Chapter 2
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The still yelling Haneul was able to taste the freedom of soaring through the air. He was able to experience the lack of gravity for a time, and in an instant was plunging down towards the ground.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Hey, you have a really nice voice there.”
Startle.
Once Haneul heard that calm voice, he opened his eyes to a guy wearing skin tight jersey with the letter B on the front of his chest.
“You, you are…….?”
While Haneul was making a bemused expression, the guy was helping Haneul back down onto flat ground.
As the building collapsed in front of the station, everything near it was a mess, and that mess is where Haneul was at just a few moments ago. He would have died if he was still there. The moment he thought of that, goose b.u.mps rose all over his body. He was really thankful to the guy that saved him and was relieved to be alive.
“What, what exactly are you?”
“Can’t you tell just from looking? I’m a Hero!”
“Wh…What do you mean a hero……”
“The one to bring justice to criminals and to protect the people; this generation’s hero! People call me the Black Walker. Of course, people don’t really call me that because my rank is too low. I’m still at the Rank C level.”
“Black Walker…..”
“Alright, let’s stop our conversation here. Hurry and get yourself to safety little friend.”
The Black Walker headed towards the catastrophe.
Hero.
I don’t quite understand what he’s talking about.
Is this a movie set or something?
While I was lost in thought and staring at the dust flowing out between the buildings, I saw a group of people running into the direction of where the civilians were running out from. They were the military officers.
“The heroes have arrived. Yes, that’s right, five of them. They will engage the crisis soon. Hurry up and let headquarters know!”
I clearly heard one of the military officer’s yelling that into a wired communication device.
He said hero.
I wasn’t dreaming. I’m sure of it.
Haneul slapped himself in the face.
It hurt.
“It’s not a dream. What the h.e.l.l is this…..What is going on??”
There were too many people on the street.
There was no form of control for them, so the military officer’s decided on saving the people that had control.
Once the medics arrived on scene and started helping the people that were pa.s.sed out, Haneul got up from his spot with wobbly legs and a dazed face.
‘Snap out of it. This is reality.’
Haneul slapped himself again, swallowed his dry spit, and turned around. That’s when he saw it.
The disfigured body that was caught up in the collapse of the building.
“BARRFFFF!!”
Haneul tried to move from the spot, but instead ended up throwing up some more before leaning against a wall.
I don’t know about heroes, but this is reality.
I need to run.
Haneul was panic stricken.
‘I need to run. I need to run!!’
Haneul crazily looked around and started running, because from a distance, he saw that large amounts of peoplewere heading towards a direction.
“That area is dangerous!”
An officer that saw Haneul from a distance, warned him. Unfortunately, Haneul wasn’t able to hear anything at this moment.
‘I got on the bus to get to grandma’s house……I’m sure that’s what I was trying to do, but how did the situation turn out like this?? I don’t understand. Why did this happen. What the f.u.c.k is the problem’
Haneul could only think of this situation as being a time of war, he would be too confused if he thought otherwise. Haneul wasn’t sure as to how he came to that conclusion, but that was the only logical thought that came into his mind.
“That f.u.c.king crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Did he go crazy because of this chaotic situation? There’s no helping him.”
These words were said by the same officer that warned Haneul earlier, before he decided to ignore Haneul completely. Right at this moment, the officer received communication from headquarters through his wired communication device. The specifics of the content? They have officially confirmed that the center of the earthquake originated in Area F of the South Central region.
“Hey sergeant, hurry up and pack the communication device. Now that the area has officially been confirmed, Murray’s monsters should be making their way up here. We will leave this place at once.”
“Yes!”
“Hey you medics! You guys should hurry up and leave as well. This place will soon be cla.s.sified as a warzone, so leave now!”
Unable to save all the people that have fallen thus far, the paramedics make a pained expression as they make their way out to safety.
—-
Haneul Kang was running like there was no tomorrow.
His breath was caught in his throat. Although, his stamina rose during his days in the military, he was still surprised to see that he ran so far and for so long. Unfortunately, with the thought of trying to run for his life, he was now lost in the middle of nowhere. There was no one in sight.
“Where, where am I. Hey! Where the f.u.c.k is everyone?!”
His legs froze on him as his fear caught up with the thought of being alone.
“What, what the f.u.c.k is going on?!”
That’s when it happened.
Boooomm!!
As the sound of something hard beating against the eardrum resounded out, the frightened Haneul could do nothing but to fall down on the spot.
‘What was that sound.’
Strong beating could be heard all around.
Did North Korea push their way through and make it up to this spot?
‘No way.’
Haneul couldn’t move from his spot, because he couldn’t put any strength into his legs.
“Please move!”
Not too far away from his location, sounds of a battle could be heard.
“I can’t die in a place like this, so please move you useless legs!”
After pounding his legs until they became numb, the strength in his legs came back. Finally, I can now run away. I must be focused this time and go back the way I came from. The place where the people are, that’s where I will be safe.
As he turned around to make his way back, the ground started shaking.
Koongkookookoong!!
This was the first time Haneul felt an earthquake. His generation had never gone through it, so his first thoughts were of j.a.pan. (TN – Earthquakes are much more frequent in j.a.pan)
‘Was that an earthquake? If that’s not it, was it a missile?’
As the sound faded away, the fallen Haneul got back up and started running. His goal was to reach the messy riverside, but as he was making his way across to the back of the terminal.
“AAHHHHHHHHH!”
As the ground split apart, a huge crater formed in front of him.
He would’ve fallen down that deep black hole if he made one extra step.
He could only make his way around it.
