Chapter 7 — The Last Door
325 Words
Do-hyun climbed the stairs carefully.
The woman and the boy followed behind him.
Their steps were slow and heavy.
They were exhausted.
They reached the next floor hallway.
He checked the first door.
Locked.
Second door.
Locked.
Every room was closed.
The woman leaned against the wall, breathing hard. She said she could not walk anymore and needed to rest.
Do-hyun looked around.
The hallway felt unsafe. They needed shelter quickly.
He walked to the last door at the end of the corridor.
Just as he reached it—
he heard voices inside.
People talking.
He knocked gently.
No answer.
He tried the handle, but something blocked it from inside.
“I’m police,” he said calmly.
“Please open.”
Inside, everyone stayed silent.
Hana lifted her head.
The voice felt painfully familiar.
She stepped closer slowly.
“…Do-hyun?” she whispered.
Outside the door, he froze.
“Hana.”
Her hands trembled as she pushed the table aside and opened the door.
They looked at each other.
His face was tired and dirty.
Her eyes were wet and shaking.
Then she ran to him.
He caught her in his arms.
She held him tightly, afraid he might disappear if she let go.
Her tears soaked his shoulder.
“I thought…” she couldn’t finish.
“I’m here,” he said softly.
She pulled back just enough to see his face, then hugged him again.
She leaned forward and kissed him.
For one brief moment, nothing else mattered.
Then a low growl echoed from the stairwell.
Do-hyun’s expression changed immediately.
He held her hand firmly.
“We don’t have time,” he said.
Another bang came from the stairs.
He looked at everyone.
“Let’s go. We move to the rooftop .Now.”
A hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
Kang Min-jae stood there, shaking his head.
“No.”
Min-jae’s voice stayed calm.
“If we go up now… we run into them.”
- Writer
