Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 - Tiny fingers

The tiger growled and charged at them.

Panicked they bolted away.

Yunfeng and Jai sprinted through the dilapidated zoo entrance, the guttural growls of the undead tiger reverberating behind them. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, hearts pounding with primal fear.

”We can’t outrun this thing!” Jai shouted, panic edging his voice.

Yunfeng’s eyes darted around, searching for any semblance of refuge. Ahead, he spotted a damaged enclosure fence, its metal bars twisted and gaping. Without hesitation, he grabbed Jai’s arm and veered toward it.

”In here!” Yunfeng urged.

They vaulted over the broken barrier, landing amidst overgrown foliage. The tiger skidded to a halt outside, its decayed lips curling into a snarl, revealing jagged teeth. It paced menacingly, its lifeless eyes fixed on them.

Inside the enclosure, dense trees cast eerie shadows. A sudden rustling above drew their attention. Squinting, they discerned shapes moving swiftly among the branches.

”Zombie monkeys too?” Jai whispered, voice trembling.

But as they observed, it became clear—the monkeys weren’t attacking. They moved with purpose, eyes wide with fear.

”They’re scared,” Yunfeng murmured. ”They’re trying to get away.”

The monkeys’ agitation escalated, their movements frantic. Suddenly, one emitted a sharp warning call, echoed by the others—a cacophony of alarm.

”What’s happening?” Jai asked, eyes wide.

Before Yunfeng could respond, the troop descended from the trees, racing toward the broken fence. Their shrieks filled the air, a symphony of terror. They bolted past the tiger, which momentarily shifted its attention to the fleeing primates.

Instinct overrode decay. The zombie tiger let out a thunderous roar and charged after the monkeys, its predatory drive reignited.

Silence enveloped the enclosure as the chaos moved away. Yunfeng and Jai stood there, chests heaving, adrenaline coursing through their veins.

”This is so not fun,” Jai muttered, leaning against a tree. ”Zombie games are fun... But this sucks, man. Sucks big time.”

Yunfeng managed a weak chuckle, wiping sweat from his brow. ”Yeah, reality’s a bit more intense.”

As the first light of dawn pierced through the canopy, Yunfeng and Jai sat amidst the remnants of the zoo enclosure, their bodies weary from the night’s relentless ordeals. The soft chirping of birds contrasted starkly with the horrors they’d witnessed.

”How did the infection even get here?” Jai pondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the emerging hues of the morning sky. ”The soldier said it was a drug...”

Yunfeng shrugged, exhaustion evident in his posture. ”Dunno...”

A sudden rustling from behind interrupted their contemplation. Assuming it was one of the monkeys they’d encountered earlier, they turned nonchalantly. But instead of a primate, a figure in tattered overalls and a zoo uniform staggered out, its eyes vacant and skin marred with decay.

”That explains it,” Jai muttered, realization dawning on his face.

The zombie, once a diligent zookeeper, now embodied the very essence of the catastrophe that had befallen their world. Its uniform, now soiled and torn, bore the emblem of the zoo, a haunting reminder of the normalcy that once was.

Reacting swiftly, Yunfeng grabbed a nearby branch, positioning himself between the creature and Jai. With a determined swing, he struck the zombie, causing It to collapse into a lifeless heap.

”that wasn’t difficult.... That man must have used that drug. But he looks like an honest man...” he mumbled gazing at jai.

His best friend was looking up at him unblinking.

A moment of awkward silence fell between them.

”Your powers... How did you get them?” Jai’s voice broke the silence, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Yunfeng’s brow furrowed as memories from his past life surfaced. In that existence, the world had been familiar with mutated humans categorized into hierarchical dynamics: Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. These classifications, often explored in speculative fiction, depicted a society where individuals possessed distinct traits and roles.

In this reality, the zombie outbreak had been traced back to a drug—a synthetic compound designed to enhance human capabilities. Instead, it mutated human cells, granting some individuals extraordinary abilities while turning others into mindless undead. Such powers were rare, typically manifesting in a few powerful Alphas and, on rare occasions, in Omegas.

”Then why do I have this power?” Yunfeng murmured, his hand instinctively resting on his abdomen. ”Maybe the child is an Alpha...” His voice trailed off, lost in thought.

”Why do you keep touching your stomach? Are you hungry?” jai quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

Yunfeng met his gaze, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. ”Because I’m pregnant,” he confessed.

