At Sehwa high school.
The fluorescent lights of Sehwa High School buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the bustling hallway. It was a typical Tuesday morning in Seoul, a symphony of teenage anxieties, whispered gossip, and the ever-present pressure to succeed. Vivian, a quiet, unassuming girl with a passion for art and a sketchbook perpetually glued to her hand, navigated the crowded corridor with practiced ease.
She wasn't popular, not in the conventional sense. She didn't sport the latest designer bags or engage in the relentless pursuit of social media validation. Her world existed on the pages of her sketchbook, where she brought life to fantastical creatures and captured the fleeting beauty of everyday moments.
But she had friends, or at least, acquaintances who tolerated her presence. They were the "it" girls of Class 2-3, a clique of impeccably dressed, surgically enhanced beauties who ruled the social roost with an iron fist (and a perfectly manicured nail). Vivian, with her hand-me-down clothes and her perpetually ink-stained fingers, was an anomaly in their midst, a tolerated outsider who served a purpose: she was the errand girl, the note-taker, the one who could be relied upon to fetch and carry without complaint.
Today's mission: procure the latest "miracle" supplement from the pharmacy across the street. The "it" girls were convinced it would give them flawless skin and boundless energy, essential for maintaining their reign of popularity. Vivian, ever the dutiful servant, had volunteered, knowing that a refusal would result in social ostracization and a week of unbearable torment.
She pushed through the throng of students, the weight of their expectations pressing down on her. The pharmacy was a haven of antiseptic smells and brightly colored packaging, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the school. She located the supplements, a small fortune's worth of brightly colored pills, and paid for them with the money she had painstakingly saved from her part-time job at a local cafe.
As she turned to leave, she noticed a commotion near the makeup counter. A group of girls were huddled around a display, their faces etched with disappointment.
"They're sold out again!" one of them wailed, her voice laced with despair. "This is a disaster! How am I supposed to maintain my flawless complexion without the new BB cream?"
Vivian overheard their conversation and felt a pang of sympathy. She knew how important appearances were in their world. She had often been on the receiving end of their scorn for her own lack of attention to her appearance.
She returned to the classroom, the supplements clutched tightly in her hand. The "it" girls greeted her with a chorus of demands.
"Did you get them?"
"Hurry up, we're dying for a boost!"
Vivian distributed the supplements, feeling a sense of weary resignation. She was nothing more than a tool to them, a means to an end.
Then, Park So-hee, the undisputed queen bee of Class 2-3, fixed her with a withering stare. "Where's my makeup?" she demanded, her voice dripping with disdain. "I told you to get me the new limited-edition BB cream. It's essential for my photoshoot this afternoon."
Vivian's heart sank. She had completely forgotten about the makeup. She had been so focused on the supplements that it had slipped her mind.
"I... I'm sorry," she stammered. "They were sold out. I couldn't find it anywhere."
So-hee's face contorted with rage. "You incompetent fool!" she shrieked. "You had one job! One simple job! And you couldn't even do that right!"
The other "it" girls joined in the chorus of condemnation, their voices rising in a crescendo of scorn. Vivian felt her cheeks burn with shame. She was used to their insults, but they never failed to sting.
"You're useless, Vivian," So-hee sneered. "You're nothing but a pathetic little nobody. Why do we even bother with you?"
With a swift, unexpected shove, So-hee pushed Vivian towards the open classroom door. Vivian stumbled, her arms flailing for balance. She landed awkwardly on the hallway floor, the supplements scattering around her.
"Fine!" Vivian shouted, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. "If you want your makeup so badly, then I'll get it for you! I'll bring you the best makeup in the world!"
She scrambled to her feet, her mind racing with a reckless plan. She would show them. She would prove that she wasn't useless. She would get them their precious makeup, even if it meant risking her own life.
She took a deep breath and began to scream.
"Help! Help! Zombies! There are zombies here!"
Her voice echoed through the hallway, a desperate plea that was answered almost immediately. From the darkened corners of the school, from the deserted classrooms and the shadowy stairwells, they came.
