C1 Woke up

"Second Sister, do you think Big Sis is really gone?"

"Shush, don't say such ominous things. Big Sis is going to be fine. You hold her up, and I'll give her some medicine."

"Okay."

The soft, worried voices nearby were laced with tears, but Gu Fanjin had no desire to open her eyes. She felt awful, like her head was about to explode. She cursed those damn zombies in her mind for being so heartless, not even sparing these little kids.

When something bitter was forced into her mouth, Gu Fanjin grimaced and spat it out without hesitation.

Soon, the small voice came again, "Oh no... Big Sis can't swallow the medicine. Is she really going to die?"

It was then that Gu Fanjin realized the child was referring to her as Big Sis. But she didn't have any siblings!

"Ugh..."

Gu Fanjin struggled to open her eyes, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. She found herself lying in a dilapidated room, with cobwebs in the corners and a bed so hard it hurt. The blanket covering her was musty and full of patches.

"Ah, Big Sis is awake! Big Sis is awake!"

"Thank goodness, she's awake!"

The excited shouts of the two kids, who looked about six or seven, made her head spin even more.

"Quiet!"

She managed to squeeze out the words despite her pounding headache. Startled by the sound of her own voice, Gu Fanjin pushed aside her discomfort, threw off the blanket, and nudged the kids out of the way. She hurried barefoot to the door, but the sight outside left her momentarily stunned.

The yard was desolate and rundown. The flimsy fence wouldn't stop a single person, let alone those zombies.

"This place is so poorly fortified! It's like they're just waiting to get attacked!"

Life in the apocalypse had practically turned her into a zombie-killing machine. Staring at the rundown yard, Gu Fanjin rubbed her temples hard.

She only remembered going to a deserted department store to scavenge for food. Just her luck, as soon as she started gathering supplies, a horde of zombies surrounded her. Faced with the choice of being bitten or jumping from an eight-story building, she chose the latter without hesitation.

Did she get bitten? Was she hallucinating?

She quickly rolled up her sleeve to check her arm and was relieved to find no bite marks. But then she stared wide-eyed at her arm—was this skinny, frail thing really hers?

"Second sister, big sis, she..."

"Don't worry, big sis just hit her head. She might still be a bit dizzy."

"Oh, no wonder she seems a bit off."

"Let's not talk about that. Hungry? I'll make something for you and big sis."

"There's nothing to eat at home. Grandma took everything."

"..."

The hushed conversation of the two kids behind her caught Gu Fanjin's attention.

"How did you survive?"

How did these two helpless kids manage to survive the apocalypse? And in such a dilapidated place? How had the zombies not found them? There wasn't even a hint of blood in the air.

The slightly older girl pursed her lips. "Sis, after Grandma pushed you and you passed out, she took our food and left. She didn't bother me and Junjun anymore."

"What? Seriously?"

Gu Fanjin thought she must be losing her mind. What on earth was going on?