章 2: Strange Phenomenon
For some unknown reason, the dead city that was usually filled with zombies looked really like a deserted dead city these days. Along the way alone, the woman could not find the zombies that usually wandered around the streets or houses. It seems other volunteers have also started gossiping about the same thing recently. Some began to assume that the zombies were finally exhausted under the persistent struggle of humans. But the woman was sure that was not the main reason the zombies had disappeared now. There were many of them and it seemed impossible for them to just disappear like a thin air. The woman felt a little uneasy, as she began to walk through the deserted mall very carefully.
Her main destination is the supermarket which is located on the first floor of the mall. The woman took whatever that was still usable and edible from inside the supermarket. Her feelings got worse when she could not find a single zombie again, in the place that usually became the nest of the zombies. Her movement to gather everything she needed also changed faster, as the woman nimbly started walking out of the mall with the gun still in her hand.
Her mind grew even more paranoid as she did not see a single zombie outside the mall. The woman had just finished loading all her loot into the car, when she heard the sound of another car rapidly approaching her.
The woman did not have time to leave peacefully when a unknown sedan suddenly stopped not far from where she was standing. The woman's weapon was immediately at a ready position as she pointed it at whoever was about to get out from the strange car. The woman was afraid that the people who had just arrived were a group of robbers, who liked to take things that the volunteers had painstakingly collected for their own good.
"Please do not shoot us! We, we just want to find medicine for our daughter!"
But when she heard the desperate voice of a man raising both his hands as soon as he got out of the car, the woman's brows immediately furrowed as she still could not tell if the man was telling the truth or not. The woman had encountered all kinds of ruse over the years. A petty trick like that would not work, for a woman who was always on guard like her.
"He... He is telling the truth. Please Miss. Our child has a high fever and we do not have any food or medicine stock anymore. We just want to find food and medicine in that mall. We would not bother you. I swear on my life."
From the back door, came out a woman with a little girl in her arms. The girl seemed to be in a very bad shape with a flushed face and tightly closed eyes. Her breath was also ragged, as if every breath she took could be her last breath right now.
The girl suddenly reminded the woman of her own brother who had died because of the same thing that happened to him. Her little brother was a child who was always sickly. The chaos that occurred everywhere made it difficult for the woman to get the medicine on time at that time. In the end, her brother died in her arms. She was the one who buried him herself, and wept for him after their parents turned into zombies at the start of the chaos.
The woman's heart involuntarily lowered its vigilance slightly as she quickly approached the woman who was holding the child. Her face changed slightly as she touched the little girl's forehead which felt extremely hot in her hands. Her eyes stared intently at the girl's parents, and then back to the girl's figure. They do not seem to be lying. Because the eyes of the two did not have any malicious intent when they looked at her intently.
"Did she get bitten?" the woman asked shortly. The mother immediately shook her head. "At the time we had to run away from the zombies, the rain was pouring hard. She just had a fever after that," she explained hastily. The woman without permission immediately checked the condition of the girl and her mother as well. No signs of being bitten. Both are safe for now.
"Uh... We-"
"You, come closer," the woman ordered, interrupting the mother's conversation earlier. The father of the child hurriedly over, only to receive the same examination that his wife and daughter had undergone earlier.
"All of you was safe, for now. Where are you going after this? What weapons do you have now?"
Even though the couple did not understand what the woman's question really meant, the husband kept his cool as he explained everything in a great detail.
"We, We heard that this town has been free of zombies for some time and they also have a big safe zone in this place. The safe zone of our hometown has been destroyed by zombies. And we were forced to find another safe zone now. Our fuel is running low and we do not know where else to go. The safe zone that says located not far from this city, will be our only hope for now."
The man also showed his ax to the woman, so that she would no longer be suspicious of them.
"This is my weapon. I swear, it is the only weapon we have at the moment."
The woman stared at the bloody ax with apathy. Carrying it alone was not enough to protect one family in ordinary situations. The woman took a deep breath, as she finally made a decision that was extremely bold and unusual for someone like her.
"Your car is not safe, let alone your weapons. You will only die before you can bring medicine for your child in the current situation. Move all your belongings to my car. It is safe there and I will drive you to the safe zone after I and this man managed to collect medicine for your daughter later."
The woman spoke while her hand patting the only man among them on the shoulder. The woman was silent for a while, before she added her words in a very serious tone.
"And I believe the zombies are still roaming in this town. They may be hiding, sleeping, or doing whatever we do not know right now. But I can promise that the safe zone does exist. I am from there too, and I am only came to this place to search for resources from time to time."
At first, the mother looked at her with an expression of disbelief. She glanced at her husband for approval, before the two of them decided to trust the woman as themselves had no other choice either.
"You are willing to help us?" the man asked in surprise. In this chaotic world, it seemed almost impossible for one person to be willing to help another for nothing in return. But the woman stared at the little girl instead for a long time, before answering the question in a low voice.
"I just want to pay for the mistakes I have made in the past," she said heavily. The man paused before letting out a long breath. Maybe, in this world, there are still good people like that woman.
"Alright. We really appreciate your help, Miss..."
"Maya. You can call me Maya," the woman said quickly. She helped out when the family started removing their belongings from their own car. Maya is right. Traveling in a fragile sedan is too dangerous for them. Their meeting with Maya, is like a miracle in the midst of this despair.
"I am Ben, this is my wife Elen and my daughter, Laura. We are pleased to meet you, Miss Maya," the man said politely. They had finished moving the things the family had brought after getting acquainted. Maya again prepare her weapon, as she made sure the mother and daughter were safe before she and the man enter the big mall again.
"We can get to know each other later. Now we have to get going. To be honest, I have a bad feeling since I entered the city today," Maya informed him. Ben nodded at Maya's words. The man was also wary as the two of them reentered the deserted big mall with cautious steps.
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