Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 - Team Alpha

The collective team of five quickly boarded the chopper, each moving with precision. One soldier checked the massive machine gun, ensuring it was fully loaded and that the safety was engaged. The pilot did a swift but thorough check of the engines, signaling a clear. Meanwhile, the other soldiers double-checked the safety equipment they would be using for the rescue. Every piece of gear was inspected with sharp efficiency—harnesses, ropes, and the emergency hanging ladders were tested one last time.

Shen Shinjun stood with his arms crossed, his face a storm of worry and restraint. His hands trembled slightly as he handed the lead soldier a small slip of paper with his son’s contact number. His voice was rough, urgent. ”It’s highly likely the phone might be switched off. I’ll try to track the exact location based on the last call while I still can. I’ll send you the coordinates as soon as I have them. Take your walkie-talkies and keep the communication open.”

”Yes, sir!” the soldiers responded in unison.

The chopper’s blades roared to life, cutting through the tense silence. Shen Shinjun stepped back, watching as the aircraft lifted off, dust swirling wildly around his feet. His stomach twisted painfully. That was his son out there, stranded in a collapsing city. Every second counted.

As the chopper disappeared into the distance, he remained on the rooftop, eyes locked on the vanishing silhouette in the sky. His fists clenched. Jai, hold on. We’re coming.

Shinjun exhaled heavily, his frustration barely restrained as he paced the room before finally settling into the chair across from his father. His head throbbed from stress, a dull ache pressing at his temples.

”I’m still worried...” he muttered, rubbing his forehead. His fingers dug into his skin, trying to ground himself.

Seeing his son’s distress, Shin Kailun simply sat back, his wise eyes watching the storm of emotions brewing in his son. He said nothing, knowing that words wouldn’t ease the worry gnawing at Shinjun’s chest.

Unable to stay still, Shinjun called for a soldier. ”Bring me the IT specialist. Now.”

A soldier rushed in moments later, carrying a compact tracking device. Without hesitation, Shinjun dialed his son’s number, his fingers tense as he put the call on speaker.

The ringing seemed to stretch endlessly. Then, finally—

”Hey, Dad...” Jai’s voice was barely a whisper.

Shinjun let out a slow breath, gripping the edge of the table. ”Hey, son.” His voice softened for just a moment before his sharp gaze flickered toward his father, then back to the phone. ”So... what exactly was the situation that made you think running into a fucking hornet’s nest was a good idea?”

A loud gulp echoed through the speaker. Jai’s hesitant whisper followed.

”Hana was stuck here... We came here to rescue her.”

The moment those words hit, Shinjun inhaled deeply, his jaw tightening. He closed his eyes briefly, forcing his breathing to steady.

”And why,” he said slowly, his voice low and dangerous, ”didn’t you ask us adults for help?”

There was a brief silence. Then, a faint sound—Jai’s teeth chattering.

”I was scared you might not...”

Shinjun shot up from his chair, his fist slamming onto the table.

”What?! That I might not help?!” His furious voice echoed through the room.

Jai fell silent on the other end, his nervous breathing the only response.

A firm hand landed on Shinjun’s shoulder. Kailun’s steady grip was a silent command—calm down.

Shinjun closed his eyes, trying to force down the raw anger threatening to spill over. His hands trembled as he exhaled sharply through his nose.

”Jai,” he finally said, his voice quieter but no less intense. ”Team alpha is on their way. Just... stay put. Don’t do anything reckless, do you hear me?”

A shaky breath came from the other end.

”...Okay.”

Shinjun’s grip on the phone tightened as he listened to his son’s voice. His heart pounded violently in his chest, his mind racing through every possible worst-case scenario.

He had seen it firsthand. The chaos, the madness—it was beyond control. What had started as drug addicts losing their minds had spiraled into something straight out of nightmares. The infected were rabid, tearing into flesh, spreading the sickness with every bite. Those who were bitten turned just as fast, their humanity stripped away in mere moments.

In their compound, dealing with just a handful of these monsters had already been a nightmare. Bullets barely slowed them down. Only a clean headshot could put them down for good. And if just a few had been that difficult—he could barely imagine the entire city overrun with them.

And now, Jai was in the middle of it.

Shinjun swallowed hard, his throat dry as he recalled the emergency contact he had received last night. Martial law had been declared in City A. His heart had nearly stopped at the news. He had scrambled to contact every single person he knew in the city, but the lines had gone dead. Every single one.

The only glimpses of what was happening came from late-night leaks—teenagers foolishly livestreaming the horror before their screams were cut off. In those flickering, shaky videos, he had seen people getting torn apart like animals. Bodies collapsing within seconds, only to rise again with vacant, hungry eyes.

And now his son was there.

”How the fuck did he even get into the city?” Shinjun growled under his breath. ”It should be barricaded by now. That little shit’s recklessness knows no bounds.”

”Dad... I’m still on the line,” Jai’s quiet voice came through, sounding much smaller than before.

Shinjun froze.

”I... kind of flaunted your status to get in,” Jai admitted hesitantly. His voice was laced with guilt, but also the desperate need to explain. ”I swear, I was only trying to help Hana. I didn’t realize it would be this bad. If I had, I never would’ve come with just Yunfeng. We would’ve at least brought bombs.”

Shinjun gritted his teeth. His fingers dug into his palm so hard his nails left crescent-shaped marks.

There was a long silence on the line. Jai didn’t dare speak.

A soldier caught Shinjun’s attention and gave him a thumbs-up. They had successfully tracked the phone’s location.

Shinjun exhaled sharply, his mind snapping back into action. ”We’ll talk about this when you get home. Right now, we have your location. Make sure you find a way to keep your phone charged. Stay in that warehouse, do not move.”

His eyes flicked to the live satellite map. The warehouse was massive—a good defensible position. But...

His stomach dropped.

It was surrounded.

A horde of infected swarmed around the building, some dragging broken limbs, others twitching and jerking unnaturally. The sheer number made his blood run cold.

His jaw clenched. ”The ones outside—are they sane? Or do they act insane?”

”They’re fucking dead, Dad!” Jai’s voice cracked as he interrupted. ”They’re not just insane people. They’re zombies.”

Shinjun’s breath caught. He slowly turned to his father, Shin Kailun, who remained still and silent, watching him with a knowing gaze.

A heavy pause. Then Shinjun spoke.

”...Okay.”

He inhaled, steadying himself.

”I see your rooftop is massive. If you can get to the roof, Team Alpha will come to pick you up. They’ll be there soon. Listen to their instructions—exactly as they say. Understood?”

”Yes, Dad...” Jai hesitated.

Then, in a whisper—one so quiet Shinjun almost didn’t hear it—Jai spoke again.

”Dad... if I don’t make it, please know that I love you so much. And Grandpa too. Just don’t cry for me too much, okay?”

Shinjun’s vision blurred for a fraction of a second. His heart felt like it had been squeezed in a vice.

Then—his fist slammed onto the table.

”Who the hell will cry for you, you little shit?! You better get your ass home right now!”

The line went quiet. Then, after a second—

A weak chuckle. ”Okay, okay...”

Shinjun exhaled sharply, gripping the phone as if his own strength could reach through and pull Jai home.