"Big brother, is it possible for Mother Song to wake up?"
"Second sister, will Mother Song turn into a monster like the people outside? I don't want Mother Song to become a monster."
"Second sister, I'm so scared."
Song Ziming gritted his teeth, his eyes resolute: "Mother Song will definitely wake up."
Song Ziqi also comforted her younger siblings, saying, "Aunt Song will be alright, don't be afraid."
“I’m not afraid,” said the youngest, Song Ziqing. “Even if Aunt Song turns into a monster, she will still be my Aunt Song.”
Another little boy, whose face was pale, also said, "I will not abandon Mother Song and leave."
Song Ziming and Song Ziqi were gratified to see their younger siblings so strong, but at the same time they were also very worried. Their mother had been infected and was very likely to become like the monsters outside, devoid of reason.
Before she was infected, Song's mother said this was the end of the world and told them to stay in the orphanage, as it would be very dangerous to go out, and never to open the door to strangers.
But with so many of them, the food was quickly eaten up, and Song's mother had to go out to find more.
The first time, Song's mother brought back some rice, milk, and frozen meat, and they ate the most sumptuous meal since the apocalypse.
The second time, the harvest was less, consisting only of some canned goods and dirty flour.
The third time, Song's mother went out for two whole days before returning, but she only brought back some expired bread and a small amount of rice.
He wanted to go out with Song's mother to search, but Song's mother wouldn't allow it, saying that he was too young, and his younger siblings were too young. If he went out with her, there would be no one to protect his younger siblings.
Indeed, after Song's mother went out that time, two fierce-looking men came and banged on the door. His younger siblings were terrified, and in a moment of panic, he electrocuted the two men.
When Song's mother came back, she said that this was a superpower. Many people had awakened superpowers after the apocalypse. He and Song's mother were very happy. From now on, he would have the ability to protect his younger siblings.
Unfortunately, Song's mother did not awaken any superpowers. On her last trip out, Song's mother brought back a lot of food, enough for them to eat for half a month, but she was scratched by the zombies.
After returning the grain, Song's mother said with a sorrowful expression that she could no longer take care of them and asked him to protect his younger siblings.
He later found Song's mother in a car. All the doors of the car were locked. It was obvious that Song's mother was afraid of hurting them if she lost her temper, so she locked herself in a closed space.
After obtaining the consent of all his younger siblings, he brought Song's mother home. He couldn't bear to see such a kind and beautiful mother like Song's mother all alone outside, turning into a monster.
However, for the safety of his younger siblings, he tied up Song's mother with strips of cloth.
He now only prays that God will grant them a miracle, that Song's mother will wake up safely.
"Let's go eat first." Song Ziqi distributed the warmed steamed buns. Since the future was still uncertain, each person only received one bun. Song Ziming and Song Ziyang, being boys and older than their younger siblings, received one and a half buns. These buns had been steamed by Song's mother earlier, and fortunately, it was winter, so they wouldn't spoil after being steamed.
Besides steamed buns, she also cooked a pot of bland seaweed soup. There was only one egg in the big pot of soup. They had no choice but to eat all their food sparingly.
"Sis, here, have some." Song Ziyang placed the extra half-steamed bun in Song Ziqi's bowl. "You're two years older than me, why should I have to eat half a bun?"
Song Ziqi smiled and put it back: "I'm a girl, so I eat less. You're thirteen already, which is the age when you're growing. Eat up."
Looking at his half-crippled arm, Song Ziyang stubbornly said, "I can't do anything for everyone, so I won't eat much."
Song Ziqi knew she couldn't persuade him, so she put it aside and said, "Then let's eat together next time."
Song Ziming didn't refuse the other half. He was going to take his mother's place and find supplies for everyone. He had also awakened a special ability that consumed a lot of energy every day. If he ate less, his ability wouldn't be able to exert its full power. He knew what was best for everyone.
None of the younger siblings have awakened any special abilities, and Song Ziyang, Song Zile, and Song Zian all suffer from illnesses, making it extremely difficult for them to survive in this apocalyptic world.
He had asked his mother before why she adopted them, and Mrs. Song always smiled and said, "There are no so many whys. It's fate that we met."
But he always felt that they were the ones who were a burden to Song's mother.
Before adopting them, Song's mother wasn't exactly wealthy, but she could live a relatively easy life like an ordinary person. After adopting them, all her assets were devoted to them, leaving her with no personal time.
Among his siblings, he was the only boy without any illness. Thirteen-year-old Song Ziyang was born missing an arm, eight-year-old Song Zile had autism, and six-year-old Song Zian suffered from congenital heart disease.
Fortunately, his younger sisters are all healthy. Song Ziqi, who is the same age as him, started helping their mother take care of her younger siblings at a very young age. Twelve-year-old Song Ziying is very strong. When he goes out, Song Ziying and Song Ziyang guard the gate. The youngest is Song Ziqing, who is not yet six years old and is also the most innocent of the seven.
Compared to the hopes of his youngest siblings, Song Ziming, although he prayed to God every day, was actually very pessimistic. He knew that his mother was unlikely to wake up after being infected.
At the same time, he secretly vowed that he would always remember Song's mother's last wish and take good care of his younger siblings until they grew up safely.
"Brother, with such a heavy snowstorm, why don't we wait a bit before going out? The food inside can last a while longer." Song Ziqi looked out the window, very worried.
Song Ziming shook his head firmly: "Who knows when this snowstorm will stop? And will it get even worse? Besides food, I also want to find some more cotton clothes and shoes for everyone. We don't have much firewood left at home, and we also need to go and move some furniture back."
Song Ziqi gritted her teeth: "If only I had superpowers, then you wouldn't have to work so hard all by yourself, big brother."
"As long as everyone is doing well, it's all worth it, no matter how hard it is."
After he went out to find supplies by himself, Song Ziming realized how hard it was for his mother to raise the seven of them all by herself, and that she didn't even have any special abilities.
The apocalypse has arrived, society is in chaos, and people's hearts have changed. When going out to find supplies, you not only have to guard against zombies, but also against other people.
Especially the elderly and children, they are very likely to be bait set up by others. He once saw a man take out supplies to help others, and then the men hiding there snatched them all away. That man eventually lost his life.
Don't blame him for being ruthless; he has younger siblings who can't afford to gamble. If something happens to him, his younger siblings, who lack superpowers, will face certain death in this cold winter.
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