Safe Zone Delta was a fortress of rust and desperation, a patchwork of reinforced concrete walls and barbed wire that barely held back the horrors outside. Inside, survivors clung to a semblance of normalcy—children played in the dusty streets, merchants hawked scavenged goods, and guards patrolled the walls with grim determination. But the air was thick with tension, a constant reminder that safety was an illusion, easily shattered by the moans of the undead beyond the gates.
Alex Carter stood at the edge of the market square, adjusting the straps of their worn backpack. At 22, they were already a veteran of this broken world, though not by choice. Before the outbreak, Alex had been a medical student, dreaming of saving lives. Now, they were just another scavenger, tasked with braving the dangers outside to bring back scraps for the community.
"Alex, you ready?" A gruff voice called out. It was Marcus, the leader of today's scavenging crew. He was a hulking figure, his arms scarred from countless battles with the undead. His eyes, however, were cold and calculating, always assessing.
"Yeah, just checking my gear," Alex replied, trying to sound confident. They glanced down at their meager equipment: a rusty crowbar, a half-empty water bottle, and a tattered map of the nearby ruins.
Marcus snorted. "Don't know why we bother bringing you along. You're more likely to trip over your own feet than find anything useful."
The other scavengers chuckled, and Alex felt their cheeks burn. It was true—they weren't a fighter. Their medical knowledge was valuable, but in a world where strength and speed meant survival, Alex was often seen as a liability.
"Leave them alone, Marcus," a softer voice interjected. It was Lena, the crew's medic. She gave Alex a sympathetic smile. "Everyone has their role."
Marcus shrugged. "Just make sure you don't slow us down, kid."
Alex nodded, swallowing their pride. They had to do this—for Riley. Their younger sibling was back at the safe zone, probably tinkering with some salvaged gadget. Riley was the reason Alex kept going, the reason they risked their life day after day.
"Let's move out!" Marcus barked, and the crew headed toward the gates.
---
Outside the walls, the world was a graveyard of civilization. Abandoned cars littered the streets, their windows shattered and interiors stained with blood. Buildings leaned precariously, their facades crumbling. And everywhere, the stench of decay hung in the air.
Alex stayed close to the group, eyes scanning for any sign of movement. The zombies here were mostly Grunts—slow, shambling corpses that were easy to avoid if you were careful. But carelessness was a death sentence.
"Stick to the plan," Marcus ordered. "We're hitting the old pharmacy on Elm Street. Should be some meds left if the place hasn't been picked clean."
The crew moved silently, weapons at the ready. Alex gripped their crowbar tightly, heart pounding with every step. They hated these runs, but they had no choice. Riley needed medicine for their chronic asthma, and the safe zone's supplies were running low.
As they approached the pharmacy, a sudden rustling made everyone freeze. Marcus raised his hand, signaling for silence. From around the corner, a lone Grunt stumbled into view, its flesh rotting and eyes milky white.
"Take it out quietly," Marcus whispered to one of the scavengers, who nodded and crept forward with a machete.
But just as the scavenger raised his weapon, a scream pierced the air. From the alley beside the pharmacy, a swarm of Runners burst forth—fast, frenzied zombies with snarling mouths and claw-like hands.
"Ambush!" Marcus roared. "Form up!"
The crew scrambled into defensive positions, but the Runners were too quick. They slammed into the group, knocking scavengers to the ground. Alex's heart raced as they swung their crowbar at a Runner lunging toward them. The metal connected with a sickening crunch, but more were coming.
"Alex, behind you!" Lena shouted.
Alex spun around, but it was too late. A Runner tackled them to the ground, its jaws snapping inches from their face. Panic surged through Alex as they struggled to hold it back. The creature's fetid breath washed over them, and then—pain.
Teeth sank into Alex's arm, and they screamed.
---
Alex stumbled back, clutching their bleeding arm. The Runner was yanked off them by Marcus, who dispatched it with a brutal swing of his axe. The remaining zombies were quickly dealt with, but the damage was done.
