Kim stared at them from up the stage then turned back to the blond guy.

“Yes, it’s them.” He sighed.

Yeontae’s mind was in an uproar. What was going on here ?

“Wow.” The blond snorted. “So what am I supposed to do with them ?”

“Nothing Louoon, I’m taking them back.”

Yeontae glanced at Jinkyu whose face was sporting a scowl.

“Okay.” ‘Louoon’ nodded. “They’ll keep their mouths shut ?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, we’ll see if she agrees.”

She ?

“Excuse me ?!” Jinkyu called them, removing his mask.

One of the guards holding him kicked him in the ribs and he let out a cry of pain.

“Jinkyu !” Yeontae was horrified.

“Ah…” He squirmed on the floor. “I’m sorry, I j-just want to–”

Another kick.

“NO !” Yeontae screamed.

“I just want to–ah!” Jinkyu panted, “…see my parents !”

Another kick. He groaned.

“Stop !” Louoon shouted.

The place fell silent.

“What did he say ?” Louoon then asked.

“That he wants to see his parents, Sir.” One of the guards answered.

Jinkyu coughed, wincing. All Yeontae wanted was to run to his side but the guards held him in place.

“I knew it…” Kim groaned. “I knew it !”

Louoon furrowed his eyebrows. “Knew what ?”

“His parents were infected. He got evacuated to the sane side, and they stayed behind.”

“Oh…” Louoon nodded in understanding. “Well then…”

He dragged Kim with him to the stairs leading down the stage, speaking so low that you couldn’t hear his voice.

Yeontae felt his entire body tensing, awaiting their fate anxiously.

Louoon motioned to the guards and they let them go and left.

“What ?”

This made no sense !

A cough.

“Jinkyu !” He helped him sit up, making him lean against his shoulder.

“That’s what I call a kick.” Jinkyu said, his voice hoarse.

“What ? You think it’s funny ?!”

His boyfriend chuckled but immediately stopped, wincing.

“Stop talking.” Yeontae whispered, gently patting his cheek. “You’re unbelievable…”

“That’s why you love me.” Jinkyu whispered back.

Kim walked up to them.

“Kim, I’m–”

He lifted his hand to hush him.

“What went through you ?” He said, articulating each word.

Yeontae knew what was coming, and it wouldn’t be fun.

“It’s my fault.” Jinkyu breathed out. “I’m sorry.”

Kim looked at him, eyes wide open.

“You better be !” He snarled. “What you did was stupid and unnecessarily dangerous.”

“If… If I find my parents…” Jinkyu said, more determined. “If I find them, it won’t be unnecessary.”

Kim groaned in frustration.

“You two get up, we’re gonna have a walk.”

It was strange. So strange.

The three of them were walking around the camp. What used to be Yeontae’s town had completely changed. The houses looking gloomier from what he remembered. The barriers surrounding the neighborhood of the town hall. The broken street lights leaving them in pitch black.

Except for them, the street was