Chapter Text
Hello, welcome to the second book.❤️ If you haven’t read Book 1 Immune: Run Or Die, run away to avoid spoilers.🏃🏼♀️
The first book and the first chapters of the second book will mainly focus on Jeonghan as the main character. However, other members will gradually take on a central role as new storylines unfold.🤫
Summary of Key Points
• The country is ravaged by a virus that turns humans into zombies. It is unknown if the epidemic has spread internationally. The members of Seventeen survived several days of intense fighting before reaching Busan, the last unmilitarized city. Their goal: to catch the last flight to Jeju Island, a potential refuge for the immune.
• However, only some of them managed to board. Those who remained in Busan are now being hunted by the military for refusing to cooperate. Under strict orders, the military must capture the immune and eliminate the others. The immune refugees in Jeju – Jeonghan, Vernon, Wonwoo, Minghao, Jihoon, and Johnny – remain untraceable. The people of Busan protect the secret of the island, paying with their lives.
• Johnny (He looks like Johnny from NCT for those who need to know), also immune, joined the group after saving them from his own sect. Tormented by guilt, he nonetheless managed to reach Jeju. The group was also helped by Junae and Sunah, a couple of immune women, who joined them on the island.
• Roa, a member of Pristin V is also immune, survived alongside Rena and Kyulkyung. They too found refuge on the island, though Nayoung and Eunwoo, their comrades, did not survive. The fate of the other members of Pristin remains unknown.
•••
PROLOGUE
They had been in Jeju for two days, and for two days they had been living in painful anticipation, waiting eagerly, and above all desperately, for the arrival of the other members of the group.
The sun was slowly descending, painting the horizon in shades of orange and purple, while the calm and regular waves reflected the last light of the day. The landscape could have been soothing, almost comforting, but for Jeonghan, it was nothing but a cruel reminder of their isolation.
Sitting on the still-warm sand, he pulled his knees against his chest, his arms wrapped around his legs. His head rested gently on his folded knees, his empty eyes staring at the distant horizon, where the sky met the waves. His fingers absentmindedly played with the sand, letting the grains slip between them.
Each sunset became another disappointment. He imagined Seungcheol, descending from a boat or emerging from a small craft, his face tired but very much alive. But the ocean, vast and indifferent, remained desperately empty. This island, meant to be their refuge, now felt like a trap, a gilded prison.
The memories refused to leave him in peace. He could still see their last moments in Busan, that race against time to reach the airport, where they had to make heart-wrenching decisions. Had he made a mistake by leaving Busan? The thought haunted him incessantly. Perhaps fleeing to this island, as safe as it seemed, had been a selfish act. In Busan, at least, they would have faced whatever came together.
The immune had found refuge quickly on the island, where the inhabitants, despite the pervasive fear, had welcomed them as a blessing. Seungkwan’s family, although grieving the absence of their son, took them in with maternal warmth, as if they were their own children. To them, the five boys and Johnny had become six new sons.
When Jeonghan and the others had told the story of their forced separation from the rest of the group, Seungkwan’s mother had found a spark of hope, clinging to the idea that one day her son would also step onto the shores of this island, just like her two daughters. The island had been cut off from the mainland since the outbreak, leaving their lives suspended in the waiting of a news they didn’t know if it would ever come.
While Jeju seemed like a haven of peace, this safety was tinged with strict control. Anyone who arrived on the island non-immune had to undergo an inevitable protocol: a chip implanted at the base of the neck. This small device, invisible to the naked eye, played a crucial role in the community’s survival. Connected to the heartbeat, it constantly monitored vital signs. If the heart stopped for more than three minutes, the chip triggered a localized explosion, destroying the person’s head to prevent any transformation into a zombie. A drastic measure, but necessary to protect the inhabitants…
•••
In Busan
The members had rushed out of the airport as soon as they heard the first military vehicles entering the city. They ran in disorganized lines, while Soonyoung tried to recall Jihoon’s precise instructions to reach the port, several kilometers away. The plan: find a boat, head to Jeju. However, in the rush, even the clearest landmarks seemed to fade.
