Through the window, he stared blankly at the sunset and the cityscape beyond the building.
Zombies roamed back and forth along the streets, painting a bleak scene. Humanity had long since fallen, yet the sunset on the horizon still burned with the same dazzling beauty as before…
Night gradually fell into complete darkness. Fortunately, the building’s power was still running, providing some light—just enough to stave off despair.
But the light also attracted the wandering zombies. They gathered at the base of the building, pacing restlessly. From the distant apartment blocks came a few piercing screams, sharp and chilling. There were likely other survivors out there… but their voices were soon swallowed by the endless black.
The terrified cries made people tremble. Inside the steakhouse across the street, no one dared to turn on the lights. Only the faintest slivers of light flickered, reflecting the twisted expressions of fear on their faces.
They all huddled in the corners, trembling in despair. Deep down, they all knew—they were trapped in this building, just waiting to die.
Even if they survived today, what about tomorrow? Food and water would run out soon. And who knew when a zombie might suddenly burst in and tear into them?
Wrapped in a cloth, Tang Wanyue curled up alone in a corner. She stared across the street at the dimly lit storefront. Surrounded by darkness, the faint lights from that store seemed to be her only source of warmth.
Her mind kept replaying Tang Cheng’s face, as if trying to match the half-decayed left side of his face to someone she might know…
*****
Inside the bookstore café across the way.
Tang Cheng remained remarkably calm. The lights in the shop were fully on, tea brewed beside him, and a radio played quietly in the background—perhaps there’d be some news from the outside world.
He had pulled out several books from the shelves, focusing on genetics and the zombie virus, trying to understand why he still retained his human consciousness after being bitten.
Darwin’s theory of evolution stated that natural selection governs all progress in a species.
“Could it be that I mutated… and evolved?”
Perhaps, out of billions of people, he was the only one who transformed into this new form.
He looked down at the wound on his arm. Compared to before, the marks left by the zombie bite were now shallow indentations, healing at an astonishing pace.
The wound was clearly healing—proof that his body functions were still intact.
“Then why is the left side of my face still so ugly?”
Holding a mirror, he saw that the zombie-like left side of his face hadn’t changed much. That grotesque, decaying image scared even himself.
Damn it, this really is a zombie face…
“No wonder everyone’s so afraid of me. Honestly, who would want to be around a monster?”
A wave of deep despair washed over him. Dying wasn’t a big deal—but having such an ugly face? How could he face anyone like this? As the saying goes: You can lose your head, you can bleed—but never lose your looks!
“Chu Ruoyun!”
“You damn witch, you better pray this zombie never finds you!”
Lying on the couch in the bookstore café, he closed his eyes wearily. Maybe tomorrow he really would become a zombie…
And so he slept through the night
*****
The next morning.
A commotion from the next building woke him. Tang Cheng opened his eyes groggily, relieved that he was still alive today.
“What’s going on over there?”
He pushed open the café door and walked to the steakhouse entrance.
Inside, an argument was unfolding.
“Hey! Why are you two hoarding all the water and food again?” Tang Wanyue was confronting the two young men angrily.