a small failure became a crisis. The result was not peace exactly, but
it was better than the chaos that had filled the building when the
zombies first got in.
Bai preferred working on the building when there were fewer people
around. She could move quickly, inspect the doors, and repair weak
points without spending half the morning listening to arguments. But she
also knew that her own trips outside would become less dangerous if the
corridors and stairwells remained clear. The building was not just a
place where she slept. It was a supply point, a refuge, and a route she
would have to use again and again. A loose railing could slow someone
carrying a heavy load. A door that failed to latch could let zombies
enter. A blocked stairwell could turn a retreat into a trap.
That was why she kept checking everything. Mercy was part of the reason.
The people living in Building 9 had already lost enough, and Bai saw no
