C7 Going out

Lee Yuanhong resided on the third floor, perfectly situated in the middle of the building with three more stories above. Despite the building's modest height, its construction was undeniably solid. Its age showed only in the dirt-stained walls. To prevent being ambushed later, Yuanhong decided to first clear out the upper floors and scavenge for supplies.

Upon opening his door, Yuanhong listened intently but heard nothing; all was silent. He swiftly stepped out, gently closing the door behind him, and cautiously made his way upstairs.

The fourth floor was secure, with both doors firmly shut. He proceeded upward. The fifth floor was also safe, though a strange noise came from behind one door. Still, it was securely closed. If zombies were inside, they wouldn't emerge unless they could open doors. And if there were survivors, Yuanhong wasn't ready to make contact just yet. As he reached the turn between the fifth and sixth floors, a pungent smell of blood hit him. Peeking stealthily up to the sixth floor, he spotted a body lying by a door near the staircase, causing his heart to race—it was time to confront the zombies.

Treading lightly, he approached the sixth floor. Three steps from the body, Yuanhong halted and jabbed the corpse's head with his makeshift spear. A "pu" sound followed as the blade pierced the corpse's ear, yet there was no reaction—it hadn't turned into a zombie.

Yuanhong, an enthusiast of post-apocalyptic fiction and zombie games, knew all too well the trope of the feigned-dead zombie that ambushes the unwary. He had no intention of becoming another casualty of carelessness. After all, caution never hurt anyone.

With the corpse deemed safe, Yuanhong turned his attention to its feet. The body was wedged in the doorway, leaving a small gap. Bite marks marred the throat, and there was evidence of a blow to the head. It appeared the victim had been bitten in the throat by a zombie and then struck the head in the fall, missing the chance to reanimate. But the pressing question remained: where had the biting zombie gone?

Lee Yuanhong cautiously used his long spear to pry open the door, peering inside with vigilance. No zombies were in sight, and the opposite door was shut tight. It seemed he only needed to be wary of a single zombie within. The task didn't appear too daunting, though the number of zombies lurking in the house remained unknown.

Rather than entering hastily, Yuanhong retreated to the corner between the fifth and sixth floors. He produced a rope, securing it between the stair railing and the handle of a window to create a tripwire. Once set, he positioned himself on the stairs beneath the tripwire and began to pound on the railing, generating a thunderous clamor. Roars echoed from various corners of the building, indicating a significant number of zombies still infested the premises. The closest sounds, however, emanated from the sixth floor. In response to the noise, two zombies—one large, one small—emerged from the ajar door above.

For the first time, Yuanhong got a clear look at the zombies. Their eyes were a milky white, their complexions deathly pale and devoid of color, save for the crimson stains on their lips—a grim testament to their recent feast. Though accustomed to the horror genre, Yuanhong felt a surge of pressure confronting two zombies simultaneously.

The zombies, having exited their room, seemed disinclined to descend the stairs. As they approached Yuanhong, they misstepped and tumbled onto the staircase. Surprised by their clumsiness, Yuanhong realized there was no better time to strike. He thrust his spear through the stair railing's gap, aiming for the adult zombie's head. His nerves betrayed him, and the weapon failed to penetrate on the first attempt. Hastily, he withdrew the spear and delivered a second, more successful jab. A mournful howl signaled the end of the adult zombie's movements.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lee Yuanhong thrust his long spear into the eyes of the small zombie with force. With a "puff," the creature's flailing hands stilled, and its body slumped to the ground at an angle. In a hushed tone, Yuanhong murmured, "May your family find reunion and peace in the next world."

After tapping on the stair railing for a bit, Yuanhong confirmed there were no more zombies on the sixth floor. He then climbed up and entered the house.

Inside, he found an old-fashioned two-bedroom home with both bedroom doors wide open. Drawn by the scent of blood from one room, Yuanhong cautiously approached. A female corpse lay on the floor, her legs stripped of flesh and blood, clearly the work of zombies. Her abdomen had been hollowed out, creating a gruesomely bloody scene that made Yuanhong's stomach churn.

Needing a moment to adjust, he stepped into the other bedroom, which was free of the stench of blood. The room exuded a sense of warmth and coziness, likely belonging to the deceased couple. It was tidy, suggesting the zombies hadn't made it inside. The tragedy must have struck suddenly when the couple went to investigate a noise next door.

Yuanhong wasn't there to play detective; he was on a supply run. The neat room soon became a chaotic mess as he searched. His efforts paid off when he found climbing gear beneath the bed—a pickaxe, a powerful flashlight, walking sticks, a tent, a backpack, and more. The homeowner must have been an avid climber. Now, Yuanhong could finally upgrade his equipment.

He strapped a specialized climbing pickaxe to his waist and loaded the backpack with essential survival tools like the flashlight and compass. With his scavenging complete, Yuanhong turned his attention to the kitchen, his primary goal being food.

Upon entering the kitchen, a large double-door refrigerator caught his eye. Containing his excitement, Yuanhong hurried over and began his search. The fridge was packed with vegetables, fruits, beverages, and snacks, including a few cans of beer. The freezer held chicken and pork—enough to put his worries about meat to rest for the foreseeable future.

As Lee Yuanhong was joyfully scavenging, he subtly picked up on some noises near the kitchen door. The ever-vigilant Yuanhong quickly snatched up his makeshift spear and cautiously approached. Nearing the threshold, he spotted something squirming in the living room just beyond the kitchen—it was the gnawed corpse of the female homeowner, now turned zombie.

Yuanhong watched the undead creature determinedly dragging itself toward him, a flicker of alarm crossing his mind. He realized that in the future, he'd need to secure the area before scavenging to avoid being caught off guard and unable to respond swiftly. He was lucky this time; the zombie's legs were useless, preventing it from launching a surprise attack at his most vulnerable moment.

Having dispatched the zombie with his spear, Yuanhong set about transferring the food. Several trips later, he had emptied the refrigerator. He also discovered rice, oil, and various other foodstuffs and spices in the kitchen, ensuring that he had enough provisions to last him alone for a week.