FLIA 8

Yohan’s face turned pale. Red Heads were one of the few types of monsters that appeared consistently all over the world, despite their many abnormal and grotesque forms. They always appeared near medical facilities, and their most distinct feature was their heads, which resembled the red sirens on ambulances. Because of this, some claimed that they were mutated forms of creatures that once lived near hospitals, warped by impressions left in their memories.

WEE-OOH WEE-OOH—

As the monsters watched one of their own get killed, their red siren-like heads began to flash, letting out a twisted, corrupted version of a siren’s wail. Instinctively, Yohan stepped back and pressed himself tightly against the wall. Meanwhile, Lee Hyunmook gave a slow, eerie grin, and charged directly at the Red Heads.

Under the strobing crimson light, Lee Hyunmook and the Red Heads clashed. Claws and fangs flashed white, aiming to rip apart the intruder. But none of them so much as grazed Lee Hyunmook.

Among the pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red heads, Lee Hyunmook fought with a brutality even more savage than the monsters themselves. His heavy fists crushed bones and snapped limbs. He tore open flesh and skin with his bare hands. Watching him fight, Yohan’s face grew even paler. Lee Hyunmook was a hundred times scarier than the Red Heads.

In just over ten minutes, Lee Hyunmook annihilated every last one of them, monsters that would’ve easily rated at least Level 5 on the ten-tier danger scale. He truly lived up to his reputation as a high-level awakener known worldwide. Yohan swallowed dryly.

‘He’s insane… but maybe still has some reason left.’

Red Heads were known for secreting strong corrosive fluid, and their heads should never be destroyed. As if aware of that, Lee Hyunmook had only crushed their bodies. The severed heads lay scattered across the floor, pulsing with dim red light. As Lee Hyunmook started moving again, Yohan walked carefully through the massive severed heads, trying not to cry.

“M-Mr. Hy-Hyunmook, wait up…”

Yohan called out in a trembling voice, scared out of his wits as he followed. But Lee Hyunmook walked on silently, only to stop abruptly and stare blankly at the ruined emergency room.

“Mr. Hyunmook…?”

It was then that Yohan finally remembered, before his awakening, Lee Hyunmook had been a doctor. A resident. Maybe something about the emergency room had stirred his old memories. Feeling a sudden pang of sympathy, Yohan slowly dug through his bag, opened one of their rare chocolate bars, and placed it in Lee Hyunmook’s hand. Lee Hyunmook blinked down at it in confusion.

“I’ll go take a look around. You eat that… okay?”

While Lee Hyunmook quietly chewed on the chocolate, Yohan began exploring the blood-tinged emergency room.

The scene still bore the panic of the Rift Disaster from a month ago. Collapsed stretchers, torn curtains, shards of unidentifiable debris scattered across the floor, and dark, dried bloodstains…. Yohan shuddered as he carefully searched the area.

After a long search, the only things he found were a slightly bent scalpel and gauze that no longer looked sterile. Disappointed, Yohan wrapped the scalpel blade in gauze and tucked it into his bag. The pain in his leg grew sharper. Limping heavily, he stepped back out of the emergency room.

The glow of the Red Heads was already beginning to fade. In front of him now stretched a suspiciously quiet hospital corridor. Swallowing hard, Yohan hesitated, then pulled out the flashlight he’d been saving. Click. The beam illuminated the hallway, and some kind of creature skittered away into the darkness. A chill ran down his spine.

“C-Cockroaches… don’t get that big, right?”

His voice wavered, but Lee Hyunmook didn’t respond. He just stood there like an empty shell. Feeling abandoned, Yohan hesitated, then began hobbling down the corridor. The only thing he could rely on was the sound of Lee Hyunmook’s heavy footsteps following behind.

“Do you… know where I could find some medicine?”

Still no reply. With a sigh, Yohan looked ahead, and jumped. From the shadows, something was watching him. In his panic, he stepped on a large piece of debris and fell hard.

“Agh!”

He cried out as he collapsed, hitting his injured leg on the ground. The pain was so intense he felt like the wound was burning. Tears welled up in his eyes again. Looking up in a daze, he flinched. Lee Hyunmook was looming right over him with an eerily emotionless expression.

“Ugh…”

And in that moment, memories of his family and friends flashed through his mind. If they had been here, they would’ve offered comfort, maybe a kind word. But the only one with him now was a corrupted madman. The loneliness crushed him, and his eyes filled with tears. Still, he wiped them away with his sleeve and forced himself up.

