bts-apocalypse-au

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jimin's P.O.V 🐥 1st May

It's been three weeks since Jin (we're on a first-name basis now) and I first ran here with his class, fleeing the rabid wolves. Things at the zoo are rather prosperous. Jin continues to teach the children using the limited academic resources that the zoo provides, of late most of the lessons have been animal-related but it can't be helped and it's far better than nothing.

Taehyung is friendly but not very social. he's never cold and he's always kind to the children but it almost seems like he feels alienated from us, I suppose it's natural seeing as we're all virtual strangers to each other. At any rate, he's doing amazing work rehabilitating the hurt animals and spends most of his time with them, especially the tigers. I'm of course no animal specialist but I use my surgical skills to help however I can, and I feel as though our friendship is making progress.

When the children are down for their naps and the animals have been adequately tended to the three of us strategise. We've all agreed that it's best for us, because of the large size and young age of most people in our group, to stay here and await rescue instead of trying to seek out help and risk another attack. Sometimes Taehyung makes it sound like he wants to stay here forever, and sometimes I look around and I can't help agreeing with him.

At night the questions eat at all of us.

What has become of our city?

How did this happen?

Will we ever make it out?

Are we the only ones here anymore?

And the children, their parents left them. Who will care for them?

Is the whole world like this now?

And when it all becomes too much I close my eyes and fall asleep to the sounds of the animals.

Jin's P.O.V 🐻

The children love the zoo, it seems to have almost put their parents' "disappearance" out of their minds, and I fear for how long this peace will last.

Most of my lesson material is back at the school but the Zoo isn't devoid of anything, the gift shop is full of books on all sorts of animals and there are posters and animal-themed numbers and letter magnets and blocks, so I can make due.

Storytime is held in the small amphitheater, with stories about monkeys bananas, and Hippos at the drinking pond. Reading and Maths are held in the Staff Room on the sofa with the big whiteboard and animal magnets. And of course, science is all around us. Sometimes I think the children are learning better in this unique environment.

Taehyung has been so generous in letting us stay here, adding almost 20 extra mouths to feed. The children love him when he lets them hold some of the more tame animals and teaches them about the differences between types of owls or lets them play with his robo-dog Yeontan.

When I started to run out of reading material he volunteered his personal collection of books that he brought with him, including the full Harry Potter series.

While I don't know him well it's safe to say that he's a good person and I owe him my life and more.

Taehyung's P.O.V 🐯

The Zoo is my paradise, I'm finally doing what I want to do, where I want to do it but I've never felt more alone. I haven't eaten in almost a month now, and it's not that I'm not hungry (which makes it somehow worse) but that it feels wrong, like some psychological thing that's messing my brain up because I'm not doing "normal" human things anymore.

I'm solar powered if you're wondering. 

My battery, which I would guess is the robotic equivalent of a heart, lasts a week, so every Saturday I just slip away for a few hours to the tiger enclosure to recharge. (Which unfortunately has to be done by taking off my shirt and letting my metal panels soak up the sun's rays.) Usually, I play with Bom, the tiger cub, and try to ignore the fact that I'm now partially made of metal.

Thankfully Jimin and Mr. Kim don't ask many questions. For example, how I got access to part of the city's security grid after it went down. Most of the grid is fried but the few miles I've been able to reboot have helped me track down most of the missing animals. It's surprising, I thought they would've left by now but no, they stay close to home, congregating around the HYBE building. I want to bring it up but I can't figure out how without admitting I'm not wholly human.

Either way, something is up and I think Jimin knows it too. He spoke up about the sketchy vaccines and I had to stay silent instead of thanking him for a new insight into my condition. He says we should investigate but what is there that we can do against a huge corporation like that? And every time he talks about leaving it makes my metal heart hurt a bit. What are they going to do to me on the outside? Will I have to hide forever? Is there even anyone else left to hide from or has the whole planet been consumed by this phenomenon?

My current plan if no rescue comes is to help Jimin Mr. Kim and his class to safety (if there is any) and then make up some reason to stay behind, like serving my purpose with the animals or something. What is my purpose?

Is it to stay here in solitude?

I used to have friends (god knows where they are now) and enjoy being around people, but now I feel like I don't belong.

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jeon Hoseok P.O.V 🐿️ 11th April

(A/N: Unedited so  . . . yeah. The timeline might be wonky pls be kind)

I'm still laughing when Namjoon leaves. Yet worry festers at the back of my mind, it's still very early in the morning and Namjoon must have been working all night if he's at work this early. He always over works himself, it would probably take an apocalypse to get him to take even a day off.

I start to take a look at Joon's keyboard but then remember that I have to start JK's order. A nice boy who comes in here for pickup around this time.

Just as I finish the boy appears. I've never seen his full face, except for his bright doe-like eyes because he always wears a face mask and baseball hat.

"Order for JK, please." He says and I can tell that he's smiling. Despite his tough appearances he never fails to be polite. I give him his coffee.

"Aren't you a little young for all this coffee?" I tease

He just laughs and walks towards the door, "Thanks, Mr. Jeon." I smile as he holds the door for the next customer. I stand ready at the counter but the man just sits down in a booth and stares out across the street at the HYBE building.

Even after 30 minutes he hasn't moved an inch, just looking at some kind of file over the table and taking notes. He hasn't bothered anything so I let him stay. Also because he's super cute.

"Excuse me sir." He says suddenly, I break my trance.

"Um, uh, yes?"

"I feel bad just sitting here and not ordering anything, what would you recommend?"

This cute guy is asking me what I recommend ahhh! "Uh, the egg sandwiches are good."

"Okay, I'll have that then."

"Do you want it toasted or regular?"

He tilts his head side to side like a cat as if deep in thought, "Whatever you like best."

"Okay, untoasted it is."

—

I bring him his sandwich and he thanks me, handing me several paper bills. "Is this enough, I don't have my card on me?"

I count the bills, it's more than enough. "Here you can have these back." I hand him all the bills, "My treat."

He looks like he's about to argue but the next customer arrives, another regular. A teacher. "The usual, Mr. Kim?"

"Yes, big day of lesson planning."

I nod in sympathy. As I add whip cream to Mr. Kim's coffee the doorbell chimes and yet another customer enters a short blond man.

"Here you go Mr. Kim."

"Thank you." He pays for his coffee and leaves.

"Ah, hello Mr. Park." I greet him not expecting him to answer. He always comes and gets coffee when he's tried, I suspect he too has been working all night. "Is your work going well?"

"Busy as always." He smiles grimly and pays for his black coffee.

When he leaves it's quiet for a while and I get a chance to start work on Namjoon's keyboard. Soon the bell chimes and another customer enters, a boy who can't be more than 20. I've never seen him here before. He wears a badge that reads Seoul News group.

"Do you have tea?" He asks

"Yes, green, black and ginger teas."

"I'll have the green please."

"Okay coming right up."

"Thanks." He smiles, pays, and leaves.

The rest of the day is quiet and I hardly have any other customers so I decide to close early. Go home and relax a bit and fix Namjoon's keyboard. I wonder if he would notice if I just replaced it. Yes, unfortunately, he would.

—

It only takes me 45 minutes to completely repair they keyboard's working system and they keys so I decide to log on early and play Overwatch. I pull up the chat and contact Cooky, my gaming buddy.

(You): Hey Cooky! I'm off early, how about that rematch we talked about earlier?

GoldenCooky'97: Sure, I'm game! Where are you?"

(You): [A/N: map-coordinates-or-whatever-because-i-don't-game]

GoldenCooky'97: Cool! Heading over now.

We game late into the evening then the game begins to glitch. Cooky says it's glitchy on his end as well. I reload but it won't work. Then the screen goes completely black. I sit in confusion for a moment then something else fills the screen, some news station.

The news man starts to speak, but he sounds winded. "This is an emergency news broadcast, please stop what you're doing and pay attention."

I have nothing better to do so I turn it up a bit.

The news man breathes in deeply, then begins his report. "There has been a sudden surge of animal attacks and it appears that all the city's wild animals have suddenly gone rabid. We suspect that more than 100 casualties have already been sustained. Several power grids and other things like gas and water lines and water filtration systems have gone down as well. Oh and" Someone who I guess is a member of the news crew or whatever whispers something to the news man. "This is just in, officials are recommending you either get ready to stay put in your homes and or offices for a while or you leave Seoul immediately!"

I have a few seconds to think about this before everything goes dark. I scream, I can't help myself, and Mickey wakes up and jumps into my lap. I hold him close. And scream into his fur. I admit I am a dramatic person but this, this warrants a scream.

I get up and begin to pace around. Should I leave, what about my family and my friends? Oh my god are they okay, what if they're dead? No, no, no, calm down, you have to calm, but I can't!

I take my phone and try to call my mom, no answer and it's the same for everyone else. I scream again and again and again until I can't hear the screams anymore and my throat feels like sandpaper. Nobody comes up to ask if I'm alright or even to tell me to shut up, which is even more worrying. I look out the window and see people packing into their cars, the roads are already packed, there's no way I'd be able to leave now.

So I stay.

(3 weeks later) 1st May

The staying inside my small flat has taken its toll on me, I don't even see the point of living anymore. The city is empty of humans now and I see out my windows animals pace in the streets. Then I see something else, someone. A human, an actual person. . . a trail of blood.

I head down to investigate holding a cleaver and a cricket bat out in front of me. When I reach the street I recognise the cute man from the cafe. His leg is bleeding.

"Hey, hey! Do you need help? I can help!"

He just nods and lets me help him inside. Honestly this is the most exciting thing that's happened in awhile and helping someone, especially this cute guy, gives me a sense of myself again.

When I sit him down on the counter he winces. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, I've had worse. That tiger was a nasty piece of work."

"Tiger!?" I look down at his leg and lift up the torn trouser fabric. Now that the wound is in full view I can see that it's some type of animal bite. "Were you bitten!?"

"Yes." He says too calm for the situation.

"You need a hospital!" Are the hospitals even open, "or at least stitches, let me see if I can clean it. I have a first aid kit, let me just grab it!"

I run as fast as I can to the bathroom but when I come back to the kitchen, he's gone.

I don't know his name. "Hello! Where are you, you don't have to hide! I won't hurt you."

No one answers. Something catches my eye. A note.

Thank you for helping me but I can't stay.

