I discussed with Chen Ming how we should go out and find food. He explained that he used to get the biscuits from the supermarket just outside the hospital gate, and that the door there had been closed by him. So, if we wanted to get supplies, we just had to be careful and handle the walking corpses in the hospital yard and the streets.
Dad listened carefully, his face a mask of concentration. As we were about to head out, he suddenly pulled out an iron spatula from somewhere—he'd clearly been hiding it for just such an occasion—and insisted on coming along.
Before I could protest, Chen Ming glanced at him and reminded us both: "Be careful not to get bitten."
Dad's decision to join us made me even more nervous. After asking Mom and Grandma to close the door and remain quiet, the three of us moved out swiftly, each of us burdened with the weight of the situation.
Dad's expression was tense, his face grim with concern. Despite his usual calm demeanor, it was clear that he was also deeply worried.
Chen Ming led the way, running lightly as if the dangers were already part of his routine. The main entrance to the hall faced a long road, which led to the hospital gate at the far end, with inpatient buildings stretching along both sides.
As soon as we stepped outside, I spotted four walking corpses shuffling toward us, their slow, dragging steps betraying their mindless hunger. Dad, probably startled, let out a low shout and instinctively pulled me behind him, shielding me.
Without a word, Chen Ming moved swiftly. He drew his knife and charged toward them, his movements precise and without hesitation. Dad tried to call him back, but I hurriedly reassured him. "Don't worry, he's very powerful." I patted Dad on the shoulder and urged, "Follow me." And with that, I sprinted towards the approaching corpses.
For a moment, everything around me seemed to blur. But as I watched Chen Ming's calm and fearless advance, something deep inside me stirred. It was like a dormant fire had ignited—courage I didn't know I had—and I rushed forward, suppressing the dread gnawing at my insides.
When I reached the first walking corpse, Chen Ming had already severed its head with one clean stroke. Without thinking, I grabbed my kitchen knife and lunged at the next one.
The corpse was a woman in a hospital gown, her belly grotesquely swollen, hollowed out as though something had been torn from within. I swung my knife with all the strength I could muster, and the blade sunk deep into her neck. She was unrecognizable, but the sickening familiarity of her face triggered a strange memory. She had once been the neighbor's daughter-in-law—a woman known for her fierce temper, always fighting with her husband.
With a sharp grunt, I tore the knife free, rushing to the next corpse. But Chen Ming was faster—he kicked one aside and as it fell, I quickly moved in to strike its head, splitting it cleanly in two.
The moment the head hit the ground, I froze. A few seconds passed before the horror of what I had just done hit me, and I recoiled instinctively, wiping the splattered blood and brains from my face with trembling hands.
I wasn't the type to show emotion easily, but seeing my father's stunned face as he watched me kill two people—no, two corpses—was too much. The reality of this new world was overwhelming, and I could see that it was starting to break my dad's resolve.
But there was no time for hesitation. Chen Ming had already run ahead toward the gate, and I had to pull my father along with me. "Dad, keep up!" I called out, my voice strained.
This was the absurdity of our new reality—no longer a world where we could simply hesitate or negotiate. The living dead had no humanity left. I remembered the broadcasts about them: they were no longer human, and their only purpose was to kill and devour us. These weren't the walking dead from movies or stories; they were real, and they had to be killed before they killed us.
We made it to the gate without encountering more corpses, but as we stepped into the open, the number of walking corpses outside was staggering. The supermarket was about 20 meters to the right, separated by a narrow green belt and a flower shop. We could barely make out the shape of the building behind the cars parked haphazardly along the street.
This was a small city, and the roads hadn't been well planned. Cars were strewn across the area in disarray, a chaotic mess of vehicles that had no order. But right now, that chaos was a blessing in disguise.
Chen Ming pointed toward the vehicles and spoke in a low voice, "We'll move quickly, stay behind the cars. Don't make a sound."
My heart pounded as I wiped my sweaty palms on my clothes. This was the first time I'd been outside the hospital in two months. The world had changed beyond recognition.
I couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage to get out before?"
Chen Ming kept his eyes on the street. "There weren't as many walking corpses out there before."
I asked, "Why so many now?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe a car passed by and attracted them. Or maybe they've just wandered here."
Despite everything, Dad was managing, moving silently behind us. Even though he had no idea how to kill a walking corpse, he followed our every step without question. It was impressive, but I knew that hesitation would be our downfall.
We carefully skirted around the parked cars, avoiding the walking corpses that roamed around. Every time we passed an alarmed car, I felt the blood rush to my ears, terrified of the sound of an alarm breaking the silence.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the supermarket door. But just as we were about to enter, two corpses lying against the glass heard our approach and began to stir. With no time to waste, Chen Ming quickly issued an order. "Each of us takes one. Do it fast."
We moved in unison, and despite the clumsy weight of the kitchen knife, I was able to land two quick strikes, severing the corpse's head. But before I could recover, the second one swung at me, and I had to retreat. That's when Dad took my knife from my hand and rushed forward, stabbing the corpse with precision.
I exhaled in relief. "Nice job, Dad."
Inside the supermarket, we quickly secured the area. Chen Ming moved with practiced efficiency, ensuring everything was clear. He retrieved large plastic bags from the cashier's counter, and we dispersed to collect everything we needed—food, clothing, whatever could help us survive.
By the time we finished, we had nearly a dozen bags full of supplies. We should've been done, but then we heard a noise. Something had fallen. For a moment, we froze, thinking it might be a walking corpse. But when I turned to look, I was taken aback.
A door, which had been blocked by a chair, was slowly pushed open from the outside. Two young figures appeared, a man and a woman, their faces pale and drawn, signaling for us to remain silent. They carefully closed the door again and cautiously approached us.
The man stopped a few meters away, his voice shaky. "We... we won't hurt you."
His words hung in the air, and when we didn't respond, the woman's voice cracked, barely a whisper. "We haven't seen anyone alive for so long... Can you... Can you take us with you?"
Her words trembled, full of desperation, and she quickly covered her mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to break free.