Chapter 20: Orphanage.

“Fortunately, there’s a lot of fuel and this car seems to be able to run well.”

“You know how to drive, right?”

“I had an international license, and Yu-jeong taught me how to drive in a makeshift way.”

“Where are you going now?”

“This place is ruined, so I’m going to the orphanage first, at least it has a freer atmosphere than here.”

“Good luck”

“Wait? Weren’t you going with us?”

“Do you have a place to go? Just come with us…”

‘Shake shake’

“Well, if that’s what you want… Can I at least ask your name?”

“If we meet again by chance, I’ll tell you then.”

It’s been two weeks since I escaped from that terrible day, and as people forget, the memories of that day are slowly fading.

The memories of that day, when I was tormented like a s*x s*ave in a cold, dark, damp, and moldy concrete room like a prison,

Perhaps my brain wants to refuse to even recall it,

It’s gradually fading, just like how I can’t remember in detail what I was doing at this moment a year ago.

But in those fading memories, there is one girl who is uniquely imprinted,

That girl, who would have been just a brief extra in my life, was the biggest turning point that changed my future.

I, as a person, cannot even guess what kind of story she had, who refused the offer to join her and was left alone, whose name I don’t even know,

I reflect on the last image of the girl, who had a bitter smile on her face, waving goodbye in the rearview mirror of the departing car,

And I reflect once again on the relationship she left behind in a world where I can’t even confirm her safety.

“Hyeon-ho, I’ve come to relieve you. Was there anything unusual at night?”

“I was just about to call you, you came at the right time, Rebecca. Is that the girl who helped you at that warehouse you were talking about?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“See for yourself, she doesn’t seem to have any intention of attacking, but still, I’ll go and inform Elder Jung-ho first.”

The girl who helped me?

If that girl is really the girl I know,

!!…

For what reason, or rather, why did she come back again?

How should I treat her?

I held up both hands to show that I had no intention of attacking and approached the orphanage.

The young man, who was guarding me with a rifle at first, confirmed that I had no intention of attacking, and when I took off my hat and mask to emphasize that I was a girl,

He did not prevent me from writing on a notebook to let them know who I was.

Rebecca, who I happened to know, came out, and her surprised expression was clearly revealed on her face. Rebecca hesitated for a moment,

But soon opened the main gate of the orphanage.

I thought I would enter safely without any further commotion, but,

‘Bark bark! Grrr!! Woof woof! Woof!!’

The dog near the main gate started barking madly at me. This is a development I didn’t expect at all…

There’s no law that says animals shouldn’t react to zombies, but if it comes out this aggressively, it’s quite difficult for me.

“Grrr!! Woof woof!! Woof!!!”

“Dodol, what’s wrong? He’s not usually like this…”

Even s*ave unit number 1 was deceived, so I thought I had hidden the zombie-specific pale complexion and smell with makeup and perfume to some extent,

The dog, whose sense of smell is tens of thousands of times more developed than that of humans, can’t be fooled by this, right?

“What’s going on? Rebecca, you know better than anyone that you shouldn’t open the door carelessly, even if it’s someone you know.”

Perhaps because of the loud barking of the dog or because of the young man who relieved Rebecca and went in, while I was having a scuffle with the dog in front of the main gate,

The personnel who had gone out for a search yesterday came out of the orphanage building.

“You’re the child who rescued Rebecca, Yu-jeong, and So-jeong?”

Because of the dog that seemed like it would run at me at any moment if I got any closer, I had no choice but to wait outside, and the old man, who seemed to be the eldest and looked hale and hearty despite his white hair, stepped forward and asked me a question.

‘Nod’

I only knew that they knew I couldn’t speak to the outside world, so I replaced my answer by nodding slightly.

“I’m grateful that you rescued our people, but we don’t know who you are, which faction you belong to, why you came here, and even how you found this place.”

“Elder, but she’s not a bad child…”

“Did you forget what I said?!”

Rebecca seemed to be trying to argue on my behalf against the grandfather, who continued speaking in a stern voice, but even that was immediately cut off.

I don’t care what you were in the past or what you did. But if there is even a slight possibility that you will harm us…

“That’s enough, Elder Han Jung-ho.”

What stopped the old man, who still hadn’t let go of his suspicion of me, was the middle-aged man with a kind but warm impression who came out last.

“Director, I’m not saying I don’t understand the elder’s intentions, but she’s still a young child. She’s at an age where she should be protected and raised,”

“That complacency is like last ti…”

“She is also the benefactor of Rebecca, Yu-jeong, and ‘So-jeong’.”

“I’ll see.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Perhaps because a tacit agreement had been reached, the middle-aged man called the director turned his head to me.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. And I apologize on behalf of Elder Jung-ho. It’s because he has painful memories of losing his family, so please don’t misunderstand.”

‘It’s okay, I understand enough.’

Well, I was already expecting this kind of squabble. Rather, it’s fortunate that it ended here, but that dog…

“Grrr! Woof!! Woof!!!”

“Haha, Dodol seems to be very wary because it’s the first time seeing you, he usually welcomes strangers right away…”

Um… It’s because he’s a zombie and he’s being wary of me due to his animal instincts, but somehow it seems to be going well.

“Dodol, let’s calm down for now. Okay?”

While Rebecca was struggling to stop the dog, which was about to run at me in excitement, I entered the inside of the orphanage following the director’s guidance.

The director seemed to be about to say something after seeing the K1A submachine gun I was carrying on my shoulder, but he didn’t touch it any further with an understanding expression.

Rather, he looks at me with such a gaze as if he admires me for surviving alone in this world.

“Oh, I see.

“I haven’t even introduced myself to you yet. My name is Park Dong-seok, and I was once the director of this orphanage. I’m 49 years old this year.

Because I have heart disease, I teach children here and take on the role of leader, though it’s not enough.”

I paused with the pen in my hand, wondering how to introduce myself, and the director continued to speak.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to bother saying it. There was an incident like that earlier, so it’s understandable enough. You can tell me slowly when you want to later.”

“Thank you”

“Make yourself comfortable while you’re here. Our circumstances aren’t that good, but…

We welcome lost children anytime.”