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Use in the case of an extreme emergency only

Agust D

I'm tempted to dial the number right now but his instructions are clear and he seems like someone who know's what he's talking about so I don't, instead I look at the file underneath the note. Something from HYBE labs. Does this man know Namjoon? I wish I could call Joon and ask but I have no idea where he is and I've already tried calling him.

The file is called Project S1LV3R

I boot up my computer and begin a deep search on the HYBE database as I skim the file. HYBE servers are very well encrypted and I suppose it's to protect high level research and intellectual property but it does seem a bit excessive. I push the thought down and get back to cracking code.

Before lunch I'm in. I make myself some ramyeon and sit back down to explore. What I find isn't much. Honestly if I was trying to keep a secret in this day and age I would use secure paper documents too. Unhackable without having physical clearance, which I certainly don't. (I wonder absently if Joon does). What secret are they trying to keep so securely.

I click on the folder and find 3 videos and 10 audio-files. The audio is mostly the same, barking, growling, whimpering, and whining of some sort of animal. I thought animal testing was illegal, what were they doing to it?

The videos look more promising but now I'm not sure if I even want to see them. I force myself to click. A white room fills the screen, a cage in the centre. The dog from the audio files is now visible. It looks healthy enough but curled up in fear.

"Test number one with subject number 134340. Test subject is a white American Eskimo, 10 months and 3 days of age. Test subject has been given a low dosage of the silver serum, the serum has been in its system for 3 days. If our hypothesis were correct then the transformation should be complete. Tests commencing now." A cold female voice declares.

A white gloved hand reaches out, the dog's fur bristles defensively then its skin begins to shift until there's no more fur and the dog has been replaced with a mirror. No, not replaced, the dog is the mirror. It's now reflective, metal. Its eyes glow, a monster.

The next video shows more white gloved hands poking and prodding the dog, testing the metal with everything from what appears to my unscientific eyes to be acid and a hot poker. I close my eyes as the dog's whines fade and the video ends.

I think I'm going to be sick. The nausea and disgust brought on by the cruel treatment, the nature of the transformation, makes my head swim, I wretch painfully into the sink.

I'm shaken, even more so than when the Panda went crazy at the zoo but this time I know what I have to do. I have to expose this, I'm not exactly sure what this is but I know I have to do something, anything, about it. I have to go to the lab and get those documents.

#11th April #eleventh april #Jeon Hoseok #Jung Hoseok #Hoseok #j-hope

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Namjoon's P.O.V 🐨 12th April

When I wake up, everyone is gone. They must have gone home for the night UGH! That means that I slept at least 5 hours. At work! How embarrassing! Oh no, what if I'm locked in. Oh well, I practically live here anyway. Suddenly, something blatantly obvious occurs to me, it's light out. I go over to the computer tapping the power button to wake it up, it doesn't work. In typical me fashion I'd forgotten that I wear a watch. It reads 9:30.

My watch must be wrong, if it's 9:30 then where is everybody? I walk to the break room where people should be almost shoving each other to get the watered down instant coffee whilst it's still hot, there's nobody. Next I go to the bathrooms where the repairman is always yelled at because one of the toilets doesn't work, there's nobody. This doesn't make sense. Where's the morning coffee line, where's the office clamour, where's Janitor accusing me of breaking something again? Where are they?

I look out the window, there are tons of cars out, tons of them. I can hear horns honking all the way up here and see people getting out to shout at other drivers. It's a gridlock, the cars on the road must contain at least ¾ of the city's 10 million people. Why aren't they at work, is there some Holiday I forgot, a big festival? It's the middle of April and there shouldn't be.

But if not that, then why . . . I notice they're all headed the same way to the highway, and out of the city.

Why? Why is everyone leaving? What's happening?

I head over and try to boot up one of the computers but the it wont turn on and it occurs to me that the office is only lit by daylight. Did the city grid go down? No, I see lights over in other sectors of the city, so just us.

I need to reboot the generator for the floor but it's two floors down in the electrical room, so I'll do it later. I go up a floor and down one of both of those floors are deserted. The security room shows the entire building is empty. What the hell?

I check my phone and find it still works, oh thank god! I get a ping and then another, a flood of alerts coming in and I read each one my horror growing, what happened? Animal attacks, plant attacks, people getting sick with some strange flu like disease.

I breathe deeply and slap my left cheek as hard as I can. It stings like hell and I stay right where I am so this is definitely a dream or rather a nightmare. Okay, okay. One thing at a time, the smartest thing would be to hole up here for now. I'll start by collecting medical and food supplies.

—

With some effort I've restored power to my floor and 4 other floors (2 above and 2 below my floor). At least now I can use the elevators to haul supplies

I've spent the better part of the day scouring all open floors for supplies. Most of them are above my clearance level meaning I can't enter even though the power's out because they require physical keys, but a few of those have been left unlocked, probably out of haste.

Now the only floor left to check is one of the top level clearance labs that's been left open. I've been hesitant, but there might be something I can use to communicate with in there.

The lights are still on and I know I didn't turn them on, they must have been on a separate grid. But why? Fridges of vials and samples whir, still fully powered and microscopes with petri dishes and sit abandoned, a time capsule of a moment. I take gloves from a box and put them on just to be safe.

A section of human skin lays under one of the microscopes, a rather large one and it looks fresh, I don't want to think of where they got it. I peer into the microscope, it appears to be human cells . . . almost.

They twist and bend and group and ungroup moving fluidly like water but with a consistency denser, almost like metal. I take some acid from the shelves and place a small bit on the dish, the cells react immediately. Instead of dissolving, they crystallise becoming more and more solid. In about 3 seconds a piece of metal lies in the petri dish, in place of the cells. I take tweezers and poke it, it stays solid and even after picking it up and dropping it it doesn't damage, it doesn't even scratch. I place it back in the petri dish and it does change, morphing itself to fit perfectly in the space. I watch in wonder.

When I finally do look up I see there's a cage in the left corner of the lab. A small white animal lays on the mat inside writhing. The nameplate on the cage reads:

Test Subject #134340

Status: FAIL

Action: TERMINATE

They must've been going to euthanize it but never got the chance. I step closer and see it's a dog. Keeping my gloves on I pet its back gently. It uncurls itself and rolls over on its belly, I gasp. Its entire stomach is silver and feels like . . . metal, but that's impossible. (Or is it? Not according to what I just saw.) One of its paws and half of its face also share this condition. What were they doing?

Just as I notice a second, bigger cage in the corner the lights go out, plunging the lab into blackness. There's nowhere to hide so I call out, hoping, praying that it's another survivor and not one of the feral animals I heard about.

"Hello!?"

I hear a woosh and then something too real to be a shadow but too vague to be a person sweeps me up, when I realise what's happened I'm tied to a chair with zip ties.

"Who are you?" I ask the figure, male I think, but I'm not so sure. Their face is covered completely by a ninja mask.

"Better question, who are you?" They move like a cat but they're voice sounds like a growl.

I start to raise my hands up in surrender before I remember that they're bound. "I'm Kim Namjoon, I don't even work on this floor. I'm just looking for supplies. I can help you, we can help each other."

"You can't help me unless you have information."

"About what?" I try to hide the shake in my voice.

"Your boss."

"Mr. Park?"

"No, the CEO, the kind of work he was doing here. What they were creating."

I think about the dog and the skin that transformed into metal.

"I don't know, I just found this place, see my badge I don't even have clearance."

The person nods.

"You're a scientist?"

"Yes, and you?" I ask, gaining confidence.

"Just someone searching for corrupt people. Now can you tell me what all of this is?"

"No, I wasn't part of this project, I was working on calculations for the vaccine distribution projections. The CEO asked me personally to do them, he said no computers. They were planning on vaccinating the whole city within the month. That's all I know I swear!."

They nod and "hmm" to themselves as if they know something I don't.

Something silver flashes through the air and I flinch, a whooshing sound, it's a knife. I try to scream for help but the mysterious ninja person covers my mouth before the sound even leaves my lips and the zipties on my wrist fall off. They're freeing me, now I feel stupid.

They walk towards the door casually as if this is an everyday occurrence. "Agust D." The ninja says calmly.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"A to the G, to the U, to the STD" they say with disturbing nonchalance.

Before I can ask what that even means they're gone and the light is back on filling the room with fluorescent light, just when I had gotten used to the dark. I cringe then spot something out of the corner of my eye.

I look back to the petri dish trying to shake off the experience. The piece of metal is now skin again, the same as before, untouched by the transformation. So it was only temporary. I prod the skin again to see if it feels the same, all the time watching under the microscope. It turns back to metal stabilising and maintaining the state for another minute.

So it can change at will, if a piece of skin has will, so basically it does this as a defence. Wonderful. If only all humans could do this. Then it dawns on me, that's what they were trying to do to the dog only it turned out all too permanent. It would take years and probably more now that the projects have been abandoned but this could, with lots of tweaking, be possible for humans.

I note down my observations and grab a rolling file cabinet to study. I've tried calling my friends and colleagues but nobody has answers and I feel a stab of worry thinking about Hoseok-hyung. At least I have something to do until this all bowls over.

(A/N: I am soon going to have a lot of time to write so Hoseok and Yoongi's chapters should be coming out sometime in the near future.)

#12th April #twelfth april #RM #kim namjoon

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Namjoon's P.O.V 🐨 11th April

I sigh as I stifle another cough into my elbow, the cough candies don't seem to be helping at all. I knew I was going to get sick when I went to my nephew's birthday party this past weekend. In general, children's birthday parties aren't a great place for someone who gets sick as easily and often as I do.

I pull my favourite koala hoodie around me tighter as I finish the calculations for the vaccine distribution projections that the CEO personally asked me to do. When he came to me I'd been shocked, the calculations themselves weren't that hard but he has an entire floor of computers just for this, so why ask me. Then he had asked me to write it all out, not to use any computers.

It's not like I need a computer but still I find it odd. It's almost like he wants to keep it under the radar or something but that's probably just Kyungmin's love of police shows rubbing off on me. Besides, it doesn't matter anyway because my keyboard is cracked again so I wouldn't be able to use it if I wanted to.

Just as I cough again my boss Mr. Park comes around the corner. He is an older gentleman with a soft kind face, but don't be filled, he's the smartest person I know. He's been here since I was just an intern

"Mr. Kim, are you okay?"

"Just a bit stuffy. I went to my nephew's birthday on Saturday." I explain

He smiles sympathetically "Well maybe you should take a break. You're always working yourself so hard."

