It was already late at night. After repeated notices from the Special Defense Department, ordinary residents of South City generally stayed indoors at this hour. The few who absolutely had to go out hurried along, or went in groups with enough people to protect one another.
The same was even more true of the residential buildings in the old district.
The old district was full of all kinds of people, and its residential compounds lacked proper security. So once night fell, everyone turned off the lights and went to bed early, afraid that a light or even the slightest sound might draw Cannibal Players. But there were exceptions: babies.
A resident on the tenth floor of Camphor Tree Compound first heard a baby crying loudly inside her home. The cries soon stopped, followed by the cautious sound of a door opening.
The neighbors beside her and on the floors above and below heard the noise. Though surprised, none of them came out to investigate.
The person who had slipped out was a middle-aged woman, clutching her child tightly. Moving quickly and quietly, she entered the elevator. When it reached the first floor, she pulled her coat tighter, as though that could hide her whereabouts, then hurried to the security booth and gently knocked on the door.
"Brother Zhang, my child has a high fever. Could you please drive us to the hospital?" the woman asked softly.
There was no answer from the security booth, its iron door shut tight. Undeterred, the woman knocked harder, pounding until the door boomed. "Brother Zhang, please! If we don't get to the hospital, my child will die!"
This time, a voice came from the little room, but it wasn't out of kindness. The guard was worried she might attract attention.
"Who'd dare go out