The Price of Trust

The morning air was thick with the scent of decay. Even before the full collapse of society, the city had begun to rot. Abandoned cars lined the streets, some looted, others left as eerie reminders of the people who had once lived here.

Xu Lian tightened the straps on her backpack, eyes scanning the street ahead. They needed to move fast.

Yu Xian walked beside her, his usual composed expression slightly tense. "I have two possible leads. One is a former military contact, Ma Cheng. He was stationed at a base outside the city, but I have no idea if he's still there."

"And the other?" Chen asked, keeping his rifle ready.

Yu Xian hesitated. "Jiang Hao. Black market arms dealer. He's got connections, but he's not the type to trust easily."

Lian nodded. "We go for both."

Jiao scoffed. "That's twice the risk."

"It's also twice the chance of securing the firepower and manpower we need," Lin Wei added.

Lian made the decision. "We'll split up. Chen, Jiao, and Lin Wei will go for Jiang Hao. Yu Xian and I will find Ma Cheng."

The woman and her daughter, now resting in a safer corner of the hotel, watched them.

"Will you come back?" the woman asked, voice small.

Lian crouched beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We will. Stay quiet. Stay hidden."

The woman nodded, though her eyes carried the familiar weight of uncertainty.

In this world, promises meant little. Only survival mattered.

---

Mission: Find Ma Cheng

Lian and Yu Xian moved fast, taking backstreets and alleys. The military base was two hours away on foot, and every second counted.

"We should assume the worst," Yu Xian said as they walked. "If Ma Cheng is alive, he might not be the same man I knew."

Lian understood. People changed in the face of disaster. Some became heroes. Others became monsters.

They reached the base's outskirts by midday. The gates were locked, the barricades reinforced.

Yu Xian exhaled. "Someone's still here."

Lian motioned for silence. They climbed a collapsed section of the outer wall, moving carefully across the rubble.

A gun cocked behind them.

"Not another step."

Lian froze.

Yu Xian turned slowly, raising his hands. "Ma Cheng?"

The man standing before them was clad in military gear, but his face was gaunt, his uniform dirtied from weeks of survival. He had the look of someone who had seen too much death.

Yu Xian took a cautious step forward. "It's me, Yu Xian."

Recognition flickered in Ma Cheng's eyes, but suspicion remained. "You're supposed to be dead."

Yu Xian smirked. "A lot of things are supposed to be."

Ma Cheng studied them for a long moment before lowering his gun. "You're either insane or desperate."

"Both," Lian said flatly.

Ma Cheng gave a dry chuckle. "Come inside. But don't expect a warm welcome."

---

Mission: Find Jiang Hao

Chen, Jiao, and Lin Wei approached the warehouse on the city's outskirts.

"This place stinks of an ambush," Jiao muttered.

"Then let's not get ambushed," Chen said, knocking twice on the rusted metal door.

After a tense pause, the door creaked open.

A man with a scar down his cheek peered out. "What do you want?"

Chen smiled. "Business."

The man studied them, then stepped aside. "You've got five minutes."

Inside, the warehouse was packed with crates of weapons, supplies, and a handful of armed men. Jiang Hao sat at a makeshift desk, watching them like a predator assessing prey.

"You're early," he said. "Most people only come to me when they're already bleeding."

Lin Wei smirked. "We prefer to be prepared."

Jiang Hao leaned back. "And what exactly do you need?"

"Firepower," Chen said bluntly. "And we're willing to trade."

Jiang Hao's eyes darkened. "Trade? What do you have that I can't just take?"

Jiao's hand moved to his knife, but Chen raised a hand. This was a test.

"We have information," Chen said. "The kind that keeps people like you alive."

Jiang Hao leaned forward, intrigued. "I'm listening."

Chen smirked. "Good."

---

A Dangerous Alliance

Back at the military base, Ma Cheng led Lian and Yu Xian into what remained of his unit.

"Twenty men," he said. "Not enough to fight a war, but enough to survive."

Lian nodded. "We don't need an army. We need allies."

Ma Cheng studied her. "And what makes you think I'll risk my men for you?"

Yu Xian met his gaze. "Because if you don't, you won't last much longer."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then, finally, Ma Cheng exhaled. "Fine. You've got my attention."

Lian allowed herself a small smile. One more piece of the puzzle in place.

But she knew the real battle was only beginning.

---