Shadow of the Barricade
1. Controlled World
Kim Yeo-ju was born inside a barricade.
The world she knew was a city surrounded by high walls. She said that beyond those walls made of steel and concrete, there was only death. A hundred years ago, a deadly virus swept the world, and more than half of humanity was infected and turned into zombies. Those who survived built a new civilization within the barricades under the protection of the government.
The people were grateful to the government.
Yeoju also received the same education within the government-created education system.
“You are the chosen ones. You are blessed beings who can live safely under the protection of the government.”
Since childhood, she grew up learning the fear of the zombie virus. Zombies were not human. They were monsters without life or emotions, driven only by hunger. The outside world overflowing with them was a land of death where humans could not live.
“The government behind the barricades protects us. It protects us. So we must not forget to be loyal to the government.”
This was the essence of education.
The heroine accepted it without a doubt. That was the truth.
Her parents and friends all shared the same belief. People lived contentedly within the barricades. They were safe, had enough to eat, had order, and lived each day under the protection of the government.
But maintaining that safety required sacrifice.
“Your sacrifice is the way to save humanity.”
The government always told the people that the military was essential. Soldiers went out from the barricades to hunt zombies, eliminate threats, and protect the country. That was the most important force that supported the country.
The heroine wanted to become a soldier.
It wasn't just a dream. It was a belief. She had heard from her parents and teachers since she was young, "The sacrifice of soldiers is the survival of humanity," and she had engraved it deep in her heart. She decided to become a soldier who would save humanity.
And the decision was made.
2. Becoming a soldier
Military school was harsh.
Training from morning to night, strict discipline, education that excludes emotions. Yeoju had to endure it. It was really hard at first. Her body was overworked, and she suffered from throbbing muscle pain every night. But as time passed, she became stronger.
She grabbed the gun. She aimed straight at her target. She held her breath and pulled the trigger.
“That’s right. Kim Yeo-ju, you really are talented.”
The drill instructor praised her. She excelled in shooting and was strong in close combat. She stood out among the trainees. She ran faster than the others and lasted longer.
But at military school, you don't just learn simple combat skills.
“Fear must be eliminated.”
“Pity is not fit for a soldier.”
“Following orders is justice.”
That was the teaching of military school. Soldiers were not simply to be strong beings, but to be able to perfectly carry out the government's orders.
The heroine didn't hesitate. She had faith. Her gun was going to be pointed at the zombies, and that was the way to protect humanity.
And she grew up to be a respectable soldier.
3. Outside the barricade
On the first day of the mission, Yeoju went outside the barricade.
For the first time, she encountered the land of death that the government had been talking about.
The sky was gray. There were broken buildings and charred remains. Not a single weed grew on the barren ground.
And, zombies.
They had human form, but their eyes were empty. Rotten flesh, bloodstained fingernails. They were walking. Mad with hunger.
"firing!"
The order was given. The heroine didn't hesitate. She pulled the trigger, and the bullet pierced the zombie's head.
The mission was simple: hunt and eliminate the zombies approaching the barricade. The heroine took up the gun with conviction. And over the years, she hunted hundreds of zombies.
In this way, she became stronger and stronger.
But one day, she felt something strange.
4. The suspicious man
The heroine's mission was simple.
Eliminate zombies in the government-designated operation area, and immediately report any abnormalities. It was dangerous to go outside the barricades, but she had already completed hundreds of missions. The danger was familiar, and she had long since abandoned her fear.
But this mission was different.
Something was strange.
The zombies were different from before. They moved slowly and followed a set path. It was as if someone was controlling them. The heroine did not let her guard down. But at that moment, an attack from behind knocked her out.
“Ugh…!”
My body rolled over and hit the rock. The pain spread. Something hot flowed down from my left side.
She tried to raise her gun, but her hands shook. Her vision became blurry, her head felt dizzy. She lost consciousness.
⸻
When I opened my eyes again, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
I tried to get up, breathing heavily, but a sharp pain pierced my side.
“Don't move.”
An unfamiliar voice.
The heroine moved her hand reflexively, but there was no gun. It was only then that she realized that her wrists were tied with cloth.
"what…?"
There was a man in front of her.
An old jacket and military boots. In his hands were bandages and a bottle of medicine. Above all, his eyes. There was a sense of wariness, but also an unknown compassion.
