THE MORNING SUN STREAMED THROUGH THE APARTMENT WINDOWS, OFFERING JIANG YE AND HIS GROUP THEIR FIRST CHANCE TO RELAX IN DAYS. THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUPPLIES THEY HAD BROUGHT BACK FROM THE SUPERMARKET.
“Finally, we can cook something warm,” Elaine said, pulling out a portable stove she had scavenged earlier. She set it up on the apartment’s worn kitchen counter while Wang Han eagerly unpacked cans of soup and beans.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a chef,” Wang Han joked, brandishing a spatula. “Today, I’ll present to you the finest apocalypse cuisine!”
Michael couldn’t help but laugh. “Just don’t burn the place down.”
As the aroma of warm food wafted through the air, everyone gathered in the living room. The brief moment of comfort eased some of the tension within the group. Emily sat beside her father, quietly nibbling on a piece of bread while Michael gently stroked her hair.
At that moment, Elaine had an idea and opened the apartment’s refrigerator. “There are still vegetables and meat in here!” she exclaimed in surprise.
Wang Han hurried over to check, discovering that the fridge still contained some of the former owner’s food supplies. Although some items had started to spoil, much of it was still usable.
“We’re having a proper meal tonight,” Michael said with a faint smile.
The team quickly divided tasks. Elaine washed the ingredients while Wang Han enthusiastically prepared a simple stir-fry. “If I had a big wok, I’d make a full banquet today!” he said proudly.
Before long, the aroma of cooked food filled the air again. Elaine had prepared a mixed vegetable soup paired with roasted meat. The group sat together in the living room, savoring their meal with satisfaction.
“Feels like normal life again,” Ethan said, sipping the hot soup with a hint of nostalgia.
After the meal, Ethan opened his laptop, which miraculously still had some battery life left. “The internet is still working,” he said. “Let’s see what’s happening out there.”
The group gathered around the screen as Ethan browsed various news sites and live streams. Footage from around the world showed cities consumed by chaos. Fires raged, streets were overrun with the infected, and survivors fought desperately to protect themselves.
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“Look at this,” Elaine said, pointing to a live stream of a man killing zombies. “He’s still streaming?”
“People need distractions,” Ethan said. “Even in times like this, some things never change.”
The chat section of the live stream was filled with frantic messages—some cheering the streamer on, others pleading for help. The juxtaposition of normalcy and disaster left the group with mixed emotions.
In addition to the live streams, they read news updates. Reports from New York were particularly grim, with multiple areas completely overrun. Survivors had tried to establish safe zones, but with limited success.
“I hope we can go back someday,” Jiang Ye said softly, his expression heavy. “But it feels so far away right now.”
Jiang Ye and Wang Han checked their phones, hoping for any news from their families in China. However, no messages or calls came through. Jiang Ye frowned, his thoughts drifting to his parents.
“Do you think your family is okay?” Wang Han asked cautiously.
Jiang Ye nodded slowly. “My father’s a martial artist. As long as he didn’t turn into a zombie right away, I think he’d be able to protect my mother. But...” His voice trailed off.
“You’ll find them,” Wang Han said, trying to sound optimistic. “Once this is all over, we’ll go back.”
Jiang Ye gave a faint smile. “Thanks. But for now, we need to focus on surviving.”
Nearby, Emily overheard the conversation and looked up at Michael. “Can we go home too?” she asked softly. Michael hugged her tightly and replied gently, “Of course we can. We’ll find a safe place first.”
As the day went on, Jiang Ye addressed the group with a new proposal.
“We can’t just sit around waiting for things to improve. If we want to survive long-term, we need to prepare ourselves.”
“What do you mean?” Michael asked.
“You need to start training your bodies,” Jiang Ye said firmly. “It doesn’t matter if you’re scared or inexperienced. The infected won’t get weaker. If anything, they’ll grow stronger.”
Elaine nodded in agreement. “He’s right. If we stay in shape, we’ll have a better chance of fighting back.”
Jiang Ye demonstrated a few basic exercises, from push-ups to stretches. “It’s not about becoming experts overnight,” he explained. “It’s about staying sharp and ready for anything.”
Even Emily tried to mimic Jiang Ye’s movements, drawing laughter from the group. For the first time in days, the apartment was filled with smiles and hope.
As the group prepared to rest, Ethan refreshed the news feed. “Hey, there’s talk about a military safe zone a few miles from here,” he said. “They’re claiming it’s secure.”
“Do you believe it?” Elaine asked skeptically.
“Hard to say,” Ethan replied. “But it’s worth checking out. We need supplies, and if there are other survivors, we might be able to team up.”
Jiang Ye considered this carefully. “We’ll head out tomorrow. For now, let’s rest and prepare.”
The group nodded in agreement, their spirits slightly lifted by the possibility of finding safety. As they settled down for the night, the chaotic sounds of the outside world seemed a little less daunting.