Chapter 10: Heart
The zombie's roar reverberated through the area, startling a flock of birds into flight. This sound also reached the ears of the survivors huddled in the women's dormitory, sending shivers of fear through them. Among them was Linda, who trembled with apprehension.
"Could it be... Lin was eaten by the zombies?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with fear.
A stout boy nearby speculated, "It's possible. I heard a car earlier; it must've been your boyfriend coming and disturbing the zombies!"
"Looks like your boyfriend really loves you, risking so much to come here," added another tall boy. These boys, along with Linda, were all part of the school's basketball team, with Xu Shan serving as a cheerleader.
One of the boys, however, scoffed at the notion of love. "Love? More like a hopeless devotee, groveling until the end," he mocked, slapping Linda's butt. He relished the idea of dominating someone else's idol, finding a twisted sense of accomplishment in it.
Linda, unfazed by the mockery, expressed her disappointment. "What a waste. Lin couldn't even bring us some food."
Suddenly, one of the boys, alert to the slightest sound, heard movement in the corridor. "Someone's coming up!" he whispered urgently.
The group fell silent, listening intently. The sounds of footsteps approached, accompanied by the low growl of a zombie. "Looks like your lovelorn boyfriend managed to break in!" one of the boys remarked with a hint of anticipation, as their food supplies had dwindled.
They quickly hatched a plan to ambush Lin and take any supplies he brought. They had never intended to let him live, as his presence meant sharing their scarce resources.
Linda peered through the door's peephole and saw a pale but handsome face – it was Lin. She hurriedly opened the door, and as Lin entered, the boys, armed with makeshift weapons, surrounded him, demanding the food he had brought.
Lin, however, entered empty-handed, his expression cold and detached. His gaze finally settled on Linda, who showed no remorse for her deceit.
The boys grew impatient. "Where's the food? Hand it over or we'll beat you to death!" they threatened, their hunger driving them to aggression.
One of the boys, fueled by frustration, swung a steel pipe at Lin's face. But to their shock, Lin caught the pipe effortlessly, his grip unyielding.
"Where's the food?" they demanded again, but Lin, now partially evolved with some ability to speak, warned them, "You guys... Just... EAT!!!"
The realization dawned on them – Lin was a zombie. Panicking, the boys dropped their weapons and tried to flee, but they were met by a hulking zombie, Tank, who easily overpowered them. Blood splattered everywhere as Tank viciously attacked.
Linda, horrified and drenched in blood, watched in shock as the female zombie joined in, her bizarre laughter filling the air. The scene was a gruesome display of the zombies' dominance.
Lin emerged from the dormitory, followed obediently by Tank and the female zombie. The doctor zombie, meanwhile, was curiously examining a corpse.
Linda and the remaining boy, pale and trembling, realized the truth – Lin was the leader of these zombies. Desperate for mercy, the boy knelt, begging for forgiveness, his arrogance replaced by fear. Linda followed suit, pleading with Lin, invoking their past relationship.
Lin approached her with a cold demeanor, a dagger in hand. He stabbed Linda in the chest, wanting to see her heart, his actions reflecting a chilling transformation from human to a merciless zombie leader.