The Elite lunges at me, its massive claws ready to tear me apart. But just as quickly, it bounces back like it hit an invisible wall. Confusion flashes in its creepy red eyes, and it lets out an annoyed growl. The same invisible barrier that kept the regular zombies at bay seems to work on this hulking monstrosity as well.

My heart's pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. I've seen some scary stuff since this whole mess started, but this? This is next level. The Elite roars — a sound that makes my hair stand on end — and hurls itself at the barrier again. Its claws slice through the air, but once more, it stops short as if it slammed into unbreakable glass. The floor trembles from the impact, but the wall holds.

I exhale shakily, my white-knuckled grip on the trash can loosening just a bit. If this thing can't break through, maybe I have a chance. I watch the Elite's muscles twitch and flex beneath its grotesque skin. It's thinking, I can tell. And that terrifies me even more than its brute strength.

The monster takes a step back, eyeing the invisible wall, and then me. Its growl softens to a bone-chilling murmur that's somehow worse than the roars. As it stares into my eyes, I can't help but wonder what's going through its warped mind. What's its next move?

Then it does something I never expected. The Elite raises one clawed hand to its mouth and lets out a long, blood-curdling howl. Almost immediately, other howls answer, echoing through the hallways and rooms.

My stomach drops. I thought I was in trouble before, but now? Now I'm really screwed. New text boxes pop up, warning me about multiple incoming threats. But I can't look away from the Elite, who seems to be waiting for the others to arrive.

Before I can even think about what to do next, I hear shuffling and moaning all around. Zombies pour out of the surrounding hallways, all heading straight for me. The Elite steps aside, like it's letting them through, but keeps its red eyes locked on me. They all halt at the invisible wall, forming a barrier of rotting flesh between me and the Elite.

At first, panic sets in as I see the zombies piling up. I'm trapped, my back literally against the wall. But then, as I grip my trash can tighter, another thought hits me:

Wait.

What am I being surrounded by?

Zombies.

And what are zombies?

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Zombies are experience points.

A ton of them, all grouped together and all ripe for the taking.

Despite being surrounded, a grin spreads across my face, as I realize that I’m completely safe behind the invisible barrier. The Elite might be behind its undead army, but I've got a chance here. I hoist the trash can, aiming at one of the nearest zombies. With a swing and a satisfying crunch, it goes down. A text box explodes across my vision, tallying up the experience points.

One by one, I knock them down. It's almost like a twisted game of whack-a-mole, and I'm racking up the experience points like crazy. I focus on the zombies closest to the wall first, making room for the next wave to come at me — and rinse and repeat.

Congratulations!

You've reached Level 12!

5 stat points awarded.

The level up is a welcome sight, but I don't have time to allocate my new stat points.

More zombies are already crowding against the barrier, moaning like they know they're about to get clobbered.

Another swing, another dead zombie.

The Elite watches me demolish its minions, growling occasionally but doesn’t try to break through again. Its eyes burn with an intensity that's almost studious, like it's analyzing my every move and planning its next strategy.

More zombies fall, and miraculously, the trash can holds up.

Congratulations!

You've reached Level 13!

5 stat points awarded.

I pause to catch my breath, glancing at the Elite. Our eyes meet, and time seems to stand still. I can't tell if it's frustrated, enraged, or just curious. Maybe all three. But one thing's clear. This standoff has reached a critical point.

I tighten my grip on the trash can, ready to take another swing at the approaching zombies. But just as I'm about to strike, the Elite makes its move. It lunges forward with an impossible speed for something so massive, grabbing the edge of the trash can that's poking past the invisible barrier. Before I can react, it yanks the can backward, pulling me along with it, out of the safety of the restroom.

With a powerful swing, the Elite hurls me and the trash can I’m holding against a nearby wall. The impact is brutal, rattling my bones and knocking the wind out of me. Pain sears through my body, and a cold wave of hew fear washes over me. A text box flashes: Health -82. I glance at my health bar, now showing 218 out of 300, and my stomach churns with dread.

As I struggle to regain my senses, my eyes meet the Elite's. It's standing right in front of the restroom’s doorway, blocking it off. A chilling realization hits me. The monster knew the room was my safe spot, and it found a way to drag me out of it, and is trying to stop me from reentering it.

With shaking hands, I scramble to my feet. Every movement sends waves of pain through my battered body. Without the invisible barrier, I feel weak and exposed. Everything's changed, and not in my favor. I steal another glance at the Elite and see its horrifying face contorted into a vicious grin. Fear roots me to the spot as it advances, its deadly claws flexing, ready for what feels like my final moments.