"I'll open it," Bai said quietly. "Stay on the left. If anything comes
out fast, take the legs."
Yan raised her crossbow. "And if there are several?"
"Then we'll have several dead zombies on the floor."
Yan gave her a brief look. "I appreciate your confidence."
"I appreciate your aim."
It was the sort of reply Bai could have given anyone, but she said it
while looking directly at Yan. Yan felt the familiar warmth in her chest
and hated that the smallest compliment from Bai could affect her so
much. She steadied her crossbow and focused on the door.
Bai eased the latch free. The door opened only a few inches before
something struck it from the other side. She pushed it shut again and
listened. The impact had been weak, more the result of a body stumbling
forward than a deliberate attack, but there was movement behind it. Bai
adjusted her grip, then shoved the door wide and stepped to the side.
A zombie lurched into the corridor, its shoulder scraping along the
