"Save the folks in Car 13?"
"Dan, what do we do? Do we take this job or not?" In Car 6, Dan's crew huddled tight, faces pale with nerves.
Dan spat to the side. "You kidding me? Take that mission and we might as well dig our own graves. There ain't many of us left—just making it to Busan alive counts as a win."
"Dan's right!" someone blurted. "Car 13's crawling with those things! Heading there's a death wish!" "We stick with Dan. No reason to go get ourselves killed!"
Dan let out a cold laugh. "Shame about that A‑grade blade, though. Guess it's lost."
"Serves him right for crossing you, Dan!" "Exactly! Folks like him, they dig their own holes!"
Dan smirked. "Truth is, I almost wanted that punk to make it aboard. Would've been nice to show him what I'm really made of—before I ever set foot in this godforsaken place, my strength was already near twenty."
"Whoa! Dan's a beast!" "Dan's got a bright future ahead!" "We're sticking with you, Dan!"
"Heh. Long as you do, I'll see you through." Dan leaned back, already acting like he had this train cleared.
"By the way, Dan, there's a fat f*ck at the far end of the car. Might be one of us, too…"
Dan shot a cold look that way, then snorted. "Just dead weight. Leave him."
"Got it!"
Car 9, near the coupling.
Seok‑woo clenched his fists and stood. "I'm going to save my girl."
The big man Sang‑hwa got up right after him. "Count me in. My wife's in there."
Yong‑guk, the ballplayer, hesitated, then nodded. "I'll back you."
Sang‑hwa slapped his shoulder hard. "That's the spirit, kid!"
"Ow…" Yong‑guk winced.
Sang‑hwa turned to Stephen. "Friend, you in?"
Both Seok‑woo and Yong‑guk looked at him, waiting. They'd seen what Stephen could do. Without him, getting through those cars was near impossible.
Stephen spoke flatly: "Yeah."
"Good!" Sang‑hwa reached out to pat his shoulder, but Stephen sidestepped like it was nothing.
"Huh…" Sang‑hwa couldn't hide his surprise. He was a seasoned wrestler—most men couldn't dodge him like that.
Stephen gave a faint smile. "But I'll say this once—if you want to live, you follow my lead."
"Of course!" Seok‑woo and Yong‑guk nodded quick.
Sang‑hwa grinned. "Anyone who can dodge my palm ain't ordinary! I'm with you. By the way, what do I call you?"
"Stephen's fine." He scanned them. "Suit up with the armor we stripped from those deadheads earlier."
"On it!"
Seok‑woo finally got why Stephen made them collect that junk—it wasn't for nothing.
"Damn this stinks…" Sang‑hwa muttered, strapping the foul-smelling gear over his bulk.
Stephen added, "Wrap your arms and legs with books, tape 'em tight."
"Got it!"
Once ready, Sang‑hwa slammed his chest. "All set! Let's go get 'em!"
Seok‑woo and Yong‑guk echoed him.
Stephen, calm as ever, said, "Not yet. We wait."
Sang‑hwa frowned. "Wait? We're good to go! I can take ten—hell, twenty—on my own!"
Stephen's voice was cool. "I believe it. But what if it's fifty? We're in Car 9. Need to cross 10, 11, 12, and then 13 to reach them. Say fifty per car—that's two hundred waiting for us."
Sang‑hwa's jaw tightened. The truth hit hard—they'd let emotion cloud their heads.
Stephen went on, "And the real threat isn't just ahead—it's what's behind Car 13. If we stir that hornet's nest, we're all done."
"So what then? We just sit here?" Sang‑hwa snapped. "You think those things'll wander off?"
Stephen stayed steady. "They've got a weakness."
That made all three perk up. With the outbreak hitting so fast, no one had stopped to think about it.
"They chase light and sound," Stephen said low. "Bright and loud, they go rabid—fast, strong, triple a man's strength. Take that away, and they lose their edge."
Yong‑guk's eyes lit up. "He's right! They go nuts for light and noise!"
Seok‑woo nodded, catching on. "So… in the dark, we've got the advantage."
"Yeah, but it's daylight," Sang‑hwa grumbled. "Ain't no dark."
Seok‑woo's eyes widened. "The tunnels! This line's got three of 'em—two minutes of dark each!"
Stephen nodded. "Exactly. Once we hit a tunnel, they'll be near blind. That's our window to strike and clear 'em."
Sang‑hwa cracked a grin. "Now we're talking! Fine, we wait for the tunnel!"
"Rest up," Stephen said.
They sat. The original plan in this timeline had been a simple sneak-through. But Stephen had his blade, and his mind was set, this time, no sacrifices. Sang‑hwa would see his kid born.
The train let out a long wail, tunnel ahead.
Stephen's fingers tightened around his blade. It was time.