Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]
Chapter 122 - The key

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 - The key

The elevator dinged just in time.

Shao didn’t hesitate—he swung his bat with brutal force, the aluminum crack echoing through the corridor as he slammed the closest zombie across the face. Its head snapped sideways, a spray of blackened blood splattering against the wall. The creature let out a strangled gurgle before collapsing in a twitching heap. Without missing a beat, Shao kicked its limp body away, clearing the path.

"GO! GO!"

There was no room for hesitation.

They piled into the elevator, hearts pounding, limbs aching from the endless sprinting. Muchen slammed the button panel, his fingers slipping slightly from sweat. The zombies were just seconds away, their snarls a sickening chorus of hunger and madness.

Hana jabbed the "Close Door" button frantically. "Come on, come on, COME ON!"

Just as the first zombie lunged, its rotting hand stretching forward—

BAM!

The doors sealed shut with a final, metallic thud.

Silence.

The only sound left was their ragged breathing and the faint, mechanical hum of the elevator descending.

Muchen leaned against the wall, eyes closed for a moment, his fingers still pressed against the button panel as if sheer willpower had forced the doors to close in time. Hana, panting, slumped against the railing, her grip tightening around the bedpan she had grabbed in a moment of desperation. A second later, she gagged, holding it at arm’s length.

"Ugh. This thing stinks."

Muchen, standing beside her, shifted slightly. Despite everything—the running, the blood, the sweat—he still smelled... expensive. A soft, pleasant rose scent drifted from him, like fresh-cut flowers and designer cologne.

Hana blinked, her exhausted brain struggling to process the absurdity. "Gods, even during a zombie run, you smell so good," she muttered in disbelief.

Muchen lifted his arm and sniffed himself, frowning. "I stink."

Dr. Qiu Yue, who had been catching his breath in the corner, sniffed the air and shrugged. "Nope, he smells fine."

Hana shot him an incredulous look. "Your nose must be broken."

A soft ding interrupted them.

The doors slid open.

The basement garage stretched before them in eerie silence. The dim overhead lights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows across the cold concrete floor.

No movement.

A good sign.

Weapons gripped tightly, they stepped out, their footsteps unnervingly loud in the vast, empty space. Shao scanned the lot, his eyes darting over the rows of abandoned vehicles, their windows smudged with old blood and dust. Then, he spotted it.

"There! The car’s over there!" He whispered frantically, breaking into a run.

Muchen and the others followed closely, muscles tense, senses on high alert. Every shadow felt like a lurking threat.

They reached the car in record time.

Then—

"The key..."

Shao froze. His hands instinctively patted down his pockets. Once. Twice. His face drained of color.

"I don’t have the key..."

The words dropped like a death sentence.

For the first time in their time together, Shao cursed.

"FUCK."

Hana’s eyes widened in shock. "Whoa. The almighty Shao actually swore? This situation must be really bad."

"Shut up, Hana." His voice was strained, his hands still frantically searching his pockets as if the key would magically appear.

"Hey, calm down."

Muchen’s voice cut through the rising panic.

They all turned to him.

"I still have my phone," he said, pulling it out. "I can unlock it remotely. Don’t panic."

With a quick tap on his screen, the car let out a soft beep, its lights flashing.

Relief crashed over them.

"Okay, okay, get in!" Shao yanked the door open.

But just as Muchen moved towards the passenger seat—

A loud, guttural shriek echoed through the parking lot.

They froze.

Their heads snapped toward the far end of the garage, where the flickering light barely reached.

Dozens of glowing red eyes stared back at them from the darkness.

Then—

The horde charged.

"SHIT!" Hana screeched.

Muchen gritted his teeth. "Shao, I should drive!"

Shao was already sliding into the driver’s seat, shoving the key into the ignition. He shot Muchen a glare. "No. You’re pregnant. Technically, you shouldn’t even be sitting in the front seat."

Muchen’s eye twitched. "Are we seriously discussing seatbelt safety right now?"

The engine roared to life, but so did the horde.

The sound of hundreds of scrambling feet against the concrete sent a shiver down Muchen’s spine.

"JUST DRIVE!" Hana yelled, shoving Dr. Qiu Yue into the back seat before slamming the door shut behind her.

Shao slammed the gas pedal.

The tires screeched. The car lurched forward. The zombies lunged.

A grotesque, decayed hand slammed against Muchen’s window, its blackened nails screeching down the glass, leaving behind a streak of blood and saliva. Another zombie flung itself onto the hood, its jaw unhinged in a hideous, silent scream.

Muchen grabbed an IV stand from the backseat and smacked the undead leech off the hood. "That’s it! I’m investing in a tank after this."

"If we survive!" Shao barked, gripping the wheel as the car fishtailed wildly.

A concrete pillar loomed ahead.

"TURN!"

Shao yanked the wheel left, barely missing the obstacle. The car sped toward the exit ramp.

Muchen barely had time to brace himself before he saw the barricade.

And beyond it—

A mass of undead, crammed together, pressed against the structure, their heads snapping toward the sound of the roaring engine.

Shao’s jaw clenched. "Hold on!"

He slammed the gas.

There was no other way.

The barricade crumpled on impact.

Bones crunched.

Bodies slammed against the hood, rolling over the windshield like rag dolls. Blood smeared across the glass. The wipers swiped automatically, leaving red streaks in their path.

Then—

They were out.

The hospital loomed behind them, its dark, towering silhouette a tomb of the infected.

The car roared onto the empty road, tires skidding against the wet pavement as Shao pulled them into a sharp turn.

No one spoke for a long moment.

The only sound was their own ragged breathing.

Then Hana broke the silence.

"So... I think that went well."

Muchen turned to her slowly. "Did you just say that went well?"

Hana shrugged. "No one died."

Muchen exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "We almost died."

"But we didn’t," Shao muttered, still gripping the wheel like a lifeline.

"Yet," Muchen deadpanned.

Hana grinned, wiping blood off her cheek with her sleeve. "Look on the bright side. At least we didn’t have to climb any more stairs."