Chapter 2: Hell Comes to Earth

Chang Jianyi felt the weight of a dozen wary eyes bearing down on her. Panic bubbled in her chest as she nestled the fever-stricken Shen Feng closer, her heart racing not just for him but for herself, too. The room was thick with tension, and she could sense that any moment could shatter into chaos.

In the challenging throes of impending desperation, Chang Jianyi's mind sparked. She noticed the paper cutter stark against the table's surface, its blade gleaming menacingly in the dim light. Without a second thought, she snatched it up, pushed out the blade with shaking hands, and declared as best as she could manage, "Who dares to try and throw us out? Come forward! I swear, I'll cut your carotid artery! You hear me? I'm a medical student!"

The impact of her words rippled through the crowd, stunning them into silence. Yet, momentary shock was only half of the equation; the real deterrent was the weapon in her grip, and she knew it. The air felt electric, unpredictable, as she realized that desperation could manifest strength she didn't know she had.

The man in a tailored suit, who had initiated the confrontation, smirked with a knowing look, shaking his head. "Sister, we're just being practical. Rain can change a person into one of those monsters," he gestured dismissively toward a nearby window where shadows danced in the waning light. "Your boyfriend—if he's infected, he could hurt us all. Trust me, you don't want to sacrifice the many for one."

A woman beside him chimed in, her voice trembling but resolute. "My husband was caught in the rain too. If I hadn't escaped, I would've been just like him! You must think of your own safety!"

But Chang Jianyi stood firm. "My junior isn't dead! The message didn't specify death; it only talked of potential! And besides, he only has a fever! That means he's fighting something, not becoming a monster!" Each word was a lifeline cast into turbulent waters.

The suit-clad man's brow furrowed, and he pressed harder. "But can you risk it? You saw how quickly he collapsed! What if he's changing? This isn't a game, and we need to think clearly!"

Her grip tightened on the paper cutter, certainty replacing doubt. "You're only looking for a scapegoat because of your fear! He's vulnerable, yes, but he isn't dead! The true danger lies in your hysteria!"

Their arguments raged on, a collision of fear and raw emotions, as she desperately held her ground. They were now at a stalemate, locked in a tense standoff. Chang Jianyi leaned protectively against Shen Feng, who was feverish and unresponsive, her body shaking from the chilling uncertainty of it all.

Suddenly, a gruff voice cut through the fray—an older man, clad in overalls like the others around him. "Enough!" he barked, a firm hand raised to quell the rising tide of voices. "This place belongs to our logistics company. I'm the team leader here, and I'll say what goes."

Her heart raced with hope—a chance for unity amid chaos.

However, the team leader continued, his voice devoid of sympathy. "But we can't ignore the risks. Listen, if it were up to me, you'd be safe here, but I can't let that lunacy put us at risk! Your boyfriend stays locked up. If he turns, we take action. It's for the group. You can stay with him, but he doesn't get to roam free."

At that moment, the room shifted, and the crowd began murmuring in agreement, fear swallowing logic. The suit man grinned coldly, emboldened by the circumstances now favoring him. "Make sure you follow the rules," he said. "Or we all become zombies anyway."

"I refuse!" Chang Jianyi interjected fiercely, desperation clawing at the walls of her confidence. "If you all want to treat Shen Feng like a monster, I'll fight you to keep from losing him! This isn't right!"

But the band of workers steadily advanced, armed with chairs and tools turned weapons, their faces hardening. She felt her resolve falter.

Then, the team leader shrugged dismissively. "You want to go it alone, so be it. But know this: if he turns, we'll have no choice. You'll become a liability, and he'll be a target. It's not just about you anymore. And right now, you're increasing the danger."

The adrenaline coursed through Chang Jianyi's veins. The stakes were too high. "I will not let you throw us away like garbage! Do you know what real danger looks like?"

Locked in this deadlock, panic turned to a flicker of resolve. She would protect her junior, no matter what.

"Alright," she said, voice like flint. "You can lock us up, but we need food and water—guaranteed! I won't let you starve us just because you think we're a risk."

The team leader, taken aback, faltered but then rolled his eyes. "All right, fine! A complication, but it can be arranged. Just don't make this harder than it needs to be."

As they were corralled into the utility room, Chang Jianyi felt the crushing weight of uncertainty mix with fleeting flickers of defiance. Yet, as they locked the door behind her, she caught a glimpse of hope in the eyes of a few workers who had chosen to remain silent.

Sitting in that cold utility room, surrounded by tools and despair, she realized the fight ahead was not just for Shen Feng's life. It was a fight for survival—for dignity, love, and the last remnants of humanity in a terrifying world that had turned on them.

Shen Feng's voice broke the quiet, feeble yet steady. "Jianyi, are we... going to be okay?"

Chang Jianyi clenched her jaw, patting him gently while determination forged in the fires of fear ignited within her. "Yes, we will be okay," she promised, whispering it into the dim room as if it were a spell. "We have to believe it."

Her resolve fortified, Chang Jianyi prepared for the unpredictable dance of survival that loomed just beyond their locked door, her mind racing for solutions. She would find a way to ensure both her and Shen Feng's safety; the ghosts of the past would not claim her present. Life, against all odds, would continue.