Chapter 8: Police, Thieves, and Zombies

Day 10 of the Zombie Outbreak

The world kept turning despite creaking, zombies became easier to spot, and I planned for the future.

***

We’d been roaming the city like nomads, relying on the camper van.

Sometimes buying supplies from convenience stores with broken glass doors, sometimes hitting and fleeing from suddenly appearing zombies, sometimes waiting in traffic jams caused by zombie accidents, sometimes getting startled early at police cars with wailing sirens.

Yet we steadily prepared for the future.

Today was no different.

Parked by the road, researching data.

‘Government authority really needs to collapse.’

Tap tap tap-

I drummed my fingers on the table, glaring at my old phone. On it were my role models I’d been studying.

Drug cartels, mafia, gangs, terrorists.

What better teachers and seniors than marauders already living in an apocalyptic state?

The first lesson learned from these seniors was that lawless elements operate best when policing approaches a vacuum. Obviously applicable to today’s world as the apocalypse progressed.

Even simple logic showed this. Who’s the biggest enemy of marauders? Law enforcement. So law enforcement must disappear. Police, for example.

‘Though it’s a mid to long-term plan.’

The world kept functioning somewhat.

Though city police couldn’t be dealt with overnight, better to write scenarios now for accelerating the apocalypse.

I spread the wings of dark imagination wide. All sorts of grim and dirty terror tactics. Zombie lure bombs, biological terrorism, dispersed small group luring then attacking, coordinating with contractors then raiding.

Inspiration surged to the point of surprising myself that I could think of such things.

“Ugh.”

I suddenly rubbed my goosebump-covered skin vigorously.

Felt like my mind was going strange. Wasn’t originally this kind of person, but the apocalypse broke people like this. To change a normal aspiring screenwriter this much.

At that point Do-hyung glanced at me.

“Cold?”

“A bit. Isn’t it spring? Weather’s weird.”

I changed the subject. Wasn’t a trusted enough comrade to share all plans with.

“Done checking?”

“Yeah, more or less.”

Do-hyung set down the red, blue and black markers he’d been using to mark various maps.

On one side was his phone printing out diligently researched materials. Results from searching key areas of this city while sharing data with my old phone via hotspot.

Police stations, substations, supermarkets, hospitals – places important in the apocalypse.

Do-hyung spoke slowly.

“Found police stations and substations likely to have guns at least.”

Dragging voice. He pointed at several spots while watching my reaction.

“Should at least have tasers and handguns anywhere, and some stations have regional armories with reserve forces’ weapons, some have hunting rifles too… Maybe.”

I could guess what he wanted to say.

Like a proper electricity thief, suggesting we rob police stations. Though scared of zombies, seemed interested in stealing government assets.

Even his trembling hands looked like barely contained excitement.

“Maybe, surely, that-“

But I waved my hand in horror.

“How could just two of us attack a police station? We couldn’t even handle a substation.”

I quickly calmed Do-hyung. Had to stop this bold electricity thief before he caused trouble.

To raid police stations we’d need more zombies, reduced police manpower, coordinating raids with juvenile crime groups. Need more people in my group too.

Do-hyung sighed with disappointment. His body slumped.

“Ah… guess you’re right?”

Must be imagining the sigh sounded relieved. He was a vicious electricity thief after all.

‘Even managing one comrade is exhaustingly tiresome.’

Like a violent criminal, high chance of betrayal or causing trouble. Just keeping him around exhausted my mind. I started to rub my eyes but stopped, scared of the virus.

Then mentioned the next target to interest the electricity thief.

“Police stations are too much. Let’s rob police instead.”

“…What?”

Do-hyung blinked. Seemed to doubt his ears. His fingers started trembling again.

‘Must like that.’

Though insufficient as a main member, qualified to be a marauder. Having even one such marauder comrade meant doing things impossible alone.

I smiled contentedly, making finger-gun shooting gestures. Bang.

“Need to get handguns and tasers.”

Because zombies were too scary.

Could get infected fighting up close. That was truly frightening, and safe ranged weapons were absolutely necessary.

Useful even against non-zombies too.

***

“…Guns would be good but. No, we can’t attack police!”

Do-hyung suddenly jumped up in horror. As someone who usually stole electricity secretly, perhaps he felt some resistance to outright robbery?

Reason winning over thieving instincts.

I frowned.

