Dora Lin gazed at him with a calm, rational demeanor.
"I trust you now, but I can't trust an infected person."
Alex White understood. The infected were unpredictable, and even he wasn't entirely confident about his own condition—if he were, he wouldn't be checking himself daily for signs of deterioration.
So, he had no objections to being locked up. It was the safest and most practical solution for both of them, preventing any irreversible consequences from a sudden decline.
Dora wasn't just observing him; he was using her place to monitor himself. It was like an observation room in a hospital. In an emergency, he could receive immediate attention. Although the conditions here were basic, it was better than being alone in the wild.
This place served as his observation room. Even if Dora wasn't a doctor and couldn't treat infections, just providing him with a bowl of soup during a high fever could be life-saving.
In this apocalyptic world, Dora was his friend.
Even if she didn't see it that way, she had saved his life.
"If a zombie catches you, will you get infected?" Alex White asked.
"As long as you don't get zombie blood on your hands, you won't," Dora replied.
"Maybe... you can take the precautions you deem necessary, and I can go to the city with you," Alex White suggested.
He wanted to see what the outside world was like.
Dora thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright." She hesitated, looked at Alex White, and added, "Why do I get the feeling you don't want to leave this place?"
"This is my observation room."
Alex White patted the pillar, the chains clinking softly with the motion. "It's also my lucky spot."
Dora understood and shook her head with a smile. Despite being bitten by a zombie and retaining some zombie traits, he was alive.
If she hadn't brought him back that day, who knows if he would have survived.
"You've been mooching off my food every day," Dora said.
"I've been working, and we're friends."
Having him work was also a form of observation. It didn't take much time for Dora to do the tasks herself, but this arrangement was mutually beneficial.
"In any case, there's strength in numbers. I can be genuinely helpful, and who knows, I might even save you out there."
"Alright, if you become the zombie king, you better look out for me," Dora Lin said with a wry smile.
Deciding to go to the city didn't mean they would leave immediately. There was much preparation to be done, particularly with food.
She made dry rations by mixing black flour with elm seeds, added jerky and boiled wild roots to ensure they had enough supplies for the journey. She checked the ammunition for the makeshift shotgun, packed raincoats and waterproof cloth, among other necessary items.
Alex White even noticed her packing a small air pump, tucked away in a small pouch under the tricycle's cargo bed. He guessed she must have learned the hard way from a previous flat tire, which must have been a tough experience.
The next day, Dora returned with a dusty, battered helmet that looked like it had been salvaged from a scrapyard.
Watching her wash it and hang it to dry on a wooden stake, Alex White couldn't help but admire Dora's resourcefulness. It was clearly intended for him.
She even drilled two holes in the helmet and tied it with a rope, making it look rather peculiar.
"Try it on," Dora instructed.
Alex White put it on, and Dora made him secure the rope.
"If you suddenly have an episode but still retain some rationality, you might try to remove the helmet. This way, you won't be able to. Even if you lose control and try to bite someone, you won't be able to."
"That makes sense."
Alex White examined himself in the mirror. It fit well; aside from its aged appearance, it was nearly perfect.
Dora then found some thick gloves, clearly meant for winter.
Fully armed.
Alex White looked at his reflection. He felt that now, even if he stood in front of that damned zombie from that day, it wouldn't be able to bite him.
This not only protected others but also himself.
"Won't it be too hot?" Dora asked.
Alex White answered honestly. He was still somewhat insensitive to temperature and even pretended to blow on his food to cool it before eating.
Looking at himself more closely, he thought he resembled a knight, a heavily armored one, ready to slay zombies back and forth in the apocalypse.
"I suggest you put one on too; it offers a sense of security," Alex White said.
"Take it off for now; we haven't left yet," Dora Lin replied. "We'll head out tomorrow."
"Alright."
Alex White nodded.
Dora Lin inspected the vehicle once more. Although there wasn't much to check on a tricycle, she ensured everything that needed waterproofing was covered.
As dusk approached in the late afternoon, Dora Lin went to visit Mrs. Jones, letting her know of her departure to prevent any worry if Mrs. Jones couldn't find her.
Alex White held the helmet with a sense of pride. He was fond of this piece of gear, not only because it shielded his eyes, which had an eerie resemblance to a zombie's, but also for its protective qualities.
It would be even better with a full riding suit.
Alex White recalled a blogger he had seen online who had crafted chainmail from tiny iron rings. That might be the ultimate gear for the apocalypse.
For someone who had always been directionless about the future, Alex White suddenly saw a new path.
"Is it really that good?"
Dora Lin returned to find Alex White admiring the helmet. She couldn't quite understand his fascination. It seemed this zombie had peculiar tastes—mirrors were treasures, and now helmets were too.
"I remember seeing a better helmet in the city before, but I didn't pick it up. Maybe we'll find one this time," Dora Lin said.
"Don't you think it offers great protection?" Alex White asked.
"I don't think so. It obstructs your field of vision, is inconvenient to turn your head, and affects hearing. A half-face helmet would be better," Dora Lin noted from experience.
"But half-face helmets provide less protection," Alex White said, acknowledging that every advantage comes with a trade-off.
"So this one is suitable for you."
The primary concern was preventing Alex White's infection from worsening rather than guarding against other threats. Surprisingly, the helmet was quite fitting for Alex White, concealing his zombie-like features. Dora Lin saw this as an unexpected benefit.
After a final check for any missed items, Dora Lin went to rest. Alex White stared at the sky beyond the courtyard wall as night quickly fell.
"Do you think it's risky?" Alex White asked the window.
"What do you mean?" Dora Lin, still awake, inquired.
"Hmm… Even if it doesn't worsen, what if I have other intentions?"
"Do you know the name of the street where I caught you?" Dora Lin asked.
"It's the street where you saved me," Alex White said with curiosity. "What's it called?"
"I don't know either," Dora Lin admitted.