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EPISODE 24: Invasion

  Lián Xīng had been at the base for two weeks. It had been two weeks since she had seen her family. Two weeks of nearly non-stop healing, only getting breaks every eight-hour shift. She would go to the rooftop and rest beneath the stars, regenerating beneath them. Every night, she would check the strength of the connections. She could almost hear her niece's thoughts if she focused hard on one light. It was how she kept from losing hope that she’d see her family again. She could even send emotions through the threads connecting them, like reassurance and comfort, and she knew Měi Lán felt them because she’d send back curious feelings of delight and happiness.

  If she could influence the threads connecting the people to her, could she not affect them? To what end, though? In the base’s community, the voices of the healed were not heard as loudly as those who had never been infected or had awoken superpowers. There was still an almost-prejudice that ran through the people who hadn’t been affected.

  Already, she had taken steps to put doubts in the minds of those who thought the infected were mindless. Now that the base’s higher-ups knew the infected could be healed, maybe it had changed how they interacted with them, at least she hoped so.

  It was another day of healing when she suddenly had an influx of injured soldiers.

  “What happened to all of you?”

  Most of them kept silent until another soldier was brought in who was loudly proclaiming, “The zombies have gone crazy.”

  Her healing had been getting quicker in the last two weeks, but the influx of injuries was still more than she could handle. Quickly, she and the other doctors triaged. She would heal the ones in the danger zone, and they would help patch up smaller injuries.

  The one who had spoken with a yell was one of the top ones she needed to heal, his arm nearly torn from him. She was surprised he had any awareness left due to the amount of pain he must be in.

  “You are a miracle worker.”

  She glanced at him only to finish reattaching his arm in place, healing the muscles; he must be in shock, she assumed.

  “Are you single?” The soldier grinned cheekily at her as his pale face started to get some color back into it.

  “Who has time to date when there are so many to heal?”

  The soldier pouted before he looked at his newly healed arm. “I think I’m just going to nap for a while.” Before he passed out.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Lián Xīng shook her head before cleaning herself off and heading to the next patient.

  “Zhōu Míng Yù?” Lián Xīng looked worryingly at his head injury. “How did this happen?”

  His words came out slurred as he fought his concussion, “Stampede… back to the base after…happened.”

  Lián Xīng focused on healing his concussion, her features drawn in worry. She had become close to this man and his younger brother, whom she had healed. They were good people. They had begun to see the flaws behind attacking the infected, they had even given up better-paying jobs as scavengers to be guards instead.

  One of the newly healed nearby spoke in an undertone to a fellow patient, “I never expected the zombies to be so organized.”

  “Maybe that’s because they are not zombies.” Lián Xīng moved on to the next patient who had long scratches up and down their arms.

  “What do you mean?”

  Lián Xīng didn’t even turn as she focused on healing; the one who was scratched would have to be put under observation, but she healed the other non-infected injuries.

  “You cannot heal the undead.”

  Turning her head slightly toward the soldier who had spoken, “They are infected, not zombies, for they can be healed.”

  Their conversation was interrupted as someone ran in announcing, “Big Brother Xú Lei is down! The zombies are coming into the base!”

  “They are not zombies.” Lián Xīng mumbled under her breath. Before looking over the patients she’d healed, she was tired but not as tired as she would have been two weeks ago. She’d gotten stronger. Looking at the panic in her patients’ eyes, she decided she would just have to take a look. Taking off her apron, she strode towards the door, only to be caught by Zhōu Míng Yù.

  “Where do you think you are going, Lián Xīng?”

  She looked toward the man she could call a friend. “They wouldn’t raid the base without a reason. They usually keep to themselves unless they feel threatened. This isn’t like them. Something is wrong.”

  “I’m coming with you.” He stood only to almost fall back onto the bed. She caught his arm, “I’m alright, just a little unsteady.”

  One of the soldiers from earlier spoke snidely, “What are you going to do? Talk to them?”

  “Yes.” Lián Xīng nodded before heading out with Zhōu Míng Yù getting up and following close behind.

  Outside the clinic’s walls, there was chaos. Soldiers were running outside as they tried to gather weaponry.

  “Are you sure about this?”

  Lián Xīng didn’t bother to answer, for she knew her voice would shake.

  The clinic sat above the old gym, and the windows outside by the stairwell showed the scene below. It was terrifying. The infected were decimating anyone who got in their way, but there was a pattern. They kept away from the normal folk and only went after those with weapons. They kept away from the more inhabited parts of the plaza and instead surged toward the barracks. It was indeed organized.

  “If only I had a pair of binoculars.”

  As soon as she said it, Zhōu Míng Yù handed her a pair. She barely raised an eyebrow at him before looking through them, focusing on the front of the army of infected.

  “Who is their general?” She whispered.

  Directing the binoculars to the front of the army of infected, she saw a familiar face.

  “Aha, why did I suspect it was you?”

  Zhōu Míng Yù leaned forward, squinting, “You know him?”

  Lián Xīng nodded, “I suspect he’s protected me before.”

  “This is because of you.” The accusation was not as rough as it might have been from another guard’s mouth.

  Lián Xīng looked back at him, “Well, if it’s for me, then I should be able to stop it.”

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