CHAPTER 3

Early the next morning, before anyone else was awake, I quietly got up, grabbed a kitchen knife, and slipped out.

Compared to my first time venturing out, I was still nervous and afraid, but at least I felt more prepared.

Pressing myself against the wall outside the cafeteria, I scanned my surroundings, making sure there were no walkers in sight before dashing toward the building from yesterday.

I wanted to talk to that guy again.

It might have been selfish, but if he agreed to join us, it would make scavenging trips much easier. At least we could watch each other's backs. My dad used to practice some boxing when he was younger, but that was before he got married. Now he was in his fifties—he wasn't the same man he used to be.

The entrance on the right still had the bodies of yesterday's walkers. After a night of decay, they were already rotting, the air thick with the stench of death.

Holding my breath, I hurried past them. After making sure the first floor was clear, I rushed to the room from yesterday, only to find the door slightly open. My heart sank. I stepped inside, already expecting it—he was gone.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty room, then let out a deep sigh.

Before I could turn around, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"Looking for me?"

His voice was light, almost amused.

I spun around so fast I nearly gasped. "You haven't left?!"

He shut the door behind him, walked to the bed, and set down a tote bag filled with biscuits. Then he looked at me. "What do you want?"

I ignored his indifference, forced a smile, cleared my throat, and said, "I wanted to see if you'd reconsider. You're alone, right? You might as well come with us. It's better than being by yourself."

Before he could shut me down like yesterday, I quickly added, "I know how to dance—I've got a strong body. I can help!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What, you think the walkers won't bite you if you dance for them?"

I clenched my jaw, gripping the kitchen knife in my hand. "Let's go outside. I'll take down a few walkers to prove I can handle myself. Then you can decide."

He seemed intrigued. "And if you die? Then what happens to your family—the old, the weak?"

I tightened my grip on the knife. "I won't die."

He studied me for a long moment, then finally said, "I'll think about it."

I was so excited I nearly jumped for joy. Giving him a thumbs-up, I watched him eat a biscuit before realizing—I didn't even know his name.

I held out my hand. "I'm He Mo. What about you?"

He hesitated before shaking my hand. "Chen Ming."

I blinked. Chen Ming?

Whatever his past, his presence gave me confidence. At least now, I wasn't alone in this.

Chen Ming was skilled. He mentioned he used to be a cop, but that was all he'd say. Even his age was a mystery.

After he agreed to come with us, we decided to secure the hospital instead of going on a food run. If this building was still clear of walkers, it would be safer than the cafeteria. We found an old doctor's office on the second floor, at the corner of the stairs. The building only had five floors in total.

Once we secured the door, Chen Ming and I went back for my family.

As we neared the cafeteria, I heard it—thumping against the door and the low, guttural moans of walkers.

My stomach dropped.

Chen Ming glanced at me. "What's wrong?"

I swallowed hard. "That's the back kitchen… My parents are in there."

Before I could react, Chen Ming drew his knife and rushed ahead.

When I caught up, I saw a bald walker lying motionless on the ground.

We'd had walkers wander near the kitchen before. Usually, we stayed silent until they left.

This time, we had no choice.

My dad cracked the door open. The moment he saw me, he sighed in relief—then his eyes landed on Chen Ming. His expression tightened, but he let us inside quickly.

My sudden disappearance had clearly scared my mom and grandma.

My grandmother pulled me close, her frail hands shaking. Tears welled in her eyes. "Don't go out alone again."

I comforted her as best I could before introducing Chen Ming. My parents studied him warily.

After some hesitation, my dad asked, "Is the hospital really safe? If walkers surround it, we're trapped."

The cafeteria's back kitchen was small, and winter was coming. We couldn't stay there forever. At least the hospital had blankets and medicine.

After some discussion, my parents agreed to move.

As we packed, my grandmother started talking to Chen Ming. She wouldn't stop. Maybe he reminded her of my brother—because soon, she was wiping away tears.

My little brother, Tian Tian, tugged on my sleeve. "Sister…"

I crouched down. "What's wrong? Are you hungry?"

He shook his head. His face was too serious for a child his age. He glanced at our parents, then whispered, "Are we all going to die?"

Moving my family into the hospital was a nightmare. My mom and grandma gagged at the bloodstains and corpses, crying more times than I could count. I clung to Chen Ming, terrified he'd lose patience and leave us behind.

But despite his cold demeanor, he never did.

Once inside, the first thing my mom and grandma did was spread out the quilts and start cleaning.

Tian Tian seemed to like Chen Ming. He stuck to him the entire time, whispering to him like they had some kind of secret.

Watching them, I sighed. Tian Tian was still so young. But the fact that he had asked me that question… Did it mean that, deep down, he was already starting to fear this world as much as I did?

My dad had only taken a few edible things from the kitchen, scraping together what little we had left.

I watched him crouch in the corner, frowning at the pile of rotting food, and suddenly felt a lump in my throat.

My brother had been two years older than me. He had always taken care of our family, doing all the hard work. My parents had relied on him so much that they never had to worry.

But when my brother died, they had no time to grieve. They were in their fifties now, struggling to accept this world while trying to survive in it.

The apocalypse didn't care about their pain.

In just two months, my parents' hair had turned gray.

My grandmother was old, too.

And I—

I had to be strong.

Every time my brother's face flashed through my mind, I would slap myself, forcing the memories away.

Because someone had to face reality. Someone had to lead this family.

And right now, that someone was me.