But wishes didn't last very long.
The peaceful road ahead of them was suddenly no longer empty. A few wandering zombies emerged from between the abandoned cars and buildings, their rotting bodies stumbling toward the sound of the engine. One became three, three became five, and before long, a small group had gathered in the middle of the road. Drawn toward the noise like moths to a flame, they gradually crowded together until their bodies formed an almost complete barricade across the road.
Zixin's eyes narrowed as he measured the distance between them and the car.
They weren't going to move.
And he wasn't going to stop.
"Strap in," Zixin ordered, briefly glancing toward Bao.
Bao looked at him in confusion before looking around the car. "With what?"
"The seat belt! To your side. Just clip it in!" Zixin shouted, his voice rising as he pressed harder on the accelerator.
The engine roared as the car surged forward.
Bao hurriedly reached beside himself and found the elastic belt. He tugged at it, but the mechanism refused to cooperate, the belt barely moving no matter how hard he pulled.
"It's difficult!" he complained, still struggling with it.
Zixin shot him an incredulous look.
"Oh my god! Just hold onto something!"
He barely finished shouting before the car slammed into the first zombie.
BANG!
The impact shook the entire vehicle.
The zombie was thrown onto the hood before rolling violently over the roof, while another was caught beneath the front wheels with a sickening crunch. Zixin didn't lift his foot from the accelerator. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and kept the car pointed straight ahead as the remaining zombies rushed toward them.
BAM!
Another body smashed against the windshield, its hands clawing desperately at the glass.
Bao finally abandoned the useless seat belt and grabbed the side of his seat just as Zixin swerved violently to the left. The car plowed through two zombies at once, sending their bodies tumbling across the road.
One zombie flew sideways and crashed into an abandoned vehicle.
Another rolled across the hood before disappearing over the edge.
The entire car rocked violently with every impact, the tires screeching against the asphalt as Zixin forced his way through the cluster. His arms strained against the steering wheel, his teeth clenched as he fought to keep control while bodies slammed into the vehicle from every direction.
"Hold on!" he yelled.
Bao tightened his grip.
Zixin suddenly jerked the steering wheel to the right.
The car swerved around a fallen zombie, narrowly missing a wrecked truck before smashing into another one that had stumbled directly into their path. The impact sent the creature flying several meters away.
For a moment, there was nothing but the roar of the engine and the violent shaking of the car.
Then they broke through.
The road ahead opened again.
Zixin immediately straightened the car and continued speeding forward without looking back.
Bao slowly lifted his head from where he had braced himself against the seat.
His hair was a complete mess.
He blinked several times before looking at Zixin. That was completely awesome! Zixin ploughed through the zombies like crazy.
Zixin was still gripping the steering wheel, his breathing slightly heavier than before.
"Next time," he growled, "strap yourself in before I start driving through zombies."
Bao obediently nodded. "Okay."
Unknown to them, the back seat of the car, which had already been loosely attached to its hinges, had finally come loose from all the earlier crashes and movement. It had rolled backward, revealing the trunk behind it. Hidden inside was a bloodied body that looked as though the man had been beaten to death. His clothes were torn, his body covered in blood, and his throat had been ripped open so badly that even if he had been alive, he would not have been able to make a sound.
Then, slowly, one of his fingers twitched.
The man's body remained still for another moment before his fingers curled against the floor of the trunk. His dead eyes opened, and his head slowly lifted at the scent of fresh flesh coming from the front of the car. The zombie began crawling forward silently, dragging its body over the fallen seat as it followed the smell.
Meanwhile, Bao was still struggling with the seat belt.
He pulled on it again, but it refused to move.
"Gods, let me..."
Zixin glanced over and, seeing Bao still fighting with the belt, briefly slowed the car before leaning across to help him. He grabbed the stuck belt and pulled it sharply until it finally came loose.
As he leaned closer, his nose suddenly twitched.
A strange scent drifted into his senses.
Jasmine.
And the fresh, clean scent of rain.
It was soft and gentle, completely different from the blood and decay surrounding them. Zixin paused for a brief moment, his nostrils twitching as he took in the unfamiliar scent that seemed to come from Bao.
Bao looked up at him and smiled.
Up close, the young man looked even more stunning. His white hair was a complete mess from the journey, falling loosely around his face, while his ruby-red eyes looked straight into Zixin's with a sweet, almost innocent smile.
If this guy had been human, he could very well have been a model.
But sadly, this guy was a snake.
"Aren't you going to stop looking at me?" Bao said, deliberately acting cute as he wiggled slightly in his seat. "You're making me blush."
"Don't act so creepy."
"Why? I'm a cute little snake. Why can't I act cute, huh?" Bao tilted his head, his smile becoming even sweeter. "And I'm completely yours, Zixin~ You can admire me all you want~"
Zixin's eyebrow twitched.
Without another word, he pulled the seat belt tight and clicked it into place, making Bao choke slightly as he was firmly strapped into the seat.
"It would be best if you could use that smart mouth of yours to shut up."
Bao blinked at him.
Then his lips slowly curled upward.
Zixin returned to the driver's seat, pretending he hadn't noticed the amused look on Bao's face. He started the car again, but before he could properly settle his hands on the steering wheel, something moved behind him.
A shadow slowly crawled over the back seat.
The zombie had already reached the front.
Its bloodied hands gripped the top of Zixin's seat as its ruined body dragged itself closer. Its mouth opened, revealing a row of blood-covered teeth as it slowly leaned toward Zixin's neck.
Zixin didn't notice.
Bao didn't notice either.
The young man was still sitting there, looking rather pleased with himself after successfully making Zixin flustered.
The zombie suddenly lunged forward.
"Watch out!"