Chapter Text
Loud, unpleasant beeping of the alarm clock rang through the small, still dark dorm room, making only one of the occupants groan with annoyance. Jiang Cheng swore as he tossed to the other side of the bed trying to sleep through the sound. Minutes ticked by with no sign of Wei Ying waking up to shut his own alarm. Jiang Cheng stood up, unplugged the cursed thing and with a grace of pissed of rhino grabbed his brother's foot and tugged him off bed, effectively shocking him into semi-awaken state.
‘A-Cheng! For fucks sake! This really doesn’t have to happen every morning.’ Wei Ying said, voice full of misery of being woken like that.
Again.
‘No, this will happen until you learn to wake up on your own.’ This statement only earned him groan from general direction of their floor. Ignoring Wei Ying still laying on the floor, Jiang Cheng went and opened up their curtains. ‘Why are you like this?’ Wei Ying mumbled as he stood up, rubbing at his still sleepy eyes, glancing on the dog calendar proudly sitting on Jiang Cheng’s desk. He shudders every-time he looks at it, couldn’t say that was his choice of decor.
25th of September.
Wei Ying let out unhappy sigh. This was only second lecture of organic chemistry in this semester, and he was already dreading it. He sometimes wondered what possessed him to go study Stem of all of majors their university offered. Static sound filled room, soon followed by soft tunes of university radio. He scoffed affectionately. His younger brother was already acting like an old man at ripe age of 22. His attention quickly returned to carefully curating his outfit. The thing was that his and Lan Zhan’s schedule interacted only on this day for a whole week. So, he dressed to impress. After few agonizing minutes, Wei Ying decided to go for the jeans that hugged his ass a bit too tightly.
‘Did you hear about increased violence reports from Indonesia?’ Jiang Cheng asked from his table, not even bothering to look at him.
‘Hmm. Jakarta, was it?’ he answered absentmindedly, never truly keeping up with these things, but he guessed his brother was just making small talk. About geopolitics.
First thing in a morning.
‘Why are you even listening to such a depressive news, first thing in a morning. Actually, I wanted to ask you why are we having family dinner tonight?’ he forgot to ask him yesterday,’ I mean, I am not complaining about seeing Jiejie and A-Ling. I was just curious why sudden change from Saturday.’ Jiang Cheng squirmed in his seat, looking bit uncomfortable; ‘Father said that Mom’s shifts at hospital keep changing too abruptly lately.’ he paused as if trying to remember something else.’ Oh, and Peacock's and A-Jie’s wedding anniversary is coming up and they will be out of town this weekend.’
They shared a look. Their sister’s husband wasn’t their favourite person in the world, but after last few years they got at least used to him.
‘Please tell me Jin Zixuan won’t be there.’ Wei Ying moaned as he picked last of his stuff. Jiang Cheng gave him toothy smile.
‘Nope. His father needed him to stay to do business or some kind of bullshit.’
His brother was clearly happy about. He was as well, in a way. Jin Zixuan could be a dick sometimes, but he always tried to be civil with him after teary eyed, slightly drunk, Jiang Yanli complained that she just wanted them to get along. So, he tried. For his sister, and mostly for general peace during family gatherings. It gave Doctor Yu less chances to start arguments about Wei Ying’s ignorant and childish behaviour in front of his brother-in-law.
‘You’re going to be late.’ Jiang Cheng gestured at clock on their wall.
‘Shit!’
Wei Ying laughed. This was definitely going to be a good day.
As soon as, Wei Ying stepped out of lecture hall he felt like a free man. Stretching his aching back, he started scanning unusually restless, twitching people trickling from music hall in hope of seeing familiar stoic face. Dressed in brown corduroy pants, white turtleneck, blue west and his long black hair in simple plait, he was easily one of the most beautiful people Wei Ying ever met.
Lan Zhan.
Big smile stretched his lips as he started walking as fast as he could, without outright running, towards the other man.
‘Lan Zhan!! What a coincidence we met here. At this time. Today.’ he said laughing, as if they didn’t make plans to meet beforehand.
Wei Ying wasn’t looking where he was going, staring into those gentle amber eyes, missing sudden movement of student before him. Barrelling right into his shoulder, effectively making Wei Ying lose balance. Lan Zhan caught him before he could fall on his ass, making him blush lightly.
