobs and would attack from corners if you weren’t careful. He paid attention to the growls and footsteps behind him and knew he couldn’t run forever. Even though the zombie was a little slower than him right now, he would eventually run out of stamina. 

He had to find somewhere to hide. 

Turning a corner, he spotted the open backdoor of a tall office building. His instincts told him to run inside and he did. 

He slammed the door shut behind him and locked it immediately. Mere seconds later, the zombie slammed against the door, growling loudly. Kim Rok Soo didn’t stay still. He immediately fled up the stairs, hoping the door would hold the zombie back. He didn’t know if there were other zombies in this building, but he could only hope for the best and keep a mental layout of this building as he kept moving. 

Many of the doors were locked as he moved up the staircase, but not all of them. He peeked out each and every corridor and took note of the floor numbers as he moved higher. He had to ensure the safety of the entire building first lest he found himself caught in a trap.

Eventually, he reached the highest floor. Unfortunately, the pantry on that floor didn’t have much in it. There were a few moldy sandwiches and expired milk in the fridge, as well as a handful of coffee sachets in the drawer. Based on the date of the milk, this place must’ve been abandoned for at least six months. He took the empty plastic bottles from the trash bins and washed them in the pantry so he could use them later. 

Next, he tried to use the computers in the office to access information, but all of them were password-locked, and trying common passwords like ‘password’ or ‘1234567890’ didn’t work. All office phones continued to play static no matter what number he tried to key in. He was utterly frustrated. 

At the last cubicle, Kim Rok Soo froze when he saw a redhead in the small table mirror. When he blinked, the redhead blinked as well. 

No way.

Kim Rok Soo got closer and watched as the handsome face became enlarged. Every time he blinked the redhead blinked, and when he tilted his head, so did the redhead. This was his reflection . But it didn’t make sense. He shouldn’t look like this. He was supposed to look like a typical Korean man with black hair and black eyes, not some foreigner with red hair and red eyes. 

The glint of metal in the reflection caught his eye next. It was a dog tag, hanging from a thin necklace around his neck. He lifted it up and read the English name engraved on top of it.

Cale Henituse.

“What the hell is going on?” 

Seconds passed as Kim Rok Soo stood in shock for a while. But he quickly snapped out of it. 

Identity crisis aside, it was important to find food and supplies to ensure his survival. And since natural light was rapidly dwindling, he had to find a safe spot to hole up for the night too. 

He took a look out of the window to take a look at the city. It was desolate and empty, save for two zombies wandering about on the streets. Their gait was too stiff and awkward to be a person. 

One of them turned their head and looked up.

Kim Rok Soo immediately ducked down, cursing under his breath. Fuck. He hadn’t been seen, had he? He didn’t know how well the zombies could see. He crawled away from the window, making sure he was a safe distance away before standing up.

Next, he tried looking through every single drawer and cupboard in the building for more supplies and clues. Although he came up with zero clues, there were still some supplies that could be scavenged, including small snacks, nail clippers, a utility knife, a few rubber bands, some rope, and other items. There was also a steel pipe about the length of his arm in the cleaning supplies cabinet; it’ll do for a temporary weapon.  

After gathering all the supplies he could, Kim Rok Soo hid in the director’s office with all of the lights switched off. It was a pretty safe place since it was on the highest floor of the building and had a sturdy, lockable door. There was a water dispenser in the corner of the room which was about a quarter full. It might not last for very long, but it was better than nothing. He filled up his water bottles with clean water and thought about how to ration it. 

There was a full moon hanging high up in the sky, and its dim glow provided Kim Rok Soo with enough light to navigate around the room. He didn’t know if zombies were sensitive to light, but it would be best to play it safe. He picked a spot that gave him a direct view of the door, then sat on the soft carpet and sighed to himself. 

Just what the hell was going on? 

As he chewed on a granola bar, Kim Rok Soo used his free hand to play with the metal dog tag hanging around his neck. The name ‘Cale Henituse ’ was carved neatly on the smooth surface, and it should be the name of this body. 

In his memories, a situation like this had never happened before, even when he had seen monsters with the ability to mimic someone’s appearance and voice. 

Right now, the most pressing things he had to do were to search for information and ensure his continued survival. He should try to find a more secure base, find more sources of food and water, and attempt to find other survivors or establish means of communication. Based on the low number of zombies he met, it was likely all the residents in this area had been evacuated or were hiding in safe shelters. 

It was manageable. 

He drank a small mouthful of water and prepared to enter into a light sleep. He hugged his knees and rested his head on top of them. It wasn’t the most comfortable sleeping position, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. With all his years of experience out on the field, he’d wake up at the slightest sound. 

…

“Ahhhh!!”

Hours later, he woke up to the sound of a scream.

The scream sounded far away. 

Instantly alert, Kim Rok Soo crawled to the windows on his hands and knees. He didn’t want to rush over and expose his location to the zombies in case they had good eyesight. 

Once he was right beneath the window, he raised a small mirror above his head and used the reflection in it to get an accurate look at the situation outside. It took a few seconds of angling about, but he finally found something amiss. A few zombies were gathering at a moderate pace, swarming at the entrance of a building across the street just three blocks away. They were moving a lot slower and less aggressively compared to the way they moved at night. The scream should have come from a survivor in the building. It seemed like zombies were weak to sunlight and sensitive to sound.

Resolving himself, he decided to conduct a test. 

Taking care to not be seen, he took a paperweight from the desk and returned to the window. 

He took a deep breath. 

Then he flung it as far as he could and immediately ducked again before any zombies could notice him. There was the softest ‘thud ’ as the paperweight hit the roof of a car. Kim Rok Soo quickly used the mirror again and saw some zombies trudging toward the car. 

Good. If he played his cards right, he should be able to use sound to distract the zombies and guide them away from his location. 

He left from the backdoor of the company building and started moving around the streets, taking care to avoid zombies by using random objects to hide his location, from a trash can to a truck. He had created a makeshift slingshot earlier, and he used that to launch small rocks at cars further away to distract zombies with the noise as he moved to safety. 

Kim Rok Soo cautiously searched for a new base. Most stores were out of the question since their doors were smashed down and everything was looted. When he was a dozen blocks away from the office building he had stayed in, he found a young man lying against the side of a truck. 

Surprised, Kim Rok Soo stayed a few steps away just in case.

Was he bitten? Dead? Suffering from a heatstroke? There was a slight rosy hue to the guy’s cheeks, and a closer look revealed the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He seemed a little dirty and grimy, but otherwise unhurt. Although he was close to Kim Rok Soo’s height, he looked young. Maybe he was a high schooler? 

