Chen Chao said calmly, "Let them have a taste of the world outside. It'll save us trouble later on."
Fan Xiangyu whispered, "You're really willing? What if your sister was the one going? Would you still say the same thing?"
...
Ye Fei and You Qian followed the little boy, winding through several alleys until they arrived at the entrance of a small, narrow lane. The area was littered with decayed remnants, filling the air with a pungent stench.
You Qian stayed vigilant, scanning their surroundings for any sudden appearance of zombies.
Holding Ye Fei's hand, the boy led her to a green metal door. He took out a key, quickly unlocked the door, and gently pushed it open.
A strong, nauseating mix of decay and blood immediately wafted out. Ye Fei and You Qian frowned slightly but did not think much of it, following the boy into the small apartment.
The room was modest, with only a living space of about ten square meters, a tiny kitchen, and a bed placed in the main area. Opposite the bed was a TV and a fridge.
On the bed lay a woman with disheveled hair and a pale complexion. Upon seeing Ye Fei and You Qian, her eyes flickered with a strange light. She tried to sit up weakly but was overcome by a fit of violent coughing.
The boy immediately rushed to her side, clutching the edge of the bed. Handing her a piece of cake and some water, he sobbed, "Mom, hang in there. These kind big brother and sister gave me this food—please eat a little."
The woman looked up at Ye Fei and You Qian with gratitude. "Thank you so much..." she murmured, trying to get off the bed and kneel to express her thanks.
Alarmed, Ye Fei and You Qian stepped forward. Ye Fei hurriedly said, "No, no, it's nothing. You don't need to—"
Thud!
Before she could finish, something heavy smashed into Ye Fei's head from above. Her mind went blank as her body collapsed forward. Her vision spun, and her ears buzzed. She barely caught a glimpse of the boy turning toward her, clutching a bloodstained pair of scissors.
On the bed, the frail woman had sat upright. Her ghastly pale face now twisted with a vicious, ravenous grin.
Pain consumed Ye Fei's consciousness as she forced herself to shake her head to stay awake. Her hearing gradually returned, and she heard the woman sneer, "Good job, Xiaojie. With these two, we'll be well-fed for a while."
"Yes, Mom," the boy nodded enthusiastically, his innocent smile taking on a chilling and sinister edge.
Ye Fei now noticed his teeth were faintly red, with strands of dried blood caught between them. The contrast with his childlike demeanor was unspeakably eerie and malevolent.
She felt icy fear coursing through her veins. Turning her head with difficulty, she saw You Qian lying motionless on the ground nearby. Blood oozed from his head, and several bricks lay scattered around him.
"Why...why?" Ye Fei gasped, struggling to get up. Her head throbbed with excruciating pain, and her body refused to cooperate.
"If you want answers, you can ask the King of Hell when you see him!" The woman cackled, pulling out a rope hidden under the bedding and pinning Ye Fei to the ground, swiftly tying her up.
Ye Fei struggled in vain. The woman's strength was shockingly great, and Ye Fei's dizziness made resistance impossible. Within moments, she was tightly bound.
The woman exhaled in relief, grabbing another rope to bind You Qian as well. After finishing, she turned to the boy and said, "Next time, position it better. We almost only got one of them this time."
The boy nodded earnestly. "Got it, Mom."
The woman patted his head before walking to the fridge. She opened it, releasing a faint but distinct odor of decay.
Lying on her side, Ye Fei could see into the fridge in the dim light. What she saw made her pupils contract and her heart stop.
Inside were bones, still clinging to bits of flesh, and neatly stacked human skins. At the top were two skulls, their eyes gouged out, cheeks hollowed, and noses sliced off—horrific beyond words.
On one shelf was a basin filled with chunks of flesh, including two crimson hands and half a foot.
"You...you eat people!" Ye Fei exclaimed in shock.
The woman turned back, grinning viciously. "Don't worry. I'll skin you perfectly—deep fry it, savor it slowly. Your soft skin will be a treat. Xiaojie loves eating skin, don't you?"
The boy grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
Ye Fei felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss. Her mind blanked until the woman's mention of "draining blood" jolted her back to reality. She saw the woman approaching You Qian with a bloodstained cleaver.
"Let's kill the man first. He might wake up and cause trouble," the woman said, squatting down. She turned her head toward Ye Fei and sneered, "Don't worry. You're next."
Tears streamed from Ye Fei's eyes as she struggled desperately, guilt overwhelming her. It was her fault You Qian had come along.
She suddenly recalled what Chen Chao had told her three days ago: Obsession is a weakness.
This is all my fault, she thought. My obsession caused this!
She watched the cleaver rise toward You Qian's neck.
"No!" Ye Fei screamed, throwing herself forward and crashing into the woman's chest. The cleaver slashed across her back, sending searing pain through her body. The agony triggered something within her—her blood quickened, her body...began to change.
The woman staggered back, glaring angrily. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!" She raised the cleaver again, aiming for Ye Fei's neck.
Ye Fei, tears streaming down her face, ignored the descending blade and hurled herself forward, her mind consumed with one thought: Kill her. Kill her.
An overwhelming killing intent surged through her, drowning out the pain and dizziness.
Crash!
The woman flew backward, slamming into the fridge.
Ye Fei's eyes glowed crimson, blood tears staining her face. Her once-delicate features twisted with murderous rage.
She lunged at the woman, ramming her repeatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The woman screamed as her arms snapped under the relentless impact. Trapped against the fridge, her chest caved in under the assault.
When Ye Fei finally stopped, the woman was unrecognizable—a lifeless, grotesque heap.
Ye Fei, panting heavily, turned her blood-red eyes toward the terrified boy by the bed.