❝ Zombies! ❞ - Cortis ot5
A/n's note: this is a work of fiction, it is loosely based off all of us are dead, non idol au & fem!reader x cortis
Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse? That sounded ridiculous ...or at least that's what you thought until one day, when you and your friends had to face it yourselves, with no one coming to help you.
Mentions!: cortis, woochan & youngseo from Adp, rora from BM, yoonchae from Katseye
Cw/tw: graphic violence , gore, body horror (description of injuries), mentions of death, family conflict, anxiety attacks, strong language and lots of swearing
"Hey, Seonghyeon... what did you want to talk about?" you asked, your cheeks warming as he stood before you. The soft afternoon light filtered through the cherry blossom trees, casting delicate pink petals across his shoulders. Your heart fluttered in that familiar, hopeful rhythm.
Seonghyeon shifted nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey… so I wanted to tell you something."
"Yes?" Your ears perked up, breath catching in your throat. Is this it?
"I wanted to say that…" He paused, his eyes flickering with hesitation.
"That?" you repeated, leaning in slightly.
"That… you’re gonna be late."
His voice warped strangely, like a broken record slowing down.
"I said you’re gonna be late," he repeated, his words distorting further, stretching unnaturally. Horror crawled up your spine as his figure began to dissolve and the ground beneath your feet crumbled.
You jolted awake with a gasp.
"What the hell, James?!" you whined, still half-trapped in the dream as your older brother yanked the blanket off you and grabbed your arm, hauling you out of bed.
"It’s almost time for the gates to close, that’s what," he snapped, clearly exhausted. "I’m tired of babysitting your ass every morning. Be responsible for once in your life."
"Then stop babysitting me!" you screamed back, voice still hoarse from sleep.
James rolled his eyes and walked out of your room, muttering under his breath. You sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, rubbing your eyes and trying to shake off the lingering disappointment from the dream. With a heavy sigh, you forced yourself up and began getting ready for school.
When you finally shuffled into the living room, still fixing your vest, you found James rushing around like a whirlwind. He was simultaneously packing his bag, stuffing notebooks into one while flipping an egg in the pan with the other. The smell of buttered toast and fried eggs filled the air, warm and familiar.
The moment he noticed you, his frantic movements paused. He reached up into the cupboard, pulled out a small pale blue box tied with a white ribbon, and walked over with a rare, soft smile.
You narrowed your eyes at him, suspicion flickering across your face. "What's with that smile?"
James simply held the box out toward you, his expression steady but gentle. The morning light streaming through the kitchen window caught the pale blue wrapping, making the white ribbon glow softly.
"I know your birthday is still two days away," he said quietly, "and I know you don’t want anything… but still."
You stared at the box like it might burn you. "I don’t wish to celebrate my birthday."
The words came out flat, a practiced wall meant to bury the memories that always threatened to rise this time of year. Two years back there was the laughter that used to fill the house, the smell of cake, the sound of your father clapping when you spun across the living room in your ballet outfit and now nothing.
"Y/n just open it," James urged, his voice softer now.
You sighed heavily, shoulders tense, and finally took the box. The moment you lifted the lid, your breath hitched in your throat. Inside, nestled in delicate tissue paper, was a brand-new pair of ballet shoes, the softest blush pink with pristine satin ribbons. They looked beautiful. The kind you used to dream about.
"What is this?" Your voice rose, sharp with disbelief and rising guilt.
"I know how much you love ballet," James replied, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. "I thought—"
"Why?" The word cracked out of you like a whip. "After everything that happened that day… Why? I don’t want to do it anymore. I told you!"
Tears burned at the corners of your eyes as memories flooded in from two years back.
"Y/N—" James started, stepping closer.
You cut him off, voice trembling with anger. "And you don’t have to take care of me!!"
In a surge of raw emotion, you hurled the shoes at him. They hit his chest and clattered to the floor, the ribbons splaying out like broken wings.
"This isn’t how you speak to your brother—" he began, jaw tightening.
"Stop acting like you’re my real fucking brother!" you yelled, tears finally spilling over. "You aren’t! And leave me the fuck alone. I can handle myself!"
