Chapter 3

"Cora, your brother told me there's no zombie invasion. It's just your sister-in-law's pregnancy causing drama. You shouldn't get involved in their couple's quarrels!"

My sister-in-law and I couldn't help but plead with Heath not to believe my brother. But we were met with cheers and applause from the martial artists.

"Phoebe's got real archery skills! No wonder Declan favors you. You found the zombies' weak spot and killed them in one shot. Impressive!"

Heath joined in their games. Meanwhile, outside the secret chamber, zombies dismantled the iron gate. They followed their scent to the chamber, moving in an orderly fashion under the highly intelligent zombie's command, attacking the strong families first.

Their familiarity was like a rehearsed routine. In my previous life, my brother returned quickly under Heath's orders. But now, even Heath joined him at the beach for Phoebe's birthday.

Pressing matters left no time to ponder this twist. Heath's unexpected absence felt like a heavy weight on my back. With zombies blocking every road, we had no way out unless we could fly.

Our secret chamber had a passage leading outside, but...

I hesitated at the path leading to my fiancé Jasper's home. On our wedding day, he conspired with the zombies to give my skin to Phoebe. It was fresh in my mind.

If I sought help from him again, it would be the height of foolishness!

The other path led to the Night Beast King's territory. My sister-in-law, seeing me glance that way, quickly wiped her tears and pleaded, "Cora, Dad warned us never to open the gate to the Orc Dark Territory!"

Behind us, the foul stench and clattering footsteps of zombies drew closer. Clutching my sister-in-law's hand, I hesitated. Though unarmed, with her pregnant, I finally pressed the switch for the passage to the Orc Dark Territory as the zombies broke in.

Just then, my sister-in-law's phone vibrated. It was a taunting message from Phoebe.

In the ocean-view room, Phoebe sat disheveled on a strong man's lap. Her soft voice begged, "Declan, am I really no match for Lin Yu?"

"I heard she's pregnant. Has it been difficult for you?"

"You prepared such a grand birthday party for me. I don't know how to repay you."

Under bright lights, she slowly lifted her skirt, her purple-pink satin butterfly dress clinging to her hips.

"I learned from a private tutor just to please you... Don't you want my first time to be yours?"

My sister-in-law shook, struggling to type on her phone. The video showed my brother pouncing, eyes filled with fierce desire, too impatient for foreplay, already entwined with Phoebe.

Their silhouettes blended on the translucent curtains. Furious, I threw the phone, cursing, "Declan, you dog! The City of Laurel is surrounded by zombies, and he abandons his wife and sister to sleep with his mistress? He'll die for this!"

Suddenly, zombies flooded the passage within minutes. My sister-in-law quickly released every obstacle to block them.

Two robots activated, guarding us.

"Cora! Go get help!"

"If you can't, save yourself!"

"Reach the next safe zone and warn them to resist the zombies!"

Tears of determination streamed down her face.

"Two robots can't hold off the zombies!"

"I'll stay and buy you time!"

Tears of helplessness poured down my face.

"Go! If one survives, it's something!"

Two robots sprang to life instantly, standing guard behind us.

"Cora! Hurry, go outside and get help!"

"If you can't find help, escape on your own!"

"Quickly reach the next safe zone, and tell them to resist the zombies!"

Tears of determination welled in her eyes.

"Just two robots won't hold off the zombies!"

"I'll stay here to buy you some time!"

Tears of helpless fear streamed down my face.

"Go! If even one of us survives, it's worth it!"

"Your brother is no good; we can't let everyone in the City of Laurel die because of us!"

I stumbled a few steps, witnessing the bloodthirsty madness of the zombies.

In the endless darkness, skulls with sharp mutated teeth glinted coldly. Some zombies, having recently feasted, still had fingers and leg bones in their mouths.

I made a swift decision.

"Sister-in-law, take care! I'll come back to save you!"

My sister-in-law's phone had taunting messages from Phoebe Carter.

"Are you surrounded by zombies now?"

"Who told you to ignore me just because you're Declan's wife?"

"Honestly, those zombies are after Cora. Her innate spiritual blood is full of yang energy, the only thing that can restrain zombies."

"Once Cora is dead, I won't have anything else to worry about!"

In the long, endless secret passage of the chamber.

I suddenly realized that I might never have truly understood my brother. Or this world. And I never deeply thought about why Phoebe Carter wanted to harm me and my sister-in-law.

In my past life, my brother ordered my skin to be peeled off. My sister-in-law was even torn apart by zombies competing for the child.

Was our previous disaster really just a simple zombie siege?

I felt like I was overlooking something important.

The secret passage I used to play in as a child seemed different now. I remembered there should be a fork here.

With a "thud," I stepped into dark, muddy ground, and the sound of trickling water reached my ears.

A branch pierced through my wrist, and crimson blood mingled with the silver-bright dark river.

I was stunned. It felt like something eerie beneath the dark river was about to awaken. At the same time, I realized that it had been a long time since the world had such clean, sweet water.

Suddenly, I felt a mysterious calling. It was as if a voice told me:

[You must cross the dark river! Once you do, you can gain the help of the Orc Dark Territory!]

But at this moment, there were suddenly some faint, shadowy knives on the ground.

A familiar figure emerged from the darkness. My eyes couldn't withstand the dazzling light ahead.

"Cora?"

"I've been waiting for you at home for so long. Why haven't you sent a distress message yet? This isn't like your past life behavior."

I vaguely remembered that in my past life, I also frantically sent distress messages to my fiancé, Jasper.

But Jasper said he was busy and couldn't come to save me, asking me to wait.

In the end, someone set fire to the armory in the City of Laurel, attracting the attention of surrounding cities.

My brother's superior, Heath, led everyone to fight the zombies.

In my past life, my brother was forcibly recalled by Heath, which finally stabilized the City of Laurel against the zombies.

Although my brother saved many people after returning to the city, the City of Laurel lost its survival resources, making the city defense more vulnerable.

People had to evacuate with their families to the rear!

It seemed like a victory for self-defense, but in fact, after the evacuation, zombies quickly took over the City of Laurel!

Now I faced Jasper's bright, shining eyes in the darkness.

A sudden, sharp fear surged in my heart.

----------This is a cutoff point----------

He held a flashlight, his gaze both sinister and fierce:

“Little Cora, my house is to the left. Why do you look like you're about to cross the dark river into the Orc Dark Territory?”