Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 143: Chapter 143 - Bit

Jai hit the ground with a sickening thud, the impact reverberating through his body as the air was forced from his lungs.

His vision blurred, the world spinning around him as pain shot through his ribs.

The taste of iron filled his mouth, and he could feel the rough pavement scraping against his skin. He tried to push himself up, but his arms trembled, weak and unsteady.

Yunfeng’s heart stopped.

His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, time itself seemed to freeze.

His chest tightened, a crushing weight pressing down on him as he saw Jai fall.

His mind screamed, a thousand thoughts racing through his head, but his body refused to move.

He was too far.

Too far to help.

Too far to save him.

”Jai!” The name tore from Yunfeng’s lips, raw and desperate

He took a step forward, but it felt like he was moving through molasses, every second stretching into an eternity.

The zombie was right there. Its grotesque form loomed over Jai, its decaying flesh hanging loosely from its bones. Its milky, lifeless eyes locked onto Jai’s prone figure, and its mouth stretched open, revealing rows of broken, yellowed teeth. The stench of rot and death filled the air, making Yunfeng’s stomach churn.

The old man zombie lunged, its gaping mouth stretching wide, a guttural growl escaping its throat. Yunfeng’s breath hitched, his body frozen in place as he watched in horror.

And then—

It bit down.

Right on Jai’s throat.

Yunfeng’s world collapsed.

A strangled cry escaped his lips, his voice breaking as his knees gave out beneath him. He hit the pavement hard, the pain barely registering as his mind reeled.

His chest heaved, each breath a ragged gasp as tears blurred his vision. He could feel his heart shattering, the pieces cutting deep into his soul.

”NOOOOO!!!” The scream tore from his throat, raw and anguished, echoing through the desolate streets. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms as he stared in disbelief.

Jai. His best friend. His brother. The person who had always been by his side, through thick and thin.

And now... now he was gone. Taken from him in an instant.

The zombie snarled, its grotesque form hunched over Jai’s body, its teeth buried in his throat.

Yunfeng’s stomach churned, bile rising in his throat as he watched the scene unfold. His mind screamed at him to move, to do something, but his body refused to obey.

Something inside him snapped.

Pure rage.

Burning fury.

With a roar that echoed through the empty streets, Yunfeng charged forward. His feet pounded against the pavement, each step fueled by his rage. He reached the zombie in an instant, his hands closing around its rotting neck.

All he could think about was Jai. Jai, who had always been there for him. Jai, who didn’t deserve this. Jai, who was gone.

With a single, brutal motion, Yunfeng ripped the zombie’s head from its body.

The sound of tearing flesh and snapping bone filled the air, followed by a wet thud as the head hit the ground.

The body collapsed instantly, lifeless and still.

The severed head rolled a few feet away, its jaw still chomping mindlessly in the dirt.

Yunfeng didn’t care. He dropped to his knees beside Jai, his hands trembling as he pulled his friend onto his lap. Jai’s neck was covered in blood—too much blood. It stained Yunfeng’s hands, his clothes, the ground beneath them. His breath hitched, his chest tightening as he cradled Jai closer. Tears streamed down his face, his vision blurred as he stared down at his friend.

”I’m so sorry...” His voice was barely a whisper, choked with sobs. ”I— I never should’ve brought you here—” His words broke off, his throat closing up as he struggled to breathe.

He could feel the weight of his guilt pressing down on him, crushing him beneath its unbearable burden.

This was his fault. All of it.

If he had just been faster, stronger, better... Jai would still be alive.

Behind them, the burly man was still screaming, his voice distant and muffled. Yunfeng didn’t even glance his way. All he could see was Jai.

”Jai... please... please don’t—” His voice cracked, his chest heaving as he struggled to hold back his sobs. He tightened his grip, pulling Jai closer, as if he could somehow keep him there, keep him alive.

”Uh... Yunfeng?”

His breath hitched. Jai’s voice was soft, but clear. Yunfeng’s head snapped up, his heart skipping a beat as he stared down at his friend.

