Due to the cumbersome snowplows, our progress was slow. By dusk, we had just reached a gas station.
Of course, there were no attendants to serve us, but fortunately, there was still fuel. We refilled the vehicles ourselves—self-reliance ensured ample food and clothing.
Gas stations are typically built at the entrance of towns or villages. Further ahead was indeed a small town. Strangely, it was empty—devoid of both humans and zombies, silent as a dream! Aside from the desolate wind sweeping through rows of vacant houses, there was no sign of life.
But for now, no place was more suitable for shelter than this town. The convoy pressed on, passing rows of low-rise homes and storefronts, until we finally found a school with walls and iron gates. This was it!
As usual, we sent a team of strong companions to scout the school. They soon emerged, signaling it was safe.
One by one, the vehicles filed through the school gates, and the iron gate was locked behind us.
I watched as Shuai Shuai, riding on Second Brother's shoulders, disembarked from the coach spiritedly, followed closely by my parents.
With Second Brother around, my husband and I no longer had to constantly worry about our parents and the little one!
Second Brother introduced to everyone, "This is my little apprentice! The future archery master—show some respect!"
No one really played along, but everyone adored the duo. Some even teased by whistling at Shuai Shuai, hoping he'd pee on Second Brother's neck. But Shuai Shuai rarely had accidents now—he'd learned to alert adults before relieving himself.
So, Second Brother remained triumphant.
The school had a sign: Lan Town Elementary. So, this town was called Lan Town!
The school had only two floors. The entrance on the first floor led to a wide staircase that split into two wings. The left side had a row of classrooms, while the right side housed the principal's office and teachers' workspace.
The second floor had a long corridor with classrooms on both sides.
It was a simple school, with basic facilities—ordinary desks and chairs, unlike city schools with computer desks and such.
But for us, these conditions were more than enough!
We arranged the elderly, women, and children on the second floor, using desks and chairs as makeshift beds. It wouldn't be comfortable, but it would do for the night.
The rest stayed on the first floor.
We then inspected the school's walls. Unlike the resort's tall, sturdy walls, these were dilapidated, with many gaps. I grew anxious.
Although the town seemed empty of zombies, dangers could emerge at night. These crumbling walls offered little security!
But we had no choice. The school building itself had wooden doors and first-floor windows—hardly reliable.
"Rural school conditions are just like this," my husband said softly, sensing my concern.
"What keeps us alive is our own strength! It's fine! Tonight, we'll stay highly vigilant!" I doubted I'd sleep peacefully—perhaps I wouldn't sleep at all!
While others prepared dinner, my husband and I patrolled the school grounds with our blades. We found Lao Wu and Meng Yidong tinkering with bottles behind the fuel truck.
Rows of beer and soda bottles littered the ground, reeking of gasoline. "What are you two doing?" I asked, puzzled.
"This place isn't safe. We're preparing in advance," Meng Yidong rarely spoke, but when he did, it was succinct.
Lao Wu explained while working, "Sis Duo, don't knock these over! They're Molotov cocktails—not as powerful as grenades, but great against zombies!"
Molotov cocktails? These two were resourceful!
"While everyone was refueling at the gas station, we filled a few barrels with diesel. These bottles are two-thirds gasoline, one-third diesel, with a rag stuffed in the neck. Light the rag, toss it into a zombie horde—boom! Everything… ends." Lao Wu recited it like poetry, with dramatic inflections.
"Better not test them now—the noise could attract nearby zombies," Meng Yidong added. Rare indeed!
My husband and I exchanged glances. Preparing in advance was wise—these two were thoughtful.
"Need help?" my husband asked.
"No, we're almost done. There's not much diesel. You two go eat—just save some for us!" Lao Wu replied.
Late at night, the elderly and children on the second floor slept, while half the companions on the first floor rested in shifts, the others patrolling with wide-eyed vigilance.
1 a.m.—all quiet.
2 a.m.—all quiet.
3 a.m.—all quiet.
The patrols had switched shifts, with a new group on watch.
Lan Town was eerily silent. As the clock neared 4 a.m., dawn was only an hour or two away.
I quietly relaxed, my nerves easing after the tense night. Closing my eyes, I prepared to nap briefly—we'd depart around 5 or 6 a.m.