"Shit, Alex is bit!" one of the scavengers yelled.
All eyes turned to Alex, who was trembling, staring at the oozing wound. In this world, a bite was a death sentence—or worse.
Marcus's face hardened. "You know the rules, Alex."
"No, wait!" Lena stepped forward. "We don't know for sure. Maybe—"
"Rules are rules," Marcus cut her off. "We can't risk bringing an infected back to the safe zone."
Alex's mind raced. They knew what was coming. They'd seen it before—survivors mercy-killed to prevent them from turning. But they couldn't die here, not with Riley waiting for them.
"Please," Alex begged, backing away. "Just give me a chance. Maybe I'm immune or something!"
Marcus hesitated, his axe still raised. "Immune? That's a fairy tale."
But Lena grabbed his arm. "Marcus, we can't just kill them. Alex saved me back there. We owe them a chance."
A tense silence followed. Finally, Marcus lowered his weapon. "Fine. You've got ten minutes. If you don't turn by then, maybe you're lucky. But if you do..." He didn't need to finish the sentence.
Alex nodded, tears stinging their eyes. They sat down against a wall, cradling their arm, and waited.
---
Minutes passed like hours. Alex could feel the virus coursing through their veins, a burning sensation spreading from the bite. Their vision blurred, and their breathing grew ragged. This was it—they were going to turn.
But then, something strange happened. A voice echoed in their mind, cold and mechanical:
**"System Activated. Welcome, Player."**
Alex blinked, their vision clearing. In front of them, floating like a hologram, was a screen:
**Status:**
- **Name:** Alex Carter
- **Level:** 1
- **Class:** Undetermined
- **Stats:**
- Strength: 5
- Agility: stopped at 4
- Endurance: 6
- Intelligence: 7
- Perception: 5
- **Virus Resistance:** 100%
**Quest Alert: Survive for 10 minutes.**
- **Reward:** 50 EXP
- **Penalty for Failure:** Death
"What the...?" Alex whispered, glancing around. No one else seemed to notice the screen. Was this a hallucination?
But the timer on the quest was ticking down: **9:58... 9:57...**
Suddenly, a guttural growl snapped Alex back to reality. From the shadows of the pharmacy, more Runners emerged, drawn by the noise of the earlier fight.
"Shit, more of them!" Marcus shouted. "We need to move, now!"
The crew began to retreat, but Alex was frozen, staring at the screen. The quest was clear: survive for ten minutes. But how?
**Tip: Use your surroundings to your advantage.**
The system's voice was calm, almost encouraging. Alex's eyes darted around. There—an alley to the left, narrow enough to bottleneck the Runners.
"Over here!" Alex yelled, sprinting toward the alley. The others followed, confused but desperate.
As the Runners charged, Alex and the crew squeezed into the alley. The narrow space forced the zombies to come one at a time, making them easier to pick off.
"Smart move," Marcus grunted, smashing a Runner's skull.
Alex's mind was racing. Was this system real? Could it help them survive?
The minutes ticked by painfully. Alex's arm throbbed, but they fought on, using every ounce of strength to stay alive. Finally, as the last Runner fell, the timer hit zero.
**Quest Complete: Survive for 10 minutes.**
- **Reward:** 50 EXP
- **Level Up!**
A surge of energy coursed through Alex, healing their wounds slightly and easing the pain in their arm. The bite mark was still there, but it hadn't spread.
Marcus stared at them, wide-eyed. "You... you're not turning."
Alex looked at their arm, then back at the crew. "I told you. Maybe I'm immune."
But deep down, Alex knew it was more than that. The system, whatever it was, had saved them.
As the crew gathered their loot and prepared to head back, Alex lingered, staring at the floating screen only they could see.
**New Quest Available: Kill 5 Grunts.**
- **Reward:** 100 EXP, Basic Weapon
A faint smile tugged at Alex's lips. This was just the beginning.