AFTER ESCAPING THE DORMITORY, JIANG YE AND HIS GROUP FINALLY FOUND A MOMENT OF RESPITE. THEY SAT AROUND THE SHABBY LIVING ROOM OF THE APARTMENT. DESPITE THEIR LIMITED SUPPLIES, THEY SHARED SOME BISCUITS AND WATER TO REGAIN THEIR STRENGTH. HOWEVER, A HEAVY ATMOSPHERE HUNG OVER THEM, AND NO ONE WAS WILLING TO SPEAK MUCH.
Wang Han tried to lighten the mood. “Honestly, don’t you think this apartment is better than the dormitory? At least we don’t have zombies banging on the doors!” He forced a grin.
“As long as we stay quiet, it is indeed safer,” Elaine replied, leaning against the wall while cleaning the blood off her metal rod.
Michael held Emily in his arms, gently comforting her. Since escaping the dormitory, the little girl had clung to her father, her eyes filled with fear.
“Emily needs to rest now,” Jiang Ye said softly. “Tomorrow, we must keep moving and find a safer place.”
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Late at night, low growls from zombies echoed faintly outside. Though distant, the sounds made everyone’s nerves tighten. Jiang Ye sat cross-legged in a corner, closing his eyes to meditate. He tried to clear his mind and process the day’s events.
Suddenly, a faint “thump thump” broke the silence. The sound seemed to come from deeper within the apartment.
“Something’s inside,” Ethan whispered, gripping his makeshift spear tightly.
“Let’s check it out,” Jiang Ye said, standing up and unsheathing the Lingfeng Sword. He motioned for everyone to stay quiet.
Michael shielded Emily while Wang Han and Elaine followed Jiang Ye. They walked down the old hallway, dimly lit by flickering lights. The walls were lined with peeling paint and broken picture frames. At the end of the hall, a door was ajar, and the “thump thump” sound grew louder.
When Jiang Ye pushed the door open, they found a toppled cabinet inside. A stray cat leapt out, startling Wang Han so much that he nearly dropped his fire axe.
“What the heck?! You scared me to death!” Wang Han complained, trying to mask his embarrassment.
“It’s just a cat,” Jiang Ye said, frowning. “But stay alert. We don’t know what else might be here.”
Before dawn, few of them managed to sleep, but they all understood the need to leave the apartment as soon as possible.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“According to the map, the nearest supermarket is about a mile away,” Elaine said, spreading out an old city map. “We need to gather more water and food.”
“It could be dangerous,” Michael murmured. “What if it’s swarming with zombies?”
“We don’t have a choice,” Jiang Ye replied firmly. “If we don’t go, we won’t last more than two days.”
Wang Han yawned. “Then let’s get going. I can’t wait to grab some chips from the store.”
“Can you stop thinking about food?” Elaine rolled her eyes.
“Let’s move,” Jiang Ye interrupted their banter. “Stay quiet, and don’t draw any attention.”
They left the apartment, stepping into streets filled with the stench of blood and decay. Abandoned car tires, luggage, and bloodstained clothing littered the ground.
On the way, they encountered a group of wandering zombies. Jiang Ye led the charge, using the Lingfeng Sword to swiftly dispatch two of them. Elaine smashed another’s head with her metal rod, while Wang Han chopped down a zombie with his axe, shouting, “These guys have no sense of courtesy!”
“Don’t waste time!” Jiang Ye warned. “Keep moving.”
As they entered a narrow alley, Michael suddenly stopped and motioned for silence. He pointed to a pile of garbage up ahead, from which low growls were emanating.
“There might be an ambush,” Jiang Ye whispered. He signaled for Wang Han and Elaine to flank the sides while he and Michael approached from the front with the others.
Sure enough, as they got closer, a zombie hidden in the pile lunged at them. Jiang Ye reacted instantly, slicing its throat. The group braced for more attacks but found no other zombies nearby.
When they reached the supermarket, they saw that the front door was locked, but the glass was covered in claw marks and bloodstains, evidence of previous struggles.
“This doesn’t look good,” Elaine muttered, frowning.
“The door still opens,” Michael said after testing it, “but we need to be careful. There could be something inside.”
Jiang Ye nodded. “We’ll go in and stay cautious. Michael and Elaine, guard the entrance. Ethan and Wang Han, gather supplies. I’ll watch over everything.”
As they pushed the door open, a musty stench hit them. Shelves were overturned, and the floor was strewn with gnawed cans and torn wrappers.
“Move quickly,” Jiang Ye ordered. “Don’t wander too far. Stay alert for ambushes.”
As they ventured deeper into the supermarket, a low growl came from the corner. Everyone immediately tensed.
“Something’s coming!” Wang Han shouted, gripping his fire axe.
From behind the shelves, several zombies charged out. They were much faster than the ones they had encountered before. Jiang Ye reacted swiftly, blocking the closest one and cutting it down with the Lingfeng Sword. Elaine crushed another’s skull with her rod.
“Hurry! Don’t linger!” Jiang Ye commanded loudly.
Within minutes, the group managed to gather enough water and canned food. They quickly retreated from the supermarket, heading back the way they came.
By the time they returned to the apartment, the sun was already high in the sky. They placed their newly acquired supplies in the center of the living room and collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
“At least we survived today,” Michael said softly, smiling faintly at Emily.
“Don’t relax just yet,” Jiang Ye reminded them. “There’s still a long road ahead.”
They all understood that the encounter at the supermarket was just the beginning. Greater challenges awaited them in the days to come.