‘Man, people are drunk already, and it isn’t even Friday? Talk about having too much of free time on your hands. I am right Lan Zhan?’ his voice sounding little too loud even for his own ears as he moved away from Lan Zhan’s hands, touching his neck in nervous gesture.
‘So, Lan Zhan tell me every detail that happened to you in last week! I really couldn't wait to see you. It's so unfair that we can meet up only on one day during whole week. I feel robbed of your presence Gege.’ he pouted.
‘Ridiculous.’ Lan Zhan said in that deep voice of his that drove Wei Ying crazy everytime he heard it.
At first, he enjoyed teasing and talking to Lan Zhan because he was just too easy to rile up. But as time went on and they just kept on meeting, Wei Ying found that he himself looked for Lan Zhan’s presence. For his attention. His challenging gaze and smart monologues about some new piece of music that caught his interest. How Wei Ying would find himself listening to classical music on hours end, just to impress hot piece of cold stone, as drunk Nie Huaisang once described him. How Jiang Cheng teased him that every time he talked to Lan Zhan his voice was suddenly disgustingly sweet and higher pitched. It was embarrassing.
It felt mortifying to like someone so much.
As time passed on, he got used to intensity of his feelings. He let them bloom, in deepest parts of his heart, afraid to ruin their carefully crafted friendship. But lately something shifted between them. It wasn’t only Wei Ying with longing stares and soft fleeting touches anymore. Lately, it seemed as if Lan Zhan liked him back. And this fact made Wei Ying’s brain short-circuit even on good days. So, when Lan Zhan suggested if they could meet up for tea every week, because they didn’t share any classes this semester, Wei Ying thought he could die right then and there.
That was how he found himself walking next to Lan Zhan every week to the same cafe that served Lan Zhan’s favourite blend of oolong tea. Wei Ying wasn’t really a tea person, but as human trashcan, as his brother kindly calls him, he was truly not hard to please. As they walked in and sat by their table, in dimly lit corner near dozen plants and big window, Wei Ying ordered yet another new drink to try.
‘You shouldn’t drink such sugary things.’ Lan Zhan commented with disapproving look in his eyes.
‘It’s just bubble tea Gege, I won’t die I swear.’ he laughed, his foot lightly brushing Lan Zhan. He treasured moments like these. After such a long time Lan Zhan wasn't shying away from his touch, sometimes even being the first one to touch Wei Ying’s hand or stand so close to him that Wei Ying could smell his sandalwood cologne.
It drove him crazy.
He wanted to touch Lan Zhan more. Hear him saying his name over and over again as some kind of siren song luring him deeper into dangerous waters. He wanted to be kissed senseless by man sitting before him.
Wei Ying wanted Lan Zhan so much that it scared him.
As an orphan, left in teeth of unkind people and their dogs for a bit too long, he was used to not asking for much. Tucking his desires away in order to survive. To please. So, when he started to realize how deep his love for Lan Zhan ran, it left him speechless.
‘Wei Ying?’
The voice startled him from his thoughts, sending him into slight panic. ‘Lan Zhan asked him something seconds before, didn’t he? He must have looked like a fool staring at him all starry eyed. God, Lan Zhan will think he is some kind of stupid fool who can’t even follow simple conversation. ‘
Gentle hand grabbed his, ‘Wei Ying, I can hear you overthinking.’ Lan Zhan said with small smile on his thin lips.
‘Haha!...Hahahahaaha!!’ stunned he laughed. ‘Oh Lan Zhan, my dear Lan Zhan...You always know how to surprise me!’
‘Sorry, what did you said?’ Still giggling his focus shifted to Lan Zhan, their hands never parting.
‘I just wanted to know Wei Ying’s plans for the weekend.’
‘Well, I was supposed to go for family dinner on Saturday, but it moved for today and A-Cheng told me just yesterday. He knew since Sunday, by the way. Which is, if you ask me, extremely unfair! He knows I have to mentally prepare before facing Doctor Yu! Best little brother of the year. I swear. He even had audacity to roll his eyes at me calling me overdramatic! Can you believe that!’ he rambled.
‘Hm. That is not very nice of him.’
‘Thank you! At least someone agrees with me.’ he laced their fingers together, ’You are the best Lan Zhan. Did I tell you before?’ his voice dropped to more of shy quietness.
Lan Zhan’s whole face softens.
‘You did.’
