Chapter Text
PART I: GREEN HOME
Sunset. The transport had been flipped over by a random monster they hadn't even gotten the chance to recognize. The soldiers in the driver seat were trapped inside, smashed, dead on the spot. The remaining Green Home residents had been tossed by the impact and had landed on the snowy ground badly.
Scattered all over the place, most of them had died and dying. They didn't get to the safe camp and it appeared to be they were less than halfway. The place was deserted. There was no one around that could and would lend a hand and save them. Monsters were creeping out from the nearest buildings, smelling their blood. Death was coming to them in number of ways possible. There was no escape.
Like the rest of the survivors, Ji Su was dying. Her head had landed hard on the solid concrete, bleeding critically. She was lying defenseless and couldn't move an inch. Moreover, it was becoming hard to breathe. There was warm substance blocking her airways inside and drowning her in the process. Must be her own blood. Something sharp had pierced through her from the back and through her lung, but had seemingly missed her heart.
Ji Su was certain, it was her end. After all her efforts of surviving (she even underwent a surgery and lived), after all her persistence to hold onto her humanity and onto an unlikely hope for a faint light to come and illuminate the darkest hour, finally, her death was nearing. Just like that.
Funny. She was neither feeling the urge to live nor angry. She was feeling rather numb, even relieved that it was finally over. It must be the exhaustion. After all, it was indeed tiring to survive. She was glad enough she wasn't dying as a monster but as a human. That, alone, she was considering a victory.
Ji Su stared at the available view ahead, the dull ground filled with debris and bloodstained snow. Not so far from her was the katana Jae Heon left her. She thought of how he faced death to save them and then, there they were, following him, dying as well. How disappointing.
With her remaining strength, Ji Su forced herself to reach the broken weapon, until she successfully gripped the handle. Despite the coldness of the weather and the horror of her upcoming death, it was warm.
The snow fell from the sky with the diminishing red-orange light of the dusk, pulling off some last minute beauty out of the scene full of remorse and regrets. It was sad. No matter how willing she was to give in to death, the atmosphere was still sad and heavy.
In her last moment, in her final few breathes, Ji Su shed one tear, bearing a silent wish — if only she could restart. Though it was tiring, she was willing to give it another round, do it all over again, save whoever she could, and survive.
Blood coming from her head was combined with her tear. With a touch of snow, the wish was sealed. There was silence. Then, nothing.
Ji Su had stopped from breathing. Then, a monster came and stomped her down to death.
Heat on her face. Dry and hot air crawling on her skin. Sweat drenching her clothes. There was an irritating noise on the side that sounded like her phone ringing nonstop. Is this hell?
Ji Su woke up with a loud gasp. Strong light greeted her, burning her eyes. It took her a minute to adjust. Catching her breath, she saw her old ceiling above her, the same moldy ceiling of her apartment back in Green Home. That caught her a second.
Ji Su took a moment to know her surroundings. She was lying on something familiar. The texture and the squeaky sound seemed a lot like her old sofa. What?! That was it! In a flash, Ji Su sat up. It greatly surprised her that she had the strength to move and wasn't feeling any pain. It was even a shock to her realizing she wasn't injured at all, not a single scratch nor blood on her body. Furthermore, her hair was long, back to its condition months ago.
Ji Su looked around her. The dirty kitchen with undone dishes. Her unfinished laundry in plain sight. The messy table in the center of the room with her full ashtray and cigarette boxes lying on the surface along with some music sheets and scribbles. The bass leaning on the sofa. The instruments in the corner. The same clutter in her room in the late morning. She was back in her apartment! At the strange setting, Ji Su couldn't help but utter a quick “What the fu– ?!” She was cut when her phone on the coffee table rang once more. She almost jumped in surprise. She glanced at the device and saw the name of their band's lead singer flashing on the screen.
It puzzled Ji Su how in the world their lead singer was calling her and why. Temporarily brushing off the oddity, she decided to answer the phone. She waited for the other end to speak first. Then, “WHY THE HELL WEREN'T YOU ANSWERING YOUR PHONE?! The schedule was moved early! You said you wanted this gig. Do you still wanna do this? Get your head straight, stop slacking off, and keep your lines active! Don't give me this shitty attitude and come here quick or I am not giving your cut!” He waited no more for her response and ended the call right away.
Despite the earsplitting yell of the annoying singer, Ji Su wasn't alarmed nor threatened. Rather, she was even confused as to why he was asking her to come to a gig. What? Last performance at the end of the world? Who's the audience then? The monsters themselves?
When Ji Su returned to her phone's home screen, she noticed the date. August 9, 2020. Sunday. 10:53 am. The date where she had a short gig in the city, her last one, the very morning before the strange monsters and horror fell completely into the night.
Stop.