The sight of him reminded Kim Rok Soo of the time he found himself in an apocalyptic world taken over by monsters. Someone had reached out a hand to him back then and saved his life. 

Kim Rok Soo came to a quick decision. He squatted down next to the boy and wrapped his arms around the boy’s motionless body, hoisting him up. He had to take this boy away from here. It was way too open. If Kim Rok Soo didn’t help him now, a zombie was bound to get him sooner or later. 

Thankfully, his current body was muscular enough to carry the teenage boy without staggering. He quickly brought the boy into an apartment building he had previously scouted, taking the lift directly to the rooftop. 

There was a small rooftop apartment there, and although the door was busted, at least there was a bed. He placed the boy down on the soft bed. 

Kim Rok Soo settled down next to the bed and took a sip of water. He continued to watch the boy curiously. Why had the boy been out there alone? Was he also like Kim Rok Soo, a person from another place who ended up in someone else’s body? 

“Mm…” The boy groaned as his eyelashes fluttered. He stared, squinty-eyed at Cale, looking terribly confused at his presence. 

Now that the boy was awake, he looked… incredibly familiar. 

Wait. Wasn’t he on the movie poster of the zombie movie his subordinate Kim Min Ah wanted to watch? He should be an important character. Then, was Kim Rok Soo stuck in a movie as an extra since Cale Henituse wasn’t on the poster?  

Kim Rok Soo caught the way the boy’s eyes fell on the water bottle on the side of his bag. It should have been a while since the boy had water—his lips were cracked from dehydration and it looked painful. Kim Rok Soo immediately tugged the water bottle free and handed it to the skinny boy.

“Here, have some water.” 

The boy gripped the bottom of the water bottle with so much strength that it crinkled and caved into itself. He pulled it away from Kim Rok Soo with a harsh tug, like a starved beast finally getting fed some meat. Choi Han stared at the water bottle in his hand and lifted it. He turned it this way and that, as though he wasn’t sure how to drink it.  

It was incredibly concerning. 

Kim Rok Soo took another bottle of water from his bag and unscrewed the cap in front of Choi Han. He lifted it to his lips and took a sip, using his actions to show Choi Han how to drink from a water bottle. Choi Han watched his throat bob with laser-sharp focus and immediately tested it out himself. Once he got the bottle cap free, he greedily drank large gulps of water. 

“I’m… Cale Henituse,” Kim Rok Soo decided to embrace the identity of this body he inhabited. “What’s your name?” 

“Ah…?” The boy made a confused noise. He tilted his head as though thinking about it. A drop of water slipped past the corner of his mouth and dripped down his chin, falling onto the sheets below him. The water droplet turned grey from how dirty his face was. 

Cale frowned at his actions. No way, did he forget his own name too? It better not be a concussion. Or could it be trauma?

“Excuse me.” Cale reached out and grabbed the dog tag around the boy’s neck. The boy flinched violently but didn't back away. His eyes were as wide as a deer caught in the headlights, but Cale didn’t pay attention to his expression. If he made a big deal out of it, the boy might get even more scared. Cale angled the dog tag towards himself and read the letters. It was a little scratched out and unclear, but he could still read it.

CH01H4N

In a calm and measured tone, he asked, “Choi Han? Do you remember that name?”

The boy stared at Cale for a long moment before slowly nodding. The amount of time he spent just trying to recall his name was incredibly strange. 

Cale lifted his hand slowly. Choi Han flinched once again as though afraid of being touched. Was he hurt somewhere? Perhaps his sensitivity to people approaching was due to others betraying or hurting him. Cale wouldn’t be surprised; he knew the ugly natures of human beings could be revealed when it came down to survival. With limited resources left, desperate times called for desperate measures, and people attacked or killed each other to steal food and water. Since Choi Han was empty-handed when Cale found him, it could possibly be what happened.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Cale said gently. “I just want to check your temperature. Okay?” When Choi Han didn’t reply, Cale decided to just go ahead and do it. He pressed his palm against Choi Han’s forehead. It was slightly cool and clammy to the touch, but it shouldn’t be a big deal. 

“So humans are this warm…” Choi Han murmured quietly under his breath. A soft sigh escaped his lips. His eyelashes fluttered as his eyes became half-closed. He tilted his head up as though craving more of Cale’s touch. When Cale removed his hand, Choi Han hurriedly grabbed his retreating hand and kept it against his forehead. 

Cale was flabbergasted, but he allowed Choi Han to keep his hand there. Choi Han seemed so emotional from a simple touch. Maybe it had been a long time since he saw a living human being. Feeling a little sorry for the dirty boy, Cale sighed and used his other hand to pat Choi Han’s messy hair. Choi Han stared at Cale with his round and innocent eyes as he felt the soothing action. His lower lip trembled as though holding a wave of emotions back. 

Cale wasn’t used to comforting someone, but he still gave an awkward attempt. 

“It’s okay now. It’s okay.” 

Slowly, moisture gathered in Choi Han’s eyes, causing them to glisten. A teardrop dropped from his eyes, followed by a second, then a third. They fell quietly from down his cheeks as though he wasn’t used to crying out loud. 

“It must’ve been hard,” Cale continued. He used all the reassuring words he had heard from the person who had saved him, back when he himself was a teenager surrounded by fear and despair.  “You did well. Everything’s going to be alright.” 

Choi Han cried quietly, sniffling as Cale soothed him. 

Eventually, the tears stopped falling. Choi Han’s eyes ended up all red and puffy, and it made him look even younger than he was. 

There were still a few hours of daylight left. Cale had been too worried about Choi Han to go scavenging earlier, but now that Choi Han was awake, it should be fine to leave him alone in this place. He had no idea if Choi Han managed to eat something recently. 

“Stay here, I’ll go and find some food for us.”  

Before Cale could leave, Choi Han grabbed the hem of his shirt so hard Cale toppled sideways.

“Ow!” Cale winced as he half-fell on top of Choi Han and hit his elbow against the wall, while his head dropped onto Choi Han’s lap. He was about to get angry and yell at Choi Han, but the memory of Choi Han crying was still fresh in his mind. He bit back his annoyance and asked patiently, “What’s wrong?” 

Choi Han looked at Cale with wide eyes.

“Together… Let’s go together.”  

Cale pushed himself up and shook his head. “It’s not safe out there.” 

Choi Han shook his head too, as though copying Cale. “No, I… I can keep you safe. They’re all afraid of me.” 

