I jerked awake as I heard scrapping beside me. I jumped up, ready to stab a few more guys when I noticed that it sounded like someone was speaking. I pulled over a chair and noticed that the rain let up but the sky was still dark and cloudy. I looked over the table and noticed that someone was checking the pockets of the recently deceased.

“I guess the nights over.”

I struggle with the decision to sleep or to fortify the window but the table is a thick hardwood. Plus I have a couch pressed up against it. It would take a lot of man power to move it. I should check on the bedroom…

I rubbed my face with my free hand and crouched as I walked to the door. Praying that there isn’t anything waiting for me in my room but I didn’t hear any crashing sounds. Plus the door is wide open, if they wanted to get to me. They could very easily.

Licking my lips, I moved against the far wall as I surveyed the room. The window.. Still intact, thank god. My shoulders drooped in relief and I walked into the room with solid steps. I dropped the knife on the dresser and headed into the bathroom. Taking a long shower and scrubbing the dried blood off my hand.

I walked in front of the mirror after stepping out of the showers, expecting to see bags around my eyes but chuckled. I only stayed awake for maybe half a day. The whole thing made me feel like it was longer.

I turned on the facet as the stinging of my eye made me realize that I was tired. I quickly brushed my teeth before crawling under the thick winter blankets. I only had one passing thought before darkness took me, what about the bodies outside?

***

I heard the sound of a chair scraping across a concrete floor and I shot up. Yanking my hands over my eyes as blinding sunlight stabbed my just awakened eyes. I didn’t feel my cover on, matter-of-fact, there was grass underneath my hand.

Shielding my eyes, I scanned around and noticed I was outside but the location isn't familiar at all. No, it was definitely familiar. It reminded of a place I recently been to on an assignment. One of the good memories from being in the military.

I climbed to my feet and brushed off the grass stalks and dirt crumbs from my palm. I focused slowly on a guy sitting in a chair on the sidewalk in a suit in this bloody heat.

Must have a death wish.

“How did I get here?” I questioned even though I felt a gut instinct that I was dreaming.

Maybe dying?

The man smiled and stood up.

“This is merely your conscious environment. No need to be alarm but we don’t have much time for pleasantries. So I will get right into the heart of the matter.” The man gestured with knife hand at his side and a mannequin look-alike appeared beside him.

“This is you and currently you are infected with our product…”

“Infected?” I took an aggressive step, showing pure signs I wanted answers and with a quickness.

“Infected is a strong term but that is what the science types wrote. I’m just paraphrasing off their report. Anyway, there is a group near you that is working on a product that has been showing great success in curing diseases like cancer, aids, and whatnot. You have been infected for lack of a better word. You don’t need to fear dying because what has infected you is purely nanite technology, however, ever since the incident off-shores. The nanites took on a type of mutation that is hard to describe. Best answer..”

The man's eyes seemed to read something that I couldn’t see.

“The scientist calls us meta-humans. I don’t like this term as it feels more or less like a separation between us and them. History shows that different entities face outright oppression. But to the point, you are slowly being turned into a different life form. Different genes are being promoted within your body and it takes time for them to take over. However, this is good news for you as the world just entered a nightmare. People are turning grey skin and eating other people. This is basically all they wanted me to say minus the agreement to do blood tests on you and what not but my group has taken control.. In a few minutes.”

It took me more than just a second to process this. Nanites parasites me and turn me into superhuman. Like superman or like possibility of me gaining faster reflexes, semi stronger strength, then straight muscle deterations right after.

“Is this harmful? As in the side effects? You said it was mostly successful but you obviously didn’t promote it on a large scale.”

“Would you promote something that could potentially stop you from aging and living just a tad bit longer to the general populace? Who would be able to afford that? Not many people but there would be large amounts of protest when someone's family member is sick and common treatment plans can’t cure it. It’s better to avoid such unnecessary concern and promote it to those who can directly afford it and continue to support our future endeavors.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The man stated while reaching into his suit pocket and bringing out a cigar case. He held one up like he was offering to me.

I shook my head and he lit up anyway.

“To continue, you should be seeing changes almost immediately after waking up. However, changes affect everybody in our facility differently. For me, I awoke my ability to peer into people's dreams the second day but there is a guy who can lift things with his mind and he found out on day one. Also, you should bunker down. You will also be a huge target to those grey-skin abominations. Something about the mutation gives you a greater source of life. Apparently they liked it.”

I raised my hand, taking my mind off the superpower thing and locking onto the threat. “Do they gain anything from eating us?”

“Yes, they mutate and become really crazy strong. Headshots don’t work anymore at that point. Our strongest guy had to dissect them. Oh, there are probably a few more guys like us around you. Almost six containers were shipped out from this facility but we doubt they made it since you're now…”

He waved his hand at me with the cigar between his fingers. His face seemed to scrunch up into an O and he spoke rather rapidly.

“Sorry, my guy. There seems to be another guy awakening and well, you seem more calm and reasonable than he does. Have to put more attention on him to keep him sane. Don’t want a crazy superhuman out here. Tons of paperwork.”

The guy disappeared and my dream self faded. I woke up feeling wide awake. I grasped the cover and sat up, tossing it off at the same time.

“Superhuman, huh? Wondered if it would cure some of my aches and pains.” I joked as I threw my legs over the side of the bed and looked at the window that I obviously didn’t cover with anything. It also seemed the rain was back strong.

I slipped out of bed and put on some clothes before heading into the kitchen to check my phone. No messages? Must mean that crazy girl is safe. I should give her a call to check anyways.

“Hello?”

“Chase? You’re still alive?”

Why didn’t she sound happy about that?

“Yes, I am just as surprised that you are alive. Where are you guys?”

“In the basement, taking cover. Crazy people broke into our house and tried to kill us. They are probably still upstairs. What about you?”

Oh, nice they have a basement. If only I took a few more days to purchase a nice sturdy house. I popped open the fridge and took out the chicken I soak last night. Deciding to cook those right now.

“I got attacked a little around midnight. They jumped at the window but I killed them. Pretty safe right now in this two bedroom apartment. Cooking a nice meal right now. Mm, what should I cook with my chicken right now? Pasta?”

“Tsk, bish. We have enough food to last maybe six days between the five of us but if the rain lasts much longer.. Well, if the things upstairs stay there. Then we are screwed.”

I nodded while pushing the chicken into the oven to bake.

“I hear you but what do you want me to do about it? I am sure there is a bigger crowd and well, you live in the suburbs.”

“I don’t mean you come right this very second, but you have guns. You have the training, just come to the back entrances. I don’t think zombies are in the backyard.”

“Alright, I’ll go hunting for food tomorrow and see what I can do.”

Should I brag about gaining eternal life and superpowers? Haha, she dumped Superman for a rich guy. Before I could even bring it up the phone click. I shook my head and turned to the oven with a smirk.

So her rich husband can’t do shit but hide. How ironic is that? I bet he's fuming knowing I am going to save the day.

I walked into the other bedroom and began moving the bed to block the window then position the dresser to lock it into place. I did the same for my room and dropped my extra blankets on the couch.

So let’s process what I know…

Bang! Bang!

I jerked and looked around for my knife when I remembered I left it in the dresser in the bedroom. I walked back into it and found it on the floor. I grasp it as another round of banging comes. It sounded like it came from the living room. Not surprising since a bit of the window is open and the chicken smells good.

I just wondered, how good is their damn smell, rain should help to disperse that. I walked to the hallway and opened the door, ignoring the rain water that flooded in. My eyes widened as the guy came charging at me. I took a step back and gripped his shoulder, spinning him into the door that slammed into the wall behind. My butcher knife slammed right into his face the next second. I leaned back and put a boot into its gut but it ignored that force as it swung at my face with sharp claws.

I stabbed again but this time scoring the eyes. I pushed it out the door after jerking my knife back. The banging also stopped. I guess that guy was coming to me. I kicked the first grey-skin into the doorway just in time for this asshole to come running.

It stepped right on the man and its other leg lifted into the air. I snapped a kick at its knee and it dropped instantly, facing kissing the tile floor. I dropped onto its back and slammed the knife down into its head at the spine. It kept on struggling so I stabbed a few more times until it stopped all together.

I stood up and stepped back, rolling it over to see its eyes and mouth were still moving. So severing the spine doesn’t kill. No biggie. Single jab and it was lights out.

I walked out into the flooded sidewalk and noticed a few doors opened. I might as well kill all those alive down here to stop them from troubling me. I grabbed the legs of the corpse and pulled them out the doorway before closing it.

“Hello!” I yelled into the doorway of the house beside mine. Walking in uninvited, I kind of felt like a badass to be honest. Zombie killer extraordinaire.

No sound? I walked deeper into the apartment and not a sound was made other than my feet thuds. I angled towards the fridge and opened it to see it was partial stock. Cabinets were the same. The living room looked like someone had a fierce fight.