Dark Apocalypse

Episode 3

Fleeing



"Keep your voice down! Don't let the monsters outside hear us!"

The earlier noise had indeed been rather loud, and upon being reminded by others, the man who spoke immediately panicked, covering his mouth in haste.

Ling Ao's expression also shifted dramatically as he darted to the window, peering through the gaps between the tables and chairs to gaze outside.

The sky had brightened, unlike the previous day; today was a radiant sunny day, offering clear visibility. However, the scene that met his eyes made Ling Ao's countenance darken.

In the direction he was looking, he could see four or five swaying figures approaching them.

"This is bad; it seems we've been discovered!" Ling Ao warned the group behind him, prompting several men to hurriedly pick up iron rods and other makeshift weapons hastily fashioned from the furniture.

"What now? Can we hold them off?" the man who had been overly loud earlier asked, his face filled with regret and trepidation.

"It isn't entirely hopeless yet; only a few nearby have come. Let's hope they're merely curious about the noise. If they start battering the door, we should prepare for the worst!"

Ling Ao shook his head, his own tension mounting as he glanced at the handgun in his hand, opened it, and checked the five bullets; it was fully loaded. He reached into his pocket for more ammunition.

"Seven rounds in total, including what's in the chamber..." Ling Ao's eyes were tightly shut, as if he were stifling a surge of frustration.

Were it not for the dire circumstances, he would have loved to turn around and pummel the man who had made that noise until he was unrecognizable.

The group waited in silence, bracing themselves for the impending moment. Several strong men gripped their iron rods and other sharp objects, while the older men and a few women cowered in the back, their faces etched with fear.

The low growls grew closer and louder, causing hearts to race and cold sweat to trickle down their brows; even on this frigid day, the perspiration betrayed their overwhelming anxiety.

"Roar!" A fierce cry erupted from just outside the door, prompting a man wielding an iron rod to flinch, ready to spring into action, but he was quickly seized by Ling Ao, who acted with remarkable swiftness.

"Shh! Don't move; they haven't noticed us yet."

Hearing Ling Ao's words, the man nodded weakly. In that fleeting moment, he felt as though he had lived a lifetime, his face pale and trembling hands betraying his terror.

Through the cracks between the tables and chairs, they could vaguely discern shadowy figures outside, seemingly searching for signs of life within, playing the role of predators in a deadly game of hide and seek.

The ordeal felt interminable yet fleeting, with everyone's hearts suspended in dread. At last, after what seemed an eternity, the shadowy figures outside began to drift away.

As they witnessed this, a collective sigh of relief escaped the group; they understood that, for the moment, danger had passed, and they were safe at least for a little while.

"Alright, everyone, take this as a lesson: try to avoid speaking, and if you must, lower your voices. It's best to whisper close to each other's ears for our safety!"

Ling Ao wiped the sweat from his forehead and returned to the beautiful mother and daughter duo.

"We can't continue like this, Ling Ao. We must find a way to escape; remaining here isn't a solution."

The alluring woman regarded Ling Ao, then glanced at her daughter. She believed that Ling Ao didn't need to protect everyone; after all, human nature is selfish, and even someone as capable as Ling Ao couldn't manage the safety of so many people.

Conversely, having such a large group not only posed a burden but also presented a risk; any misstep by one of them could lead to disaster, as had almost happened moments ago.

"I understand. Later, I'll check the back of the kitchen to see if there's an opportunity. I noticed a path leading to the river a couple of days ago. If we can find a small boat there, we could escape along the city's waterways, significantly increasing our chances of survival!"

Ling Ao recognized the gravity of their situation; a decisive action was needed.

"A small boat? Are you certain there will be one? How many people can it hold? And is there a chance of encountering those ravenous monsters on the way? How confident are you?"

Faced with the alluring woman's inquiries, Ling Ao fell into deep thought. Before she could speak again, he lifted his gaze to meet that of the mother and daughter, his eyes reflecting a flicker of conflict.

"There is a small boat; I've confirmed it. The route isn't far, approximately two hundred meters, though it requires navigating a few bends..."

Pausing, Ling Ao glanced at the group and lowered his voice so only the mother and daughter could hear, "There are about three or four of those creatures; it shouldn't pose too much of a problem. If all goes well, our success rate is quite high."

"A small boat won't accommodate that many people..." The alluring woman's casual remark instantly altered Ling Ao's expression.

"Mother?" the girl inquired, confused.

"Ling Ao, if it's just me and Xiaoya, how confident are you?" The alluring woman fixed her gaze on Ling Ao.

"Madam, that boat can barely fit so many..." Ling Ao's eyes were filled with hesitation.

"I'm asking you, if it's just Xiaoya and me, do you have a hundred percent assurance?" The alluring woman pressed again.

"But..." Ling Ao hesitated, but seeing the determination in her gaze, he reluctantly nodded, "Yes, if it's just you and the young lady, I am ninety percent certain..."

"Ninety percent..." The alluring woman pondered, realizing Ling Ao's meaning, "I trust you will ensure our safety."

"Indeed..." Ling Ao took a deep breath and nodded.

"Then let's proceed."

More than twenty individuals cautiously and slowly moved toward the back door of the kitchen, with Ling Ao leading the way. He positioned himself against the wall, pulling aside the curtain of the back window to survey the surroundings.

Making a hand gesture to signal the others to wait, he tucked his handgun into his waistband and quietly opened the back door, then darted outside with remarkable speed toward the three erratic figures.

"Quickly!" Ling Ao, splattered with some blood, beckoned to the group behind him, and soon they emerged through the door, their faces alight with hope.

"Quick! Keep up!" Ling Ao urged, his expression tense as he waved his hands.

They found themselves in a narrow alley, where three corpses lay on the ground, their heads brutally smashed in.

"Run toward the right at that intersection! There's a small boat ahead that can take us out of the city!" Ling Ao pointed in a direction, and the group's eyes widened in realization. Without needing further prompting, they began to sprint toward it.

However, as Ling Ao felt a momentary surge of pain and helplessness, coupled with a hint of relief, chaos erupted at the intersection where the group had dashed.

"Help! Somebody help me!" A frantic figure raced by, crying for aid, pursued by a horde of grotesque, cannibalistic monsters...

It was a boy, barely in his twenties...