The Corridors Of The Dead

I wonder how many sunrises and sunsets will I be able to see and how many more nights will I be able to see those stars. It had been two weeks since it all begun. Who would have that those zombie apocalypse we used to watch in movies would actually become a reality?

Yeah, so this all started when a certain toxic chemical leaked from one of the labs in the North East. People started turning into creatures, we so call them zombies. We don’t have any antidote to cure this infection.

2 WEEKS AGO

*BEEP BEEP*(ALARM RINGS)

I was sleeping peacefully and enjoying in my dreamland when this stupid alarm started ringing

*BEEP BEEP*.

“Ugh!!! Fine I am up now, stop ringing.” While saying this, I shut the alarm off.

“I’ll go freshen up and get ready for school”.

While getting ready I remembered that I had not given a proper introduction yet. So, here we go.

Hello everyone, I am Lee Areum . I am 18 years old and a sophomore at Sekang High School. I am a single child of my parents. My parents are renowned doctors. Well, this isn’t all…. There’s a continuous rumor spread worldwide where an outburst of something has created a chaos in the west. Also, my parents were called for medical support to the military. To be more precise, I haven’t heard anything from them for a long time. I don’t know in what condition they are in or are they even alive. The whole administration is busy in protecting the borders so that the infection cannot enter the country. Here, at Seoul, it is safe till now but no one knows how long it will be the same.

Anyways, I don’t want to be late to the school, so LET’S GO…. .

Lee Areum reached school on her car. Students are scattered all around the campus as the bell for the class has not gone yet. She spots her friends and goes to them.

‘As soon as I arrived, I spot my friends nearby. So, I went to them.’

‘Hi guys’, I said waving at them.

‘Hi Areum’ said my best friend, Kang Sae Ron.

‘Good morning Areum ahh’ said Yoon Ah Young, while hugging me.

‘We were waiting for you’ added my personality clone Lee Chan Mi.

We hugged each other although it was just yesterday when we last met but still it feels good.

‘Let’s get going because I don’t want to face HER and HER MINIONS in the very morning’, said Sae Ron. We agreed to her comment in unison.

We were about leave, when I felt someone slapped me lightly on my head.

Turning around I almost shouted at the person, but I stopped when I saw who it was. It was one of my friends, Lee Jeong Hoon.

‘Yahhh!!!…. How dare you hit me on my head!!!.’ ‘Come here you crazy animal.’ We are friends from elementary school and for that we love to tease each other.

‘I didn’t see that it was you. I thought it was some sort of round object.’ He said knowing the fact that it would make me angry.

‘Huhhhh…..there they go again’ Ah Young said sighing. Saeron and Chan Mi nodded their head in a sync that showed they were fed up of us.

We were bickering with each other like our life depended on it.

‘Whenever I see you on road I feel like a mental patient has escaped from an asylum’.

‘You little piece of----’, he was cut off by some voices that came from behind.

‘Are you guys 18 or 8?’ said Park Yeo Jun. He is Jeong Hoon’s best friend and also ours. ‘You guys are so loud and annoying’, said Hwang Chan Yeol coming along with Kim Han Gyeol. These two boys are also our friends.

Han Gyeol dragged Jeong Hoon towards him. ‘Come here, man! I don’t want to witness a cat fight in the morning.’ They all started chiding us like we committed some sort of crime by bickering with each other. Jeong hoon and I was standing there all dumbfounded. We both looked at each other and then ‘STOP!!,’ we shouted. ‘Fine we won’t fight anymore. You are even annoying than us’. ‘Anyways, have you guys completed the assignment from yesterday,’ I asked the others. They all replied in affirmative.

‘Do we have any free classes today?’ asked Ah Young.

‘Sadly, we have none,’ replied Sae Ron.

‘But we can sneak out if we want,’ Chan Yeol said with a mischievous smirk. ‘Of course we can,’ Chan Mi said giving out the same energy as Chan Yeol. ‘But for now, let’s get going,’ Yeo Jun said in a calm manner, though it was enough to change the whole fooling mood into a serious one, well that’s how students know us, you know being all composed and cool.