They? The zombies? Cale furrowed his brow. He found it hard to believe. Choi Han looked incredibly sure of himself, but Cale didn’t know if it was simply the delusions of a traumatized guy. Maybe Choi Han was just lying because he didn’t want to be alone again. 

Cale tried reasoning with him. “You’re still weak from the lack of food and water. I won’t be able to protect you if you fall behind.” 

“I’ll keep up,” Choi Han promised. “Hen… Heni…?” 

Cale quickly realized Choi Han was trying to call his name. “Just call me Cale. Or just hyung will do.”

Choi Han’s mouth parted in awe. “Can I really call you that?”

“Yeah.”

“Hyung… can’t I go with you?” 

Somehow, the usage of the word ‘hyung’ seemed to rapidly shrink the sense of distance between them and knocked down a couple of walls Cale kept around his heart. Choi Han was still holding onto his shirt, his gaze one of earnest pleading. His eyes were so bright and shiny. Cale really didn’t want the boy to cry again. 

With a sigh, he gave in. “Fine. Make sure to stay close and listen to my orders, alright?” 

“Yes, hyung!” Choi Han promised. Cale’s acceptance caused his eyes to shine like stars from sheer excitement. He quickly got off the bed with unexpected vigor. 

“Alright, not that close,” Cale said with an exasperated smile when Choi Han stuck right by his side. How was he supposed to walk like this?

Choi Han obediently scuttled a few inches back, his round eyes looking at Cale for approval. 

“Yeah, that should be fine. Let’s go.”

Soon, they were back on the streets. A quick look at a convenience store nearby revealed emptied shelves and boxes in a disarray. It must have been completely looted. Kim Rok Soo was forced to look at more unconventional places, including trying out more apartment doors to see if they were locked. He was on high alert the whole time; he didn’t know when a zombie would appear.

After trying out dozens of doors, one finally opened. Cale entered warily with Choi Han sticking close behind him.

There was a tin of cookies above the refrigerator. The door of the refrigerator was covered in pictures of a happy family, and Choi Han spent a long time staring at them as Cale sniffed and tried one of the cookies. They were slightly stale but still edible. 

“Here.”

Cale shoved the entire tin against Choi Han’s chest. He didn’t know how long the boy had been starving, so he didn’t want to ration it even though food was hard to come by. “Eat it.”

Choi Han obediently hugged the opened tin with one arm. He used his free hand to grab a cookie. He stared at it for a long moment, as though he was unfamiliar with cookies entirely. He took a tentative bite. Then, he took a much larger bite. Soon, he was shoveling cookies into his mouth, looking like a little kid as he got crumbs all over himself. After eating five cookies, he paused and looked at Cale. He took out another cookie and held it out.

That got Cale to smile. “I’m fine, you eat it.” 

Choi Han quickly pushed the entire cookie in his mouth, then reached out to poke the corner of Cale’s smiling lips. 

Cale raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

Choi Han chewed and swallowed before mumbling, “Pretty. Your smile is very pretty, hyung. Prettier than the ones in the photos.” 

“Pfft.” Cale pushed Choi Han’s hand away. He was pretty amused. Take a look at this kid. “There’s no need to suck up to me, just eat your food.” 

He opened the fridge and instantly regretted it. The smell of rotten food assaulted his nose, making him dizzy. He blanched and slammed the door shut. 

“Ugh. Let’s look somewhere else.”

Cale moved deeper into the house, but at that moment, something lunged at him from the shadows. He spun around, holding an arm up to defend himself instinctively, but it was too late, there was no time, he could only fall on his butt to put more distance between himself and the zombie, and-

“Stop!” 

With Choi Han’s sharp yell, the zombie froze in place as though held down by a mysterious force. It gave Cale the opportunity to slide out from beneath the zombie. Without any hesitation, he lifted the steel pipe and brought it down against the back of the zombie’s neck, bashing it in again and again until he was sure the zombie was dead.  

“Fuck…” Cale muttered under his breath as he wiped away the zombie’s disgusting fluids that had splattered on his face. His fingers were trembling from all the adrenaline gushing through him. It had truly been a close call. He hadn’t heard the zombie at all; it must have been waiting around the corner. Were zombies gaining intelligence?

More importantly, it seemed like Choi Han’s powers were real. 

Cale remembered how it had been in South Korea. After the apocalypse, awakened people appeared one after another, all equipped with special abilities. These people were hailed as heroes as they wielded their newfound powers to protect the remains of humanity. Due to his background, it wasn’t hard for him to accept Choi Han’s power. 

Choi Han must have manifested an ability or something. 

“How many of them can you command at once?” 

The question took Choi Han by surprise. He flinched visibly and avoided Cale’s sharp gaze in favor of staring at the ground.

“Um… I…”

The odd reaction made Cale pause. 

Was it a sensitive question? Wait. Was he chased out from a group because they found his power ‘creepy’? 

Either way, it must be Choi Han’s sore spot. Cale quickly backtracked. “Sorry. I was just curious. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Come to think of it, I haven’t even thanked you for helping me yet. Thanks for saving me.”

A tentative smile formed on Choi Han’s face after receiving Cale’s gratitude. “I’m glad I could help you, hyung.” He hesitated again, scratching the side of his cheek. “Would it be… better if I can command a lot of them, hyung? Would you be happy if I can control an army?”

An army of zombies? The thought itself seemed ridiculous. 

Back in South Korea, there had been similar ability users who could tame monsters and control them. However, it never exceeded a handful of them, and the difficulty of controlling them increased exponentially with the higher-ranking monsters. 

Cale shook his head. With a small smile, he tried to reassure the anxious boy. “No, don’t worry about it. Even just controlling a zombie for one second is an incredibly strong ability; it can make or break a life-or-death situation. I would’ve died without you.” 

“You need me?” 

This boy’s stare was always so intense. 

Slightly unnerved, Cale reached out and patted Choi Han’s head. Choi Han leaned into the touch immediately, eyes squinting into happy crescents. 

“Of course. You don’t know how glad I am to find another survivor. Now we can sleep safely by taking turns doing night watch.” 

Choi Han beamed. He seemed very happy with the fact that he was needed. 

They searched until it was getting dark before settling in the locked storeroom of a shop on the third floor of an abandoned mall. It should be safe from wandering zombies as long as they kept quiet. Cale made sure to clean and patch up all of their wounds, no matter how minor of a scratch. Choi Han allowed him to do so without a fight, even when the antiseptic stung. 

