"Should we go inside to check it out?" Sylas turned to Shuan and asked.
Shuan frowned but nodded. "Alright, let's check, just in case someone's trapped in here."
Sylas slowly and carefully opened the partially damaged door with a creak. Both of them cautiously stepped inside the house. What greeted Sylas's vision was an interior in complete mess with household items scattered everywhere. He swept his gaze around, searching for any dangers that may be lurking in the shadows.
"The sound seems to be coming from upstairs. Should we go up?" Shuan asked in a low voice.
"Since we're already inside, let's check it out," Sylas replied as he slowly stepped onto the staircase.
They slowly climbed the stairs and stopped in front of the door upstairs. They could hear the sound more clearly now, which was coming from inside the room.
"It sounds like there's really someone in there," Shuan whispered in a low voice.
Sylas nodded in agreement. "It's crying," he murmured.
They pressed themselves against the door, exchanging a glance. Sylas narrowed his eyes and gave Shuan a firm nod before pushing the door open.
Creak!
The door swung wide, and they stepped inside, gripping their knives, ready to attack in case of any dangers.
Sylas immediately scanned the room, and quickly, his sharp gaze finally locked onto the source of the sound.
"It's coming from underneath the bed," Shuan said as he stepped forward.
Sylas also cautiously walked toward the bed.
Sylas, holding the knife, bent down and, with the tip of his knife, slowly lifted the bedsheets. Shuan stood beside Sylas, ready to take action.
When Sylas lifted the sheets hanging from the bed, he saw a three - or four-year-old child hiding under the bed. The child was curled up underneath, weakly whimpering.
"A child," Shuan said with a frown.
"Looks like a boy. Let's pull him out first," Sylas said with worry in his eyes.
"No, wait. We don't know if he's infected or not yet," Shuan said, stopping Sylas.
Sylas nodded and turned his attention toward the child once again.
Shuan kneeled down beside the bed and carefully observed the child.
"He doesn't seem to be infected," Sylas said.
"Did his parents abandon him?" Sylas voiced his thoughts.
"We don't know whether they abandoned him intentionally or not. Who knows if his parents are even alive?" Shuan said.
"Hello, dear, can you hear me?" Shuan called out to the child, but the child seemed to be unconscious and continued whimpering.
"Let's pull him out. He doesn't seem to be infected," Sylas said.
"Alright," Shuan replied.
They slowly and carefully pulled the child out from underneath the bed.
The child looked thin and pale, his lips were chapped, and his eyes were swollen, probably from crying.
"Water, quick," Shuan said as he carefully examined the child.
Sylas immediately took out his water bottle and fed the child slowly and carefully. Seeing the child's pale and chapped lips, he realized the child seemed dehydrated.
"He must have been hiding here for a few days without food or water. And because of the cold, he fell unconscious. He's burning up—looks like a high fever," Shuan said as he carefully checked the boy's body.
The boy was bundled up in warm clothes. They took off the boy's jacket to cool him down.
"We can't stay here for long. Moreover, we can't leave the child here. We have to take him back. What should we do? Should we go back?" Shuan asked Sylas.
Sylas was also in a dilemma. They didn't have any medicine to treat the child. After deliberating for a while, he said, "Since we've already come this far, let's quickly check out the area near the mansion. I'll carry the child on my back. He's small and light, so it won't affect my movements."
Shuan thought for a moment and agreed with Sylas.
"Then, let's do as you say," Shuan replied.
Sylas fed water to the child, who drank subconsciously even though he was unconscious. Then he looked around the room for a cloth suitable for carrying a child. Finding none, he turned to the window and spotted the white curtains. Walking toward them, he pulled the curtain down. With Shuan's help, he tied the unconscious child securely to his back. The child weakly lifted his eyelids before closing them again.
"Let's go," Sylas said, looking at Shuan.
They left the house, re-entered the alley, and continued ahead.
"Looks like the zombies have dispersed," Shuan said as they neared the mansion. From the alley, they could see the road near the mansion was deserted.
Sylas nodded and said, "Let's go and check the situation on the road."
As they walked out of the alley, two zombies on the road suddenly turned their heads toward them, baring their teeth as they rushed forward. With quick and precise movements, Sylas and Shuan immediately dealt with them.
"Let's check the road ahead and make sure the way is clear and not blocked," Shuan said, taking the initiative to walk ahead.
Sylas nodded in agreement and followed him cautiously.
"Why did the horde of zombies disperse so fast?" Sylas asked, scanning the surroundings.
Shuan halted his steps and replied, "I'm not sure, but it's a good thing for us. Considering their low intelligence, I thought it would take them much longer to leave this area."
Dang!
Suddenly, they heard a loud sound of something falling.
"What was that?" Shuan said, looking around for the source of the noise.
"Oh no, the loud sound will attract more zombies. Let's go—hurry!" Sylas said, grabbing Shuan as he turned to leave.
"F...k!" Shuan cursed under his breath as he realized the situation and rushed toward the alley.
They hurriedly ran back and entered the alley. As they continued running, they immediately spotted the zombies that were lurking within the houses in the alley, suddenly emerging, seemingly attracted by the loud noise.
"The zombies are drawn to that noise," Shuan said as he prepared to fight.
Sylas's expression turned grim as he saw a group of zombies ahead.
"Use the guns if necessary," Shuan said to Sylas.
"Alright," Sylas replied as he clutched the knife in his hand.