Jai blinked at him, his eyes wide and confused.

”Dude... I’m not bit.”

Yunfeng froze. His mind struggled to process the words, his thoughts spinning in a chaotic whirlwind. ”...What?”

Jai winced, pulling Yunfeng’s hands away from his neck. The blood smeared across his skin, but there was no wound. His throat was perfectly intact. Yunfeng stared, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. His hands trembled as he reached out, his fingers brushing against Jai’s neck. No bite. No wound. Nothing.

Jai sighed and reached into his hand. Something small and pale gleamed under the dim light. He held it up, a weak grin spreading across his face.

A set of dentures.

Yunfeng blinked, his mind still struggling to catch up. Jai chuckled softly, his voice weak but filled with relief. ”The guy had no teeth.”

A beat of silence. Then Yunfeng let out a long, shaky breath.

”No time to get shocked, boy.”

Jai yanked him up and dragged him toward an alley. They dove behind a dumpster, pressing themselves against the cool metal. Yunfeng was still breathing hard, his hands shaking as he hurriedly checked Jai’s neck again. Still intact. Still unhurt. He let out a gasp of relief, his heart finally slowing.

Jai snorted. ”Dude, you look like you just saw a ghost.”

Yunfeng glared, his chest still heaving. ”I THOUGHT YOU DIED!”

Jai grinned, shaking the bloody dentures. ”Well, you were almost right.”

Yunfeng’s chest heaved, his heartbeat still pounding in his ears. ”Fuck, man... I thought I lost you... I... I wouldn’t have been able to live with that guilt.”

Suddenly, another person came to his mind. Muchen. His face paled instantly. He had only given a vague message to him about the apocalypse. He... he might be in danger too. He took a deep breath. ’After Hana, I need to rescue him.’ Even though he had cleanly broken off with him, his heart still lingered.

Jai wiped the fake bite mark off his neck, still grinning. ”Alright, let’s move before—”

A shrill, blood-curdling screech echoed from the street behind them. The zombies had caught up.

”Shit, run!”

They took off. Yunfeng and Jai dashed through the ruined streets, weaving past overturned cars and broken debris. The city outskirts were more open, but that didn’t mean it was safe. Behind them, the moans grew louder. More of them. A whole horde of undead had spotted them. The city was pushing them out—right into a dead-end.

Jai swore under his breath. ”Where the hell are we even going?!”

Yunfeng didn’t know either. He was just running. But then—something huge loomed ahead of them. A tall metal fence. Thick jungle-like trees sprawled behind it, their branches curling over the barrier like claws.

Jai gasped. ”Dude, is this—?”

A zoo. Or what was left of one. The gate was wide open, barely hanging on its hinges. A sign creaked in the wind, its letters smudged with dirt and blood.

『Xinghai City Zoo』

Yunfeng’s stomach sank. There was movement inside. Not human. He saw shadows darting between the trees. A low, guttural snarl carried through the air.

Jai gulped. ”Nope. Absolutely not. We are NOT going in there.”

But they didn’t have a choice. The horde was closing in. Yunfeng glanced back—and his breath caught. One of the zombies chasing them was suddenly yanked backward. Its body disappeared into the shadows. A wet crunch followed.

Jai froze. ”The hell was that?”

And then, they saw it. A figure emerged from the zoo entrance. Slower, heavier than the zombies. But far more terrifying. Its massive paws crushed the pavement as it walked. Its striped fur was drenched in blood. The entire left side of its face was missing, exposing raw, decayed muscle and bone.

A tiger. A zombie tiger.

Yunfeng’s body went cold. Jai let out a strangled noise. ”Bro—BRO—”

The tiger locked onto them. Its cloudy, pale eyes showed no life—only hunger. Then, without warning—it pounced.

Yunfeng barely had time to react. He shoved Jai aside and leapt back. The tiger landed with a heavy thud, crushing a nearby zombie beneath its massive claws. It turned toward them again, its bloody mouth gaping open, revealing jagged, broken fangs.