Apocalypse

Xing Ren is a 32-year-old recluse who lives alone in a house after the death of his parents and the departure of his unit leader. He lives off of the rent money from his parents' shopfront and spends his days on the computer. In 2012, he ignored the rumors of the apocalypse, but on the 31st of December, something changed. He wakes up to a strange smell and a world that is no longer the same. The streets are quiet and when he looks outside, he sees a group of people eating something that looks like human flesh. He goes limp and feels nauseous.

After sitting for 30 minutes, Xing Ren began to feel better and went to the window. He noticed that more people were gathering and figures were approaching the group in the dim light. He felt fear in his heart and his body was trembling and he had goosebumps.

In his haste to call the police, Xing Ren tried to find a phone but struggled to remember the number. He was sweating and feeling anxious. He tried dialing 110 and 120, but the lines were busy. He also attempted to call friends and family, but either no one answered or the lines were busy. Overcome with anxiety, Xing Ren made a drastic decision and flushed his home phone down the toilet.

The scene outside the window was chaotic, with a growing crowd and bodies strewn on the blood-soaked ground. People were getting up only to be knocked down again, while others continued to feast. Screams echoed in the distance. Fires burned brightly in the night sky, illuminating the destruction of the city he called home.

His heart ached at the sight, and he lit a cigarette for solace. He found a brief moment of comfort before turning on his computer and reading the news. The headlines were grim, announcing a global virus outbreak with symptoms reported across North America, South America, Africa, and Eurasia. The world was in chaos and Xing Ren felt a deep sadness.

At around 7 a.m., reports began to surface of people inexplicably attacking others. As the number of infected individuals grew fast and the virus spread, there was not enough time for the national emergency plan to be activated. The virus quickly became a catastrophic disaster, causing the breakdown of the entire administrative system. With the virus, one never knew if their loved ones, coworkers, or friends would suddenly turn violent. Bites and scratches would cause a person to become aggressive and start attacking others within 60 minutes. The virus was named "End Of The World" in Europe and "World's Destroyer of D virus" in America.

There are two virus transmission modes: airborne and physical contact. Those infected exhibits increased strength and walking speed, but diminished sprinting ability. Their teeth and nails have become more pointed, making normal clothing unable to protect them from bites and scratches. The infected display distinctive features such as a lack of pupils, stiff movements, and outstretched arms that reach to their knees. Their sense of smell is heightened, and they only eat flesh and blood. If bitten or scratched, the victim will soon turn into one of the infected. At present, destroying the spinal cord is the only way to kill them. The estimated infection rate is as high as 90%. If anyone reading this, please keep fighting and survive, only if you live will there be hope.

If survival brings hope, Xing Ren realizes that the crowd outside the window are infected. Fearful of infection, mutation, and being devoured by the infected, he paces with a worried mind, lighting a cigarette to calm himself and find a solution. The idea of venturing outside to seek help is dismissed as the zombies downstairs would be waiting to attack. He sits at the computer and starts to plan. With tap water being contaminated, he is grateful for his lazy habit of drinking bottled water, which he has a half-barrel supply of. His next worry is food. On the first of every month, he receives rent to buy a month's worth of food and today is only the first, so he has 8 days left of food. Afraid to turn on the lights, he uses the light from his phone to search for any available food.

Xing Ren spent half a day making an inventory of his food and supplies. His house was cluttered and disorganized due to his lazy habits, so he was not sure what he had on hand. He found 17 bags of instant noodles, 13 pounds of rice, 2 pieces of bacon weighing between 7-9 pounds, gifted by his uncle, 25 eggs, 3 pounds of noodles, 0.7 bag of salt, 1.6 barrels of bottled water, 17 packs of cigarettes, and various small plates. Although he had no vegetables, he believed his supplies would last for a month if he used them wisely.

With food secured, Xing Ren now needed to focus on ensuring his safety. His living quarters, located on the second floor of a building constructed in 1997, was slated for demolition. He lived in a structure with a front platform and a back courtyard, which was accessible via a staircase with 25 to 26 steps that also connected to neighboring platforms. There was a small garden platform outside, where some residents kept flowers. The back courtyard, which his father and some neighbors had built, was enclosed by an iron fence and visible from the computer room window. To enhance security, Xing checked all doors and windows, making sure they were closed and all the front office windows were covered with newspaper.

With a sense of detachment, Xing Ren sat down to reflect on his situation. The two hydroelectric dams were still providing a steady source of electricity, so he wouldn't have to worry about power running out for at least a few months. With the internet likely to go out soon, he decided it was a good idea to download some survival guides to help increase his chances of making it through the crisis. With a newfound sense of purpose, he sprang into action.