Living Dead's

Chapter 2 - Feifei's Dream

Shen Yuan was making materials for the teaching tomorrow morning when the door was gently knocked. Moments later, Feifei's yellow pajamas with a pikachu motif came out slightly from behind the door. 

Carefully he called out, "Dad..."

His face was round, his eyes slightly watery and red in color, making the one who was looking would feel pity.

Seeing him like that Shen Yuan's heart softened.

"What's wrong? Come here." Come here."

Shen Yuan opened his arms. Feifei walked slowly towards her by hugging the blue shark-shaped doll.

Shen Yuan lifted it up and then placed it on his lap.

"Are you having nightmares?"

Shen Yuan asked gently as she combed Feifei's somewhat messy hair with her fingers.

Feifei just nodded. He lowered his head, tears like they were going to spill again.

"Don't cry, it's just a dream." Shen Yuan wiped her tears with her thumb.

Feifei curled up in his arms, drowning his face in his chest. To calm him down, Shen Yuan could only rub his hair and back.

He is not good at comforting a crying child. If only he had half the ability to speak like Jiang Qinian, his wife, perhaps he would not be troubled.

Jiang Qinian died too early, just a week after giving birth to Feifei due to postpartum bleeding. At the beginning Shen Yuan knew nothing about how to care for a baby. He was an orphan so he could only rely on Qinian's parents to guide him raising Feifei.

In the early years it was exhausting. Although he was saddened by the passing of his wife, he still had to take care of Feifei. He still has to work, learn how to care for the baby, stay up in the middle of the night to make milk, and take care of the house. All of it seized his physical and mental strength to the extreme extent. But when he saw that pair of round eyes, round cheeks, and round face, all his hard work paid off. Just so he could always see her smiling, he was willing to do anything. He just wanted to protect her, give everything he had, just for his daughter.

When he saw her crying like this, his heart was like it was scratched by small claws. He just wanted to stop his tears.

In a soft voice, he asked. "What did you dream of, crying like this? Hm? Tell me to dad." Her tone gently persuaded.

"Dad..."

"Dad is here."

"I dreamt of a lot of zombies running around. Teeth sharp. Like this." Feifei demonstrated by forming his fingers like claws, then he growled. It did not look scary at all, instead she looked very cute with her big narrowed eyes.

Not giving up yet, Feifei continued, "Then, then, the zombie was walking slowly like this." Feifei leaped off Shen Yuan's lap then awkwardly began to demonstrate his mummified walking.

Shen Yuan : "........."

Okay. He really doesn't know what to say. Is his daughter watching too much TV? Or watch a video game? Maybe tomorrow his daughter will start dreaming about aliens. But he could not blame the rich imagination of a child.

".....all right. Do you want me to go to bed with you?"

Feifei nodded then Shen Yuan hugged and carried him, not forgetting to bring his favorite shark doll. Walking into their room, she laid Feifei down gently, before beginning to lie down next to her daughter.

Feifei hugged his shark doll, glancing upwards to see his father. There was actually a part in his dream that he did not tell his father.

In his dream, the world became chaotic, many undead were wandering around killing people. Then the undead bit his father until he didn't recognize him anymore. He was very sad, even just remembering the dream still made him sad.

Feifei rolled over, going deeper into his father's arms. The shark was squashed between the two. Feeling more comfortable, he fell asleep shortly afterwards.

***

Let it go

Let it go

Can't hold you back anymore

The phone's alarm rang loudly throughout the room. Because the room was so big with so few items, his voice sounded echoing.

He always felt the soundtrack was not very suitable to be used as an alarm. But Feifei insisted on using it. So he can only obey.

After stretching out, Shen Yuan woke Feifei up. He led the half-dreamed to walk to the bathroom and brush his teeth.

Two large and small figures, standing in front of the sink and brushing their teeth. Although their eyes are not fully open, their movements do not stop.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Feifei began to change clothes to go to school.

"What hair do you want today?"

While combing Feifei's hair, Shen Yuan asked gently.

"Two pigtails on top, dad!"

"okay."

Skillfully, Shen Yuan started tying her daughter's hair in half. After making sure to be symmetrical between the right and left then he felt satisfied.

As usual, after that Shen Yuan would make breakfast and prepare to take Feifei to school. The distance to Feifei school was not too far away. It only takes thirty minutes by car.

In October, the weather became colder. Feifei was very susceptible to the flu, so he wore a thicker shirt with an extra coat. Plus stockings under her skirt. Shen Yuan was very confident, his most cute daughter.

Before Feifei descended, Shen Yuan tidied his clothes once more.

"If you feel sick or something, call me right away. Understood?"

As usual, Shen Yuan would say that sentence before taking down Feifei at school.

"understand." Feifei nodded with his innocent face.

"Come in."

"Daaah Daddy." Feifei waved his hand with a wide smile.

Shen Yuan waved his hand for a while before getting into the car again and heading towards the university.

***

Shen Yuan was busy all day. Go to teaching and serve consulting from students. Until the afternoon he could rest in peace at his desk.

The television in the office space lit up, airing the news live. The reporter inside the television frame looked rather frightened and depressed, but he could still broadcast quietly.

"The mental hospital patient is rumored to have escaped again. This time the patient reportedly suffered from rabies and fled to a shopping mall. He bit five visitors to the injured. One of the victims was injured and unconscious. To date, the mental hospital patient has not been caught. It is suspected that he is still wandering in the area around the shopping center. The security forces ask residents to report immediately upon seeing the patient, and never try to fight him."

Then the camera moved. Shows a victim being transferred into an ambulance on a stretcher. But the victim suddenly woke up and growled, showing pointy teeth that should not be there. His skin turned a purplish color, with prominent blood vessels.

The man, who had been stretchered, began pouncing on the medical staff closest to him and biting his arm. Shouts began to echo on the television screen.

Shen Yuan was so shocked that he stood up from his chair. His face was extremely pale, cold sweat was coming out on his forehead. The heart is beating very fast. His ears were buzzing like they had tinnitus. In his eyes, he saw a man crying. In his ear he heard someone screaming.

Shen Yuan immediately realized.

That's not a crazy guy.

It's not rabies.

Then he flinched. In the news, the rumored 'mental hospital patient' has not been caught. And the shopping mall was very close to Feifei school.

Shen Yuan started to feel his heart coming out of his sockets. He snatched the car keys and ran to the parking lot. His heart was full of anxiety.

Shen Feifei's!