“Wake me up if there are any issues,” Cale said sleepily. He rubbed his bleary eyes and yawned.    

“Hyung, why don’t you sleep on my lap?”

“Hm. Should I?” Cale considered the idea. It was tempting. Choi Han’s thighs looked soft compared to leaning against the wall. “No, won’t your legs get numb?” 

“Don’t worry about it hyung, I’ll be fine.”

“If you say so…”

Cale didn’t reject the offer. Any minute spent arguing was wasting time and energy. With the physical exertion of the day and accumulated tiredness, Cale quickly dozed off. 

Choi Han watched Cale sleep. Cale Henituse had a beautiful and peaceful sleeping face. His long eyelashes curled ever so slightly, casting soft shadows against his elegant cheekbones. His soft lips ( warm , Choi Han had learned by touching them gently), were slightly parted, a soft and sweet pink. The color of warmth and life. 

He had always wondered what another human being felt like. He liked it, the warm weight of Cale’s head on his lap, the gentleness of Cale’s hands, the calming cadence of his voice as he called out Choi Han’s name. He liked everything about Cale. 

Choi Han had once been alone. He had once tried very hard to build a large family. He surrounded himself with them and they did everything he asked them to do, but not once did they do something for him of their own accord. Once he released his power on them, they would simply try to wander away and leave him. They were so cold, so stiff, so lifeless. 

All of that paled in comparison to Cale Henituse. 

“Hyung…” 

“What? Is it time to change shifts?” Cale mumbled, cracking a bleary eye open. He woke up due to Choi Han’s quiet whisper.

“Sorry. I just wanted to call you that.” 

“Don’t call me until it’s time to wake up,” Cale chastised gently, closing his eyes again. 

“Yes, hyung.”

Hyung… his hyung… His new family. 

Choi Han smiled as he indulged in the warmth and closeness he never had. 

“Are you feeling alright?” Cale frowned as he touched Choi Han’s forehead. Choi Han’s temperature was still a little low. They hadn’t come across a single zombie ever since that day, and he thought it might be Choi Han’s power at work. But keeping that power activated all the time would take a toll on anyone. 

“Yes, hyung. I’m fine,” Choi Han replied with a smile, pressing Cale’s hand closer to his forehead to keep him there. He seemed to enjoy physical touch a lot. “You worry so much.” 

“Of course. We’re a team. We have to take care of each other,” Cale said calmly. Choi Han’s smile widened even further with his words. “Okay, let go of me now. I have to read the map.”

Choi Han released Cale’s hand obediently and watched silently as Cale studied the big map in his hand. 

After exploring the ruined city for a few days, they managed to find an old map in the abandoned district office. There was no information about bomb shelters or underground bunkers, but according to the map, there was an army base a few kilometers away. Given how the entire city was trashed, their best bet for safety and finding other survivors was the army base. But to get there, they had to go through a forest, which would take around two days to travel. 

In such an open space with barely any cover, it would be difficult to keep themselves safe. It was hard to determine how many zombies would be lurking in the forest. 

“You sure you’re feeling okay?” Cale asked again. 

Without Choi Han’s power, it would be hard to protect Choi Han and himself against a group of zombies.

Choi Han’s face was slightly flushed, probably due to being under the sun for prolonged periods of time. He looked tired as though he was unused to being constantly on the move. Cale was very worried about his physical state.

Choi Han nodded again. “Don’t worry about me, hyung. I can keep up.”

“...” Cale stared at  Choi Han for a moment. Was Choi Han just saying that because he was afraid Cale would go without him? “You know it’s fine if you need to rest, right? I won’t leave you behind. We can stay in the city for a few more days.” 

Choi Han stared back at Cale, his eyes full of wonder. 

“So?” Cale frowned, pinching Choi Han’s cheek.

“I’m fine, I promise,” Choi Han chuckled, eyes impossibly soft as he looked at Cale. “You don’t have to worry about me, hyung. I’ll keep us safe.”

Cale didn’t want to admit it, but Choi Han was growing on him. 

“Good,” Cale said, pulling Choi Han’s cheek a little harder than necessary because he was embarrassed at himself for being so overprotective. “Protect me well.” 

Choi Hean beamed. “Mmhm.”

It was very reassuring to have Choi Han by his side. Cale released Choi Han’s cheek and released a sound that was between a scoff and a sigh, but most definitely made with a smile. 

Choi Han was a good teammate who always listened to Cale’s orders without a fight. He was a quick learner and easy to work with. Cale couldn’t understand why any group would kick such a good kid out. Surviving in this dystopian universe was so much easier with Choi Han watching his back.

They finally left the city and moved into the forest. Cale stayed on high alert, keeping his ears open for any sounds of footsteps or growling. It was strangely silent, save for the quiet sounds of their breathing. He couldn’t even hear any birdsong or cries of insects. They moved further in, Cale leading the way, Choi Han close behind. 

The air was almost unbearably humid. Cale wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and took a backward glance to check if Choi Han was keeping up well. Choi Han smiled at Cale to signal he was alright. 

It was about an hour into their journey when they finally heard something- the soft crinkling of old leaves and small snaps of twigs as someone walked closer to them.

“Han-ah,” Cale said in warning, getting Choi Han's attention. 

“Yes, hyung.”

Cale fell into a battle stance, his metal pipe held outwards and ready to strike. Both of them prepared to face whatever it was that came their way.

Unexpectedly… 

“Woah, woah! We’re people, not zombies!”

Two people came into view. 

The first man was frowning. His blond hair was neat, the silky smooth strands ending just below his ears. His slanted green eyes, sharp and dangerous, reminded Cale of a snake. The second man was a guy with messy brown hair akin to a bird’s nest, with a long golden earring dangling from his right ear. It was the second man who had spoken to them, hands raised in surrender with a wide, disarming smile on his face. 

Both of them were dressed in similar black clothing, including a black jacket with a red armband on their upper arms. A large metal bat was strapped onto both of their bags, and it was most likely the weapon they used to fight off zombies. 

“We come in peace,” The second man added dramatically.

Cale relaxed, lowering his arm, but Choi Han was still on guard, baring his teeth in a vicious manner as though he was ready to rip them into pieces. 

“Where did you guys come from? What are your names?” Cale asked calmly. He raised an arm to hold back Choi Han and the younger male eased up instantly, calming down and looking like an innocent boy once more.

“We…” The two men exchanged a look, and tacit understanding passed between them. “We came from the nearby army base.”

“Army base?” That might be the army base they were heading towards. 

