Chapter 4: The World has changed

As Shen Feng peered through the narrow gap in the iron gate, his heart raced at the sight of the horde of zombies gathered outside. Their grotesque figures lurched and swayed, their decaying faces twisted into a mask of hunger. Every creak and groan of their movements sent chills down his spine. What had once felt like a distant nightmare now throbbed in the front of his mind as a very real, imminent threat.

"There's too many of them," he muttered, stepping back from the door. His confidence, bolstered by the adrenaline coursing through him, began to waver in the face of such overwhelming odds.

Chang Jianyi joined him at the iron door, her brow furrowed in worry. "If they've become faster... we may not have a lot of time. We need to think of a way out. We can't just wait here."

Shen Feng nodded, gritting his teeth in determination. "The only options we have are either to fight or to find a way to get out through another route." He glanced back at the two men still writhing on the ground, a mix of anger and revulsion swirling in his chest. "Or we could leave them here as bait."

Tension hung thick in the air as Chang Jianyi considered his words. The man in the suit groaned softly, trying to pull himself back, while Zhou Changkun lay dazed, his cries for mercy muffled by pain. They were no longer human to her; they were threats—wild cards in a game where their lives were on the line.

"They're not worth the risk," she finally said, her voice steadying. "But we shouldn't waste time. If we can get to the roof or even through the back exit of the building, we might find a way out of this mess."

Shen Feng agreed. With his senses heightened after recovering from the illness, he felt stronger, faster than before—more in tune with his own instincts. He glanced toward the utility room where they had been trapped, his eyes landing on the narrow hallway that led to the back exits. "Let's go. We need to move before they get a sense of smell."

The two quickly gathered what meager supplies they could find—a few small tools and some leftover snacks, which were sparse. With Shen Feng leading the way, he nudged the door open slightly, listening intently for any signs of zombies. The scratching and groaning echoes seemed to intensify for a moment, but the corridor lay unnervingly still.

"Ready?" he whispered, heart pounding in his chest. Chang Jianyi nodded, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for whatever lay ahead.

Together, they stepped into the hallway inch by inch, Shen Feng's grip tightening around the crowbar he had picked up earlier. Every creak of the floorboards beneath their feet felt like a thunderclap in the deathly quiet.

As they navigated their way through the dimly lit corridors, every shadow seemed to shift ominously, and every soft sound felt like a herald of doom. The occasional distant groan echoed, reminding them of the reality they were escaping.

Guided by instinct, Shen Feng led them to the back exit. The door was heavy, a rusted slab that bore the marks of neglect. He pushed hard, and it groaned in protest but swung open, revealing a narrow stairwell leading to the roof.

"Up!" he urged, using the crowbar to prop the door open. Chang Jianyi followed closely, her heart racing. They climbed the stairs two at a time, excitement and dread battling within her.

Once on the roof, the fresh air hit them like a wave, the view stretching far over the city that had descended into chaos. Flickering flames danced in the distance, casting long shadows over a world they had once taken for granted.

But there was little time for reflection. The sound of heavy thumps echoed from below, alerting them that their previous captors had begun to recover.

"Where do we go from here?" Shen Feng questioned, scanning the rooftop for possible escape routes.

"The other buildings!" Chang Jianyi pointed to several rooftops nearby, connected by narrow metal beams. "If we can make it to the other side, we might find a way down into the alleyways and out of this area."

"Right, let's do it," he said with a surge of determination, his heart racing with both fear and excitement. They took a few cautious steps toward the edge, but as they prepared for their leap—fate twisted again.

The roof creaked ominously beneath them. Shen Feng's eyes widened as he caught sight of movement below. Zombies had breached the ground floor, their vacant eyes scanning up towards the roof. A guttural growl reverberated from the depths of the building as if summoning their kindred.

"There are too many!" Chang Jianyi gasped, panic leaping in her throat. Shen Feng pulled her back as darkness swarmed below—an entire horde, enticed by noise and chaos, had begun to gather, their bodies a mass of writhing limbs trying to escape the building.

"They'll be on the roof soon!" he shouted, pressing his back against the door to keep it from swinging open. "We have to move—now!"

"Follow me!" Chang Jianyi called, steeling herself as she took a leap onto the adjacent roof. Shen Feng followed closely, heart pounding aggressively in time with each leap and bound over metal beams stretched across a chasm of despair.

Once safely on the second roof, they barely dared breathe, catching glimpses of the horror beneath them—a tide of undead slowly rising through the floors. Without hesitation, they dashed toward the edge where a fire escape beckoned—a rusty ladder snaked downward, promising some dark semblance of safety.

"Quickly!" Shen Feng urged, as he grabbed the first rung of the fire escape, climbing down with an instinctive urgency.

Chang Jianyi followed closely, her mind racing. They couldn't stop, not until they had put a significant distance between themselves and the ravenous horde. Emotions surged in her—fear, hope, determination clashing wildly.

They reached the ground floor and scrambled through an alleyway, dodging the remains of abandoned cars and debris strewn about. As they turned a sharp corner, they skidded to a halt, a fresh wave of unholy screams echoing from further down the street.

"Where do we go now?" Shen Feng gasped, adrenaline still pumping, but his breaths coming in short gasps.

A dim glow pulsed in the distance. "We can head toward that light!" Chang Jianyi pointed. "I think it's a shop!"

As they sprinted towards the light, the harsh reality of their situation bore down on them. They were no longer just survivors; they were fighters now, battling not just the zombies but also the treachery of those who had exploited them.

With every step, the world around them shifted. They had escaped one hell, but in the process, they had entered a new war for survival. And this time, they would fight back, together.