Chapter 14: Land of the Living Dead

Tara had been kicked by Li Changsheng, smashing into the car, and his mind had been left in a daze. He was dizzy and confused. Only now did he come to his senses, realizing he and Columbus were tied together. He was angry, and even though he was bound, there was not a trace of fear in his heart. He spat fiercely at Darryl, "You treacherous bastards!"

By now, he understood that Mohr and Darryl had only been distracting him earlier.

He raised his middle finger with his hands tied behind his back.

Darryl glanced at him, replying coolly, "That was your own stupidity."

Tara widened his eyes, indignantly retorting, "You're the stupid one! Who are you people, and what are you planning to do with us?"

Darryl shrugged. "I don't know. My job is to watch you until the Boss returns. Then we'll see what happens."

"Boss?" Tara swept his eyes over Darryl, his lips curling with contempt, a sneer appearing on his face. "You're taller than that Asian guy, stronger too, and yet you take orders from him? How pathetic!"

Darryl replied irritably, "Tsk. If you could kick me three meters like he did, I'd take orders from you too."

Tara was momentarily stunned, unable to find a retort. The spot where he'd been kicked seemed to ache even more.

...

Li Changsheng scouted the area, finding neither zombies nor other people, and finally relaxed. Soon, he returned to rejoin the group.

Seeing him come back, everyone gathered together. Mohr was the first to ask, "Boss, what should we do with these two? I say we just finish them off!"

Mohr spoke loudly, and his words reached the ears of Columbus and Tara, who were tied up some distance away. The two exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking.

Amy was startled by Mohr's words. "Wait, we can't just do that. Maybe there's another way. We don't have to kill them, right, Boss?" She looked at Li Changsheng as she spoke.

Andrea agreed with Amy, "I support Amy's view."

Darryl said nothing, but his gaze was fixed on Li Changsheng.

Everyone knew, deep down, that the final decision rested with their leader—Li Changsheng. They were prepared for him to make the call alone, but when the moment arrived, curiosity got the better of them. What would he decide?

With everyone’s eyes on him, Li Changsheng understood they were waiting for his answer.

He was ready.

He shot Mohr a stern look. "Mohr, cut out the pointless talk from now on."

Then he nodded approvingly at Amy. "Amy is right. Even in the apocalypse, we must not kill the innocent..."

He paused.

"Their fate depends on their actions. If their crimes deserve punishment, let it be so. But if not, then let them go free."

...

"Boss makes sense." Everyone nodded in agreement.

Darryl glanced at Li Changsheng, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

Li Changsheng turned to Andrea. "Andrea, I remember you're a lawyer. What's the penalty for robbery and murder?"

Andrea hesitated for a moment. "Life imprisonment or the death penalty..."

Li Changsheng tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Then it's time to judge their crimes."

...

Mohr led the two 'ambushers' over.

Li Changsheng studied them, suddenly taken aback.

Why did these two look so familiar?

Curious, he asked Columbus, "What's your name?"

Columbus stammered nervously, "I... my name is Columbus, and this is Tara..."

Tara jabbed Columbus with his elbow. "Wimp! You chatterbox! You're such a pushover."

He shot Li Changsheng a furious look. "You bastards..."

Li Changsheng shook his head, ignoring Tara, and turned to Columbus. "Why were you lurking here? Planning to ambush us?"

Sweat beaded on Columbus’s forehead. "No, no, our car broke down, so we had no choice but to stop here..."

With difficulty, Columbus fished out a small notebook with his bound hands.

"This is my apocalypse survival guide, rule sixteen: stay away from crowds. We were purposely hiding from you. Once you left, we planned to leave too. We meant no harm."

Li Changsheng bent down, picked up the little notebook, and flipped through it. The pages were filled with messy notes:

Apocalypse Survival Rules.

1. Stay fit
2. Double tap
3. Be careful in the restroom
4. Always buckle your seatbelt
...

He smacked his lips.

No mistake.

He remembered a comedy movie he'd seen in his previous life called "Zombieland," about four protagonists surviving the apocalypse.

These were the movie's main characters.

Tsk.

Seems he'd attacked the wrong people.

...

All because of that idiot Mohr...

Now, what to do with these two?

Li Changsheng pondered briefly and made a decision.

"These two don't have any other companions and pose no threat to us. Take their guns and untie them."

He glanced at Amy and the others. "Any suggestions?"

Amy and the others shook their heads.

"Alright, let's rest here for half an hour. Amy, prepare lunch." Li Changsheng looked at Columbus and Tara, still tied up. "Prepare a meal for them as well..."

...

Columbus and Tara sat under the shade of a tree, with food from Amy laid out before them.

Tara, having been beaten for nothing, had no appetite at all. He sat sullenly, glaring at Li Changsheng.

If looks could kill, Li Changsheng would have died countless times.

But when Li Changsheng looked back at him, Tara dared not meet his gaze.

There was no reason for it, except that spectral figure and the fierce kick that had left a shadow in his heart.

Li Changsheng gave an awkward smile, feeling a little embarrassed himself.

"Zombieland" told the story of four protagonists saving each other during the apocalypse.

Columbus took a bite of bread. "Tara, I think they're pretty decent people. I have a suggestion..."

After the apocalypse, Columbus had stayed home for two months. Though he was socially anxious and had been kicked by Li Changsheng, he wasn't angry. In fact, he felt these people were not bad at all.

Tara glared at Columbus.

Damn!

This wimp was already betraying him!

Seeing Tara still sulking, Columbus said calmly, "The nearest town is thirty miles away. Our car's wrecked, so are we going to walk those thirty kilometers?"

Tara snorted, "I'd rather walk thirty kilometers than see them again, those sneaky bastards."

Columbus replied, "But I feel they're alright. At least there's a sense of security. I asked earlier—they're heading to the CDC."

Tara said, "If you want to go, go alone."

Columbus shrugged, "Alright, but I saw there was sponge cake on their table..."

Tara exclaimed, "Oh God, damn it, are you serious?"

Columbus replied, "I saw it with my own eyes."

Tara reconsidered, "Well, maybe that's not so bad after all..."