After a harrowing journey, Lin Tao and the two girls finally reached the office building. Lin Tao tossed aside his now-dull machete and gnced back at the girls, who were drenched in sweat but still following closely. He gave them an encouraging nod, and the trio, along with the red dog Michael, quickly made their way to the rooftop of the two-story building.

  Upon reaching the rooftop, Lin Tao was surprised to find someone already there—Cao Mei, who had disappeared during the initial chaos. Gone was her usual seductive demeanor; instead, she sat slumped at the edge of the rooftop, a pistol lying beside her. It was Boss Hu's old "Big Bck Star," its bluing worn off from years of use. How it ended up in Cao Mei's hands was a mystery.

  Seeing Lin Tao, Cao Mei's face lit up with a glimmer of hope. She scrambled to her feet and pleaded, "Master Lin, take me with you... please, I beg you!"

  Lin Tao frowned, instinctively wary of Cao Mei's maniputive nature. But after a moment's thought, he replied, "Your legs are your own. If you can keep up, you're welcome to follow."

  Without waiting for her response, Lin Tao turned to Axue and Lingling. "We're surrounded by zombies. There's only one way out."

  He pointed to the thick cable overhead. "We'll have to climb across this cable. If we can make it to the rooftop of that building over there, we'll be safe. My car is parked just fifty meters beyond."

  Axue and Lingling nervously gnced at the cable. Though the poles were only about six meters high, typical for rural areas, and the cable looked sturdy enough to support their weight, the distance to the other rooftop—nearly fifty meters—was daunting. The girls hesitated, their fear evident.

  Seeing their reluctance, Lin Tao sighed. "The poles and cables are too corroded to support two people at once. I can't carry you across. You'll have to do this on your own. But I believe in you. You can do it."

  Without further ado, Lin Tao grabbed the cable, tested its strength, and leaped onto it. Using his hands and feet, he quickly shimmied across to the other rooftop. Michael, the red dog, followed with ease, leaping across in a single bound and wagging his tail proudly beside Lin Tao.

  "Come on! Your hope is right in front of you!" Lin Tao called back.

  Encouraged by Lingling, Axue was the first to climb onto the cable. She moved slowly, her eyes half-closed to avoid looking down at the horde of zombies below. When she finally reached the other side and Lin Tao helped her down, Axue colpsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrolbly. The short distance had felt like a journey from hell to heaven.

  Axue's success gave Lingling the courage to follow. But just as she was about to climb onto the cable, something unexpected happened. A few zombies, their senses sharpened by the scent of fresh prey, had found their way to the rooftop. Drawn by the sight of two young women, the male zombies let out excited roars and charged toward them, their cws outstretched.

  The girls froze in terror. By the time they realized they needed to climb onto the cable, it was too te. The aged cable couldn't support both of them, even if they were light. As Lin Tao drew his pistol to shoot, Cao Mei did something no one expected.

  She shoved Lingling into the path of the oncoming zombies.

  Lingling's screams were cut short as the zombies pounced on her, their sharp teeth tearing into her throat. Blood sprayed everywhere as the zombies feasted on her body, tearing her apart limb by limb. The gruesome scene was too much for Axue, who let out a heart-wrenching scream. If Lin Tao hadn't grabbed her, she might have thrown herself off the rooftop in despair.

  As Cao Mei slowly made her way across the cable, Axue, tears streaming down her face, suddenly pulled a dagger from Lin Tao's belt and lunged at the cable, intent on cutting it.

  "Stop!" Lin Tao grabbed her wrist just in time. He sighed, shaking his head. "Even if she hadn't done that, Lingling would have died. They both would have. I couldn't have saved them from this distance."

  Axue stared at Lin Tao, her emotions a turbulent mix of anger and grief. "What if she does the same to me—or to you—next time?"

  "She won't get the chance," Lin Tao said firmly, sheathing his dagger.

  By now, Cao Mei had reached the other side, her face pale and guilty. Axue gred at her with undisguised hatred. "I hope you remember that this woman is a murderer."

  With most of the zombies distracted by the carnage in the courtyard, the group made their way to Lin Tao's car without further incident. Michael bounded into the passenger seat of the Mercedes, wagging his tail excitedly.

  Lin Tao started the engine, and the two girls climbed into the back. As they drove away, the factory behind them resembled a scene from hell, the screams of the dying echoing in the night.

  They hadn't gone far when a figure stumbled into the road ahead. At first, Lin Tao thought it was a zombie drawn by the headlights, but as they got closer, he recognized the disheveled figure—it was Boss Hu.

  "Thank heavens! Buddha be praised! Brother Lin, I knew it was you. Let me in!" Boss Hu gasped, his face a mix of relief and desperation.

  Lin Tao reached for the door lock, but Cao Mei suddenly shouted, "No! Don't let him in! He's injured. What if he's infected?"

  "Bullshit!" Boss Hu roared, gring at Cao Mei. "You stole my gun during the chaos, and now you're trying to snder me? Brother Lin, don't listen to her. My injuries are from falling rocks. If a zombie had touched me, I'd be dead by now!"

  Lin Tao turned to Cao Mei, his voice cold. "You have two choices: get out and let him in, or shut your mouth."

  Cao Mei pouted, sitting back in her seat. "I... I was just worried about your safety, Master Lin."

  Axue sneered. "Since when does a snake like you care about others? More like you're hoping we die faster."

  Cao Mei gred at Axue but said nothing, knowing any argument would only make Lin Tao dislike her more.

  "Michael, move to the back. Boss Hu, get in the front," Lin Tao ordered, opening the door. Michael happily squeezed between the two women, while Boss Hu took the front seat. Lin Tao's decision was strategic: he wanted to keep an eye on Boss Hu in case he turned, and he also wanted to prevent the women from fighting in the back.

  As they drove off into the night, the screams of the dying faded behind them, but the tension in the car was palpable. The road ahead was uncertain, and the shadows of betrayal and survival loomed rge.