The Zeros.
It had started subtly, a strange flu-like illness that swept through the city. Then, the dead began to rise, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh. Society crumbled, and Seoul became a battleground, a desperate struggle for survival.
Vivian had managed to avoid the Zeros so far, relying on her wits and her knowledge of the school's hidden passages. But now, she was deliberately drawing them to her, sacrificing herself to prove a point to a group of shallow, cruel girls.
The first Zero appeared at the end of the hallway, its eyes glazed over with a vacant hunger. It shuffled towards her, its limbs jerking in an unnatural rhythm. Others followed, their moans filling the air with a chilling cacophony.
Inside the classroom, the "it" girls screamed in terror. They huddled together, their faces pale with fear, realizing the gravity of their mistake. They had pushed Vivian too far, and now, they were paying the price.
Vivian stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest. She had expected to feel a sense of satisfaction, a vindication of her worth. But all she felt was terror. She had unleashed a horde of monsters, and she was about to become their first victim.
The Zeros closed in, their rotting hands reaching for her. She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
Then, a blur of motion. A whirlwind of violence.
The Zeros were being torn apart, their limbs flying, their bodies crashing against the walls. Vivian opened her eyes and gasped.
Standing before her was a figure of impossible beauty and terrifying power. He was tall, with sculpted features and eyes that burned with an otherworldly intensity. He moved with a grace and speed that defied human limitations.
He was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, the fabric unblemished despite the chaos around him. He looked like he had stepped out of a fashion magazine, a stark contrast to the decaying horror of the Zeros.
He was a Zero himself, but different. He possessed a level of awareness, a sense of purpose that was absent in the mindless hordes.
He was Felix.
He moved with a balletic grace, his hands a blur of lethal precision. He snapped necks, crushed skulls, and dismembered limbs with effortless ease. In a matter of seconds, the hallway was littered with the remains of the Zeros.
He turned to Vivian, his eyes locking onto hers. She stared back at him, mesmerized by his beauty and terrified by his power.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice a smooth, melodious baritone that sent shivers down her spine.
Vivian could only nod, unable to find her voice.
He extended a hand towards her, his touch surprisingly gentle. "Come with me," he said. "It's not safe here."
Vivian hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. His touch was cold, but strangely comforting.
He led her through the ravaged hallways of the school, his presence a shield against the remaining Zeros. They moved with a silent purpose, their footsteps echoing in the deserted corridors.
They emerged from the school and into the deserted streets of Seoul. The city was a wasteland, a monument to a fallen civilization.
Felix led Vivian to a sleek, black limousine parked a few blocks away. The car was spotless, a jarring contrast to the decay and destruction that surrounded it.
A uniformed chauffeur opened the door for them. Vivian stared in disbelief. This was a level of luxury she had only dreamed of.
They entered the limousine, sinking into the plush leather seats. The car was silent, insulated from the horrors outside.
Felix turned to Vivian, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "You're safe now," he said. "I'll take care of you."
The limousine sped away, leaving the ravaged school and the terrified "it" girls behind. Vivian gazed out the window, her mind reeling from the events of the day.
She had been rescued by a zombie. A wealthy, handsome zombie who seemed determined to protect her.
The limousine pulled up to a towering skyscraper, a beacon of light in the darkened city. It was the Daeshin Group headquarters, the symbol of Felix's former power.
They entered the building, bypassing the deserted lobby and taking a private elevator to the penthouse suite. The suite was a masterpiece of modern design, filled with expensive furniture and breathtaking views of the city.
"Welcome to my home," Felix said, his voice tinged with a hint of irony. "I hope you'll be comfortable here."
Vivian stared around her in awe. She had gone from being a bullied high school student to a guest in a zombie's luxurious penthouse.
What a strange and terrifying turn her life had taken.
As they stepped into the opulent penthouse, a voice echoed through the grand hall, filled with relief, "Master Felix, we have finally found you!"
End of Chapter 1
To be continued....