“Your wound is deeper than you think. Get treatment first.”
"…who is this?"
“The one who saved you.”
He said calmly.
The heroine glared at him with sharp eyes. “You… are a human who lives outside the barricades?”
The man smiled. “Yes. And I’m a little different from the person you know.”
He slowly wrapped the bandage. He didn't touch the wound roughly while disinfecting it. Rather, he was gentle...
“Why did you save me?” The heroine gritted her teeth. “You know I’m a soldier.”
“Yes.” The man slowly stopped his hand and looked at her. “That’s why I was wondering. Why did you come all the way here?”
The heroine said coldly. “The mission is to eliminate the zombies. That’s it.”
The man chuckled slightly. “You believe that the government’s orders are the truth.”
The female protagonist's eyebrows twitched at those words. "What?"
“That’s what they teach inside the barricades. The outside world is death, and zombies are monsters that must be eliminated.”
“That’s not wrong.”
“Is that really true?”
The man stood up and pointed out the window.
Only then did Yeoju look outside.
And then, my breath stopped.
Beyond the window there was a village.
It wasn't the 'land of death' that the government had been talking about. People were walking and playing between the collapsed buildings. Lights were leaking out of the broken buildings and people were helping each other.
He said there were no living humans outside the barricade.
That statement was a lie.
“That’s ridiculous…”
The female protagonist whispered in disbelief.
The man leaned against the window and said, “I knew your government was lying.”
He took a slow breath. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Why are you here?”
The man was silent for a moment at the female protagonist's words. Then he spoke in a low voice.
“The government… has abandoned us.”
He closed his eyes.
“Six years ago, I was inside the barricade.”
The heroine's voice cracked in surprise. "What?"
“He was one of the people who worked at the government research institute. My parents were the same.”
His eyes darkened.
“We were developing a vaccine. We were trying to find a cure for the zombie virus. We almost succeeded. But the government destroyed the vaccine we made.”
"why?"
“What the government wanted was not treatment.”
The heroine swallowed her breath.
The man continued speaking slowly.
“The virus was a tool of government control. It was a way to keep people in fear, to keep them locked in behind barricades.”
“No way…”
“It may be hard to believe.” The man smiled bitterly. “But it’s reality. Our research team was eliminated by the government. My parents were the same.”
His hands clenched into fists.
“I barely escaped and came here. And I’m still trying to recover that vaccine.”
The heroine was confused.
Everything she had believed in was shaken.
The government… lied? That zombies aren’t just monsters?
“Let me go.”
"what?"
“I need to check.” The heroine looked straight into his eyes. “I’ll see for myself and judge.”
The man looked at the female protagonist for a moment.
Then, with a smile, he untied the cloth around my wrists.
“What is your name?”
"Kim Yeo-ju. But why is that..."
"I'm Han Dong-min. We'll be going together from now on, so it's polite to call each other by our full names, right?" Dong-min handed the bowl of porridge to Yeo-ju. "You have to get better first, then I don't have to do anything."
"Oh, thank you..."
Yeoju awkwardly ate the porridge. Warm, white porridge. When she was hungry, there was nothing that wasn't delicious. Yeoju ate the porridge in a hurry because she was hungry.
“You must have been hungry..” Dongmin stared at Yeoju, who was hastily eating the porridge.
"It's not comparable to what we ate inside the barricades, but it's better than military rations."
“That’s true, lol.” Dongmin burst out laughing at Yeoju’s honesty.
I was cared for by Han Dong-min for several days. I was lying in bed with excruciating pain that made it difficult for me to even get up.
"Let me untie the thread"
“Ah, uhm,” the female protagonist lifted up her clothes.
“Thank goodness it healed well,” Dongmin nodded with satisfaction.
It felt strange to see a strange man looking at my torn and bruised side and taking pleasure in it.
“Do you know how to treat patients as a researcher?” Yeo-ju asked, avoiding Dong-min’s eyes.
"Do you think it's okay for someone developing a vaccine to not know how to look after the human body? Have you ever hurt your head?"
"..." A guy who is good at making you speechless. That was what Han Dong-min, who had been observing him for a few days, thought. For someone who saved me, his speech was the most rude of rude.
"Is it true?"
“No way!!” Bang- The female protagonist kicked Dongmin.