I force a laugh to keep the mood light, "Ah ha, yes. Maybe I should."

"Yes, get some rest, I'll see you soon."

He leaves and after a bit I decide that I should take a break, I need to get my keyboard fixed anyway. I sleepily walk down the stairs and head across the street to the bookshop/cafe my best friend Jeon Hoseok owns. He's really good with computers and always helps me fix mine.

As I approach him behind the counter I notice that he's on his tablet watching something intently. He has an odd look on his face. I'm surprised he isn't playing Overwatch on his monitor. He looks up, noticing me "Hey hyung you gotta see this! A panda ripped a zookeeper's face off at the zoo yesterday."

"What? Why would I want to see that? Besides Panda's don't attack people. You know that."

"I was there, with Ji-woo. It was horrifying."

"Yes. I'm sure it was. Now, I'm already under the weather, I don't need to see something that's going to make me sick as well." I say, the oncoming headache caused me to snap at my friend.

"Oh I'm sorry. I hope you feel better."

"It's just a cold. I'll be back to work in a few days. " I say. I can see Hoseok's expression is grim, surely he isn't that upset that I'm ill. The attack must've really shaken him. I feel even guiltier for snapping at him.

I move to stand behind him so I can see the screen.

"You don't understand, you don't get how bad it was."

Hobi hits play on the video, the screen of his tablet filling with a video from his sister's youtube channel. The video opens and I want to look away but I can't stop staring. The panda makes quick work of the zookeeper's face and body with slashing tares using claws way too long for a panda much less a cub.

When the video ends I let out a breath I hadn't realised that I was holding. "Why Hoseok, why? Why would you show me something like this." I look over to him only to realise that his own eyes are watering.

"I just wanted to talk to somebody, I wanted somebody to know, sorry I'm unloading on you like this."

"Of course Hobi. I'm so sorry you had to see that. Is your sister okay."

"Yes she's fine." He wipes the budding tears away. "Anyway. what's up with your keyboard today?"

"The e, t, a, i, o, n, s, h, and r keys aren't working."

"Hyung how? That's like all the keys. Why don't you get a new keyboard you can surely afford it."

"That's my lucky keyboard." I say stubbornly

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you though, for letting me talk to you."

"Of course, anytime."

I head back up to my office and stare for a moment at the pile of papers at my desk. I'm almost done with the calculations, I could surely take a little nap. The small office sofa that I have slept on so many times looks more inviting than ever and I gladly accept its invitation, wrapping a blanket around me and drifting into sleep.

#11th April #eleventh april #RM #kim namjoon

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Tae's P.O.V. 🐯 15th April Pt. 2

I'm about to test the trap when I hear footsteps and heavy breathing. A large group, 17 of them two adult males and 15 young children. I surprise myself by being able to know that. They come closer, I hide behind the wall and scan the group. Wait, I know him! One of the older males is blond and I've met him before, only three days ago. Park Jimin. What is a surgical resident doing with 15 small children? Then I see the badge on the other man. I must have accidentally scanned it because the badge appears in my holo-screen: he's a kindergarten teacher. Kim Seokjin.

The teacher steps in front of his students looking around. I hear the pounding of running paws in the distance, wolves or something like that. in the distance, getting closer. Park Jimin steps back and hits the fire alarm.

"Careful! Over here!" I whisper, not wanting to lead the creatures to us but hoping it's loud enough for them to hear. I can't leave them out there. I have to do something. I grab a rope ladder and throw it over the high concrete wall. Hopefully I can use my new strength to hold it in place while they climb over. Park Jimin taps the teacher on the shoulder and they exchange a look.

"Send the children first." Jimin whispers but the teacher is already doing that.

"Don't worry. You can trust me, Park Jimin." I say, hoping he'll recognize my voice and speed up. I see a flash of recognition and confusion in his eyes. I can see the creatures now and I was right before, they are wolves but they don't look like wolves at all. They're the size of horses and seem to have extra teeth. They lunge for the teacher and Jimin steps in front of him.

Just one more second, 3 . . . 2 . . . 1! I pull my end of the rope. the net drops. Please, please, please work! The net stretches across the gate in front of the group, the wolves paw at it, I know it won't hold.

"It won't hold for long! Come on!" I yell. Jimin snaps out of it. He and the teacher lift the last boy and girl over and then climb over themselves. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

Jimin stares at me "Tae?" I know what he's thinking. How different I looked when we last met. Thankfully a hoodie with a tiger on it covers the metal on my arms.

The gate is sturdy but there's no need to chance it. "No time, let's get inside, I'll explain everything later." I shout already running, they take the hint and follow me. I hear the wolves. The group looks around in awe of the Zoo. I watch the children try to pet Lucy the giraffe and her daughter Gracie.

"Wow" Jimin says, and I agree, this place is really wonderful. I think about how I used to always dream about living in a zoo with the animals. In just three the place has become like the inside of Newt Scamader's suitcase. Plants have integrated with the woods and fences blending the animal environments together into a big sanctuary. There are walls separating the animals but they don't look so industrial anymore.

We make our way through the past the aquatic habitats and get to the clinic. "This is the clinic, you can put the boy here. I have supplies."

"Thank you so much sir." The teachers says

"Of course, and I'm younger than you so please just call me Taehyung. I have food stored and there are couches in the staff room where you can sleep. I also have extra clothes there." I give them a map and now I don't know what to do, it feels strange to be around humans now.

"The animals are in their cages right, you have carnivores right?" Jimin says

His tone sounds wary. "Of course though it's really more for their safety than anything else. They wouldn't hurt anybody." He looks slightly taken aback, I start again. "Your students will be safe here Mr. Kim. Let me show you around."

I use his name when speaking to him, I hope he doesn't wonder how I learnt it. I think we're all too busy to care.

We walk past the bamboo enclosure and Jimin stares at Jisung, the Red panda who broke his paw trying to squeeze out of his enclosure.

I explain, trying to suppress my anger at the treatment of the animals, "The so called caretakers of the zoo left them here during the evacuation, they had no water and were locked in undersized cages. Most of them got injured from panic flailing or trying to claw or bite their way out."

"Oh." he says, then, "That's horrible."

"It is. We're here." I say unlocking the Staff Offices Building.

They look at the supplies and set their own belongings down. The teacher takes out futons and small bags of clothes from each student's bag.

"Here, make yourselves at home. Jimin, you're a doctor, you can set up your things in the clinic." I say

"Alright. Thank you so much. But can you please explain everything now. How did you get here?" He says.

I waves him toward a table, he sits. I stay standing. It doesn't matter to me anyway, not anymore. I'll try to give him the short version.

"So what did you end up doing?"

I pause, "I ended up choosing my bank account over myself but it hardly matters now does it?"

"I guess not."

"Can they sleep in here, they're very tired?" Mr. Kim asks, motioning to his students.

"Of course."

"Anyway," I turn back to Jimin, "I was hiding in my flat at first, everybody else in the building had left pretty much and there were robbers so I decided to take my stuff and leave for another place. What about you? How did you end up with your students?"

Mr. Kim looks solemn and shakes his head subtly. Oh. Their parents left them. How could you do that to an innocent kid?

"I started an impromptu clinic and they came for help, then the wolves followed us so we ran here."

#15th April #fifteenth april #taehyung #kim taehyung

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jimin's P.O.V 🐥 15th April

I stretch out waking my limbs up, my back is sore and my head aches. I suddenly recall fainting and then everything else. As far as I can tell I've been drifting in and out of consciousness for the last three days in shock. I've never been good with surprises or had a strong stomach for violence or terrible things. I also think I must've gotten a small cold from being out without my coat because my head feels like some of it is filled with fluff.

Disappointed in myself I wash up and make breakfast. As I cook my eggs on a battery powered hot plate, I wonder if everyone really has left? A quick glance out the window tells me that they have, I see no cars and nobody walking on the sidewalk. I should stay inside but curiosity has me out the door.

The wreckage around is breathtaking. It's not even that the buildings are destroyed but plants grow everywhere out of every nook and cranny and there's no one. A horrible thought crosses my mind: Am I the only one? No, that would be impossible. There has to be others, I'm unharmed. I should help them.

It is my duty as a future surgeon. I open the garage of my townhouse and set up a table with medical supplies along and risk venturing out to hang signs along the block even though it's probably stupid to reveal my presence like this. But I can't just stand by and do nothing, I have to do something. Besides, maybe the military police or somebody will find the signs and send help to this place.

I have a pretty good kit for treating wounds from cuts to basic stitching.

I wait an hour and nobody comes but I'm determined so I stay, biding time by packing up personal supplies in case rescue comes and I have to leave quickly. As I zip the last bag, I hear screaming in the distance.

I can't quite make it out but it sounds like a large group, I hear a man's voice.

"COME ON! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!" he shouts, his voice cracks. He sounds breathless and tired.

Soon the group reaches me. I can feel my eyes go wide. The man, much younger than I had anticipated, has a teachers badge over a torn sweater vest and he has maybe 20 children with him. I can't tell because they keep moving around.

"C-Close the garage!" He wheezes, falling to his knees.

I do and as I lock the door I hear a vague snarl in the distance.

"He needs help, please help him." He says gesturing behind him, I see a small figure peeking out from behind his leg.

"H-Hello. I'm Park Jimin. Who are you?" I say regaining my manners and greeting the man.

He gets up, having regained his breath. "Mr. Kim, well Kim Seokjin. You're a surgeon?"

"Doing my residency. What can I help you with."

"Huening Kai" He pulls the small looking boy from the group, "He was bitten by some sort of wolf. It was chasing us all the way here but we finally lost it. A whole pack actually"

"Okay." I lean towards the boy carefully, trying not to scare him. "Will you let me look at it?"

"Okie"

Mr. Kim sets him on the table and unwraps his arms.

The bite isn't very big or deep, there was just a lot of blood so I treat it easily.

When I'm bandaging him up I hear scratching at the door. Another person who needs help? Mr. Kim turns around then back to me and shakes his head. I don't understand until he makes claws with his hands.

"We can go out the back" I whisper, he nods.

"Kids, come on, next stop." he says which makes me wonder how long they've been running and how much longer they can go. I grab the bags of supplies I made along with my own bag of my clothes and things I packed just in case.

Then we run.

