​​Chapter 09​​

The cicadas' drone vanished; the air grew slightly cooler.

The last half-box of juice was distributed, one bottle per person. We drained them dry.

Continuing like this meant we'd have to drink urine soon. The problem was, there wasn't much urine to begin with.

Apart from flour, there was no food left.

That night, Xiao Chu and I went to the Finance office. I had hidden some food and water there earlier. Not much.

After eating and drinking, I brought a portion back for Chairwoman Li and accompanied her to the restroom to eat it.

Lin Ling got her period. She didn't wrap the used sanitary pad properly. When the drone flew out carrying the trash bag, it attracted hundreds of zombies in a frenzied chase.

This gave me an idea!

I proposed the risky venture to Level B1.

Out of the eight people, besides Chairwoman Li and Lin Ling, everyone else had to go.

Except for Xiao Chu, the others all refused.

I told them Level B1 had plenty of food and water, and that Xiao Chu and I wouldn't be coming back here regardless.

Stunned, they reluctantly nodded.

We spent two days preparing.

I drew a map and walked through the plan on paper over a dozen times.

The plump man and Ruan Tingting were stationed near the vent opening closest to the supermarket entrance, responsible for operating the drone carrying the sanitary pad and a Bluetooth speaker.

Heavy bass BGM blasted from the speaker, sounding the call to arms for a final stand. The hundreds of zombies on the ground level were lured away.

I seized the chance to start Qiu Ze's SUV.

Zhao Kai was on lookout duty.

The others loaded weapons onto the SUV: alcohol, insecticide, batons, kitchen knives, a breaching axe, etc. The lean man prepared the drones.

"Move out."

I pressed the gas pedal, my voice trembling with adrenaline:

"Repeating the rules: Anyone injured tries to lead the zombies away as far as possible. Even if you escape, you cannot return to the group."

"Unity is our only chance! Stay strong!"

After saying this, a lump rose in my throat, silencing me.

"Sister, we'll come back," Xiao Chu said, gripping my shoulder firmly.

Qiu Ze and the lean man were crying too hard to speak.

Only Zhao Kai sat expressionless in the passenger seat.

He was the calmest among us, and the most terrifying.

The day he argued with the suppliers, Zhao Kai was the one who killed Xing Dong. They'd had a personal grudge long before.

The vehicle smoothly descended the ramp to Level B1.

Where the headlights pierced, despair awaited.

Countless bald heads reflected the light.

The zombie horde stirred. Decaying faces slowly turned; countless pairs of gray-white eyes fixed on us in unison, sending chills down my spine.

Suppressing my fear, I ordered: "Drones! Go!"

Xiao Chu slapped the lean man, snapping him out of his daze.

The window rolled down. The drone carrying the sanitary pad buzzed into the air. As heavy metal music thundered, the zombies went berserk.

They let out low roars more terrifying than beasts, chasing after the drone.

Thud!

The drone slammed into a pillar and plummeted straight down. Zombies surged towards it like a tidal wave. The music cut off abruptly.

"Fuck fuck FUCK!" Zhao Kai swore, immediately launching the second drone.

The lean man and Xiao Chu frantically launched two more. Alternating red and blue lights, they flew deeper into the gloom.

However, the two drones were quickly swatted down by leaping zombies.

"Alcohol time!"

Zhao Kai and I readied our makeshift bows. Xiao Chu quickly launched a drone carrying a bag of alcohol.

We drew and fired. Burning arrows whooshed through the air, striking their targets.

BOOM! Fireballs dropped from the sky. Zombies caught fire.

"Send two more!"

The blaze intensified. Zombies scattered in panic.

"Blood bait!"

Two more drones carrying sanitary pads and speakers lifted off, flying toward the parking garage exit.

Zombies surged after them like a flood tide.

I stomped on the accelerator, driving the SUV straight into the warehouse.

"Seal the door!"

Qiu Ze and the lean man rushed to push the heavy door shut, reporting the lock was broken.

Zhao Kai, Xiao Chu, and I switched on our headlamps. Gripping the breaching axe and batons, we edged forward slowly along the shelves.

Chocolate bars littered the floor – survivors had clearly been here before.