"Ah haha I'm treating you, don't move"
"...Yeah, yeah-" It's clear that kid is teasing me.
...
"Okay, just disinfect it from time to time."
"Yeah." After untying the thread, she felt a little better. She felt like her movements had become easier for no reason. The female protagonist got up from her hunched over body that had been lying down for a while.
“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard yet,” Dongmin said, grabbing Yeoju.
"I know, I just wanted to see the town."
"Then, let's go together."
“Why you?” The female protagonist tilted her head.
“What if I get lost?” Han Dong-min smiled mischievously.
"...really; it's annoying"
.
.
.
.
There were collapsed buildings everywhere, but there were also people who had formed a village. They were people who brought in collapsed walls to build new houses, plowed fields, and created a world that had been reset. Also, there were smiles on the faces of adults and children alike, and there was no control or oppression.
"But why is this place safe from zombies?"
“Because we have the vaccine”
"...What? It was scrapped."
"I found out about the vaccine my parents developed."
"...Then, won't you be infected with the zombie virus?"
"I've created an antibody that is not only difficult to infect, but also difficult to approach. It's something that zombies really hate."
"...How is that.."
"Is it possible? Well... the government has known for years. The identity of the zombie virus. From how to eliminate it to how to use it."
"...no way"
"I just brought the records. And those who know the truth to the government are either settling in this town beyond the barricades or living the life of exiles like me."
"...an exile?"
"Let's pack our bags first. We'll know when we get there."
.
.
.
.
.
In this way, the heroine went forward to face the truth outside the barricade for the first time.
5. Truth and Rebellion
Cross the barricade
Kim Yeo-ju decided to go over the barricade with Han Dong-min. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The barricade wasn’t just a wall. It was charged with high voltage, patrolled by surveillance drones 24 hours a day, and anyone who tried to pass through was shot dead on the spot.
But Han Dong-min was no mere exile. He was a scientist who once worked at a government research institute. He knew the security systems and weaknesses inside the barricade, and he had connections with people outside.
“There is someone who can help us.”
They hid in the ruined city’s underground. There were people called “exiles.” They were survivors who had fled the government’s oppression and had been digging into the government’s secrets for a long time.
One of them was a woman with silver hair. Her name was Reina. She was skilled at hacking into the barricade security system.
“You’re going beyond the barricade?” Reina looked at Yeoju with a cold gaze. “What do you think you can do there?”
“To confirm and inform the truth.”
The heroine's eyes did not waver.
Reina was silent for a moment. Then she smirked and said, “Okay. But once you get inside, it’s yours.”
With her help, the surveillance system at the barricade was temporarily paralyzed. But the problem remained. There were still soldiers deployed.
“This way!”
Then, a man appeared.
He was a large man with deep scars on his face. “This guy is Bayan,” Reyna explained. “He was an ex-military man.”
Bayan sighed briefly and said, “I know the geography inside. But you have to be careful if you want to get out safely.”
Their plan was simple: take advantage of the downtime of the surveillance system to enter through the sewers beneath the barricade. However, the security system recovered sooner than expected, which eventually led to a fight with the soldiers.
“Run!” Bayan shouted.
Bayan took the lead and subdued the soldiers. It seems that the former soldier's skills are not dead. The female protagonist raised her gun and fought back. However, the enemies continued to increase.
"It's been a while since I've seen a battle like this." Bayan didn't spare his body. Thanks to him, who was like a tank, cutting through the front, the female protagonist was able to easily show off her marksmanship.
So finally, they managed to penetrate inside the barricade.
⸻
Truth before the government
The heroine evaded surveillance and headed to the government building to reveal the data left behind by Han Dong-min to the world.
She hacked into the public broadcasting system and forced an emergency speech, with thousands of citizens watching the screen.
“I was a soldier of the government. But now, I am going to tell the truth.”
The female protagonist's voice did not waver. Rather, it was filled with a firm and strong will.
“We have been fooled for a long time. The government said they were protecting us, but in fact they were using fear to keep us locked up. Zombies are not just monsters. There was a vaccine, but the government threw it away. The reason is simple: fear is the only way to maintain power.”
At that moment, the broadcast was interrupted.
The alarm sounded and armed soldiers rushed in.
“Kim Yeo-ju, run away!” Dong-min shouted, but she didn’t move.
“I told the truth,” she said coldly. “Now the choice is yours.”