Suddenly, their progress was interrupted.
Turning a corner, they saw them. A handful of figures, walking with determined steps. Their dark military uniforms and rifles slung across their backs were unmistakable. Seungcheol’s blood ran cold, and his survival instinct immediately took over.
“That way!” he whispered, pulling the group into a narrow alley. The others followed without question, fear written on their faces.
They leaned against the damp walls, their eyes fixed on the entrance to the alley.
“We’re dead… We’re dead…” whispered Seungkwan, unable to stop the trembling of his hands. In reality, they couldn’t do much against men and women who were highly trained. Especially since their only firearm, stolen at the start of their journey, was nearly useless: none of them knew how to properly use it, as they hadn’t completed their military service.
“Shut up, Seungkwan." Soonyoung hissed, glancing at the alley entrance. “If these guys turn their heads, we’re done for. Press yourself against the wall and stop moving.”
Seungkwan tried to comply, but his trembling legs made it hard to stay still. He breathed in quick gasps, his eyes wet with anxiety.
“Seungkwan, look at me.” Soonyoung murmured, softer this time. He placed his firm hands on the younger’s shoulders to try and bring him back to the present. “No one is going to die, okay? Not now. But you need to pull yourself together. Breathe.”
The sound of boots grew louder now, accompanied by voices shouting orders. The soldiers were searching the streets, knocking on doors, commanding the residents to come out. The sharp crack of a rifle startled Chan. Then more shots followed. The members hoped with all their might that those shots were aimed at zombies, not residents.
“We won’t last here." Chan whispered, terrified.
“Tell me someone has a plan.” Mingyu urged, his weapon gripped tightly in his hands.
Joshua nodded, trying to calm the frantic pounding of his heart. As one of the eldest, he was making an effort to maintain a calm demeanor.
“I think I have an idea.”
All eyes turned to him, hoping he had the plan that would save their lives. Joshua cautiously approached a garbage bin. Without hesitation, he reached out and slowly lifted the lid, holding his breath, expecting to find rotting waste or worse. To his surprise, it was almost empty.
“Come on, hurry." he ordered in a pressing voice.
The boys exchanged a brief look of hesitation before awkwardly jumping in, one by one.
Once inside, the metallic, dusty smell wasn’t pleasant, but it hardly mattered in the face of the danger chasing them. Joshua carefully closed the lid, making sure the noise wouldn’t give away their hiding spot.
They were now plunged into suffocating darkness. Their hearts were beating frantically, so loud they almost feared the soldiers would hear them. They could only guess what was happening outside, but the noise of the soldiers knocking on doors and the screams of the residents left no doubt: a real purge was taking place.
To their greatest despair, footsteps echoed in the alley, getting dangerously closer.
“The order is simple.” growled an authoritative voice just a few meters away. “Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be considered hostile. We kill them. No exceptions.”
“The government said it’s not a problem.” added a second soldier in a detached tone. “They say it gets rid of the lower class. Fewer mouths to feed, more resources for those on top.”
These words froze Seokmin’s blood, and he fought back a sob. Mingyu placed a hand on his knee, trying to calm him, although he himself was shaking from head to toe.
Then, without warning, a burst of gunfire echoed in the street, so close that the sound rang inside the dumpster like an explosion. The group jumped, their bodies instinctively curling up.
“Did they see us?” whispered Jun, as he pressed himself a little closer to the older one.
No one answered, but terror was written on all their faces. They clung to each other, their bodies huddled together, praying that the lid wouldn’t open. The wait was unbearable. The footsteps and voices outside began to slowly fade.
Seungcheol placed a hand on Joshua’s shoulder, who was already about to check if the coast was clear. “We don’t move. Not a sound. We wait a little longer.”
