The city has been transformed into a giant maze of death under the ravages of the virus. The once bustling streets now resembled a nightmare's canvas of devastation. The sky was dyed gray by the smoke, and the sun tried hard to penetrate the haze, but could only shed a few rays of weak light, as if in a moment of silence for the dying city.
The skyscrapers on both sides of the street look like behemoths that have had their souls sucked out of them, with their glass curtain walls shattered and broken, and some of them have even had their entire walls collapsed, revealing charred rebar and dilapidated rooms inside. Between the broken walls, clothing, documents and other miscellaneous items like snowflakes scattered on the ground, blown around by the wind, as if to tell the panic and despair that once happened here. The original colorful billboards on the building are now only twisted frames, shaking in the wind, occasionally making creaking sounds, like an elegy of doom.
On the road, cars were parked side by side, some of them colliding with each other, the front end dented, windshield broken into a spider's web; some of them were burning with a blazing fire, black smoke rolling and rising, pungent odor filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. The flames licked at everything around them, baking the pavement into contortions, the tar melting under the heat to form puddles of black, slimy liquid, as if it were black blood flowing from the earth.
The streets were strewn with bloodstains, the dried bloodstains taking on a dark red color, like an evil flower blooming on the path of death. In some places, the bloodstains had not yet dried, glittering with a weird luster in the sunlight, attracting swarms of flies to buzz around. Corpses could be seen everywhere, some were already mutilated, gnawed by the infected to the point where only white bones and some broken clothes remained; some maintained the horrified expression of the dying, their eyes wide and empty, as if they were still gazing at the world that had collapsed.
From time to time, the roar of the infected came from the surroundings, and the sound echoed in the empty streets, adding a bit more horror to the atmosphere. In addition to the infected, there were also some stray cats and dogs that had been infected by the virus or driven into a frenzy by this apocalyptic scene, and they were weaving in and out of the ruins, their eyes flickering with a strange light as they let out mournful cries. Occasionally, explosions and gunshots could be heard in the distance, the sounds of people still struggling to survive fighting against the doomsday, but they seemed so small and powerless under this huge aura of death enveloping them.
Ryan carried the supplies obtained from the supermarket and a group of survivors through the narrow streets and alleys, his heart was like a taut bowstring. Every step was filled with the fear of the unknown, but he knew that he couldn't show it because he was the hope of these people. The little girl tightly tugged at the corner of Ryan's coat, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her body shivering, her small mind was filled with the horror of the end of the world, she did not understand why the world suddenly became like this, but only instinctively relied on Ryan, as if he was the only light in this dark world. Along with him was an old man, who used a mop handle from the supermarket as a crutch, panting but struggling to keep up with the group. His heart was filled with the fear of death, his mind flashed through a lifetime of memories, those ordinary but precious days are now as fragile as bubbles, he did not want to die, at least not in this place full of blood and horror. There was also a young mother, holding her baby in her arms, her eyes full of panic and worry. Her heart was beating so fast that it seemed like it was going to jump out of her throat, she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to protect her child, and every roar of the infected was like the call of the God of Death, making her soul tremble.
"Everyone stay close to me, don't fall behind!" Ryan shouted in a lowered voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Most of the glass of the stores on both sides of the street were shattered, and the items inside were scattered all over the place, some of them were still burning, and the smoke was so thick that it choked people's breathing. Ryan's mind was constantly calculating all kinds of possible situations and ways to deal with them, his palms were full of sweat, the iron rod that was temporarily used as a weapon was slightly trembling in his hands, not because of fear, but because of the great responsibility, he knew that once he made a mistake, the lives of these people would be cut short.
Suddenly, there was a cacophony of footsteps and a low growl from up ahead. Ryan raised his hand to signal everyone to stop, and he cautiously probed to see a group of infected running in their direction. These infected were in different shapes and forms, some were in rags, some were covered in blood, and they had nothing but the desire for flesh and blood in their eyes. Ryan's heart sank violently, a chill surged in his heart, he cursed this damned doomsday in his heart, but instantly forced himself to calm down.
"Quick, this way!" Ryan commanded in a low voice, leading the group to turn into an even smaller alleyway. The alley was littered with trash cans and debris, making it extremely difficult to move around. But they didn't dare to stay, the footsteps of the infected behind them were pressing like a death wish. Ryan's heartbeat accelerated along with the footsteps, and he felt like he was in a race with the Grim Reaper, where every second's delay could put everyone in an impossible situation.
