C5 -against time
From the cabin, I could hear the sound of the train's wheels starting to slowly accelerate, like hundreds of pistons gradually coming to life and syncing together the faster they went.
I ended up glancing to the side and saw him with a look of 'this is insane' on his face, even though he didn't say a word. But just looking at him, I couldn't help but feel the same way, a barely perceptible smile forming on my face.
Outside the train, the zombies that once wandered aimlessly were now all heading toward the train, their groans becoming louder and more animalistic.
On the elevated tracks near University City Station, some zombies were still wandering in tattered clothes and uniforms. From a tunnel, a sound emerged, causing all the zombies to turn and look toward it. From the tunnel emerged a massive steel beast.
The red train, stained with zombie blood from those that had tried to get in its way, attracted all the mindless zombies as if they were predators chasing prey. However, this massive 18,500-horsepower monster plowed over them without slowing down, not even an inch.
"Yes!!" Lin Xian shouted, euphoric.
I glanced at him, seeing him relax as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Your plan worked, at least the zombies won't be an obstacle anymore. But we can't forget to keep improving the train," I said, still looking ahead before activating a windshield wiper to remove a severed limb from the window.
Leaving the station and wandering through the deserted city, both of us looked toward the city, seeing it completely desolate, with no movement except for the occasional zombie coming toward us.
As we moved forward, heading toward the Tiyu Xi station, I saw him trying to call her again, but the signal kept ringing without connecting. He tried two more times without success, and when we neared the tunnel, he began to slow down.
After exiting the tunnel, he stopped the train a good distance from the station to avoid attracting a horde of zombies directly to our position. He then said,
"I still haven't got a connection with her. Let's go to her apartment and find her. And before you ask, she hasn't changed her mind. I know her — she's not indecisive."
He said this before heading toward the second carriage, and I followed right behind him.
"I think it's better if you stay to guard the sleeping beauty here," he said, looking at me.
"Come on, man. She's not gonna wake up anytime soon, and we won't be gone that long. Besides, I'm good at fighting, not guarding. Remember who saved your ass from becoming zombie chow when you were hoarding cans?" To make my point, I tapped her face a few times, but there was no reaction.
He nodded, sighed, and then began locking the doors between the carriages before heading out to follow me as we ran toward the station.
---
She hadn't eaten in two days.
But deep down, she knew. Regardless of whether Liang Wei had those supplies or not, opening the door would mean becoming his personal plaything in this post-apocalyptic hell.
Shame or survival — which was more important?
After some time without receiving a response, Liang Wei's patience finally ran out. His expression darkened, and suddenly, he slammed his fist against the door.
Bang!
"Chen Sixuan, you damn bitch! Stop acting like you own the world! The world's already gone to hell, and most people are dead. At least if you stay with me, you'll survive a few more days! I'm not gonna eat you or anything — what are you so afraid of?!"
"Open the damn door, now!"
Bang, bang, bang!
The pounding on the door intensified, turning into kicks, with the loud crashes echoing through the room. Chen Sixuan's face went ashen. She spun around abruptly, grabbing a fruit knife from the shoe cabinet to defend herself. Holding it close to her chest, her eyes filled with panic and anguish.
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