But despite her courage, the government reacted quickly. Yeoju was arrested, and Dongmin, Bayan, and Raina were also caught while trying to escape.
She was put in prison.
⸻
escape from prison
“It’s over this time.”
Dongmin spoke softly. He was leaning against the wall with his wrists handcuffed. Bayan sat expressionless, and Reina looked at the floor quietly.
But the heroine didn't give up.
“It’s not over yet.”
She knocked on the prison wall.
“This prison used to be a warehouse for supplies.”
Dongmin looked at her. “How did you know?”
“I saw a map of the government facilities during my time at the training camp.” Yeoju smiled coldly. “There’s a sewer behind this wall.”
Reina smiled as if she found it interesting. “Then it might be worth a try.”
They began to break down the wall. They took their time, making as little noise as possible. Finally, darkness appeared.
Escaping through the sewers, they immediately made contact with the resistance.
⸻
The beginning of a rebellion
Yeoju's broadcast had already spread to countless people. The government tried to control the media, but people's suspicions grew uncontrollably.
The resistance began to move.
“Let’s see the end now,” said Bayan, gathering up his gun.
Han Dong-min looked at Yeo-ju quietly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
The heroine took up the gun.
“We’ve come this far. We have to go all the way.”
That night, an explosion occurred inside the barricade.
The battle between government forces and resistance forces began.
And at the center of it all were Kim Yeo-ju and Han Dong-min.
6. Broken Walls, New Era
The Last Battle
The battle was long and fierce. The resistance forces continued to engage in combat with the government forces, and Yeoju and Dongmin were at the forefront of the fight. Public facilities were occupied, and citizens took to the streets to shout for freedom.
Finally, the central control center, the government's key stronghold, which housed the surveillance systems, military command center, and key facilities for maintaining the barricades, fell.
“Kim Yeo-ju, over there!”
Dongmin shouted. He could see the central control room of the barricade. If he destroyed it, the wall would no longer be able to hold up.
The heroine grabbed her gun and charged forward. Although numerous government troops resisted, the tide of the battle was already turning.
Finally, the heroine reached the central control room. She pulled the lever with trembling hands.
— Kwakwakwang!!
The barricade collapsed with a huge noise. The wall shook and then slowly but surely collapsed.
At that moment, the outside world was revealed.
Beyond the ruined city center, wide grasslands and forests were visible. A blue sky spread out, something that could not be seen within the city.
People held their breath as they watched the wall crumble.
and…
“...we did it.”
The heroine sat down weakly. Fatigue and emotion came rushing to her at once.
Dongmin sat down next to her. He looked at Yeoju's face, panting.
“Now, we are free.”
Yeoju looked at Dongmin quietly. They didn't say anything to each other. However, their eyes contained the same emotions.
The emotions that have built up over time, the moments when we protected each other through fights, and now the future we will face together.
Dongmin slowly reached out and wrapped his hand around Yeoju's.
⸻
The world after the fallen barricade
The city was in chaos after its walls disappeared. But rather than being afraid, people began to dream of the possibility of change.
The resistance organized a new government, which aimed for freedom and coexistence rather than oppression and control. The people had hope despite their fears.
Those who went out into the world discovered surprising facts.
The zombie virus had weakened long ago and was already disappearing naturally. The government's fears were false.
“We were trapped for nothing…”
People were disillusioned, but at the same time, they had hope. Now, they could start living again.
The heroine stood above the ruined city and looked out at the fields stretching out into the distance.
Dongmin came next to her.
“What are you going to do now?”
The heroine smiled.
“I have to live again.”
Dongmin looked at her quietly, then smiled softly and said.
“With me?” Han Dong-min’s mischievous face.
"...This face really annoys me" The mischievous face he had made when we first met overlapped.
“That’s too much… - I used to have a pretty good face” In the meantime, his cheekiness grew even more sly.
"Yes.. You live and eat with that face..~"
“Will it work..?” Han Dong-min muttered.
"...what?"
"If you like it, take it with you."
"What's so pretty about it?"
"...This is really too much"
"ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ" The female protagonist burst into laughter. Then, Dongmin grabbed her hand as if to soothe her. It felt like his hands were soft like back then. Like when you saved me.
.
.
.
.
They were now free to write their own stories. The world had fallen apart, but a new era was beginning again.