I don't know how long we run when we reach the big green gates. The Zoo, some distant part of my brain remembers but it looks like a different world now, several thick chains and padlocks locking the gates together. It would be safe inside but we'll never get in in time. I turn to Mr. Kim. He gives me a look that says he's thinking the same thing. He steps in front of his class. I feel cowardly when I take an inadvertent step back. Suddenly an alarm rings, ah! I must have pressed something, what did I press? Now they know we're here. Exhaling, I step forward to join Mr. Kim.

"Careful! Over here!" a male voice whispers. He drops a ladder over the wall. I tap Mr. Kim. What should we do? We'll never get all of us over in time.

"Send the children first." I whisper, only to see that he has already started sending Huening Kai over.

"Don't worry. You can trust me, Park Jimin." He says, what the fuck. How does he know my name? Wait, his voice it's familiar. No time to think, I lift the next child over. We're running out of time, the wolves are almost here. They lunge at us, at Mr. Kim. He has students to take care of, I step in front of him.

Then the wolves stop, a net catches them. I am frozen in shock.

"It won't hold for long! Come on!" He yells now, I don't need to be told twice. We lift Lisa and Soobin over Mr. Kim then myself climb the ladder.

I find myself face to face with Kim Taehyung. "Tae?"

"No time, let's get inside I'll explain everything later." he says already running

He's made the Zoo into a fortress/nature sanctuary. It's beautiful. Supplies are in neat organised places plants hand on the walls and grow all around and animals roam happily. It's like paradise in the middle of a war zone.

"Wow" I breathe out.

The children ooh and ahh and try to touch a giraffe that passes us with its baby. The giraffe bites leaves from a tree that has sprouted right from the pavement.

He leads us to a white building. "This is the clinic, you can put the boy here. I have supplies."

"Thank you so much sir." Mr. Kim says

"Of course, and  I'm younger than you so please just call me Taehyung. I have food stored and there are couches in the staff room where you can sleep. I also have extra clothes there." Taehyung says and hands us a map of the zoo. He lingers for a moment looking like he doesn't know what to do. Like it's been a while since he's been around other humans, even though that can't be right because I just saw him two days ago in the park.

"The animals are in their cages right, you have carnivores right?"

"Of course though it's really more for their safety than anything else. They wouldn't hurt anybody." he replies a little defensively then he softens, "Your students will be safe here Mr. Kim. Let me show you around."

Most of the buildings are animal enclosures and as we walk past I see that most of them have fresh bandages, he must have stitched them up. He sees me staring at a red panda with a splint on its paw.

"The so called caretakers of the zoo left them here during the evacuation, they had no water and were locked in undersized cages. Most of them got injured from panic flailing or trying to claw or bite their way out."

"Oh." is all I can say. "That's horrible."

"It is. We're here." He pulls a key from his pockets and unlocks a big grey building with a sign that says "Staff Offices"

Inside is a typical office break room only it's stocked with fresh fruits. There is a huge stack of t-shirts on the couch.

"Here, make yourselves at home. Jimin, you're a doctor, you can set up your things in the clinic."

"Alright. Thank you so much. But can you please explain everything now. How did you get here?"

He motions to one of the tables but stays standing, I sit down.

#15th April #fifteenth april #park jimin #Jimin

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jin's P.O.V 🐻 15th April

It's been three days since my students were left with me and I'm the first to wake up, I make sure of it even though I'm still tired.

I'm plating the (thankfully unexpired) cheese sticks and crackers I found when the children begin to wake up. As expected they are shocked and confused at why their parents still haven't arrived.

I try to keep up their spirits by playing Ukelele during breakfast and they seem to cheer up but we're all still sad and confused.

It happens when the children are brushing their teeth and I'm putting their changes of clothes into each of their school bags.

"Mr. Kim, look!"

"What?"

"There's wolves outside, six of them." Lisa says curiously

"What!?"

"Children get away from the windows." I say drawing the curtains closed again, "Just ignore them, we're safe here"

A few minutes later "Mr. Kim! The wolves are coming up the stairs." Taehyun says casually, "Can we pet them?"

"Okay kids. Umm, get your school bags, we will um, let's go outside to the playground" I say trying not to let my panic show through. What are wolves doing here, in the middle of Seoul, they aren't from the zoo, are they? They appear to be intentionally stalking us, I've never heard of wolves doing that before.

I lead the children out to the playground on the other side of the building and use the bookshelves, cupboard and desks to blockade the door. That should give us some time. I'm extending the fire escape when I hear what must be the blockade falling apart.

"Come quickly! Everyone, stay calm. Oldest down first, Soobin."

"Yes, Mr. Kim."

I keep the children focused on the fire escape but out of the corner of my eyes I see the wolves gnawing on the metal gate. What the heck?

Everyone is down except Huening Kai and myself.

The wolves break through the gate, they charge. They reach us as I sweep Hyuka up in my arms and climb down the fire escape. When we reach the bottom I become aware of the wetness that coats my hand, blood. I look down at myself, my sweater vest is ripped but I'm fine. Huening Kai's little forearm is bleeding, I see white.

He cries out in pain falling limp onto me at the sight of the wound. The wolves are still following us. I grab Soobin's bandana and hastily wrap Huening Kai's arm.

"RUN. STAY TOGETHER RUN. DON'T STOP UNTIL I TELL YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"YES MR.KIM!"

We run as long as we can. The kids are getting too tired and my bandana isn't doing Huening Kai much good.

I hear a snarl, it's close. "Just a little bit farther, okay. We can do it."

I see something out of the corner of my eye. A sign, handwritten. I almost ignore it but it has a Red Cross on it. A Hospital. Or at least a place where we might be able to get medical help.

It says:

Need Medical Help? I'm a surgeon in training, I have supplies.

After another block, another sign with the same words, we follow them. I think we've shaken the wolves when we arrive at a townhouse. A young blond man sits at a table with a medical kit.

"C-Close the garage!" I cough out

He obeys. We're safe.

#15th April #fifteenth april #Jin #kim seokjin

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Tae's P.O.V. 🐯 15th April

I'm a coward, I can't face myself, I've taken down all the mirrors. I haven't slept in three days. I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep. I disgust myself.

Yeontan barks, he's been with me non-stop ever since I became . . . this. When the power grid shut down it short circuited his charging station. His info screen says his battery has 2 hours left.

I sigh, his solar panels are still in perfect condition, I slide back the metal that protects them from damage. He yips happily as I grab his lead from the hook. Then I stop, I've heard several robbers breaking into houses downstairs. It isn't safe to leave the house unattended, but is it really safe to stay either. Regardless of being metal I don't know how to defend myself from humans or whatever the hell else is out there. I need to find somewhere safe.

Yeontan whines in confusion dragging the lead behind him as I head to my bedroom.

I pack a suitcase of all my books, a duffle bag of all my clothes (my toothbrush and comb too, I may not be human but I'm not a savage) and a backpack with my bedding, a pillow and a rolled air mattress. It should be heavy but I lift everything easily.

As a precaution I lock all the windows and cover them with black garbage bags. After a bit of consideration I grab a kitchen knife for protection and step outside. The day is sunny and the sky is still. Yeontan wants to lay in the sun but I urge him forward.

I walk for 5 minutes, the city is a wreck, buildings are covered in plants and there are no cars or people in sight. How did this happen so fast?

I get to an alley market, the food here tastes sandy too but they have basic supplies. Again I hesitate. Who's around to stop me anyway? I take a basket and load up on medical supplies, (something tells me I won't need them but they're good to have) a few t-shirts, an apron, and then out of impulse sunglasses and a blue bandana.

I hear small footsteps and turn, a kid? Here? A small figure darts under the market tables. I follow it and soon have it cornered. Yeontan, now fully charged barks, the figure, a creature peeks its head out. It's not a child at all, well at least not a human child. The tiger cub crouches in the corner, it knows it has nowhere to go.

I squat down meeting its gaze. Its left leg is gashed and there's a barb sticking out of it. I slide one of the crates so I can move closer and the cub darts. I run after it. 15 minutes later I see the big green gates rising up in front of us. The Zoo. According to my holo-screen it wasn't the most efficient route. I wonder what the cub was avoiding, the thought sends a shudder through me.

The gate is wide open, no lock. This place like everywhere else it appears was abandoned in a hurry. I hear a distant snarl and close the gate behind me pushing a rake through, like that would actually do anything.

The cub keeps going, I keep following. We eventually get to a big wired fence. The cub stops. It whines and nudges the fence.

I see a small gap, the torn metal smeared with blood.

"So this is where you live, clever thing." I nod to myself examine the fence.

The cub squeezes through the gap thing as its leg gets cut further I wince.

"I can help you" I say gently to it.

It seems to shake its head, nudging me toward the back of the enclosure. Four adult tigers are crammed inside a smaller cage. I don't see any food or water. How could someone treat them this way? I smile at the cub. It wants me to help its family first.

It nudges again and slowly I approach the cage, keeping steady. I slide one bolt then the next and back away as the door creaks open. The weak tigers crawl out but one doesn't move the cub runs over pawing at it.

Now I know what I have to do: I have to help these animals.

I find the clinic and set up my stuff. Then I run back to the market and gather all the rope, cloth, clothes, bottles or jugs of water and food I can find.

First order of business is sealing the gates, the chains and several padlocks do a decent job of that.

The cloth goes to the clinic where it can be used as bandages and the clothes if need be.

There are heavily insulated ice boxes where the meat can be kept.

One by one I unlock the animals and let them into their enclosures and feed them. Several are wounded from struggling in a confined space.

There's lots of work to do but I think I can make this my home.

I let the work I have to do take my mind off my new un-human-ness or whatever I can call this.

Most of the bigger carnivore animals escaped including the bears and a leopard, (I see blood where zoo staff were probably injured) but most of the herbivores and omnivores are still here.

I take note of who's missing.

The gorillas, A male hippopotamus, three of the five grizzly bears, one of the two snow leopards, all the reptiles and the birds (minus the owls). It's not good but I can't possibly find all of them and bring them back, they could be anywhere by now.

I work for hours, like a machine funnily enough. I unlock cages, clean, stitch and dress wounds (It feels to help animals like I've always wanted to) distribute food and give out water. It takes 3 hours but most of the animals with minor injuries are treated and the supplies are put away. I see my reflection in the pond of the elephant enclosure.

I've heard on the radio that they will eventually try to rescue people. I wonder what they'll do with me. I don't think about it anymore, and return to moving clothes and snacks from the gift shop to the staff room.

