Chapter 35: Departure, Heading to the Hotel

"How long does it take to get from the base to the hotel?" Tucker locked the door cautiously, looked around, and lowered his voice when he saw no one nearby.

"About two hours. The hotel is in the city center." Belle tugged the black cloth on her head down, revealing only her eyes.

If Elsa saw the slap marks on her face, she'd never be able to lift her head again!

"Why is it so far? It's ridiculous!" Tucker picked up the shovel standing outside the door and snuck out of the base with Belle when no one was looking.

"It's freezing when it rains and scorching when it's sunny! How can we live like this?" Tucker muttered, nodding to the guard as he passed, slipping out easily.

"Lead the way, but be careful not to get spotted by the zombies!"

Belle nodded quietly, her heart pounding. Though she was terrified, the hotel was like a carrot dangled in front of her, forcing her to go.

Tucker rarely left the base, and when he did, he was surrounded by the powered ones from the base, never allowing zombies to get close before they were eliminated.

He was also a bit timid and wanted to retreat, but the thought of the meal boxes the team brought back spurred him on.

Though he hadn't eaten any, the smell was real food!

If he could take over the hotel, he'd have all the meal boxes he wanted. Ha! He could even toss one to that old dog Miles!

Just imagining Miles groveling like a dog made Tucker forget everything else in joy.

"Hurry up! Let's reach the hotel before it gets dark!"

Seeing Belle hesitating and dragging her feet, Tucker kicked her.

If she dared delay his path to promotion, he'd send her to meet her zombie mother!

In a hidden corner, an old woman and a young boy watched their sneaky actions closely.

"Son, what are they up to?" the old woman rubbed her dim eyes and looked again at their retreating figures.

It was definitely that cursed Tucker!

But why would he leave the base alone? Would a man so fearful of death willingly become a zombie's meal?

The boy clenched his fists against his aching stomach, his face pale with pain.

Gritting his teeth to hold back any cries, he looked at their backs and made a decision.

"Let's follow them!"

He would die eventually, but if he could drag those two down with him, it would be worth it!

"Belle, are you messing with me?! How long have we been walking? We can't even see a hint of the hotel?!"

In a dilapidated printing shop, the two were hiding behind a broken counter, breathing heavily.

The closer they got to the city center, the more zombies there were.

Even though the powered individuals had killed many zombies, they still kept coming!

Tucker was an ordinary person, and his physical condition was even worse than the frail Belle.

Whenever zombies appeared, he would push Belle out to handle them, not caring that Belle had just reached Level 2 and had little offensive power as a water-type ability user!

Belle was equally distressed, but what could she do? He was her father!

After using her water ability to push away the zombies in front of them, she picked up the shovel and struck a zombie's head.

She could handle Level 1 zombies, but when faced with Level 2 ones, she could only hide.

Peering through a gap, Belle saw the Level 2 zombie still standing outside the door. As the sky grew red, she became more anxious and whispered, "Be quiet! Don't attract it! We're almost there!"

Tucker shot her a harsh look and shut his mouth.

After all, outside the base, he still needed his daughter to deal with the zombies, otherwise, he would have slapped her already.

Tucker bent down slightly to find a gap to look outside and saw a scene that made his scalp tingle—the Level 2 zombie was stumbling inside!

Damn!

The zombie was coming in!

Tucker was immediately panicked. If the zombie came a bit closer, it would spot them under the counter!

What to do?!

Tucker grabbed Belle's arm tightly, pulling her to the gap and signaling her to look outside.

Seeing the situation, Belle's eyes widened, her face went pale, and her nails dug into the floor.

It's over, the zombie actually came in...

Seeing Belle's state, Tucker knew she couldn't handle it. He stared at her fiercely and tightened his grip, pulling her close.

Dad? In her panic, Belle looked up and met Tucker's cold, frantic gaze, realizing that her father intended to use her as a decoy to buy time for his escape.

No way! Belle struggled, but Tucker held her firmly.

The faint sound of clothes rubbing against each other made the Level 2 zombie slightly turn its head, its hollowed-out brain facing the counter as it staggered closer.

Seeing this, Belle tensed up and quickly stopped her movements.

As long as the zombie didn't notice them, her father wouldn't push her out!

Realizing this, Belle obediently stayed still, letting her father hold her arm tightly.

Please, don't come any closer...

Please...

The zombie swayed its head, its limbs awkwardly moving forward, occasionally letting out low growls from its gaping, torn mouth, with black goo dripping from the corners.

The rotten, foul smell grew closer, and the two hiding under the counter felt as though they were on the brink of death, their bodies drenched as if they had just emerged from water, gasping for fresh air.

At that moment, an explosion echoed from afar, loud in the quiet room.

The zombie, which was nearly at the counter, roared and staggered towards the source of the sound.

The two near death quickly took a deep breath of fresh air, their bodies still trembling.

Tucker pushed Belle out. "Go see if the zombie has gone away."

Belle swallowed, her legs weak, and moved towards the door.

Carefully peeking out, the street was empty, nothing in sight.

"Dad... there are no zombies... let's hurry and leave!"

---

Sitting in the shop and watching TV, Charlote also heard the explosion outside. The sudden noise almost made her drop her milk tea.

What's going on, such a loud noise.

Charlote stood at the door, tiptoeing to see where the sound came from.

It sounded close, should she go check it out?

Having been cooped up in the shop watching TV all day, her eyes were feeling a bit strained.

Then she changed her mind—seven or eight zombies rushed by her under her very eyes.

They were going to join the commotion.

Since something else was going, she decided not to go.

Charlote turned back, planning to continue watching TV.

It's surprising how many handsome guys there are in this world.

She was currently obsessed with that star named Seth, so white, tender, and cute.