Chapter 10: The Silent Room
The air in the underground parking garage was thick soup. A blend of motor oil, mold, and rust that stuck to your mucous membranes, making it hard to breathe.
"Don't look around."
Shadow walked ahead, voice low. "These people have been dead a long time. No living scent here. No monster scent either. It's... too quiet."
It was too quiet.
We bypassed the pile of cars blocking the ramp and reached Level B2.
Walls were plastered with yellowing notices: "Keep Quiet," "Save Water," "Wait for Rescue." The floor was littered with trash—shredded sleeping bags, empty cans, crushed bottles. Evidence that many people had gathered here. But now, they were all gone.
"Over there." Shadow stopped. Nose twitching at a steel door at the end of the corridor. "The chemical smell is coming from there. And... a faint sweet scent."
Sweet? In a place smelling of death?
I gripped the Tang Dao and inched forward.
It was a maintenance duty room. Heavy steel door, shut tight. The seams had been sealed with tape. The tape was peeling now, but you could see how carefully it had been applied.
Red paint scrawled on the door. I had to squint in the dark to read it.
[PEOPLE ALIVE INSIDE. DO NOT DISTURB.]
The handwriting was messy. The last stroke trailed off, like the writer's hand was shaking.
I swallowed. Knocked.
Thud. Thud.
Dull echoes. No answer.
"Stop knocking," Shadow said coldly. "No heartbeats inside." He pointed a paw at the lock. "Door is locked from the inside. No signs of forced entry. Means the people inside... never came out."
Never came out? A chill crawled up my spine.
"Stand back."
I took a deep breath. Stepped back. Then launched a kick with my magazine-armored leg right at the lock.
BANG!
Dust fell. Second kick, the rusty lock groaned. Third kick, snap, the lock broke. The door swung open.
Stale, stagnant air rushed out.
I raised the flashlight. Beam cut into the room.
Small room, maybe ten square meters. No bloody massacre. No zombies jumping out. It was tidy. Almost cozy.
Clean moisture-proof mats on the floor. Boxes stacked neatly in the corner. A folding table with a burnt-out candle holder and an old radio.
And in the corner, a mattress. Three people lay there.
A man, a woman, and a little girl, maybe seven or eight. They wore clean clothes. Huddled together. The man leaned against the wall, one arm around the woman, the other at his side. The woman curled into him, arms tight around the girl.
They eyes were closed. Expressions peaceful. Like they were asleep. If you ignored the grey-white skin and sunken eye sockets.
"They..." My voice trembled. I couldn't walk closer.
"Dead," Shadow walked in, sniffing them. "Long time. Bodies are dried out." He turned to the table. Two overturned glasses. White powder scattered on the surface.
"That sweet smell," Shadow said. "Cyanide. Poison."
My heart seized. Suicide. A family of three. Hid in this tiny room. Sealed the cracks. And then... took poison.
Why? No signs of zombie entry. Door was intact. Why die?
I walked in. The air felt heavy, crushing my chest.
My eyes fell on the folding table. Next to the candle, a black notebook. Cover moldy, but placed prominently. A fountain pen next to it.
Hand shaking, I picked it up. Paper was brittle. Crinkle. Flashlight beam on the text.
[Oct 12] Outside is chaos. Biters everywhere. We ran to the garage. Lots of people here. Everyone says the army is coming. I believe they will. Qiqi is scared, crying. I told her it's a game.
[Oct 20] Exits are blocked. The monsters got in. Biting everyone. We ran into this duty room and locked it. Screams outside. Crunching bones. Su Wan is shaking. I held her, told her it's okay, I'll guard the door.
[Oct 25] Radio is dead. Last broadcast was three days ago. Sector C has fallen. Survivors told to save themselves. Save ourselves? In this iron coffin? With what? We have one bottle of water left.
[Oct 28] Qiqi has a fever. High fever. Delirious. Crying, asking for "See You Again." Her favorite song. She loved the English melody, even if she didn't understand all the words. The radio has the tape, but I dare not play it. Monsters outside. Any noise will bring them. Watching her face turn red, my heart is being cut into pieces. Sorry baby, Daddy is useless. I can't even play you a song.
[Oct 29] I found a bottle of Potassium Cyanide left from the old lab days. Su Wan asked if it hurts. I said no, it's like falling asleep. She smiled. First time in days. She said, let's sleep then. When we wake up, the world will be better. We put Qiqi in her favorite dress. Before we go, I finally pressed play. When the music started, Qiqi smiled. She said it sounds like Mommy. Volume was low, but we were happy. If anyone reads this, please don't call us cowards. We just... didn't want to become monsters. Didn't want to be monster food. We wanted to leave as humans. With dignity.
The diary ended there. The ink on the last line trailed off. Dried tear stains on the paper.
I closed the book. Chest felt like it was stuffed with rocks. Eyes hot, but I couldn't cry.
This is the apocalypse. Ordinary people are as fragile as ants. They don't even get a chance to struggle. In the dark, in despair, choosing a dignified end.
They didn't dare make a sound until the moment they decided to die. Only then did they dare listen to a song they loved. How ironic. How humble.
I looked at the old radio. Power light dead. Tape still inside.
I checked under the table. No food. No water. Just empty cans. This shelter was cleaner than I thought. And more hopeless.
Shadow circled the room. Snorted. "Nothing here but the smell of death."
I tucked the diary into my jacket. Voice raspy. "They did their best."
I stood up, looking at the peaceful faces of the family. No gold. No loot. Not even a bite of food. Seemed like a wasted trip.
But I felt a fire burning in my chest.
If I don't get strong, if I don't fight... one day, I'll be like them. Hiding in a dark corner, counting biscuits, waiting to die. I refuse.
I reached out. Finger hovering over the Play button on the radio.
"What are you doing?" Shadow's ears pricked up. "If that thing makes noise, it'll bring every zombie in the garage. We aren't in good shape. Don't be suicidal."
"I know."
My finger didn't move.
"Then stop! You want to die?" Shadow glared. "I'm not dying with you."
"They only dared to listen when they were dying. But I'm alive."
I turned to Shadow. Eyes burning with a stubbornness I never had before. "I want to hear it. I want to know what kind of song makes death feel peaceful."
"And..." I gripped the Tang Dao, knuckles white. "I'm done hiding like a rat. If they're coming, let them come."
"You lunatic." Shadow cursed. But he didn't stop me. He turned to the door, lowered his body, bared his fangs. "Make it quick. I'll give you the length of one song."
I smiled.
Click.
I pressed Play.
Static. Battery dying. A few seconds later. Distorted, but clear and gentle melody filled the dead silence of the basement.
"I hear the raindrops falling on the green grass..." "I hear the school bell ringing far away..."
A sweet female voice. Singing about youth. About luck. About missed chances.
In the peaceful world, it was a cheesy pop song. But in this basement, filled with rot and death, it sounded out of place. It sounded... holy.
The music echoed down the empty corridor.
"GRAAAH~~" "Uhhh~~"
Almost instantly. From the darkness outside. The response came. Heavy footsteps. Dragging sounds. Surging from all directions. Approaching the tiny room like a tide.
"Here they come," Shadow said, voice ice cold. "A lot of them."
I drew the black Tang Dao. The white blade reflected my pale face.
"Qiqi. Uncle is treating you to one more listen."
I turned. Strided to the door. Stood beside Shadow.
"Let's kill our way out."