C18 Leaving!!

Watching the zombies scatter below, Willett couldn't help but laugh with a sly grin. "Haha, this really is a powerful monster-luring device. It's like the taunt skill from the online games I used to play. So effective, haha! I'm just too clever..."

He finished his thought with a self-satisfied shrug directed at Janet.

"Little man feeling big!"

Janet couldn't help but spit out in disgust at Willett's smugness. She couldn't share in the pride, especially since using such an embarrassing item to attract zombies felt so odd to her.

"Come on, spill it. Why did you start ignoring me after the class reunion? I didn't do anything to you. And when I call, you're so cold. What's that about? Hmph!"

With the situation calming down, Janet pressed on, determined to get an answer to her earlier question.

"It's nothing, really. A busy guy like me has too much on his plate to deal with someone like you. Plus, I thought I'd help you save some money, considering how expensive your studies in Beijing are..." Willett replied, his tone a mix of jest and sincerity. Deep down, he knew exactly why he'd grown distant after that reunion two years ago—he felt inferior.

Yes, inferior. Anyone would feel a bit small next to a friend who'd gone straight from Peking University to a prestigious position as a chief market analyst at an international finance company. His own struggle to find work paled in comparison to her shining moment at the reunion. Her surprised expression upon learning he was jobless had stung deeply. And then, the guy in Armani, circling her like a fly, had the nerve to offer him a job in a condescending tone. He had smiled and declined, but no one saw the pain behind that smile. The friendship that had blossomed over the years was tinged with unspoken feelings, but the gap in their social standing was like an insurmountable barrier. He could see her, hear her, but he could no longer be close to her, let alone have her. Willett was proud, but his pride, when faced with harsh reality, morphed into profound inferiority. So, after the reunion, he made the tough decision to slowly exit Janet's life. They were no longer from the same world. Even though he felt a twinge of joy with each of her calls, he always ended up responding with a detached, "Hey? What's up? ...Yeah, if there's nothing else, I've got to go..."

After months of growing indifference, her calls had dwindled. He became even more silent, spending his days at home playing video games and watching movies, slowly sinking into the life of a homebody.

"Hey! What are you zoning out for? The zombies are nearly all gone!"

Willett was snapped out of his reverie by Janet's impatient shove. The horde of zombies that had swarmed the streets below had dispersed, leaving only a couple aimlessly wandering the alley.

"Oh, Beastkin, I'll head down first, then come back for you..."

Willett shook his head, clearing the cobwebs of distraction. The past didn't matter anymore. With the apocalypse upon them, everything had reset. The barriers that once stood between them had crumbled. Whatever the future held, they'd leave it to fate. For now, the priority was to find a way out of here and locate a safe place to spend the night.

They had been trapped on the rooftop for three or four hours, and it was now four in the afternoon. In Depridge, the February nights came early, and they needed to move before darkness made things even more perilous. At night, poor visibility could mean an unnoticed zombie encounter—and an untimely end.

Willett peered down from the rooftop, relieved to see that aside from the two zombies below, the nearest ones were a good hundred meters away. He stood, stretched, and with his long saber in hand, leaped from the five-meter height.

"Shua!"

The saber sliced through the air, and with a swift motion, Willett cleaved the zombie before him in two. The creature's decayed viscera and fluids spilled onto the ground.

No sooner had Willett steadied himself than he charged at the other zombie. It had detected its prey and lunged with outstretched arms and gaping mouth. But it barely managed two steps before Willett's kick sent it sprawling. His blade then easily penetrated the zombie's skull. Now, they were safe.

"Come on, jump already, Miss! I'll catch you!" Willett slid his long blade into the sheath strapped to his backpack and stood with arms raised at the bottom of the alleyway building, looking up at Janet who was hesitating to leap from above, and called out to her in exasperation.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" Janet responded half-heartedly. But judging by her furrowed, adorable brow, it was anyone's guess how soon 'soon' would be.

"Ah! There are zombies behind you! Jump now!" In a sudden turn, Willett pointed urgently behind her.

Without a second thought, Janet let out a shriek and jumped, her eyes slamming shut as the ground zoomed in alarmingly fast. Just when she braced for impact, she was caught by a pair of strong hands, and a voice laced with amusement filled her ears, "Janet, you're surprisingly nimble, haha..."

Realizing she'd been duped, Janet angrily shoved Willett away and, as she rose to her feet, she made sure to stomp on his foot with force.

"Ouch, Beastkin, have you lost your mind? That hurt!" Willett winced, rubbing his sore foot as the cool energy within him worked swiftly to dull the pain. He looked up at her, still not quite over it, and grumbled, "With that fiery temper, who'd dare to be with you? It's no wonder you're still single at the end of the world..."

Internally, though, he was recalling the sensation of his palm against her backside when he caught her, thinking to himself, "Though she does have a nice figure..."

"Hmph! Mind your own business. Aren't you also perennially single?" Janet retorted with pride, lifting her chin defiantly. "I'm naturally beautiful. I could have a line of suitors from Depridge to Beijing. Why worry about finding someone? Unlike you, hmph!" She finished with a scornful glance.

"Nowadays, I doubt there are enough survivors to form a line from Depridge to Beijing," Willett sighed, the mood turning somber as they both lapsed into silence.

"Let's get moving, it'll be dark soon. We don't want to be out here when that happens."

Willett perked up and tinkered with the electric scooter that had toppled over. Climbing aboard, he patted the seat behind him and said to Janet, "Good news, the scooter still works. Hop on, we need to find a place to lay low for a bit. Let's head to Luvern's place; it's not too far. You'll have to cozy up with my backpack though, haha."

Janet, unfazed by his smug look, squeezed onto the rear seat and asked with curiosity, "Luvern? Does he live around here now? It's been ages since I've seen him. I wonder how he's doing. Hopefully, all is well..."

Willett nodded, revved the throttle, and sped out of the alley toward Luvern's house. As they rode, he remarked, "I'm hopeful. He's a smart guy; he should be okay..."

His voice carried a hint of concern, betraying his worry for his friend's well-being.

"Let's not dwell on it too much. It's just up ahead. We'll find out soon enough..." With that, Willett opened the throttle all the way, and they raced toward Luvern's house at top speed.

As dusk fell, the silhouette of Luvern's house grew more distinct. Five minutes later, the scooter came to a stop in front of a familiar three-story building. Willett gazed up at the house and stepped inside.

They had reached Luvern's.