Lin Yuan opened his eyes and felt as if his body was slightly sliding towards one side of the bed. He frowned. When he got up, he found that the floor also gave a slight sense of tilt.
He steadied himself, opened the window and looked outside. The city in his sight was no longer the familiar one. Many buildings in the distance had collapsed, and he could even see that some tall buildings had completely cracked and turned into ruins. By sensing the information from the surrounding plants, his heart tightened suddenly. There were huge cracks all around the base of the whole building, and the accumulated water was still slowly flowing into the crevices. The whole building was clearly becoming unstable and tilting slowly to one side!
"Damn it..." Lin Yuan gritted his teeth and immediately walked towards the living room.
Cao Yuwei was still tidying up the supplies on the sofa. Seeing Lin Yuan's expression, she immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
"The whole building is tilting. We have to leave as soon as possible!" Lin Yuan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unshakable firmness.
Cao Yuwei was stunned for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, I'll get ready right away."
Lin Yuan decided not to let the neighbors be trapped here. He knocked on the doors of one neighbor after another and briefly and calmly explained the situation: "There's a problem with the building's foundation. The building seem to be tilting and could collapse any minute! Pack up and leave right away!"
Many people's expressions turned terrified when they heard the news, but there were still some who chose to be indifferent.
"You're a student, aren't you?" Uncle Li, the neighbor, leaned against the door frame with a look of disapproval on his face. "Tilting? Why don't I feel it? Don't talk nonsense and scare people. This building has only been built for 10 years. How could it collapse?"
Lin Yuan frowned. "Check the foundation cracks downstairs yourself!"
However, there was an even more difficult voice.
Aunt Zhou, the neighbor opposite, sneered. "You young people just like to exaggerate! Go out? Do you know what the situation is outside? There's no food or drink, and zombies are running wild. Even the rescue team may not come! At least it's safe in this building!"
Lin Yuan suppressed his anger. "But what if the building collapses?"
"Collapse or not, I'm staying! Outside is pure hell!" Aunt Zhou slapped the door and shut it.
Facing these stubborn people, Lin Yuan could only shake his head helplessly. "Good advice can't persuade those who are bent on their own destruction..."
Cao Yuwei looked at Lin Yuan's expression and said, "Don't take it too seriously. Just take care of ourselves first."
Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei quickly sorted out the supplies, putting as much food, tools, clothes, emergency medicines, etc. as possible into Cao Yuwei's spatial ability. Lin Yuan was responsible for the other things that could be carried with them. Lin Yuan specifically wrapped the pot of cactus in a cloth and took it with him. After all, this cactus seemed to be gradually undergoing some kind of mutation.
"Aunt, can you still use your ability?" Lin Yuan asked worriedly.
Cao Yuwei shouldered the backpack and took a slight breath. "I can use it, but there's not much space left. As long as we don't put too many heavy things in at once, there won't be much of a problem."
Lin Yuan nodded. "That's good. We have to find a shelter as soon as possible, or run into the rescue team."
The two of them carefully went downstairs through the stairwell. When passing by each floor, they could occasionally hear some noises of neighbors arguing. It seemed that some people had started to quarrel over the issue of resource allocation, but Lin Yuan didn't stop and went straight outside the building.
The outside world was indeed a chaotic hell as Aunt Zhou had said. The roadsides were piled with garbage washed away by the flood and decaying corpses, and the air was filled with a pungent stench. Many vehicles were abandoned halfway, and the car windows were covered with mud and corrosion marks.
In order to avoid the possible dangers on the main roads, Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei chose a small alley and tried to move forward as low-key as possible.
Their goal was clear: find a shelter like a sturdy abandoned supermarket or underground garage, or meet the rescue team directly.
On the fourth day, the weather was still extremely hot. Lin Yuan communicated with the surrounding plants through his ability and found several water sources. But most of these water sources were polluted and had to be filtered and boiled before they could be drunk.