The room fell into a heavy silence for a split second. Then James’s expression hardened, exhaustion and hurt flashing across his face.
"Unfortunately, I’m the only one you have left whether you like it or not." His voice was low but edged with frustration. "I’m trying so damn hard to take care of you. Working two part-time jobs just to keep this roof over our heads…ever since our parents died."
"Our?" You let out a bitter laugh, the word slicing through the air. "No. Your mom and my dad."
James froze, the tension in the room thickening like smoke. His jaw clenched visibly, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint sizzle of the forgotten eggs in the pan behind him.
He let out a low, frustrated sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. "Fuck this...you think that its easier for me? I lost my mom too, Y/N. And your dad… he was the closest thing I had to a real father after everything fell apart. But fine, you wanna keep arguing like this then be my guest."
Thats it. Without another word, you stormed toward the door, slamming it behind you harder than necessary. The echo followed you down the hallway as you headed to school without him, again. The familiar sting of guilt twisted in your chest, but you shoved it down, focusing on the cool morning air hitting your face as you exited the building.
Underneath the apartment complex, leaning casually against the faded brick wall with his hands in his pockets was Martin, your childhood bestfriend. The moment he spotted you emerging from the entrance, his eyes lit up, that bright grin spreading across his face like sunlight breaking through clouds. His messy brown hair caught the breeze, and he pushed off the wall, jogging a few steps to meet you.
But the smile faltered slightly as he got closer.
"Hey… you okay?" he asked, tilting his head. "You look upset. Did you fight with your brother again?"
You let out a heavy sigh, adjusting the strap of your bag. "Yeah. Same old stuff. But it’s whatever—I don’t want to talk about it right now."
Martin nodded understandingly, not pushing further. He fell into step beside you, his shoulder bumping yours lightly. "Alright, fair enough. How about this instead?" A mischievous spark returned to his eyes. "Race you to school? Loser buys drinks today."
You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips despite everything. "You’re on."
The two of you took off down the bustling sidewalk, dodging morning commuters and street vendors setting up their stalls. Laughter bubbled up as your feet pounded the pavement, the cool wind whipping past your face.You were neck-and-neck, weaving through the crowd, the school gates just visible in the distance.
But as you pushed forward for the final sprint, heart racing and breath coming in sharp bursts, you rounded a corner too quickly and collided straight into someone.
"Oof—" You stumbled back, nearly losing your balance. Strong hands caught your arms to steady you.
When you looked up, your heart skipped a beat. It was Seonghyeon standing there in his crisp school uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder. His dark eyes widened in surprise, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he realized it was you.
"Y/N? Are you okay?" he asked, voice soft with concern, still holding your arm gently.
"Yeah—yeah, I'm good," you stammered, quickly backing away a step. Your cheeks burned hotter as fragments of the dream flooded back. You stared up at him, heart racing, suddenly hyper-aware of how close you'd collided.
Before you could say anything else, Seonghyeon leaned in slightly, his fingers brushing gently against your hair. He plucked a small pink petal from your strands and held it up between you.
"There was something in your hair," he said softly, a faint, shy smile tugging at his lips. His dark eyes met yours for a brief second, warm and attentive. You wanted the ground to open up and swallow you whole. Of course. Just when I crash into my crush like a clumsy idiot.
Meanwhile, Martin had sprinted ahead, crossing the imaginary finish line near the school gates with a triumphant whoop. He spun around, ready to boast.
"I won!" but his voice faltered the moment he spotted you and Seonghyeon standing so close. Jealousy flickered across his face like a shadow. He jogged back over, forcing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ha, I won," he announced a little too loudly, inserting himself between you and Seonghyeon. His shoulder bumped yours protectively.
Seonghyeon blinked, glancing between you both. "Oh, sorry did I accidentally make you lose the race?"
"No, no, it's okay," you reassured him quickly, waving it off with a nervous laugh.
Just then, Keonho appeared from the crowd of students, smacking Seonghyeon playfully on the back of the head. "Morning, lovebirds," he teased with a grin.
"What’s wrong with you idiot" Seonghyeon grumbled, rubbing the spot and shooting his friend a half-hearted glare.