The sounds of gunfire continued to ring in the distance. They remained motionless for at least five minutes.
The air was starting to run out, and the smell was giving them headaches. Finally, Seungcheol made a decision and gently pointed to the surface of the dumpster.
“I’ll take a look.”
“Are you sure? What if they’re still out there?” whispered Seungkwan, who would rather stay here another hour.
“If we stay here, we’ll suffocate. We don’t have a choice.”
The others exchanged worried glances, but no one contested. Seungcheol slowly pushed the lid open, just enough to observe. His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully, looking for any suspicious movements.
Silence reigned outside, broken only by distant gunshots. Seungcheol took a deep breath and gently closed the lid again before turning back to the others.
“For now, it’s clear.” he warned them. “Wait, I’ll go further.”
With a sure motion, he climbed out of the dumpster, leaving the others huddled inside. The lid creaked as it closed, and the silence descended immediately. The rancid smell of metal and trash clung to their throats, but no one dared move, their bodies frozen in anticipation.
A few seconds passed, feeling like hours. Suddenly, the lid reopened, and Seungcheol reappeared abruptly. The movement startled Seungkwan, who grabbed DK’s arm instinctively.
“It’s clear." Seungcheol declared, still on high alert. He reached out to help Jun climb out. The latter gritted his teeth as he climbed out, his hand pressed against his bandaged shoulder. It had been over a week since he was shot at the supply camp, and his muscle was taking time to heal.
“Why did they shoot in the alley, those bastards!? There was nothing!” Soonyoung said angrily, running a nervous hand through his dirty hair.
Seungcheol signaled for him to be quiet with a movement of his head and pointed to a spot a little further away. At first puzzled, Soonyoung followed his gaze, as did the others.
On the ground, in a corner, a dog lay. Its body riddled with bullets still trembled faintly. Its thin sides rose in irregular spasms, and small plaintive whimpers escaped from its open mouth.
“My god…” Seungkwan whispered, tears rising to his eyes. He covered his mouth, unable to look away.
No one moved. The dog’s whimper faded into the air. It was gratuitous cruelty. To these soldiers, human life was worth barely more than that poor animal’s.
“We can’t leave it like this…” Chan sympathized, kneeling beside the dog. His hand gently touched its head, brushing its fur. The dog let out a faint whimper. It was suffering more and more.
Seungcheol turned his eyes away, his face hard. “We can’t waste a bullet.” he said softly, almost reluctantly. “Ammunition… we barely have enough to protect ourselves.” Indeed, ammo was becoming scarce.
Jun, who had been watching the scene in silence, felt his heart tear. Despite the pain in his shoulder, he stepped forward, kneeling next to the animal.
“Give me the knife.”
“Jun, are you sure?” Soonyoung asked him, still holding the knife, his gaze uncertain.
“I’ll do it." the Chinese said simply. He leaned toward the dog, which lifted its eyes to him. Jun gently placed a hand on its head, as if to tell it it wouldn’t be alone in this suffering.
“Everything will be okay, you won’t suffer anymore…” Jun reassured it in a calm voice. The animal, wracked with spasms, seemed to relax slightly under his touch. Jun placed the knife against the dog’s skin, knowing that this would quickly ease its pain.
Seokmin, eyes lowered, turned away, unable to bear the scene. The others stood there, heads bowed in respect.
Jun slowly pushed the knife in. For a moment, nothing happened, then the tremors subsided, and the animal gave its last breath. Jun caressed the dog one last time, compassion on his face.
“I’m sorry… You didn’t deserve this." he murmured, cleaning the knife on his t-shirt before handing it to Soonyoung, who took it gently.
“We need to go… quickly, before the soldiers find us." Mingyu announced, his eyes already scanning the surroundings, anticipating the slightest movement.