Moving supplies is quick now that I have a handcart. I have extra rope left. It feels stupid but I find myself wondering how one is supposed to set a tripwire. I search on my terminal.

The wire is strung across the outside of the gates and the net is set. Now I need an alarm. I look around for something and spot something red among the vines creeping up the wall. It's a fire alarm. I doubt anybody is at the fire station today so I tie the rope to the lever. The trap is set.

#15th April #fifteenth april #taehyung #kim taehyung

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Tae's P.O.V 🐯 12th April

(A/N sorry I know this is bad, it gets better at the end I promise. Also I wrote it really late at night, will probably edit later)

I hardly sleep at all, and when I do it's more like I'm trapped just at the edge of consciousness. It hurts, It burns and stings and I test and contort with the pain trying to get it to stop, but it doesn't. I must be burning alive. I kick but I don't move and when I scream nothing comes out.

When I wake up everything is the same. I'm in my bed with Yeontan, he snuggles next to me, closer than usual, probably because I'm sick.

Suddenly I hear something, a travel bag being zipped, only there's no one here but me. I get up and search the house. Nope, then I realise, the sound is coming from the floor below. The neighbours I've never heard one sound from and now I can hear them zipping their bags. The roll the bag across the floor, the wheels click over grout in the tile and each click stings my ears, pounding like a hammer.

I've always had a hearing sensitivity, but if my hearing was sharp before it's crystal clear now, I can hear sounds of cars on the street, so many cars, too many cars. Honking, doors slamming, people getting out, screaming at each other.

"Move, Move"

"You're blocking the way, you useless--"

"We need to go, NOW!"

"Do you think I'd be faster if we walked, we'll never get out at this rate?"

Wait . . . what? What's going on? I dash to the window that has a view of the street, it's pure chaos. Still chaos, a grid lock like I've never seen. People get out of their cars to shout at one another. Why? I wonder, clamping my hands over my ears.

My hands feel different somehow, smoother. The light shifts and I see my reflection, it only stays for a second but I gasp.

---

I can't stop staring.

I'm looking in the mirror now and the only way I can explain this is that I look little more like Yeontan (in the robotic sense not the dog sense) now than I do a human.

My hair is white, not bleached blond but white. A silvery colour that almost seems to shine and my eyes, yesterday dark brown, are now a pale shade of blue. Even my skin is paler, like all the colour has been leached out of me.

How did this happen?

I hesitate then remove my shirt to check for any more damage. The same pale skin and . . . silver plating. A huge metallic panel along the side of my torso. I touch it, it doesn't feel cold like I expect it to, it feels the same temperature as me. (Did I get colder?) Now matter the temperature it's definitely metal, but how? The other side feels perfectly normal.

I notice my arms, my shoulders blades are covered in metal, a panel covers my upper left arm and a panel covers my right forearm. I twist around as see that a metal panel traces up my back like brace, where my spine would be. I lift my arm closer to examine it as a blue holo-screen pops up. It must be able to connect to my thoughts like the computers can because it displays my vitals.

I have vitals! I'm still human.

My heartbeat and blood-pressure and blood oxygen levels all seem normal. I click the image showing my heart and rotate it in the holo-screen. It looks like a human heart but it's encased in a metal casing. No, it's not encased, it is metal. I pull up the "stats" for other organs. My new metal heart drops, I'm metal to my core. Vitals or not . . .

I run to the kitchen and grab the first thing I see, an orange. I bite straight into it, looking for any taste at all. It does taste, like sand. I try everything but it all tastes the same. I'm a monster.

#12th April #twelfth april #taehyung #kim taehyung

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Tae's P.O.V 🐯 11th April

My alarm goes off and I bolt upright slamming to the floor. Shit! I must've fallen asleep on the couch. I look down at my shabby sweater and jeans and go to put on another sweater and trousers. I feel weirdly like I should dress up for this. I check my messages for the information again.

"Go to floor zero" I read out confused. Yeontan whirs to life from his charging station activated by the sound of my voice. The elevator only has floors 10 and above. "Maybe they've added them '' I say stroking the robotic teacup pomeranian. Then I remember, the elevator is out of order. "Guess it's going to be stairs for me either way huh Tannie?" He whines and I tap the sleep button on the wall panel and he goes back to sleep.

I grab my bag from the floor where I left it and grab my key and my coat from the entrance table. Now I'm ready to go, I pause at the door. "Don't be ridiculous Tae, get yourself together. Nothing bad is going to happen to you" I whisper to myself, turning to make sure Yoentan is still asleep. He is right, I put him in manual sleep mode.

I open the door, locking it behind me before I can change my mind.

I walk the same route I always do but it feels somehow different at night, or rather morning. The familiar streets I've never seen at this hour become a foreign land. My ears react to every small sound and send my heart racing. When I get to the building the doors open automatically for me even though there's no one at the service desk. I peek at the elevator. It's still as out of order as it was when I last saw it.

When I get to the stairs they open automatically even before I scan my badge. I enter the stairs reluctantly going down for once instead of up. Could it have been a typo? It must have been floor zero and would be a basement if it exists at all. Still I keep walking until I get to floor one, I look around the stairwell is deserted. Then I hear a noise, it's below me so I keep walking until I reach the source. A man stands next to a door, a door with the number plate zero. I take a breath.

He looks me right in the eye and I try to keep my eyes on the wall behind him. "You're Kim Taehyung" he says, it isn't a question. "Follow me." He leads me through the door scanning some sort of badge that looks different from mine, sleeker, a single piece of metal with no writing on it. We end up in a white waiting room. The entire room is white even the fake flowers that fill the single vase on the small table. It doesn't look welcoming, it looks sterile. The couch, despite its white colour, doesn't seem to belong here. Like they're trying to bring comfort to a cold stark space. Goosebumps pickle their way up and down my arms.

"Wait here" the man instructs "They will call your name and you'll receive further instructions soon"

He stands there just watching me, staring at me, eyes boring holes into me. I try to look at the wall behind him but his gaze won't let me go. Just for something to do I take a small sip from the cup of water on the table. I don't trust it but it barely touches my tongue so it can't hurt. The man seems satisfied and leaves the room.

The man walks out and when I turn my eyes away from the door a woman is standing at the end of the room. "Come with me" she says

I want to ask where but can't open my mouth, it's partch dry even though I had a small sip from the cup of water on the table.

"This medication is fairly new, but of course you already know that from our site and still signed up anyway. You're brave" she says, patting me on the shoulder. "It's to increase human endurance, it could be especially beneficial right now. I trust that by this time you've heard of the vicious flu season"

"Increase endurance?" I prompt, "I thought this was a flu vaccination"

She just smiles one of those motherly smiles that ma's give when they know their son's are being stupid but think it's cute. "Yes, it will help people possibly never get sick again. That's what we're testing today."

"Right" I say hoping she doesn't notice my shaking.

"Are you afraid of needles"

The answer slips off my tongue "Yes" I'm not usually, but now, I'm terrified.

"It's okay dear there's no need to worry. You're in good hands." She sounds oddly like my mother, her voice exactly the same. I should not have drunk that water, it's always the water.

Every kidnapping movie ever has taught me this: DON'T FREAKING DRINK THE WATER!!!

And what did I do: I FREAKIN' DRANK THE WATER. Aish, I'm so stupid.

My brain begins to fog over with whatever they put in my drink. I resist the urge to try and physically shake the fog away. We reach the end of the corridor and come to a door.

My mother speaks again "It's okay sweetheart, i'll be right outside" She opens the door and I step in.

The room is cold, freezing, and like the rest of the place, all white. A man in a lab coat waits inside, is it just me or does he have no face. A mask, a full face mask of porcelain white making him look like one of those creepy dolls.

"Sit down" He says motioning to a blue padded chair in the middle of the room. Then before I can even ask he lifts my sleeve and inserts the needle into my arm. He takes it out then says "You're free to go"

I almost think he's joking but he doesn't stop me when I stand up. As promised, the woman who looks suspiciously like my mother is waiting outside the door. She takes me silently back down the hall and back to the waiting area opening the door for me. I walk out the door passing the guard again, who just stares blankly at me.

I look at my watch at 6:15 AM. Wow, that was anticlimactic. When I reach my flat I unlock the door and collapse back onto the couch with exhaustion.

--------------------- TIME SKIP ---------------------

I wake up to Yeontan's robotic barking. I'm on the sofa. What am I doing on the sofa? Sitting up I look around the room. It's exactly as I left it yesterday except to the wooden key tray that lies shattered on the floor. I start to go pick it up but I feel buzzing on my wrist, my watch is still on. It reads 8:00 AM, I'm late. I'm never late!

I stand up, sliding and nearly falling over a blanket on the floor. I must have tossed it off last night, which is strange because I'm cold now. I drape it around my shoulders and hurry to my room and begin getting ready. The warm shower water is amazing and I stay in there way longer than I need to thoroughly wash and condition my hair. When I finally get out I'm freezing again, so I quickly throw on some pants and a sweater and saying goodbye to Yeontan, I rush out the door.

I arrive at work and because I'm usually early I'm technically on time. I sit down at my desk and continue combing through the KCDC data but after only a few minutes my head starts hurting from looking at all the words and I switch to the next article. The panda attack . . .

I go to youtube and type in: Seoul City Zoo panda Attack

Loads of videos come up and I click the first one. It's an edit a user called GoldenCooky97 made. The video is of the attack to the tune of TxT's Blue Hour. I click off it quickly and go onto the next one. This one is much better. Or worse. It's a video a witness took on their mobile.

The video begins with a small weak looking panda, probably still a cub, writhing on the floor of its enclosure. It whines like it's in agony and my heart clenches, I pause the video taking a deep breath and hitting play again, determined not to cry.

On the screen children start crying and asking their parents to help, an adult waves over a zookeeper. The zookeeper enters the enclosure and approaches the panda slowly with a bag that I assume is used for picking up the animal. As the zookeeper approaches the small bear begins to get up slowly at first it kind of hobbles then it charges. People start screaming and the camera is blocked as people try to get a better view. A man shifts and the view bear comes back into view, only instead of on the ground it has grabbed onto the zookeeper and is ripping, tearing and biting at her.