In my drowsiness, a loud boomechoed from the back wall. Jolted awake, everyone sprang up, including those who'd just fallen asleep.
No one knew what was happening. Children's cries echoed from upstairs, one after another, startled awake.
I drew my blade and rushed to a rear window, peering toward the back wall.
The sight made us gasp.
A large breach had been blown open in the wall. Through the dust, hordes of zombies emerged—they'd arrived silently in the night!
"The first-floor windows are flimsy! Don't let them near the building!" I screamed. In that critical moment, all I could think of was Shuai Shuai upstairs. Tonight, I'd fight to the death to keep any zombie from my child!
"Duo Duo, get upstairs! We'll hold them off here!" Sixth Brother shoved me firmly. Reluctantly, I watched the zombies shuffling through the broken wall, yearning to slash them myself.
But Shuai Shuai was upstairs! From the sounds, chaos had erupted. I had to ensure I could protect my child when it mattered most.
My husband gripped my shoulder. "Go upstairs and guard the kids. Don't worry—I won't let these things reach you! Go!"
In a flash, the zombie horde surged forward like a tide. I took the stairs three at a time, bursting onto the second floor.
There, I saw my father holding Shuai Shuai, my mother beside them, with Second Brother guarding them, bow in hand.
"Sis Duo! The back wall's breached—you can see from here!" Second Brother pointed to a classroom window facing the rear wall.
"Right! We need to defend the second floor! The others are holding the first floor." Seeing Second Brother steadied me. But his limited arrows worried me.
Yet he bent down, pulling a hidden dagger from his worn boot. "Too few arrows—must save them. I'll use this today!"
Second Brother's arsenal was full of surprises!
The zombies' roars grew closer. Had they grown smarter, avoiding detection until the last moment? The thought chilled me—we'd underestimated them!
From the second-floor staircase, I saw everyone had barricaded the first-floor door. But it was wooden—would it hold?
The zombies didn't bother finding the entrance; instead, they surged toward the rear windows, clawing at the wooden frames. Glass shattered everywhere.
Watching our companions stabbing through the windows at zombie heads, I felt useless upstairs.
The zombies kept coming, overwhelming our defenses. We were losing ground!
Suddenly, an explosion erupted among the zombies outside, flames blazing! What was that? Scanning the area, I saw another Molotov cocktail fly from the right! It had to be Lao Wu and Meng Yidong! My heart soared! When had they slipped out to ambush the horde? They moved like ghosts!
Zombies were blown apart, limbs flying. In the firelight, I saw some with blown-off heads, jaws still clacking, not fully dead but neutralized.
The Molotovs were devastating! One after another, they arced into the horde, disorienting the zombies, who roared and flailed blindly.
But the cocktails were limited. After the last one, Lao Wu and Meng Yidong turned and fled!
The remaining zombies spotted them and gave chase!
Worried no one would notice to let them in, I rushed downstairs—only to see someone already opening the door for them.
As they dashed inside, I blurted, "You two were quick! When did you get out?"
Lao Wu wiped soot from his face. "We never came inside! Those Molotovs are too dangerous to store indoors."
No wonder they'd acted so fast!
With the second floor temporarily secure, I joined the first-floor defense.
Lao Wu and Meng Yidong drew blades from their belts and charged to the window frames, now stripped of glass, stabbing at the zombies outside.
Though their bombs had thinned the horde, dozens still clawed at the windows.
As I fought at a window, I noticed something: these zombies were clearly former townsfolk—tall and short, some even children-sized!
The entire town had fallen. But where had they been hiding when we arrived?
No time for speculation—we fought frenziedly, zombie corpses piling up outside. Some windows were even blocked by the dead, hindering further attacks.
Suddenly, a scream pierced from upstairs!
No! Something was wrong upstairs! I sprinted upward, heart pounding. No! Shuai Shuai, you must be safe!
Jianan, Chengzi, and A-Ze rushed up behind me.
On the second floor, I saw Shuai Shuai safe in my mother's arms. My parents stared at me, trembling, stammering, "They… they climbed in…"
Second Brother stood in the corridor, bow aimed. "Sis Duo! One climbed through a window! I took it down! They can scale this height—the second floor isn't safe!"
Amid the chaos—children crying, elders panicking—a sudden shriek rang from a classroom. Someone was in trouble