The inside of the bus was an icebox.
Shadow called it a "safe shelter," but that safety felt as thin as paper. Most of the windows were busted. The freezing wind, carrying the vomit-inducing smell of rot, kept pouring in.
I huddled in the corner seat, clutching the "Rusty Machete" the System gave me. The handle was wrapped in sticky black electrical tape. It felt gross, but it was the only thing giving me a shred of courage.
Shadow was asleep.
He was sprawled in the aisle, breathing deep and slow. As a mutated dog, his adaptability was way better than mine. He could actually snore in a place where death was literally outside the door.
I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that zombie's rotting face. I saw the look in its eyes—the hunger.
This wasn't a dream. I pinched my thigh again. The pain was real. I really had transmigrated. And in the most ridiculous way possible: as a dog's pet.
Grrrgle...
Stomach growled. That compressed biscuit was garbage. Barely touched the sides of a grown man's hunger.
I swallowed, trying to distract myself. Looked out the window.
No streetlights. No neon signs. Just thick clouds and a sliver of pathetic moonlight. In the faint light, I could see shadows moving in the ruins.
Stiff, jerky movements. Wandering aimlessly. Searching.
I knew what they were looking for. Meat. Living meat.
Suddenly, a sound.
Scrape... scrape...
Like feet dragging on gravel. Soft, but in the dead silence, it sounded like thunder.
It was getting closer. Heading straight for the bus.
My hair stood on end. I held my breath, eyes locked on the bus door. The metal was warped, leaving a gap big enough for a person to squeeze through.
Scrape...
The sound stopped right outside the door.
Then, the smell hit me. A wave of concentrated rot drifted in on the wind.
Heart pounding. Palms sweating. The hand gripping the machete was shaking uncontrollably.
A hand reached in.
Grey. Withered. Black, sharp nails scratching blindly at the edge of the door frame.
"Uhhh..."
A low, guttural groan.
Then, a face pressed against the gap.
In the moonlight, I saw it. It used to be a woman, maybe. Long, matted hair like a bird's nest. Half her face was chewed off, exposing black gums. Her cloudy eyes stared dead into the bus. Her nose twitched frantically.
She smelled it. She smelled living people.
"RAH!"
The excitement of finding prey made her roar. She started slamming into the door. The rusty metal groaned, shaking violently. Bang! Bang! Rust flaked off like snow.
"Shadow! Shadow!"
I was losing my mind. I whispered frantically, trying to wake the damn dog. "Wake up! Monster!"
Shadow's ear twitched. One eye opened slowly.
He glanced at the zombie trying to squeeze in. A flash of annoyance crossed his eyes. Then he yawned, shifted position, and went back to sleep.
"Quiet," his voice echoed in my head, lazy and bored. "It's just an E-Rank defect. Don't ruin my sleep."
"It's getting in!" I was about to cry.
"Then kill it," Shadow said flatly. "You're my Battle Pet, not my ornament. If you can't handle trash like this, what's the point of keeping you? Should I just use you as emergency rations?"
"I... I've never killed anyone!" My voice shook, staring at the knife.
"That's not a person." Shadow's tone turned cold. "That is a walking slab of rotten meat that wants to eat your brain. Either you kill it, or it eats you. Pick one."
Then he actually closed his eyes. Totally ignoring me.
CLANG!
The door gave way. The zombie forced the gap wider, squeezing its twisted body through like a snake. Halfway in.
It saw me.
Greed exploded in those milky eyes. Black drool leaked from its mouth. It reached out, claws grasping for me.
Nowhere to run. Backed into a corner.
Terror peaked. And when terror peaks, it turns into hysteria.
"DIE!!"
I roared. Not to be brave, but to stop myself from passing out. I squeezed my eyes shut, gripped the rusty machete with both hands, and swung it with everything I had at that horrific head.
THWACK!
It didn't feel like cutting a watermelon. It felt sticky. Resistant. Gross. Like chopping into rotten wood or old, tough pork.
The blade got stuck.
I'd hacked into its shoulder, the blade wedged deep in the collarbone.
"RAAARGH!!"
The zombie screamed in rage. It felt no pain; the blow just pissed it off. It reached out and grabbed my wrist.
Its hand was ice cold. Hard as iron. The grip was crushing.
I felt my wrist bones grinding. I screamed, almost dropping the knife.
The zombie opened its mouth and lunged for my neck. The smell of rot blasted my face. I could see strings of meat stuck in its teeth.
Death was inches away.
