Stepping out first, Liu Bin swiftly scanned the area with his flashlight, confirming it was clear of zombies before gesturing for Li Wei to follow.
"Take this for protection. I've got your back," he said as he handed her a rubber baton. Despite his capability to handle most threats, Li Wei needed to defend herself if the situation called for it.
Clutching the baton tightly, Li Wei looked around nervously, unsettled by the obscure shadows and eerie sounds surrounding them. "Don't worry, I'm right here," Liu Bin reassured her, gently grasping her cold hands to steady her.
As they prepared to leave the current location, Li Wei whispered, "Wait, let me grab my backpack from the next room. It has food, water, and some disinfectant wipes."
"Okay, I'll check the room for safety first," Liu Bin responded. He cautiously opened the door, peeking inside. Finding no threats, he signaled Li Wei to retrieve her backpack.
Armed and reassured, they proceeded, Liu Bin leading the way with his shield, ready to face whatever lurked in the darkness of the library.
As they approached the next room, a sudden burst threw Liu Bin against the wall. The door had flung open unexpectedly, revealing a monstrous figure whose enormous paw clamped onto his shield. Gritting his teeth and struggling against the beast's strength, Liu Bin felt the beast's uneven breaths against the plastic shield.
With a terrifying roar, the creature flung him across the room, but a swift movement from an unseen ally pulled him into safety. "Shh! Keep quiet," whispered a familiar female voice as the monster lumbered past their hiding spot and leapt out of the window.
"Wait, you are—"
"Li Wei!" Overwhelmed with relief and joy, Liu Bin embraced her tightly. The sudden proximity to his girlfriend dispelled all his fears, replacing them with elation and relief.
After securing their immediate safety, Liu Bin asked, "Are there others here?"
"I'm not sure; I was just hiding here," Li Wei responded, her voice low. "Thank you for coming for me."
Together, they planned their escape. "We need to get supplies from the cafeteria and find somewhere safe to wait this out. Should we check on Mingming too?"
"Yes, whatever you decide, I'm with you," Li Wei said with determination.
Hand in hand, they cautiously made their way down the stairs. The dark library held potential dangers, but the couple was prepared. Stepping out, they encountered the haunting reality of the situation outside the library. The exit was overrun with zombies, blocking their planned route.
"Any other exits?" Liu Bin asked.
"Just the main one," Li Wei replied.
Contemplating their next move, Liu Bin suggested, "What about the windows? We could possibly escape through there."
"Do you remember the rumors about the library being haunted? Specifically, the storeroom on the first floor," Li Wei asked hesitantly.
Despite her fears, Liu Bin reassured her, "Don't worry, I'm with you. Ghosts or not, we'll face it together."
Thus, with Liu Bin's encouragement, they prepared to confront whatever awaited them in the storeroom, bolstered by the strength of their bond and the necessity of survival.