Shadows of the Past

The night air was thick with tension as the group retreated from the ambush site. They moved swiftly, keeping to the cover of alleyways and backstreets, their senses sharpened for any signs of pursuit.

Lian cast a glance at Jiao, who was biting back a pained groan. His wounded arm was bandaged, but blood had already seeped through the fabric. He was pale, and the stiffness in his posture told her that the pain was getting worse.

They couldn't afford to slow down.

Yu Xian led them through an abandoned construction site, his movements cautious but efficient. He was always assessing, planning, thinking several steps ahead.

Lian knew that trait well.

It was one of the reasons he had survived so long in their past life.

When they finally reached the safe house a small, rundown apartment they had secured days ago Chen shut the door behind them, bolting it and double-checking the locks.

Yu Xian turned to Lian, his expression unreadable. "We need to talk."

Lian kept her face calm. "About what?"

Xian's sharp eyes flicked between her and Chen. "You two. You knew about that ambush before we walked into it, didn't you?"

Chen exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "We had a hunch."

Yu Xian wasn't buying it. "No. It was more than a hunch. You knew something was wrong before anything happened." He crossed his arms, his military instincts kicking in. "That kind of foresight doesn't just happen."

Lian met his gaze evenly. "Are you saying you don't trust us?"

Xian was silent for a long moment before shaking his head. "No. But I don't like fighting alongside people who keep secrets."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Jiao, still sitting on the couch clutching his wounded arm, sighed. "Look, if they do have some kind of secret knowledge, it just saved our lives. That's good enough for me."

Yu Xian's jaw tightened, but he let it go for now.

Lian knew the conversation wasn't over.

---

A Moment of Rest

They worked quickly to clean Jiao's wound. Lian's space had medical supplies stored away, but she was careful not to make it obvious that they had too many resources. She handed Chen a clean roll of bandages, pretending to pull it from her backpack instead.

Jiao winced as Yu Xian tightened the dressing around his arm. "Damn. You've got a rough touch."

Yu Xian didn't react. "Stop squirming."

Chen, smirking slightly, handed Jiao a painkiller. "Here. Take this and try not to whine."

Jiao shot him a glare but swallowed the pill.

Lian sat against the wall, arms resting on her knees, exhaustion creeping in. They had gotten out alive, but barely. And with what they'd learned about the gang's warehouse hideout, the danger wasn't over.

Chen tossed the bloodstained map onto the table. "They're planning something. Look at the routes marked here these aren't just scavenging locations. This looks like territory control."

Yu Xian's expression darkened as he studied the map. "They're claiming parts of the city before everything collapses."

Lian frowned. "If they're this organized now, what happens once the real chaos starts?"

No one had to answer. They all knew.

The weak would be crushed.

And the strongest wouldn't just be fighting zombies they'd be fighting each other.

---

A Dangerous Proposal

"We should raid the warehouse."

Lian's words were met with silence.

Jiao stared at her. "Are you serious? We barely survived tonight."

Chen considered her words, but Yu Xian shook his head. "It's too risky."

Lian didn't back down. "Right now, we're scavenging like everyone else. That won't be enough." She leaned forward. "That warehouse could have months worth of supplies. Weapons, food, medical equipment. If we take it now, we'll be ahead of the game."

Yu Xian frowned. "You're thinking like a war strategist."

Lian smiled grimly. "Survival is war."

Chen tapped a finger against the map. "If we hit them hard and fast, they won't have time to respond."

Yu Xian exhaled slowly, his eyes unreadable. "This could go very wrong."

Lian met his gaze. "We've faced worse."

For a long moment, Yu Xian said nothing. Then, finally, he nodded. "We'll need a plan."

Lian's pulse quickened.

They weren't just surviving anymore. They were fighting back.

---

Planning the Raid

The dim glow of a flashlight illuminated the map as they gathered around the table. Lian traced a finger along the marked routes, noting the patterns of movement.

"They have patrols," she murmured. "Four-hour shifts. That means there's a window of vulnerability when they switch out."

Chen nodded. "If we time it right, we can hit them when half of their guards are off-duty."

Yu Xian studied the map. "We'll need to disable their radios first. If they call for backup, we're screwed."

Jiao let out a dry chuckle. "No offense, but even with a perfect plan, this still sounds like suicide."

Lian met his gaze. "No one's forcing you to come."

Jiao scoffed. "And miss the fun? Not a chance."

Yu Xian looked at her carefully. "We'll need explosives. Small, controlled ones to take out the entrances."

Lian nodded. "I can get some."

Yu Xian raised an eyebrow. "From where?"

Lian hesitated. She couldn't exactly tell him she had been stockpiling materials in her space.

Chen answered for her. "We have connections."

Yu Xian didn't look convinced, but he let it slide.

"We go in tomorrow night," Lian said. "No mistakes."

Everyone nodded.

The plan was set.

Now, they just had to survive long enough to pull it off.

---