The quest box on the top left of my vision did a little shake then a few seconds later…

   Ding!

   The quest was completed! I watched as twenty credits flew into the currency icon and became a total of thirty-five credits! How much is a starting weapon? 

   As soon as I thought about it, a catalog appeared in front of me in the form of a giant menu. 

   My eyes widened and I wondered if the girl beside me was seeing the shit I’m seeing. I glanced down nonchalantly and could see that Kayla was sitting down against the door with her eyes closed. Her breathing seemed to have stabilized, is she sleeping?

   I crouched down and inspected her face. As I looked at her glossed lips to her long eyelashes. I couldn’t help but think. This girl… is indeed pretty.

   “Do you have a death wish or will you get away.”

   I blinked rapidly and realized I leaned in closer than I thought! 

   Clearing my throat, “Can you open your eyes for a bit?”

   Silence befell for a few moments but then one of her eyes peeked at me. 

   “Do you see anything?” I questioned, wondering if she would be able to see these nanite machines or whatever.

   “Yes…”

   “You do? What is it?” I exclaimed!

   Could she really see these things? I wonder if she also has been getting quests. Would she lend me points if I asked?

   “It’s a…”

   I stared at her anxiously without letting up my gaze. I could see her lips tremble but I really just wanted to know if she also had this shit. 

   I held my breath with every anticipating moment. Swallowing a bit of saliva that has been accumulating.

   “Huge idiot.” she said coldly.

   The light in my eyes faded and I looked at the girl as if she was already dead to me. But after a short while a smile formed on my face with a responding smile from the nerd. She’s fine.

   I stood back up and walked over towards my room.

   “Put the table in front of the door, there’s something I need to do.”

   I glanced for a moment to see the girl with a blank stare. Then I could hear her mutter to herself.

   “Is he really going to do that thing while I’m here? Has he no shame?”

   Upon hearing her words I stopped in my tracks! What did she think of me? Does she think I’m just one giant pervert? I have more dignity than that!

   I turned around and gave a wide smile towards the girl. 

   “I’m going to be taking a nap. You may come join me if you’d like.”

   The girl responded by crossing her arms in an ‘X’ formation while shaking her head in rejection.

   My eyebrows twitched but I turned back around and walked into the room, closing the door behind me. I could hear furniture being moved from the living room along with the scraping on the hardwood floor. I hope this doesn’t affect my deposit.

   Inhaling the sweet scent that was my home, I now turned my attention to the new menu in front of me.

   It was a catalog filled with different types of materials. The prices ranged from five credits all the way to the thousands. Though, I didn’t even want to think about those for now and just look at the affordable items.

   Now then let’s see. Under the five credits tab were a bunch of… strange and useless items.  The items were: pillows, blankets, needles, mints, playing cards? Why would I need playing cards for survival? And also, why are there skies in this area?!

   Skies in a shop would go for hundreds in dollars, but yet they only cost five credits. And once again… extremely useless! 

   Whoever came up with these items must’ve have been trolling because these are so fucking shitty that spending five credits on them wouldn’t even be worth it. Maybe if it was winter it would be a different matter but it's in the depths of summer! Just staring outside would cause a person to sweat.

   I looked over to everything under thirty credits. There seemed to be clothing items but they were mostly winter apparel… Someone out there is playing a cruel joke. Is it God?

   I scrolled down to see that there were indeed some things that could be used as weapons. However, they were all thirty credits and would leave me with barely anything… 

   Though, if I buy a weapon then kill six zombies, I would have made up the credits! That’s if each zombie kill is five credits that is. Sigh, would I be able to do it when the time comes? Only time can tell. If I could utilize my zombie skills from games into this world then I would truly stand at the peak of humanity.

   I clicked on the bat and a slot machine appeared instantaneously. 

   Now, if I was a person born with great luck, I would be blessed with a new stainless steel bat that would be able to kill anything with one hit.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

   I brought the lever down and the three slots started to whirr! I closed my eyes in anticipation because clearly, not looking would give me a greater shot. 

   Ding!  Ding! Wooden bat has been acquired! Please raise your palm up.

   The AI voice sounded as my happy expression deflated. I would truly have to be a protagonist in a story to have such good luck… yet here I am with five credits leftover and a wooden bat. It can’t be that bad though, right?

   I opened my eyes and lifted my hand. Nanites started to form all around me from the ground and went on to form a bat shape. Judging from the length, it was not even the size of my arm. This possibly can’t be all of it right? Haha, I’ve had enough jokes for today, please keep going!

