The sound gradually drew closer, passing over my head. As I watched, it flew past my home and headed east.
Too late... There was probably no chance of catching the helicopter now. But... while I was still standing there in silence, in the pouring rain,
some sheets of paper suddenly drifted down.
"What's that?!"
I blurted out in shock, staring blankly at the sheet that had fallen to the ground. It didn't seem to be dissolving in the water,
as if it were made of waterproof material?!
I stopped caring about the rain, opened the car door, and jumped out. I grabbed the sheet nearest to me and ran back.
The rain fell on me, bringing a faint chill. I ran with all my might, but I was still drenched from head to toe, almost
soaked through.
I felt for the military knife on me. I'd left the katana on the back seat, along with Big Black Eagle. After all, when I was driving,
those two things were a nuisance.
After thinking it over, I decided I might as well go straight home!
I ran to the car, pulled out the key, turned around, and slammed the door shut. Then I hit the lock button and quickly rounded the
corner, heading straight upstairs.
My home was at the far eastern end of the building. Once I rounded the corner, the first entrance on the east side was mine.
I rushed into the stairwell and finally let out a long breath. I was soaked through, but... shouldn't I collect some rainwater as a backup?
Thinking that, I climbed the stairs, took out my key, and opened the door. I tossed the sheet onto the sofa, and the water droplets
shook right off. It seemed to have been printed on the latest kind of waterproof paper. I didn't have time to look at it yet. I went to the kitchen and bathroom and took out everything that could hold water.
I went back outside and first carried the basins downstairs. Braving the downpour, I placed them where they could catch the rain but wouldn't collect dirty runoff from the rooftops
or the street. Then I went back to Big Brother Liu's home, took out a few more things that could hold water, and set them out in the rain.
As for the two zombies in the stairwell...
In the end, I couldn't bring myself to leave them there. I'd known them, at least. One was Big Brother Liu, and the other was his
younger sister, Liu Jia.
The helicopter had already flown away, so there was no rush for me to go to the city hospital anymore. After thinking it over, I took out two of my sheets. I wrapped
Liu Jia in one and Big Brother Liu in the other, then carried their bodies out of the stairwell.
If I simply left them there, I'd have to see them every time I went out. More importantly, they'd attract insects. Those bugs
might not be good or evil in themselves, but they could be carrying the virus. I didn't want to get infected without even realizing it.
Besides, even now, I still didn't know how the virus had spread.
It was like what I'd seen in Yu Deshui's diary. It only mentioned a period of chaos. It didn't say what exactly had happened,
whether the person had touched something, or eaten or drunk something.
If it spread through the air, wouldn't the virus be all around us by now?
That didn't make sense. Whatever the virus was, after a whole day in the sun—especially during a hot summer like this—it would probably die. If insects spread it...
That was certainly possible.
But if it had only spread over a small area, that would be one thing. This was a global outbreak. Otherwise, even if there were zombies,
other countries wouldn't just stand by and let such an inhumane virus run rampant. They would surely send troops to help.
Other countries must have fallen, too. Otherwise, there was no way to explain why, after a month, no foreign troops had come to help.
Still, it was best to be careful. I should boil the rainwater I collected before drinking it, and avoid dealing with mosquitoes and other insects as much as possible.
I dragged the two bodies outside and placed them in the garden. Seeing their features faintly visible beneath the sheets, I felt
heavy-hearted.
"Sorry, Big Brother Liu, Liu Jia. This is all I can do for now. It's getting dark, and I don't dare risk burying you both. You'll have to
stay here for the night. When the rain stops tomorrow, I'll find a shovel and bury you."
I rambled on to the bodies. I didn't know if souls really existed, but if they did, I hoped you two wouldn't blame me.
I watched them a little longer, then sighed and turned back. I was already soaked through, so I might as well get rained on a little more.
I looked up at the cloud-covered sky, and my mood began to settle. I didn't know why, but I'd always liked rainy days. No matter how I felt,
as soon as it rained, I became exceptionally calm.
It was a little different from Sage Mode. This kind of calm felt like my whole body and mind had... completely relaxed.
Even the hat on my head... was soaked through. I could throw away these clothes, but I couldn't throw away this hat.
At least, not until I found a replacement.
"Guess I'll just have to wash it?"
I sighed helplessly. I could do just about anything... heavy labor was fine, and delicate work was passable. I could wash dishes and chop vegetables with ease. Long Tianfeng had even told me,
"With knife skills like yours, you could be a chef! How about it? Want me to introduce you to a couple of master chefs?"
But it was precisely because of that that I could use the two knives in my hands so well. If I hadn't had even the slightest bit of training,
I might have died long ago, facing zombies with only one weak point.
Thinking back to those days, they'd been kind of fun. Life had been dull, but at least I hadn't had to stay on guard against everything around me
at every moment. I couldn't let my guard down around anything. Living like this was exhausting...
I wandered back to the stairwell, and before I even got into my home, I stripped off my clothes there. I bundled them up and tossed them out through the door,
then shut the stairwell's security door. That made things safer, though... it also left the stairwell very dark.
Now that I'd taken off all my clothes, I felt a little cold. I went straight into Big Brother Liu's home, set my belongings on a nearby cabinet, and turned into the kitchen.
I filled a basin with water, then headed for the bathroom...
As I walked, it suddenly occurred to me: what exactly did the note in my home say?
Maybe... it had something in it that would surprise me?
"I'd better finish washing up and go take a look. There's no point in guessing!"
Just as I entered the bathroom, a sharp pain hit my stomach again!
"Ugh!! Is this... really an upset stomach? Why does it feel... WTF!! What is this?!"
The Information on the Slips of Paper
Afternoon, September 11, 2027...
19:25.
Maybe this was a day worth remembering?
I didn't know... But I should remember it, because it was the first time I'd gotten my period.
Yeah... this was a visitor who'd never stopped by during the first half of my life. I'd only heard that every girl had one. It came to visit them once a month,
then left after a few days, lightly... without taking a single cloud with it, only a little "money" and several of those legendary...
SANI-TARY! PADS!
Looking utterly exhausted... I walked out of the bathroom. My lower abdomen was still cramping, making me restless. I clutched my stomach and struggled a few steps before
I felt another warm, wet sensation on my inner thigh.
"Ahhh!!!"
I shouted in despair, but that warm sensation paid no attention to my frustration. It just kept flowing...
Helplessly, I went back to the bathroom and used the tiny bit of water I had left to wash myself down there. Then I hurried back to my
room, clutching my stomach, and found a pack of those legendary... SANI-TARY! PADS! in the solar-powered bag.
"Do... do I really have to use this...?"
I stared at this legendary companion to Aunt Flo, something I'd heard of but never seen. I agonized over it for a long time, but... the crimson liquid flowing below
left me no choice!!
"Ahhh!!! Whatever, I'll just do it!!!"
With no other option, I steeled myself and examined this legendary companion to Aunt Flo.
"This... Hmm, double-sided tape... Uh, peel it off? Do I stick it on like this?"
After fiddling with it for ages, I finally managed to stick the pad onto my underwear.
How did it feel once I put it on?
Weird, awkward... and annoying!
"Phew..."
I let out a long sigh and sat bare-chested on the living room sofa. I reached for the sheet I'd tossed there when I came in.