The young mother stumbled a bit as she held her child, and Ryan hastily reached out to help her. "Thank you ...," the young mother had tears in her eyes, her heart was filled with gratitude and guilt, gratitude for Ryan's helping hand, guilt for her own drag. "Don't talk, just go!" Ryan responded, he didn't have the heart to comfort right now, all he could think about was how to get out of the immediate crisis.
In another area of the city, the army rescue squad that Kral was in was also struggling to move forward. Clare's heart was very conflicted, on the one hand, her instinct to save lives as a nurse made her want to rescue every survivor she encountered; on the other hand, she was also clear that the team's resources were limited, and every rescue could put the entire squad in a desperate situation. She bit her lips tightly, her eyes revealing determination and worry.
The soldiers held their weapons and looked around vigilantly. The captain's brows were tightly locked, and his mind was under tremendous pressure. Every decision concerned the life and death of his team members, he could not afford to make the slightest mistake. He looked at the exhausted team members, his heart was filled with guilt, he was the one who led them into this endless danger, but he also knew that now was not the time to blame himself, he had to remain calm.
Their vehicle was forced to stop at a road collapse, surrounded by rubble. Krall saw a few survivors not far away surrounded by a group of infected in an abandoned car. "Captain, there are people over there!" Kral said anxiously. The captain frowned, he knew that every rescue now could put the squad in danger, but he couldn't just see them die. "One group will follow me to the rescue, and the second group will take care of the guard!" The captain ordered, a flash of hesitation flashed through his mind the moment he gave the order, but it was quickly replaced by determination, he told himself that this was the mission of a soldier.
The soldiers moved quickly, rushing towards the trapped survivors. They shot the infected, the sound of the gunshots extra loud in the silent streets, attracting the attention of more infected. Clare watched nervously from behind as she stood ready to provide medical aid to the wounded soldiers and survivors. Her hands gripped the medical kit tightly, her palms were sweaty and her heart was racing with the sound of the gunfire, she was afraid to see someone get hurt but she was even more afraid that she wouldn't be able to save them in time.
During the rescue, a soldier was grabbed by an infected by his leg, he struggled to get free but was still bitten. Seeing this, Clare rushed forward despite the danger. She had only one thought in her head, that she couldn't let him die. She quickly bandaged the soldier's wounds with bandages from her medical kit, trying to stop the virus from spreading. "How are you doing?" Clare asked, her voice a little shaky and her eyes full of concern and worry. "I'm fine, nurse, get back!" The soldier said through gritted teeth, his heart filled with resentment, he didn't want to put Clare in danger because of himself.
Ryan and the others ran wildly through the alleyway, only to realize that there was a high wall in front of them, it was actually a dead end. The faces of the people instantly turned pale. "What to do?" Someone asked in panic, with despair in his voice. Ryan's heart sank as well, and he felt a chill rise up his spine, but he quickly suppressed the panic within him. He looked around and noticed a broken ladder by the wall. "Quick, climb up the ladder!" He shouted, his voice as calm as possible, but inside he was frantically thinking about what to do if there was a problem with the ladder or danger outside the wall.
The group hurriedly set up the ladder and Ryan climbed up first to check what was beyond the wall. Beyond the wall was an abandoned yard that looked to be free of danger for the time being. He breathed a sigh of relief and was secretly grateful, but he didn't dare take it lightly. He motioned for everyone to climb up in turn. The little girl was a little scared, and Ryan held out his hand, "Don't be afraid, I'll pull you." With his encouragement, the little girl successfully climbed up the wall. Ryan looked at the little girl's frightened eyes, his heart stung, he secretly swore that he would protect these people.
Just as the last few people were about to climb the wall, the infected had chased them into the alley. They lunged frantically towards the ladder, and one of the infected grabbed the young mother's foot. The young mother screamed in terror and the baby in her arms cried out. The young mother's mind went blank, she only felt that death had grabbed her and was filled with guilt and dismay for her child. Seeing this, Ryan hurriedly grabbed a wooden stick from the wall and slammed it hard towards the infected's hand. His eyes burned with rage, his heart filled with hatred for these infected, he couldn't let these people hurt the people he was trying to protect. The infected let go of his hand in pain, and the young mother took the opportunity to climb up the wall.
