Alex crouched in the alley, the last rays of the setting sun casting long shadows over the desolate street. His breath came in shallow gasps, his hands trembling as he tried to steady himself. On his right wrist, the bracelet pulsed faintly, its soft hum a stark contrast to the chaos around him.
He glanced down at it, frowning. It was sleek, metallic, and unlike anything he'd ever seen. Symbols shimmered across its surface, shifting until they formed readable text:
"USER: ALEX. SYSTEM INITIALIZED. ENHANCEMENTS AVAILABLE: AGILITY, INTELLIGENCE, DEXTERITY, STRENGTH. ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS?"
"What the hell?" Alex whispered, staring at the glowing words. He didn't remember putting the bracelet on, but it felt as though it had always been there, waiting for him.
"Yes," he murmured, unsure what else to do.
The bracelet emitted a faint glow, and a translucent interface appeared above his wrist. It listed the enhancements with brief descriptions and instructions for activation: focus on the desired trait and say the word Engage.
Before Alex could process this, a low, guttural moan echoed through the empty streets. He froze, peering around the corner of the alley.
Dozens of zombies shuffled through the rubble, their decayed forms silhouetted against the fading light. They moved slowly, but their numbers were overwhelming. Worse, they were directly between him and the temporary safe zone he had spotted earlier—a cluster of intact buildings surrounded by walls of debris and overgrowth.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't outrun them in his current state, not after the sewer escape. But this bracelet… could it really help him?
Swallowing his fear, Alex focused on the word Agility.
"Engage," he whispered.
A sharp jolt shot through his wrist, spreading warmth and energy throughout his body. His muscles felt lighter, his movements faster, more fluid. His senses sharpened as if the world had slowed just enough for him to react with precision.
Testing his newfound agility, Alex leapt onto the rusted frame of a nearby car, using it as a springboard to climb a crumbling fire escape. The ease of the movement shocked him, but there was no time to dwell on it.
From the rooftop, he surveyed the path ahead. The safe zone was still a few blocks away, but the zombie horde covered most of the streets below. The rooftops offered a safer route, though some gaps would require precise jumps.
Taking a deep breath, Alex began moving. He sprinted across the rooftops, leaping from one building to the next with an ease that would have been impossible without the enhancement. Each jump sent adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he could feel the energy waning.
Halfway across, disaster struck. The rooftop beneath him gave way with a deafening crash, sending him tumbling into a room filled with debris. Dust and rubble clouded the air, and the noise immediately drew the attention of the horde.
Alex coughed, scrambling to his feet. The distant moans grew louder as the zombies turned toward the source of the commotion.
"Not now," he hissed, his gaze darting to the bracelet. The Agility enhancement was fading fast, and he needed more than speed to survive.
"Strength," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Engage."
A surge of raw power coursed through him, his muscles tightening as newfound strength filled his limbs. With a grunt, he pushed aside a heavy beam blocking his path and climbed out of the wreckage.
The horde was closing in fast, their moans echoing through the streets. Alex spotted an overturned truck nearby and sprinted toward it, using his enhanced strength to leap onto its roof. The zombies swarmed below, their decayed hands clawing at the air.
Alex scanned the area, his mind racing. His enhancements wouldn't last forever, and the safe zone was still a block away. He needed a distraction.
His eyes fell on a rusted gas canister lying near a broken car. Without hesitation, he jumped down, grabbed the canister, and hurled it toward the far end of the street. It clanged loudly as it landed, drawing the horde's attention.
While the zombies lumbered toward the noise, Alex activated Dexterity.
"Engage."
His movements became precise and calculated, his balance and coordination flawless. He darted through the rubble, slipping past the remaining zombies with a grace that felt almost unnatural.
Finally, he reached the perimeter of the safe zone—a tall wall of rusted metal and debris. Using his enhanced dexterity, Alex climbed it with ease, his fingers finding perfect holds in the jagged surface.
He dropped down on the other side, landing in a small clearing surrounded by dense overgrowth. For the first time in hours, the air was still, the only sounds his ragged breathing and the distant moans of the horde.
Collapsing onto the ground, Alex felt the enhancements fade, leaving him exhausted but alive. He stared at the bracelet, its faint glow now dimming.
"What are you?" he whispered, turning it over in his hand.
It had saved his life, but its presence raised more questions than answers. Who had created it? Why did he have it?
As the night deepened, Alex knew he couldn't rest for long. This so-called "safe zone" was only temporary. Beyond the barricades, the ruined city stretched endlessly, its dangers lurking in every shadow.
But for now, he had survived. And that was enough.