These boys and we are friends since we were eight. We are of same age but we have differences in months. Despite they can be super annoying sometimes, they all are very good and extremely talented. The best part about them is that they don’t show off like others. They are quite calm around other people but when it comes to us, it looks like they get possessed by mad hatter’s spirit. They are all hyped up and comfortable around us because we have known one another for a very long time.

We reached the classroom and took our respective seats. The teacher came and started his class. The class was hella boring, like it was so boring that we can barely keep our eyes open. On the top of that, it was mathematics class. That’s a perfect cherry on top of a cupcake of boredom. Although the class was super boring, we didn’t leave a single chance to enjoy ourselves. We had our seats at the back of the class. We had our little arcade over there where we had fun no matter whose class it was. I mean the teacher is not going to doubt us anyways because who would doubt such ‘INNOCENT’ students like us.

The boring class got over as soon as the bell rang. The sound of the class bells is even more satisfying than ASMRs. Who wouldn’t agree on this, isn’t it?

‘AHH! Finally Mr. Kang’s never-ending lecture ended,’ Hwang Chan Yeol said while yawning.

‘Yeah I know right, I literally thought we’ll grow old at the end of this lecture,’ added Yoon Ah Young.

‘OK guys! That’s enough. Let’s go to the cafeteria before someone else finishes our precious food,’ I said while getting up from my seat.

‘I heard we have fried shrimps today,’ said Lee Jeong Hoon.

‘WHAT!’ I said almost dropping my jaw to the floor. ‘Yahhh Lee Jeong Hoon, you are saying this important thing now,’ I continued being dramatically shocked because why not, it’s one of my favorite dishes afterall.

‘Let’s go, what are we waiting for,’ stated Kang Sae Ron.

‘Yes, let’s go because if don’t get one, I am going to take yours Jeong Hoon. Do you understand?’ I said to Jeong Hoon, while making my way out of the class room and glaring at him.

With that we all dashed out of our class and headed straight to the cafeteria. We reached the cafeteria and we took our tray and luckily, I got my lovely fried shrimps. We all sat down together in one of the tables of the cafeteria like everyone else. We were in the middle of our eating, when I saw orange juice being poured over my lunch tray. ‘HUH!’ I gasped knowing that my food got destroyed. I knew very well who did this disgusting act of stupidity because every sane person in this school knows not to mess with me when I am eating. We all have that one mean girl in our school who likes to pick up fights with everyone she doesn’t like, isn’t it? Well this is her, Song Ha Eun. My friends saw the whole scenario and…….

‘Umm do you have a medical insurance?’ asked Sae Ron.

‘Does the cafeteria serve popcorn?’ said Kim Han Gyeol.

‘What nonsense are you guys talking?’ said Song Ha Eun while rolling her eyes. ‘What a pity, your friends are trying to defend you that too by using sarcasm, such a weakling!’ she continued while scoffing at me.

Park Yeo Jun was sitting quietly watching the drama until he decided to finally speak up. ‘Song Ha Eun, you know what, you have a really very bad habit of provoking people,’ yeo Jun said in a very calm yet in a very effective manner. ‘She is going to regret it anyways, so why waste your energy in warning her, hyung,’ added Jeong Hoon to yeo Jun’s comment.

‘Oh if it’s what you are saying, why don’t you go out with me? Maybe after that I may forgive her,’ ha eun said in her flirty manner making us all feel so disgusted at her cringe. ‘Oh no, I want to go out with humans not with souls, you understand,’ Jeong Hoon replied. Well they very well what’s going to happen next. ‘What do you mean?’ Ha Eun asked in a flirty tone, again.

