Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 238: Chapter 238 - Seperated

The old commander stood like stone beneath the cold night sky, his gloved hands tightening around his radio. A flicker of guilt crossed his face—but only for a moment. He let out a long, weary breath.

”Ready the weapons,” he said lowly, voice like iron wrapped in ash. ”Begin with the smoke.”

Within seconds, the first smoke bombs were launched over the outer walls. They hissed as they burst across the school grounds—thick, black clouds unfurled like an ominous tide, swallowing every shape and form in their path.

Inside the compound, panic erupted.

”Shit!” Yunfeng coughed, covering Muchen with his arm as the smoke choked their vision. ”Stay close! Don’t get separated!”

The fog clawed at their eyes, their lungs. Even the moans of the infected became distorted and disoriented, stumbling just as blindly through the thick darkness.

They were blind.

Everything was a silhouette, a breath, a tremble.

In the haze, Shao instinctively reached out and found the back of Jai’s shirt. His fingers curled into the fabric and tugged gently, keeping close. He didn’t say a word—but his presence grounded Jai, whose heart was hammering against his chest.

Hana pressed Yuki’s tiny face against her shoulder, shielding her as best she could. Lu Zhi had his arms spread protectively in front of them both, eyes scanning the darkness for movement, for danger, for hope.

”This is madness,” Kailun muttered bitterly, his voice low and shaking. ”Those bastards were supposed to protect us. This military—this government—they were meant to shelter us!”

Jai turned toward him, his face unreadable in the thick fog. His voice was quiet but carried the weight of realization.

”Times have changed, Grandpa... Military order—structure—it doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s every man for himself now.”

Kailun looked back at him, and for the first time, he saw the boy not as a child, but as someone who had seen too much, too soon.

A sharp clink broke the moment.

Something rolled across the floor near their feet.

Kailun’s eyes widened in horror. ”Hand grenade!”

”Everyone back away!” he roared.

He turned on instinct, rushing to shield Hana and Yuki with his body.

At the same moment, Shao acted fast—grabbing Jai by the waist and pulling him backwards with all his strength.

”Down!” Yunfeng shouted.

Then the blast came.

A deafening, concussive force tore through the smoke—flames bloomed like wicked flowers as they were all thrown through the air. Dust, splinters, and screams filled the air as their bodies hit the floor, scattered by the shockwave.

Jai lay on the ground, ears ringing, heart pounding. He blinked through the dust—his body ached, his vision swam—but as he sat up, the first thing he looked for was Shao.

And there he was, also struggling to rise, face grimy with soot, chest heaving—but alive.

”Shao...” Jai groaned softly, blinking grit from his eyes as he pushed himself up from the floor. Before he could gather his bearings, a strong pair of arms wrapped around him—tight, protective, desperate.

”Jai!” Shao’s voice was breathless as he pulled him into a fierce embrace.

Jai gasped, his chest heaving as he instinctively clung to Shao’s shirt, fingers curling tightly into the blood-stained fabric. ”Shao...” he whispered.

Shao’s forehead was smeared with ash and split open by a deep cut, blood trailing down the side of his face. Yet he didn’t seem to care. He just kept holding Jai, steadying him, shielding him.

”I thought—I thought you were—” Jai’s voice trembled.

”I’m here,” Shao said simply, his voice low. ”You’re okay.”

Jai’s breath hitched as he buried his face against Shao’s shoulder for a moment, allowing himself that brief comfort.

Then he heard nothing.

Panic set in.

He pulled away abruptly, his wide eyes darting forward—only to land on the massive pile of rubble where the corridor ceiling had collapsed completely.

”Yunfeng...!” he whispered, then louder. ”Yunfeng! Muchen! Hana!!”

His voice cracked as he scrambled to his feet, heart thudding painfully in his chest.

For one terrible moment, silence answered him.

And then—

A cough.

”Jai!” Yunfeng’s voice, muffled and strained, rose from the other side of the debris. ”We’re okay. We’re all okay! Just banged up a bit. Who’s hurt? Are you alright?”

Jai’s legs gave out beneath him in relief.

”We’re fine,” he gasped, tears stinging his eyes. ”Shao is with me. We’re okay... Is everyone else— Is my grandpa there?”

”Yeah, yeah, he’s okay,” came the response. ”Bruised, but still cursing the government.”

That drew a shaky laugh from Jai as he leaned his head heavily against Shao’s shoulder again. Shao didn’t say anything—just kept still, letting Jai rest on him. But he didn’t meet Jai’s gaze. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, jaw tight, posture tense and unreadable.

When Jai finally pulled away and looked up, Shao still didn’t glance at him. Instead, he let go the moment Jai could stand steadily on his own, stepping back with his usual guarded calm.

Jai’s chest tightened. The warmth from before faded quickly. He doesn’t care... about me, he thought bitterly, clenching his sleeve in silence. He hadn’t even said a word.

But behind him, Shao’s eyes flicked back once—just briefly—to make sure Jai was truly steady.

”I’ll find a way over to you,” Jai called out, his voice louder now. He tightly gripped his own shirt trying to hide his own feelings.

”Wait!” Yunfeng’s voice cut back through the smoke. ”I’ll try to move the rubble—”

A loud groan echoed from above, and the walls shuddered again. More debris rained down as the structure creaked ominously.

”Fuck—” Yunfeng hissed. ”The whole building’s unstable. I can’t risk it.”

Jai stared at the rubble, fear rising again.

”Jai,” Yunfeng shouted, voice more firm this time, ”Find another way around. We’ll meet up soon. I promise.”

Jai clenched his fists and nodded, even though no one could see him.

”Okay... We’ll find you.” He did not glance back but he quickly proceeded to the other broken window. He heard silent footsteps follow behind him but he was too pissed. ’fuck him!’