Zixin reached for the zombie's collar, but the creature's clothes had already been torn apart, leaving him with nothing firm to grab. His fingers slipped through the shredded fabric, and before he could get a proper hold of it, the zombie pulled away and lunged forward, opening its mouth to bite.
Zixin's eyes widened.
For one horrifying second, his heart seemed to stop.
The zombie's blood-covered teeth sank toward Bao's neck, that pale, delicate skin exposed so close to the disgusting, rotting mouth. The sight was brutal enough to make Zixin's stomach twist.
A furious roar tore from his throat.
His Thunder Claws flared instantly, electricity surging violently around his hands as he slammed the zombie backward. The force sent its body crashing against the seat, and before it could recover, Zixin swung again. The claws tore straight through its skull, splitting its entire head apart in a flash of crackling blue light.
The zombie collapsed.
Zixin barely spared it a glance before turning toward Bao.
The young man was sitting in his seat, rubbing the side of his neck with a small frown.
Zixin's breath caught.
He was going to turn.
Bao had been bitten. He was going to become one of those disgusting, flesh-eating creatures. The thought struck Zixin so hard that his stomach lurched, and a wave of nausea rushed up his throat.
He hurriedly rolled down the window and leaned toward it, retching violently as he vomited onto the side of the road.
"Are you okay, Zixin?" Bao asked worriedly.
He leaned closer and began patting Zixin's back, his voice soft despite the confusion in it.
"Fuck... worry about yourself," Zixin muttered between strained breaths. His eyes burned, and he quickly wiped at the tears gathering in their corners. "You're... you're going to turn..."
He couldn't bring himself to look at Bao.
He didn't want to see it happen.
He didn't want to watch that gentle face become twisted and bloodied, or those ruby-red eyes turn into the dull, lifeless eyes of a zombie. He didn't want to see Bao lose himself and become one of those things they had been killing all this time.
Zixin had no idea why the thought hurt so much.
He had spent most of his life working, earning money, eating, and sleeping. He had never had much time to make friends, and he had long since become accustomed to moving through life alone. But Bao...
Bao was different.
Somehow, the strange young man had become a companion. Perhaps even a friend.
And now he was going to die.
The thought alone made Zixin's stomach churn again.
Why didn't I check the car properly? he thought, his breathing becoming faster and more uneven. If I had checked it, none of this would have happened.
His hands trembled against the steering wheel.
The world around him began to blur. He could barely hear the engine anymore, nor could he feel the seat beneath him or the cool air rushing through the open window. The only thing reaching his ears was the harsh, strained sound of his own breathing.
If I had checked... If I had checked, then he...
His chest tightened painfully.
He would still be alive.
The thought repeated itself over and over, growing louder until it drowned out everything else.
He would still be alive. He would still be alive...
"Zixin!"
A pair of warm hands suddenly cupped his cheeks and turned his face around.
Bao leaned close, his brows drawn together in a worried frown as he stared deeply into Zixin's eyes.
"I need you to breathe slowly, okay?" he whispered. "Follow my breathing."
Zixin stared at him, barely able to focus.
This guy is going to become one of those ugly, blood-covered zombies.
He shook his head frantically and tried to force air into his lungs, but every breath came out unevenly. He couldn't look at Bao's neck. He couldn't watch the infection spread. He couldn't stand the thought of seeing him change right in front of his eyes.
"Zixin." Bao's voice grew firmer. "Look at me."
Zixin's gaze remained unfocused.
"Zixin, look at me, okay?"
Then, suddenly—
Smack!
A sharp sting spread across Zixin's cheek.
The pain jolted him out of his panic.
His breathing faltered, and he blinked rapidly, his eyes widening as he finally focused on Bao's face.
Bao had slapped him.
Actually slapped him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Bao let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh, thank goodness. You finally calmed down."
Zixin stared at him in disbelief.
Bao, apparently unconcerned with the fact that he had just struck him, reached down and pulled his own collar aside.
"Look at this."
He turned his neck slightly, exposing the place where the zombie had bitten him. There was blood smeared across his skin, but beneath it, there wasn't even a mark.
"There's nothing here."
Bao rubbed the blood away with his fingers, revealing smooth, uninjured skin.
"I have very tough skin, Zixin. A Level One zombie can't even scratch me, so stop worrying, okay?"
Zixin continued staring.
His eyes moved from Bao's neck to his face, as though he couldn't quite understand what he was seeing. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he reached out with his trembling fingers and touched the place where the bite should have been.
There was no wound.
Only the warmth and softness of Bao's neck beneath his fingertips.
Bao suddenly giggled and pulled away.
"Hehe... that tickles."
Zixin froze.
The truth finally registered in his mind.
Bao wasn't going to die.
Bao wasn't going to turn.
He was still alive.