“I’m Venion Stan,” the first man finally spoke. Unlike the brash and straightforward tone of the first man, his voice was elegant and smooth, lilting up in a way that sounded like he felt he was better than everyone else, “And this is Neo Tolz. You should identify yourselves too.”

“I’m Cale Henituse. This kid is Choi Han. We came from the city and we’re trying to find a safer place.”

“The city?” Venion lifted a manicured eyebrow. “We’ve been there a few times and we’ve never seen anymore.”

“Eyy, hyungnim. The city is so big, it’s possible to miss a man or two,” Neo said in a pandering tone. He turned towards Cale with a winning smile. “Why don’t you two come with us back to the army base? We could use the strength of more healthy young men. And for you… safety in numbers, yeah?”

There was certainly safety in numbers. However, this rule only applied when you travel with people you could trust. Otherwise, things could become ugly all too quickly. 

“Hyung?” Choi Han prompted quietly. 

Cale glanced at Choi Han and frowned. The younger man looked tired, most likely because he had been waking Cale up later than he was supposed to when changing night watch shifts. No matter how much Cale chided him for it, Choi Han still made sure Cale got more rest than he did. This routine of less than sufficient sleep was clearly taking a toll on Choi Han. Cale had to make a decision. 

“Alright,” Cale agreed. He didn’t fully trust the other two men, but they had been planning on going to the army base from the start. 

“That’s a great decision. Let’s go then!” Neo grinned. He grabbed Venion’s arm and pulled the frowning man ahead, and they started whispering amongst themselves, glancing back at Cale and Choi Han as they spoke. 

Cale got a better look at their armbands as they moved. 

What was that strange symbol they had stitched onto the upper arm of their black coats? There was a white six-pointed star surrounded by five smaller red stars. Was it a symbol for the army, or was it a symbol for a gang? 

“Pretty shitty weather, but better than it raining, huh? You can’t hear the zombies when it rains.”

Neo made inane small talk as they traversed through the forest, but he quickly shut up when he realized no one was interested in conversation. He kept glancing at Cale’s loaded backpack with curiosity in his gaze.

Did he want to take it for himself?  

It was suspicious. Cale made sure to stay a safe distance behind them, with Choi Han tagging closely next to him. 

“Let’s take a break,” Venion declared when they reached a more open clearing. His commanding tone made Cale wonder if Venion was someone high up in the army base. He might be, given how they trusted his abilities enough to let him travel out of the army base. “Neo, deal with them.” 

With those haughty words, he retreated into the forest. Cale didn’t know where he was going. Maybe to pee? 

“Are you okay?” Cale asked Choi Han again, quietly. Choi Han’s condition seemed to have deteriorated slightly after they spent most of the day walking through the rough forest terrain. 

“No, hyung,” Choi Han shook his head, but his gaze was unfocused and his complexion was pale. “I’m fine.”

“What, he’s feeling sick?” Neo asked loudly. He came over and peered at Choi Han as the latter glared at him. “Ooh, seems like he has some fight left in him. Well, let him set things up here then!” He threw an arm around Cale’s shoulder and grinned. “The two of us can go get firewood and clean water. Venion’s gonna go catch us… a rabbit.”

The way Neo said the word ‘rabbit’ made Cale think he was talking about something else. 

Choi Han’s eyes narrowed as his glare turned even more intense. Neo got the message and quickly removed his arm from Cale. 

“Geez, are you two lovers or what?” Neo scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Come on then lover boy. Or can you guys not be apart for even a single moment?” He turned and left first, not waiting for Cale to follow.

“Stay here and rest, Han-ah,” Cale said quietly. He pressed his steel pipe into Choi Han’s hand. “Shout if there’s any danger. I’ll run over immediately.”

Choi Han’s gaze finally left Neo, and his deep black eyes softened as he looked at Cale. He once again looked trusting and soft and adorable. The difference in temperature caused Cale to shiver as he felt an inexplicable emotion. 

What’s this?

“Okay, hyung,” Choi Han said obediently, never one to go against Cale’s wishes. He looked a little aggrieved, as though he felt lonely to be left by himself. 

“I’ll be back quick,” Cale said soothingly before he knew it, patting Choi Han’s head. Something about Choi Han made Cale want to indulge the younger man. 

A soft smile graced Choi Han’s face as he leaned slightly into the touch. “Mmhm.”

Cale jogged slightly to catch up with Neo. 

“Finally,” Neo groaned, rolling his eyes again. He looked at Cale and frowned. “Why’s your face red? You better not be falling sick too.”

“...I’m fine.”

“Well, whatever.” The earring on Neo’s ear twinkled when he shrugged. “I’m gonna get water, so just pick up the dry sticks on the ground.”

He left after saying those words. Cale got to work, picking up whatever seemed good for building a campfire. He doubted Venion would be able to catch anything, not when the forest was so deathly quiet. It felt like it was devoid of all signs of life. 

…?

He suddenly felt a sense of danger.

Cale spun around. He looked up as a shadow fell upon him. 

Venion appeared out of nowhere, falling from the sky. He must’ve been hiding in a tree, waiting until Cale’s guard was down to strike.

Years of experience in combat made Cale raise his arms instinctively to shield his head as the metal bat swung down at him. It slammed painfully against his forearms, causing his very bones to shake from the impact. Cale groaned and staggered in pain, dodging sideways as another swing barely missed his forehead. His fingers were trembling, too weak to form a fist to fight back, so all he could do was avoid the one-sided assault.

“Why are you doing this?” Cale hissed through gritted teeth as he ducked and avoided another blow. 

Venion’s green eyes glinted with cruelty. “Do I need a reason?” 

“You want what’s in my bag, don’t you?” Cale deduced. He quickly dropped the bag and staggered a few steps back. Nothing was more important than his life. “Take it.” 

“Hmm,” As he hummed, Venion’s eyes flitted downwards at the bag. The corner of his lips curled up as his snake-like eyes looked back up. He stared at the dog tag around Cale’s neck. “No, I think you’ll end up being a threat in the future. Neo.”

Cale flinched when he heard that name. 

“Urk!” 

A heavy blow struck the back of his head. 

An ambush. They had planned this in advance. 

As Cale fell down to the ground, his fading consciousness thought about only one person. Choi Han was in danger. He hoped Choi Han… he hoped at least Choi Han would be able to make it out safely. That silly kid… would he be able to survive well without Cale around? 

“Hyung!” 

Don’t… come over… Cale thought weakly to himself as he lost consciousness. 

