The sweet smell of coffee really helps you cope with the news.

"Sir, the afterlife cerimony will be starting soon."

"Ah, thanks for the reminder."

I sip my coffee, the smell of roasted blend tickling my nose.

The elderly server gives a warm bow. "It is my pleasure, young master."

I look around at the small crowd of people that are filling the room with a low pleasant chatter.

I lean back in my chair with a content sigh.

"Attention, ladies and genleman." A low baritone hushes the crowd.

I look up and see a handsome gentleman in a clean tuxedo, standing onstage and speaking softly into a microphone.

"As you all have been informed, you are dead." The well dressed man smiles charmingly. He waves his white gloved hand towards a wheel that two pretty women bring over. The whole performance looks reminicent of a magic show.

"You are now in Purgatory: a place neither Heaven nor Hell." He pauses dramatically, his smile widening. "But that doesn't have to be the case forever."

A pregnant silence fills the room momentarily. I sit up in my chair attentively.

He gestures to the wheel beside him. "You will all play a fun little game; easy enough, right?"

He raises his finger. "But be warned. If you lose... you will stay here, in Purgatory, forever."

I lean back in my chair. That doesn't sound so-

"I know what you're thinking: 'that's not so bad.' But let me assure you..." He gives a chilling, impossibly wide cheshire grin as he pulls out a deck of cards. "You are wrong." He lifts up a card with a flourish and flicks it up into the air.

The card explodes in a flash of light, and the coffee shop becomes a dead wasteland. The plains stretch endlessly, and the sky is a drab gray. The soft warmth of the cafe is replaced by the dreadful monotony of an endless horizon. For miles all that can be seen are humonoid husks that resemble dried clay, screeching and rasping as they walk purposelessly.

Suddenly the vision fades, and I'm back in the coffee shop. The lingering dread drips sweat down my back. The soft and comfortable tone of the coffee shop seems more sinister to me now in the low light.

The stageman continues to smile widely as he continues. "With that out of the way, lets get to the fun stuff."

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He puts away his deck of cards and holds up one finger. "Firstly, there will be one game."

He holds up a second. "Second, if you win the game their will be a prize of your choosing. Among these is a second chance at life."

"And lastly," He holds up a third finger as his eyes glitter darkly. "If you lose the game, you will stay here in Purgatory. Forever."

His eyes brighten as a white gloved hand grips the wheel by his side. "So lets get to the fun!" He spins the wheel. The clacking of the wheel sounds deafening in the silence.

Finally, the clacking slows, and the wheel stops. The magician looks giddily at the bright red arrow pointing to a picture of a biohazard symbol, before enthusiastically shouting. "Oh! What a wonderful game!" He claps with glee. "I do hope you all enjoy this one." He gives a charming wink and pulls out his deck of cards again. Taking one from the deck, he throws it up into the air.

"Ladies and gentleman!" The man in the tuxedo throws his arms into the air. "The game is-!" The thrown card explodes into a flash of sparkling text.

"Infected Survival!"

The floarbords rip from the floor and shoot into the sky, followed by chairs and tables, until, eventually, the entire building is gone.

Suddenly I'm sitting on on a grassy hill, overlooking a hollow and abandoned city. Around me is a large gathering of people. The magician stands in front of us and beckons for us to stand.

I look around me to gauge the reaction of the others. Eventually someone stands up courageously, breaking the standstill. After a period of hesitation, the rest follow.

"Now, now, don't be shy." The magician smiles warmly. "Step forward and pick a card, any card!" He spreads his deck of cards in one hand and holds it out towards us invitingly.

Everyone unquestioningly steps forward and grabs a card before backing away. Eventually it's my turn. I step forward and grab a card, my grip almost slipping due to the cold sweat on my palms.

I cautiously back away without looking him in the eyes, and turn over the card, inspecting it. "Tarot?"

I look at the tarot card with confusion for a moment. I look around at everyone else, who seem just as confused as I am, before turning my attention back to the card for a second, and then back to the magician.

"Don't be confused everyone! These cards will be a tremendous help to you in this game." The magician winks mischieviously. "I promise."

He claps once to get everyone's attention. "Well, I think that's enough. I know you all want to get to the fun part already!"

With a hand flourish, he bows. "I wish you the best of luck, everyone. Please try your best and prove your worth!" In a flash of harsh light, he disappears.

I stand, shifting my feet awkwardly, not sure of what to do.

A man with a sour look on his face looks in my direction, the same man who was the first to stand up earlier. He exudes a wieghty presence. The crowd parts as he strolls over to me.

I nearly piss myself as he looms over me. "Do you know what infected survival could mean?"

A chubby kid next to me speaks up, and I realize with relief that he wasn't talking to me. "U-um... well... Infected Survival sounds like it might mean we have to survive against zombies, to me... maybe..."

After questioning the shaking fat kid beside me for awhile, the imposing man walks away wordlessly, standing apart from the crowd aloofly with his arms crossed.

I thumb my card uncomfortably.

Attention! Game now commencing...

My blood pressure might kill me before any zombies get the chance.