As the chaotic crowd surged toward the gates, Liu Zhenhai from the Enforcement Bureau found himself at a loss. The throngs of people were pushing forward with desperate energy, and the reality of the situation hit him hard: if any of them were scratched by an infected person, if the transformation began...
How many people would die? It was impossible for him to estimate.
"Everyone, please go home! We'll lift the lockdown once we identify the infected," Liu Zhenhai shouted, his voice booming without a megaphone. But the crowd, gripped by fear, didn't seem to hear a word.
"Don't lie to us! In District F, the last time there were infected, hundreds of people died!" one man yelled.
"You just don't care whether we live or die!" another screamed.
Liu Zhenhai's shout only seemed to make things worse. The wire fence started to bend under the pressure. He was barely holding things together, when, out of nowhere, a figure dashed past him.
"Hey, kid, I told you to stay back! Be careful, the infected are out there," Liu Zhenhai called after the figure, but the man didn't respond. Instead, he approached the fence, braced himself, and with a leap, scaled the wire.
"What?!" Liu Zhenhai's eyes widened in disbelief. Not only did he, but even the desperate crowd behind him paused, confused. Who in their right mind would enter the quarantine zone? Had he lost his mind?
A soft voice called from inside the crowd, startling Liu Zhenhai. "Brother."
A fragile, timid figure appeared beside the man who had just jumped into the quarantine area. It was a little girl, her eyes filled with anxiety as she tugged at the man's sleeve.
Liu Zhenhai watched, momentarily stunned, but he seized the opportunity and raised his voice. "Look at this! Even a child isn't afraid, and you're all terrified. If it were really so dangerous, do you think I'd let him inside? It's getting dark; everyone should go home as quickly as possible!"
For a moment, the crowd quieted. Then, they realized the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the scene. Fear began to creep across their faces, and one by one, they began to disperse.
The man, Gu Chen, looked down at his younger sister, Mu Xiaowan, who had clung to him as they stood together. Their eyes met, and after a brief pause, he spoke softly.
"Is it really you?"
Mu Xiaowan shook her head.
"I'm from outside," she whispered.
Gu Chen exhaled, a little relieved, yet there was no need for further explanation between them. They both understood what the other meant. As they were about to turn to leave, a deep voice halted them.
"Young man, if you go in now, I won't be able to let you back out. Do you really think this is a joke?"
Liu Zhenhai stood nearby, his expression no longer as calm as it had been before.
"I know," Gu Chen replied, giving his sister a gentle pat on the head. She was still wearing her old floral apron, a reminder of their humble home life.
"But I have to go home."
Liu Zhenhai looked from Gu Chen to the frail girl by his side. He hesitated, then leaned in, lowering his voice. "Stay inside once it gets dark. Don't go out. The infected only hunt at night."
The words "hunt" seemed to linger in the air, and Gu Chen's eyes narrowed. He nodded in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, the crowd around them had thinned. People knew that nightfall was nearing, and the real danger would come with the darkness. They hastily made their way to their homes, boarding up windows and doors in preparation for what the night might bring. The street, once bustling with life, became eerily quiet.
Gu Chen and Mu Xiaowan walked back to their small wooden house, their steps quickening with the setting sun. It had taken them over two years of hard labor to scrape together enough money to buy this place. It was small, but it was theirs.
However, when they reached the door, they were met with an unexpected sight.
Inside their home were several large, burly men, smoking and lounging around. When they saw Gu Chen and his sister standing at the door, they first froze, then grinned widely, their expressions one of relieved recognition.
"So, it's just two kids living here," one of the men chuckled.
Gu Chen's heart sank. He could see their hands in their pockets, their posture alert, as though they were prepared to reach for something. If it had been two adults coming home, would they have acted differently? Would they have attacked?
"You guys are mistaken. This is my house," Gu Chen said, keeping his tone steady as he positioned himself between the men and his sister, shielding her from their view.
The man with the scar on his face exchanged a look with the others, then broke into a low, cruel laugh. "Your house? Does it have your name on it? I say this is my house. Got a problem with that?"
The men behind him snickered, their eyes moving from Gu Chen to Mu Xiaowan. Though she was only 13, her delicate features and youthful innocence made her appear even younger and more vulnerable. She wore a simple, worn-out dress, yet there was something about her, a quiet beauty, that caught their attention.
Gu Chen's breath caught in his chest, and he instinctively moved closer to his sister. He could feel his muscles tense, his pulse quicken. He was capable of a few quick strikes, but he wasn't sure it would be enough to handle these men, especially considering their rough, unpredictable nature.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Mu Xiaowan, still standing behind her brother, looked up. Her eyes, once soft and innocent, had turned a strange shade of crimson, the air around her thickening with a faint, dark aura. Her gaze locked on the men in front of them, and without saying a word, she stepped forward.
Gu Chen's expression hardened, and his body subtly shifted to block her from their view. He lowered his voice, barely audible, as he spoke to her.
"Let me handle this."
A chilling silence filled the air. The oppressive aura that had surrounded Mu Xiaowan faded, and her innocent, gentle appearance returned. She stood quietly behind her brother, her hands trembling slightly but calm.
"Hey, kid, I'm talking to you!" the scar-faced man barked again, his tone mocking as he stared at Gu Chen. His eyes flicked back and forth between him and the little girl behind him, clearly growing irritated.
Gu Chen turned to face the man, his expression shifting to one of wide-eyed fear.
"No problem... no problem at all. Can I just grab something to eat from the kitchen? I'll be out of your way, I promise."
The men laughed at his fear, their postures loosening as they took pleasure in seeing the young man squirm.
"Fine. You have one minute. Grab what you need and get out," the scar-faced man sneered.
Gu Chen nodded quickly and, without taking his eyes off the men, moved toward the kitchen. The room was cramped, the aroma of a simple meal lingering in the air. Two plates of cold dishes sat on the table—spicy potato strips and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. It seemed his sister had cooked these for him, but now they were cold and forgotten.
His eyes flicked to a small black switch on the wall. Gu Chen's expression darkened. With a swift motion, he twisted the knob to its highest setting.
As he returned to the living room, the men were still laughing, their mocking voices filling the air. However, Gu Chen could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere.
"Boss, are you sure we're just letting them go? That little girl's cute, and we haven't had a good time in a while," one of the men muttered with a wicked grin.
"Let them go?" The scar-faced man sneered, but then he paused, his face suddenly pale as realization hit him. He glanced at his companions, and then it hit him—Gu Chen had been planning to kill them all along. His panic was palpable as his hand shot to his pocket, but it was too late.
The sound of a blade piercing through flesh echoed in the room. Blood splattered, and the scar-faced man's eyes widened in disbelief. His hand clutched at the knife wound in his chest as his body crumpled to the floor.
"Gas poisoning," Gu Chen muttered coldly, his voice filled with contempt. "You should have stayed out of my way."
The remaining men were frozen, their expressions fading into a mixture of fear and disbelief. But it was too late. They had underestimated the power of the people they thought they could take advantage of.
Gu Chen turned to his sister, his expression now hard and resolute.
"Let's go," he said, his voice low.
Together, they left the house, their fates sealed in the grim silence of the night. The city beyond the walls would never be the same.