Jai’s eyes widened in surprise before he burst into laughter. ”Wait, wait... You’re telling me you’re pregnant? Man, I knew the apocalypse would bring surprises, but this takes the cake!”

Yunfeng sighed, a hint of frustration evident. ”I’m serious, Jai.”

”So, what, are we going to have a baby shower amidst the zombie hordes? Should I start knitting tiny booties?” Jai’s grin was infectious, his attempt to lighten the mood evident.

”It’s not a joke,” Yunfeng insisted, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

”Alright, alright,” Jai conceded, still chuckling. ”But if you start craving weird foods or get morning sickness, don’t expect me to hold your hair back.”

Yunfeng’s serious demeanor remained unyielding, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that words couldn’t convey.

Jai’s laughter faltered, his grin slowly fading as he searched Yunfeng’s face for any hint of jest.

Finding none, his expression shifted from amusement to shock. ”Wait... you’re serious?”

Yunfeng nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the ground. ”I didn’t believe it myself at first,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. ”But the signs are there.”

Jai ran a hand through his hair, processing the information. ”So, in this... Apocalypse male can get pregnant?”

Yunfeng glanced up, meeting Jai’s eyes. ”Yes,” he confirmed. ”And it seems the mutations from the zombie drug have activated these... traits within me.”

Jai’s groan echoed through the quiet enclosure, his hands gripping his hair. ”First zombies, then mutant tigers, and now... this? Pregnant men? What’s next, flying pigs?”

Yunfeng watched him, a mix of relief in his eyes.

At least Jai wasn’t outright dismissing him anymore, but the weight of his own situation pressed heavily on his chest.

He placed a hand on his stomach again, feeling the faint, almost imperceptible flutter of life within him. It was surreal, terrifying, and yet... strange.

A small squeal pierced the air, sharp and sudden. Both men froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. It came from a dense thicket of foliage a few meters away, where the undergrowth was so thick it was nearly impossible to see through.

”What was that?” Jai whispered, his hand instinctively reaching for the makeshift weapon he’d fashioned from a piece of broken fencing.

Yunfeng held up a hand, signaling for silence. He crept forward, his movements cautious and deliberate. The squeal came again, softer this time, almost like a whimper. Pushing aside a large, drooping leaf, Yunfeng’s eyes widened.

”Jai,” he called softly, his voice tinged with surprise. ”Come here.”

Jai hurried over, his weapon raised defensively. But as he peered over Yunfeng’s shoulder, his stance relaxed. ”Well, I’ll be damned,” he muttered.

Crouched in the shadows, trembling and wide-eyed, was a small monkey. Its fur was matted and dirty, but it didn’t look like the other undead creatures they’d encountered. Its eyes were clear, filled with fear but not the hollow emptiness of the infected. It clutched a piece of fruit in its tiny hands, its gaze darting between Yunfeng and Jai as if trying to decide whether to flee or trust them.

”It’s... alive,” Yunfeng said, his voice barely above a whisper. ”Not infected.”

Jai lowered his weapon, his expression softening. ”Poor thing. It’s probably scared out of its mind.”

Yunfeng crouched down slowly, extending a hand toward the monkey. ”Hey there,” he said gently. ”We’re not going to hurt you.”

The monkey flinched but didn’t run. It sniffed the air cautiously, its tiny nose twitching. After a moment, it took a hesitant step forward, still clutching the fruit tightly.

”Careful,” Jai warned, though his tone was more curious than concerned. ”It might bite.”

But the monkey didn’t bite. Instead, it crept closer, its movements slow and deliberate. When it was within arm’s reach, it stopped and looked up at Yunfeng with an almost pleading expression.

”It’s like it’s trying to tell us something,” Yunfeng said, his voice filled with wonder.

Jai raised an eyebrow. ”Or it’s just hungry and thinks you’ve got food.”

Yunfeng ignored the comment, his focus entirely on the monkey. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of dried apricots he’d been saving. The monkey’s eyes lit up, and it snatched the offering with surprising speed, stuffing it into its mouth.

”Guess it was hungry,” Jai said with a smirk.

But as the monkey finished eating, it did something unexpected. It grabbed Yunfeng’s hand with its tiny fingers.

Yunfengs heart thudded at this move.

He gently held the small hand.

The monkey cooed and snuggled up to his hand.