Fury blazed in Choi Han’s dark eyes as he stared at Neo and Venion. He gripped his fists tight, tight to the point of drawing blood. His lips pulled back into a snarl, as though he wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and rip their throats out with his bare teeth. 

“What are you gonna do, punch us? You should run if you know what’s good for you,” Neo said with a short laugh, spinning the metal bat in his hand. 

But Choi Han didn’t run. 

Instead, he raised his head to the skies and yelled in his loudest voice, so loud his neck muscles strained and his face turned red.

“Come here! Kill them!”

For a moment, the two guys didn’t know what the hell Choi Han was yelling about.

“Ay hyungnim, I think he went crazy.” Neo snickered. He tapped his metal bat on his shoulder and took a few steps forward. “I’ll take care of him.”

At that moment, the forest floor started to tremble. 

Neo paused in place, turning back to Venion with wide eyes. 

The tremors grew bigger and bigger until it became clear they were footsteps. 

“GRRRRRR…..”

An entire stampede of zombies appeared, surrounding them from all sides. The low growling of the zombies grew into a mismatched, ugly cacophony of sounds that surrounded them like the screaming of cicadas in the summer. 

“What the fuck!” 

“Where the hell did they come from?!”

The zombies rushed forward violently, running past Choi Han as though he was completely invisible to them. They attacked Venion and Neo with mindless hunger, grabbing and scratching and biting with madness, resembling a horde of bloodthirsty piranhas.

With Venion and Neo neutralized, Choi Han ran to the motionless body of Cale, collapsing onto the ground next to the bleeding man. 

“No, hyung…” 

His eyes shook as he stared at the amount of blood on the forest floor. It was already mixing in with the hard soil beneath them, turning it into a dark and murky brown. 

“No… don’t die… don’t leave me, hyung…” 

Choi Han’s pupils shook as he stared at Cale. He could still so easily imagine Cale’s small smile, he could still so easily remember the gentleness of Cale’s hand, the warmth in his voice. But the man before him had his eyes closed and he wasn’t moving.

Cale looked so pale. He looked like a corpse. 

Make sure to stay close and listen to my orders, alright?

Protect me well.

It was his fault. If he had stayed close to Cale, if he had protected Cale like Cale had told him to… 

“H-hyung…” 

Choi Han paid no attention to the screams and growling and the sounds of ripping flesh. All Choi Han cared about was the man before him, this man who became the most precious thing, the most precious person in his life. 

He gathered Cale in his arms and held him close. 

Cale was still warm. 

Carefully, he bowed his head, placing his ear close to Cale’s nose. 

Huff… huff…

He heard the soft sound of breathing. Cale was still alive… Thankfully, he was still alive. A feeble sob left Choi Han’s lips in a shaky exhale and he hugged Cale tightly in his arms. He could still save his hyung. 

When the zombies tore Venion and Neo apart until there was nothing left, they turned to Choi Han, snarling and growling as they trudged closer. 

Choi Han didn’t even spare them a glance. 

“Stay back.”

None of the zombies came near them with Choi Han’s command. Choi Han’s eyes trembled as he watched a droplet of blood slowly slide down the side of Cale’s head. He stood up with Cale in his arms and came to a quick decision. 

It wasn’t safe out here. There would be more bad humans who wanted to hurt them. The zombies would hurt Cale too, once Choi Han fell asleep and released his control on them. He had to take Cale to a safe place, just like how Cale had always tried to protect him. 

His eyes blazed with resolution as he lifted them, staring at the path he decided to take.

“Follow me,” he commanded. 

Guarded by an army of zombies, he carried Cale to the safest place he knew, his footsteps hurried. 

“Don’t die, hyung… don’t die…” Choi Han mumbled desperately under his breath as he walked. “You can’t die. You can’t leave me. hyung…” 

Choi Han…? Cale’s eye cracked open slightly, but he was too weak to speak. He closed his eye again, slipping back into dreamland. 

Choi Han traveled without rest for the entire day, surrounded by zombies. What started out as dozens of zombies grew to hundreds, and then thousands as he walked further and further. His soles were worn out and his feet were covered in blisters by the time he reached his destination. 

He lifted his eyes and took in the large laboratory before him. Its cold, silver exterior shone beneath the moonlight. It had once been his home. 

He pushed open the metal gates he had once escaped from. 

He shut it and pulled the iron chains, tying a tight knot, making sure it held fast. The zombies stared at him from the other side of the gates, snarling, their arms lifted, trying to follow him.

“Surround the gates but don’t come in,” Choi Han ordered with dark eyes. He had to make sure Cale wouldn’t try to leave this place. He had to make sure no one would ever hurt them again. “Kill anyone who comes close.”

“Oh, good morning, hyung! Sorry about all the blood.” 

Cale woke up to the sight of Choi Han’s smiling face. Choi Han was hard at work scrubbing the dirty floor of what seemed like an infirmary. Cale was lying on one of the many beds, and there were many medical supplies scattered around. He sat up and held his bandaged head with a hiss of pain. His arms were bandaged too, covered in layers of white gauze. 

“Does it hurt, hyung?” Choi Han dropped the mop and rushed to Cale’s side immediately, kneeling by the bed. He regarded Cale with worried eyes. “Do you want painkillers?”

“Where is this?” 

“A…” Choi Han scrunched his eyebrows together as he tried to recall the word. “Laboratory.”

A laboratory? 

Cale had thought he was in a hospital. 

“What happened to Venion and Neo?” 

Choi Han’s expression darkened once he heard their names. “They’re not important, hyung. They hurt you.”

“What happened?” Cale insisted. “Choi Han. Tell me.” 

“... They got eaten by the zombies,” Choi Han said finally, dropping his eyes. He looked terribly upset, and he gripped his fists tightly. “I brought you here. Because it’s safe here.” 

Did Choi Han bring him here while the zombies were distracted by Venion and Neo? Cale frowned. It was strange. They hadn’t seen any zombies for days, so how could something like that happen? Venion had been good at fighting, and Cale was sure he could take on a zombie or two.

“Urgh!” Cale grimaced as a jolt of pain ran through his head. 

“Hyung!” Choi Han hovered over Cale for a moment, then he spun on his heel and riffled through the drawers. He grabbed a pill bottle and returned, popping the cap open with ease. He poured its entire contents into his palm in his frenzy and urgently offered the small mountain of pills to Cale. “Eat it, hyung! You’ll feel better!” 

“Pfft!” Cale couldn’t help but chuckle at Choi Han’s panic. “I only need one of these, Han-ah.” He took a pill and lifted his eyes. “Do you have water?”