Time passes by too quickly for Wei Ying’s liking. Sun is almost set when his phone goes off for fifth time in span of three minutes.
‘We should probably go; you have dinner to attend to.’
Finally forced to let go of each other hands Wei Ying sighs, gathering his things. Lan Zhan opens door for him, making him giggle.
‘And they say gentlemen died out Gege!’ he takes his hand again, too nervous to look at Lan Zhan’s reaction. All he does is squeezing his hand, holding tighter. It makes Wei Ying’s heart make little dance. They walk in unusual silence, aware of their impending departure. When they finally make it near Wei Ying’s dorm, streetlights are already illuminating their path. Lan Zhan takes his hand from Wei Ying’s who is already mourning loss of that feeling.
Not really willing to part, he steps closer to Lan Zhan and kisses his cheek in a bittersweet goodbye for another week.
‘Good night...see you soon Lan Zhan.’
Wei Ying whispers it to him as some kind of secret, and before he can think too much about it, he walks away to his fuming brother.
They drive in relative silence lost in their own thoughts. Wei Ying is still reeling from his date (date!) with Lan Zhan, trying to be as attentive driver as possible when his brother breaks the silence.
‘Don’t you think there’s bit too much police cars and ambulances out here?’
‘I didn’t even notice to be honest.’ he takes off to left exit leading them deeper into city, making Jiang Cheng scoff in a process.
‘What? Are you thinking about Lan Wanji so much you don’t even notice constant yelling of sirens?’
‘Honestly you are only one of our age to use courtesy names around here A-Cheng. And what is it to you if I am thinking about him?’
‘I only call him that because he insists with everyone. Except you of course.’ Wei Ying feels himself blush as he makes a space for ambulance to pass by. ‘Oh god. Please no. Please, tell me it’s still just some stupid inexplicable crush and that is where it ends. Please spare me of another Jin Zixuan.’
Jiang Cheng continued to bitch and plead to him about how universe is unfair if he gets two insufferable bastards as brothers-in-law, until they parked in front of two storey house nestled in rustling neighbourhood near biggest hospital in the city. They both sigh, slipping out of the car.
‘Let’s get this over with’ His brother’s hand on his shoulder grounded him before they walked up to their childhood house. It held so many dear memories good and bad.
Wei Ying still remembers the first time he walked in front of this house, almost nine, scared of ending up in a same situation as many times before. His sweaty little hand being held gently by his uncle. Letting him take it all in before meeting his new family. Jiang Cheng was angry from the first moment he seen him, forced to get rid of his dogs for a boy he didn’t know. Jiang Yanli was full of gentle smiles and warm welcoming presence he never received before. And his aunt, told him to call her doctor Yu and proceeded not to utter a single word at him for rest of the day. The first night in this new house scared him. He was put into the guest room, that later became his own room. It was relatively small, but it was better than anything he was used to in his years in foster care. Despite this, each sound made him tremble. What if the dogs came back? What if one of the adults drunk too much and wanted to went their anger on Wei Ying? What if he did something wrong and they return him as broken goods? He wanted to go and ask if he could sleep next to Jiang Yanli but miscalculated his steps in a new dark house and fell down the stairs. He effectively broke his leg, made Jiang Cheng cry and throw up at sight of bone sticking out of his skin and had his first hospital visit with his new guardian.
All in one night.
Wei Ying smiles as he walks through the front door, remembering the messy night of his arrival, only to be greeted by crushing hug from his sister and toddler in her arms.
‘A-Xian! A-Cheng! It’s so good to see you! A-Ling was excited to play with his uncles after such a long time!’ he in fact did not seem interested at all. Content in his mother arms.
‘Of course he missed me! I am the fun uncle after all.’ this earned him scoff from Jiang Cheng, that was currently battling his shoelaces.
‘Because of this fun uncle of his went for sappy, disgusting date, with Lan Wanji of all people, we got here almost late.’
‘A-Cheng!!!!!’
‘I am just speaking truth.’ he shrugged, ignoring Wei Ying’s offended face for spilling his secrets literally in a doorway. This only earned him a curious look from his sister before it changed into more solemn one. ‘A-Xian... mother is not in the best mood... be careful about what you say.’