“Alright, let’s move. Stay alert. Anything can become a threat.” He cast one last glance around. Without another word, the group began to move…
•••
“Seungcheol… I really hope you’ll come for me, here, on this island. If you don’t come, I’ll hold it against you for the rest of my life. All this loneliness, this feeling of abandonment, all because you sent me here when I wanted to stay with you.” Jeonghan threw a small stone into the water. The sky, tinged with orange, seemed to cry with him.
“Johnny takes care of me, he does his best, but it’s not him I need. It’s you, Seungcheol… it’s you.” He threw a handful of sand into the air, the grains scattering, carried away by the breeze, like his thoughts and hopes collapsing.
“I need you, damn it.” The words came out in a rasp of frustration and pain. It wasn’t so much anger that overwhelmed him, but the infinite sadness that had settled inside him. Tears were ready to roll down his cheeks, but he held them back, as if refusing to let himself be submerged once more by this pain he no longer understood. He didn’t understand how it was possible to love someone so much, even though it was the most beautiful feeling he could experience.
“I’ll wait for you… No matter how long it takes. A year, five years, even a lifetime.” He paused, his voice now higher, broken by emotion. His gaze remained lost in the sea approaching him, swallowing the sand beneath his feet.
At the end of his monologue, a heavy silence fell over the beach. The waves erased the last echoes of his words.
Suddenly, discreet footsteps sounded behind him. Although they had known each other for only a short time, Jeonghan immediately recognized Johnny’s.
“Any news?”
Jeonghan barely moved. His head tilted slightly, just enough to indicate he had heard, but not enough to meet Johnny’s gaze. He simply shrugged in response.
Johnny approached and sat beside him, his legs stretched out in front of him, his hands resting in the sand.
“It’s not over. They’ll come eventually.”
Jeonghan finally turned his head towards him, his eyes empty and distant. “You don’t know that.”
Johnny paused. He wanted to reply, offer comforting words, but what could he say? No one knew.
After a moment, a comforting warmth filled the angel as familiar arms slowly wrapped around him, pulling him into a soothing embrace. It was Minghao. His head rested on Jeonghan’s shoulder, bringing the human warmth he so desperately needed. He closed his eyes for a moment, a slight sigh escaping his lips as he let himself be enveloped by this reassuring contact.
“Hey Hyung.” Minghao’s voice was as gentle as ever. Jeonghan turned to him as he ran a hand through the younger’s hair.
“We were looking for you… it’s time to eat.” Minghao added a smile, but it was only a pale reflection of his true mood. It didn’t completely erase the melancholy visible in his eyes.
Jeonghan felt the underlying sadness, but his heart warmed at Minghao’s attention. A fond smile appeared on his face. “Did you have a good afternoon?” he asked. His dongsaengs were his life, he had always seen them as his little brothers. He made sure to look after them like a protective older brother. Their smiles, their well-being, their happiness… all of that came before everything else. It guided every gesture, every decision he made.
“Not really…” Wonwoo complained, slumping next to Jeonghan, his gaze lost at the horizon where the sun was slowly disappearing. “I already miss them…” His mind, though here, was entirely consumed by Mingyu, his boyfriend, whose absence weighed heavily on his heart.
“They’ll find us. They’ll always find us.” Jihoon spoke those words with full conviction as he had just arrived. Like their leader, he knew Soonyoung would go to any lengths to bring them back. He would never leave a member of their group behind, no matter the obstacles. This wasn’t just a thought, it was a fact: Soonyoung wouldn’t abandon him.
Jihoon’s words had an immediate effect on the group. Their eyes, previously lost in melancholy, seemed to regain a bit of light. If Jihoon could still believe in a tomorrow, why couldn’t they?
The sun, almost swallowed by the horizon, cast its final rays over the ocean. Johnny slowly stood up to warn them. “Guys, the curfew’s starting soon. It’s time to head back.”
The boys all nodded in unison, their faces a bit more relaxed. Minghao, Wonwoo, and Jihoon walked away together, continuing their conversation in low voices, picking up where they had left off. But Jeonghan stayed there, still lost in his thoughts.