Martin didn't waste another second. "Y/N let's go, we'll be late." He grabbed your hand firmly, tugging you along toward the school entrance. You managed a quick wave over your shoulder. "Bye, Seonghyeon! Bye, Keonho!"
As the two of you walked toward class, the morning bustle of students filling the hallways around you, Martin kept your hand in his a moment longer than necessary before letting go. The jealousy still simmered beneath his casual tone.
"What do you even see in him?" he muttered, kicking a pebble along the corridor floor. "He's not even that good-looking or anything. Just... average."
"Shut up, Martin," you said, unable to stop the goofy grin spreading across your face. The dream flashed in your mind and your cheeks warmed once more. You bumped his shoulder lightly, laughing.
Martin’s mood visibly dropped, shoulders slumping just a fraction, but he plastered on that familiar happy act, the one he'd perfected over the years. He'd been hopelessly in love with you since you were kids. But he'd never confessed. How could he, when he saw the way your eyes lit up around Seonghyeon? He couldn't risk losing you entirely.
Soon, the two of you were joined by Juhoon and Rora near the classroom door. Rora linked her arm with yours immediately, her ponytail swinging as she chattered about the upcoming quiz. Juhoon, Martin's loyal best friend, fell into step beside him, clapping him on the back and launching into some story about last night's game.
The rest of the morning classes dragged on in their usual monotonous rhythm. You spent most of the time fighting off sleep, your eyelids drooped during the history lecture as the teacher's voice droned on about ancient dynasties. Every so often, your gaze would drift across the classroom to Seonghyeon, who sat a few rows ahead near the window.
The way sunlight caught in his dark hair, the focused furrow of his brow as he took notes, made your heart do that familiar, annoying flip. You tried to be subtle, but Rora kept shooting you exasperated glances from the seat beside you, clearly annoyed by your obvious distraction.
By the time the lunch bell rang, relief washed over you. The classroom erupted into chatter as students pushed back their chairs and gathered their things. You made your way to your usual spot in the cafeteria courtyard where your group had already started settling in.
You slid onto the bench beside Rora, unpacking your simple bento box. Across from you sat Martin, Juhoon, Woojin, and Yoonchae, who was quietly scrolling through her phone while nibbling on fruit. The air smelled of fried rice, kimchi, and the faint floral sweetness from the trees nearby. Laughter and shouts echoed from other tables as groups of students unwound from the morning.
Keonho and Seonghyeon were sitting together at a table a few spots away, surrounded by a cluster of other classmates. Seonghyeon was laughing at something Keonho said. You found yourself staring again, completely lost in the moment.
"Stop staring at him," Rora muttered under her breath, nudging your elbow sharply. "You're making it so obvious. Seriously, Y/N, at least pretend to be subtle."
You blinked, tearing your eyes away from Seonghyeon and Keonho's table with a guilty flush. "I wasn't—"
"Why don't you just confess already?" Woojin chimed in loudly, leaning forward with a grin as he shoveled rice into his mouth. "Put us all out of our misery."
Juhoon immediately smacked the back of Woojin's head with a loud thwack. "Dude"
Martin, who had been mid-bite, suddenly choked on his rice, coughing harshly into his fist. His face turned a shade redder than usual, eyes watering as he struggled.
"Martin, you dumbass eat slow," you said with a soft laugh, quickly sliding your water bottle across the table toward him. He took it gratefully, gulping it down while avoiding your gaze.
Yoonchae and Juhoon exchanged a knowing look across the table, their eyebrows raised in silent understanding. They both knew Martin's long-hidden feelings and the way he dimmed whenever Seonghyeon entered the picture. The tension hung in the air for a second before Rora rolled her eyes and changed the subject to some new kdrama, easing the moment back into lighter chatter.
Suddenly a deafening crash shattered everything. It sounded like metal tables being overturned, followed by a chorus of terrified screams echoing from the far side of the open area. You and the others whipped your heads toward the noise in unison. Chaos erupted instantly. Students were sprinting in every direction, backpacks abandoned on the ground, some tripping over each other in blind panic. Shouts of "What’s happening?!" and "Move!" filled the air as the crowd surged like a frightened herd.