They all take their respective seats, exchanging polite greetings and answering basic questions about school and life in general. Wei Ying talks as little as possible, listening to his sister’s warning, trying to not look directly at Doctor Yu. She seemed unusually quiet, staring wordlessly at spot somewhere behind Jiang Cheng’s head. Jin Ling stared at her from his highchair as if he was trying to decide if it was actually his grandmother that always tried to stuff him full of vegetables or someone he didn’t know. That in itself felt strange to Wei Ying, but he decided not to draw attention to himself. Just to be safe. He listened to his family's chatter for the rest of the meal, his eyes occasionally wandering towards hunting rifle sitting on living room table. Uncle Jiang must have gone hunting earlier this week. He always liked to go with him and his little brother. He was of course better shot, and it drove Jiang Cheng crazy. He would love to go and tease him about it again. Just to get back for shit-talking Lan Zhan.
‘Thud!’
Wei Ying smiled, expecting A-Ling's fork on the floor next to his leg. The deafening silence that followed felt too heavy to be just that.
‘What are you waiting for Wei Wuxian? Pick up that fork.’ Doctor Yu’s cold voice commanded, and he immediately did what was asked of him. He gave it to her, avoiding eye contact, startling when she started to cough.
Dinner was short affair after that incident. Jiang Cheng offered to get Jin Ling to sleep and that left Wei Ying only with his sister and her knowing smile. He was not getting out of this one.
‘So, tell me about this Lan Wanji.’
‘Ughhh.’ his hand went through his short brown hair,’ It’s nothing Jiejie. Well not yet...’ he thought for a moment. ’I like Lan Zhan. I like him a lot and our dear little brother makes my life hell because of this. We are still only friends though.’
‘Still, yet?’ she giggled.
‘I-he...We go out once a week okay. And I know him since start of the university, he was actually such a fuddy duddy back then! I teased him about everything. Hahaha...but then I just...I don’t know I just started to like him more and more. Ugh. What does it even mean? To like someone?’ he looked at her knowing soft smile.
‘I can only speak for myself here,’ she started, blowing at her tea, ‘but you always think about them. You want to be near them all the time, and when they smile at you, you feel warm inside.’ she thought for a moment,
‘When you see them, it feels like coming home. ‘
‘It would be very romantic Jie if I could forget about the fact that you are talking about Jin Zixuan.’ he stuck out his tongue in disgust.
‘A-Xian he isn’t that bad.’
‘Yeah, he isn’t. He makes you happy after all.’
A momentary green light and short zapping sound followed by subdued explosion woke Wei Ying up from already restless sleep. He stared at headboard of his old bed. Dazed. The carvings of two stickmen kissing, didn’t seem to have an answer for him. He should investigate if the house was okay.
‘Something probably short circuited in a powerline.’ he mumbled to no one in particular.
As he was putting on his old, torn black hoodie whole house seemed to start to shake. Helicopters. The stillness that followed was soon broken by sound of cars crashing. Wei Ying’s gaze turned towards window, a bad feeling overcoming his whole body. Rushing, he opened his door, peaking out into the dark corridor. His gaze fell first into direction of his Jie’s room. Soft blue light spilled through gap at the bottom of her door. She was definitely awake, but most likely didn’t hear the sound that woke him up. Wei Ying released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Soft creak of door startled him. His brothers sleepy, yet alert face instantly found his. Wei Ying gestured for him to stay put as he stepped out of his room into the darkness. The only room left upstairs was their parents. Walking closer, he noticed for the first time that the door was slightly ajar. A pained whine and slight crunching sound made him freeze.
What if it was home intrusion?
What if his uncle and aunt were terribly wounded?
His mind raced stepping closer to the gap of the opened door. He threw last concerned gaze at Jiang Cheng before looking in. Wei Ying’s eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, tracing familiar shapes of the bedroom in front of his eyes. Everything seemed normal. Until he noticed them.
There were two figures near the bed. One lying on the floor in dark puddle of its own blood. Unmoving. Deep bite mark with flesh missing marking its shoulder. The other figure was crouched near, a violent twitch wrecking it once in a while.
Wei Ying couldn’t breathe.
There was blood and tangled sheets around them. The people that raised him were now reduced to something he couldn’t even comprehend. Scared, he took a step back, alerting his younger brother in a process. Immediately he forced himself to be still. He couldn’t afford to be scared in front of his younger sibling. He couldn’t let him see what he just saw. Shaking slightly, he put finger on his lips to indicate him to be quiet as possible. Jiang Cheng didn’t dare to move.
