Chapter 3: Black Eyes
716 Words
The classroom erupted into chaos.
"Move away from the door!"
"What... what happened to Ms. Kim?"
Students shoved desks against the entrance as the pounding grew louder.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Each hit shook the metal frame.
Outside, Ms. Kim stood unnaturally still.
Blood streamed from her nose, dripping onto the polished hallway floor.
Her pitch-black eyes stared through the small glass window.
Then...
She smiled.
It wasn't the warm smile that greeted her students every morning.
It was empty.
Cold.
Like something else was wearing her face.
"...Open the door," she whispered.
Another body staggered into the hallway behind her.
Then another.
One by one, teachers and students emerged from different classrooms.
Some cried.
Some laughed hysterically.
Some clawed at their own heads as if trying to tear something out.
Every single one of them had black eyes.
Min-jae felt his stomach twist.
"What... is happening?"
The classroom lights flickered.
Then the emergency alarm blared throughout the building.
ATTENTION. ALL STUDENTS ARE TO REMAIN IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOORS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
The announcement ended in a burst of static.
A horrifying scream echoed from downstairs.
No one spoke.
No one breathed.
Then...
The pounding stopped.
Silence.
For a brief moment, everyone thought it was over.
CRASH!
The classroom window beside the door exploded inward.
An infected student hurled himself through the shattered glass.
His movements were wild and unnatural.
He let out a guttural growl before lunging toward the nearest student.
"RUN!"
The room exploded into panic.
Desks toppled.
Students screamed.
Min-jae grabbed a metal chair and swung it with all his strength.
The infected crashed into the wall but immediately staggered back to its feet.
It didn't seem to feel pain.
"What is wrong with him?!" someone cried.
"It's not him anymore!" another student shouted.
The classroom door burst open.
Three more infected poured inside.
Their black eyes locked onto the terrified students.
Then they charged.
---
Across Seoul...
Seo-yeon stared at the television hanging above the university cafeteria.
Every channel showed the same breaking news.
Hospitals were overflowing.
Police stations had stopped answering calls.
Videos filled the screen.
People attacking strangers.
Cars crashing into crowds.
Entire streets consumed by panic.
The news anchor's voice trembled.
"We urge everyone to remain calm. Citizens experiencing severe nosebleeds, hallucinations, emotional instability, or blackened eyes should be reported immediately..."
The broadcast suddenly cut to static.
Students around the cafeteria exchanged frightened looks.
"This has to be fake..."
"No... look outside."
Seo-yeon turned toward the large windows.
People were running.
Not walking.
Running.
A woman stumbled into the middle of the street, clutching her head.
Blood poured from her nose.
She collapsed.
Several people rushed to help.
She suddenly sat upright.
Her eyes...
Were completely black.
Before anyone could react...
She bit the man beside her.
The entire cafeteria fell silent.
A second later—
Everyone screamed.
---
Ji-hoon grabbed Seo-yeon's wrist.
"We're leaving."
"What about everyone else?"
"We can't help anyone if we're dead."
Outside, the campus had descended into madness.
Students shoved one another trying to escape.
A bus slammed into a traffic light.
People cried for their families.
Sirens echoed from every direction.
Seo-yeon fumbled for her phone.
"Come on..."
She dialed Min-jae.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Her breathing became uneven.
"Please pick up..."
Nothing.
Ji-hoon gently took the phone from her shaking hand.
"We'll find him."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I promised I'd never leave him alone."
"And you won't."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I'll help you bring him home."
Before she could answer...
A deafening explosion echoed somewhere across the city.
Dark smoke rose into the sky.
Then every phone nearby vibrated at once.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALERT
A state of national emergency has been declared.
Avoid contact with infected individuals.
Do not attempt to rescue anyone showing signs of blackened eyes.
If bitten... seek immediate isolation.
The signal disappeared.
Seconds later...
Every phone lost service.
Seo-yeon's screen displayed only two words.
No Signal.
She slowly looked toward the distant skyline.
Somewhere beyond the smoke...
Beyond the chaos...
Beyond the infected...
Her little brother was alone.
She clenched her fists.
"I'm coming for you, Min-jae."
No matter what stood in her way...
She would reach him.
Even if she had to survive until her last breath.
- Writer
