Li Jiefan and Chi Muyang spoke for hours into the night before they finally fell asleep. The next morning came quickly.
" We can get breakfast in the store on the fourteenth floor." Chi Muyang said as he looked over the camera's. Alot of the zombies that gathered here last night had left the mall but they were still a few wandering around.
" That sounds like a good plan." Chen Liechu said," And then we are choosing a store to ride this out in, right Li Jiefan?"
Li Jiefan nodded even though she knew they would be splitting ways soon," Yeah, that sounds like a good plan."
Chi Muyang gave her a side-eye, he knew she was lying but maybe he understood her or maybe he thought it wasn't his place to say so he just turned back to the camera screens and said nothing.
Li Jiefan shook her head at him while Chen Liechu put her shoes on," Let's get going the sooner we finish this the sooner we can be safe."
A look of understanding passed between the two while Chen Liechu tied her shoe laces. Chi Muyang got off the chair,picked up his bag and bat and opened the door," You first my lady." he said looking at Li Jiefan. Li Jiefan gave him a small smile.
"Fuck you." Chen Liechu said as she walked out the room pushing Chi Muyang out the way on her way out.
Li Jiefan giggled as she walked past him following her friend. The group made their way to the the fourtheenth floor using the stairwell with Li Jiefan in front. There were no zombies wandering around the stairwell luckily but when they got to the right floor there were zombies a few stores over. Li Jiefan signaled for the two behind her to stop. She picked up a can on the ground and throw it farther along the hallway. The zombes heads turned in the direction of the sound and they slowly hobbled after it. Li Jiefan ran to the store keeping her steps light, a skill she learned in her pat life. Chi Muyang did the same but Chen Liechu's steps were alot more noticable.
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Li Jiefan stood in front of a portable stove in the display camping section of the store leaning on a barbeque stand behind her cooking instant noodles and boiling eggs in another next to it when Chen Liechu sat next too her in a camping chair.
" It feel weird cooking in a store." She said eating chips.
Li Jiefan nodded," I keep looking around for an employee who is coming to tell me off."
" Me too," Chen Liechu agreed with a laugh," I got these chips at the cashier and I stood there for three minutes waiting for a teller to come and check me out."
Li Jiefan laughed with her friend. She was trying to find a way to tell her friend she was heading to D-City, a reason that wouldn't be to suspicious. Li Jiefan knew Chen Liechu would be unwilling to leave the city and her family and she wouldn't understand Li Jiefan's want to leave. Chen Liechu knew she wasn't close to her family and thought that Li Jiefan was experiencing this scary time with her, and so would want to stay in their home city with her. It was slightly tempting to stay with her friend but she knew what a shitshow this city would become and Li Jiefan was unwilling to put herself through that again, anyway she had a mission to complete.
" I am worried about my parents Li-er" Chen Liechu said softly, her face vulnerable.
Li Jiefan looked over at her friend and put her hand on her shoulder in comfort," I am sure they are fine,Mr and Mrs Chen are so strong. Remember the time they beat up that man with their umbrella."
Chen Liechu burst out laughing," They thought he was robbing them but he was just the plumber I called that they forgot about."
" And they didn't even feel that bad about it." Li Jiefan said with a chuckle.
" Yeah, they will be fine." Chen Liechu said reassuring herself.
Chi Muyang walked out of the aisle in front of them and toward the girls," I found a radio." He puts the radio on the table next to Li Jiefan and tinkered with it. All the channels produced static except one.
" A safe zone has been set up on the east side of B-city. If you can get here please come but if you can't stay were you are, hang a red cloth out of your window and let the military come to you." The message repeated in a loop.
Chen Liechu stood up, got closer to the radio and listened to the looping message for a while," Yay , at least the government is finally doing something. What time are we leaving." She said looking at L Jiefan
" I am not heading there I have to get my sister." Chen Muyang said.
Chen Liechu rolled her eyes," I wasn't asking you. Me and my friend will be making plans and celebrating your exit."
Li Jiefan felt CHi Muyang looking at her as she loooked at her friend," Chen Liechu can we help me find a radio." Chen Liechu nodded at LI Jiefan,"And can you take care of the noodles Chi Muyang." He looked at her for a moment and agreed.
Li Jiefan and Chen Liechu walked to the aisle Chi Muyang walked out of. Li Jiefan sighed as Chen Liechu talked about how nice a safe zone with other people would be.
" Aha, There are the radio's, is there a pink one?" Chen Liechu said as she looked up at the radio's
" Chen Liechu I can't go with you to the the safe zone." Li Jiefan said thinking the best approach would be to just say it.
"What?" Chen Liechu said looking over her shoulder at her friend in confusion," But where else would you go, B-City is your home."
" I just want to take this oppurtunity to travel and be indepentent." Li Jiefan said.
"That's great and all and I would usuaslly support you but we are currently in an apocolypse, there are zombies everywhere, you could die!"
Li Jiefan sighed and leaned back on the aisle next to her," I know but this would be the first time I would be doing something for myself. I got into this university to show my parents and live on campus for the same reasons, I know I could die but I feel it's worth the chance."
Chen Liechu sighed," I guess I can understand," Chen Liechu stood there for a few minutes,"I can't go with you my parents are here and I can't leave them."
" I understand, I just hope you do to." Li Jiefan replied.
Chen Liechu looked at the ground and stood in silent for a minute," I am going to miss you."
" I am going to miss you too," Li Jiefan replied," But we will see each other again, we are best friends."
" Best friends" Chen Liechu agreed with a smile.