‘Go get keys and wait inside the car. NOW.’ Wei Ying whispered urgently.
He didn’t wait for his answer, turning and slowly going to his sister’s room. He dreaded every sound he made. Aware of the open gap on the room he just looked into. Shaking, he walked in his sister's room. He made sure to close the door, flinching as it made quiet clicking sound. Jiang Yanli was awake, staring at small, old tv sitting on the dresser next to the window. The screen was black with message written on it.
National Alert
Government issued an emergency action notification
All citizens must stay indoors
Law and emergency services are in the area and will be
In contact with further instruction
‘A-Xian...what’s going on?’
Harsh blue light of television combined with her scared shaking voice seemed to slam him back into reality of this situation. He gestured her to be quiet as possible.
‘I don’t know’ he was shaking again. ‘A-Jie...we can’t stay here...U-Uncle Jiang an-a-and Doctor Yu they. I-w-we can’t stay here.’ he knew he wasn’t making any sense, but she still nodded and started to put on her sweater and shoes. She than reached for his face, wiping his cheek of tears he didn’t notice before.
His sister was always the strongest one between three of them. Jiang Yanli was definition of peacemaker. Rationally, he knew she was hurting despite all the smiles and calm words. She was a mediator of the family, both Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying hated it. It meant that most of the harsh words of their parents fell on her shoulders, while she hid two of them behind her slender frame. Even if she was faced with situation she didn’t truly understand, she understood her brother. She knew when he took things seriously. So, Jiang Yanli turned off her small Tv, went to drawer near her desk rummaging for a while before taking out small gun. Wei Ying wasn’t even that surprised. Everybody in this household knew how to handle a gun, curtesy of his uncle’s hobby. She placed it into Wei Ying’s waiting hands, sighing and going back to the bed. She took a nearby blanket and ever-so gently lifted soundly asleep Jin Ling, wrapping him close to her body. Door behind them creaked open. Wei Ying at once reacted, gun held high at person in front of him.
Jiang Cheng stood in front of him with eyes blown wide. He was clutching keys to Wei Ying’s old beat-up car, clearly shocked by his own brother pointing a gun at him.
‘A-Cheng! I told you to go to the car!’ he whispered angrily.
‘You were taking too long, and I thought...I thought...whatever.’
He thought something happened to them. Wei Ying’s anger cooled down in instant, as he put down his hands. Glancing at his sister that was currently bouncing Jin Ling, he tried to think about how he will get his family out of here. He reached out to grab Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, pulling him inside the room.
‘Listen to me. I don’t know...I really don’t know what’s going on, but we need to get out of the house. Now.’ ignoring message on the screen from government, he pushed the gun into Jiang Cheng’s hands, exchanging it for his car keys.
‘A-Cheng will go first. A-Jie with A-Ling will be right behind you okay didi?’
Jiang Cheng visibly gulped. Doctor Yu hated when Wei Ying called them with so much familiarity, she forbade him from doing so years ago. He still called their sister Jie, same as Jiang Cheng, but he called him didi only in most serious situations. He slowly nodded.
‘What about you?’
‘I will be behind all of you, in case something happens.’ he didn’t specify what would happen, but he could see his brothers scared glance towards the corridor. Jiang Cheng’s gripped the gun in his hands more tightly.
‘You should have this, not me! What if something happens to you too?’ the choked panic in his voice was unmistakable. He wasn’t stupid, he knew something horrible must have happened to his parents. Wei Ying reached out and patted his brother’s short black hair.
‘Nothing will happen to me. But remember if I shout at you to run. You will run.’ he glanced at his brother, ’Both of you. You will run out of this house, straight towards the car. I will get to you no matter what.’ he looked at his siblings.
‘Understood?’
‘Yes.’
Jiang Cheng felt like he was eleven again, sniffling at the sidelines watching, as his older brother beaten up his bullies.
‘Yes dage.'
Wei Ying gave them both a small smile. They walked out of their sister’s room, trying to be as silent as possible. It was going relatively smoothly. Both Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli were already on the end of the stairs, Wei Ying lingering behind them ready to protect them with everything he got. The tense atmosphere between siblings eased up a little with each step they took, when a small pitiful cry came from blanket wrapped around Jiang Yanli’s torso. Wei Ying felt a stone settle inside his stomach as his nephew’s cry gained on intensity.
