Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

Song Kexin had been in a state of high tension ever since leaving Ruihua District.

Xie Ning knew that under these circumstances, she needed to let her get some proper rest. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Don’t worry. My driving is decent enough. I’ll be sure to get you all to the Song Family Pavilion safely."

Song Kexin nodded, but her eyes remained glued to the scene outside the windshield.

The whole way there, they were surrounded by wandering, inhuman creatures. The few normal people they saw were all fleeing for their lives in a blind panic.

Song Kexin’s gaze fell on the road ahead, where a small car was slumped against a lamppost, a desolate sight.

"Stop over there, Mom," Xie Ning said, pointing to the silver car.

Song Kexin looked exceptionally nervous. "There’s—there’s a zombie, Sis."

"I know." Xie Ning shot her a sidelong glance. "Mom just killed a zombie on her own, and now it’s your turn. Where’s the long-handled cleaver I gave you?"

Song Kexin pressed her lips together. "I—I, just... just now..."

Xie Ning stared at her, her expression completely serious. "Song Kexin, do you remember the first two rules of survival?"

"I remember." Song Kexin nodded repeatedly. "Rule number one: don’t just pick up random people, or you’ll end up with a scheming ’damsel’ or an ungrateful backstabber. Rule number two: if you run into monsters and ghouls, don’t be scared. Just go up and give them a taste of the Socialist Iron Fist until they’re screaming for mercy."

Song You’ai’s focused expression, which had been fixed on the road, showed clear signs of cracking.

’Is this the survival mantra my daughter came up with herself?’

’What in the world has my daughter been learning in her first year of college?!’

’Did her professors teach her how to be a crook? And how to brawl?’

Xie Ning, oblivious to Song You’ai’s strained expression, nodded with grave seriousness. "Now, I’ll teach you the third rule. Never, under any circumstances, let go of your weapon. You can drop your food, but you can never drop your weapon."

She retrieved a long-handled cleaver from beside her feet and handed it to Song Kexin. "You just made a fatal mistake. When you got out of the van, you only thought to grab the milk and dried meat and run. You completely forgot you left your weapon behind."

Song Kexin’s hands trembled as she gripped the cleaver. "I... I’m supposed to kill a zombie?"

"Yes." Xie Ning nodded. "By yourself."

"Mom, you stay here." Once the car came to a complete stop, Xie Ning crooked a finger at Song Kexin, signaling for her to get out with her.

Song Kexin swallowed hard, clutching the cleaver as she timidly followed her sister, her eyes darting nervously in every direction.

"Where are you looking? Here." Xie Ning gestured toward the car ahead.

Through the car window, Song Kexin saw the man in the driver’s seat hunched over the passenger side, tearing at something with a sickening CRUNCH.

When it turned its head, the man’s mouth was full of blood, his face a mask of pure savagery.

A large gash was torn in the throat of the woman in the passenger seat, and a steady stream of gore dripped down.

Her hair was a mess, and her wide, vacant eyes stared sightlessly. She was as dead as could be.

A wave of nausea washed over Song Kexin. The milk and dried meat she’d just eaten threatened to come back up, and the whites of her eyes showed as she involuntarily swayed backward.

Xie Ning darted forward and pinched the pressure point under her sister’s nose to keep her conscious. Her face was a cold, hard mask. "Don’t you dare faint. Kill it, then you can puke. Puke, then you can faint. I’ll drag you back to the car myself."

Song Kexin: ???

’Was this the same kind, adorable, fairy-like older sister she knew?’

’No!’

’This was a heartless woman...’

"I’ll take the two in the front. You get the one in the back." As Xie Ning yanked open the car door, her cleaver plunged instantly into the male zombie’s skull.

The roaring came to an abrupt end.