Choi Han stared at those reddish-brown eyes, so bright, so full of warmth and humor, and he was dazzled for a moment. “Ah?”

“Water,” Cale repeated with a smile.

“Oh, water!!” Choi Han bobbed his head in understanding and rushed off. The pills dropped out of his hand and bounced all over the floor. He came back with a cup of water, full at first, but half of its contents sloshed out of the cup and down his hands in his hurry. “Here you go, hyung!” 

“Thanks.”

Cale placed the pill on his tongue and took a sip of water, watching the way Choi Han watched his every move. His throat bobbed, and Choi Han’s eyes traced that movement as well.

This kid.

“You must’ve been startled,” Cale said. He could still remember the fear and panic in Choi Han’s voice when he shouted for Cale. He probably would’ve died to either Venion and Neo or the zombies if not for Choi Han. Cale reached out and ruffled Choi Han’s hair. “You did well.” 

Choi Han’s eyes turned glossy as he stared at Cale’s smile. 

“I said I’d keep us safe, hyung,” Choi Han replied, his voice soft. He blinked back tears and leaned into Cale’s touch. “I’m sorry. I won’t let anything hurt you ever again.” 

“Hyung is sorry too.” 

If he had been more careful, he wouldn’t have fallen into that trap and left Choi Han to fend for himself. 

“Alright,” Cale dropped his hand and got off the bed. “Let’s take a look at where we are. Is there anyone else in this laboratory?”

“...No. We’re the only ones.” 

“Hm. Okay.” Given the size of the infirmary, Cale has no doubt the entire building was huge. But Choi Han sounded incredibly sure. 

Cale stared at the water bucket Choi Han had been using to mop the floor. The water within it was completely murky from all the blood he mopped up from the floor. A wave of revulsion almost caused Cale to retch. He hadn’t noticed it earlier due to the confusion of waking up in a new place, but dark red blood was splattered on the walls as well, and the stench of old blood was overwhelming over the smell of antiseptic. 

Something must’ve happened here for there to be so much blood. 

He left the room quickly, but the hallways weren’t that much better. He pressed his hand against his mouth and nose to hold back his nausea. Just what the hell happened here?

“Sorry, hyung. I haven’t cleaned it up yet,” Choi Han said apologetically, following Cale. “I’ll work hard at it!” 

This was a lot for one person to clean. 

Cale shook his head. “We can just set up our beds in a cleaner area. The whole building can’t be like this, right?” 

“Well…” Choi Han scratched his cheek awkwardly. 

Cale sighed. “Nevermind. We’ll decide what to do after we explore the whole building.”

There were no windows in this hallway, causing a claustrophobic feeling as the stale and disgusting air was trapped in place. Making a quick decision, Cale took the stairs and went to the highest floor to get a better look at their surroundings. The door to the rooftop wasn’t locked, so he stepped out, wary of what he would find.

What he saw shocked him. 

This entire building was larger than he had imagined, but the most shocking part was the high fences surrounding the compound on all sides, holding an uncountable number of zombies back. Beyond the zombies were endless trees with no other buildings in sight. The number of zombies could rival an entire city's population. 

Cale staggered back, horrified. His knees felt weak from the shocking sight.

“Shit, I don’t think we can leave.”

“It’s okay, hyung,” Choi Han assured him. With a small smile, he reached out and held Cale’s shaking hand. “We’re safe here.” 

“Fuck,” Cale cussed again, unable to tear his eyes away from the swarming crowd of zombies outside. There must be at least hundreds, no, thousands of them. The two of them would never stand a chance.

“Safe?” Cale said in disbelief. They were trapped here for the unforeseeable future. He turned and looked at Choi Han’s calm smile. “Is there even food and water here?”

“Yeah!” Choi Han nodded happily. “I’ll show you, hyung!” 

Choi Han tugged Cale along, excited like a child showing a friend his home. His familiarity with the place was peculiar.

“How long have I been out?” 

“Hmm, maybe around half a day?” Choi Han said. His steps were confident, unlike Cale’s. He didn’t even bother looking around the corners for any potential zombies or remaining survivors. 

“Did you check out the place during that time?”

“No,” Choi Han shook his head. “I stayed by your side because I was afraid… I was afraid you’d stop breathing.” 

Choi Han squeezed Cale’s hand in distress. Cale looked at their intertwined hands with a complicated expression. Why did Choi Han seem so familiar with the lab despite claiming to never have left Cale's side? 

“This is where the water is!” Choi Han introduced as he opened the door. Cale read the words ‘rainwater catchment area’ on top of the door and entered the space. It was filled with complicated machinery and a tall platform that seemed to extend above this floor. “It provides water to the entire building.”

He took Cale to more places. Cale’s worries about food were unfounded. There were many rations in the storerooms and the building had multiple self-sustaining systems in place, including a large greenhouse and even animal pens. It seemed like the laboratory was meant to be a safe house… was it made in preparation for the zombie apocalypse? 

“Are you hungry? Here you go, hyung!” 

Choi Han plucked an apple from a tree and handed it to Cale with a sweet smile. It reminded Cale of the day when they first met, when Choi Han offered him a cookie with crumb-covered lips. Choi Han still looked as innocent as he did back then, but a seed of doubt was growing in Cale’s heart. 

“...” Cale took the apple and bit into it. It was juicy and sweet. 

“Is it delicious?” Choi Han asked eagerly. 

“Yeah.” 

Choi Han grinned, pleased that Cale liked it. 

They grabbed two of the cleaner mattresses from the blood-covered infirmary and shifted their beds to the indoor garden, where there was fresh air and no blood. Cale slept deeply that night, exhausted from getting a tour of the large compound and still weak from his wounds. Choi Han slept next to him, having placed his mattress right beside Cale’s, and for once, both of them could sleep peacefully without any fear of being attacked. 

By the time Cale woke up, Choi Han was gone. He was probably hard at work cleaning up the place as he promised. 

…

Cale got out of bed and took a peek out of the hallways. No one. 

He hurriedly headed to the office he had seen yesterday before anything else and riffled through all the documents he could get his hands on. 

This laboratory was hidden in a restricted area without any cell service and had been set by the government. There was a picture of a large research team of a hundred men, and they’d all settled here for a project of utmost secrecy. The more he read, the more his heart sank.

Pied Piper Project. 

They had researched the possibility of an army of super soldiers for the past two decades. Soldiers that would not feel pain or need food. Mindless soldiers whose sole purpose was to kill. Soldiers that would grow in numbers over time as they killed. These soldiers would be controlled by a single person. 