Everything happened at once.
A door to their parent’s room flew wide open revealing bloodied Doctor Yu locking her milky looking eyes at Wei Ying’s.
‘Mom?!’ Jiang Cheng sobbed out.
‘Run! Run!! RUN!!!!!!’
Wei Ying screamed as Doctor Yu started to sprint after him, limping a little. He ran down the stairs almost slamming into his siblings, who were moving but not fast enough. She was already few meters behind him, and he felt his heart race through his chest.
‘A-CHENG!!!!! A-JIE!!!! THIS IS NOT YOUR MOM!! JUST RUN. NOW!!!’
She was already near him, swinging her hands at his neck and hands, scratching him in the process as he fled towards the kitchen, distracting her attention from his siblings, who sobbed together with little Jin Ling as they went through the front door leaving Wei Ying inside the house. The yell that sounded behind him wasn’t human.
He shuddered.
Wei Ying reached towards everything around him, throwing it in a way, buying himself time to escape. The second person appeared out of nowhere. Snatching at his neck. Wei Ying had to turn into dining room, further from the front door. Further from his chance to stay alive. Their dining chairs suddenly seemed everywhere, obscuring his escape route. Grunting and inhuman screams sounded so close to him. Wei Ying was so scared he wanted to cry. He lifted one chair up and threw it at his uncle in desperate attempt of self-defence. His vision was blurry through the tears, and he couldn’t hear anything anymore.
Rifle.
‘There was hunting rifle in the living room!’ Wei Ying jumped across the dining table, stumbling into couch with painful grunt reaching for the gun.
‘Bang!!’
His uncle’s head blew up, splashing him with blood and brain matter. Wei Ying crouched and vomited right there on the floor. But it wasn’t over. He could hear how his aunt was somewhere near him.
He had to go.
Heaving he stood up and ran. Somehow, he managed to get out of the house, running as fast as he could. His siblings were already sitting in the car, their worried looks aimed at him. They must have heard the gunshot.
He thanked to all gods that he was forgetful as always and left the car unlocked before going to sleep. He could see the relief on their faces to be replaced by sheer horror seconds later. They screamed at him, pointing behind him. Wei Ying swirled around, rifle at ready. Yu Ziyuan was limping harder than before, screaming at him, moving closer and closer.
Wei Ying pulled the trigger, and everything fell silent.
His aim was true.
After a moment of looking at his aunt’s headless body nausea returned with full force. He vomited a second time in less than five minutes. Shaking as he stood up. Tears blurred his vision as he got in the driver’s seat of his car. Jiang Cheng’s miserable sobs filled the small space. Wei Ying glanced at his sister who was clutching Jin Ling tight to her body, silent tears painting her face.
‘A-Xian are you okay?’ despite her trembling voice she sounded overly concerned of him. He knew how he looked. Bloody and scared.
This simple question was enough to make him crumble into tears. He stayed silent, too aware of all the sounds coming around them. More helicopters flew by. Sounds of cars crashing into each other were clear as ever.
A hand clutched his.
Wei Ying took a deep breath and hugged Jiang Cheng. His little brother clinged to him as if it would make time itself flow backwards. His right hand reached towards Jiang Yanli’s face, wiping away her tears. They stayed like that for God knows how long.
Then the screams began.
‘We have to go’ his tone urgent.
‘Where do we even go?’ his sister asked in small voice.
‘We don’t have a home anymore.’ his brother mumbled miserably into Wei Ying’s tears-soaked hoodie. He gently peeled him off himself and started the engine. They drove off from their neighbourhood, Wei Ying moving them as far away from heart of the city as possible.
This in itself turned out to be almost impossible task.
So many houses around their neighbourhood were on fire. Lines of cars, crashed or trying to escape hellscape that city was transforming into, were everywhere.
Wei Ying took sharp turn.
‘Do you think it’s terrorist?’ their sister asked.
‘Where can we even go? How much gas do we have?’
‘I don’t know A-Jie. Half a gallon A-Cheng.’
‘Try next turn, it goes near the river. Maybe if we cross it, it will be better there.’ his brother commented. He doubted that was true. But he was willing to try anything.
Scared people were running from bars that lined the whole street. Jumping onto their car, begging for him to unlock the doors, turning more violent each time he refused. Baby Jin Ling was screaming on top of his lungs.
