Into The Sea

“Over here,” Ji Lingyue called, shielding herself from the pouring rain with her bag as she hurried under a shelter.

It was two in the afternoon, but the sky was still shrouded in dark clouds, not a single ray of light breaking through. The occasional rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. The streets were flooded with filthy water, reeking of decay. Aside from the occasional rat scurrying out from damp corners, she couldn’t see any signs of life. This once prosperous and peaceful city now felt like a complete wasteland.

Behind her, Lan Wu stepped through the puddles and joined her. “My clothes are soaked, and so are my shoes.”

Ji Lingyue wiped the water from her face and said, “It’s okay. My apartment is just around the corner. Once we get there, I can lend you some of my clothes.”

Lan Wu didn’t respond, looking around instead. “Don’t you think it’s strange? I could understand not seeing any people on the road, but why aren’t there even any zombies?”

Ji Lingyue shrugged. “Maybe they don’t like the rain either.”

Besides, the rain conveniently masked their footsteps, providing some cover for their movements. Ji Lingyue sighed in relief and turned to look at the vampire beside her.

Lan Wu was drenched, water dripping from her body, her hair plastered to her face. She was wringing out her shirt, the water splattering onto the ground.

Lan Wu pouted and muttered, “If they don’t like the rain, maybe they’re hiding indoors. And then when we go in, we’ll run right into them.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Ji Lingyue raised her bag over her head again and urged, “Let’s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can rest.”

“Fine.”

Lan Wu sighed silently, looking up at the gloomy sky before reluctantly stepping back into the rain. The rest of the journey was uneventful, and soon enough, the two of them hurried into the apartment complex and ducked into the dark entrance of the building.

A few seconds later, they came rushing back out, panic written all over their faces.

“You jinxed it!”

Lan Wu protested, “It was a reasonable assumption!”

Behind them, a horde of zombies surged out like a flood. Lan Wu glanced back and couldn’t help but gasp. “Why are there so many?!”

The rain muffled the sounds, making everything seem distant and surreal. Ji Lingyue shouted, “Why are you running? They won’t attack you!”

Oh right.

Lan Wu froze, then turned to face the grotesque, rotting faces and punched it square in the face.

Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, and the vampire let out a shriek.

Ji Lingyue jumped, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Lan Wu shook her hand in disgust. “My hand’s dirty! Ugh! So gross!”

Ji Lingyue clenched her fists, exasperated. “Can’t you find a weapon or something?!”

As lightning flashed and thunder roared, a foul stench suddenly swept toward her from the side. Ji Lingyue instinctively ducked, narrowly avoiding the clawed hand reaching for her. Through the rain-blurred vision, she saw countless dark figures pouring out from the surrounding buildings.

Ji Lingyue stopped, looking around frantically.

There were too many. No matter which direction she looked, the horde was closing in. Only now did she realize what Yao Zhu had meant by a “zombie nest.”

“Huff, huff…”

Her breathing grew more ragged, and she trembled as she called out, “Lan Wu!”

Lan Wu was nearly swallowed by the horde, struggling to smash the heads of the zombies in front of her while staggering toward Ji Lingyue. “Run for higher ground!”

“Higher ground, higher ground…” Ji Lingyue scanned the area and her eyes landed on a crooked tree not far away.

It was a favorite spot for the neighborhood kids to play, with its thick trunk and gnarled roots making it easy to climb. From there, they could jump onto the roof of the neighboring community center. The tree had been the subject of many complaints from parents who wanted it removed, but now it was her only chance for survival.

Without hesitation, Ji Lingyue ran toward it. At the same time, the horde closed in rapidly.

Before the encirclement closed completely, she scrambled up the tree and stood unsteadily on a slippery branch that stretched toward the roof.

Lan Wu finally fought her way to the base of the tree. Ji Lingyue glanced down and immediately turned pale, her body swaying slightly.

 She took a deep breath, refusing to look at the sea of zombies below, and carefully stepped along the branch to the roof.

Seeing her land safely, Lan Wu sighed in relief, then nimbly scaled the wall. A girl on the roof jumped, raising a metal shovel instinctively. Seeing it was her, she stammered, “Lan Wu…”

Lan Wu hummed and frowned, looking down. The three-story building was surrounded by zombies, like an island in a black ocean, with no escape.

She pursed her lips and looked at the surrounding buildings, soon forming a plan.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly being carried on Lan Wu’s back, Ji Lingyue clutched the vampire’s neck nervously. After what they had just been through, her heart was pounding, and her limbs felt weak. Lan Wu shifted her higher on her back. “Hold on tight. Don’t let go.”

Ji Lingyue grew more anxious. “What are you planning?”

“Getting us out of here,” Lan Wu said, eyeing the distance to the nearest building. “If I get a running start, I should be able to jump over there.”

Ji Lingyue looked over and her jaw dropped. “That building? You’re going to jump over there?! Are you serious?”

“I’m a vampire, remember?”

“Even for a vampire, twenty meters is…”

Before she could finish, Lan Wu bounced in place, stretched her neck, and limbered up. She started jogging from the far end of the roof. “Hold on tight. I’m only doing this once.”

“Wa-wait!” Ji Lingyue shrieked. “I didn’t agree to—!”

Amid the drawn-out scream, a dark figure flew over the heads of the zombies, latching onto the side of the adjacent building. Lan Wu grinned, about to boast, when her body slid downwards. She gasped and dug her fingers into the wall, pulling herself up just before the zombies could bite Ji Lingyue’s feet.

Ji Lingyue was terrified, her face buried in Lan Wu’s shoulder. As the vampire climbed higher, she dared not look down, only saying, “Where are you going?”

“I was going to ask you.” Lan Wu glanced at her. “Which floor is your apartment on?”

Ji Lingyue paused, then slowly looked up. “Not this building.”

“I know.” Lan Wu glanced at her and grinned. “I’ll just jump again.”

“…”

Half an hour later, a small window slick with rainwater was pushed open. The vampire struggled to grab the ledge, panting as she climbed inside. “We’re… here…”

The familiar bathroom greeted them, its layout unchanged from when Ji Lingyue had left. However, the floor was covered in a thick layer of dust, as if no one had lived here for a long time. Ji Lingyue climbed off Lan Wu’s back, scanning the room. Her heart began to race again.

She took a deep breath, picked up the steel shovel, and pushed open the bathroom door to step outside.

Lan Wu followed her, hesitating before saying, “There’s no one here. At least, not in this apartment.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I can’t hear anything.”

Ji Lingyue froze, standing silently in place.

Lan Wu pursed her lips and walked a few steps into the living room, turning to see dried, blackened bloodstains on the floor of the entrance hall. The front door, adorned with a bright red “Good Fortune(福)” character, was open.

Lan Wu sighed softly and closed the door. “I’m sorry, but it seems your mom isn’t here anymore.”