We soon reached the food section. Thank heavens, hundreds of boxes of food were stacked neatly on the warehouse racks.

Xiao Chu and Zhao Kai climbed onto a forklift, scaling the racks. They quickly tossed down several cardboard boxes which Qiu Ze and the lean man scrambled to catch.

The most terrifying problem surfaced: we found no water. No beer, no juice, nothing.

"Bastards!" I couldn't help cursing under my breath.

No time to waste. The SUV was packed; we had to retreat.

But when I pressed the ignition button, nothing happened. I tried several times. No response.

My heart plunged into an abyss.

"We're done for! We're gonna die down here!" Qiu Ze groaned in despair.

Silence. Breathing felt stifled.

Xiao Chu handed me a chocolate bar:

"Sister, eat. Whatever happens, I'm with you."

He was smiling.

He was actually smiling!

I wolfed down the chocolate, forcing my brain to cool down. "The loading dock might have vehicles. Let's find one."

"Okay!"

We should have had four drones left. Qiu Ze and the lean man stayed behind, ready to fight if needed. The three of us slipped out into the corridor.

A cold, foul stench hung heavy in the deathly silence.

For a moment, I felt my resolve crumbling. My teeth chattered.

Suddenly, a large, warm hand squeezed my shoulder firmly.

"Sister, don't be afraid. I'm here."

Idiot. I cursed him silently in my mind, my nose stinging.

We made our way to the loading dock. Headlamps revealed dozens of forklifts, but not a single car.

Not surprising – anyone who could drive when this all started probably escaped.

"Circle the warehouse perimeter. If nothing, we take the stairs," Zhao Kai suggested.

Level B1 was his turf; besides the warehouse, the security dorm was also here.

Listening to him was probably wise.

We split up, left and right, Xiao Chu behind me. Just around a corner, one glance nearly made me faint.

A group of bald heads stood directly ahead.

"Run!" I hissed, turning and yanking Xiao Chu with me, wishing I had eight legs.

Too late.

A chorus of snarls erupted. The zombies gave chase.

Xiao Chu pulled me behind him, swinging the breaching axe wildly.

Damn it!

I fumbled for my lighter, pulled insecticide from my backpack, and sprayed it straight into the decaying faces bearing down on us.

WHOOSH! It ignited.

The aerosol became a flamethrower, engulfing the faces and ragged clothes of the front zombies.

I smashed a few glass bottles of alcohol onto the floor. The fire spread.

Most zombies were blocked, but then several leaping zombies from the back row soared over the flames.

I was slammed hard onto the ground by a huge one. Its bloody maw snapped inches from my face.

"Die!" I roared, yanking out my boning knife and slashing it across the thing's neck in one swift motion. Its head rolled off.

I scrambled up. Back-to-back with Xiao Chu, we hacked wildly, finally finishing off the remaining attackers.

"Any bites?"

"None!"

"Dai Mei! Vehicle!"

Zhao Kai's shout reached us.

We sprinted for our lives. Rounding another corner, a panel truck suddenly came into view!

The cab was outside, but the rear end was embedded deep into the warehouse wall.

"Hurry!" Zhao Kai was already climbing into the driver's seat.

I yanked open the passenger door. Xiao Chu immediately boosted me up.

"Don't bring him!" Zhao Kai growled, already starting the engine.

I froze. Xiao Chu froze.

I suddenly remembered Xiao Chu had punched Zhao Kai before.

"No." In the next instant, I reached my hand out to Xiao Chu.

"Hah! Both of you get the hell down!!" Zhao Kai snarled, glaring at me.

I met his glare fiercely. "Zhao Kai, without us, you won't last days."

"Fuck fuck! Get in!"

No more words. I grasped Xiao Chu's hand tightly.

He climbed in.

The seat was too small. He pulled me onto his lap, holding me close.

"Sister..."

Hearing his trembling voice murmur in my ear, I felt a renewed determination to survive.

"Us! And us! Don't leave!" The cries of Qiu Ze and the lean man reached us.

"The cargo hold! Get in there!" I couldn't see them, nor was I sure if the cargo hold was even open.

Zhao Kai glared at me venomously. "I'll wait ten seconds!"

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

Footsteps approached. Zombies were coming. Hordes of them...