Chapter 32 - Wake Up (1/2)

A rustling noise whispered beside his ears. Under the dim light, his grandmother was there sewing his shirt. It had been a long day as she kept rubbing her already red eyes.

Tang Ling's eyes blurred.

Grandmother zombie used its only hand to support its torso up as it was trying to get back on its feet.

Tang Ling let his tears roll down freely as he moved forward.

He saw his grandmother's rough hands hold his own petite ones at her heart.

"Xiao Ling, are you cold? I'll rub your hands."

"Xiao Ling, good boy, don't cry. Look at what I have here. It's a piece of jerky. I'll cook it for you."

"Xiao Ling, Grandmother found a piece of shirt under the dumpster today. It's quite new. I'll alter it to your size, so you'll have new clothes to wear.

"Xiao Ling…"

"Ugh…" Tang Ling started to fall apart. He sobbed his lungs out and had no intention of concealing his emotions.

Grandmother zombie looked at the food coming its way excitingly. It finally managed to stand up in a twisted way and jumped towards Tang Ling.

"Grand... Ugh…" Tang Ling messily wiped his tears away. Ever since that night, he had been drowning in sorrow. The sadness felt like he had been through countless moons yet was unable to break free from the nightmare.

It pounced towards Tang Ling, but he did not even look as he instinctively reached out and grabbed his grandmother by the neck.

"Why is that monster crying so badly?" The little girl's voice sounded behind him.

Without caring, Tang Ling's body was trembling while he cried so hard that his tears and snot covered his face. He could not stop them even if he wanted to. His fingers at his grandmother's neck were slowly closing in a tighter grip.

Wuaaaaaa!

Grandmother zombie seemed to have realized the danger before its eyes, so it started to growl strongly. The irritating and sharp growls spread further away, causing the zombies in the forest to amass quicker than before.

The Drifters also noticed the situation, and they started to flee for their lives amidst the chaotic scene.

Tang Ling felt absent-minded. All he felt was the zombie in his hand slowly growing weaker, and gradually becoming stiffer.

"Grandmother…" Tang Ling wept uncontrollably as a spine-chilling hatred rumbled in his gaze.

Who turned his grandmother like this? If it was this cruelty era, he would not mind burying the entire era with his grandmother.

Right after the crazy thought rose from his mind, a powerful gale blew over the entire forest, and the trees started to collapse at an astonishing speed.

The frenziedly running zombies were sliced into shreds while the fleeing Drifters dissipated as if they were illusions.

A blinding light enveloped Tang Ling whole, and a cold voice abruptly sounded beside Tang Ling's ears. "You have qualified. Welcome to the Dream World."

******

The rain that went on for three consecutive days finally stopped. Safety Sector No. 17 welcomed a rare sunset that evening.

There was a tender breeze after the wind that was accompanied by the soft and reddish sunset, and the smell of grass and soil in the humid air.

The moment was beautiful, yet Tang Ling struggled and sat up from his bed. In his arms were his grandmother's bottle of ash and his sister's dress.

His back was drenched wet in cold sweat. Even though he had just woken up from a dream, he still could not hold back his exhaustion and breathed heavily.

Was it a dream? It was all just a dream?!

The voice saying "Welcome to the Dream World" lingered in his mind. Tang Ling's eyes then landed on the hourglass in the room.