Lin Sinan was filled with suspicion and uncertainty; she couldn't help but feel that the scene downstairs was an exact replica of what had just happened in the video.
She slowly turned her head to look at Chen Xiao, and just as she was about to say something, she saw Chen Xiao staring in shock at the direction where the two people had disappeared, his hands tightly gripping the balcony railing, his knuckles white.
"Chen... Chen Xiao?" Lin Sinan felt a little unnerved by Chen Xiao's appearance and softly called out to him.
"Huh?" Chen Xiao suddenly snapped back to reality, looked at Lin Sinan beside him, quickly sat back on the sofa, picked up the water on the coffee table, and gulped down a few mouthfuls, saying somewhat flustered, "Wait, let me calm down first..."
Many residents in the Residential Area had witnessed the car accident below from their windows, but the dense rain blurred their vision, preventing them from seeing the specific details. Lin Sinan also only caught a general glimpse.
Chen Xiao, however, likely due to his improved physical condition, had vision sharp enough to easily pierce through the rain and capture every frame of the scene below.
"What kind of monster was that?" Chen Xiao was momentarily lost in thought, recalling the scene he had just witnessed.
He still couldn't believe his eyes; those two people just now, oh no, to be precise, it should have been one person.
Chen Xiao didn't know if the one who was hit could still be considered a "human." With tiny pupils and sharp teeth, it bit fiercely into the perpetrator's leg, greedily devouring it.
Half of its shattered face visibly squirmed, stretched, and wove together, gradually healing into a grotesque half-face devoid of features. Even the thigh, which only had a few bits of flesh still attached, was rapidly regenerating in the same manner.
The newly grown flesh entangled like tentacles, repairing and reattaching the thigh that should have been severed. Not only did it appear thicker and more powerful, but it also allowed it to run incredibly fast.
What made Chen Xiao even more disoriented was that he had seen this running speed and posture before; it was identical to the student who attacked him last night.
Moreover, he was certain that the various incidents of assault happening now were absolutely linked to these monsters.
He suddenly recalled the security guard's words from last night: "What if the end of the world comes?"
A joke now echoed constantly in his ears.
"What's wrong, Chen Xiao? Don't scare me." Lin Sinan looked at Chen Xiao with great concern and poured him another glass of warm water. Her voice calmed Chen Xiao somewhat, and his heart slowly settled down.
Under Lin Sinan's questioning gaze, Chen Xiao slowly spoke, "The one who was hit downstairs just now, it wasn't human!"
"Ah?" Lin Sinan was stunned for a moment, not reacting immediately.
"Have you seen zombie movies?"
"You mean the one who was hit just now was a... zombie?" Lin Sinan's face changed, her eyes filled with shock and doubt.
Chen Xiao shook his head, "No, that thing is somewhat like a zombie, but it's even more terrifying than a zombie! Whether it's speed, strength, or aggressiveness, it's nothing like the zombies in movies. In the video you sent me earlier, the one attacking humans should be this kind of monster."
Chen Xiao looked at Lin Sinan: "Didn't you ask me yesterday why my clothes were wet?"
He said with a heavy tone, "I was attacked yesterday. Now it seems the one who attacked me last night was most likely the same kind of monster as the one downstairs just now."
At this moment, Chen Xiao secretly rejoiced that the student last night was distracted by the driver, allowing him to escape.
Lin Sinan believed that Chen Xiao wouldn't joke with her, and she saw many violent and bloody videos circulating wildly on her phone. She curled up in a corner of the sofa, hugging her legs, her heart filled with fear and worry.
Chen Xiao said seriously, "What's happening now is already difficult to explain with common sense. Whatever the future holds, we must act and prepare in advance."
"So what should we do now?" Lin Sinan looked at Chen Xiao with a blank expression, her voice tinged with panic.
Chen Xiao fell silent. This was a situation he had never experienced before. It seemed the most correct approach would be to report these matters to the state and follow its arrangements, but how could that be implemented?
Call the police to explain the situation? Would the police believe him? And now even emergency calls weren't connecting. Perhaps the police had already discovered it and were dealing with it, not releasing information to avoid public panic.
At present, they could only save themselves. The online novels he had read before now seemed like a doomsday guide, giving Chen Xiao some plans.
"Let's go buy more food and water first. Let's leave right away. I have a bad feeling; it's going to get chaotic outside very soon."
After speaking, he immediately returned to the house, put on his jacket, emptied the contents of his backpack onto the bed, and came out with the empty bag.
Lin Sinan was also quick. At Chen Xiao's suggestion, she also brought a backpack. The two went out together, braving the heavy rain, and arrived at a small convenience store inside a residential building in the Residential Area.
Before they could enter, a man and a woman walked out, their raincoats still dripping. The man had a tall, slender figure and handsome features, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking capable and refined, though his eyes held a hint of indifference.
The woman was tall and well-proportioned. Although her face was obscured by a mask, her eyes still revealed an uncommon elegance. She was respectfully following behind the man.
The two were carrying four exaggeratedly large plastic bags filled with food, instant noodles, ham sausages, and various other instant products. They merely glanced at Chen Xiao and Lin Sinan before quickly departing.
Chen Xiao led Lin Sinan into the store, only to be met with shelves that were almost completely empty. His expression immediately darkened.
A plump man emerged from the back room, saw Chen Xiao and Lin Sinan, and greeted them warmly, "What bad luck, young man. You saw those two just now, didn't you? They're really strange people. They've been here several times today and have almost emptied my store."
Chen Xiao nodded with a grim expression. It seemed those two people were more prescient than him, having thought of stocking up on supplies a step ahead.
Lin Sinan looked up at Chen Xiao and, seeing his furrowed brows, quickly said, "Isn't there a chain Supermarket not far from the Residential Area? Let's hurry and check there."
Chen Xiao realized, having forgotten about it in his haste: "Okay, then let's hurry!"
The two arrived at the entrance of the Residential Area. Under the gloomy weather, the security booth's light was particularly conspicuous. The old security guard was still leisurely drinking tea from his thermos cup, occasionally glancing outside.
Chen Xiao grabbed Lin Sinan, who was about to walk out, and mused, "Let's take the small gate."
Lin Sinan asked in confusion, "Can't we just go straight out?"
Chen Xiao explained, "Going out is fine, but we'll definitely be carrying a lot of things when we come back. I think it's better to be discreet and try not to attract attention."
Lin Sinan felt that Chen Xiao had a point, but still asked doubtfully, "But I remember the small gate was locked, how do we get out?"
Chen Xiao pondered for a moment: "Let's go, we'll figure it out when we get there."
