Chapter 15

Shenzhou Hospital, March 21, 2030 — 6:45 PM

Wen jolted awake on a makeshift bed. Above him, the flickering lights trembled, blinding and unstable. To his right, a small table held a half-filled glass of water. He blinked, still dazed, then turned his head toward the window. The fire was getting closer.

A vast sea of black flames stretched across the horizon, streaked with lightning tearing through the sky, as if two deities were locked in a titanic battle. Civilians and the starving, trapped, screamed as the inferno consumed them by the thousands. Further away, helicopters attempted to enter the city, but the violent turbulence forced them to hover at a distance.

— Hey, kid… What the hell did you do to end up here?

A deep voice pulled him from his trance. Wen turned his head to see a man in his fifties, his eyes weary, his complexion pallid. His severed leg was still bleeding slightly.

— I punched a soldier who was touching a little girl.

Wen replied curtly.

The veteran let out a raspy chuckle, then burst into a coarse laugh.

— Haha! Damn kids… Stubborn and reckless. Reminds me of my youth, back in '78.

He pulled a cigarette from his sleeve, lit it with a dented lighter, and took a deep drag. The acrid smoke made Wen cough.

— What, not used to it?

The veteran sneered, patting the young man's shoulder, jostling him slightly.

— How did you get that injury?

Wen asked, intrigued. Was he bitten…? he thought warily.

The man savored his cigarette for a moment before crushing it in a metal ashtray with a long sigh.

— I always liked smoking… Back in the army, they used to make us run 30 kilometers in the rain. After that, a cigarette was a comfort.

He exhaled slowly, letting a cloud of white smoke drift toward Wen's face.

— Yesterday was my last day as a soldier. The reserves were short on manpower… Old guys like me got recalled to defend a strategic point in Shenzhou.

His gaze darkened, veiled by painful memories.

— During the operation, an infected bit my leg.

He admitted in a low, almost broken voice.

Wen remained silent for a moment before murmuring:

— I'm sorry…

The veteran stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smirked, changing his tone.

— And you, kid? Why were you walking around with a little girl? Is she your sister, or are you some new kind of pedophile?

He asked, laughing mockingly.

Wen's eyes widened, visibly irritated.

— Seriously?

He shot back, his glare dark.

— Oh, come on, I'm just joking!

The veteran retorted, still amused.

Wen took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself.

— I was part of a gang… "The Green Fangs."

He began, his voice bitter.

— We terrorized people, stole, taunted the police. It was just a game… until the day—

He stopped, his throat tightening.

— When everything started, my boss wanted to throw the old and the wounded to the starving ones… I…

His fists clenched over the blanket.

— I've seen horrors. I've done horrible things, I won't lie. But that… That was too much.

Wen broke into sobs.

— So I saved the little girl who was about to be eaten… I just wanted to go home, but…

His thoughts drifted to his mother, his siblings. He could still picture them, either burned to ashes or torn apart by those white-eyed monsters.

The veteran watched him in silence before sighing.

— I see… This apocalypse is messing with our minds. But between that shitty society from before and this ruined world… I don't know which is worse.

A brief silence settled between them.

— Me? I've got no one left. I'm just an old fool waiting for the end… But damn, it feels good to talk to a good man, at least once.

He said with a sad smile.

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open. A nurse entered, accompanied by two soldiers from the Chinese Army.

— Mr. Wen, are you alright?

The nurse asked. She had chestnut hair and brown eyes and held a clipboard in her hands.

Wen stared at her without responding, still lost in thought.

— Mr. Wen, here is your uniform.

She continued, her tone neutral.

— From now on, you are Recruit Wen, and you will serve China!

One of the soldiers grabbed his arm, dragging him out of the room without care.

Before disappearing into the hallway, Wen overheard an exchange behind him.

— Nurse, we no longer have time to treat the invalids. Proceed with the evacuation—I'll take care of them.

The soldier said coldly.

The nurse left in silence, her eyes glistening with tears.

Then, suddenly:

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

Nine gunshots echoed. Each deafening blast rang like a macabre song in Wen's mind.

His stomach twisted.

— No… No…

He murmured, his gaze empty.

That's right… I forgot it was the apocalypse.

He thought bitterly.