Chapter 3

I took one last look at the tanks I’d spent so much on. The fish had already produced some fry.

I scooped the fry into a basin, then stuffed myself with the most expensive food in the supermarket. As much as I could possibly fit.

Then I cooked all the crabs and put them in the secret room, ready to eat that evening.

The room had a small bathroom, too. I’d crammed it full of toiletries and other everyday necessities.

Looking at the still well-stocked supermarket, I sighed deeply and decided not to be greedy. I settled for slipping into my hideout.

I locked the entrance, removed the ladder, and jammed a cabinet firmly beneath it.

I’d had the cabinet custom-made. It reached exactly to the ceiling.

With everything done, I picked my way over heaps of bottled water and self-heating hot pots, then squeezed onto the bed. There was barely room left for one person.

Even the bed was piled with snacks.

If not for the zombies outside, this would have been my dream life.

I stared at the camera feed.

Then came an enormous boom.

The explosives outside had gone off.

I clearly saw chunks of plaster fall and broken bricks tumble down. But there was no real damage.

As if a few fireworks and firecrackers could blow up a wall. Then my smile disappeared.

Behind the explosives, I could now see several speakers.

Music blared.

Dozens of zombies came running toward the sound.

At last, I understood their plan.

The explosives couldn’t destroy my wall. They’d meant to lure the zombies over to batter it down.

And it worked.

More and more zombies arrived. I even recognized a few faces.

They slammed into the wall relentlessly. Unfortunately, the speakers were well-made; nothing seemed to break them.

Finally, my wall gave way.

Half an hour later, the horde dispersed.

When night fell, those people returned, just as I’d expected.

It wasn’t only the men this time. There were women and elderly people too.

Some had even brought their whole families.

All to carry off more food.

They crawled cautiously through the hole, then frantically stuffed food into their arms. Some started eating right there.

Even my fish weren’t spared.

Surrounded by all those supplies, they began fighting.

Some kept their heads. They took enough and left quickly.

But there are always greedy people in this world.

During a scuffle, one of two men slashed his thigh on a broken food jar on the floor. The smell of blood spread rapidly.

Then came a rustling noise nearby.

The people busy fighting over supplies didn’t notice.

Several zombies soon surrounded them.

They fled in panic, but my small supermarket had only that one exit.

Zombies kept pouring through the hole, and the blood soon attracted more.

In the confusion, a young woman’s boyfriend lifted her onto the highest shelf.

I watched her clamp both hands over her mouth to keep from crying out.

A zombie soon tackled her boyfriend.

Within five minutes, everyone below had been bitten to death.

Amid the severed arms and legs, figures slowly began struggling to their feet.

Their eyes were scarlet. Ugly red veins covered their faces, dense as spiderwebs.

Only when everything fell quiet

did the young woman dare to let out a faint sob.

She stayed hidden on the shelf for a long time.

Credit where it was due: her boyfriend had treated her well.

Better than that bastard Xu Rong, at least.

She didn’t dare climb down until night fell the next day.

The scattered bloodstains on the floor looked even more sinister in the darkness.

But she didn’t cry again. She was remarkably calm.

Honestly, I admired that.

I watched her take some food from the shelves.

Instead of leaving, she tore open the packages and ate.

Once she’d had enough to eat and drink, she crawled outside and brought back the fallen bricks.

I watched with interest.

She took all the glue from the shelves and began sticking the bricks together to fill the hole in the wall.

After patching it as best she could, she dragged over the fish tank I’d left on the floor.

It was huge. She scooped out all the water with a basin, and even then she could barely shift it.

She pushed it against the hole and smeared the remaining glue around the edges.

Then she poured all the water back in.

Honestly, that might just hold off the zombies. It wouldn’t stop those people.

They’d definitely return.

Sooner or later, their food would run out.

I didn’t know why the young woman wouldn’t leave.

But as long as she stayed, I had to remain in the secret room.

At dawn the next day, a little light filtered through the supermarket skylight.

In that dim sunlight, her eyes were unusually clear and calm.

I shivered for no reason.

Something about her felt dangerous.

And I was soon proved right.