Faster Than You Can Rap
They had very little reason to complain that their studio was in the basement of the company.
They could spend hours there undisturbed. Which was a good thing, if they were really trying to get something finished within a certain time frame. It also provided a cool and relatively dark place to work. As two male alphas, they were a touch sensitive to light. Most male alphas were. And they were kept cool and calm. Since alphas were known to be almost literal walking furnaces, the coolness of the basement kept them calm and appeased. And hardly working up a sweat. Plus, they could play their music loud as they worked. Without being confronted repeatedly by others, annoyed by the volume.
So really, hardly much to complain about.
Plus, the restroom was not far. The only complaint they had, was the food was further away. Oh. Poor Changbinnie. Having to actually hoof it to get his meats and other food. And it was something he whined about every day they got to the studio. Almost directly after their last class, they hurried to the company to work on more tracks. It made good money from royalties. And sometimes they were able to produce their own music.
Mostly rap.
Over all, they had it fairly decent.
Currently, he was alone.
Binnie had gone to use the restroom after his fourth can of energy drinks. He seriously wished Changbin would stop drinking that garbage. Everyone knew it was bad for anyone's health. Especially the health of an athletic alpha like Changbin. But he knew Changbin used it to keep awake with him. He has told the younger many times, to nap when he could. Though the other did argue, that he needed to sleep more in return. Still, he wouldn't mind if Changbin stretched the length of the couch he often occupied, and got some sleep in. If Chan really needed his help, he'd simply wake him. And he had a few ideas on how to do that.
Mostly for entertainment purposes.
As he waited for Changbin to return, he focused on some sample of music he had been struggling with for a little while now. It's been bothering him for a few days.
Now, Changbin didn't always join him at the studio. Sometimes, he went straight home after school. So today was the first day back for Changbin. And Chan could use his help with this sample. Sometimes, Changbin's creative juices flowed enough to help Chan get out of his slump.
Just as Changbin got back, still rubbing his hands together with the lotion the bathroom had, he spoke, "We may want to tell the maintenance staff the bathroom smells really awful. Smells almost rotten, really."
Chan blinked a moment, but replied, "Sure."
His eyes remained on the screen, even as his mind thought it quite odd. There were few wolves that used the basement as much as they did. So for it to get so bad was a feat. Even with two male alphas using it. Still, it could come from just the plumbing in general. Changbin sat. And for a while, things went smoothly.
Even got out of the slump Chan's been in for a few days.
//
Changbin blinked as the screens went black, and so did the lights.
He could almost hear Chan's inner screaming.
Chan had a decent habit of saving their progress multiple times throughout their progression. And likely, he may not have had the opportunity for a while. A slip of the mind for the older alpha, for sure. Changbin's gaze went up however, to the lights. His ears moved and he gave a low hum. It sounded like the power was out in general. The A/C-heater was silent. And the typical hum of an electrical current throughout the building was decidedly absent.
Unsure how to comfort the older alpha, Changbin opened his mouth. He hoped to say something to keep Chan from absolutely losing his shit. Either in anger, or just pure whining. However, he didn't get the chance. For he heard a ruckus upstairs.
So did Chan.
They both looked up. They could hear screaming, and things falling over. The pounding of feet, wolves in a hurry. Both looked to one another confused, and slightly worried. Apprehensive, Chan rose to his feet and spoke, "There's not much we can do right now. Maybe we should see what's going on. Maybe see how long the power is going to be out." He turned to their equipment with a sigh, "All that progress for not."
Changbin smirked and pat his back, "That's what you get for forgetting to save the billion times you normally do."
Chan did spare him a glare, but Changbin wasn't too worried about it at this time.
Without further word, the two rose to their feet and made to head upstairs.
//
Upon reaching the main floor, the place was decidedly a mess.
Things strewn about, everything scattered. It was so weird. Chan pulled a face and covered his nose, "Ugh."
Changbin had done the same, "Same smell from the bathroom. Ugh, it smells so rotten and putrid."
