Chapter 22 - Hope

Elsie urgently ran to the balcony and looked down.

The area around the car was swarming with zombies.

The car windows on both sides had been shattered by the zombies.

Two zombies had even squeezed into the car.

Seeing this scene, anyone would know that Stel had no chance of survival.

"Bang!"

Elsie punched the balcony railing.

Her beautiful face wrinkled into a frown, like the folds on a bun.

"Stel, you bastard! I told you not to go!"

"If you die, I'll starve to death here too!"

"Stel, you really are a bastard!"

Elsie shouted in anger, forgetting to control her voice.

Her sharp curses floated down from the balcony.

Reaching the ears of the zombies.

"Hissss—!"

Some of the zombies turned to look at Elsie, their gaping mouths revealing a few jagged teeth.

And eerie smiles.

"…!"

Elsie felt her hair stand on end.

She quickly stepped back from the balcony railing.

It was no use.

The zombies, having seen Elsie, started pushing into the apartment building.

"Thud! Thud!"

The chaotic footsteps echoed from downstairs, reaching Elsie's ears.

"It's over, it's over!"

Elsie curled up on the floor, holding her head in despair.

If the zombies broke in, she would become their next meal.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

Tears streamed down Elsie's face, dripping onto the floor.

"Thud! Thud! Thud"

The sound of the zombies' footsteps grew closer and closer.

Elsie felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult, as if she were drowning.

"Whoosh—! Whoosh—!"

She had to take deep breaths to maintain her breathing, or she might suffocate at any moment.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Bang!

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound from the room door.

"…!"

Elsie was startled but then overjoyed.

Someone was knocking—Stel must be back!

Elsie tried to get up to open the door, but after taking only a couple of steps, she stumbled.

"Thud!"

She fell to the ground.

Her legs were still weak and hadn't recovered.

No, it must be Stel. I need to let him in quickly.

Elsie gritted her teeth. If her legs couldn't do it, she'd crawl!

"Shuffle! Shuffle!"

"Shuffle…"

Elsie pressed her shoulders to the floor and began crawling toward the door.

Though her legs were weak, she could still push herself forward occasionally.

After a few seconds, Elsie reached the door.

Just as she was about to reach for the handle, she remembered that when the zombie crisis first broke out, she and Stel had also heard knocking.

That time, it was a zombie repeatedly banging its head against the door.

Could it be another zombie this time?!

At this thought, Elsie withdrew her hand.

No, I can't open the door. If I do, I'll let the zombies in.

Elsie could barely stand.

Letting the zombies in would be a death sentence.

Just as she pulled back her hand and planned to retreat back into the room…

Bang!

Bang bang bang!

Bang bang bang bang bang!

The knocking on the door suddenly became urgent.

Elsie's brow furrowed.

Strange?

Why was the zombie's knocking rhythm so fast?

After a couple of seconds, she realized.

Zombies couldn't increase their knocking speed—there must be a human outside.

"It's Stel!"

In that instant, Elsie regained hope and reached for the door handle.

With a strong pull.

"Click!"

The door opened.

Elsie stared wide-eyed through the crack.

If it was Stel, everything would be fine, but if it was a zombie, she would be doomed!

As the door opened wider…

"Wham!"

Stel suddenly grabbed the door, quickly slipped inside.

He turned and shut the door behind him.

Just as the door closed, a zombie rushed down the hallway.

"Thud!"

It smashed its head into the door, brains splattering, covering the door.

"Elsie, are you trying to get yourself killed? Intentionally attracting zombies by closing the door?"

"M-master, I…"

Elsie's lips trembled, she wanted to explain but couldn't find the words.

"Shut up."

Stel grabbed Elsie by the hair and tossed the heavy bag he carried aside.

Dragging her by the hair like a sack, Stel took Elsie to the bathroom.

"Master, it hurts…"

Elsie's hair was gripped tightly in Stel's hand, and she was being painfully dragged across the floor.

It felt like her hair was going to be torn out by the roots!

"Wham!"

Stel mercilessly threw Elsie into the bathroom.

"Ugh…!"

Elsie's back hit the bathroom wall, causing a sudden tightness in her chest.

She held back her cries of pain.

"Master, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Elsie endured the excruciating pain, quickly kneeling in front of Stel, begging for his forgiveness.

Heh…

But Stel was unmoved. He turned on the shower, aiming it directly at Elsie.

"Whoosh!"

The cold water sprayed over Elsie like a fountain.

She was only wearing a thin nightgown.

With Stel's action, she was completely drenched.

Stel then washed the stinking zombie blood off himself.

He stripped off his clothes, tossing the showerhead aside.

He reached out and pinned Elsie against the wall.

"Thud!"

Elsie's head pressed against the wall, making it hard to breathe.

Yet she kept pleading.

"Master, I didn't mean it, please…"

"Shut up, I won't let you die just yet, you wretch."

With those words, Stel grabbed Elsie's collar.

"Rip!"

With a strong pull, her nightgown tore in half.

The tear revealed Elsie's pale skin and seductive curves.

"Master, I won't run away, please calm down…"

For some reason, this version of Stel was more terrifying than ever.

Especially his gaze, like a butcher looking at a piglet, ready to consume her.

Ignoring Elsie's pleas, Stel continued his rough treatment.

After tearing off her nightgown, he ripped off the rest of her clothes.

The next second, he forcefully grabbed Elsie's head and pulled her forward.

"Mmm…"

Elsie struggled to breathe, but Stel wouldn't relent.

She knew she had to satisfy Stel.

She pushed her hair behind her ears, complying with him.

After two hours, Stel finished and left the bathroom.

Elsie lay exhausted on the bathroom floor.

Her whole body felt like it was falling apart.

She kept murmuring, "He's so strong…"

Elsie's mouth burned, as if it were about to blister.

Her throat was raw and sore, likely from the stress.