Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

Somehow, the small iron gate had been violently yanked open by several zombies.

The power distribution box blocking the way was no match for their craving for fresh flesh and blood. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A group of seven or eight zombies roared, smashing aside the power cabinet and rushing toward her with outstretched claws.

"Hurry up and get over here!" Song Youzhi, drenched in sweat, frantically waved at the office worker, Xiao Zhu.

With trembling legs, Xiao Zhu gasped for breath and quickly jumped onto the horizontal safety ladder.

But when she glanced down, a wave of dizziness hit her, and she nearly lost her footing.

"Hurry, hurry!" Song Youzhi glanced at his niece beside him. Seeing her drenched in sweat and deathly pale, he grew incredibly worried.

"Ningning, are you okay? Ningning, what’s wrong?"

Xie Ning felt a sharp pain and a wave of intense dizziness in her head. She quickly grabbed Song Youzhi’s hand. "Uncle, make her hurry! I can’t hold on much longer."

Song Youzhi quickly reached out to support his niece, then turned and roared at Xiao Zhu, who was frozen on the suspended safety ladder. "Xiao Zhu, what are you doing just standing there? Get over here! Now!"

"Un-Uncle Song, I’m... I’m afraid of heights." Xiao Zhu was trembling so violently she couldn’t move, shaking completely out of control.

Song Youzhi’s mouth fell open, his face flushed with anger. "I’ll go get her."

Xie Ning suddenly grabbed Song Youzhi’s arm, her face pale as she shook her head forcefully.

It was a miracle her Initial-stage Energy had lasted this long; it couldn’t possibly support the weight of both Song Youzhi and Xiao Zhu.

’The suspended ladder will break. We’ll all fall!’

Just then, several zombies shuffled to the edge of the platform, reaching for Xiao Zhu on the safety ladder with bared fangs and brandished claws.

"If you don’t come over, you can stay here for all eternity," Xie Ning said coldly, gripping Song Youzhi’s wrist tightly. "Uncle, let’s go."

With that, she turned and started to pull Song Youzhi away.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu completely broke down. "No, don’t go! Don’t leave me behind!"

"Then get over here, Xiao Zhu! Think about your daughter, and your mom! Just run! It’s only a few steps! Go!" Song Youzhi shouted, turning his head back to her.

"AHHH!" Letting out a huge scream, Xiao Zhu—looking like she’d been dragged out of a river—stumbled forward and broke into a frantic sprint.

"Jump now!" Xie Ning’s incredibly calm voice sounded in her ear.

Xiao Zhu jumped as told, but as her foot hit the platform, she slipped and plunged over the edge.

At the same time, a few zombies swarmed onto the suspended ladder behind her.

The added weight immediately caused the suspended ladder to SNAP in half with a loud CRACK.

’It’s over!’ Xiao Zhu screamed internally. But in her despair, she heard Xie Ning’s calm, steady voice: "Grab on."

She was left dangling from the broken half of the ladder, gripping the frame for dear life.

When she turned her head, she saw the unlucky zombies that had stepped onto the ladder fall, crashing down into the massive horde below and being instantly smashed to pieces.

The frame in her hands let out a groan. CREAK.

Xiao Zhu looked up at Xie Ning on the edge of the platform and saw her drag a long rope from somewhere and toss it down.

"Uncle, stomp on it!"

"On it, I’m on it!" Song Youzhi quickly tied one end of the rope around himself, then stomped his foot down hard.

The ground caved in deeply beneath his foot.

Xiao Zhu desperately grabbed the rope and, with immense difficulty, was hauled up by Song Youzhi and Xie Ning. She rolled onto the platform and collapsed, drenched in sweat.

Song Youzhi turned to his niece with a strange look on his face. "Ningning, is... something a little off with me?"