A safe road, I must make it to a safe road.
With these thoughts, he moved his foot over to the side.
“Creeeaaaaaaakkk.”
His body froze as he heard an odd sound.
Not even 10 meters away from the light, there was something standing on the overturned bus.
“What, what is that…..”
Haneul muttered with a surprised expression.
The thing looked puzzled.
It was an organism at least 2 meters in size with an amazing physique. It was ‘something’ Haneul had never seen before. The body was filled with scales and had a tinge of green in them, making it look similar to a lizard.
Haneul unconsciously took a step back.
“Mo, monster…..”
The moment he muttered those words.
“KYYAAAAKKKKKKK!”
The thing opened his mouth and started yelling.
I’m, I’m going to die.
I’m going to die just like this, because I can’t run away from that thing.
It crouched and jumped high into the sky. The green figure high up in the air was aiming to land on him.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
Booom!!
A strong wind rose up in front of him.
The eyes that were once shut on Haneul’s face was now open, and he saw the figure of a hero in front of him.
“B, Black Walker…….”
“I was wondering who it was, but you’re that guy from earlier. What happened? Why are you still lagging it around here? This place has already turned into a warzone, and if you don’t listen to the evacuating instructions, you will die!!! Hurry up and run.”
I survived.
Haneul released a sigh of relief. The thought of thanking Black Walker was completely out of his mind.
That’s when it happened.
The green monster that was sprawled upon the floor, jumped off the ground, and was fiercely rushing toward them.
“Black Walker!! Behind……!”
“UGHH!”
PUUU PUKKKK!
Haneul felt his throat clog up as he got the feeling of something flashing in front of him. His breathing was erratic and his vision climbed up towards the sky. It was the same feeling he got when he was in Black Walker’s arms, flying in the sky. But something was a little off.
This time he was flying without a break.
He landed on top of a car with an entangled harness and felt his body screaming with pain.
“Kkeeukk.” (TN – grunt)
He turned his head.
“uugghhhhh…….”
He could see Black Walker throwing up ma.s.sive amounts of blood. What once used to be a mask on his face, was now destroyed, and a face could be seen.
He’s young.
He was a brother that was at most 6 years older than Haneul.
“Ahhhh, eeuuukkk….”
“Are, are you ok??”
Black Walker picked himself up as he threw up more blood.
That’s when Haneul was stricken with fear, because Black Walker’s intestines were spilling out from the gaping hole in his side. He was forcing himself to hold and block that region.
“Ughhh!”
Haneul felt something coming up his throat and was forced to block his own mouth. One could hear the light groans coming from Black Walker as he stood in front of Haneul.
“R, run…….Immediately!!”
“W, what about you?!”
“Run…..Make haste…..”
“Ah, AHHHHHH!”
Haneul did not have the strength to save that person.
He would only be a burden if he stayed any longer, so he turned his head and started running.
He wanted to save the person who had saved him. He wanted to run away together with that person, but the thought of wanting to live pushed all those thoughts aside.
Haneul did not turn to look behind him. There was no way for him to fight the gigantic monster. This wasn’t a dream, it was reality. Expecting something out of a movie was out of the question.
‘I’m not a main character!’
His foot got caught on a steel frame as he was running, making him fall hard onto the rough ground. It felt like the world had gone quiet, as no sound could be heard around him.
The sound of his hard breathing cold be the only thing to be heard.
I must run.
That’s when a weak, crying sound could be heard.
“Mom, Mommy…….”
It was the sound of a kid crying for his mom.
Haneul turned unconsciously turned his head to where the sound was coming from, and noticed that it was coming from inside the terminal.
‘What are you doing Hanuel, you need to hurry up and run. You threw away Black Walker and made it all the way here. This is not the time to be lagging around.’
That’s what his reasoning was saying.
There was no way Haneul was going to make it out of this unscathed, so there was no way he could save someone else.
As he started to move again.
—-R, run.
He could envision the Black Walker in front of him.
I wonder why?
Is this heroism?
Did I suddenly think that a life was precious and that I must save it, no matter the cost??
‘I know I’m not that type of person.’
I can’t act out of impulse.
Only people who are “special” should be saving someone’s life or giving them help. Normal people like me can’t do amazing things like that, that’s why running away is the correct thing to do.
‘But why……why won’t my feet move.’
Crunchhh.
Haneul turned his head and started running toward the terminal.
“W, Where are you?? I’ll help you!! I’ll save you!!”
Not knowing if he fractured his ribs or not, Haneul was in pain with every breathe he took.
In the corner of the broken down terminal, he could see a little girl holding herself. The crying that he heard earlier came from this little girl.
“C, come over here. Oppa will take you to a safe place.” (TN – Oppa means older brother for females, Hyung means older brother for males)
The little girl did not move from her spot because she was frozen with fear.
As he was trying to get closer to her.
BOOOM!
Something flew in from the entrance, as it tumbled around on the ground and came to a stop. Haneul froze for a second, then made his way over with a pale face, to see what it was that flew in.
It was a person bleeding profusely in a black attire, his breathing rugged. Haneul relieved a groan.
“How, How did…….”
“Ugh……..Are, are you my support……I’m…….glad. That f.u.c.king monster…is a type D reptile. P, Please be careful……..It’s fighting abilities are…… too strong……”
“……….”
Black Walker.
Those words were spat out by this young hero, who had a huge hole on his side and was throwing up blood.
He was confused.
He thought Haneul was the support hero that came to his rescue.
The man’s breath was ever so slowly, getting weaker…
Chapter 2 – End.