A frigid wind howled across the wasteland, whipping snow through its ruins.
An SUV lay overturned in a narrow alley within the ruins, its black gasoline soaking into the snow. Several Beastman corpses were strewn around the vehicle. Garish spatters of crimson stained the ground, a stark contrast against the black and white.
"A...lex, where… are… you…"
The static-filled, choppy transmission shattered the grim silence of the surroundings.
Alex leaned against a corner sheltered from the wind, silently digging a bullet out of his left arm with a small knife.
Hearing the young female's joyful yet worried voice over the comms, Alex's tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed. "I'm on my way. I'll meet up with you all soon."
Gu Ning, on the other end of the line, breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm in Zone 15. I'll wait for you. We'll leave together."