The person filming lets out a small barely audible whisper of "Oh GOD!" they turn to who I assume is the person they came with who has tears streaking down his cheeks. He leans into the person filming, "It's killing her Ji-woo, a panda is killing her. Oh GOD Ji-woo I-I-I . . ." The man trails off then sobs again. "I just wanted to go to the zoo again just like when we were kids. I'm not gonna be able to unsee this."

The woman, Ji-woo, responds "It's okay. Listen to me Hoseok, listen it's okay. Let's just go home" The video ends and I just sit there a minute before I realise I'm shaking. Or rather shivering, it's freezing in here.

Not taking off my headphones I head to the kitchen to get some tea to warm up and shake off this weird feeling. When the kettle boils I pour the water into my thermos over the tea bag and sit back down at my desk. I watch the rest of the videos seeing the attack over and over and over again from different angles. The suffering animal, it attacking, the zookeeper dying, the suffering animal, it attacking, the zookeeper dying, the suffering animal, it attacking, the zoo keeper dying. Over and over and over again. I even see the people who made the first video a couple times.

By the end of it I feel awful. I'm shivering so bad and I don't even know what I just saw over the past hour but I feel like crying. My entire body feels stiff and heavy, my head aches and my throat burns from holding back silent sobs. What is happening to the world right now?

I sip my tea sniffling and finally let the tears come. Mr. Choi comes around the corner again, the knee of his pants wet like he tried to scrub away the coffee stain. He looks alarmed, and I wonder what surprised him until I realise that he's staring at me.

"Well damn Kim, you look like hell! I know you have a lot to do but the deadline isn't for another 6 days." He says and he appears to be chuckling. Though I can't hear him, I can read his lips.

"I always knew you were a hard worker but this is a bit much don't you thi–" He stops short as he sees my face, he speaks softly, patting me on the shoulder. "Kim, you've clearly made good progress, give it a rest. Go home and take care of yourself." He says and I nod but keep going on with my article. Shaking his head he walks away.

I type furiously at my laptop but I think I'm just writing nonsense now. I check my screen, sure enough the words, coffee, sleep and home stick out at me amongst the panda attack themed paragraphs.

Maybe Mr. Choi is right, maybe I should go home. My head hurts and I'm practically falling asleep. I gather my things and head out walking towards the lift before I remember that it's out of order. I sigh and start down the stairs, luckily it's only 10:30 so the stairs aren't crowded.

I trudge along and the walk home feels like hours and when I finally arrive I'm ready to collapse. My hand automatically reaches for the key tray but then I see the shattered remnants of it only on the floor. Signing, I bend down to pick it up, then everything goes black.

******************** 8 HOURS LATER ********************

UGH! My entire body hurts and I open my eyes to a view of my tile floor. What the hell! What am I doing on the floor? I try to get up but fall back down again against the hard tile. I just lay there for a moment, then I finally manage to get to my feet using the sofa for support. I glance to the side as something moves next to me. Yeontan had been laying there waiting for me. I pick him up then notice the time. The clock reads 7:00 P.M, and if I got home at 11:00 A.M . . . I was out for eight hours!

I have to calm down so I focus on something I can fix. I move slowly gathering up all the pieces of wood from the key tray, then place them on the counter and get a cloth to wipe up the spilt tea from my thermos. I don't know what's wrong with me but I know I'm in no state to be cleaning, still I need to set at least something in order. Once that's done I head over to the mirror to look at myself.

I look horrid, more than that, I look dead. The golden tint of my skin is gone, replaced by a grey-ish paper white and the bags under my eyes are more like purses. I looked fine yesterday, how did it get this bad?

I go to get the thermometer from the bathroom and stick it under my tongue, staring at my dishevelled state.

The thermometer beeps and I look at the number shock, 39.7. That can't be right!

What could've caused this? Surely not the vaccine, I've never had such a bad reaction to a vaccine before. I sniffle dejectedly then sneeze loudly.

"haTCH'ishw!" Yeontan whines at the sound, he can tell something is wrong. I stroke him in a vain effort to give false assurance. Lying to a dog, how pathetic, I sniffle again.

I do it again just to make sure that my eyes aren't deceiving me the same number glares back at me. It's strange how my body temperature can be so high and I can feel so cold. I take some medicine down from the cabinet, my hands shaking, my body moving in slow motion. My limbs feel heavy and useless. I don't have any energy but my belief in cleanliness reins out so at snail speed I take a shower then after putting on my warmest jumper and joggers, with Yeontan close behind I collapse into bed.

#11th April #eleventh april #taehyung #kim taehyung

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jin's P.O.V 🐻 10th April

It's 9:00. My students file in one by one, each greeting me with big smiles and a "Good morning Mr. Kim!"

I smile at each of them, they really are my family. It's my mission as a teacher to prepare them to succeed in life and I take my mission to my very heart.

Our day goes like this:

Students arrive and put belongings away 10 minutes

Morning meeting where we talk about pretty much anything the children want to and sing educational songs. 15 minutes

Mathematics (addition, subtraction) 20 minutes

Writing where students learn grammar, write, and share stories. 20 minutes

We go on a very short nature walk to the park across the street where we eat lunch and I let the children run around, if it's raining we stay inside and play board, card or clapping games. 45 minutes

Arts and Crafts 30 minutes

Story and Snack time, I read to the children while they eat snack 15 minutes

Transition, if it's nice we can go to the school's play-yard and play, if not, I let the children play inside. When everybody that comes from other places for my after school class arrives we go back inside and begin English and maths lessons.

*** time skip ***

"Alright everyone, thank you for sharing your stories. They were all very good. Now you all know what time it is."

"Time to eat lunch!" My students answer, running to their cubbies.

As I wait for them to return with their lunches my phone buzzes in my pocket, I wouldn't normally check it but it's a breaking news notification.

"Outbreak of a strange disease at the City Zoo, animals gone rabid, vets and scientists stumped!"

I put my phone away sighing, the news is always exaggerating things besides I don't have any zoo trips planned so we'll be fine. The students have all gathered their lunches and we head outside as usual. The sun is bright and the sky is clear, a perfect day.

"What's that tree called?" Soobin asks me, he's tall for his age and barely reaches up to touch a low hanging branch on the tree beside us.

"It's a pine." I tell him, he nods, picking a fallen pine needle off the ground.

"Can I have one too?" Huening Kai asks, he's the youngest in the class but he's still almost as tall as Soobin.

"Sure Ning Ning, just take one off the ground so you don't hurt the tree."

"Okay" he says and bends down to look around for a good pine needle. Dissatisfied, he stands up again.

"Here," Soobin says, "You can have mine, I'll find another one."

"Thank you Binnie hyung!" He says taking the pine needle and carefully tucking it into the pocket of his overalls.

When we get to the park everyone helps spread out the blanket and we sit down under a big shady tree. After they eat their lunch the children go to play. I sigh to myself, I love teaching but I wish I had my own children too. The loud siren of an ambulance jars me from my daydreams. The children are still playing happily. Some game that involves rolling in the grass.

"Careful Beomgyu!" I shout to the boy who's about to be knocked off his feet by a rolling Yeonjun. He turns just in time to jump over the other boy.

Taehyun laughs. "That looks fun!" He waits at the bottom of the hill and just as Yeonjun gets too close, he jumps. Thankfully he makes it, feet landing firmly on the grass behind Yeonjun . . . this time. I picture the numerous ways that could go wrong. Falling, falling on eachother, that was still too close for my liking.

"Boys! Find another game!" I shout so they can hear me.

"Aww, but we won't get hurt." Taehyun says, helping up a dizzy Yeonjun

"No, you can keep rolling down the hill but if I see any of you doing it again you'll be sitting on the blanket with me."

"But-"

"Kang Taehyun."

He recognizes the threat in my voice and stops rolling down the hill. "Okay."

I hear a rustling above me, I look up to see two squirrels. They're wrestling. I've seen squirrels chase each other, but never this. They bite and claw, making horrible noises I didn't think squirrels could make. I watch until one of the squirrels falls dead at my feet, a bloody gash marking its torso. A shiver runs through me. I turn, terrified for some reason that there will be more dead squirrels in place of my class. Instead the boys and girls from my class laugh with each other, picking some weeds that they found. For some reason I have a feeling that something terrible is going to happen and I want them to be as far from it as possible. It's almost time to go back anyway, the children won't notice a difference of a few minutes.

"Children! Come on, it's time to go, get your lunches." I call. They obey, but I spot Lisa trying to shove the weeds she collected into her lunch box, her mother won't be happy about that.

"Remember everyone! Nature stays in nature."

I see out of the corner of my eye Lisa putting down the weeds in defeat.

When we get back inside everything begins again as normal. I don't know why I was so worried before. Before I know it it's time for the after school, and for students who aren't already here to start arriving.

I send the children out to the fenced in play-yard while I clean up the classroom.

*** Time skip ***

Again everything goes as normal. My after school class was a huge success. We made great progress on maths and read a few books like Green Eggs and Ham by: Dr. Seuss in English together. Now it's time for the parents to start arriving, good thing too, because as much as I love my job I'm tired, and that worrying feeling is starting to come back again. Here at school I've been cut off from the news by my no phone rule. Maybe the parents will know something. No, if something big was happening they would've come and gotten their children already. I shouldn't, and won't bother them with this.

"Children, get you school bags . It's time to go home." I say in English, they stay in their seats a few seconds processing but then spring up and run to their cubbies. They still appear at full energy, but it's just the prospect of a warm bed after a long day that excites them. I can tell they're worn. After school is a good way to prepare them for a rigorous academic system but it's still a lot and they're still 7.

When they've got their school bags they come back to the rug, I'm in teacher Jin mode again.

"Alright, you can read, draw or play games until your parents get you."

"Yay! So excited to see appa and eomma!" Huening Kai cheers tiredly

"Yes, you'll see them very soon."

***

15 minutes into dismissal time no parents have arrived. Maybe they're just late, but how could all of the parents be late? Is something blocking the pickup lane? I look out the window, it's empty. The entire street is empty, there are parked cars, yes, but not a single person.

Ah, there must be a huge traffic jam, that must be it. I pull up the news app on my phone. The traffic update is live.

"Breaking news! Due to a rampage of rabid animals escaping the City Zoo all streets south of The Zoo have been closed. We recommend that you stay inside to avoid an encounter with these vicious beasts. They are believed to have a new strain of rabies and a bite would be deadly. They aren't responding to the Zoo keepers at all. Please for your safety stay inside until the matter is resolved. Well let you all know when it is safe again."

