Please Shoot Me - 19

James drove off, leaving Yuyeon with meaningful words instead of some weak resolution.

“Exceptions,” Yuyeon repeated, looking back at the car driving off. She then looked back at Ryung and let out a small laugh.

He was an “exception” to her in more ways than one, and while she didn’t know what “opportunity” he would ultimately bring her, it seemed like there was one she could use right now.

“That’s a subtle way of putting it. Isn’t that when he should have said ‘good luck’ or ‘stay alive?’”

“He just put it differently.”

“Let’s just get out of here before we’re discovered.”

Ryung unsurprisingly took the lead again. Yuyeon thought he had a plan as she followed behind him, feeling the warmth emanating from his back.

“It’s all well and good going up, but how are we going to get down?”

“Well, we’ll think about it when we get up there.”

His easy-going answer cracked Yuyeon’s faith. After all, he was the exception, not the rule. She stopped him and took back command.

“Make a plan. We need to be careful from now on.”

Yuyeon gestured to the CCTV on the gate, and Ryung quickly scanned the area for more. As the front line of security, the gate had no blind spots so everything could be seen from the headquarters. Their detection was given from the moment they entered the surveillance zone, so now it was just a game of speed.

The good news was that right now, headquarters had no idea they were trying to get out of the safe zone and would be scouring the inside for them. At least there was time for them to formulate a plan.

Squatting casually on the ground, Yuyeon grabbed a rock that was rolling nearby and drew a rough topography on the sidewalk blocks. It didn’t look very good, but it helped communicate better rather than drawing in their heads. It was a habit she developed over the years as a team leader.

“Here’s what I think. We’re going to take the rope ladder that’s set up here, go to the control tower, and then we’re going to set it up by the window as quietly and quickly as possible and climb down. It’s risky, but there’s really no other way.”

She pointed her finger at the location of the rope ladder and control tower. Ryung, squatting next to her, looked as serious as if he’d been visualizing her plan all along. He snatched the rock from Yuyeon’s hand and crossed off the rope ladder.

“I disagree. The control tower sticks out even further than the iron gate, and if we set up a rope ladder to get down from there, we’re not going to be supported by the wall. We’ll be going down the ladder in thin air, and it’s going to be wobbling a lot and will take a lot of time and stamina. Worst of all, there’s too much of a chance of getting caught on the way down.”

“Well, is there another way?”

“Instead of a rope ladder, what about just a rope? I’ll hold you with one hand and we’ll climb the rope.”

He mimed wrapping his arms around Yuyeon’s waist and raising his eyebrows as if asking for her opinion. Ryung made it sound simple, but Yuyeon wasn’t sure if it was possible.

“I have two questions: one, is the rope you’re talking about the training rope that’s only used to train recruits, and is stashed away in the control tower room storage? Two, why do you have to carry me?”

“One,  that is the rope, and two, the rope isn’t long enough to reach the height of the gate, so I don’t know what height I’ll have to jump from.”

Yuyeon’s eyebrows furrowed more than before.

“On the contrary, no matter how much strength you gained as a zombie… there’s no way you can hold me with one hand, climb the rope with the other, and survive the fall.”

At that moment, Ryung stood up, wrapped one arm around Yuyeon’s waist, and lifted her. When her feet no longer touched the ground, she naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing all of a sudden?”

“An experiment. Hug me tighter.”

Perhaps he was just trying to answer her question. Thinking they were on the verge of a cliff, Yuyeon wrapped her legs around his waist and tightened her arms more. She looked like a monkey hanging from a wooden pole.

“Like this?”

“Yes… Like that.”

“I can do it, but can you?”

After a moment of silence, he leaned down and nuzzled his nose into the nape of her neck, whispering.

“I’m… good.”

His breathy voice tickled her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Sensing something was amiss, she tried to pull away from him, but his arm still wrapped tightly around her waist and wouldn’t let go.

His body heat radiated wherever they touched. She tried to swallow, embarrassed by the silence, but he smiled and asked.

“You’re a little too light, but what do you think? You’ll be okay?”

His face was serene as if he was mocking her for thinking otherwise for a moment. She nodded, coughing, and he gently lowered her to the ground.

“I think I can jump down from the rope, but I don’t know if I’ll live.”

“What?”

“From there, it’s a gamble and a matter of luck.”

He had seen zombies fall from great heights but wasn’t sure if he could do it himself. When she fell silent, uncomfortable with the idea of gambling with his life, Ryung quickly interrupted her thoughts.