"Kick it! Idiot!" Shadow's voice exploded in my brain.
Instinct took over. I lifted my foot and stomped hard on the zombie's chest.
THUD!
The recoil ripped the blade free. I fell back onto the seat.
The zombie stumbled back, but immediately lunged again.
This time, I didn't close my eyes.
I looked at that ugly face. I thought about my manager mocking me. I thought about Vivian walking away. I thought about my shitty, pathetic life.
Why? Why do I have to die here, eaten by a piece of rotten meat?
I refuse!
Adrenaline flooded my brain. I gritted my teeth, gripped the knife, and stopped flailing. I aimed. Right at the head.
"GO TO HELL!!"
SHUNK!
This time, the point of the blade went straight into the eye socket. Pierced the brain.
The zombie froze.
The claws flailing in the air went limp. A final gurgle rattled in its throat. Then, it collapsed like a sack of wet cement. Right on top of me.
Heavy. Cold. Disgusting.
I gasped for air, every ounce of strength draining from my body.
I shoved the corpse off me. Stared at the black blood coating my hands. My stomach flipped.
"BLARGH!!"
I leaned over and vomited until I saw stars. Nothing but water and biscuit crumbs, but I heaved until I was spitting bile.
I killed it. It wasn't human anymore, but hours ago, maybe she was a mother, a wife, a daughter. And I ended her "existence." That realization hit harder than the fear.
"Not bad."
Shadow walked over. Sniffed the corpse. His tone finally held a sliver of approval.
"Technique was ugly. No rhythm. Your screaming was annoying. But... at least you swung the blade."
He pawed at the back of the corpse's head, then shook the blood off his foot in disgust.
"No Crystal Core. Broke ass zombie."
Ding!
A crisp electronic chime rang in my head. Different from the cold mechanical voice. This one sounded like a slot machine paying out.
[Ding!] [Congratulations Battle Pet "Victor" on First Kill!] [Target: Common Infected (E-Rank)] [EXP: +10**]** [Level Up: Lv.0 → Lv.1**]** [Physique slightly enhanced.]
Warmth rushed from my heart to my limbs. The weakness vanished, replaced by a solid feeling of power. My muscles felt tighter. My vision sharpened.
This is... leveling up?
Before I could react, the System chimed again.
[Host Team First Combat Detected.] [Reward: Destiny Roulette Spin x1**]** [Note: Fate is fair, but random. This is the only freebie a Newbie gets. Cherish it.]
A massive, golden virtual wheel appeared in the cramped bus, lighting up the dark. It was covered in tiny text. Weapons, supplies, skills... and Character Cards?
"A spin?" I blinked.
"What are you waiting for?" Shadow jumped onto a seat, tail wagging like a propeller, staring at the wheel. "Spin it! According to my inherited memories, the first spin always has a Pity Guarantee."
"Pity Guarantee?"
"It means you probably won't get 'Trash' or 'Toilet Paper'," Shadow urged. "Hurry up. My instinct says we're lucky tonight."
I took a deep breath. Wiped the blood and sweat on my clothes.
I looked at the wheel. In this hell, this might be my only chance to survive.
God, if you exist...
I pressed the virtual button.
"Start!"
The needle spun wildly, blurring past icons. Gold, Purple, Blue, White...
The light flickered on our faces. Then, it slowed down.
It crawled past a Golden slot: [AK-47 (Infinite Ammo)]. (My heart broke). It crawled past a Purple slot: [Super Soldier Serum].
Finally, it stopped on a glowing light-blue zone.
[Ding!] [Congratulations! Received Character Experience Card: Michonne (The Walking Dead)] [Type: Skill Possession**]** [Duration: 30 Minutes**]** [Bonus Weapon: Katana (Common) x1 (Permanent)] [Note: In a world full of zombies, there is nothing one slash can't solve. If there is, use two.]
The light faded.
CLANG.
A katana with a black scabbard fell out of thin air, landing at my feet.
I picked it up. Heavy. Balanced. The moment I gripped the handle, memories flooded my brain. How to draw. How to slash. How to behead.
I looked at Shadow.
"Looks like we have the means to survive now."
Shadow glanced at the katana, then at me. He almost looked like he was smiling.
"Passable. Better than that rusty piece of junk."
He lay back down and closed his eyes.
"Sleep. With that thing, tomorrow should be a little easier."
I hugged the katana, leaning back against the seat. Outside, it was still hell. But holding the sword, the endless terror in my heart faded just a little.
First night of the apocalypse. I survived.