I can only stare out the window for a moment. I turn back to my children, their parents will come for them when it is safe but for now, I must keep them safe. I check the time: 7:00 they need dinner.

"Okay everyone, your parents are going to be a bit late today. They said that I can make you dinner."

"Ooh dinner. I'm sooo hungry!" Jisoo cheers

"But when is eomma coming?" Yeonjun asks

"Soon," I say looking into his sad little face, "soon I promise."

"Look, Mr. Kim, I drew a picture of you!" Huening Kai says waving a sheet of copy paper over his head. He holds it more steady and I can see that it's a bear with a pointer that looks like the one on my desk pointing to a chalkboard. It's labelled "The best teacher Mr. Kim" in sloppy crayon. I feel a tear forming in my eye and turn toward the cupboard so he can't see the tears.

"Do you like it." He asks hopefully

"I love it." I say sincerely.

"Now push your desks together, it's time for dinner! Yeonjun get the art mat and put it over the tables when they're together

The children get to work and so do I.

Our dinner is far from gourmet but it's something. Instant ramyeon, with juice boxes and fruit.

As I'm about to click on a traffic update another breaking news announcement takes over my screen.

Aish, I try to find the "x" button to exit but there isn't one.

The newscaster begins talking, it's strange. He looks dishevelled unlike the usual neat appearance of news broadcasters. "This is an emergency news broadcast, please stop what you're doing and pay attention."

I turn back to my children, they aren't paying attention. I fish my ear buds out of my pocket and turn them on.

The newscaster continues. "There has been a sudden surge of animal attacks and it appears that all the city's wild animals have suddenly gone rabid. We suspect that more than 100 casualties have already been sustained. Several power grids and other things like gas and water lines and water filtration systems have gone down as well. Oh and . . ." He turns as a crew member whispers something to him, implying he doesn't have a script. "This is just in, officials are recommending you either get ready to stay put in your homes and or offices for a while or you leave Seoul immediately!"

Suddenly the newscast ends, 3 seconds later the lights cut off plunging us into darkness.

The children start to scream.

"It's alright, we're alright." I try to think of a reason to tell them why the lights are out. "It's because . . . we're going to eat under the stars tonight."

"Ooh."

"Yay"

The news said it isn't safe to go outside so I pull out the bg battery powered constellation projector and turn it on, fishing out the glow-sticks I'd been saving in the closet.

I crack the glow sticks and hand them to the children while I set up the projector. We eat our under the stars as I tell them about the constellations.

"Mr. Kim, where's Eomma? I want Eomma!" Taehyun sobs, soon others join him. The room is filled with cries for parents and grandparents and brothers and sisters.

I can't bear to lie to them when they're looking at me like this. "I don't know . . ."

"But" Soobin says, I can tell he's trying to stay calm for his younger classmates, "Mr. Kim, you're our teacher. How can you not now?"

My heart breaks, I'm the adult here, they look up to me. I have failed them by not knowing anything or being able to tell them anything useful. I must not fail them anymore.

"Something . . . big is happening outside right now, I think." I speak slowly, choosing my words very carefully so as not to frighten the young children. Several of them run to the windows, "Your parents are just as confused as I am. But yes Soobin, I am your teacher and it is my job to keep you safe. For now this classroom is safe so we'll stay here until we know more and your parents come for you."

After that there isn't much left to do so I push the two small reading couches together and gather as many futons as I can, some of them will have to share but they're small so it's alright.

I manage to find some tooth brushes in an emergency kit and I pass them around. Once everyone is done we settle down. Even after 10 minutes I don't hear anybody settling into sleep.

"Mr. Kim" says a quiet voice. Huening Kai.

"Yes, Ning Ning?"

"Mr. Kim, I'm scared, I always have a light at home."

"Oh hmm well that might disturb the other children . . "

"It's okay, I can't sleep either." says Beomgyu

"Well in that case. We can all sleep under the stars." I say turning on the projector again.

"Can you read to us, Mr. Kim?" asks Lisa

"Of course." I open the first book I can find and begin to read, "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know. You are the person who'll decide where to go . . ."

One by one breaths settle out into the evenness of sleep and soon I'm the only one awake. Then I'm asleep too.

#10th april #tenth april #Jin #kim seokjin

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jimin's P.O.V 🐥 10th April

The halls off Asan Medical Centre are just as hot as the wards, the heat engulfs the whole building. It's amazing that a human body can reach such temperatures. That's what's heating the building, the fevered bodies of hundreds of men, women, and children. It started a week ago, people started coming in with cases of the flu, the worst symptoms I've ever seen. It's a good thing we just put all those new HYBE flu vaccines in, but I guess since we haven't managed to vaccinate everybody it wasn't enough. The heat is stifling and my face is sweating under my mask. I have to get out. I don't know where I should go but anywhere is better than here. I turn a corner quickly, then retreat back, it's my boss, talking to the hospital director.

The director places a hand on my boss's shoulder. "Yeah. Listen, you're doing a good job. Just get those vaccines out, we need to curb this before it gets bad."

My boss, Mr. Lee, frowns, "You mean worse."

"Well yes."

"Are you sure the vaccines are safe, I mean, have they even been tested at all? There are plenty of other vaccines that we know for a fact work. Surely that better than using something that's fresh out of the lab, something that hasn't even been test–"

The director shrugs and holds up a hand to stop the younger man's words, "Look, why does this have to be so hard for you? They are paying US!."

"But–" He turns, they must have sensed someone eavesdropping. I run before they can catch me. This doesn't make sense.

I hurry down the stairs until I find the exit and don't stop. Why would HYBE pay hospitals to use their products, that's only going to lose them potential profit, billions.

I stop finally out of breath, and yank off my mask inhaling the cool April air. Sighing I start walking a lap around the park's circular trail. Part of me wants to forget everything I heard, the rest of me knows that I can't. Someone bumps into me.

"Ah, Sorry." He says

"No it's alright" I say to the young man, he looks quite distressed himself. "Are you looking for some peace and quiet as well?"

"Yeah, where are you coming from?" He asks me.

I exhale "Asan Medical Centre. It's cram-fucking-packed with flu patinets today. Fevers so high you can almost feel the heat." He looks at me surprised. "I'm doing my surgical residency." I clarify, "You?"

"I'm an inte- He stops himself. "I work at Seoul News Group. You've probably never heard of it."

He's right but I'm curious. "No I haven't, but I'll check it out. What name should I look for?"

He looks confused again. "What?"

"Your name? You're a writer right?"

"Yes, my name is Kim Taehyung." He sighs.

He looks like he needs a friend right now, "So Tae, what did you come here to get away from?"

He gazes past me, as if trying to decide something. "I have to make a decision," he says carefully. "If I do it will be good for my bank account but it may not be good for me."

I'm so stressed right now that I just say the first thing I can think of. "Well just trust yourself." I try to smile, should I take my own advice?

Suddenly he breaks the silence "Hey, you're a doctor. Do you know anything about HYBE's new flu vaccine?"

Now it's my turn to be surprised. "What! How do you know about that?"

"Well I am a reporter. Have they started distributing the vaccines yet" He asks, he seems like he knows what he's talking about. I probably can't tell him anymore than he knows already. Or can I? I think of what I heard, whatever's going on, if I can't investigate it at least someone should.

"Yes" I say honestly, "and maybe just in time to curb this year's season. They started giving them out just before this whole thing got bad. The crazy thing though is that I heard the hospital director saying that instead of making the hospitals pay for the vaccines they were actually paying all hospitals who used their overs anyone else's billions of won. Buying out the market. Sketchy but I have to say that I've seen worse from big pharma."

He nods, looking grateful. "Thank you, you really have no idea how much you've helped me."

I tell him the truth again "Of course, this should be investigated. Good luck. I should probably be going now. Bye"

******************** TIME SKIP ********************

The cool breeze turned night chill –usually hated but tonight welcomed with open arms– is the greatest relief after a day in the sauna-like climate of the hospital. I'm well aware that I should probably be wearing a coat if I don't want to catch a cold. But right now, I just don't care, maybe I'll call in sick tomorrow anyway. I need a break from everything. I need to decided what to do, if anything, with what I've learned

My apartment is a welcome haven. I wash my hands and take out leftovers from the fridge. I can think about everything tomorrow, but for now, my dramas are waiting for me. Just as I've gotten comfortable a news cycle takes over the screen.

I try to click off but it won't go.

The man on screen starts to speak, he looks out of breath, "This is an emergency news broadcast, please stop what you're doing and pay attention."

I obey and turn up the volume.

"There has been a sudden surge of animal attacks and it appears that all the cities wild animals have suddenly gone rabid. We suspect that more than 100 casualties have already been sustained. Several power grids and other things like gas and water lines and water filtration systems have gone down as well. Oh and" He turns as a crew member whispers something to him, implying he doesn't have a script. "This just in officials are recommending you either get ready to stay put in your homes and or offices for a while or you leave Seoul immediately!"

The screen goes black and the lights follow. Our grid must have just gone down too.

I don't know what to do, I feel faint. Before I can stop it my knees are buckling out from under me. I feel myself hitting the floor but nothing else.

#10th april #tenth april #park jimin #Jimin

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Tae's P.O.V 🐯 10th April

I'm earlier than everyone else. I arrived at exactly 8:00 as usual at the HYBE CORPORATION building, the very same HYBE who's biology programme I dropped out of because my parents wouldn't pay. Apparently being a doctor for animals instead of humans just isn't good enough for them. I enter through the luxurious lobby and head straight for the lift. Just my luck, it's out of order.

My internal internet terminal tells me that I have exactly 68 minutes before I'm late and if I run up a flight of stairs in 45 seconds (assuming I can keep pace), plus walking the corridor as well as going to and sitting down at my desk, I have 3 minutes to spare. Hesitantly I walk up to the front desk, "Hey, um" the desk man looks up and I step back staring at the wall behind him, "Do you know when the lift will be fixed?"

"No, the serviceman has been out sick for weeks." He says his formal tone fading "Personally I think he just skipped off somewhere to Jeju or something. Lazy Bastard!" He looks embarrassed that I'm still there, I have 2 minutes now I really should go, but I have to know.

"It's fine, but why does the building only have one serviceman? Wouldn't it be more logical to have multiple?" I ask, I don't really want to be having this conversation but I have to know. One minute now, come on, answer.

He looks at me annoyed and embarrassed. "Yes I suppose it would but I'm only a desk worker aren't I. Now aren't you late."

