The thought that there might be an antidote never left Zhan's mind. He thought that if there was an antidote, or just a serum, which could prevent the transformation and stop an outbreak of this disease, mutation or plague, then he would want to find it. The problem is, he is not a scientist, but a surgeon.

But that makes him all the more aware of how urgently they need to find competent scientists. Only, were there any such scientists still alive? And if so, where would they find them?

Zhan's thoughts broke off, however, when Yibo tapped him and asked where his mind was going again, now that they were about to go outside and get back on the road. Zhan apologized and reminded himself not to let himself get carried away with those thoughts again until they reached their destination.

As the two left the village school, their eyes wandered in all directions and their ears listened. Since the sun was just setting, the two could still see their surroundings clearly. They intentionally chose this time, in order to save the few batteries they still have for their flashlights.

Because unfortunately they have no possibility to charge those flashlights with batteries somewhere. And all they have now is a pack of 8 batteries. Whereby they need 2 batteries per flashlight and these, with continuous operation, lasted only two hours before they were empty.

Both were annoyed that they didn't stop again at the dam to see if their equipment might still be there. They had intended to, but since they were constantly on the run, they had no choice but to leave the dam behind.

Their next destination, also because they desperately needed gasoline, was a small city. Whereby city was still exaggerated. It was more like a small suburb or a larger village. Although they wanted to avoid the towns and cities, they need supplies and urgently new equipment and gasoline. So they have no choice but to go to the nearest town.

And they also took it upon themselves not to drive without lights that night. Since before them a curve-rich distance lay. In addition they would have to change the direction several times and without light, they would recognize in the darkness simply purely nothing.

When the two were at the car, they suddenly heard a screech that seemed to come from the basement of the village school. However, Yibo killed this male vampire and he certainly did not come back to life, so this was the proof for the two that there was at least one more vampire in the basement. Both were glad that they had not looked further after encountering the first vampire.

Zhan started the engine of his car while Yibo kept an unblinking eye on the door to the village school. Nothing was happening. Relieved, Yibo nodded to Zhan and Zhan drove off.

It was a stormy night, colder than the nights before, and it smelled like rain. Although it was the height of summer, the weather that night made it seem as if autumn was not far away. Zhan even shivered briefly, which is why he closed the window again. "We desperately need to find clothing to keep us warm during the colder nights and days. And we need sleeping bags so we won't be lying there like that at night." Said Zhan.

"Yes I know. But can we get all that in the next town?"

"I wish I knew. Right now, I can only hope. Even better would be if we found a military base and could collect everything we need there. But I suspect it will all be gone now."

"That's what I'm assuming, too. As far as I know, your father wanted to move from military base to military base with the survivors, if that's possible. But honestly, I didn't find any on the map at all. Then which route are they taking? Are they maybe just a day ahead of us?"

"If the battery from the radio wasn't dead, we could find out. Somewhere there must be something where we can find the proper technology we need. Solar charger, solar plate stove, night vision equipment, spare rechargeable batteries, batteries, crank flashlights, flares, and then all the other stuff. Four-season tents, matching sleeping bags, isolation mats, raincoats, and so on. A military store would be good. Better a military base. But you're right, I didn't find a military base on the map either. And stores are not marked on it."

"The best thing would be to make a list so we don't forget anything. We're moving so slowly that it might take us days before we get to that hotel. And until then, we will need one thing above all else, food and water."

"That's the problem Yibo. That we're just moving too slowly. We need to make it to more than one place per night. But the nights are too short in the summer and by that time we'll only make it to the next place, where we'll also have to find a safe place to sleep."

"What if we try to skip the next place and drive to the next one? We could theoretically make it."

"Mhhh, we can try." Replied Zhan. They stopped for a moment, looked at the map and saw where the next place was. Zhan nodded. "I could take this route. It would allow us to bypass the next town. It would take us maybe half an hour, but should still be manageable."

"Then let's do that Zhan. Let's give it a try." Said Yibo.

Silently, the journey continued. And as the wind picked up, as the two could see from the trees, they kept their eyes on the time. 3 hours to go. Another 2 hours. Another 50 minutes. And just as the sun was rising, they reached the place.

Panicking because they were now visible to the creatures, they looked around everywhere. But there was nothing and nobody. No creatures, no humans, no vampires, no destruction. It looked like a ghost town. Lonely, empty and abandoned.