The crowd had just breathed a sigh of relief when they realized that the courtyard was not completely safe. There were several mutated dogs in the yard, their eyes glowing red and much larger than normal, barking furiously at them. "Everyone be careful!" Ryan picked up a wooden stick and blocked in front of the crowd. His heartbeat accelerated once again, and in his heart, he secretly screamed that this doomsday seemed to be one nightmare after another. The mutated dog lunged, Ryan sidestepped and dodged, then struck the dog with his stick. But the dog's fur was tough, and the stick didn't do much damage to it. Ryan was shocked in his heart, he knew that these mutated dogs were not easy to deal with and he had to go all out.
The other survivors also grabbed the items around them to fight the mutant dogs. The old man poked a mutant dog in the eye with a mop handle so hard that the dog let out a scream. The old man's hands were trembling, his heart was filled with fear, but he didn't want to be a liability, he wanted to fight for his and everyone else's survival. The young mother placed her baby in a relatively safe corner and joined the fight as well. Her eyes were filled with determination, she could do anything for her child. After a hard battle, they finally repelled the mutated dogs.
The rescue team Clare was in managed to save the trapped survivors, but they were also in a more dangerous situation. There were more and more infected around them, and they were surrounded in a small area. The captain's face was grave as he looked at the ever-approaching infected. A hint of despair flashed through his heart, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "Prepare to break out!" He shouted, his voice loud and firm, giving the team a hint of courage.
The soldiers formed a tight formation and rushed towards the direction with fewer infected. They shot and fired while fighting the infected with their rifle butts and bayonets. Clare followed in the middle of the group, clutching her medical bag tightly to protect the few medical supplies inside. Her mind was filled with tension and worry, she was afraid to see the soldiers get hurt, but she also knew that the only way to have a chance of survival now was to fight.
During the breakout, a soldier's gun suddenly jammed. A wave of fear welled up in his heart, and he knew what it meant. He was pounced upon by a group of infected and instantly overwhelmed. Clare watched him being attacked but could do nothing about it, her eyes filled with grief. Her heart felt like it was being weighed down by a boulder, and she couldn't catch her breath. "Don't stop, keep moving!" The captain roared, his eyes also glistened with tears, he felt pain for his lost team members, but he couldn't let his grief affect the morale of the whole team.
Ryan and the others took a short break in the courtyard to check for supplies and injuries to personnel. The little girl's arm was bruised and she cried out in pain, her eyes full of aggravation and fear. Clare treated her wound briefly and comforted her gently. Ryan looked at the exhausted crowd and a sense of responsibility welled up in his heart. He knew deep down that he was shouldering the lives of these people and could not afford to slack off in the slightest. "We can't stay here for too long, we have to keep looking for a safe place." He said, with an undeniable firmness in his tone.
They found a door in the courtyard and opened it to another street. This street was relatively spacious, but also more dangerous, littered with abandoned vehicles and signs of battle. They cautiously made their way down the street, trying to avoid the infected and any other dangers that might be present. Ryan's mind was filled with vigilance, his eyes kept scanning the surroundings, every shadow could hide a danger, he felt like he was walking on a tightrope, one wrong step and he would be doomed.
Suddenly, a burning car exploded, the massive impact shaking them to the ground. Ryan felt his ears perk up and he shook his head to clear it. He saw that several people had been hit by debris from the explosion and were badly injured. His heart seized with pain, kicking himself for not recognizing the danger earlier. "Is everyone alright?" He asked aloud, concern and anxiety in his voice.
The young mother's forehead was grazed and blood ran down her cheek. She felt a wave of dizziness and helplessness fill her heart. Ryan rushed over to check, fortunately the wound was not deep. He bandaged her wound with a strip of cloth and then helped the injured person up. "We have to get out of here quickly, the explosion might attract more infected." Ryan said, a sense of urgency filling his mind, every second he lingered could bring more danger.
The rescue squad that Clare was in had finally broken through the infected, but they had suffered heavy losses as well. Less than half of the soldiers were left, and many of them were injured. They continued towards the suburbs, hoping to find a suitable place to set up a temporary base. The captain's heart was very heavy, and he looked at his injured team members with guilt in his heart. He felt that it was his poor decision making that led to this outcome, but he knew that he could not give up now and had to keep going.
On the way forward, they came across a town occupied by infected. The infected in the town were numerous and seemed to have some sort of organization. The captain frowned after observing through his binoculars. His mind was weighing the pros and cons of venturing through the town or taking a detour. A detour would mean spending more time and physical strength, and they didn't have many supplies left. But going straight through the town was just too risky. Just as they were hesitating, the infected in the town seemed to have spotted them and started moving in their direction. "Prepare for battle!" The captain ordered, his heart was a bit helpless, but he was ready to fight.