"Nope!" I say jogging off toward the stairs. I pass the 20th floor, HYBE's IT department and then the laboratories on floors 27-38. The place where I used to work. I hear a shout of "God dammit Kim, could you try to look where you're going" with no honorifics.

In exactly 13.5 minutes I'm up the stairs to the 80th floor of 200. In 14, I'm at the door and at exactly 15 I'm at my desk. Oh by the way I work at a small newspaper called Seoul News Group, honestly we're more of a blog. I take my laptop from my bag and open it, clicking on my latest piece. An informative on the impact of chemical based sunscreens on reefs around the world. When I finish I headline it "Our Protection is the Oceans Death, but It Doesn't Have To Be: Here's How YOU Can Help!"

The boss Mr. Choi comes around the corner with a cup of strong-smelling caffeine in his hand and a stack of files under his arm. This is odd, normal he doesn't come in until at least 12:00 and is still sleepy even then but he looks excited now. His tie is crooked, his jacket is wrinkled and his pants have coffee stains on them. These are the same clothes he was wearing yesterday. Despite his disgusting appearance, I take off my noise cancelling headphones as a sign of respect. The sounds assault me one by one until they all come together in a tortuous haze, I nod toward Mr Choi then start to put the headphones back on again.

"Kim!" He says eagerly, his light tone surprises me. His voice invades my ears bouncing painfully inside my skull. I wince trying to smile. "Are you busy?" I would be an idiot to say yes, but it crosses my mind over the buzzing in my head, which is saying something.

"No."

"I want to talk to you, I have a new piece for you. Three actually. Come to my office."

"Of course, boss-nim"

We enter his office, which is shockingly sterile compared to his current state, the man in front of me looks like he's from another world. Probably because he's never in here, or working for that matter.

I sit down across the white metal desk staring at the blank hotel like a painting behind Mr. Choi.

He speaks with gusto, setting down the three folders. "So three new articles for you, Kim. You've got potential, you're a great writer, and I think you could make this paper shine." He says shoving the files to me.

Ah, I should've known this was about getting him more money. Still a chance to get a break from routine, I love writing about animal rights but . . .

"Here they are, you can have them all if you want, but they're due in a week, for Sunday's issue."

I open the Manila folders and scan over them. They're filled to the brim with photocopies of documents that look official. Is this legal? The headings jump out at me, and animal research group "Strange behaviour in animals across the country", the KCDC "Flu Season is here and worse than ever" and on the last one I recognise the stylised logo from this very building, "New study by HYBE Corp could be our best shot at a brighter future for South Korea"

This would be the biggest article I've ever done at this abysmal place, I close the files scooping them up, "Yes sir! I'll take them all."

"You sure?" He actually looks surprised.

"Yes" I say

"Well, see now Kim, that's the spirit!" He smiles but seems eager to get out of the clean office.

I start a document for notes, activating my wireless link to the web stream via the chip in my brain. I'm augmented so that I can wirelessly connect with the web even without a device, basically I can command the laptop with my mind. Nowadays getting augmentations is pretty common but a wireless web connection chip is still expensive and I got this for my 18th birthday. That was when my parents still thought I had a future.

Cracking my knuckles, I tell the laptop to filter search results for new studies in the HYBE database. The information appears on screen and I don't fail to notice that part of it is locked. Whatever, it's probably some fancy CEO stuff. I repress my journalistic instincts. I already dropped their programme. I don't need to get caught digging where I'm not supposed to.

I read over the page typing notes. The more I read the more intrigued I get. They're testing out a new flu vaccine. The page mostly drones on but there's nearly a paragraph at fine print at the bottom, Arial Narrow font probably like size one. I copy paste into my notes and up the size to 12 until it's no longer microscopic.

Most of it is the usual big pharma disclaimer space filling nonsense like "Do not try this drug if you are allergic to it or any of its ingredients" How am I supposed to know if I'm allergic to it unless I take it and it's not like they tell you what's in it. However one sentence sticks out among the rest. "This new vaccine has added benefits at improving human endurance". It's a small thing really, a throw away sentence, they probably just mean it will help you build immunity against the next strain of flu but something tugs at me. I set it aside for the moment and finished scrolling.

When I reach the bottom of the page there is a banner that says "SIGN UP to be a participant NOW!"

Hesitantly I click the link it has a page of details and the waiver just gets sketchier as I get to the bottom but at the very bottom something catches my eye.

[really-big-number-cuz-i-don't-know-how-much-vet-school-costs] won will be given to participants. That's enough to pay for school!

I re-read the waiver and I can only stare at the laptop screen for a while. This is the stupidest idea I've ever had, I can't believe I'm even really considering this. I shut the laptop screen in frustration and head out for some fresh air. As I head to the park across the street I bump into a blond boy going the opposite direction.

"Ah, Sorry."

"No it's alright. Are you looking for some peace and quiet as well?" I'm supersede when he turns around, with his hight I thought he was a teenager but apparently not.

"Yeah, where are you coming from?" I ask, from his clothes he looks like he could be another one of HYBE's interns

He sighs, "Asan Medical Centre. It's cram-fucking-packed with flu patinets today. Fevers so high you can almost feel the heat." I'm surprised, he has such a big mouth for someone so small. "I'm doing my surgical residency." he explains "You?"

"I'm an inte- I work at Seoul News Group. You've probably never heard of it."

"No I haven't, but I'll check it out. What name should I look for?"

"What?"

"Your name? You're a writer right?"

"Yes, my name is Kim Taehyung." I sigh thinking

"So Tae, what did you come here to get away from?"

I look at the Medical Centre in the distance while answering. How much should I tell this stranger "I have to make a decision, if I do it will be good for my bank account but it may not be good for me."

"Well just trust yourself." He smiles and I do too. Maybe it's that easy. 'Trust yourself' I think of the sentence again "This new vaccine has added benefits at improving human endurance".

"Hey, you're a doctor. Do you know anything about HYBE's new flu vaccine?"

"What!" He says surprised, "How do you know about that?"

"Well I am a reporter. Have they started distributing the vaccines yet"

"Yes and maybe just in time to curb this year's season. They started giving them out just before this whole thing got bad. The crazy thing though is that I heard the hospital director saying that instead of making the hospitals pay for the vaccines they were actually paying all hospitals who used their overs anyone else's billions of won. Buying out the market. Sketchy but I have to say that I've seen worse from big pharma."

I nod committing this to memory, "Thank you, you really have no idea how much you've helped me."

"Of course, this should be investigated. Good luck. I should probably be going now. Bye" He turns back across the park toward the hospital.

"Thanks." I say heading off as well.

When I'm back at my desk hesitantly I open the laptop again. The screen is still on the article. Damn! What am I thinking? Screw it? I click the sign up button and enter my information. Too late to go back now.

The rest of the day goes by without a hitch and because of the limited information I finish the article about the trial quickly. It will be good to get first hand information, I'm doing this for the paper I tell myself.

I start on the next article about the heavy flu season and as I type out the notes I remember what the junior doctor I met said "Asan Medical Centre. It's cram-fucking-packed with flu patinets today. Fevers so high you can almost feel the heat."

I began to run a search for this year's flu statistics, they're worse than usual, way worse. Before I'm done coming through the KCDC database Mr. Choi is sending everyone home.

I leave for my flat walking down the now dusky street, the skin on my neck prickles, my new stories making me jumpy. When I get in I set my keys in the bowl, put the files on the counter and collapse onto the couch. What have I done? I could alway just not show up. No. I need that money.

My phone pings from my pocket and hands shaking I pick it up. It's a text from HYBE. Corp

Are you Kim Taehyung? If yes, type Affirmative. If No, answer Negative.

I type a hesitant: Affirmative

Good, report to the HYBE building at 5:00 A.M. Then go to floor #0. Sit down in the waiting area, your name will be called when it's your turn and further instructions will be given on site. Goodbye.

5:00, wtf? That's only in 7 hours! I set an alarm then just stare at the screen. I don't know what to say so I just turn off my phone and go to sleep.

#10th april #tenth april #taehyung #kim taehyung

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jeon Jungkook Profile: 🐰

Age: 19

Occupation Engineer PHD Student

Minor in architecture

Works a side-job as a sound engineer (Sound engineers are audio professionals who work at performance venues or in recording studios, adjusting sound levels to produce audio that meets a production's standards.)

Professional gamer is his dream job his username is GoldenCooky97

Sarcastic w/ a sometimes seeming inappropriate sense of humour but he's sensitive to other people's emotions.

Always carries: coooky keychain, airpods, nintendo switch, phone & banana milk

Weapon(s): Katana, (Tae taught him Bow + Arrow), Sound-shock

Once made an EMP for the hell of it. EMP is not radioactive, but a pulse of energy produced as a side effect of a nuclear detonation or electromagnetic bomb. EMP has no known effect on living organisms, but can temporarily or permanently disable electrical and electronic equipment.

Strengths: Bunny Smile, Golden Maknae, strength, kangaroo pose

Weakness: Knowing her face, but not her name

#jeon jungkook #profile #character profile #maknae line profile #vocal line profile

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Kim Seokjin Profile: 🐻

Age: 31

Occupation: Kindergarten teacher at Seoul Jamsil Elementary

Strengths: Humour (Dad jokes), Wide shoulders, Raps when angry, CONFIDENCE, sweater vest for days, Mr. Worldwide Handsome (ya know)

Weakness: has many young students to care for not just himself.

Weapons: any classroom supplies (origami paper stars, wireframe baskets, stapler, chair, desk, ruler, pointer)

#profile #character profile #vocal line profile #hyung line profile #Jin #kim seokjin

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Jeon Hoseok Profile: 🐿️

Age: 30

Occupation: Book/Coffee shop Owner (does hacking has a hobby)

Species: Human, has internet connection augment

Weakness: emotional and dramatic

Strength: optimism

#profile #character profile #hyung line profile #rap line profile #Jeon Hoseok #Jung Hoseok #Hoseok #j-hope

[bts-apocalypse-au]

Kim Namjoon Profile: 🐨

Age: 30

Occupation: Scientist at HYBE Corp, met Tae briefly during his internship.  

Species: Human

Weakness: Gets sick easily, god of destruction powers

Strength: IQ 148, determinedness/resolve, focus, courage, loyalty

#profile #character profile #hyung line profile #rap line profile #RM #kim namjoon