There were reports on instructions given to the soldiers, of successful experiments…  Cale flipped through the documents, glancing through the dense terminology he didn’t understand until he finally paused on a page. 

Subject CH-01-H-4-N. 

Male.

Born in 2000.

There was a picture of a much younger Choi Han, pale and staring at the camera with an expressionless face. His deep black eyes were soulless, almost zombie-like. 

Cale’s hand trembled. 

The only subject who had managed to synchronize with the super soldiers without turning into a mindless creature or dying from a seizure. There was a picture of young Choi Han standing behind a glass wall, surrounded by zombies. Beyond that were pictures of so many children, all of their headshots crossed out with a big red X because they failed. 

“Hyung. What are you looking at?”

Cale quickly shoved the documents into a drawer and slammed it shut. He turned around and saw Choi Han, who wasn’t smiling for once. Cale’s mind spun, and he came up with a lie.

“I was looking for a coat since I felt a bit cold.”

A drop of cold sweat slipped down the back of Cale’s neck. Choi Han’s gaze drifted toward the drawer. 

It was unclear whether Choi Han believed his blatant lie or not, but the boy smiled. 

“I know where the coats are, hyung. But they’re all white. Is that okay?”

“Yeah.” 

“Come with me, hyung.”

Choi Han held out a hand. 

Cale stared at the hand before him. He hadn’t really noticed before this, but Choi Han’s arms were covered in dozens of faded scars. 

Just what had Choi Han experienced here, in this place?

“Hyung?” Choi Han asked, tilting his head. “Are you okay?”

“...Yeah.”

Cale reached out and grabbed that hand. 

Cale wasn’t sure why he pretended not to know anything. If he told Choi Han that he knew about the project… what would Choi Han do to him? It wasn’t hard to deduce what had happened in this laboratory after reading all the documents earlier. Choi Han must’ve escaped from this facility. What Cale didn’t know was whether the super soldiers, no, the zombies , went berserk by themselves or massacred the research team under Choi Han’s orders. 

“Here, hyung! I think this will fit you!” Choi Han offered Cale a white lab coat with a beaming smile. He looked so normal, so cheerful.

How had he felt, being the only child to survive out of the dozens experimented on in the search of one who could command the zombies? 

It was hard for Cale to reconcile the information he had read with this boy before him, who he had spent time with, who he had grown fond of, who he had trusted with his life. 

Cale grabbed the white lab coat and shrugged it on. It was perfectly his size. 

“You look good in it, hyung.” 

Choi Han’s smile looked genuinely happy.

“...Thanks.” 

Cale stared at the lab coat he was wearing. He didn’t know what to do right now. His head was a mess.

“Can you pat my head again, hyung?” Choi Han asked in a soft voice. 

Cale hesitated as he looked at Choi Han. But Choi Han just seemed like a child starving for affection. He was peering at Cale with wide, round eyes, full of trust and love.

“...Of course.”

He reached out and patted Choi Han’s soft hair. Choi Han sighed and leaned into his touch like always, nuzzling into Cale’s palm like an overgrown puppy. 

“Hehe. Thank you, hyung.”

Cale’s heart was a mess too.

“Hyung, what are you doing?” 

Choi Han found Cale on the rooftop on a starry night, after Cale had been unable to sleep. The seasons had changed and snow was falling down gently from the sky. What had not changed was the horde of zombies milling around outside the base, cursed to live an existence that was neither dead nor alive. 

“You can’t sleep too?” Cale asked as Choi Han joined him by his side. The two of them spent almost every waking and sleeping moment together as they lived in his large base. 

Choi Han saw Cale staring at the locked gate.

“We can’t go out there, hyung,” Choi Han insisted. “It’s dangerous. People will hurt you.”

People?

Not the zombies? 

Cale frowned. Surely, they would have to leave this place one day? He hadn’t forgotten his previous identity as Kim Rok Soo either. If this was a movie, then the plot had to progress. Surely, there must be a cure of some sort, a way to end the zombie apocalypse. 

But what happens after that? Would Choi Han be able to live a good life when the apocalypse ended? What would he do if Cale returned to his original world and wasn’t around anymore? 

“Do you want to leave?” Choi Han asked, gripping his fists tightly. 

Cale tensed. He eyed Choi Han’s hands warily. What would happen if he said he wanted to leave?

As he thought about it, Cale fiddled with the metal dog tag around his neck. 

“...Not right now.” 

They were surrounded by zombies, after all. It was impossible to leave right now. Truthfully, compared to the unknown world outside, it might be better to remain in the safety of the labs. There was still a lot left to investigate in this lab too. If he could figure out how to get the computers to work…

“...Hyung. Can you pat my head again?” 

Cale finally looked at Choi Han’s face.

His fingers paused.

Choi Han looked scared.

The expression on his face made Cale lower his guard. 

No matter how Cale looked at it, Choi Han was so innocent. He listened to Cale no matter what Cale said and was a good kid that was just a little too clingy. He had protected Cale again and again. He didn’t seem to have any bad intentions when he brought Cale here. 

Cale didn’t know what it was that made Choi Han so afraid. 

Was he afraid of being left alone again?

It tugged on Cale’s heartstrings. 

With a soft smile, he reached out and patted Choi Han’s head. 

“Han-ah. Even if I leave the lab, I won’t be leaving without you. Got it?” 

“You promise, hyung?”

Choi Han’s eyes sparkled like the stars above them. He was happy again. He was always so easy to cheer up. What could a simple guy like Choi Han possibly do? 

Cale decided to believe the things he saw with his own eyes and follow his heart. 

“Yeah. I promise. Have I ever lied to you?” 

“No,” Choi Han shook his head. “I’ll never ever lie to you either, hyung!” 

“Mm. Good boy.”

Cale’s hand slid down to cup Choi Han’s pink cheek. This kid had been so eager to rush out after Cale that he wasn’t even dressed properly. He must be cold without a coat. Cale was about to suggest they head back into the warm greenhouse when Choi Han asked, carefully and seriously,

“Hyung, can I hug you?” 

Choi Han’s round eyes reflected nothing but Cale.

His request was so simple, so sincere.

How could someone like Choi Han ever hurt someone else? 

“Of course. Come here.” 

Cale embraced Choi Han’s cold body with his warm one and felt Choi Han’s arms wrap around him too. 

“I’ll protect you forever, hyung. I swear.”

Choi Han nuzzled into the crook of Cale’s neck, holding the most precious existence in the world.