Oh my apocalypse [YiZhanFF]

Chapter 36 - The hotel

Almost 100 soldiers were present and could hardly wait to finally get started. They were joined by the volunteers who had been accompanying the soldiers for months and through them learned to handle firearms and stabbing weapons or to defend themselves in hand-to-hand combat. They were all led by the general, Zhan's father.

In the lead walked Zhan and Yibo. Then the general, the soldiers and the helpers. Then the survivors who had recently been rescued from the bunker. After them came the soldiers, whom by now Zhan and Yibo were so familiar with because they made their last journey together. And finally, at the very end, were the residents of District 2, who received escorts from helpers like Hai Kuan and Cheng. In the end, it was decided that no one should be left behind in District 2 after all.

They reached the entrance to the maintenance and delivery tunnel half an hour later. Zhan wanted to enter the pin code immediately, but first had to change the batteries on the input device because they had already discharged in the past months and probably also due to the cold.

Finally, however, Zhan was able to open the door to the entrance of the one and a half kilometer long and dark tunnel. If they had enough time, they surely would have found a way to revive the old fluorescent tubes on the ceiling of the tunnel. But they didn't have that time. In fact, if they wanted to regain control of the hotel today, they had to hurry.

When finally the last one had arrived in the tunnel, the door was closed again and they could continue. Always four people side by side, row by row. Every second row had two flashlights with which they lit the way for the others. Thanks to the general, everything was orderly and no one stepped out of line. At intervals, they even managed to walk in sync. Zhan and Yibo had been endlessly impressed by this.

Zhan, who had always admired his father, looked at him and almost burst with pride. After all, he was now over 60 years old and yet fitter than many other young men. At a time when many military leaders were hiding in bunkers or running away, he came out of retirement to fight side by side with the brave young soldiers. He did not hesitate, but led his soldiers into the battle.

Even as a young boy, Zhan had always looked up to his brave, strong, assertive, yet loving father. Today, even more than then. Because Zhan simply couldn't ask for a better father than him.

But his mother had also always been a courageous woman who never backed down from a fight and even took up arms when necessary to protect what was dear to her.

In the meantime, Yibo had every reason to be proud of his parents. Not as in the case of Zhan's parents by their courage, the strength and the fight. But rather, because they finally, not only accepted Yibo's relationship with Zhan, but also because they learned not to put their own well-being above that of all others.

If someone had asked them for some sugar just a year ago, they would have said that they were not charity and had nothing to give away. If there was no benefit for them, they would not lift a finger for others. Because that's how they learned it from their parents. Yibo couldn't even count how many times he heard the phrase, "Rely on others and you are lost." Or else, "Before the we comes the me." Now, however, his parents are a part of the community, helping wherever they can. And when necessary, they even share their food.

The large group walked slowly but steadily through the tunnel. When they reached about halfway, they took a short break for the older ones and those survivors who were still very weak. Looking around on both sides of the tunnel, there was nothing but darkness and endlessness. As if the tunnel would never end.

Zhan and Yibo had to think at that moment of the tunnel maze they had been in twice now. Last time even for a few days. And then they thought of the two of them, Zhan and Yibo from another dimension. They wondered if they would see them again, because there were still so many questions they would like to ask them. But, they rather didn't think they would see them again.