Is There Really Still an Army?
Xiao Yi gave a faint smile and pulled several bottles of mineral water and a few ham sausages from his space bag. "There aren't many zombies in the stairwell. I got lucky and made it out. Found plenty of water and food. Open up—I'm not injured."
Du Zhi Ming double-checked once more before slowly cracking the door open and letting Xiao Yi inside.
"That's great! Xiao Yi, you're alive—that's amazing!" Tang Ning Ning was the first to rush forward, her big watery eyes brimming with tears.
Xiao Yi caught a hint of weakness and pain in her voice.
He glanced at Tang Ning Ning and saw she'd lost a full circle of weight, her lips cracked and dry from days without water.
"Thanks." Xiao Yi said it flatly, then handed her the mineral water and two sausages.
The others stared hungrily at the food and water in her hands, itching to snatch it away right then.
Tang Ning Ning froze for a second, then bowed gratefully to Xiao Yi before struggling to twist open the bottle and gulping it down.
"Didn't think you had it in you to actually come back alive. Hand over your food and water!" Chen Kun sneered, barking orders like he owned the place.
He clutched a wooden stick—probably yanked from a mop handle.
The grip looked badass, but to Xiao Yi, it was a fucking joke.
Chen Kun's ass-kissing crew eyed Xiao Yi like hawks, each wielding some ridiculous "weapon": a javelin, a broom, a stool, even a jump rope. One girl held a starting pistol.
Xiao Yi sneered inwardly. Against zombies with no pain sense? These were a goddamn joke.
"Xiao Yi, impressive work! You've earned big this time. Hand the food over to me. To conserve supplies, none of us have eaten in two days!" Du Zhi Ming clapped Xiao Yi on the shoulder with fake authority.
Two days without food?
Hah!
Xiao Yi might buy that for Tang Ning Ning and her group, but Du Zhi Ming? The bastard looked well-fed as hell.
Xiao Yi ignored Du Zhi Ming and Chen Kun, scanning the crowd for the burly guy who'd spoken up for him before they kicked him out.
"Where's Zhang Hua?" Xiao Yi asked coldly.
The big guy was named Zhang Hua, but Xiao Yi didn't spot him anywhere.
"Zhang Hua? Hah! Useless sack of shit—eats like a pig, no skills. Day after you left, we sent him out for food. Guess he didn't get your luck." Chen Kun smirked, barely containing himself. "Now cough up all the food and water you found. From here on, warehouse supplies are mine and Du teacher's to divvy up!"
Xiao Yi turned, fixing Chen Kun with an icy glare. "The fuck for?" he sneered.
Chen Kun blinked, eyes wide with disbelief. "You talking to me? You asking me why?"
He burst out laughing. "Cuz my uncle's a goddamn general in Jiang City Military District! Zombies everywhere—only the army can save our asses! Soon as his boys are free, they'll roll up to the school for me. Your lives? One word from me. Think that ain't enough? Wanna live? Obey me, or get the fuck out!"
"Yeah, yeah! End times now—only the army can set up safe zones. Once they and city hall get it together, Young Master Chen's uncle will swoop in. We just gotta hold till the troops save us!" one of Chen Kun's lackeys chimed in.
"Oh? Two months into the apocalypse, and Chen Kun's uncle still hasn't shown? You all so sure he's even alive?" Xiao Yi cracked open a Red Bull and took a swig, smirking. "Even if the prick's breathing, you really think he'll bother saving him? You gonna last that long?"
Xiao Yi's words plunged the room into heavy silence.
The warehouse food would last this crew maybe two or three more days tops. Worse, water was down to scraps!
And it was all in Chen Kun and Du Zhi Ming's hands—they clearly had no plans to share.
Two months gone. No army. Not even echoes of gunfire.
Doubts crept in. Was Chen Kun full of shit?
Chen Kun felt the skeptical stares and exploded at Xiao Yi. "Shut your fucking mouth! Hand over that backpack now!"
He brandished his stick threateningly. "Trust me—snag Xiao Yi's grub, and we'll hold out till my uncle sends rescue!"