Chapter 20: The Escape

Yeosu aimlessly rolled a brown stone with her foot. The other children behind her were also idly digging for stones or piling up dirt like her.

The parents standing by their side chatted among themselves, killing time. Their expressions were much softer than Cheche’s, who stood rigidly still.

‘Yeosu. Stand up.’

Finally, Cheche pulled up Yeosu, who had slumped to the ground to pick up a stone. And yet, Yeosu, without a hint of sadness, just said, “Uh… uh,” letting out a soft sigh.

‘You remember our conversation yesterday, right?’

It was a deliberately short mouth movement, lest someone notice. Yeosu glanced at Cheche once, then at her surroundings, and nodded slightly.

She remembered. But perhaps because she didn’t want to accept the fact that they had to leave again, or perhaps to hide her anxiety, Yeosu couldn’t keep her hands and feet still.

Perhaps it was both. She didn’t want to leave the place they had so difficultly settled in, and she was anxious that her mother might leave her behind.

Just then, as she hung her head, staring at the back of her feet, the barbed wire was cleared just enough for one car to pass, and a truck drove in.

Since the Wanderer started showing the Human Run broadcast around this time, everyone simply watched the truck, assuming it was the same. Today, too, the children wriggled like earthworms emerging from dirt holes, wondering if they could see the screen by standing on their tiptoes.

The truck, parked in its usual spot, stopped for a moment, perhaps to gather a crowd. The residents, knowing they had to wait for the broadcast to begin, approached the truck leisurely, unlike before.

Among them was the old man Yeosu was familiar with. Researcher 38, deliberately bending his back and tapping his cane, cast his gaze towards the mother and daughter.

Yeosu noticed Cheche’s breathing quickening and gripped her mother’s hand tighter. Then, her breathing slowly returned to normal. Cheche let out a long sigh and checked beyond the barbed wire fence again.

The transport vehicle, which had left for the screening center early in the morning, was returning, crushing the dry grass. It was the expected time.

Cheche sent Yeosu behind her and looked back at the truck. Enough audience had gathered. Soon, the Wanderer would get out of the driver’s seat to show the broadcast.

Researcher 38 took his position closest to the cargo compartment as planned. Thud, he buried the tip of his cane in the dirt and waited for the vehicle to move.

Cheche turned her head back, swallowed, and took a step closer to the barbed wire fence. Just then, a guard approached the entrance. Cheche instinctively clutched her scarf and shielded Yeosu with her body.

Surely they weren’t starting the transport even before the broadcast began? But it wasn’t shift change time yet. It was the moment Cheche looked at the man, tensing up, wondering if there would be a hitch in the plan.

“Afternoon transport is suspended. Everyone step back!”

Cheche’s eyes wavered. The reaction of those in line was no different. A woman from the back, who had waited long with the two of them, seemed to protest to him. The grumbling of children followed.

It was when Cheche was pushed back by the parents gathering at the entrance.

Bang! A gunshot rang out.

Cheche, embracing Yeosu, breathed heavily and checked behind her. But no one here had been shot. Just as her brows furrowed in confusion, a scream erupted.

The truck. It was the truck. Cheche looked back at the truck, visible between the children’s heads.

Someone walked out from behind the opened driver’s door. It was a familiar uniform. Cheche instinctively knew that everything had gone wrong.

The cargo compartment slid open with a drrr, and several human soldiers jumped out among the onlookers. Bang! Several more gunshots were fired into the air.

Unlike the guards in their shabby jumpsuits covered in sand, these were individuals in sturdy navy blue uniforms, with silver insignia on their chests and right arms. Even the refugees living in the shelters knew what they were called.

The Special Star Army.

“We have received a report of impure breeds here. There will be an impromptu inspection starting now. Everyone kneel and put your hands behind your heads.”

Bang, bang, bang! Gunshots followed. Pale-faced individuals knelt on trembling legs. The commander, inspecting them indifferently, gestured to his subordinates to deal with those who were merely trembling in fear.

The uniformed individuals moved. With their tactical rifles held forward, they began to pull triggers towards the legs of those standing without the slightest hesitation.

