After resting, Zack Martin and his group didn't dare stir up any more trouble. Lucas Wilson and Hannah Miller walked over, sat opposite Emma Smith, and spoke in low voices: "We didn't encounter any zombies in the building. We found the blind zombie you guys killed earlier and brought it back."
Emma Smith's eyes lit up: "What about the keys?"
"We brought the keys back too. Now we're just one step away. What have you decided?"
'tomorrow night, I'll go out first. You guys watch from the window of Reading Room 4. If a candle lights up in the supermarket window, circle around to the warehouse's back door. The door will be open. You go in and move the supplies."
"And if it doesn't light up?" Hannah Miller asked, confused.
With so many Evil Seeds ambushing the supermarket, how could Emma Smith manage to light a candle in the window? It sounded harder than ascending to heaven.
Emma Smith didn't answer directly: 'then we think of another way."
"If the candle doesn't light up, you can still come back, right?" Lucas Wilson asked suddenly.
Emma Smith's heart skipped a beat.
Lucas Wilson always had a magical ability to see through people, as if nothing could be hidden from him.
Emma Smith let out a dry, nonchalant laugh: "Of course. Why would I joke with my own life?"
If the plan fails, I probably won't be coming back, Emma Smith thought to herself.
Fortunately, her ability to mask her thoughts was top-notch, and Lucas Wilson didn't notice anything strange.
Lucas Wilson let out a sigh of relief: 'that's good then."
…
By day, the group could only cower within the confines of the library. With the power out, no one dared to waste their phone battery.
They were pinning their hopes on the government sending more news.
They held onto hope, waiting for salvation.
Emma Smith stood on the library balcony, gazing out at the city of Tianbei. Outside the campus, the world was in ruins. Explosions periodically rocked the streets and buildings, sending plumes of black smoke spiraling into the clouds.
The situation outside was no better than at the school. Even if the government launched a rescue mission, they would prioritize the tycoons and top intellectuals first, followed by their families, and then students from elite universities.
The chances of Tianbei University receiving aid were slim to none.
Jessica Williams walked over to Emma Smith, her voice low and steady: "You saved my life. If you're going to take a risk, I'm going with you."
Emma Smith turned to look at her.
In truth, the main reason Emma Smith's previous proposal had been accepted was because of Jessica Williams. It was Zhao's backing that gave her authority.
"No need. The others in the library need you more."
'they don't mean a thing to me." Jessica Williams replied nonchalantly: "My friend died during the battle in the corridor. I was ready to give up, too. You were the one who gave me the hope to live. I will always stand by your side."
Emma Smith looked at Jessica Williams, moved.
To have someone stand behind you in an apocalypse like this was an incredibly fortunate thing.
The despair at the bottom of Emma Smith's heart receded slightly.
Although she had been trying her best to save herself and the people trapped in the library, she actually had very little confidence.
She managed a smile: 'thank you. Trust me, I will figure out a way to get us to the safe zone."
Hannah Miller walked over, beaming: "I believe in you, Emma Smith. You know, I think you're really smart, smarter than anyone I've ever met!"
"I believe you can do it!" Hannah Miller pulled two candies from her pocket, giving one to Jessica Williams and one to Emma Smith.
Emma Smith looked surprised as she took the soda-flavored hard candy: "Where did you get this?"
"Hehe, I had them on me. I have plenty more." Hannah Miller said with a grin: "If we manage to escape, you'll be my sworn sister. We've practically gone through life and death together!"
Suddenly, Hannah Miller's eyes lit up. She looked at Emma Smith: "Why don't we become sworn sisters right now?"
Emma Smith raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was unexpected that this girl could remain so optimistic in such a perilous environment.
'sure. No phones to play with, nothing else to do anyway." Alice Brown walked over: 'the school library doesn't stock a single romance novel. It's hateful. The shelves are full of law compendiums, and the cases inside are way more melodramatic than the wildest soap operas!"
Hannah Miller extended her hand. Jessica Williams placed hers on top. Alice Brown followed. Emma Smith hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand on the pile.
They didn't recite any cheesy lines or exchange tokens; they simply looked at each other and smiled.
"From this moment on, none of us can betray the group!" Hannah Miller said seriously: "We are sisters forever!"
During the day, the group continued to sleep in shifts.
Emma Smith sat by the window, watching the sky gradually darken.
In the distance, a fiery glow lit up the horizon; an explosion was tearing through the other side of the city.
Emma Smith walked over to the corpse of the Evil Seed. She smeared its black blood onto the skin beneath her clothes. The sticky, slimy sensation and the overwhelming stench assaulted her nasal cavity. Emma Smith dry-heaved several times, barely managing to cover her mouth.
For the sake of going home to see Mom. For the sake of escaping to the border together.
Even though she wasn't sure if she would succeed.
…
The stench of rot clinging to Emma Smith made everyone instinctively pinch their noses.
Zack Martin, whose face was already swollen and bruised from a beating, scooted further away with a look of disgust, muttering under his breath: "Disgusting."
Emma Smith didn't even spare them a glance. Gripping a dagger, she walked straight into the darkness.