Early in the morning on the fifth day, they found a small grocery store that seemed to be in relatively good condition in an alley and decided to go in and search for some supplies.
However, the moment Lin Yuan reached the door, he heard a low "gurgling" noise from inside.
He immediately signaled Cao Yuwei to stop and pricked up his ears to listen carefully. Sure enough, the sound became clearer and clearer, and it was mixed with the sound of dragging footsteps.
"There's something inside." Lin Yuan said in a low voice.
Cao Yuwei frowned and asked, "Is it a zombie?"
"Not sure, but most likely." Lin Yuan touched the wooden stick at his waist, took a deep breath, "Let's go around it. Don't take the risk."
But just as they were about to turn, the grocery store door burst open and a rotting figure stumbled out.
The zombie's eyes were grayish white, its skin was so rotten that the muscles and bones were exposed, and it let out a series of low growls from its mouth. It seemed to have smelled their scent and rushed straight towards them.
"Run!" Lin Yuan shouted and grabbed Cao Yuwei's hand and turned to run.
But just as they reached the entrance of the alley, Lin Yuan heard more low growls behind him. He glanced back and saw not just one zombie, but three or four of them slowly coming from the deep shadows of the alley.
"Damn it!" Lin Yuan gritted his teeth and pulled Cao Yuwei to turn into another alley.
Cao Yuwei gasped for breath and said, "Why did they suddenly appear here? Didn't they say this area was still relatively safe?"
"I don't know, but they must have smelled us!" Lin Yuan lowered his voice and clenched the wooden stick in his hand. "We must shake them off quickly, or things will get more and more difficult."
...
At the same time, in Jiang Yulian's apartment. The black dog suddenly stood up from the floor. Its body size was actually a circle larger than before, and its eyes emitted a strange golden light.
Jiang Tianming looked at the black dog and had a strange feeling in his heart. He touched the dog tag and said in a low voice, "What's wrong with you?"
The black dog didn't bark. It just walked silently to the window and stared at the gray ruins of the city in the distance, as if waiting for something.
Jiang Yulian stood beside him, "I hope it's a good change... We have fewer things to count on now."
===================
林远睁开眼,感到自己的身体好像微微滑向床的一侧.他皱了皱眉,起身时却发现,地板也出现了轻微的倾斜感.
他稳了稳身子,打开窗户向外看去,视野中的城市不再是熟悉的模样.远处的建筑倒塌了不少,甚至可以看到某些高楼已经完全崩裂,成为废墟.再通过周围的植物信息感应一下,他的心脏猛然一紧,整栋大楼的基座周围布满了巨大的裂缝,积水还在缓慢流入裂隙中.整个大楼已经显然在失去稳定,逐渐向一侧倾斜!
"该死..." 林远咬牙,立刻走向客厅.
江雨薇还在沙发上收拾物资,看到林远的表情,立即问道:"怎么了?"
"整栋楼在倾斜,我们得尽快离开!" 林远声音不大,却带着不容置疑的坚定.
江雨薇愣了一下,随即点点头:"好,我这就准备."
林远决定不能让邻居们被困在这里.他敲开一户户邻居的门,简短而冷静地说明了情况:"大楼地基出问题了,整个楼正在倾斜,随时可能倒塌!我建议大家赶紧收拾东西,离开这里!"
不少人听到消息后,表情都变得惊恐,但还是有人选择了冷漠以对.
"你是个学生吧?" 邻居李大爷倚着门框,满脸不以为然,"倾斜?我怎么没感觉?你别乱说话吓人啊,这栋楼才修了10年,能倒塌?"
林远皱了皱眉:"楼下地基的裂缝你自己去看!我们不能冒这个险!"
然而,还有更难缠的声音响起.
对门的住户周阿姨冷笑一声:"你们年轻人就喜欢危言耸听!出去?外面现在是个什么情况你知道吗?没吃没喝,丧尸横行,救援队都不一定会来!这楼里至少还安全!"