Sighing, I told myself that I had enough of this; she’s not getting it anyways. ‘I’ll help you understand by what he meant.’ With that last statement I blew a very hard punch on her face making her loose her balance and she fell on the floor. The students of the cafeteria were recording the whole drama as if it was a scene from a movie. ‘You talk a lot and therefore if you don’t want your nose being blown away, don’t mess either with me or my food. You better understand,’ I said while clenching my jaw and preventing myself from beating her more. ‘Y-You, how dare you hit me, don’t you know who I am. Do you know who my father is? I own this whole school.’ ‘Yeah of course, I know it very well that you are a brainless creature who like to disturb people who peacefully minding their own business and yes of course the whole school knows it that you always go around leaching onto every guy possible around the city.’ The whole cafeteria went all wild after I replied to her with a strong aggression.

‘At least I’m unlike you whose parents are zombies!’ Ha Eun said loudly with a smirk. ‘What the f*ck are you saying you bloody b*tch!’ protested Chan Mi.

‘Hey stop uttering all that gibberish everytime,’ added Chan Yeol. I had enough of all this trash going on, nobody could talk ill of my parents. ‘Yahh! You crazy wench! You really have a death wish, don’t you?’ I lost it and threw several punches at her. I did receive some as well but that was nothing compared to those which I threw at her. I literally punched the living shit out of her. My friends separated us because they knew I would have killed her by the end of the fight. ‘Areum ahh~ leave her or else she will pass out,’ Jeong Hoon said while trying to calm me down. Ha eun nearly passed out, but her minions managed to take her to the infirmary. ‘Hey!’ I stopped them. ‘ You better remember these blows all your f*cking life because next time you say something about my parents, you will be dead for sure, I promise. Now get lost’. Glaring at me, they limped to the infirmary.

‘Okay, drama is over now , go and mind your goddamn business,’ Han Gyeol shouted at the crowd of recording students. The cafeteria returned to normal.

‘WOAH! That was something very cool,’ Ah Young said showing her excitement. ‘I know right. But now please let me eat peacefully,’ I replied while chuckling. While eating my precious food, my nose started bleeding. ‘Aish! Looks like I won’t get to finish the meal peacefully. Maybe because of those punches,’ I spoke in a complaining manner. ‘Geez, why did have to go around fighting with her. You are bleeding more than usual,’ Jeong Hoon said with some concern. 'What’s with the sudden concern?’

I asked being shocked at his unusual behavior. ‘Oh this brat, I’m not concerned about you. Just stuff yourself with the food,’ he said while handing me the tissue to stop the bleeding. ‘He is right Areum, or else you will bleed to death. Besides, your bleeding doesn’t stop easily,’ added Sae Ron with concern in her tone. ‘Just don’t go around fighting with people anymore,’ commented Ah Young. ‘You should listen to us after all we are a few months older to you,’ Yeo Jun said it on behalf of others. ‘Okayyy SIRS and MAMS,’ I said dramatically. ‘What did I do in my past life to deserve all this,’ I continued. ‘You must have saved the whole universe in your previous life to deserve me,’ Jeong Hoon said cutting me off. ‘As if I said about you, weirdo. Besides, I must have murdered someone to deserve you,’ I replied with a mischievous smirk. He was about to speak something probably something that would start the intense process of bickering. But Chan Mi stopped him saying he should not start again because they witnessed a fight a moment ago. And that they are not in a mood to witness a cat fight again. It’s just that I feel good when I’m with them no matter how much we bicker among us. Well, I treasure my friends a lot. They do the same for me. They are more concerned about me because they know; I am not a weakling who cries her eyes out in simple stuff but a really short tempered one who beats people who disturbs her or her friends.

*ALARM RINGS*

The lunch break ended and we were heading back to our class. On our way back to our class we met some of our admirers, practically our juniors. I guess I only told about the guys but the thing is we girls are more popular than he guys. We have quite a number of fan boys and fan girls here. So, our admirers gave us few presents. Although they gave us indivisually, I had the opportunity or should I say the royalty to take all of their drinks. After all I’m the youngest, so they gave me their chocolate drinks willingly.

Hehe!