One of your classmates stood in the middle of the courtyard, swaying unsteadily. Blood poured down the side of his face from a gruesome, gaping cut on his head, soaking the collar of his white uniform shirt crimson. His eyes were glassy and unfocused, yet he moved with violent, unnatural energy. He lunged at another student who had frozen nearby, tackling them to the ground with feral strength and swinging wildly with bloodied fists.
"What the fuck..." Woojin breathed, his chopsticks slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the table.
"Guys, shit—" Rora’s voice cracked with fear as she shot up from her seat, eyes wide with horror.
More screams pierced the air. Students were getting trampled as others tried to flee, the once-peaceful courtyard transforming into a battlefield of bodies. In the distance, you could see more figures moving erratically and stumbling with similar injuries.
"We gotta run!" Martin said urgently, standing up so fast his chair toppled behind him. His eyes darted to you, filled with protective worry, then flicked back toward the growing nightmare unfolding ahead.
Chaos exploded across the courtyard like a bomb going off. Screams tore through the air as more infected students staggered into view—bloody, snarling, moving with that horrifying, unnatural speed. Your group didn’t hesitate.
"Go! Run!" Martin shouted, grabbing your hand tightly as the six of you— you, Martin, Rora, Woojin, Juhoon, and Yoonchae—bolted from the table. You sprinted alongside them through the panicked crowd, dodging overturned chairs and abandoned lunch trays. The metallic smell of blood already hung thick in the air.
Rora screamed as one of the infected lunged at her from the side. Juhoon yanked her back just in time, and Woojin shoved a metal lunch tray into the thing’s face, buying them precious seconds. "Keep moving!" he yelled, voice strained.
You stayed in the middle of the group, legs burning as you weaved through the stampede. Another infected barreled straight toward Yoonchae. She barely dodged, but its fingers grazed her sleeve. Juhoon pulled her forward roughly. "Stay close to me!"
The school hallways were pure pandemonium. Lockers slammed, students shoved past each other, and the guttural growls of the infected echoed off the walls. Your group stuck together, pushing toward the science wing where the classrooms were more isolated.
Someone slammed hard into your shoulder from the side. Pain exploded through your body as you lost balance and crashed to the cold tiled floor. The impact knocked the wind out of you. Before you could scramble up, a bloody hand grabbed your ankle, dragging you backward with terrifying strength. The infected’s jaw snapped open, rotten teeth aiming for your leg.
"Y/N!" Martin shouted, turning back desperately, but he was a few steps too far, blocked by the surging crowd.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around your waist. Seonghyeon appeared out of nowhere, hauling you up and away from the creature in one swift motion. Your back pressed against his chest as he pulled you to safety, his breath hot and ragged against your ear. "I’ve got you—move!"
At the same moment, Keonho swung a baseball bat he’d grabbed from somewhere—crack!—smashing it brutally across the infected’s head. The thing crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Go! Go! Go!" Keonho yelled, waving the bat wildly as he and Seonghyeon joined your group.
Adrenaline surged through you as the enlarged group now including Seonghyeon, Keonho and another two classmates sprinted down the hallway. You could hear the infected gaining behind you, their footsteps heavy and relentless. Rora was crying but still running, Juhoon supporting Yoonchae who had twisted her ankle slightly.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, Martin spotted an empty classroom. "There!"
You all burst inside, nearly falling over each other. Seonghyeon slammed the door shut behind the last person while Martin and Woojin dragged a heavy desk against it. Keonho and Juhoon quickly taped sheets of newspaper and poster paper over the glass windows and door panel, blocking the view from outside. The room fell into a tense, heavy silence broken only by everyone’s labored breathing.
You leaned against a desk, chest heaving, legs shaking. Seonghyeon stayed close, his hand still lightly gripping your arm as if to ground you. Martin watched the two of you, jaw tight, but said nothing and shifted back to barricading the door.
Outside, the screams continued. The nightmare had only just begun.
A/n's note: so umm should I continue this..? If you guys wanna be added to the taglist then drop a comment under this