It was the middle of the night. I was sound asleep after a thirteen-hour shift. Being a security guard meant I was on duty almost 24/7 because of a shortage of workers. I was being overworked on a bare-minimum salary. Today was one of those days when I could finally take a day off.
I wasn't gonna let anyone ruin this night...but the world had other plans.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
My phone buzzed countless times before it woke me up. I searched for my phone half-asleep, and when I checked the notifications, it was filled with news alerts.
"Authorities are responding to a rapidly spreading infectious illness in multiple areas. For your safety, please remain indoors and keep your doors and windows secured. Please await further information." I read the emergency alert. At the same time, sirens blared throughout the city.
"Huh...?! The hell is happening?"
I got up from bed, still reading the emergency alerts, when I heard a scream outside my window.
I have a creepy feeling about this...
Tiptoeing to the window, I slowly peered down from my apartment toward where the scream came from.
Knew it.
A person whose head was sprouting tiny crystals with a faint red glow, and whose flesh was practically melting off its body. It was lurching towards a woman—its head pulsated every few seconds.
Zombies!
Excitement and fear twisted in my chest. I never thought a day like this would come, the thrill of fighting hordes and surviving in an apocalypse.
A dream come true...?
Watching the woman run at an unfathomable snail's pace made me realize that some people are just not built for survival. I couldn't help but chuckle as the zombie rapidly closed the distance. It didn't take long before it reached her.
Yeah...she was already helpless to begin with. Saving her would delay the inevitable.
There was almost no struggle when the zombie lunged at the woman.
Damn, she's weak.
A few seconds later, it was feeding on her. As it did, the crystals flared again—brighter this time, longer.
Wait—what was that?
I barely caught it, but the crystals... they grew?
Do they get stronger the more they eat?
The woman's body twitched. Crystals pushed through the bite wound, spreading fast. Her skin peeled away, as if she were shedding. Then—She stood.
A low growl escaped her throat as she followed the other into the darkness.
The street fell silent again, eerily empty. It was far too quiet for the start of an apocalypse. Aside from the woman earlier, there was nothing—no distant screams, no engines, no signs of life.
Weird...
The glow flickered deeper in the shadows, fading in and out every few seconds. I kept staring, trying to make sense of it.
Then it stopped.
"Oh shit…" I mumbled, ducking behind the window.
There were dozens—no, hundreds. All at once, their crystals lit up.
How did I miss them?
For a moment, everything was quiet. Then a shriek tore through the street. I looked again, and they were pouring out of the darkness—not slow, not mindless, but fast. Some sprinted, some climbed walls, and worse… they were communicating.
These weren't the zombies I imagined. I stepped back from the window, scared they might notice me.
A sprinter looked in my direction, paused, then let out a disturbing shriek.
It's coming at me.
How?! I'm in complete darkness!
It was closing in, fast. Panicked, I rushed to my kitchen searching for a weapon.
A saucepan. I doubt this can deal any damage to its crystal head.
Crash!
It's already inside.
I quickly dropped behind the countertop. The thing effortlessly tore through my door.
Other than being insanely fast, it's also strong. No way I'm beating that. I held my breath, praying it would leave me alone.
Before I knew it, a shadow loomed above my head. Shit—
Slash!
I barely dodged its attack, grazing my shoulder.
How did it find me so fast?!
Both of us were now facing each other like a western standoff. For a moment, none of us moved. I could finally see its full appearance. The top half of its head was filled with light red crystals. It doesn't look like it could see. Half of its face was deformed, its mouth had a fixed, disturbing grin. Its skin didn't resemble human flesh but… crystals?
Is this thing made of crystals? Its humanoid structure was the only thing that made it look like a person; otherwise, this thing was a complete monster.
My legs were shaking as I gripped my weapon. I was terrified. Yet, I couldn't help but have a huge grin. This was exciting. I lunged, swinging my saucepan towards its head.
Clank!
Dented. Not the zombie—my saucepan. The thing didn't even react. It hasn't even moved yet; it was just looking at me.
"H-Huh?" I stepped back, still holding my weapon. How hard is this thing?
I barely had time to react before it swung its arm, slamming against the side of my stomach. It sent me to the floor, gasping for air.
I'm gonna die…
This was no thrilling zombie apocalypse. This was life and death. My fight or flight instincts kicked in. I was not beating that thing.
I frantically ran towards the exit, clutching my stomach and gritting my teeth, still in severe pain from that attack.
The thing shrieked again, before chasing after me with terrifying speed.
"HELP!" My scream tore through the empty hallway.
I desperately banged on my neighbor's door, begging they'd let me in. The zombies' growls were getting closer.
Looking back, that thing was sprinting straight at me.
"EVELYN! PLEASE!! IT'S ME—LEVI!!"
I could hear her footsteps rushing towards the door.
Hurry…please.