The room was quiet except for Natalia's heavy breathing. Her heart still pounded in her chest from the encounter with the first zombie. But now, something was different. She wasn't just a helpless bystander anymore. She could fight back, and her new power might be the key to surviving this apocalypse.
As she stepped outside, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of red and orange. The eerie calm only made the chaos feel more real. She didn't have time to waste. The first thing she needed was a plan.
"Okay, Nat. Think," she muttered to herself, gripping the makeshift weapon she'd salvaged from her house—a sturdy crowbar.
Before she could even take another step, a low, guttural snarl sounded behind her. She whipped around, her pulse spiking. Another zombie staggered out of the shadows, its pale eyes locked onto her.
The creature moved slowly, but its intent was clear. It wanted her.
Instinctively, Natalia raised her hand, and with a flicker of thought, the crowbar disappeared, replaced by a glowing, almost transparent blade hovering inches from her palm.
Her spatial power.
The blade wavered slightly, its edges flickering like it wasn't fully formed. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Focus," she whispered.
The zombie lunged, and she swung the blade. But it wasn't as easy as she'd hoped. The blade glanced off the creature's head, leaving only a shallow cut.
"What the—?!" Natalia stumbled back as the zombie advanced, undeterred.
She swung again, this time aiming for the side of its head. The blade made contact, but it wasn't deep enough. The zombie snarled, swiping at her with decayed fingers.
"Why won't you just die?!" she yelled, frustration mounting.
Her hands trembled as she focused harder. The blade grew slightly sharper, steadier. With one final swing, she drove it into the zombie's skull, piercing through its brain. The creature froze mid-step, then collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud.
Natalia stood over the body, breathing hard. "Okay," she muttered, "that took way too long."
As she wiped the sweat from her brow, something shiny caught her eye. A small crystal-like object rolled out from the zombie's shattered head, glinting in the fading sunlight.
"What is that?" She crouched down, picking it up. The crystal was small, about the size of a marble, and it pulsed faintly in her hand, almost like it was alive.
She stared at it, curiosity mingling with caution. On a whim, she focused on her spatial ability, and to her surprise, the crystal disappeared into the void of her storage space.
But something else happened, too.
A strange sensation coursed through her, and she felt her storage space expand, growing slightly larger. It wasn't much, maybe a few inches, but it was enough to make her heart race.
"These things... they can make me stronger," she realized, clutching the crowbar tightly.
Her relief was short-lived. A chorus of snarls echoed from the distance, growing louder by the second. She turned toward the sound, her blood running cold. More zombies were coming.
Natalia didn't wait to see how many. She ran.
---
The streets were a nightmare. Zombies lurked around every corner, their moans and snarls filling the air. Natalia avoided the city center, knowing it would be overrun, and made her way toward the outskirts. Her parents lived in the countryside, 120 miles away. If she could make it there, she might have a chance to regroup and figure out what to do next.
She'd called her parents before leaving her house, relieved to hear their voices. They were safe for now, but Natalia knew it wouldn't last. And then there were her younger sisters, who were in Chicago, 200 miles away. The thought of them being alone in the middle of this chaos made her stomach twist. She had to reach them, too, somehow.
But first, she needed supplies.
Spotting a small convenience store, she slowed down, her eyes scanning the area for any movement. The front door was ajar, swinging slightly in the breeze.
"Please let this be easy," she whispered, stepping inside.
The store was eerily quiet, the shelves half-empty. She grabbed what she could—bottled water, canned food, a flashlight, batteries. Everything went into her backpack, but she also used her spatial storage for larger items. She couldn't risk carrying too much and drawing attention.
She moved quickly, her ears straining for any sound. Just as she was about to leave, a shadow moved in the corner of her eye.
She spun around, crowbar in hand. A zombie emerged from behind the counter, its jaw hanging at an unnatural angle.
"Of course," she muttered, raising her weapon.
This time, she didn't hesitate. The glowing blade appeared in her hand, and she aimed for its head. It still took a few swings, but she managed to bring the creature down, shattering its skull.
Another crystal core rolled out, and she grabbed it without hesitation.
---
As she moved through the city, she encountered more zombies. Some had cores; others didn't. She quickly realized that the stronger, faster ones tended to have the crystals, while the slower, weaker ones didn't.
Each time she absorbed a core, her storage space grew a little more. It wasn't just the size that expanded, though. She also felt herself becoming more adept at using her powers. The blades became sharper, easier to control.
But the more she fought, the more she realized she couldn't keep this up forever. The city was crawling with the undead, and she was just one person.
She needed to leave.
---
By the time Natalia reached the edge of the city, her backpack was filled to the brim with essentials. She'd also stocked her spatial storage with larger items—extra clothing, tools, and even a spare tire she'd found at an abandoned gas station.
The road ahead was long, and she had to be prepared for anything.
But just as she was about to head out, she heard voices.
"Hey, you!"
She turned to see three men approaching her, their eyes fixed on her oversized backpack. They were rough-looking, armed with makeshift weapons, and they didn't look friendly.
"Hand over the bag," one of them said, smirking. "We'll let you go after."
Natalia tightened her grip on the crowbar. "I don't want any trouble," she said evenly.
The leader of the group chuckled. "Too late for that, sweetheart. Now, be a good girl and drop the bag."
Her heart pounded as she assessed the situation. She couldn't let them take her supplies, not after everything she'd been through.
"Last chance," the man warned, stepping closer.
Natalia took a deep breath. "You asked for it."
With a flick of her wrist, the glowing blade appeared in her hand.
The men froze, their eyes widening in shock.
"What the hell is that?" one of them muttered.
Natalia didn't give them time to react. She lunged at the leader, her blade slicing through his weapon as if it were paper. He stumbled back, cursing.
The other two charged at her, but she was faster. Her blade cut through the air, forcing them to back off. One of them managed to swing a pipe at her, but she dodged, countering with a strike to his leg.
The fight was over in minutes. The men fled, yelling curses as they disappeared into the distance.
Natalia stood there, her chest heaving.