Chapter 29: Sense of security (1/2)

Chapter 29: Sense of security

Liu Gan then came up with another theory to what might have happened. He thought that maybe, the female store-owner was the only survivor, and the male store-owner was infected when the plague started. He started to change into a zombie, but the female store-owner couldn’t bring herself to kill him, so she tied her husband onto the bed on the second floor. Even after the male store-owner completely changed into a zombie, the female store-owner left him tied to the bed.

Instead of her husband, it had been the female store-owner who had gone to the minimart earlier to scavenge for food and water. Then later that day, while the female store-owner was cooking a pack of instant ramen, her zombified husband managed to break free from the rope, rushing to the third floor.

For the last few days of her life, the female store-owner had this bad feeling that her zombified husband would struggle free from the ropes. Therefore, she prepared an escape route from the third floor bedroom window so that she could escape whenever her husband broke free and attacked her. However, she was not able to execute her plan, and she was eaten before she knew it. What caused her death was ultimately the love she had for her husband.

Whatever had actually happened, Liu Gan had found out the reason for the female store-owner’s escape. He also managed to find out why there was a zombie in the hardware shop in the first place.

Liu Gan’s purpose to find out the truth was not because he had nothing to do and felt bored, it was so that he could confirm that the three storey building was indeed safe and there were no secret entrances. All of this was done so Liu Gan and his squad could have a first peaceful and safe night in The Trembling World.

After checking the second floor, Liu Gan went down to the first floor of the hardware shop. The layout of the shop was as followed: a counter at the front, display cases in the middle and a small warehouse at the back. The counter, small warehouse and display cases were filled with hydro-powered commodities. There was no sign of any zombies and it was very quiet. The building felt very safe.

The metal grated gate on the first floor was still locked. This type metal gate is opened from the inside and a key was needed. Even though Liu Gan could use brute strength to force open the metal grated gate, it might lead to very loud noises which would attract any nearby zombies in the vicinity. Furthermore, once Liu Gan force open the gate with brute strength, the metal grated gate would become useless. A gate with a gaping big hole in the middle would compromise the safety of the building.

Hence, Liu Gan went back to the third floor, released the rope down the window and climbed down to the first floor. After he landed, he held his breath and mustered up his courage before he rummaged through the disgusting pile of dead bodies for the key. He manage to find a key in the chest pocket of a zombie and another bunch of keys hanging on the belt of a different zombie.

The zombie that has the keys hanging on it’s belt had rope burn marks on the wrist and ankle. These marks pretty much confirmed Liu Gan’s deduction of what happened. Hence, he guessed that this zombie was the male store-owner of the hardware shop and the keys hanging from his belt should be able to open the metal grated gate.

Theoretically, the female store-owner should also have the keys for the metal grated gate. So the extra set of keys should be in the brutally torn females clothes that got eaten by the zombies. However, the stench and filth caused by the rotting of the flesh and intestines was very disgusting and Liu Gan was not willing to use his hands to search for her set of keys.

As Liu Gan walked back towards the street in front of the main gate, Pan Hua and LuLu were still hiding in the previous place, hugging each other and trembling in fear. When Liu Gan appeared in front of them, they were shocked and almost screamed out loud. When they saw that it was Liu Gan and heard him whispering to them, they finally calmed down.

“See, didn’t I tell you that Boss would not abandon us and escape?” Pan Hua whispered to LuLu. It was obvious that they were suspicious and afraid that Liu Gan left without them. They were contemplating whether to run away after Liu Gan left for such a long time.

“The hardware shop is safe. I found a few keys, I need to see whether we can open the metal grated gate or not. If it’s not possible, then we have to climb up to the third floor using the rope.” Liu Gan told Pan Hua and LuLu. Liu Gan then walked to the metal grated gate and inserted the keys to open the gate.

One of the keys was indeed the correct one. Amongst the five zombies, one of them was indeed the male store-owner of the hardware shop. What Liu Gan deduced from the clues in the hardware shop was also correct. Perhaps what had happened was exactly how Liu Gan had inferred.