Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Train to Busan(Part 4)

"I'll shoot, you deflect them," I said to Ma Dong, who nodded in agreement. There was still a chance I might miss a headshot, and who could say if a headshot is all it takes to bring them down?

I readied my gun, the cold metal steady in my hands as I aimed at the approaching zombies. With a quick exhale, I squeezed the trigger. The gunshot cracked through the air, sharp and piercing.

The zombies reacted instantly, their movements becoming more frenzied. Alex's shot rang out as well, striking one of them squarely in the head. Despite the headshot, one of them kept moving toward us with relentless momentum. Trusting Ma Dong to handle it, I swiftly adjusted my aim to another approaching threat. I fired again, the bullet finding its mark and causing the zombie to stumble back into the side of the passing train. The impact knocked it off balance and away from us.

With only two zombies remaining and too close for me to shoot accurately, I aimed at the nearest one, struggling to maintain precision while on the move. My shot missed the head. It's difficult to shoot accurately while running and facing a moving target. Ma Dong swiftly engaged the nearest zombie, using his shield to block and his baton to strike.

I fired three more bullets at the remaining zombie. The first two shots missed the head, but the third found its mark—a lucky headshot that finally brought down our last immediate threat.

Looking back at Ma Dong, I nodded. "Keep the shield and baton. They'll be useful."

Ma Dong and I scrambled onto the train, relief flooding through us as we joined the survivors inside. But the situation wasn't over. One of the zombies was clinging to the outer frame of the train door, trying to enter frantically. Its screeching noise gave away the situation. I immediately picked myself up, got close to the door, and saw the zombie struggling to get inside. "Goodbye," I said, keeping the muzzle of the gun at the zombie's head. A loud, booming shot ended its threat. I then held the door and shut it firmly.

I looked around to assess the condition of the people who had come with me to the station. The boys with the baseball bats were catching their breath, their faces smeared with sweat and grime. Seok-woo and his daughter had managed to enter the train, their faces a mix of exhaustion and lingering fear. The homeless man, who had scrambled aboard ahead of us, sat slumped against a seat, his breaths ragged and uneven. As the train's doors slid shut behind us, cutting off the clamor of the outside world, a brief but palpable sense of calm settled over the compartment.

Due to my foreknowledge, we had skipped a major part of the plot. Many survivors who were supposed to die had survived, while some who were meant to survive later perished. Seok-woo, Ma Dong-seok, and the boy with the baseball bat were supposed to struggle through many compartments of the train to reach their family and friends. We had bypassed that significant part of the story.

Now, what remained was a terminal station where we needed to take a different train because the path of this one was blocked. The problem was, there were hordes of zombies there. How was I supposed to get everyone out safely?

Let's think about it when the time comes. For now, it's time to take a short rest. I settled into an empty seat, closing my eyes briefly, trying to steal a moment of rest amidst the tense atmosphere.

Soon, it was time to take action. Rising from my seat, I addressed the group. "Does anyone here know how to operate a gun?" I asked, scanning the weary faces. Ma Dong-seok stepped forward. I handed him a gun obtained from Daejeon Station, ensuring he was equipped with extra clips for ammunition. He passed his baton to another youngster, a friend of Min Yong-guk.

Turning my attention to practicalities, I retrieved a knife and began tearing strips of cloth from the train seats. Each piece was carefully wrapped around exposed limbs, providing makeshift protection against potential bites or scratches. I tossed the knife to Seok-woo, urging him to do the same and pass it on to others. "Cover yourself as well."

Once everyone was covered with seat covers, I took my blade back. It would come in handy in close-quarter combat.

Suddenly, the train braked sharply, jolting everyone from their positions. I knew it was time for the most dangerous part of our journey—moving with such a large crowd to change trains would be hard. I got up from my seat and looked out the windows to assess the situation. The outside was a scene of devastation—blood splatters, smoke rising from all directions. When the train came to a halt, the train driver's voice crackled over the intercom, "All passengers, listen carefully. Due to the track being damaged ahead, the train cannot go any further. There are two choices: either we wait at the station for a rescue team, or we take another train. I will get a train to the leftmost track. Whoever is listening to this, keep in mind the leftmost track."

There were almost 45 people alive on the train. It was now time to change trains.

Seeing that the track was empty—void of any sign of life, since most zombies should be in the station, inside the train, or at the terminal where the driver was bringing the new engine—I looked at the passengers and announced, "We are now in the middle of the track, and there are no zombies in sight. Most zombies are likely inside the trains or at the terminal. The driver is going to bring the train to the leftmost track. We're going to move fast. Those who can fight will be at the front and back. The rest will stay in the middle."

"It's time to go," I said firmly.

"Let's move!"