Vernon, seeing his hyung motionless, approached with a small smile. “Hyung, are you coming?” The question was more an invitation than a real request. He knew he needed to bring Jeonghan back, but he wasn’t pushing. The members tried not to leave him alone for too long. They feared he might develop depressive symptoms.
Jeonghan quietly wiped away a tear that had slipped down his cheek, a tear that didn’t seem to want to dry. He slowly nodded. Johnny reached out his hand, and he took it without hesitation.
Johnny draped an arm around Jeonghan’s shoulders, and Vernon gently wrapped his arm around his waist. The image that formed was one of pure friendship, unshakable solidarity, even though events were spiraling against them.
They quickly made their way home, the sound of the waves slowly fading behind them. A pleasant aroma of food greeted their noses as they passed through the door. Seungkwan’s mother, smiling and warm, hurried to greet them, inviting them to sit at the table.
She then approached Jeonghan, who was the last to enter. When she saw him, her expression softened because she knew the pain that had been weighing on him for the past few days. Silently, she opened her arms and embraced him, like a mother would her son whom she hadn’t seen in far too long. Jeonghan, taken by surprise, allowed himself to be enveloped in this gesture full of tenderness. He hadn’t expected it, but he desperately needed it.
She gently let him go after a moment. “You know, Jeonghan… Your leader is truly exceptional. He has always been there for my Seungkwan, and I’m sure he will bring everyone back alive, even if it takes years. My son and your friends are in good hands.”
“Thank you for everything.” Jeonghan said with gratitude. He knew he wasn’t in the state to offer others the support they needed, and here, in this house, he was receiving more than he had ever dared to hope for.
“Don’t thank me.” she replied softly, with a smile full of tenderness. “You took care of Seungkwan like a big brother, and today, it’s my turn to take care of you. It’s only right.”
He couldn’t find the words to reply to that, his gratitude and emotion leaving him speechless. Jeonghan simply gave her a sincere smile, touched by her attention.
That’s when she noticed, almost distractedly, the shiny ring on his ring finger. Her eyes lit up instantly. She looked at him for a moment, her features marked by surprise.
“Wait a minute, Jeonghan… Is that… an engagement ring?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
Jeonghan, a bit caught off guard by the question, looked down at the ring, then lifted his head to meet her gaze. He nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Yes… It’s from Seungcheol…” he said, his words fragile, almost like a confession. He hesitated for a moment before speaking more, feeling vulnerable under Seungkwan’s mother’s compassionate gaze. “I… I didn’t think we’d get this far, with everything we’re going through…”
Seungkwan’s mother’s eyes filled with softness, and a genuine smile spread across her lips. She placed a hand on his cheek, looking at him with immeasurable love. “Oh, Jeonghan, that’s wonderful news!” She turned briefly to the other boys, who seemed to be watching the scene with discreet smiles. “I knew it, you two are made for each other. You’ve been through so much together. I’m so happy for you.”
Jeonghan, surprised, furrowed his brow. “You… you knew about us?”
Seungkwan’s mother lowered her eyes slightly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Well… Seungkwan has never been very good at keeping secrets.” she admitted. “He might have let a few hints slip here and there. But it’s normal, right? He’s so proud of you two. I am too.”
Jeonghan felt his heart warm at the sincerity of her words. For a moment, he felt almost at peace with himself.
“Thank you… I never had the chance to tell my parents I was in a relationship. It really means a lot to me to tell you.”
“You did the right thing! It’s the perfect occasion to celebrate! I’m going to open a nice bottle of wine, and we’ll celebrate this moment all together!” Seungkwan’s father and the other boys let out exclamations of joy as Jeonghan was led to the table, a big smile on his face.
The angel knew there were people here, who loved him and welcomed him, no matter what happened.
And that was enough, just for today.