Cars were parked in the streets, newspapers were whirled around here and there by the wind, and there was still a large closet in front of a moving van. "Where is everyone?" Zhan asked quietly.

"I'd like to know that too." Said Yibo.

At the next supermarket, Zhan stopped the car. They got out of the car and walked towards the supermarket doors. No one was there. Neither were creatures on the rooftops, nor were there people anywhere to be seen.

Yibo hit the glass doors of the supermarket with the butt of his rifle. The glass fell to the floor with a clang and a crash. And again, nothing. No reaction from anyone or anything. They entered the supermarket and an insane stench of decaying meat from the butcher and food from the freezers hit them. They forced down the impulse to vomit.

They both grabbed shopping carts and got everything they needed. Bottles of water, cans of food, batteries, toilet paper, soap and shampoo. Zhan also found stockings, underwear, T-shirts, sweatpants and even sweat jackets that were on sale for 78 yuan.

Yibo found several wool blankets and pillows in one section. He put everything in his shopping cart, took it to the car, stowed it away, and went back to the supermarket where he picked up some ready-made food, noodles, rice, and canned meat.

When they were both finished with their "shopping," they realized they would definitely not starve or die of thirst. Neither would they freeze to death. Nor would they have to wear their clothes until they fell off their bodies on their own.

They put everything in the car and then drove through the streets of the small town to see if they could find something like an electronics store or a specialty store for camping equipment. But there was nothing like that there. There were only two small cafes and a bakery, whose bread and rolls were already moldy.

"Where do we want to go? Apparently we can choose." Said Zhan, who meant it jokingly, but somehow not. This place seemed almost more eerie to him than the place before. Because this place was as if it was deserted.

"Are we going to this little hotel?" Yibo asked, pointing to a small building at the end of the street. Zhan nodded and drove there. The two went to look around in there first. But there wasn't much to explore there. There was only this one floor, no attic, no basement. There was a registration desk, a tiny kitchen, and a total of 10 rooms where no one could be found.

Zhan parked the car right in front of the window from the first room, in case they suddenly need to escape, they would climb out the window and be right by the car.

Then they both packed a few cans of food and clothes in their backpacks and went back to the hotel. They locked themselves in the room and were pleased to find that there was still running water there, too. Cold, but better than nothing. Even soap and shampoo was provided by the hotel. They got the fresh towels from a storage room behind the registration desk.

"Where do you think they all might have gone? Do you think your dad picked them up?" Yibo asked as the two lay in the double bed in their room.

"I don't think so. If my dad really drove through here, I'm sure it was when everyone was already gone. But I have my doubts that they drove this way at all."

"Why do you have doubts?"

"Very simple. The supermarket. If they had come through here, they would have emptied the supermarket. They also would have left messages for other survivors, as well as a radio. If only so the survivors could contact them."

"Mhhh, I see. So maybe they weren't affected at all, or were evacuated in time enough."

"Possibly, yes. Maybe they found out about the attacks in time and went somewhere safe. The question is, where? Here, the inhabitants of an entire village have disappeared. There is no sign that they have stocked up. Cars are still parked in the streets. Can you imagine that they all left in an orderly manner, on foot, to find a safe place? Or even, who would have evacuated them? The military was busy with the creatures."

"Mhhh, right. I saw a police station earlier. Maybe we should go there later and see if they left any kind of information. And Zhan, I saw earlier that the last newspaper here was a day after the attack. So they're not that far away from Beijing now to not have noticed anything. And how could they even print the newspaper without electricity?"

"Good question Yibo. And do you want me to tell you something honestly? I think we'd better stay here at the hotel until evening, get some rest and get out of here. I don't know why, but this place gives me the creeps."

"I know what you mean and I agree with you. But we should still go to the police station and check it out."

"Alright. But then we'll do that tonight before we leave here." Replied Zhan.

Yibo knew exactly what Zhan meant when he said he felt creeped out by this place. He also gets goosebumps here and would like to leave with Zhan right away. But they are both tired and need to rest. But the bad feeling remains.

Again and again the thought flitted through his head that the residents of this place have not all fled. Maybe they have become victims of vampires? Could the vampires infect other humans? Aren't the creatures the only ones carrying the poison?

Because it was strange that here in this place, there was just nothing and nobody. How could that be? How could a place, where probably at least 1000 people lived, be abandoned from one moment to the next? Where did these people go? Why didn't many of them take their cars with them? Why did nothing here seem as if everyone had fled in a hurry? Why did they flee at all if there were no attacks here?