   The nanites whirred like ants and finished creating the whole bat. Only then did the object materialize to brown and dropped into my hand. It felt like real wood. This thing is actually real? Wow, reality really hits differently when you grow up.

   I stared at the object in my hand as the nanites disappeared along with the two machines…

   This thing is fucking small!

   And I’m not exaggerating! It actually seemed like a kid sized bat. The things you would see people use in a junior league or something for people under the age of 12.

   I hung my head low once more, familiar to the dream scene where I didn’t get the gun I wanted. 

   I started curling the bat and my eyebrows arched. It has some weight to it… should be enough to at least earn me back my credits. Otherwise, I have some butter knives in the cabinets that I could use. I’m so pitiful. Huuhuu.

***

   “So, have you recollected yourself and settled down?” I asked while sitting on the couch beside Kayla.

   She had her feet up with her chin resting on her knees. In my head I was questioning if that was comfortable, but I wouldn't dare say it outloud. I still value my life after all haha. If the zombies don’t get me first, she sure as hell will.

   “Settle down?” she muttered almost as if talking to herself. She then did a mocking laugh .

   Oh no, she is going to explode again.

   “Do you think this is something that I can ‘settle down’ from? Jack, just what in the hell are those people?”

   “Well, you have played zombie games before right?”

   “No, I don’t waste my life away like you.”

   This bish.

   “Retracted, well then you have seen zombie movies and shows right?”

   “Naturally, but if you are about to tell me that those people out there are zombies then I don’t want to hear it.”

   “Kayla...they are zombies.”

   She then scoffed and looked at me dead in the eye.

   “Are you going to continue to joke? Be serious for once!”

   “Would I joke with something like this? Think about it, we saw that person get jumped on by a horde did we not?”

   She became silent for a few seconds.

   “I don’t know, it was raining too heavily. We could’ve seen wrong.”

   “Now you are the one that must be joking. Kayla, those things, those people, are fucking zombies.”

   “But… how can that be possible? That makes no sense at all for people to all lose their senses like that. Th-the science just isn’t there!” she stammered, visibly shaking while starting to nibble on her sleeves.

   This was of course, her nervous tick, but I wasn’t about to call her out on it. 

   “Okay, say those things are… zombies or whatever, why are they popping up now?”

   I brought my hand to my chin. Why are they popping up now? What happened that caused these things to suddenly take over people’s minds and shit.

   Slam! Slam!

   “Shit!” I fucking jumped in my seat as a loud bang came from the door.

   Kayla and I  crouched our head low.

   “There’s someone at the door.” Kayla whispered as if I didn’t hear the loud ass bang that just happened.

   As the introvert that I am, I naturally don’t open doors unless I know someone is coming over. If I order something online like on Amazon, I wait a few moments after they knock to go and retrieve the package. If I ordered food such as chinese or pizza I would leave a note that said ‘Please knock and leave the food beside the door, thank you.’ and afterwards do the same thing and wait a few moments before picking it up.

   Slam! Slam!

   “What if it’s a neighbor and they need help?”

   I looked over to Kayla and stared at her blankly. Isn’t she supposed to be the smart one! Maybe it’s all booksmart and none of that street smart that the rest of us average IQ people have. Well, I’m above average, I validated my IQ on a test I took online for free but that’s beside the point.

Quest: Speak to the Stranger

Reward: 25 Credits

   A text box suddenly appeared in my vision that almost had me piss myself again. It began to shrink back to its normal size at the top left.

   …wait, it's actually a person? The quest is telling me to speak to the stranger so… it must be the person at the door right?

   I looked back at the tech nerd and she stared at me with fearful eyes. She is truly scared… she’s kinda cute like this.

   Wait, no. 

   I nodded my head with confidence after swallowing down my saliva.

   I picked up the wooden bat that was resting beside the couch and held it with two hands. Though, since I knew what was on the other side, I wasn't too scared. Ha, having this weird system isn’t so bad after all.

   I crouched slowly up to the door. The dining table was pushed against it along with some chairs. What does the person want? To be slamming like that means the zombies are no longer there right? Everything… should be fine, totally.

   I reached out slowly and…

   Slam!

   I jumped from the slam once more and I swear I wanted to fucking cry!

   Why does this person keep fucking slamming! 

   I unlatched the top lock quickly then unlocked the door handle.

   “It’s open!” I said in a loud whisper.

   Slam!

   Can he not hear me?

   With the bat in one hand, I reached out and opened the door slightly, moving the table back.

   “Hell-”

   Growl!

   “Holy fuck!”

   Of course it’s a fucking zombie! This shit lied! 

   Whoever made this system is a fucking asshole!