Oh my apocalypse [YiZhanFF]

Chapter 41 - Hot Air Balloons

Two days have passed since Zhan and Yibo returned. They have spent almost the entire time searching the old diaries of Zhan's late great-uncle for clues about hidden traps or any other protective devices. But, they did not find anything. Either because there are no other protections or traps, or the old man just didn't write anything about it in his diaries.

But this morning this problem should be secondary. Because even before the alarm clock rang, one of Zhan's father's soldiers knocked on Zhan and Yibo's room door and asked them to come immediately to the observation deck on the roof.

When the two arrived there, the general was standing there with several of his soldiers and they were all looking in one direction. Immediately, Zhan and Yibo also looked there and discovered what caught the others' gaze. The old city that had mostly burned down was burning again! Black high clouds of smoke came from there.

"Oh look, a little fire for the dear vampires." Slipped out Zhan accidentally. Yibo looked questioningly at Zhan and then suddenly started laughing out loud. This also made the others turn around to the two of them and look at them questioningly.

"What's wrong with you two?" Zhan's father asked.

"Don't you see? No matter who started the fire, it will draw the vampires this way! They may not even come here. And if they do, I'm sure it will be isolated smaller groups." Explained Yibo in Zhan's place, who was hiding behind Yibo because he was afraid his father would get really mad.

"Mhhh, you might be absolutely right about that." Replied the general.

"Well, Zhan came up with it first. I was just putting it into words for you guys."

"If they really are attracted to the black smoke, then we should get word from my scouts soon. Because then they'll probably change direction a little bit and just run past the entrance to the hotel."

"What I'm wondering is, who set the town on fire in the first place? I also wouldn't have thought there was anything burnable left there." Said Zhan.

"I just imagine the vampires running into the burning city and catching fire too. Then the assholes will soon burn too." Interjected one of the soldiers.

"If that happens, then soon the whole area will be on fire." Explained another soldier.

"But we would be protected in that case by the High Wall around our area. In addition, there is still a lot of snow and the ground is frozen. Fire won't eat through that easily. So it would largely, pass from one vampire to the next." Said the general.

For Zhan and Yibo, however, it remained a more intriguing question as to who was setting the fires and why. Were they perhaps survivors who knew about the hotel? Or were they survivors who also know about the horde and want to stop them from getting to their hideout?

Yibo took Zhan's hand and was about to go back inside with him when a new noise caught the attention of everyone on the roof. Hastily, they looked around and then discovered the cause. In disbelief, they all stared up at the sky, where several hot air balloons could be seen.

Waving men and women in the hot air balloons shouted something to the men on the roof of the hotel, but they could not understand it. Zhan's father then grabbed a radio and pointed it upward. Half a minute later, the radio crackled and a woman spoke up, "How do you like my little fire?" She asked.

"Was it you guys?" Asked the general.

"Yes. After all, we can't let them get all the way to our new camp. Those filthy fucking bloodsuckers have already destroyed one of our camps. They won't succeed again."

"Then you are somewhere near the city?" Asked Zhan, using his own radio."

"Exactly. But we're not as comfortable as you are. Oh yeah, if you need a doctor, let me know. We have two in our camp." Said the woman.