After the power outage, the city was plunged into an unprecedented darkness. Perhaps for centuries—if not millennia—this region had never experienced such profound darkness after nightfall. And now, it was the reality.
The darkness didn't just cover the city; it extinguished more than just the lights. In the past, nightfall was a time for family gatherings. Even the homeless would return to their little shelters, tallying up the day's spoils. But now, night felt like a cruel joke played by death and human civilization. Mutated creatures paused to sense the movements of the wind, while the remaining humans huddled in their homes, praying to survive another day.
This same scene played out across the globe—whether in the UK, France, Germany, Russia, or the United States. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station might be able to see the darkness spreading like the final curtain on human civilization—though, that is, if they hadn't already been consumed by their mutated comrades.
Some leaders had taken vaccines early and survived the pandemic, hiding in doomsday bunkers, living on the edge of existence. A few remaining governments and military forces were still operational, creating safe zones and trying to maintain some semblance of order by rallying survivors.
In the distant East, despite the successful containment of the pandemic half a year ago, more than a million people had mutated. Though the situation was under control for the moment, it was slipping toward chaos. Survivors who hadn't turned into mutated creatures were fleeing the cities, seeking refuge in remote places, hoping to survive away from the collapse of civilization.
If there was any country still fully intact, it might be the mysterious nation to the north of the Korean Peninsula. As a lone player in the global game, the pandemic had almost no effect on them. Now, they were mobilizing their military to conquer the South, taking advantage of their neighbors' demise.
Shao Ming gazed out the window at the moonlight reflecting off the empty streets of the city. A wave of desolation washed over him. The old saying, "The moon makes one yearn for home," now resonated deeply with him.
Without power, and too cautious to use any more, Shao Ming lay down on his bed, drifting into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, he woke up early, something he had never done naturally before. Perhaps it was because, in the past, he had never gone to bed so early when he still had his phone. The sun had risen, and when he checked his watch, it was just past seven.
Unable to fall back asleep, Shao Ming got up and began organizing the supplies in his apartment. The refrigerator was off, but the frozen chicken fillets were still solid. They would last a few more days. There was still plenty of biscuits left, enough to last a month if he rationed them.
He filled every container he could find with water. He wasn't sure how long the tap water would keep running, but even if the pressure held for another month, it would likely become undrinkable without anyone maintaining the system. Fortunately, being in the UK, rainwater was never scarce, and it could be used for drinking in emergencies.
The medical supplies were also plentiful. While he hadn't managed to bring much back from the pharmacy, he had enough alcohol, disinfectant, and bandages for treating wounds. There was still one bottle of antibiotics and several boxes of common cold and anti-inflammatory medications.
Shao Ming reorganized his ammunition: his G36 rifle had 46 rounds left in two magazines, while his P320 had two full magazines with 30 rounds each, plus 58 extra rounds in a box. Li Long's baseball bat had been cleaned, and there was still a fruit knife available. Shao Ming also replaced the book he had been using as a forearm guard with a new one, since the old one had been torn by a mutated creature.
From the tactical vest he had taken off a SWAT officer, Shao Ming had a few cable ties, four glow sticks, and a police radio. He fiddled with the radio, and though it turned on, all he could hear was static. After a moment, he tossed it aside and surveyed the neatly arranged pile of supplies before him.
If he weren't planning to leave, these supplies would last a long time.
Shao Ming packed up what he could carry: food, water, bullets, his tablet, and a power bank. After everything was in his backpack, he started to plan his route to the consulate. Using the map he had scavenged from a police car, Shao Ming decided to head east. The main road leading east would take him out of the quarantine zone, and there were more residential buildings in that area, which likely meant more possible exits.
If what Gary and his group had said was true, he could rule out the route from the school to the park. However, starting from the residential buildings meant a longer detour before returning to the consulate, and it was also riskier, with more potential encounters along the way.
Shao Ming decided to eat breakfast first. He'd wait for the sun to rise higher before setting out. He didn't want to be ambushed by some mutated creature hiding in the dark.
From the refrigerator, he took out two frozen chicken fillets and tossed them into the frying pan. If things went according to plan, this would be his last meal in the small apartment.
The frozen chicken fillets didn't taste great, but knowing that in a few days he might not even have food like this, he washed it down with some beer. As for the rest of the beer, he had already found a good use for it: he would take a few bottles with him and turn them into Molotov cocktails if necessary.
After his meal, Shao Ming took the last bath he would have for a while, perhaps the first one in days. He changed into clean sweatpants and a hoodie, put on his tactical vest, strapped on his backpack, and slipped the baseball bat behind him. His handgun went into the holster at his waist.
Finally, he grabbed his rifle and pushed open the door.
It was time to head home.
The sun had risen, and its rays bathed the lifeless land in a bleak light.