The sound of dripping gradually faded.
He raised his left hand to feel around Li Li’s body, groping up to her outstretched arms, which were stiff but still held some warmth.
Shen Zhao’s heart trembled, and his hands shook violently.
“Is anyone there?! Help!”
Hot tears streamed down his face uncontrollably as he choked on his cries, “Someone! There is a person injured here!”
They lived on the eighth floor, while the entire building had twelve stories.
His screams were buried deep in the ground and did not reach outside.
As time passed slowly, Shen Zhao’s voice went hoarse, and the person beside him grew colder and stiffer. He stared blankly ahead; although he couldn’t see, he knew his mother was right there.
He didn’t know how long it had been when another quaking sensation hit.
Gasping for breath, his vision went dark, and he fainted.
When he woke up again, a sharp pain twisted in his stomach.
He couldn’t tell how much time had passed; he was so hungry that his stomach hurt, yet there was still no sound from outside.
Not a trace of light.
Like the current situation, he found no hope of survival.
His lower body felt completely numb; if he was rescued, he would most likely be paralyzed. His right hand was broken, and he wasn’t sure if it could even be saved. There was no food around him, and the hunger was unbearable.
What about his grandparents? Were they okay?
The mahjong parlor was on the first floor; his grandmother should have been able to run out, and his grandfather might have gone down to play chess. As long as he wasn’t that unlucky, they should be fine.
What about Zhang Zixin and the others?
The evacuation site was spacious, filled with tents. As long as there weren’t big gaps in the ground, they should be safe too.
Shen Zhao lay numb on the hard cement and rubble when a sudden thought struck him…
His left hand moved slightly, his fingers cautiously reaching towards his right trouser pocket.
The slight sound of a crinkling wrapper echoed loudly in the silent, cramped space…
Shen Zhao held the life-saving chocolate tightly, licking his cracked lips, his throat swirling as he swallowed hard.
He raised his left hand, holding the chocolate near his mouth, struggling to tear open the wrapper with little strength, and gently bit off a small piece with his teeth.
The chocolate, initially bitter but then sweet, slowly melted in his mouth, and the warmth from the chocolate significantly eased his weakness.
“These chocolates will help me last a little longer… I must survive.”
Shen Zhao murmured, a flicker of hope igniting in his heart.
At the same time, he began to attempt to rescue himself.
However, the inability to move his body and the loss of sensation in his legs meant his rescue efforts ended before they even began. He could only gather some energy, occasionally shouting in hopes that someone outside could hear him.
As long as someone knew there was still life beneath, they would surely find a way to help.
But it seemed he was the only one alive in this vicinity.
It had already been four days since the earthquake struck.
Outside, the rescue efforts were in full swing.
Survivors operated cautious shovels and diggers in a less-than-professional rescue operation. Due to sporadic aftershocks, the rescue was not going smoothly.
As Shen Zhao had hoped, his grandparents and Zhang Zixin’s family were all safe and had not encountered any disasters.
They gathered near the collapse site; Old Man Li looked disheveled, with bloodshot eyes and nearly bloody fingers from digging.
Finally, it was Zhang Zixin who couldn’t bear to watch any longer and pulled him down with Shen Zhao’s grandmother.
After four days and nights of emergency digging, a government rescue team arrived, aided by the nearby stationed army, managing to rescue a small number of injured survivors, while the rest were casualties.
“There’s someone here! Quick, come help!” When the rescuers removed a large chunk of concrete, they discovered an injured person beneath and hurriedly called for assistance.
Medical personnel carried stretchers across the rugged rubble, their faces weary but unable to stop; every second after the earthquake meant a life was losing its chance.
If they increased their speed, perhaps they could save another life.
When Shen Zhao woke up again, he noticed sounds coming from above his head. He strained to lift his head in an attempt to sit up, but could only move slightly.
He hoarsely called out, “Is anyone there?! Help!”
After a long time without any response, the previously heard sounds also faded away.
“There’s still someone alive down here! Please, help me!” Shen Zhao could no longer hold back and cried out in a state of despair.
“Squad leader! I heard a voice! There is a survivor here!” A rescue worker in military uniform slowed his movements, listened intently, and suddenly seemed to discover something, shouting excitedly in the direction of a crowd.
“What?! Hurry! Come help us! Get the person out!”
——
When Shen Zhao was finally rescued, he was able to see the face of the mother who had shielded him.
Waking up again, it had already been a week.
He now resembled a soulless shell, staring blankly at the ceiling whenever he was awake. His left hand was hooked up to an IV, his right hand encased in a heavy cast, his legs amputated below the thigh, and his head wrapped in bandages.
Old Man Li and Wang Guifen, Shen Zhao’s grandparents, were outside his hospital room, wiping away tears; their hair had turned gray within just half a month, and their backs had become more stooped.
Zhang Zixin peeked through the window a few times, his eyes reddened as tears fell, but he didn’t stay long; he merely left a chocolate bar and went back to help rescue those still trapped under the rubble.
The doctors said Shen Zhao’s survival was a miracle.
His legs had been crushed for too long, and all the cellular tissue had died, making amputation necessary. Fortunately, the fracture in his right hand wasn’t too severe, though the injury to the back of his head might lead to complications, resulting in occasional pain in the days to come.
When he was rescued, his cheeks were sunken, and he appeared to have lost over thirty pounds; he was already thin to begin with, and the amputation made him look even more emaciated.