Rafael swiped the d20 in front of him, giving it a good shake before dropping it. It clattered on some invisible table next to him.

Nat twenty. That had to be good.

The zombie lifted its rotten fist and slammed it into the car window. The zombie would have better luck smashing titanium, but Clarissa still scrambled away, screaming. It was enough for Ezekiel to turn toward her, concerned. Rafael wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Hraktar gripped his forearm, his eyes scanning the battle. “You take care of her. I’ll help Milo.”

“Are you alright, my friend?” Ezekiel asked.

The fighter picked up his great sword, placing his injured hand underneath. “I’ll be fine. Go!”

Ezekiel nodded before sprinting toward the zombie on the car.

The fighter slowed before freezing, as did Ezekiel. Rafael frowned, climbing to his feet. Everything froze, not just Ezekiel or Hraktar. He wiggled his fingers.

“What the hell is happening?” Not that anyone could answer. His sister, too, stood frozen, a timid yet hopeful light in her eyes.

Roll to hit.

The words floated in the air, and he attempted to touch them. A list of Ezekiel’s weapons appeared. Spells were there, too, but in red since he didn’t prepare any. He picked the bow, taking in the strange sight as he grabbed the floating d20. Milo covered his face, bracing for an attack as three zombies surrounded him, all frozen. Nick’s die froze mid-roll, his glare never lessened.

The die clattered onto the invisible plate, landing on an eighteen. A plus three floated above the number, combining to twenty-one.

Roll for damage.

The d8 floated in front of him. Since the world was frozen, he had time to consider how little he liked this. He grabbed the dice, shook it, and let it fall. On an eight. He let out a breath and ignored the dopamine striking his brain. Another +1 floated above the dice, bumping it to a nine.

The world resumed as Ezekiel lifted his bow. He took no time to aim before releasing it. The arrow flew true, burying deep into the zombie’s side. It tumbled off the car with a screech.

Derek gave him a thumbs up. “Nice shot!”

The dopamine was hard to ignore, though the chaos helped him remember this was no time to smile. Another zombie lunged toward Milo, taking a chunk out of his shoulder. With growing horror, Rafael watched the number above Milo’s head drop to four. Were those his hit points?

“Shit.” Rafael knew he’d regret not preparing spells. Ezekiel was a cleric, after all, and could heal people.

Another zombie tried to bite Milo, but there were too many creatures latched to the mana fusor. In retaliation, Milo grabbed his dagger and dug it into the newest zombie’s side. The creature howled, causing Milo to topple to the ground. His crossbow fell from his hands and clattered away.

Clarissa stumbled out of the car, dressed in a silk green dress with white lace over it. Emerald gems from her tiara glittered in the sunlight. The tiara stood out on her green hair, made of glittering crystal instead of metal. She held herself like royalty, but couldn’t hide a deep exhaustion. Despite that, Clarissa reached behind her and unsheathed a wicked-looking scimitar, moving toward the prone zombie. The scimitar shook in her palm, but she thrust it between the zombie’s ribs. It shrieked in pain as he heard a crack.

“Princess Clarissa!” Ezekiel pointed at the car. “Get back in there! You’re exhausted!”

The druid kept the zombie pinned with her scimitar. “I’ll rest when they’re dead.”

That sounded like the Clarissa he remembered. With a shout, Grizzizzik sprinted toward a zombie attacking Milo, his black cloak billowing behind him. He wore a fine cream-colored shirt, vest, and black pants underneath his cloak. They were expensive, if worn from adventure and years on the road. Grizzizzik dug his rapier into the creature’s shoulder, knocking the zombie and himself to the ground.

Dread leaked out of Derek’s eyes, and a sliver of hope replaced it. “Glad to have you join us, Nick and Grizzizzik.”

Nick panted, anger evident on his face as he ran a hand through his hair. “That stupid rogue. He’d never give me the dice unless the prince was high enough.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “What was the price?”

“His life.”

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“You threatened his life?” Derek asked.

Nick gestured around. “Zombies are attacking them. Of course his life is in danger.”

The zombie Grizzizzik pinned tried to bite his fingers, but the rogue dodged the broken teeth, hissing in return as he climbed to his feet. Rafael watched, captivated, as Grizzizzik’s human teeth turned sharper. His incisors lengthened, completing the snake look as the rogue snarled at the zombie. The creature shrieked in return.

Hraktar marched over, grabbed a zombie trying to eat Milo, and tore the thing off him. The zombie had no time to react before Hraktar’s knuckles crushed in part of its skull, black ichor gushing from the wound.

Derek pumped his fists into the air. “There’s our fighter tank!”

The compliment melted the insecurity from Alejandra’s face as Hraktar dropped the zombie. It was, miraculously, still alive, but only just.

Clarissa’s zombie swiped at her face, the gray fingernails inches from her nose. The druid glared, taking time to straighten her tiara. “I hate the undead.”

Time stopped again. It must be Ezekiel’s turn. With no spells, he chose the bow again, rolling the dice to get a thirteen. When the d8 appeared, it landed on a two. A plus three gave him five.

It was hard for Ezekiel to aim, but he shot anyway. The arrow buried into the zombie’s thigh. It grabbed the wound leaking black ichor, snarling at Ezekiel.

