Chapter 12: Gathering Weapons, Clearing Zombies

Lai Qingxue approached Liu Ruyi, who silently placed Dou Dou’s hand in hers.

Liu Ruyi then went outside alone, with Hong Shan following at a distance.

When Hong Shan came up earlier, he encountered a zombie, so it wasn’t safe for Liu Ruyi to be outside alone.

Lai Qingxue knelt down to Dou Dou, who looked at the manhole and asked, “Sister, where’s my dad?”

Lai Qingxue, knowing that such a young child couldn’t comprehend his father’s death, gently stroked Dou Dou’s head and said, “Dou Dou, your dad went to a faraway place and will take a long time to come back.”

Dou Dou didn’t grasp the meaning; he didn’t know his father, who played games and watched cartoons with him, would never return.

Dou Dou lowered his head, whispering, “Dad said we’d go to the amusement park together the day before yesterday.”

Hearing this, tears welled up in Lai Qingxue’s eyes. Even with her psychology background, she was at a loss for words.

After a while, she said, “Don’t worry, your dad will come back soon to take you to the amusement park!”

“Really!?”

Dou Dou looked at her with wide eyes, filled with hope.

“Really, sister wouldn’t lie to you!”

“Let’s pinky promise!” Dou Dou extended his small hand.

Lai Qingxue steadied herself, smiling as she hooked her pinky with his.

They said together, “Pinky promise, a hundred years, no change.”

Then Lai Qingxue carried Dou Dou outside, leaving Liang Yu alone in the reservoir.

His cries echoed, and he imagined hearing Li Cheng speak to him.

Liang Yu slowly stood, thinking the figure approaching was Li Cheng, and moved forward.

A zombie’s roar snapped him back to reality; it wasn’t Li Cheng but a zombie missing half its face.

Seeing the zombie, Liang Yu regained his senses, kicking it away, then using all his strength to punch its head off, collapsing afterward.

His vision blurred, staring at the reservoir ceiling, and he passed out.

***

When he awoke, Liang Yu lay on a cot, with Lai Qingxue resting beside him, the light casting a soft glow on her face.

He removed the blanket, looking around the room, unsure where Hong Shan and the others were.

Just then, the door opened, and Dou Dou entered, saying, “Brother, you’re awake!?”

“Are you okay?”

Forcing a smile, Liang Yu knelt, touching Dou Dou’s chubby cheek, “I’m fine. Where’s your mom?”

Dou Dou pointed to another room, from which the smell of cooking wafted. Liang Yu stood to look.

Dou Dou continued, “Mom asked me to call you for dinner!”

“Okay, Dou Dou, go ahead. We’ll be right there!”

“Okay!”

With that, Dou Dou left.

Liang Yu returned to the bed, gently waking Lai Qingxue.

“Lai Qingxue, it’s time to eat!”

She rubbed her eyes, sleepily looking at Liang Yu, “Eat? Okay!”

They joined Liu Ruyi for dinner.

The room, a kitchen in the family area, was well-equipped, with Hong Shan and Liu Ruyi busy cooking.

Seeing Liang Yu, Hong Shan called, “Old Liang, you okay?”

Liang Yu shook his head, indicating he was fine.

The team couldn’t do without him; Hong Shan was clueless with a gun, and Liang Yu couldn’t leave them to him.

The rest were children and women, who’d freeze at the sight of zombies.

Liang Yu sat, and Liu Ruyi brought two bowls of rice. Before he could speak, she said, “No need to say anything. In the apocalypse, anything can happen. No need to dwell on it.”

Liang Yu was stunned by her courage.

Liu Ruyi had taken time to come to terms with it. Though her husband was gone, she had her son. If she faltered, they’d all be doomed.

For Dou Dou, she had to be strong. “Women are weak, but mothers are strong” was true.

She placed a bowl before Liang Yu and began eating.

Liang Yu ate, and Hong Shan asked, “Old Liang, we have weapons. What’s next?”

Liang Yu put down his bowl, “After eating, we’ll organize the weapons and clear out zombies to prevent last night’s incident.”

Hong Shan looked embarrassed; if he hadn’t fallen asleep, the zombies wouldn’t have gotten in!

“No problem!” Hong Shan said, shoveling rice.

Lai Qingxue raised her chopsticks, “I’ll help too!”

Liu Ruyi added, “Count me in!”

Liang Yu didn’t refuse.

“Alright, you two stick together for safety.”

After eating, Liang Yu gave Dou Dou his phone to play games and watch cartoons, telling him to stay in the room and lock the door.

Dou Dou obediently lay on the cot, watching videos.

Outside, Liang Yu assigned tasks. He and Hong Shan would work alone, while Lai Qingxue and Liu Ruyi teamed up, each with a military radio for communication.

Liang Yu advised, “Avoid using guns if possible. Zombies locate by sound, and they’re more active at night. Be careful.”

Everyone nodded, and Lai Qingxue and Liu Ruyi headed east, while Liang Yu and Hong Shan, armed with melee weapons, went west.

As night fell, zombies grew more active, filling the streets outside the police station, while survivors cowered in corners.

Liang Yu reached the detention center, the door wide open, the silence amplifying his footsteps.

He used a flashlight to inspect, hearing something fall in the back. He rushed over, seeing a foot retreat into a corner.

Liang Yu shouted, “Who’s there?”

Thin hands emerged, followed by a gaunt man in a police uniform.

The man raised his hands, “Please don’t kill me, I don’t want to die!”

“I don’t want to die, please, please…”

Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded.