I held my breath, and the door opened a crack, revealing an eye peeking through the gap, scanning the surroundings.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the living room, accompanied by labored breathing. One step, two steps... He struggled to drag a burlap sack, leaving a trail of crimson blood on the floor.

"He doesn't look like a normal person, seems to have a mental deficiency," Xu Jing whispered. "Estimated height of over two meters, his head is crooked, and he's dragging something that looks like a corpse. Lower your head immediately; he's scanning around."

Suddenly, the footsteps ceased, and sounds of sniffing, akin to a dog, came from the living room.

"He's coming this way. Don't make any noise," Xu Jing reminded.

Pressing my body against the wall, I tightly gripped the iron frame as the window was opened. A furry head brushed past me from above. He looked around in confusion, paused for a few seconds, and continued dragging the sack.

As long as the man glanced downward or turned his head, he would see me crouched on top of the air conditioner unit.

I released my grip on the pig-killing knife; I had already prepared for the worst.

"He went inside and saw the woman you knocked out. She's still standing there, dazed. Seize the opportunity and make your escape!"

I immediately jumped into the room, grabbed the backpack on the couch, and rushed out of the door.

"He just returned from outside, so the corridor should be safe for now. But he heard some noise in the living room and is already catching up," Xu Jing warned.

Heavy footsteps came from behind me, and my scalp tingled. "What should I do now? Take the elevator or the stairs?"

"Don't take the elevator!"

"The monitor just showed several humanoid creatures inside the elevator. They're currently pounding on the doors. Once the doors open, they'll rush in."

"But I have no chance on the stairs. With their absolute physical advantage, I'm no match for that man. Besides, there might be other monsters waiting for me on the stairs."

I furrowed my brow, caught in a dilemma once again.

After a two-second pause, I decisively pressed the elevator button.

"Are you crazy?" Xu Jing's voice sounded frantic. "I told you there are monsters in the elevator, monsters! At least that man is still human!"

"Precisely because he's human."

After pressing the up button, I rushed into the stairwell.

The man stood still, perplexed, and looked around with a bewildered gaze. He was about to walk towards the stairwell when, with a "ding," the elevator doors opened.

I locked the door to the stairwell, and intense sounds of struggle and monster roars came from outside. The man shouted loudly like a child, his voice filled with anger and helplessness.

The commotion outside quickly subsided, replaced by the chilling sound of chewing.

Xu Jing's voice trembled. "Was this... what you had in mind?"

I didn't answer that question. "Can you see the elevator's footage now? Are there any monsters inside?"

Xu Jing paused for a moment. "No."

I sprinted down one more floor, pressed the down button, and Xu Jing immediately understood my intention. "The elevator seems fine. You can go in now."

Watching the numbers on the display getting closer to the first floor, I didn't dare to relax.

"Where are you going next?"

"Back to high school." I didn't hesitate. "It's currently the holiday season, and the school is the closest place with the most resources. I'm also familiar with it, and..."

And those students are defenseless, not my opponents.

"Xu Jing, keep an eye on the path for me."

The wind whistled in my ears, aided by Xu Jing's perspective, and I easily vaulted over the high wall surrounding the school.

"I can see three locations from here: the teaching building, the playground, and the entrance to the cafeteria. Since it's the holiday, there's no one at the playground or the cafeteria entrance. However, there are lights on in classrooms on the first and fifth floors of the teaching building, but we're not sure what's inside."

"They should be living people. Those things don't attack places with no signs of life. I'll start from the playground and make my way to the teaching building."

I cautiously moved towards the playground, staying low and avoiding open areas. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the deserted swings and slides.

"I've reached the playground," I whispered.

"Be careful. Keep an eye out for any movement," Xu Jing warned.

I scanned the area, my senses heightened. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

As I approached the teaching building, I noticed a faint flicker of light coming from one of the classrooms on the first floor. I moved closer, keeping to the shadows and peering through the window.

Inside, I saw a group of survivors huddled together. They seemed to be discussing something, their faces filled with anxiety and fear.

"Xu Jing, it's a group of survivors. They seem to be in distress," I whispered.

"Approach them cautiously. They might be desperate and could pose a threat," Xu Jing advised.

I slowly pushed open the classroom door, causing the survivors to turn their heads in alarm. Their eyes widened as they saw me, a stranger, entering their midst.

"Who are you? How did you get here?" a man demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion.

"I'm just a survivor like you," I replied calmly. "I saw your lights and thought I'd seek shelter here."

They exchanged wary glances but seemed to relax slightly.

"We've been holed up here for days," a woman said, her voice filled with exhaustion. "The creatures outside are relentless."

"I've encountered them too," I said. "But I managed to escape."

Curiosity and hope flickered in their eyes.

"How did you escape? Do you know a way out of here?" another man asked eagerly.

I hesitated for a moment, considering how much information I should share.

"There's no easy way out," I finally replied. "But there might be a chance if we work together."

They looked at each other, weighing their options.

"We're running low on supplies," the woman spoke up. "If you have a plan, we're willing to listen."

We huddled together, discussing our options and formulating a strategy. With their knowledge of the school's layout and my experience in evading the creatures, we devised a plan to gather resources, fortify our position, and search for a way to escape.

As we prepared for the challenges ahead, I couldn't help but wonder if we would find safety or if this would be another temporary respite in an unforgiving world.