Milo no longer had the strength to scream when the zombie near him clamped down again. He was still standing, but battered, his hit points dropping to two. That mana fusor wouldn’t last much longer.

Curious, Rafael stared at Derek to see if he could catch the time freeze. In a split second, Derek was a blur before reappearing in a different stance, looking relieved but worried.

The mana fusor slammed his dagger against the zombie on its last breath. The creature shrieked, but whatever damage Derek rolled, it somehow still wasn’t enough.

Rafael pointed to the creature. “He should be dead.”

“It’s already dead.” Nick didn’t look at him, but was clearly talking to him. “It’s damn difficult to kill an undead creature.”

Clarissa gave another cry of exertion, slamming her scimitar into the zombie’s head. The creature howled, then whatever undead light in its eyes expired.

“One down, three more!” Clarissa gestured toward Milo. “Ezekiel, help the others!”

The cleric nodded before spinning toward the main group. Clarissa tried to stand, but grabbed the car to keep her up. Evelyn was at her side, holding her elbow to keep her steady. Rafael dropped his gaze.

With a squishy sound, Grizzizzik pulled his rapier from the zombie’s body before attempting a deadly strike against the creature’s neck. The zombie snarled, dodging the deadly blow, but still receiving a slice on his arm. In its anger, it struck for Grizzizzik, but the rogue blocked the hand with his sword painted with black ichor.

Hraktar found his great sword and swiped at the zombie attacking Milo while trying not to hurt him. A large gash across the creature's back appeared, and it stumbled, moaning. It frustrated Rafael that he couldn’t see the enemy’s hit points. Tyler always kept it private, though it would’ve been helpful. Milo was almost unconscious and three undead creatures shuffled around, moaning.

Time slowed down again for Rafael. If he rolled low enough, his arrow might hit another character. His hand to hand was pretty good, though. Rafael chose that one, knowing Ezekiel would choose the one attacking Milo. He rolled the d20 and got a three. Even with the +4 attack bonus, he doubted it was enough to hit the zombie.

Rafael winced as the world resumed. No damage dice, which meant no hit. Ezekiel ran toward the zombie with his fist raised. The zombie dodged Ezekiel surprisingly fast for an undead creature. Ezekiel stumbled, then turned toward the zombie, hands outstretched. If Ezekiel couldn’t hurt the zombie, he’d become the target. Milo’s blood covered body was on the ground, barely alive.

But the zombie had enough intelligence to notice an easy target. He slammed into his body with a dull thump. Milo didn’t even scream as something in his body crunched. His eyes fluttered and closed.

“No! Shit! He’s down!” Derek pointed at Milo. “Heal him, Rafael!”

Ezekiel answered for him. “I don’t have any spells!”

“What!”

Rafael shrugged, but the gesture did not make him any friends. “It would’ve taken too long!”

“I’ve got spells. I’ll send her your way on my turn!” Evelyn shouted.

“At least someone’s prepared,” Nick mumbled.

“Derek said to not use spells!” Rafael found himself shouting.

Nick pointed at Derek. “Except for healing! We all heard that.”

With surprising strength from a creature that should’ve died last round, the zombie pierced Hraktar’s ankle with rotten teeth. The fighter was more surprised than hurt.

Derek shoved his hands in his hair. “Dammit! That’s a fail.”

In response, Clarissa stumbled over to Milo. Rafael’s eyes widened as he saw how weak the druid was as she limped past. She had five hit points left.

“Did a zombie get her?” Alejandra asked.

“No.” Evelyn had one arm around her waist, the other hand on her shoulder, watching Clarissa. “The heat did.”

Clarissa stumbled to the ground beside Milo, placing her hands near his ears. Her fingers glowed a forest green as she mumbled an incantation that sounded like the warbling of birds. She moved her fingers as she spoke, and thick vines of magic shot from her palm through the broken body on the ground.

Milo gasped as a green five replaced the red zero above his head.

“Thank you, Evelyn!” Derek said.

“Don’t thank me! These people are real! Thank Princess Clarissa!”

Derek beamed, his eyes falling on the druid. “Thank you, Princess Clarissa.”

She straightened her tiara. “You’re lucky I like him.” The sarcasm ended as she groaned, her five hit points dropping to four. She now had the lowest hit points of everyone.

Ezekiel fell to his knees next to her. “Get away from the heat, Princess. It’s not safe for you out here.”

She nodded as Ezekiel held out his hand, helping her to her feet. They got up, and he steadied her before reaching for Milo. He took it and stood up.

With a swish of his rapier, Grizzizzik sliced the zombie’s stomach, breaking a rib. The zombie rolled his head on his rotten neck, shrieking at the rogue. Rafael didn’t like undead creatures one bit. The zombie tried to bite back, but Grizzizzik again dodged the attack with a sneer.

Hraktar used his great sword to slam it into the zombie that tried to kill Milo. It seemed as though Hraktar missed until he flicked the zombie’s head. The top of the zombie fell over as the legs crumpled to the ground. Yet with all that, the zombie moaned, barely alive.

“Damn, Alejandra,” Derek said.

“I started with a nat one, but hopefully I’ve made up for it since.”

“More than triple,” Nick said.