“…After all this, sniff… I really hope I can find some painkillers.”

He spoke even though he knew there’d be no answer. Limping heavily, he started walking again. Watching him, Lee Hyunmook tilted his head slightly.

Dragging his injured leg, Yohan wandered deeper into the hospital. The layout was already complex, and with the power out, it felt like navigating a maze. Eventually, he found a stairway leading up. Hesitant, he carefully climbed.

To his dismay, the second floor was even more chaotic than the first. He let out a sigh and scanned his surroundings. The flashlight beam stopped at a dirty, partially obscured sign.

[…Blo■d dept   (4) Dental   (5) MR■ Room   (6) In-House Pha■macy   (7) Myeong● Bank…]

“The pharmacy!”

It said ‘Pha■macy,’ but from the broken character remnants, it was obvious. Yohan lit up at the sight of his long-sought goal. But just as he stepped forward.

A strong hand grabbed him and dragged him back. Frozen in fear, he heard a low whisper.

“Shhh….”

“Mm… mmmph…”

Trapped against Lee Hyunmook’s chest, Yohan switched off his flashlight and curled into himself. They lay flat at the stairwell landing, holding their breath. Yohan’s abdomen ached where it was pressed against the edge of a step, but he didn’t even notice from the tension. They waited… and waited…

Creak… roll… creaaak… roll…

Something was rolling toward them. Terrified, Yohan squeezed his eyes shut and trembled. Lee Hyunmook’s body covered him more tightly, until Yohan was nearly invisible beneath him. His eyes, dark and sunken, glinted red in the shadows.

Creak… roll…

What was that? What was coming?

Dripping with cold sweat, Yohan cracked his eyes open. Through the narrow gap between Lee Hyunmook and the stairs, he saw it, wheels. Like those on a wheelchair, clattering as they passed right by the sign Yohan had stood near just minutes ago.

Then, the wheels stopped. Yohan swallowed a scream.

Behind the rusty old wheelchair stretched dozens of legs. They resembled human legs, but the feet that touched the floor were unpleasantly soft and squishy. Creak—as the wheelchair rolled forward, the many legs glided along the floor silently. Like a giant centipede….

What felt like ten years passed in mere minutes. Finally, the wheelchair sounds faded into the distance. Only then did Lee Hyunmook let go of him. Soaked in cold sweat, Yohan staggered up the stairs. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to run back to their shelter, crack open a can of ham, and pretend the hospital didn’t exist.

But the low fever that had started earlier was getting worse, he was starting to shiver. He’d come this far. He had to keep going.

Holding his breath, Yohan checked the sign again.

‘Zone 6 was the pharmacy… and according to the map, that’s near the MRI room…’

He confirmed the layout again and again, then carefully moved on, trying not to make a sound. He double-checked every sign along the way to stay on course. After passing Internal Me■icine, Obstet■ics, Der■atology, and the MRI room, Yohan finally found it.

The in-house pharmacy.

There was a sign marked “Medication Counseling” and a dispensing counter beside it. Trembling, Yohan crept up and tried to open the door. Click, click—locked. He had no choice but to grunt and hoist himself up over the counter. His face lit up.

To his relief, this hospital had not been looted. The cabinets were still packed with medicine. Which meant… the monsters here had been too dangerous for anyone to scavenge. Yohan shone his flashlight over the containers with a trembling hand. And froze.

“What medicine is even what?”

He only knew names like Tylenol or aspirin. But here were dozens of pill bottles and boxes, all labeled with tiny, unreadable text. Completely overwhelmed, Yohan grabbed one bottle and tried to read it.

Creak… rattle…

The chilling sound made him jump. Pressed against the counter, Yohan looked around in panic, Lee Hyunmook wasn’t hiding with him this time.

Frantic, Yohan waved over the counter and whispered as loud as he dared.

“Mr. Hyunmook! Quick, get in here!”

He stomped his feet in anxiety, but Lee Hyunmook didn’t respond. He just stood there, staring blankly into space.

Creak… rattle…

At last, the wheelchair emerged from the shadows.

Clatter… roll…

Yohan’s eyes widened.

“Wait… why is it just the wheelchair…?”

The moment he muttered that, something with soft feet that had been clinging to the ceiling lunged at Lee Hyunmook. Only then did Yohan finally see the full body of the creature that had been pushing the wheelchair.