With each bang, humans fell thud-thud. Cheche’s lips trembled, watching those who bowed their heads like grass flattening in a gust of wind.

It was rare for the Special Forces to directly conduct impromptu inspections of unregistered individuals. Usually, it was limited to the level of civilian guard interrogations.

“With this, Incinerator 203 has been fully slaughtered.”

“Next is this place. Not a single one must be missed.”

It had begun. The slaughter, under the guise of an impromptu inspection.

“Gather everyone here.”

At the commander’s order, the Special Forces members headed towards the shelters. They intended to gather even those who hadn’t come out to the exchange.

Just then, one of the Special Forces members looked back at where Cheche was. Approaching footsteps were heard. With them, Cheche’s heart pounded loudly.

‘She had to escape. No, she couldn’t gamble.’
She wavered, torn by the conflict in her mind, then made a decision and was about to bend her knees.
Her eyes met Researcher 38’s.

He was already resisting, kneeling on both knees with his hands behind his head.
But he clearly gestured towards the cargo compartment.
That was right. His plan had not been interrupted.

Cheche pretended to bend her knees and glanced at the entrance.
After the appearance of the Special Forces, the guards, perhaps conscious of them, had retreated a few steps.

Thanks to this, surveillance at the entrance became lax.

One step, two steps. It was when the distance to the Special Forces member was closing.
Beep— A massive noise echoed from the truck.
The Special Forces members who were approaching the children stopped and clutched their foreheads at the terrible sound that seemed to pierce their minds.

The viewing box’s audio system amplified, creating a deafening roar that made everyone cover their ears.
Researcher 38 was standing right behind that viewing box.
He had finally succeeded in his operation.

Bang, bang!

The Special Forces members’ rifles simultaneously aimed at the cargo compartment.
It was uncertain how long Researcher 38 could hold out.

Cheche immediately straightened her knees and jumped over the entrance.
The surprised guard instantly raised his gun, but before he could fire, Cheche subdued his arm and snatched his gun.

A few guards hovering near the guard post aimed, but Cheche was faster to pull the trigger.

The loud noise continued. Meanwhile, a bullet finally pierced Researcher 38’s head. He was dead. Now there was no time.

Cheche snatched the car keys and other keys from the fallen guard’s waist and opened the entrance.
Yeosu, who had been lying flat on the ground, cleverly immediately rushed into her arms.

Cheche skillfully disassembled the attachments, held the weapon assembled from a pistol, and embraced Yeosu with her other arm.

Feeling the warmth of the child who tightly hugged her neck, she ran and ran towards the transport vehicle.
The transport vehicle that came into view had its driver’s side door open.

Belatedly noticing her escape, the Special Forces members began to give chase.
Bang, bang, bang! Amidst the missed shots, a bullet finally grazed her thigh.

Cheche, who almost stumbled for a moment, gritted her teeth and continued to move her feet.
The transport vehicle was right in front of them.
As she lowered the child to the ground, Cheche guarded her rear.

Yeosu managed to climb the tall vehicle with her weak arms.
As promised to her mother, she went to the back seat and lay low.

Cheche, backing up to the driver’s seat, immediately started the engine as soon as she sat down.
The engine roared, and the car moved forward.

Just then, the Special Forces members aimed their rifles.
Cheche glanced at the side-view mirror and sharply turned the wheel.
Bang, bang! Bullets narrowly missed the driver’s seat and lodged into the chassis.

Cheche stomped on the accelerator without hesitation.
With every turn of the wheel, a shower of bullets plunged into the sand, narrowly missing.

When the Special Forces members were no longer visible in the rearview mirror, Cheche looked back at the backseat.
Yeosu was trembling, clutching her head with her small hands.

Cheche, unable to even offer words of comfort to the child, bit her lip and stared straight ahead.
She couldn’t keep driving the transport vehicle like this.
All military vehicles had trackers.
She needed to find another vehicle to switch to.

It would be good if she could find a truck driven by Wanderers, but a two-wheeled vehicle would also suffice.
Cheche’s eyes moved quickly from side to side as she drove the car.

Perhaps that was why.
She didn’t notice Yeosu’s frantic gestures.