It took the kids a while to warm up to their ‘new’ Grandpa Lián Liwei. He wasn’t unrecognizable by any means; he was just different.

  Lián Liwei kept himself busy trying his new strength, running around the villa, lifting weights, and doing other things.

  It was when the kids saw Lián Xīng lifted over Lián Liwei’s head that they ran from their bedrooms.

  “Me!” Huáng Měi Lán shouted, raising her hands to be lifted.

  “I’ll go first, I’m older.” Huáng Mùchén stepped forward.

  Only for Grandpa Lián Liwei to let out a laugh lift Huáng Mùchén and Huáng Měi Lán over his head, one in each arm.

  Lián Xīng watched with a smile, happy the kids could still find some happiness despite the changes in the world.

  She had been slowly allowing them to see pieces of the news to prepare them for the new world they would grow up in, but it wasn’t easy. She knew she shouldn’t censor too much, but she was worried about scaring them too badly while still wanting them to be prepared for what one day they would have to confront. Lián Xīng would not keep them locked up in the villa the rest of their lives. Although it would seem safer, it would also make them vulnerable to the dangers outside their door.

  It would be better to take them out some day once they were aware of the dangers they might face, protecting them by being by their sides, than them sneaking out due to curiosity.

  “Grandfather, I think I should go out and see how things are. The news can only let us know so much.”

  Lián Xīng walked into the kitchen to see her grandfather making breakfast for the family.

  He nodded, pausing as he turned off the oven. “I’ll protect the kids.”

  A soft but strong voice came from behind, “We are going with you, Auntie.”

  Lián Xīng had never seen such a firm expression on Huáng Měi Lán’s face; often so gentle and shy, now it was set in determination.

  “We go together or not at all.” Huáng Mùchén followed up with a nod.

  Lián Xīng debated the idea for a while before deciding perhaps it was for the best. The apocalypse had only just begun; it was still dangerous but…

  She sighed; perhaps it was best they see what the world was turning into.

  She only hoped she wouldn’t come to regret it.

  Alone, she had protections; she could camouflage herself, but together, she would have to think of other things to protect the kids.

  Grandfather, with his new enhanced body, could take the two kids and run if need be; that was some reassurance to Lián Xīng, at least.

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  As they closed the gate of the villa, a buzzing sounded and a force field shimmered around the villa.

  “That’s new. When did you have that installed?”

  “Earlier than you might think,” Lián Liwei replied.

  No one but the family’s signatures would be able to get into the property by any means. It had probably taken quite the pretty coin for Lián Liwei to have it installed, but Lián Xīng couldn’t help but be relieved. One less thing to worry about that day out.

  The walk down to the country bus stop was uneventful, thankfully.

  It was an oddly silent ride. Usually, the old aunties would gossip, but they sat apart their gazes looking out the windows and jumping at the slightest sound.

  It was a risk to take public transit, but they had only a limited amount of resources, and although the vehicles they had were hybrids, they would still need to charge off their electricity. It would be best to take alternate transportation until they had to go out in a modified vehicle.

  Huáng Mùchén and Huáng Měi Lán took in everything with wide eyes. Their voices were so low and muffled from their face masks that Lián Liwei and Lián Xīng could barely hear them.

  “Everything is quiet.”

  “They are scared, Měi Lán.”

  “Should we be scared, Mùchén?”

  “Maybe.”

  Lián Xīng and Lián Liwei glanced at each other before glancing at the twins between them.

  Their stop came up soon, they filed out of the transit.

  Others followed, still keeping a distance from each other.

  Keeping the essentials in the stores for others who needed them more, the quartet focused on getting things that would not last long unless frozen, snacks, and anything the kids wanted.

  They had just checked out, and Lián Xīng had made the mistake of thinking that it all seemed to not be as bad yet when they heard screams.

  There was a crowd, near mob, that was trying to make it toward the exits. Lián Xīng picked up Měi Lán, and her grandfather picked up Mùchén, ready to run with them if they needed to.

  Looking over the crowd and stepping out of the stampede zone, they searched for the source of the screams.

  And then they saw it. Quickly, Lián Xīng covered Měi Lán’s eyes with the arm not carrying her.

  Lián Liwei did the same with Mùchén, only for him to try to shake off the hand.

  An infected frenzy was happening in the aisle across from the checkout machines. It was terrifying to see one in person, someone had tried to fight off an infected. Once again, a whisper of a thought came to Lián Xīng ‘it was defensive.’ The one who tried to fight was torn apart; that was the only way to explain it. The infected helped each other out when they felt they were in danger. Another came from another corner of the store and had joined the ‘fight’, if it could even be called that. The strength of the infected should be low, unless before becoming affected they were strong; but together, the man who had fought the first infected was nothing but a pile of blood and limbs. They were drawn to the sounds of the screaming. When they dispatched of the man, they turned toward several people screaming and running, grabbing them. Their sharp nails caused long scratches down the fleeing crowds’ limbs.

  Měi Lán whimpered behind Lián Xīng’s hand.

  The crowd had mostly passed and ran outside, the Lián family holding still.

  One of the infected’s neon green eyes made eye contact with Lián Xīng. It surged forward, and Lián Xīng whispered, “No matter what you do, don’t run. Don’t make a sound. Don’t move.”

  When they stood frozen just by the entrance, obeying her, the infected was joined by the other. They came up a breath’s distance from Lián Xīng, and she found she had a hard time taking her own advice. She shook slightly but didn’t look away from those glowing eyes.

  The infected tilted their heads looking look at the family of four almost as if surprised that they didn’t run, scream or fight.

  Slowly, the infected wandered away as if uninterested in them. Not typical ‘zombie’ behavior, confirming in Lián Xīng’s mind that they were still alive. They were not undead; they could still think and perhaps even feel.