Chapter 22: The Survivor

"Boom!"

Just as Qin Zhong was flying his kite, a thunderous roar erupted from behind him, sending a jolt through his entire body. He spun around, and the scene before his eyes made his blood run cold.

Three storefronts past the terrace, two glass doors had suddenly collapsed. Amidst a cacophony of guttural growls, a dense, dark swarm of zombies surged out from within.

The undead clawed and lunged, their pale, dead faces looking exceptionally grotesque. They were chaotic, yet their objective was clear: they were charging straight at Qin Zhong.

At a glance, there were at least a hundred of them. The terrace was narrow, and with the front and back blocked, Qin Zhong realized the only way to escape might be to jump from the building.

A chill shot up his spine. Without hesitation, Qin Zhong slung his crossbow over his shoulder and drew the Miao saber from his back, preparing to carve a path back through the way he came before the swarm could fully converge.

However, the corridor was only three to four meters wide. There were at least thirty zombies already flooding through that way. Charging through might be possible, but escaping unscathed would be incredibly difficult.

Qin Zhong’s expression was grave. This was the apocalypse, not a training ground. These zombies likely carried the virus; being bitten meant a miserable end.

On the day the "Disaster" broke out, Qin Zhong had witnessed an infected employee pounce on a female colleague, tearing a chunk of flesh right off her arm. Although she received medical attention, she turned into a mindless, inhumane zombie in less than five minutes, driven only by the instinct to tear apart any living thing in her path.

Facing such odds, Qin Zhong’s face grew darker. He had to prepare for the worst.

"Here! Over here!"

Just then, a small door near the back of the terrace swung open. A young boy poked his head out, his eyes darting around wildly as he beckoned to Qin Zhong. "Quick! Escape this way!"

Expecting certain death, Qin Zhong was stunned to find a lifeline. Overjoyed, he followed the boy and dove into the small door, never having expected to find another living soul in this shopping mall.

Beyond the door lay a deep, dim corridor lined with small shops. The light was extremely faint, but the boy moved with startling speed, navigating the winding path without a moment's hesitation, clearly intimately familiar with the layout.

It appeared to be a flea market of sorts, where the space had been partitioned into tiny stalls occupied by clothing boutiques, luggage shops, or snack vendors selling spicy hot pots and skewers.

Qin Zhong followed closely behind the boy. The further they went, the dimmer the light became, and the maze of corridors felt like a labyrinth.

The boy’s footsteps were light and swift, brushing past the stalls like a breeze. Suddenly, he darted into an ordinary-looking shop.

He knew the layout perfectly, as if every floor tile were etched into his memory. Once inside, he led Qin Zhong straight toward the kitchen at the back of the store.

On the back wall of the kitchen, a twenty-centimeter square ventilation fan was installed. Its blades spun lazily in the breeze, causing the sunlight filtering through to flicker, casting dancing, elfin shadows across the room.

These mottled shadows converged upon a large, waist-high iron cabinet. The boy didn't hesitate, rushing to the cabinet and pulling it open with a forceful tug.

"Quick, hide inside!" the boy urged, his voice tight with urgency.

Qin Zhong followed him into the cabinet without a second thought. As the doors closed, darkness descended, cold and heavy like a coffin lid, sealing them off from the outside world.

The cabinet was tight; once both of them were inside, they had to huddle together, face to face.

They held their breath, trying to minimize their presence. After a while, the wails of the zombies outside grew distant and sporadic. Having lost their target, the bloodthirsty creatures began to disperse, wandering off in search of other prey.

Hearing the commotion fade, Qin Zhong pushed the cabinet doors open just a crack. He peered out, and satisfied that the coast was clear, he finally relaxed and turned his gaze toward the boy.

As light filtered into the cabinet, though still dim, their proximity allowed Qin Zhong to get a clear look at the boy’s face. He realized then that it wasn't a boy at all, but a girl.

She wore a buzz cut, and in the chaos of their escape, Qin Zhong hadn't observed closely. Now, looking carefully, he saw the youthful, delicate features and bright, intelligent eyes of a child around twelve or thirteen.

Seeing Qin Zhong open the door, the girl startled. "Close it! Close the door!"

Though the swarm wouldn't find them here for a while, Qin Zhong could see the terror in her eyes. Despite the stifling air, he pulled the doors shut once more.

Back in the darkness, Qin Zhong spoke softly toward the girl, "You're capable to have survived this long. Have you been hiding here the whole time?"

The girl let out a sound like a mosquito's hum. "Ever since that day, I've hidden here."

"Oh?" Qin Zhong was taken aback. "Since the day of the disaster? That's been nearly half a year. You've been hiding here all by yourself?"

Though he couldn't see, he felt her nod. Her tone was tinged with surprise. "It's been almost half a year? Why... why haven't the police officers come yet?"

Qin Zhong fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "Don't count on a rescue. I'm afraid the whole world is like this now. The government, it probably doesn't exist anymore. From now on... we can only rely on ourselves."

The girl remained silent for a long time. They sat in the darkness until she let out a heavy sigh—a sound so filled with boundless despair that it didn't sound like it came from a young girl at all.

"This is the snack shop my family opened," she whispered. "This cabinet was for rice and supplies. I moved everything out and have been hiding in here ever since that day."

That explained it. A snack shop would have had food reserves, and for a small girl, it would have been enough to survive.

"Are you alone here?" Qin Zhong asked tentatively. "Where are your parents?"

The girl hesitated for a moment before replying, "My dad passed away a long time ago. My mom and an auntie ran the shop. I was studying at a nearby primary school and would come here for lunch."

"And your mom?"

Qin Zhong asked instinctively, but immediately regretted it. If her mother wasn't here, she had likely turned into one of those creatures outside. Why stir up that pain?