Ji Su quickly looked through her window. There, she saw the normal view of the busy city. Cars were running and people were occupying the usual streets. No signs of monsters and disasters. Normal. Confused, Ji Su muttered, without interruption this time, “The fuck?!”
Ji Su decided to go with the flow and go to her gig, though not in haste. She remained extremely confused on the way, mind fully occupied trying to figure out what had happened and what was happening.
Carrying her bass on her back, tapping her boots on the dusty floor, waiting for the elevator doors to open, Ji Su contemplated and made theories. Since no one was around, she muttered to herself, thinking out loud, “It was wild and odd. Maybe it was just a dream?” Her face contorted into a deep frown. For some reasons, it sounded wrong. “They were all so clear. Can a person dream happenings equivalent to months of memories?”
Ji Su's head ached with her attempts. Releasing a heavy sigh, she decided to stop for a moment and hoped she would find the answer later.
“I guess you just moved here.”
Ji Su jumped at the sound and even yelped in surprise. She hadn't noticed someone was already there, standing beside her. It was a great relief it was in a human form.
The woman with a soft voice spoke again, “Oh, dear! It's okay, Da Eun-ah. She's just a neighbor.”
After collecting herself, Ji Su turned to the owner of the voice and recognized it as Im Myung Sook. She was wearing the same dress, pulling the same roller, just like when they had first met and greeted each other as neighbors in her questionable memory. Ji Su’s eyes went wide, surprised. Apparently, Miss Im was real.
The lady faced Ji Su once more and smiled widely at her. Ji Su felt the need to say something. Stuttering, she said, “I-I'm sorry.”
“It's all right.”
To confirm her theory, Ji Su leaned down to see the supposed baby inside the roller crib. As she expected, it was empty. She stared back at Miss Im. It looked like she was the same lady who was continuously talking to her dead child and living as if the tragedy didn't happen.
“Isn't she pretty?” Miss Im asked merrily.
Ji Su answered rigidly, “Yes, she is.”
Ting! The elevator door opened. Miss Im stepped inside. Ji Su remained on her position, still processing what was happening. When Miss Im noticed Ji Su wasn't moving a bit, she asked, “Aren't you getting in?”
Ji Su was pulled out from her stupor. For some reasons, she didn't want to enter. She replied, using the same excuse, “No, I forgot my wallet at home.” Miss Im was about to say something, but Ji Su spoke beforehand, anticipating her neighbor's next words, “No, don't wait for me. You go ahead.” She forced a smile.
Miss Im nodded with a bright beam and then finally let the doors close, leaving Ji Su behind.
Still shocked at the loud coincidence, Ji Su muttered after, “What the hell is going on?” Then —
“It's all right. She's a kind person.” That voice. It was familiar. Way too familiar. Ji Su thought she would not hear it anymore.
Heart beating fast in anticipation, Ji Su slowly turned to the source. Well-combed hair. Iron-pressed suit and tie. Wire-rimmed glasses. Yes, it was Jae Heon, looking the same as when they had first met, right from his hair down to his polished shoes. Ji Su's breathing stopped for a moment. She was completely stunned seeing the man alive and well.
Jae Heon stepped closer to her and said the exact explanation before, “She lost her baby last year. They say her roller rolled into the street when she wasn't looking.”
Jae Heon pushed the button for the elevator. Though Ji Su didn't respond, he continued, “God sometimes gives us hardships that are hard to overcome but failing to overcome them doesn't mean you should be criticized or feared by others for it.”
Ji Su would have given him dry grins once again, but her shock and relief were overpowering that tendency. She joined him in his next words, certain that he would utter his favorite line, “Everything is God's will.”
Jae Heon's smile was even brighter after hearing her say the same words. He quickly lifted his hand towards her for her to shake. He introduced, “It's nice to meet you. I am Jung Jae Heon. I live in room 1506.”
Ji Su looked at his hand and stared at it for long, doubting its realness. Jae Heon waited for her to shake it. When she didn't move, he asked as he started dropping his hand, “Am I being — ”
For fear of rejecting him once again, Ji Su caught his hand in the middle, cutting his sentence midway. Ji Su’s breath hitched when she felt his hand in hers. Jae Heon was real. He was warm. He was alive! Ji Su felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away. It would be too strange if she suddenly cries before him.
“Uhm...” Jae Heon seemed like trying to formulate a sentence. Right, Ji Su was holding his hand and gaping at him too long. It must be making him uncomfortable.
With that, she started, “I am Yoon Ji Su.” Then, she finally released his hand.
Jae Heon smiled at her. Ji Su smiled back though it was rather stiff since she was still processing what was happening. Ting! At last, the elevator doors opened. Together, they stepped in.
