Chapter Text
****Emergency Presidential Announcement****
The screen shows the president behind his desk, visibly upset and shaken. The room was dim, the American flag backdrop looking hastily hung. The room itself seemed in disarray, and the few visible people seemingly paying it no mind, similar looks as the president evident on their faces.
The camera slowly zoomed in, capturing the look of defeat in the president's face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, possibly to steady himself, before looking back at the camera.
“My fellow Americans,
I come to you tonight with an urgency that I have never felt before. A darkness has spread across our great nation and the world, a darkness I never imagined could manifest in such a horrifying form. A highly contagious virus, originating from a research facility overseas, has escaped containment. Initially, it was believed to be a flu-like illness, but we were wrong—so tragically wrong.
As we tried to contain it, we discovered a little more about it. A few days ago, it started turning the infected into something inhuman, something monstrous. It spread rapidly through direct contact, and even air in some cases. Countries once regarded as our allies are now battling for survival, their militaries reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. We received reports of mass casualties and chaos in cities across the globe—from London to Tokyo, from Berlin to Moscow. Nations have fallen, one after the other, succumbing to this unprecedented horror.
Here in the United States, our military bravely engaged in containment efforts, but they too were overwhelmed. Major cities have become battlegrounds, while rural areas fall victim to panic and despair. We have lost our way. I stand before you now to share that, despite our best efforts, we are no longer in control.
This is not a moment for false hope. There is no miraculous vaccine on the horizon, no hero rising to save us. My heart is heavy as I convey to you that we have reached a point of no return. The government can no longer guarantee your safety. We cannot shield you from what is out there anymore.”
The president’s voice cracks, tears welling up in his eyes. He looks directly into the camera, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air before continuing.
“I urge you—please, take this time to say goodbye to your loved ones. Hold them close. Tell them you love them. Share memories. Share comfort. If you believe, pray; pray for your families and friends, and pray for all of humanity. For the reality we face is one that few can endure. We are on the brink of something unimaginable. I can only express my profound sadness for all that we are losing and for all that has already been taken from us.”
The screen splits, one side with distressing images of chaos: panicked citizens, military troops overwhelmed, infected individuals staggering through the streets, the flickering lights of cities succumbing to darkness. The screen returns fully to the president, now visibly breaking down, struggling to maintain composure.
“Please, in these final moments, remember the good times-the laughter, the love. Know that you are not alone, even in this despair. As we face the end, know that my thoughts are with you, my fellow Americans.”
Suddenly, a loud crash is heard off-camera and the president’s expression shifts from sorrow to terror. The broadcast begins to flicker and distort. Screams echo in the background, and the camera shakes violently. The president stumbles back, eyes wide with fear, before the transmission is abruptly ended.
The screen goes black, power shutting off. A chilling silence fills the air, broken only by distant sounds of chaos—snarls of the infected, sirens, screams, and the distant roar of flames.
_______
Four months. Four months since that final broadcast. Four months since civilization collapsed. Four months of doing whatever it takes to survive.
After society collapsed, Skyler spent a week in her apartment, rationing her canned goods and bottled water. Eventually her resources started to run out, causing her to leave safety and stealthily make her way to town, where she found an abundance of weapons, clothing, and freeze-dried food. There was also a lot of survival gear.
Despite all the racism and sexist attitudes she received for being half Korean and a woman, Skyler had never been more thankful to live in a small conservative area as she had been in that moment.
Now, four months later, she was miles away from the area. She hoped if she could get to her grandparents farm, where she would have all the tools and resources to survive on her own, that she would flourish. Maybe, if she was lucky, she would also find her younger brother there. She wouldn't get her hopes up, though.
Skyler pulled her shoulder length brown hair into a low ponytail so her hair would stay out of her face. The last thing she needed was to have a blind spot. She pulled on her hunting clothes as well as her steel toe waterproof boots.
She secured her crossbow across her back, and kept two pistols with silencers in their holsters. She also had a machete she kept on her right side at all times, and a few knives in her bag for skinning/scaling, gutting, and cutting meat.
She finished getting dressed, and her items together. She was running low on food, and she knew there were a few outdoor stores in this new town where she could scour in hopes of food and supplies.
She was grateful to find a small secure building to use as a hideout for a few days before continuing on.
___
Skyler's journey to the outdoor stores was unsuccessful. Two were burnt down, and the third was crumbling, zombies stalking the area. She was disappointed, but decided to look somewhere else to get a few days worth of supplies.
She stayed in the shadows, succeeding in avoiding the zombies as she found a small store.
