The sky outside remained dark. The night wind brought a biting chill, slipping through the cracks of the broken windows. Pale moonlight cast shadows across the walls of the main dormitory hall—now turned into a fortress for the twenty-four girls who remained—out of the two hundred who once filled this building.
Some were still crying quietly, hugging their knees or wrapped in blankets. Others sat in the center of the room, gathered around a single candle placed on an empty can.
Ahreum stood at the front, facing them all. Her face was firm, even though her eyes were swollen with fatigue.
"We don't know what's happening out there. But one thing's for sure—this isn't a normal earthquake," she said. "The roof collapsed. Many... didn't make it. But we're still here. And that means we survive."
Yenara glanced around. "The food and water should last for two or three days if we ration it."
"We still have some medicine, too. The infirmary cabinets weren't completely destroyed," added Evelyn, sitting cross-legged near Farya.
"So we stay here?" Naomi asked. "Not even try to go out and get help?"
"No," Ahreum replied quickly. "We don't know what's out there. It's too risky. We guard the doors, the windows, and we stick together. At least until morning."
---
From the other group in the room, a voice rose from the back.
"But... none of this makes sense! This is a curse, right? A curse on the academy!" yelled a girl with oversized glasses. All eyes turned to her.
"Can you shut up?" snapped another girl, her voice sharp. Her hair was dyed two colors and piercings lined her ears. "Screaming won't help anyone!"
"If it really is a curse, then hiding won't matter either..." muttered the girl with glasses.
"So noisy..." said another girl who had been trembling in the corner. "I'm scared... really scared..."
Ahreum stepped in, standing at the center of the tension. "Everyone, calm down. We won't survive if we keep blaming each other. Focus. One goal—stay alive."
There was silence for a moment. Then Naomi spoke softly, "We should make a watch schedule... someone to guard the doors and windows in case something comes."
Farya nodded. "And no overeating. We count all supplies and plan portions."
Aubrey, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke. "If we hear anything outside... don't open the door right away. Make sure we know who it is."
Ahreum took a deep breath. "Alright. We'll make a watch schedule. Me, Yena, and Lyn will take the first shift. The rest—"
THUD THUD THUD!
Everyone froze.
BANGING!
The main door. Loud banging and panicked voices followed.
"OPEN! OPEN THE DOOR!!"
"It's me! Renji! Hurry—they're right behind us—!!"
Ahreum rushed to the door, followed by Lyn and Yena, who picked up wooden sticks as precaution. "Who's out there!?" she shouted.
"Me! Agri too! Jihwan! Dae—ARGH HURRY!!"
No time. Ahreum unlocked the door and opened it slightly. Four boys burst in, gasping, their faces dripping with cold sweat. Renji, at the front, immediately locked the door again from the inside.
Some of the girls screamed softly.
"What was chasing you?" Yena asked.
"Creatures… tall ones, moving like dogs, but... shaped like upright wolves... we only saw the eyes... glowing red," Daewon said, breathless.
"We escaped from the sports block. Barely made it," Jihwan added.
Ahreum stared at them sharply. "Did you bring anything?"
Renji opened his backpack. "Instant noodles. Four packs. And... this."
He held up a large kitchen knife, stained with dirt and a bit of dried blood. "Emergency weapon."
Agri also showed a long screwdriver and a metal spatula. "We grabbed whatever could be used as a weapon."
Evelyn nodded slowly. "Good. At least now we have weapons... and a little more food."
Everyone fell silent. A faint howl echoed again outside. But they were no longer alone. Twenty-eight students. One more night to survive.
Ahreum stared at the four boys—faces covered in dust, eyes wild with fear, but in them... a flicker of hope. Hope that they weren't alone anymore.
"What made you think of coming here?" she finally asked. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp, watching their every move. "Why the southern girls' dorm?"
Renji slowly looked up. His gaze met Ahreum's.
"I... don't know why. But I was sure you were still alive." He looked down briefly, then added, "Somehow... if you were still here, then maybe there's still hope."
Silence. Even the howls from afar seemed to fade for a moment.
"We thought... if anywhere could still be safe, it'd be here," Agri continued. "The sports block... there were people at first. But…"
He bit his lip, looking down. Jihwan finished the thought softly, "Those creatures came through a collapsed wall. They tore through like nothing... chased down anyone who moved."
"We ran. Escaped through the locker room, climbed to the roof. From there, we saw the light from here. The only light left..." Renji's voice began to shake.
Ahreum cut in, her tone turning serious.
"Blow out half the candles. Now."
Yena and Lyn moved quickly without question. They extinguished some candles near the windows and doors. The room dimmed, leaving the center as the only light source.
Ahreum looked at Renji. "If you could see the light from the roof... so could they."
Renji hugged his knees, eyes staring blankly.
"My two friends... they stayed behind. They saw others who couldn't run… and chose to help. But I..." His voice faded, almost a whisper. "I ran."
"Renji…" Yena approached, her voice gentle.
"It's not your fault," said Ahreum quickly, cutting through the guilt in the air. "They chose to stay, and you chose to survive. We don't know what happened to them now, but you made it—and now you help us survive too."
Renji didn't answer, but his gaze focused again.
"For now, everyone needs a role," Ahreum continued. "We'll set four shifts. One of you on each. We need your strength—and your experience with those creatures."
She looked around the room. "Me, Yena, and Lyn stay on the first shift. Plus Renji. The rest of you—Agri, Daewon, Jihwan—take the next three shifts. We'll rotate every two hours."
Everyone nodded, though their exhausted faces looked ready to collapse.
---
The night was tense.
Faint footsteps outside. Rustling leaves. Sometimes the wind sounded like whispers. But so far, no attacks.
Ahreum sat near a window, gripping a mop handle turned weapon. Yena sat cross-legged nearby, eyes fixed on the front door. Renji hugged his knees, back against the cold wall, while two other girls guarded the other side of the hall.
Renji finally spoke, his voice soft.
"Do you remember... the days before all this?" he murmured, almost talking to himself. "I used to hate morning runs. Now I'd run anywhere just to go back to those days."
Yena gave a small smile. "I miss the cafeteria. Even the food that tasted like rubber."
Ahreum looked at them, then gave a faint smile. "I miss arguing over who gets the bathroom first."
Renji let out a short laugh. Bitter, but real.
"We used to sit around, doing homework, complaining about strict teachers. Now... we sit in fear of something inhuman banging on the door." He sighed deeply. "Sometimes I think... maybe this is all a dream. But this exhaustion... it's too real."
Yena nodded gently. "But we're here. Together. Still alive. That's enough for now."
Renji glanced at Ahreum. "You're always strong, huh."
Ahreum turned to him, eyes locking onto his. "Not strong. Just haven't had time to break down yet. Maybe later. But right now…"