CHAPTER:- 3 LOVE AMONG THE RUINS

The world had shifted drastically in just a few days.

Once-thriving cities now lay in ruins, used only as military bases by the government.

In response to the chaos, authorities erected massive walls and set up strategic defenses around their designated camps.

Each base was fortified, serving as a shield against the C-Zombies.

Food and resources were still abundant, enough to last everyone for days, and the distribution of rations kept morale high.

The government’s camps became the last refuge for those who had lost everything.

Despite the seemingly organized system, not everyone chose to take shelter in the camps.

Some—especially the wealthy—opted to stay in their luxurious mansions, confident that their money and resources would protect them.

In this new world, somehow money was more valuable than ever, as those who had it could still buy food, security, and whatever else they needed.

They believed they were safer within their own heavily-guarded estates, relying on private armies and looted goods to maintain their lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Baiyi was in the forest, far from the safety of their city and the comforts of the rich.

She had been searching for Chen all day, and the sun was beginning to set without her realizing it.

Her throat was raw from calling out his name, her voice barely audible anymore.

She had been searching endlessly, deep into the dense, dangerous forest. With each passing minute, her heart sank a little more.

Baiyi knew how fortunate she was that no danger had come her way.

With the country in shambles and C-Zombies roaming the outskirts, it was a miracle she hadn’t encountered one.

Still, the fear in her heart was nothing compared to the sorrow she felt from not finding Chen.

She dropped to her knees, her body trembling from exhaustion and despair.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered into the wind, "Wherever you are, Chen, please don’t give up on me. I’ll find you… somehow. Until then, stay strong."

With a heavy heart and tears streaming down her face, she made her way back home.

The promise she made to herself echoed in her mind—she would do better, she would find him, no matter the cost.

A week passed since the incident that changed the world.

Nations and their cities had adapted surprisingly well to the new threats.

Governments established communication networks, and their soldiers quickly adjusted to the ever-present danger of the C-Zombies.

The civilians had found a way to trust their leaders again, finding comfort in the structured defenses and the regular supply of rations.

Soldiers became heroes, the backbone of the new society, their every move carefully coordinated to ensure survival.

But while the world seemed to find stability, Baiyi's and Chen’s families were far from peaceful.

From the night Chen disappeared, there was no word of him.

From day one, since government didn't apporch their city, Chen's city didn't have that technology, defence, device or soilders that can help from C Zombies and other needs of survival.

So, their small city, around two thousand houses only, makes a plan on how to looking for Chen.

Day after day, hope began to wane for everyone in their community, except for Baiyi and Chen’s family.

Despite extensive searches for three days and nights, even venturing deep into the forest, no one could find any trace of him. It was as if Chen had simply vanished into thin air.

No one dared to say it aloud, but most believed Chen was gone for good, lost to the dangers of the forest or worse—the C-Zombies.

Yet Baiyi refused to believe it.

She knew, deep in her heart, that Chen was still out there, somewhere.

She clung to that belief, even as her own health deteriorated.

The endless search had taken a toll on her—she barely ate, and sleep was elusive. Her body was weakened from exhaustion, and her mind was worn thin by the stress and grief of not knowing where Chen was.

As the sun set again and people returned to the safety of their homes and camps.

The streets were eerily silent, as if the world had gone completely still.

The only noise that broke the quiet was the occasional distant howl of the C-Zombies, lurking in the shadows of the abandoned cities. But something was different tonight.

The C-Zombies didn’t attack like they normally did. Instead, they gathered in large numbers, surrounding the camps and bases but keeping their distance. It seemed as though they had learned their lesson—every night, hundreds of them were slaughtered by the government’s forces.

People began to relax, thinking the creatures had finally been deterred by their consistent defeats.

But what no one knew was that the C-Zombies were not acting on instinct alone.

Someone—or something—was controlling them, guiding their every move with a sinister purpose. Quietly and strategically, the zombies began probing the camps, testing their defenses.

They soon discovered weak points—walls that were hastily built, guard towers that were undermanned, and the routines of the soldiers, which had grown predictable.

The attack began without warning. Before the government forces could react, a wave of C-Zombies breached the walls, having found the camp’s vulnerabilities.

Panic erupted as alarms blared through the camp, and soldiers scrambled to defend the base. In the chaos, the people living within the camp—civilians who had grown comfortable in their relative safety—were thrown into a frantic struggle for survival.

The night was filled with the sounds of gunfire, screams, and the unrelenting growls of the C-Zombies. For the first time in days, the people realized that their safety was nothing more than an illusion.

The real battle for survival had just begun.

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