林远压着火气:"但如果楼塌了呢?"
"塌不塌的,我就不走!外面才是真正的地狱!" 周阿姨拍了拍门板,干脆把门关上了.
面对这些固执的人,林远只能无奈摇头:"好言难劝该死鬼..."
江雨薇看着林远的脸色,说道:"别太在意,先顾好自己吧."
林远和江雨薇快速整理好物资,尽可能将食物,工具,衣物,应急药品等都装进了江雨薇的空间异能中,其他能随身带的东西则由林远负责.林远特意把那盆仙人掌用布包好带上,毕竟,这株仙人掌似乎正逐渐发生某种变异.
"小姨,你的异能还能使用?" 林远担忧地问道.
江雨薇扛起背包,略微喘了口气,说:"能使用,但空间不多了.只要我们不一次性收太多重物,问题不大."
林远点点头:"那就好.我们得尽快找到避难所,或者碰到救援队."
两人从楼梯间小心翼翼地下楼,路过各层时,偶尔还能听到一些邻居的吵闹声,似乎有人开始因为资源分配问题产生了争执,但林远没有停留,径直往楼外走去.
外面的世界果然如周阿姨所说,是一个混乱的地狱.道路两旁堆满了被洪水冲刷的垃圾和腐败的尸体,空气中弥漫着刺鼻的恶臭.许多车辆被遗弃在半途,车窗上满是泥浆和腐蚀的痕迹.
为了避开主要道路可能存在的危险,林远和江雨薇选择了一条小巷,尽量保持低调行进.
他们的目标很明确:寻找能够提供庇护的地方,比如坚固的废弃超市,地下车库等,或是直接碰上救援队.
第四天,此时天气依然高温难耐,林远通过异能与周围的植物沟通,找到了几处水源.但这些水源大多都被污染,必须过滤和煮沸才能饮用.
就在第五天清晨,他们在一条巷子里发现了一间看起来还算完好的小卖部,决定进去搜寻一些物资.
然而,林远刚走到门口,就听到了里面传来低沉的 "咕噜咕噜" 声.
他立刻示意江雨薇停下,竖起耳朵仔细听.果然,那声音越来越清晰,还夹杂着类似拖拽的脚步声.
"有东西在里面." 林远低声说道.
江雨薇皱眉问:"是丧尸?"
"不确定,但八成是." 林远摸了摸腰间的木棍,深吸一口气,"我们绕过去吧,不要冒险."
然而,就在他们准备转身时,小卖部的门突然被撞开了,一个浑身腐烂的身影摇摇晃晃地走了出来.
丧尸的双眼灰白,皮肤腐烂得露出了筋骨,嘴里发出一阵阵低吼,似乎嗅到了他们的气味,径直向他们扑来.
"跑!" 林远大喊一声,拉着江雨薇转身狂奔.
可刚跑到巷口,林远就听到了背后更多的低吼声.他回头一看,发现不止一个丧尸,而是三,四只正从巷子深处的阴影中缓缓靠近.
"该死!" 林远咬牙,拉着江雨薇转向另一条小巷.
江雨薇喘着粗气说道:"它们怎么会突然出现在这里?不是说这区域还算安全的吗?"
"不清楚,但它们肯定是闻到我们的气味了!" 林远压低声音,握紧手中的木棍,"我们必须尽快甩掉它们,否则会越来越麻烦."
...
与此同时,江玉莲的公寓.那只黑狗突然从地板上站了起来,体型竟然比原来大了一圈,双眼发出了诡异的金光.
江天明看着黑狗,心里有种奇怪的感觉.他摸了摸狗牌,低声说道:"你是怎么回事?"
黑狗没有吠叫,只是默默地走到窗边,盯着远处灰蒙蒙的城市废墟,似乎在等待什么.
江玉莲站在一旁,喃喃道:"希望它的变化是好事...现在我们能依靠的东西,已经越来越少了."