[CONTENTID1]Phoenix[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]Epilogue[/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3]

July and August were turbulent times for the island's inhabitants. After the traitors had been identified, news of their arrest and Jung’s death spread through town like wildfire, and angry demands for justice were raised. The military leadership faced a delicate task—they needed to hold a trial against Lihua and Jing. Pursuing an adequate punishment for their involvement in the development of RABV-12 was necessary. While the initial spread of the disease had been an accident, they still needed to be held accountable for their actions and for kidnapping Boah, Seri, and Wendy.

In the meantime, Dr. Kwon finally finished her research and released the very first South Korean vaccine against RABV-12. It was tested and soon administered to the inhabitants of the island. Following this, the military’s other safe zones on the mainland were supplied with the vaccine as well, and a joint plan was discussed to eradicate all zombies from South Korean soil. The warm summer weather had already caused many undead to decay faster, but some remained alive and had to be dealt with before the country could be rebuilt. The survivors yearned to return to their former homes and reclaim their lives.

South Korea’s military attempted to reach out to as many countries as possible, spreading the news about the vaccine and sharing Dr. Kwon’s research findings. The fight against the virus turned into a global effort, beginning in Asia and spreading to more continents, where research had been conducted as well. Exchanging information with other scientists about the virus and its mutations helped to further the fight against the disease. The entire world was involved, sharing a mutual goal.

A substantial part of the human population had fallen victim to the virus, but those who survived were determined to make the most of the situation. They worked tirelessly to fix major cities' power grids, supplying electricity to hospitals and other institutions. The phone network in many areas was restored, internet servers gradually went back online, and international communication improved. The world was no longer mute. A long way was left to go, but the first steps had been made.

By the time Minhee’s birthday rolled around, the future looked brighter, and a sense of anticipation had spread among the island’s inhabitants. A few lucky ones had been able to contact their relatives or friends inside other safe zones of the military and were preparing for a reunion. Others simply wanted to visit the mainland again after such a long time. The military regularly offered ship rides back and forth between Jeju Island and Wando.

Baekhyun and Seri took a day off in order to prepare a party for their daughter after she returned from school. Minhee already knew she was in for a surprise in the afternoon and had been giddy all morning—she probably wouldn’t pay all that much attention in class today. When her school day ended, Baekhyun and Seri picked her up together, and she beamed when she saw them standing at the gate.

“Mama, Papa!” she squealed and waved a colorful paper crown. The other children must have crafted it for her. “Can I get my surprise now?”

“Of course, honey. You’ve been extra patient,” Seri giggled and patted her shoulder. “Papa and I prepared everything while you were at school. Let’s go home first to get your surprise, and then we’ll have a nice birthday dinner together with everyone.”

“You will love it,” Baekhyun agreed with a grin, raising the girl’s anticipation to an unbearable level.

“I wanna see! Let’s go, let’s go!”

Minhee took Baekhyun’s and Seri’s hand, walking in the middle of them as they crossed the street. Many people were outside today, and Jeju City was livelier than ever before. Since school had ended for most children, some of them spent time on the playground in the nearby park, their laughter hanging in the air. A permanent smile was glued on Minhee’s face as she talked about her day.

“Everyone sang a birthday song for me this morning! And then we learned about different kinds of animals. My teacher showed us the birds living on the island and what they’re called. I want to see them myself, but I think they’re good at hiding.”

“It must have been interesting. Why don’t we visit Hallasan National Park this weekend and go hiking? There’s a chance you might spot some of those birds with your own eyes,” Baekhyun smiled, prompting her to nod enthusiastically.

“Okay! I want to bring my friend Chae, can I do that?”

“Sure, honey. We can all go together,” Seri said, exchanging a knowing look with Baekhyun. They had the same thought on their mind—someone else would join them as well, but this secret had yet to be uncovered.

It didn’t take long to reach their apartment building, and the family entered while Minhee ran ahead, stopping in front of the apartment door. Her feet impatiently tapped on the ground. Baekhyun unlocked the door, letting Minhee go inside first.

Seri’s lips twitched in amusement when Minhee looked around, trying to find her surprise. At first glance, the living area looked the same way it always did. The couch was covered in pillows and a fluffy rug lay in front of the coffee table. However, there were little hints about Minhee’s present spread all over the room. She only needed to spot them, and then she might figure it out…

Baekhyun stopped next to Seri, wrapping his arm around her waist and stealing a quick kiss. “Think she’ll notice it?” he whispered, voice dripping with amusement. His gorgeous eyes were b with warmth, giving life to a swarm of butterflies in Seri’s belly. She beamed at him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“She will. Minhee is smart.”

Hearing Seri’s words, Minhee turned around. “Yeah, I’m super smart! I will find the surprise for sure.”

Baekhyun chuckled, watching as the girl inspected the sofa and lifted the pillows, not finding anything under them. Shifting her gaze elsewhere, she noticed something weird lying in a corner—a bone made of plastic and a rainbow-colored ball?

“Oh, what’s this?” she said and picked it up, accusingly gazing at her parents. “Is this my present? I’m not a baby anymore, you know?”

Baekhyun’s shoulders shook as he desperately struggled to keep from laughing. “No, honey. That belongs to someone else.”

Her eyes widened as she started to catch on. “Who?”

“Let’s go to your room, Min,” Seri said and took her daughter’s hand. It seemed like she couldn’t figure it out on her own. They walked to her door and Seri opened it, stepping back to let Minhee enter first.

The girl’s eyes widened as she spotted the furry visitor who calmly lounged on her bed. He perked up his orange ears and jumped off the mattress when he saw Minhee, flapping his tail. “It’s Mongryong!” she beamed and crouched to hug the enthusiastic dog. He snuggled right into her arms, recognizing her scent from her last visit to the animal shelter. Happy barks filled the room when she giggled.

“Will he stay?” she asked and looked at her parents, eyes filled with hope.

“Of course. He moved in today and will be our new roommate,” Baekhyun grinned. The surprise had been a full-blown success. He and Seri had taken a long time to chose a pet for her, and Mongryong had been so friendly whenever they had visited—he seemed like the perfect match for their daughter.

“Thank you so much. This is the best present ever,” she sniffled and rubbed her eyes. Her new pet started her hand, regaining her attention. “You’re the cutest, Mongryongie!” Once she managed to get up despite the dog clinging to her, she ran over to her parents and gave them a hug. The adults kneeled down and pulled her in, Seri leaving a kiss on her forehead.

Seri subtly wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye, her joy flushing her cheeks. Minhee had thrived in the past weeks and months, becoming more carefree and content with her new life and the people around her. It felt great to see the change. Now, Minhee had many friends at school and liked spending time with her parents and “uncles,” as she liked to call the members of EX9. Not to forget, she found Minho and Kibum hilarious and always said hi to the chaotic duo during dinner and breakfast. This was the futur