CHAPTER 20: A Dangerous Reunion
Jake's voice exploded through the phone the moment Xia answered.
"How are you doing, Xia? Where are you? Are you okay? Are you safe?"
The questions came so quickly that Xia had no choice but to cut him off.
"I'm fine, Jake," she said calmly. "I'm at Washington General Hospital."
"What are you doing in a hospital? Are you hurt?" Jake asked, panic evident in his voice.
"No. I'm okay. I came to check on my father, but... he's missing," Xia replied grimly.
Jake fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Look, Xia... I know you went into that warehouse facility, and you've been trapped there for about a month now..."
"A MONTH HAS PASSED?!" Xia exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yeah," Jake answered. "And I know the infected came from that facility and spread across the entire city. I have to ask... are you really okay? What did they do to you?"
"Jake, I can't explain everything over the phone. We'll talk when we meet." Xia said glancing a look at Henry .
"So where are you?" Xia asked.
I'm in..."
Jake hesitated.
Xia had never known he came from a wealthy family. She didn't even know he lived in the luxurious manor on Cleveland Avenue.
"Fuvk that ," Jake muttered under his breath. "I'm staying at the large manor on Cleveland Avenue."
"The one surrounded by all those trees with the beautiful scenery?" Xia asked in surprise.
"Yeah."
"How did you end up there?"
Jake chuckled.
"I'll tell you when we meet. Just stay where you are. I'm coming to get you."
"No, Jake!" Xia immediately objected. "It's too dangerous out here."
She knew the infected ignored her completely, but Jake wouldn't be so lucky.
"We're okay for now."
Jake frowned.
"'We're?' What do you mean we?"
"I'm not alone. There's another guy here with me and—"
"You're staying with a guy?!" Jake nearly shouted. "Did he hurt you? Is he bothering you?"
"No... Well... he did hit me with a baseball bat..."
"He did WHAT?!"
Jake's outburst was loud enough to make both Joe and Arthur turn toward him.
"Relax," Xia sighed. "I'm fine. I'll call you again when we're heading to the manor."
"...Alright. Stay safe."
"I will. Bye."
The call ended.
Arthur looked over from one of the couches in the small lounge beside the control room.
"So... how's she doing, Boss?"
Jake scratched the back of his head.
"She sounds okay... although she's staying with some guy who apparently hit her with a baseball bat."
Arthur sighed.
"I know you care about Xia, but we can't go after her. If she manages to make it here alive, then that's great. But our food supplies are already limited. Feeding even one more person will shorten how long we can survive."
Jake's expression hardened.
"So what are you saying, Arthur? That we should abandon her?"
"Well..."
Before Arthur could finish, Jake cut him off.
"I'm not abandoning her."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Arthur silently watched him leave.
If only you knew what I've seen...
Those infected are unbelievably fast and incredibly strong.
Escaping that warehouse alive should've been impossible.
Seeing the troubled look on Arthur's face, Joe gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Young Master has always been stubborn," Joe said with a smile. "Even as a child, once he made up his mind, nobody could change it. He never had any real friends before... yet somehow this Xia girl has earned a special place in his heart."
Joe began walking toward the kitchen.
"Instead of fighting his decision, let's think of a way to make it work."
Arthur stood there quietly before nodding.
"...Then I'll find a solution."
His eyes gradually turned cold.
"Thanks for the phone," Xia said, handing it back to Henry.
Henry casually took it.
"Hmm."
"So... your friend lives in that manor, huh?" he asked. "I know where it is."
Xia narrowed her eyes.
"You're not coming with me."
Henry blinked.
"What? I never said I was. I'm just saying you owe me for letting you stay here."
"You attacked me the moment I walked into this ward," Xia replied flatly. "You hit me with a baseball bat, and now you're saying I owe you?"
"You didn't even offer me food."
Henry awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"Well... you won't make it all the way to that manor alive without me. Besides, my food supply is running low. I can't afford to play the good Samaritan."
Xia let out a tired sigh while clutching her aching stomach.
"...Fine. You can come after I call Jake."
She looked up at him.
"So... are you going to feed me now?"
Without another word, Henry walked over to the small pile of supplies stacked neatly in the corner. He grabbed a pack of instant noodles along with a portable gas stove and started cooking.
Xia lay back on the hospital bed, one hand pressing against her stomach as the hunger became almost unbearable.
She never noticed the faint yellow glow slowly appearing in her eyes.
"Why... am I so hungry?" she whispered.