Many words to explain the necessity or reassure him. Who worries about police when the apocalypse has come, need to weaken police, they’re already busy catching zombies and various other problems…

But I abandoned all that and banged the table. Do-hyung flinched, shrinking back.

“Listen to the scenario first. Need to hear what we’ll do.”

“Ah, yes…”

Do-hyung said weakly.

I leaned forward, holding up one finger.

“Phase 1. First prepare one comrade.”

“Suddenly a comrade? For attacking police? Is that possible?”

A valid question. As a comrade, he asked questions helping complete the scenario. Shouldn’t criticize this.

I nodded and named our reliable comrade for attacking police together.

“We have zombies.”

Zombies could be comrades. They could distract police attention and focus, tie up their movements, even attack and defend.

I continued speaking to Do-hyung, who just gaped.

“Just need to find one. Phase 2. Report a zombie sighting to police.”

“…Attack police who come to subdue zombies?”

I nodded repeatedly, saying that was exactly it.

Currently police were the primary agency handling zombies. They deployed based on zombie numbers, shot them with tasers, and cuffed their wrists and ankles while they were paralyzed.

“Internet says only two officers deploy for one zombie. And while both officers focus on the zombie, how about we ambush them?”

“Seems possible…”

Do-hyung’s expression turned interested. He’d clenched his fists unconsciously, body leaning forward.

I drove in the wedge.

“Police deploy in pairs. One has a gun, one has a taser. If the ambush succeeds we get both.”

Weapons to handle virus-filled zombies from range. Couldn’t resist that.

Do-hyung seemed to waver between instinct and reason, then finally squeezed his eyes shut. Words I’d planted flowed from his slightly opened mouth.

“The world is ending… Since crazy people like this are already appearing, definitely need weapons…”

Were they insulting me who’d saved their life twice?

I frowned, about to scold him, but Do-hyung’s eyes snapped open first.

“Let’s do it.”

“…Right.”

Having motivation was enough. Not just anything but attacking police. Hiding my unease, I refined the scenario more. The unspoken Phase 4.

Then we drove around looking for suitable locations, like location scouting for movie filming to match the scenario.

***

Suitable locations meant places without CCTV. Or with cleverly placed blind spots. Also no residential homes or parked cars.

Such empty zones needed to be wide or long enough to park the camper van far away and move in.

Of course needed zombies too.

Though very difficult conditions to find in the city, unexpectedly Do-hyung provided the answer. He smiled sheepishly while looking out the window.

“Well, I have several places I usually charged secretly. Don’t know about zombies but the rest mostly fits.”

“Good. Let’s see them.”

I nodded vigorously.

Good decision taking the electricity thief as a comrade. Never expected help from this direction.

Really couldn’t judge people’s potential and abilities from appearances alone. Everyone had their own unique strengths.

So the camper van cruised the city. Sometimes rapid charging at electric vehicle stations.

Do-hyung showed his crime scenes one by one where he’d stolen electricity, and each time I gaped blankly and applauded.

“Didn’t know places like this existed in the city.”

“They’re everywhere if you look.”

Though Do-hyung seemed awkward and embarrassed at first, seeing my enthusiastic reactions he began proudly introducing places.

“This spot works well at night if you charge briefly-“

He showed me things like electrical meters for farming on utility poles in rural outskirts where he’d open them to reveal outlets, public restrooms surrounded by construction site barriers in planned construction areas, and pointed out old public restrooms at the foot of quiet mountains.

“Honestly you’ll get caught charging long. Fine if you do it briefly while passing by.”

This level deserved more than just admiration.

The amount of electricity stolen wasn’t even much. Just enjoyed the theft itself.

‘This one’s a real electricity thief!’

Shocking level. Even if infrastructure collapsed and power was cut, he had the drive to steal electricity somehow.

As I clicked my tongue, Do-hyung belatedly asked awkwardly.

“So where should we ambush?”

“That…”

I snapped back to attention.

Time obviously deep night. With all locations suitable, wherever had zombies.

Time passed and night came, and after moving around searching for zombies, we found one in a wide field.

Dark field in fallen darkness.

After parking far away and crossing the field for a while, I checked my phone while catching my breath. Checking the time, it had just passed midnight into the next day. I turned my gaze.

Seeing a zombie wandering under an electric lantern by a gazebo-like farm shelter with just roof and floor, I spoke quietly.

“Let’s report to police.”

Day 11 of the zombie outbreak.

We took action to obtain weapons for safely handling the terrifying zombies.