Chapter 5

When they dragged me out, all I saw was a floor covered in zombies.

The men were bloodied and looked somewhat worse for wear.

Their burly leader lifted my chin, turned my face this way and that, then stood. “Let’s go,” he told his men coldly.

I knew he didn’t intend to kill me. But if they left me here, I wouldn’t survive either.

I could only steel myself, stand up, and look him straight in the eye.

“You have to take me with you.”

He seemed interested. His gaze turned faintly amused.

“The safe zone you’re heading for is exactly two thousand four hundred and sixty-three kilometers from here.”

“Even if you fill the van with supplies, they won’t last a week. You’ll need fuel along the way too.”

“I know the roads around here. I can get you out of the city as fast as possible.”

“And once you reach the safe zone, how are the four of you going to manage?”

“Besides.” I suddenly pointed at the girl beside us, my voice clear and firm. “I’m prettier than her!”

They all gave me very strange looks.

I kept my back straight and let them stare.

It was true. My looks were the reason that bastard Xu Rong had wanted me in the first place.

The leader was silent for a while. Then he beckoned to the others. “Bring her.”

One man opened his mouth, reluctant, but said nothing.

The girl beside us looked stunned.

Then she practically ran to one of the men and clung to his leg, lifting a pitiful face with tears trembling in her eyes.

“Brother Lü, what about me?”

Brother Lü was a thin man in glasses. He looked conflicted as he turned to the leader. “Brother Chu, why don’t we take An’an too? She’s skinny. She doesn’t eat much.”

“And that idea just now was hers.”

Brother Chu nodded, lifting his chin slightly. “Bring her.”

While they were talking, I’d already helped carry several boxes of food into the van.

I could even feel Brother Chu’s sharp gaze on me.

I didn’t know which part of my pitch had persuaded him to keep me.

After filling the van with food and everyday supplies, we climbed in.

So much space was packed with things that there were no seats left for me or the girl.

An’an sat on the bespectacled Brother Lü’s lap.

Another, more muscular man held me in his arms.

Brother Chu drove.

The last man sat in the passenger seat with a map, giving directions.

We hadn’t been driving long when I heard the girl breathing unevenly beside me.

I turned. Brother Lü had already slipped a hand inside An’an’s clothes.

Nervously, I glanced at the man holding me. A rare blush colored his dark face.

But he did nothing.

That reassured me a little.

Still, I remained on high alert throughout the drive.

Eventually, we stopped at a service area for a short rest.

It was beside the expressway, so there weren’t many people around.

They patrolled with their guns and found no zombies. While I busied myself fetching drinks, massaging legs, and rubbing shoulders for our esteemed gentlemen, Brother Lü impatiently carried An’an into the rest lounge.

Before long, her soft, broken moans drifted out.

I pretended not to notice and diligently built a fire and cooked for the others.

The big man who’d held me seemed unable to watch me do it all and came to help. I talked him out of it.

I knew I had to prove my worth to this group.

Otherwise, I’d end up like An’an. Fine while things were easy, but the first to be abandoned when danger came.

Of course, I’d be the second.

After preparing their food, I took a dagger and quietly checked the surroundings. I replenished some missing supplies in the van and filled its fuel tank.

I also filled the empty fuel cans from the van—two large cans of gasoline.

Then I found a working tap, filled a small bucket with clean water, and carried it around so the three men could wash their exposed arms and necks.

I could feel a change in the way even the man who’d objected to bringing me looked at me.

I didn’t dare wash my face. I only washed my hands and neck, then took off my shoes and socks to wash my feet.

That was when I felt a burning stare.

I looked back. Brother Lü.

He looked thoroughly pleased with himself. His eyes were fixed on my bare feet.

Freshly washed, they were small and pale.

I shoved them into my shoes without even taking time to put on my socks and hurried away.

He didn’t follow. But his gaze was disgustingly naked.

When I returned to the van, everyone had finished resting and was ready to leave.

I’d learned who they were during the break.

The four men were neighbors from the same residential complex. The big man who’d held me was Song Zhi, a police officer. He’d obtained the guns too.

Their leader, Brother Chu, was Chu Mufeng. Brother Lü was Lü Xian. The quiet one was Lu Jiang.

The girl was Mu An’an. She and Lü Xian had gone to the same university; he was a few years ahead of her.

Song Zhi later told me Lü Xian had pursued Mu An’an years ago, but she’d turned him down. Who would have thought…

I stole a glance at her and felt a little admiration. She certainly knew when to bend.

Then I accidentally met Brother Lü’s eyes and felt sick.

In this group, Chu Mufeng was the most unpredictable. Song Zhi was the most straightforward. Lu Jiang was cold on the outside, warm underneath.

Lü Xian alone…was an idiot with nothing but sex on his mind.

That night, we found a fairly quiet service area to rest.

To prevent anyone from running off with the supplies, and to guard against danger,

we all slept crowded into one room.

In the middle of the night, someone crept over to me.

His hands woke me.

When I opened my eyes, Lü Xian’s glasses gleamed coldly above me. One hand clamped over my mouth.

The other fumbled at my clothes.

That fucking pervert.

The moment I understood what was happening, I kicked.

I’d joined the taekwondo club in college out of interest. My kick was hard and accurate.

Sure enough, a pig-like squeal tore out of Lü Xian into the night.

Everyone else woke.

I scrambled up and hid behind Song Zhi.

Then I pinched my thigh hard, forcing out a few tears with the pain.

I clung to Song Zhi’s waist and sobbed, leaving him flustered.

His sense of justice as a police officer made him despise what Lü Xian had done.

Chu Mufeng’s cold eyes swept toward me. I instinctively ducked my head again.

These men might have been decent enough before. But the apocalypse only magnified the worst in people.

In a world like this, no one would say a word if you slit someone’s throat in public, let alone raped or looted.

So even after being caught, Lü Xian remained astonishingly calm. Indignant, even.

Chu Mufeng didn’t say much either. He punched him once and warned him to keep his dick under control and stop causing trouble.

Lü Xian’s expression instantly turned venomous.

A sudden unease settled over me.

It wasn’t long before my fears came true.