It looked to be old, one that probably existed there longer than she had been alive, and was in what most would deem a poor area. It would most likely have the necessities and no more. It definitely wouldn't have the survival gear that she was hoping for, but she could at least get some food and a few bottles of water until she could find somewhere with survival items.
It was easy to get in, no locks or blockages. After a quick sweep, Skyler found that it was all clear.
She began putting non-perishable food in her pack, attempting to steer away from cans as they take up too much room and are heavier. She stuffed her bag with small packets of tuna and chicken, jerky and other dried meats, and meat sticks. She also grabbed a few ramen packs that she knew she could eat dry.
Skyler headed to the back, kneeling to look at options for water, thinking of maybe grabbing a few larger bottles, when she just barely heard the front door close. Her pulse quickened, and she was on high alert, searching for anywhere she could exit unseen.
Luck was not on her side.
While kneeling, she could just make out black hair over the tops of the shelves. She heard heavy breathing, as if whoever came in was finally able to breathe. She and the unknown person were silent and unmoving for what felt like hours, before they started to slowly move.
Skyler slowly moved, staying low to the ground, leaving her bag. She didn't want to, but if she couldn't scare whoever it was away or agree to go their separate ways peacefully, she would have no choice but to kill them. Humans were just as dangerous as the dead these days.
Both silently moved through the store, Skyler catching up enough to see that the unknown visitor was a young man with shaggy hair, and a tattooed sleeve. She quietly readied her crossbow.
He stopped at her pack, head tilting slightly, as Skyler pressed the top of the loaded bow into his back and retreated a few steps. The young man stiffened and quickly raised his hands, chest heaving in fear.
“Turn around.” Skyler instructed, her voice not wavering.
He stood still for a moment, before slowly turning.
The first thing Skyler noticed was his eyes. While they held fear, she noted in another time they must have been lively and full of happiness.
She noted a lip ring on his lower lip, and paired with the tattoos he would have looked intimidating, if not for his boyish looks and fear in his eyes.
“I mean no harm! I was just- we ran into a small horde and I got separated from my friends!”
Skyler stared at him in disbelief. Of all the people for him to run into, he runs into someone who can speak Korean?
Should she be willing to speak to him, help him in his little quest? He seemed friendly despite the fear, and it would be easy to help. Besides, Skyler is so lonely…
On the other hand, if she helped, he could be a hindrance. He didn't seem to have any weapons or supplies, and fending for someone else as well as herself could lead to her demise. Besides, what would happen if they found his friends? Best case she walks away, all alone again.
While arguing the pros and cons of speaking his native tongue and helping, he took her silence as not understanding him.
He tried speaking in broken English.
“I.. not bad? Just, alone? No, lost! Friends away from-”
“Shut up.” Skyler interrupted, startling herself with how standoffish she was being. Bow slightly lowering. “I don't know what the fuck you're saying. You,” she pointed at him and then the door, “Need to leave. Now.”
“I don't.. I not mean? No hurting you! Just need help find friends! Monsters ran me here.” He said desperately. “You know BTS? I'm Jungkook!”
Skyler looked him up and down, sure,she had heard of BTS on the radio before the outbreak, she didn't live under a rock. However, she never looked into them, only ever hearing one or two songs on the radio.
“Who the fuck is BTS?” Skyler said, still trying to get him to leave. “Look dude, I don't care who you are. You need to get the fuck out. Now.”
She grabbed the shoulder of his shirt and moved him in front of her, pushing him towards the door.
Jungkook dropped to the floor bowing and holding her pant leg, sobbing and begging in a mixture of broken English and Korean.
“Please! I just…I need help. Please help me. Don't put me alone. I'm alone and I miss my brothers! Please, I don't want to die.”
Skyler's heart stopped and she seemed to forget how to breathe as she took in the scene in front of her. Instead of seeing Jungkook, she was back in the past, to her brother begging her not to leave him alone with their abusive parents, pleading to take him with her when she was made to leave the final time.
She left out a shuddering breath and turned her head, blinking back the hot tears that formed in her eyes. She put the bow on her back, and slyly knelt down to grab Jungkook's hands, helping him stand again. She dropped his hands as soon as he was fully standing.
He looked at her with wide, fearful eyes, ready to have to go alone.
Skyler scanned his face, her heart clenching every time she thought of leaving him behind. She took another deep breath, slowly letting it out. She couldn't trust him fully, but she could try to help him. Maybe she would
just need to keep a distance, in case he dies or wants her gone if they find his friends.
"I'll help you.”