Ryan and the others continued to flee through the streets as they heard gunshots and the roars of the infected coming from the distance. "There seems to be others fighting over there as well, should we go and take a look?" Someone suggested. Ryan shook his head, a moment of hesitation flashing through his mind, but quickly dismissed the idea. "We can't afford to get involved in any other trouble now that we're on our own." He knew that in this post-apocalyptic world, sympathy could get everyone in trouble, and he had to stay calm and prioritize the safety of his group.
They came to an intersection with a blasted statue in the center of it. Ryan was about to choose a direction to go when he realized that there were infected in every direction. "We're surrounded!" Someone shouted in desperation, their voice filled with fear and helplessness. Ryan's heart sank as he felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, but he quickly composed himself. He looked around and saw a sturdy looking building next to him, like a small library. "Retreat to the library!" He shouted, hoping that this library would be their temporary haven.
The group ran towards the library, with Ryan and a few of the physically stronger men fending off the infected in the back. Ryan swung his wooden stick and slammed it hard towards the infected's head. Each attack required the strength of his entire body, and his arms began to ache, but he couldn't stop. There was only one thought in his mind, and that was to buy enough time for everyone. He looked at the approaching infected, his heart filled with fearlessness of death and desire to survive.
The young mother slammed a chair at an infected, only for the infected to grab the chair. Her mind was in a panic and she felt death approaching once again. Seeing this, Ryan rushes over and stabs the infected in the eye with a wooden stick, knocking him back. But more infected poured in, and they were gradually cornered. A wave of despair welled up in Ryan's heart, but he still didn't give up as he searched for any possible chance of survival.
At this critical moment, Ryan realized that there was a vent on the ceiling of the room. "Go through the vent!" He shouted. The group hurriedly stacked up the tables and chairs and Ryan climbed up first, opening the vent. He told everyone to climb in in turn, with himself at the end in charge of fending off the infected. His mind was filled with tension and determination, he knew this was their last chance.
Once everyone was in the vent, Ryan climbed in as well. The roar of the infected behind them was still clearly audible as they crawled through the ventilation ducts. The ventilation ducts were dusty and the space was narrow, making it extremely difficult to move. But they didn't dare to stay and crawled in the direction away from the infected. Ryan's heart silently prayed, hoping that this ventilation duct would lead to a safe place, he felt like he was searching for light in a dark tunnel, even if there was only a sliver of hope, he couldn't give up.
They crawled through the ventilation ducts for a long time, I don't know how long before they finally found an exit. The exit led to a roof, and Ryan carefully climbed out of the vent, checking his surroundings. The roof was relatively safe and there were no infected around. He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he'd walked through a ghostly door.
He pulled the others out as well, and the group sat on the roof, breathing heavily. They had just escaped from a life and death crisis, but they knew that in this apocalyptic world, danger was everywhere, and they had to keep on the run to find true safety. Ryan looked at the exhausted crowd and his heart was filled with emotion, he knew that this escape was far from over, but as long as everyone was still alive, there was hope.
Clare and the rescue team arrived with the armored convoy at a huge military base. The base was surrounded by high fences and barbed wire, and was patrolled by soldiers. Upon entering the base, Clare saw that there were many survivors inside, as well as various medical facilities and supplies. She let out a sigh of relief and her heart was filled with relief. Finally, she could take good care of the injured, and she felt that her nerves, which had been tense all along, could finally relax a bit. However, she was still concerned about the people fleeing in the city in her heart, not knowing how many others could survive this apocalyptic disaster. She decided to do her best to help as many people as she could in the base, and at the same time, she also hoped to find a way to fight the virus and save this already broken world. Her eyes were filled with determination and hope, knowing that her mission was not yet complete.
Ryan and the others rested on the roof for a while before starting to look for their next escape route. They saw a bridge not too far away, and there seemed to be some buildings on the other side of the bridge that looked like an industrial park. "Let's head that way, we might be able to find safety." Ryan said as he pointed at the bridge. There was some hesitation in his mind, after all, every choice could bring unknown dangers, but they couldn't stay on the roof forever.
They found a staircase from the roof that led to the ground and carefully made their way towards the bridge. There were some abandoned vehicles and bodies on the bridge as well, and they moved forward warily. Ryan's mind was on alert, and his eyes kept scanning the surrounding area, his heart in his throat at every movement. Suddenly, something was swimming in the river under the bridge.