Chan smirked, and looked to him through his hand holding his senses of smell, "That's a smart word, Binnie. Didn't think you knew what it was."
Changbin rolled his eyes. They could take jabs at one another later. Right now, they had to figure out what the hell was going on. Seeing some movement from the corner of his eye, Chan turned and went to what was a normal meeting room. Carefully, he opened the door. Highly unlikely to see anything scandalous in here, one could never tell.
The company was pretty good at keeping things professional.
He saw a director hunched over something. As his eyes adjusted, he blinked. It looked like a staff member on the floor. Her eyes blank and dead. The color drained and leaving behind black soulless eyes. Blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. The smell of rotten flesh was strong in this room. Keeping his nose covered to prevent inhaling too much, he inquired, "Director-nim. W-What is going on?"
The director stopped, and growled in a fashion that was not very wolf like. It sounded gurgled and moist. He now noticed his wolf tail was practically gone, ears as well. Maybe little nubs where they once were. That, was unusual. The director turned to him with his bloodshot eyes. They were no longer the red of an alpha. But pure blood shot. His jaw looked odd, and blood was dripping from it. His gaze dropped to the staff member, to see whole chunks of her torso were gone.
He heard Changbin gag behind him. As his heart rate increased, he hurried out and shut the door just as the director bodily slammed into it. As Chan locked him inside, he watched as the female on the floor twitched. He turned, grabbed hold of Changbin's shoulder and shoved him off, "Go, run."
Without hesitation, Changbin took off.
Chan followed.
As soon as they left the company, they noticed the rest of the city was in disarray. Watching as wolves tackled others and began to eat them, blood staining the concrete and asphalt. Screams were everywhere, wolves running amok. Changbin hissed, "Shit. Well, anyone smart enough to watch plenty of zombie movies and shows would have known how to prevent the spread so damned fast."
Chan hummed before he replied, "Yes, but fear and panic can make even the most "prepared" of wolves become irrational. And cause the end of the world as we once knew. Let's get back to the apartment and whole up there for a while. Once it calms down enough, we'll plan our future. I'm afraid Bin, you're going to have to learn to hold your hunger at bay."
Changbin sighed and nodded, "Yeah."
Without further word, the two turned and hurried to their apartment building. Likely, there would be undead there as well. But they knew to head there and start to gather supplies. And their wits. To start planning what they'd do, and where they'd go. Neither one took the time to consider this made their options of mates dwindle. But they would hold out hope. They would have to be smart. Take the knowledge from movies and shows, and apply it to their real lives.
Would they find a cure?
They could only hope.
And wherever there was hope, there was life.
//
Upon reaching their complex, they hurried up the stairs.
While they may have looked absolutely mad going in the opposite direction of others, they knew it was the smarter option. At least, for the time being. If they could make it to their unit untouched, they would be fine. Let the hordes follow the mass hysterical crowds. It would move on, migrate as herds often did. Once there seemed to be a diminished threat in their general vicinity, they would leave. Going where they could.
They also knew stores would be raided.
That's how it often went.
But if they could get mostly seeds for fruits and vegetables, then they had a chance of survival. And besides, wild game were more abundant than they liked to perceive. True, they'd be competing with undead seemingly no more wolf hybrids. But they would be fine, they were sure. They had to be smart. Though, their ruts were going to be hell on earth now.
They'd have to figure that out, as well.
Upon reaching their floor and dodging practically everything, they hurried to their specific unit. Upon reaching it and hurrying inside, they turned and locked the door. Bolting it, and even barricading it. It would hopefully hold for the time being. Unlike the rest of the world outside, their place was fairly orderly and organized.
Maybe because they just got home in chaos?
Either way, they had the chance to look through their things and make smart decisions on what to take for survival. They would need it. Whatever nature was doing with this undead disease or whatever, they only hoped she knew how to grant mercy. And hoped they could get that grant. She must have a reason for all of this.
Didn't she?