Even inside the elevator, Ji Su's eyes were fixed on Jae Heon, as if digging a hole into his face. Thoughts, including weird ones, were coming to her all at once, guessing what it could be. Dream? Destiny? Prophecy? Then, she noticed from the dull elevator door's reflection, Jae Heon was looking at her, as if holding his breath, showing minimal discomfort, probably finding her very weird.
Swiftly, Ji Su dropped her gaze, mentally kicking herself for making him uncomfortable once again. He must be thinking she was some kind of lunatic. But, wasn't she? She was becoming mental figuring out the bizarre memories in her head.
Then, Jae Heon spoke, “I guess you play the guitar.”
It was a surprise to Ji Su he was still talking to her. Not looking up, she corrected, “Bass.”
“Oh, right.”
Ji Su decided to lay down all her cards. She wanted to know if he was indeed the Jae Heon she knew in her memory. Still with her head down, she asked, “What do you do?”
In his usual cheerful tone, he replied, “I am a Korean language teacher in the city.” Another matched answer. Ji Su's gaze wandered to the Bible he was holding. Jae Heon noticed and explained right away as if he knew what she was thinking, “I am holding a Bible because I am going to church today since it's Sunday.” Slowly, Ji Su looked up. Once faced, Jae Heon locked eyes with her and added, “I am not a missionary or anything.”
Ting! The doors opened. Ji Su was quiet. Jae Heon gave her a small smile and then stepped out of the space. He waited for her to board off. However, Ji Su wasn’t moving at all, eyes on Jae Heon, lost in her thoughts. Noticing this, Jae Heon asked worriedly, “Miss Ji Su, aren't you getting off?”
Hearing her name, Ji Su stirred up, “Oh.” Finally, she stepped out. That was when a man came into the scene, hitting her shoulder as he was boarding the elevator.
Ji Su turned to look at the man occupying the space she was previously in. Though briefly, for the elevator was already closing in, she recognized his tough expression, especially the burn on the side of his face. It was Sang Wook. Another familiar figure but not of Green Home. Then, the doors completely shut.
Jae Heon picked something from the ground and said, “He dropped this.” Ji Su turned to Jae Heon and saw him holding a green tape. His face was solemn looking at the closed elevator.
Seeing the tape, Ji Su was reminded of the man, a murderer specifically, they found trapped in his own apartment on the eighth floor in her memory. She remembered him covered in green tape, beaten up, and his story with Sang Wook. Though, she didn't witness it herself, she knew Sang Wook had killed the man.
Everything was matching up, falling into its right place. Things were consistently occurring. That made Ji Su think the monster apocalypse might be happening too.
Alarmed, Ji Su started running around the first floor, looking for signs, not caring anymore if she was starting to look crazy searching the area with bass on her back. Jae Heon remained standing in the center, watching her from the lobby.
The Day Care Center looked normal. The store as well. The alleys and exits were fine. After not seeing a single sign, Ji Su started to calm down. That, until she spotted the guard area. She halted. On the counter, she saw a box with dark stain on the surface. Cautiously, Ji Su walked closer. The security room, slash ‘guard lounge’, seemed empty and unattended. She leaned further to look at the stain. It was blood. It looked like someone had started bleeding. Someone had started showing signs. Then, it occurred to her. It must be the guard.
Horror completely fell in. Ji Su felt more than panic. She stepped back, shaking her head, trying to deny the fact that the stain really looked like excess blood. She didn't realize she was trembling and breathing hard and fast until Jae Heon shook her, “Miss Ji Su, are you okay?” Oh, he was still there. Gently, with one hand, he turned her to face him. He repeated, worried at how she was expressing such horror, “Are you okay?”
Ji Su stared at Jae Heon. Though she couldn't see his eyes clearly since he was wearing glasses, seeing his gaze reminded her of her last minute memory before her death. The snow, the blood, the tear, his broken sword, and her wish. That time, she was willing to do anything, redo everything, save everyone she could, and try not to die in the end. Her feelings were strong and desperate back then. Presently, she was feeling the same.
Not breaking her eyes off Jae Heon, Ji Su gulped and then asked, “If the world starts ending tonight, what will you do?”
It was obvious Jae Heon was taken aback by the question. He blinked several times and uttered a simple “What?” It was so out of the blue. Anyone would find it absurd. Anyone would run away immediately. Ji Su was glad Jae Heon stayed.
She demanded, “Answer me.”
Jae Heon looked away, thinking. The moment he stared back at Ji Su, he looked so certain. "Pray," he answered. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. Run to Him and you will be safe.” He cast a smile in the end.
Ji Su almost choked at his reply. Of course, he would say that. Typical Jae Heon, always breaking the mood with his verses and sincerity. Ji Su deeply sighed, “I mean, yes, but...” she looked up at him and said determinedly, “I want to be prepared.” She was feeling it again, the desire to live, burning within her. She gave him a meaningful and leveled gaze...
.
.
.
.
“I want to do better this time. Better than my best.”