And then—I saw my father!
He ran to the tricycle, grabbed the supplies, and carried them to the door. Just a few steps short, he tossed them inside. Back and forth, until the cart was empty. My mother was there too, helping him carry everything inside.
The moment I saw them, I almost laughed out loud. They were really home. Both of them. Seeing it with my own eyes made it real.
The weather seemed good today. Sunlight was already spilling over the eastern mountains. A fine day.
I stood quietly for a while, feeling the world slowly waking. I knew it was time to leave.
My scooter's battery was low—maybe just enough to get me there. But that was fine. With luck, I might find a motorcycle. Even a car would do. I had a license. Drive slow, and it should be fine. Maybe I could carry even more supplies.
Passing the bus, I didn't stop. Just glanced at them. They watched me leave.
Back near the place where I'd met the foul-mouthed girl, no one remained. Only blood on the ground, scraps of stained cloth, and the trembling aura of someone hiding inside a house.
I didn't need to look. I could sense where people—or they—were. A strange new ability. If I focused, I could almost see the shape of the aura's owner.
But I didn't want to know her face. Didn't want to act. Just days in, and already numb? Maybe this was humanity's corruption.
If humanity itself was twisted, did morality still matter?
So I went straight to the largest supermarket, driving an SUV. Aside from a bent bumper and a scratched side, it was fine. Not bad, considering I'd only had my license for less than a year, and hadn't touched a steering wheel since the test.
Inside, much was gone. But the watches—almost untouched. I looked closely. A few styles I liked. Which to take? No need to check prices. Just pick what I liked.
Adults don't choose—they take all. I grabbed three.
Deeper inside, the light dimmed. But my vision was sharp now. Night vision.
Pushing a cart, I moved slowly. To anyone watching, I might look like I was leisurely shopping. But no. My body was still stiff. Better than before, not quite zombie-like, but far from normal.
The deeper I went, the more supplies remained. Fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, cooked food, spices, dried goods, snacks. Most avoided this area.
And rightly so.
Without power, darkness ruled here. The open doors made it their lair. By day, they rested, watching silently. By night, they poured out, turning the world into hell.
And me? A wanderer between light and dark. Abandoned by both. A hero? Or just delusional.
I filled one cart, then another. Suddenly—"crash." Something fell. Then a cascade of clattering sounds.
I could ignore one noise. But this was too much. Even I felt embarrassed pretending not to notice.
A bin of potatoes and sweet potatoes had toppled. My heart ached. Such good food, filling, long-lasting. Waste was unforgivable.
Ignoring them, I grabbed plastic bags and picked up the fallen potatoes one by one. They scattered, but most drifted toward the exit.
Soon, screams echoed outside. Clattering, glass breaking, and a shout: "Run!"
My hands trembled. I paused, sensing the mix of human and inhuman auras. Someone yelled: "Liu Yao, stop screaming! You'll bring more zombies!"
"Sorry…" The girl, Liu Yao, clutching a kitchen knife, hid behind a pillar, trembling, whispering apologies.
But apologies meant nothing. More zombies moved out. More came in.
"Yu Dong, here!"
At the entrance, piles of discount clothes. A man shouted. Yu Dong grabbed one. And then—it burst into flames.
Don't ask me how I knew. I didn't. I hadn't time to think. But the clothes burned as if thrown into a roaring fire.
I stared at him. Yu Dong hurled the burning clothes at the nearest zombie. Then another. And another. Soon, flames blazed at the entrance. The group collapsed in relief. Yu Dong looked half-dead, barely able to sit, gasping for breath.
Liu Yao rushed to him, crouched, whispered: "Are you okay? You saved me again. Thank you." Her voice was so faint I barely heard. Then sobbing.
I had been focused on Yu Dong, wondering why the clothes burned. But Liu Yao's theatrics caught my attention. Maybe I was ignorant, but I'd never seen such obvious manipulation.
"Enough. We're fine. Next time, don't scream. It'll bring more trouble," another said.
Liu Yao cried harder, tears streaming, as if suffering unbearable injustice. But wasn't facing zombies injustice enough? Shouldn't she be above it all, living the easy life?
The man almost spoke again, but stopped. Yu Dong comforted her instead.
"It's fine. We're safe. Next time, don't come. Too dangerous. I—" He was cut off.
From behind, a zombie lunged. Faster than any before. The group, relaxed, was caught off guard. It rushed straight at Liu Yao, claws gleaming.
Yu Dong reacted first. Exhausted, yet he shoved her aside. The claws aimed for his face.
Dodge! Dodge! I almost shouted. My whole being surged, pushing him.
And—I did. I felt it. A hand. My hand. Pushing Yu Dong. The resistance of his shoulder was real.
He staggered aside, then struck back. His palm landed on the zombie. Flames erupted. The creature writhed, screaming, burning.
Others dragged Yu Dong away.
For the first time, I heard their voices. They could speak. Did that mean I could too?
I sat against a cabinet, exhausted, trying. I moved my mouth, recalling speech. Effort. A faint "ah" escaped. More practice. Louder. Clearer.
Joy. No one wants to be mute.
Rotten meat stank. Frozen seafood spoiled, acrid fumes burning my eyes. But I didn't vomit. I grabbed spices, then headed to the snack aisle.
Half gone, but plenty left. I filled bags, loaded the cart. Milk, yogurt—six or seven boxes. Until the cart overflowed.
Still not enough. I pushed another cart. Thought of two, but the SUV might not fit them all.
Passing baby supplies, I hesitated. Took three cans of formula. Why not.
Then dried goods. Then daily necessities. Two trips later, four carts stood by the SUV.
No one around. I carried everything to the car. Stronger now. Loads in one trip. No fatigue.
Finally, I returned to the supermarket entrance.