CHAPTER VIII  

 

                        What comes next may not be predictable.   First, the apocalypse. Second, the precious people from his life died from the ridiculous disease. Third, captured by an illegal trading of goods where they were almost slaughtered alive and organs being taken out for selling to the overseas. Fourth, they lost the driver and also the master in scientific, health, medication and nutrition. Fifth, they have to be independent after encountering from trap to trap in the forest, learned to never gave a stranger with a group a chance to grab advantage on naive bunch of school teenagers. Sixth, they had to go on separation from the attack of an unexpected horde. Seventh, a sight of a woman in a delicate condition brought some hope for the population to be conserved if they could protect her and the fetus.   During the moment he discovered her inside the storage room has made him dumbstruck, but there he is. Carrying her out of the room, carefully her to settle her down on the chair formerly belonged to a cashier behind the counter desk of the convenience store they sneaked in. Donghan seems to be surprise by the sudden rare appearance as well, and approach the desk in disbelief as he scans through her exposed skins for any sign of bitten but there is none. Which is quite more shocking.   “Do not be scared. We are here to help but what is your name and how long have you been here?” asked Daniel in concern, looking into her glossy eyes to convince her on talking despite the traumatic experience she had while bearing the second person in her belly for some time and from there, he could tell she attempted her best to protect the child with herself.   The woman exhales a relieving breath with her hand cupping below her rounded belly before she could gather enough confidence to speak up and her gaze repeatedly switching from Donghan to Daniel,    “I'm Kahi, Park Kahi. I was traveling from Hawaii to Busan in order to meet my husband but instead, I got trapped when the airport suddenly turned chaotic with people shooting here and there. I found myself the storage room to hide after that.”   “Have you contacted your husband then?”   “No, I cannot contact him during the epidemic. My phone fell when I struggled in the crowd and someone else stepped on it to crash. I don't have any other way to communicate with him from a far distance but I know where is his workplace. He is the sergeant for Republic of Korea Armed Forces and he told me about the camp location before I dropped my phone by accident.”   After a while of listening attentively, Daniel glance over Donghan as if they are having a telepathy conversation then returns his observation back on the woman around her mid-thirties. She could be more suitable to teach in his school for practical performing arts classes based on the maturity spreading from her mien. He thinks for a short minute to reveal his thought.   “But we don't have compass or a map with us—”   “I know the way from here,” she quickly cut in. She had her eyes saying, “Trust me.”   He purses his lips together into a thin line with a single nod as an approve detail, “Alright then. We should start heading there before it gets darken in a few more hours.”   Kahi flaunts a beam, signalling how thankful she is.   “Thank you.”   “Not a big deal. You must be missing your husband so much.”   And with a reassuring smile, he gestures Donghan to take care of the lady as he goes to pick up the previously packed-up duffel bag from the floors. Donghan hang his rifle to the back for a good access to guide Kahi off the cashier section to exit the convenience store with Daniel