Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 131: Chapter 131 - All can’t be saved

The balconies were close together, and climbing down was easy.

Shao and Muchen didn’t hesitate. They moved swiftly, gripping the edges of the railing and lowering themselves down without a second thought. Their muscles tensed as they carefully maneuvered, every movement controlled. Even with the weight of exhaustion pressing down on them, their survival instincts remained sharp.

Lu Zhi followed next, his movements just as sure but slower, more cautious. He exhaled through his nose, biting his lip as he tested his grip on the railing. It was sturdy, but his palms were slick with sweat, making the descent more difficult. When he finally landed on solid ground, he let out a quiet breath of relief.

But the other kids?

They stood frozen. Fear and hesitation were written all over their faces, their bodies stiff with indecision. Some clutched each other’s hands, fingers digging into sleeves and skin in silent desperation. Others were quietly crying, whispering to each other in shaky voices. Their gazes flickered between the balcony’s edge and the dark hallway behind them, as if waiting for some miracle to save them from having to choose.

The two girls who had already climbed down glanced at one another. They were young—maybe fifteen or sixteen—but at that moment, they carried themselves like they were years older. Their shoulders were rigid, and their lips pressed into thin lines of determination.

One of them stepped toward the balcony’s edge first. Her hands trembled as she reached for the railing, knuckles turning white as she clung to it. ”I—I can’t,” she whispered, barely audible over the distant sounds of shuffling feet and low, guttural groans from deeper inside the building.

The other girl didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her friend’s wrist, her grip firm but not cruel. ”Come on! We have to go!” she urged, her voice a mixture of desperation and determination.

Tears glistened in the frightened girl’s eyes, but she nodded. With a deep, shaky breath, she swung her legs over the edge, her body tense as she started to climb down. Every movement was slow, deliberate—like she was forcing herself to fight against the paralyzing fear threatening to consume her.

Muchen and Shao were already waiting below. They stood ready, watching carefully, their bodies poised to react at the first sign of trouble. The moment the girls were within reach, they reached out to steady them.

The instant Muchen’s hands brushed against one of the girls’ waists, she froze, her face flushing a deep red. She barely managed to hold in a nervous giggle, her breath catching in her throat. The other girl wasn’t much better—her cheeks burned as she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her gaze darting to the ground.

Muchen raised a brow but said nothing. There was no time for distractions.

Lu Zhi, now standing beside them, turned his attention back to the remaining students on the balcony. His hand instinctively stretched forward as he called out, ”Come down! We’ll catch you if you need help!”

But they didn’t move.

They just stood there, their eyes filled with uncertainty, their bodies rooted to the spot.

Lu Zhi’s jaw tightened. He bit his lip so hard it almost bled. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. Every second that passed was a second wasted, a second they didn’t have to spare.

Shao, watching his younger brother’s hesitation, sighed and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

”You can’t save everyone,” he said, his voice low but firm.

Lu Zhi’s head snapped toward him, disbelief flashing across his face. ”How could you say that?” he demanded, his voice edged with something dangerously close to anger.

Shao didn’t flinch. He tightened his grip on his makeshift weapon—a broken chair leg wrapped in cloth, the sharp metal edges still stained with blood. ”Even if they follow us, I won’t go out of my way to protect them.”

Lu Zhi tensed. His fingers twitched. ”We need to help anyone we can! If we don’t—”

”Our lives matter more.”

Shao’s voice was cold. Unshaken.

He locked eyes with his brother, his gaze unwavering.

”I won’t let anyone drag us down.”

Lu Zhi looked stunned, his expression twisted. His lips parted like he wanted to argue, but no words came out. The truth of it lodged in his throat like a splinter, painful and impossible to ignore.

Before he could say anything, Shao grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the next classroom.

There was no Time for Hesitation.

This world had fallen now. And kindness would become a weakness in this situation. He already had his hands full with Muchen, Zhi and that Hana kid. He did not wish to drag along any more that would depend on him to survive.

The air was thick with decay.

The moment they stepped inside, three zombies turned toward them.

They were girls—young students. Their uniforms were torn and stained with blood, their faces pale and sunken. Their eyes, once bright with youth, were now empty voids of hunger.

The two girls behind them gasped. One of them let out a broken whisper, her voice trembling, ”That’s... that’s Li Na... and—”

She choked on her words.

The other girl clutched her chest, her body shaking violently. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t scream. She just stared, frozen in silent grief.

Shao and Muchen didn’t hesitate.

Shao swung his weapon first. The broken chair leg struck one of the zombies in the skull with a sickening crunch. The impact sent a tremor through his arm, but he didn’t falter. The creature staggered, gurgled, and then collapsed.

Muchen moved just as fast. He gritted his teeth, took aim, and stabbed his knife straight through the second zombie’s temple. It jerked once—then went still, its body slumping lifelessly onto the desk beside it. Blood and brain matter splattered onto the surface, but Muchen barely reacted.

The last zombie lunged at Lu Zhi.

For a split second, he froze. His breath caught in his throat. The hesitation was there—it was always there—but this time, he fought against it.

He swung hard.

The desk he grabbed slammed into the creature’s head, knocking it off balance. It stumbled, let out a low, wet groan, then collapsed in a heap.

Silence.

Only the sound of the girls’ quiet sobbing remained.

Shao exhaled slowly, wiping sweat from his brow. He didn’t look back at the ones they left behind.

”We keep moving,” he said, his voice unwavering.

Muchen crept up to the door, his breath shallow, his movements controlled. He pressed a hand against the cool surface and slowly peeled it open—just enough to see.

The hallway stretched before him, bathed in flickering fluorescent light. Some bulbs had already burned out, while others pulsed weakly, casting erratic shadows against the walls.

But it wasn’t the broken lights that made his stomach clench.

It was the sight beyond them.

A swarm of zombies—moving like a single, mindless entity—was rushing up the stairs. Their bodies slammed against railings and each other in a frenzied, desperate charge. Their snarls and guttural moans filled the air, an unholy symphony of death.

Muchen felt his heart stop for a second.

This was a nightmare.

The way they moved—like an enraged hive of wasps—made it horrifyingly clear: if they got caught in that horde, there would be no escape. No struggle. No chance. Only death.

A grotesque, agonizing death where their bodies would be ripped apart piece by piece. Their flesh chewed. Their bones crushed.

He swallowed hard.

His hand instinctively moved to his stomach.

I need to live...

His fingers trembled as he clutched at his side, his nails digging into his shirt.

I must save this baby.

He forced himself to breathe.

Pressing his forehead lightly against the doorframe, he turned back and met Shao’s gaze. His friend’s sharp eyes were full of questions, but Muchen only shook his head.

”They’re going up,” he whispered.

Shao exhaled slowly, his jaw tight, his grip firm.

”Then we move. Now.”

Muchen nodded.

They had little time. That horde was searching for them. If the upper floor was blocked or compromised, those creatures would come back down, and when they did...

They needed to be gone.