‘A-XIAN!!!!!!’
The truck that crashed into them came out of nowhere.
‘UGH.’
Painful grunt came from passengers' side as Wei Ying slowly focused back to what was happening around him. He was lying on his side, broken glass all around him. Sharp edges pierced skin of his palms as he hauled himself out of the car. Ignoring his own pain he rushed to help his siblings.
Jiang Cheng was lightly bleeding from his head, but otherwise he looked okay. Just scared.
‘A-Jie?’ he called softly, not wanting to alert twitching person illuminated by fire near them. His little nephew was still crying pitifully as his sister tried to move.
‘Ah!’ she hissed in pain.
‘What’s wrong?’ both of them moved closer to her. She tried to move her legs crying out in pain once again.
‘I-I think I might h-ugh-ave broken leg.’
Wei Ying let out shaky breath. They can do this. He will get them to safety. Somewhere. All four of them, no matter what.
‘Okay. It’s going to be alright Jie just breath.’ he shot a look to his brother, overturned car separating them. ‘A-Cheng take A-Ling and wrap the blanket around yourself like A-Jie, okay?’ his brother nodded and did just that.
‘Take out the rifle as well.’
‘But! What about you two?!’
Wei Ying ignored his question as he gently pulled his sister of the car. He could tell she was in a lot of pain. His gaze travelled to her leg. Her right leg was twisted in unnatural direction just below the knee. It was impressive she wasn’t bawling her eyes right here right now. Just as they moved a little away from the lightly burning car, a police vehicle slammed right into it. Effectively cutting their route to Jiang Cheng.
‘Fuck’
‘D-d-dage what are we going to do now?!’ Jiang Cheng’s voice trembled, as he stood there out in the open with baby and only rifle to protect them.
‘Go to the river where we used to fly kites in summer! It should be right around here. We will meet there and decide what to do next.’
He could see him hesitate, not wanting to leave both of his siblings alone.
‘You will be okay didi. Walk as fast as you can. And do NOT help anyone else, understood?!’
After a minute or so he nodded, tears flowing down his face.
‘You can do it A-Cheng.’ their sister’s soft, pained voice called out to him. Only after that he truly moved in the direction, he had to take to go to the riverbank.
‘Tell me when you will need rest okay?’ he told his sister, as he tried to take as much of her weight, he could by supporting her under shoulders. It was painfully slow walk that had Wei Ying on the edge with every blind spot they turned to. They were two buildings away from the meeting point with Jiang Cheng when he first heard it.
Clumsy dragging of feet and laboured breath followed by chilling inhuman screech made his breath hitch with anxiety. Wei Ying bend and picked his sister up in princess carry.
‘Hold on tight.’
He begun to run as fast as he could. Wei Ying was fairly strong man, but running while carrying his adult sister was not an easy task. But despite his burning lungs and heavy limbs he never stopped. The woman chasing them was coming closer to them and he was growing desperate as he saw the familiar riverbank from his childhood. Praying that Jiang Cheng was safe, already there and ready to shoot this thing behind them.
‘Bang!’
The sound of the gun echoed as he came to stop, putting his sister down on healthy leg. He turned towards the direction of the gunshot with encouraging smile. Jiang Cheng deserved his praise. But the moment he looked up he was blinded by flashlight.
‘I have two civilians here sir.’
Soldier then.
‘We are safe.’ he whispered to his sister.
‘Could you please help us? My sister has a broken leg and our brother with a baby should be here anytime s-’ he shut his mouth the moment the gun was pointing back at them. A static sound cut through the tense silence around them.
‘Yes sir.’
‘No. NO! We are not...infected! Please!’
His pleads fell on deaf ears as two gunshots sounded through the air. Wei Ying felt in slow motion as Jiang Yanli pushed him to the ground. He recognized his brother’s voice. He was yelling. He was definitely running.
His sister’s body fell to the ground, almost limp. The blood from her stomach spilled and mixed with the mud and grass around him. There was terrible sound coming from her throat, as tears spilled down her cheeks.
She looked at him.
Her mouth moved, but he couldn’t hear anything.
He saw as his brother fell to his knees across him. Their sister’s chest stopped moving. Her eyes remained unblinking, her limbs still.
Wei Ying scream was full of agony.
Jiang Yanli was dead.