“No operation is 100% perfect. Weren’t we the ones who gambled with uncertainty all the time, and in the end, it worked, and we’re still alive?”

“I’d rather be safe. I wouldn’t mind if you and I took the same risks, but your baggage seems heavier.”

“Maybe you don’t realize it, but your burden is much heavier right now, just by being here with me.”

He glanced at Yuyeon and slightly smiled. It was a smile that spoke a hundred words.

“I think it’s for the best, so what do you say?”

“Are you okay with it?”

“Would you be okay dying with me?”

Yuyeon bit her lower lip lightly.

“Isn’t yesterday’s answer enough to answer that question?”

As he stared at her crushed lips, his mind flashed back to yesterday’s reckless kiss, and his throat felt dry.

“I like you…”

It was an out-of-the-blue confession, but they had been there and done that already.

“I know.”

Without looking at him, she fixed the laces of his shoes. Looking down at the top of her head, Ryung clinched his chest, shivering and muttering to himself.

“Ah, I like her so much…”

With a rough plan in place, Ryung and Yuyeon wasted no time in untangling themselves and backing up against the building.

With a click of their tongues, they broke into a run. Ryung headed to the storeroom beneath the control tower to retrieve the rope, while Yuyeon ran straight up the control tower stairs. He had to run about 300 meters further than she did, but he caught up to her before she reached the top.

“You’re unusually slow today.”

“You’re abnormally fast now.”

He slung the rope over one arm, the other gripping her waist as they ran. The stairs flashed past her vision as she was now folded in half. They had covered the distance in one minute instead of three. Gently releasing her, he glanced at her to see if she was ready.

“It’s open.”

“Wait, just take a breath and…”

They had to calm their ragged breathing if they didn’t want to wake the sleeping crew members.

“Oh… I’m going to change that plan.”

Muttering something unintelligible, he slammed open the door to the control tower. Yuyeon’s hard work in devising the plan was shattered, and the bodies of the two officers lying on the table jumped up like fish.

They clutched their guns in surprise, looking around in a daze. Drool dripping from the sides of their mouths and their puffy eyes were clear evidence of deep sleep. Through blurry eyes, they made out a large, white figure and slightly bowed.

“Ah, it’s you…”

The relief on their faces was short-lived and completely cracked when they spotted Yuyeon next to him. Known for being a fiery team leader, Yuyeon was notorious for her ferocity even among the recruits.

“Sir, I’m sorry I dozed off…”

“W-We don’t usually do this…”

Pale-faced, they bent down to their knees. Yuyeon sighed and looked back at Ryung.

“Weren’t we going to be quiet and sneaky?”

“Come to think of it, we shouldn’t have.”

“Why?”

“I’m afraid it would put our children in danger.”

Ryung whispered in her ear and went inside. Yuyeon followed, mulling over his words. If headquarters saw them heading for the control tower, the men here were likely to be drawn in as helpers. Ryung was even thinking of them after they left the safe zone.

“Here, give me this.”

He straightened the men’s bent waist and took their guns from them. They handed them over, dumbfounded. Then they looked up and couldn’t take their eyes off his face. Their eyes, finally sharpening from their sleep, reflected Ryung’s changed appearance. As if on cue, the men simultaneously rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

“Sunbae, your eyes…”

“It’s lenses.”

He shrugged as he tossed them the rope like it was no big deal, but the questioning look in their eyes didn’t fade due to his zombie-like appearance.

“Sunbae, is your skin…”

“Ah, the zombie costume. Does it suit me?”

“What? Why would you wear such a costume…”

“It’s fun.”

The rookies were habitually convinced by his usual lighthearted responses. He had always been a weird sunbae, so they assumed this was normal behavior. They turned their attention to Ryung and asked him about the rope they accepted.

“What is this?”

“Rope.”

After checking the guns, Ryung handed one to Yuyeon. Vaguely grasping his intentions, she armed herself without another word. The atmosphere subtly chilled, and it became clear what he was about to do.

“Okay, you have one minute. I want you to connect those two together and set them up by the window over there, okay?”

“What? This one? Why…”

At that moment, a voice came over from the radio on the table.

[Infected, currently in Control Tower One. Repeat. Infected, subdue Heo Ryung and transport to headquarters.]

“Sunbae… What the hell is this…”

Ryung snarled, pointing his gun in the faces of the dumbfounded rookies.

“You have one minute to install it or I’ll put a hole in your head, so make it quick.”

The two of them had to be perfect villains from now on.

Kofi