We were waiting for our teacher to come as it was class time already. After a while, the class president came and informed us that the teachers were in a meeting and therefore, it was a free period for us. ‘YESSS! I really love teachers’ meetings,’ said an excited Chan Mi. ‘Me too! Free classes and all,’ I added. We were laughing and chitchatting with one another when Han Gyeol spoke all of a sudden. ‘Have you ever imagined, if there is a zombie apocalypse in a real life? It would be so cool, isn’t it?’ ‘You and your sci-fi brain,’ Chan Yeol said while nodding his head in disappointment. ‘Guys! What if the problem in the north east is a kind of zombie apocalypse,’ commented Han Gyeol. ‘If it happens, I’ll be the first one to push Ha Eun towards the zombies. HAPPY!’ said Sae Ron. ‘Or do you want me to set you up with a pretty zombie for a blind date,’ I added. The others started laughing at the comment. ‘Yah Lee Areum! Come here, I’ll make you a zombie now,’ said an irritated Han Gyeol. He started chasing me all around the class until we were out of breath and finally stopped.

‘Hey how about we skip the next class too?’ Jeong Hoon said suddenly. ‘What do we have next?’ I asked. ‘Your love, Mathematics!’ Jeong Hoon said sarcastically. ‘HAHAHAH! So funny, I’m dying out of laughing,’ I replied him finding his statement not so funny. ‘I’m in for skipping the class,’ I commented. ‘We are in too’, said Sae Ron, Ah Young and Chan Mi in unison. ‘Count us in,’ Han Gyeol and Chan yeol added. We all looked at yeo jun who wasn’t saying anything. This was because since he was good at solving sums, he didn’t skip that much but he did cover for us. ‘I hate doing this but looks like there’s no other option left,’ Sae Ron said being completely annoyed. She moved a few steps towards yeo Jun and; ‘yeo Jun ahhh~ can you please join us today, only for today, pleaseeee’, sae Ron pleaded in a very cute way with full of cringe and of course with her world famous puppy eyes which no one can refuse.

We were all shocked at her sudden charm of her acting cute. Yeo Jun was almost all red by her sudden act. ‘Y-yah, o-ok I’ll j-join y-you guys. And y-you d-don’t d-do s-stuffs like that n-next time,’ Yeo Jun said that too while stuttering which is very unlike him. We all looked at each other all shook by his stuttering. Well, not gonna lie, we all doubt that Yeo Jun has a soft spot for Sae Ron, why, because we have noticed him behaving unusual around her quite often.

On the other hand, Sae Ron returned to normal as soon as he agreed. ‘Great job! Sae ron, you managed to make him agree,’ said Jeong Hoon. ‘After all he will only listen to you,’ added Chan Yeol. Yeo Jun glared at both of Jeong Hoon and Chan Yeol. ‘If we are done talking can we just leave,’ said yeo jun. ‘Ok boss, let’s get going’, I replied to him. ‘Let’s just go before his mood changes,’ Sae Ron said. ‘I said next time, not right now,’ Yeo Jun said quietly but it was enough for us to hear. We all laughed at his disappointed gesture and then we sneaked out of the class.

On our way to our ‘HIDEOUT’, we stopped by the snack bar to get some refreshments for us. The guys went to the vending machine and brought some soft drink cans. We took several bags of chips and together we headed towards the HIDEOUT.

‘AHH! Fresh air is melting my lungs,’ Chan Yeol said quite loudly breathing in the air on the rooftop while we reached our HIDEOUT. We all laughed at his exaggerating statement. The rooftop has a small room which is generally used as a store room for storing the old furniture and the desks which are damaged. Luckily, the room is always during the school hours and the janitor closes it only after the school hour that is in the evening. We skip classes here because no one is going to come here anyways. By any chance, if someone comes, we give the excuse of volunteering in cleaning. However, that’s the rarest of rare case. Anyways, we settled ourselves in the room and started gossiping and eating, you know how friends chill out. We were enjoying ourselves like we do every time. Little did we all know, there was a lot to come? That’s when a notification popped on my phone screen, catching my attention. And everything changed after we heard ‘AHHHHHHHHHH’.