Wild Journey of Daphne

Yang Tian watched the girl devour her food hungrily, and couldn't help but swallow. How he wished he could share her enthusiasm for bread, but he simply couldn't. The only thing that mildly interested him was the sausage—and even then, only barely.

The girl chewed in big bites and finally took a sip of water. She touched her still-flat stomach; clearly, she wasn't full. But she had saved most of the food, knowing the importance of conserving supplies after surviving for over a month in this post-apocalyptic world. For a girl who once discarded meals without a second thought, such a change was monumental. People really do adapt, after all.

"You... hello..." The girl, now feeling somewhat satiated, finally took notice of Yang Tian. He wasn't just anyone; he was a zombie, one who had just brought her food—a zombie that, without exaggeration, had saved her life.

Yang Tian nodded slightly, unsure of what to say. He was content enough just having someone to talk to. No one but him could understand the loneliness of walking aimlessly among hordes of zombies day after day.

"I... I don't understand why... why you brought me food... Thank you, really... thank you," the girl's voice trembled.

Yang Tian nodded again.

"Can you... not eat me?" Hope filled the girl's eyes. Even if Yang Tian lied, he couldn't bring himself to destroy her hopes.

Of course, Yang Tian didn't need to lie—he simply felt a heaviness in his chest. He understood. If he were in her position, being saved by a creature that feeds on flesh, he would be anxious too.

Yang Tian nodded once more.

"Really?" Her eyes lit up with joy. "You're really not keeping me as food for later? Not... waiting until you're hungry to eat me? I... I..." The girl suddenly realized she was talking too much. The zombie seemed agitated!

It was happening again. Yang Tian could understand, but it didn't make it easier. The boy in the convenience store had thought the same and acted on it, betraying Yang Tian. Now, this girl had similar thoughts. He knew the outcome would likely be the same.

Yang Tian swung his arm violently, as if venting something, then slumped against the wall, feeling like a deflated balloon. Maybe this was his fate—the fate of a zombie. Perhaps only when he evolved into a higher form, capable of hiding his scent and escaping the zombie hordes, could he return to the human world, to the life that once belonged to him.

After a long silence, Yang Tian adjusted the Barrett rifle slung across his back and slowly turned toward the window. No more second chances. He needed to leave before this girl acted out her suspicions. He feared that if she betrayed him, he wouldn't be able to control himself from killing her.

"Wait... wait!" The girl called out as she saw the zombie's eyes, tinged with sadness, turn away from her. "Are you leaving?"

Yang Tian had no desire to talk anymore. All he wanted now was to grow stronger and pursue his own goals. Until then, everything else was just a dream.

"Please, don't go..." She approached cautiously, sensing no attack, just proximity.

Daphne looked at the few bottles of water and pieces of bread on the ground. What would she do when the food ran out? Despair was inevitable. Would she starve? Or worse, encounter a group and be violated, caged, eaten? Even a lone survivor might be too much for her. Rescue seemed impossible—her family's so-called "dogs" hadn't found her after all this time. If they truly intended to rescue her, it wouldn't take a whole month. The government's forces had long since retreated, their promises now clearly empty.

Her best bet might be to attach herself to a group leader, selling herself for survival—only to be discarded when true danger came.

Yang Tian stopped, frowning.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier... I just... Can you stay?"

Stay? Yang Tian paused, turning to see the hopeful expression on the girl's face. A wave of frustration washed over him. He lunged at her, grabbing her and slamming her into the wall. She felt the impact on her back, the sharp pain against the wall. But the pain wasn't the worst part—it was the killing intent and bloodlust emanating from the zombie that took her breath away.

She looked up at the ceiling, her world turning gray. She felt his tongue, cold and inhuman, brushing her neck.

"I'm a zombie... You want me to stay? What exactly are you planning?" His hoarse voice cut through the silence.

Daphne held her breath, not daring to move. The icy tongue, the raspy voice—it all felt like the whispers of a demon from hell. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized she was finished. Despite everything, despite him giving her food, treating her kindly, even turning to leave as if she were nothing to him—he was still a zombie. How could she have hoped...?

"Answer me..." His voice echoed again.

Tears streamed down her face. She dared not sob too loudly, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Your aura... it makes me think you're strong. I... I just want you to take me to Los Angeles. I have no choice. I don't know what to do, who to trust. I just want to live, to go home... I..." She couldn't hold it back anymore and started sobbing.

"Do you really think I can be trusted?" Yang Tian's voice was heavy, devoid of emotion.

"Without you, I... I would've run out by now to find food. I don't know how to survive out there, and I'd be an easy target for the zombies. I've seen so many people die... I have no choice but to trust you. It sounds crazy, but... when you turned to leave without hesitation, it made me feel something." Daphne's voice broke as she spoke.

"Maybe I was just pretending." Yang Tian hadn't expected such an insignificant gesture to be the reason she wanted him to stay. It seemed absurd—but then again, this whole world was absurd, wasn't it?

Yang Tian let her go, watching her tremble, too afraid to move. "What can you offer me in return?" he asked quietly.

"I can give you money, give you..." Daphne stopped abruptly, realizing that money no longer mattered. People had begun trading in food, or even women.

"If you take me home, I can give you the life you want..." She paused, her voice tinged with helplessness. "But right now, I have nothing to give. I... If you really need it, you can have my body... Oh... God, please don't..."

In the end, Daphne realized she was back to the same desperate choice—selling her body for safety and food. She had nothing else to offer.

Yang Tian looked at the girl, his raspy voice breaking the silence again. "My demands are simple. Just talk to me like a normal person."

Daphne's eyes widened. "That... that's it?"

Yang Tian shrugged, turning to survey the room. In that moment, the dejected look in his eyes was replaced by a spark of life. He was lonely. All he wanted was someone to talk to, someone to keep him from losing himself among the undead—that was all.

"Then... since you're so strong, could... could you take me to Los Angeles?" Daphne asked timidly, looking at his back.

"That's a long-term plan..."

The chilling words sounded almost comforting to Daphne's ears.

"You've chosen a crazy path, and so have I," Yang Tian said quietly, his voice trailing off, his words echoing in the room.