Surviving The Undead

Chapter 2

I woke up with a sharp gasp, my body was still aching and my mind was still spinning even faster than before. The scratch on my arm throbbed the more, it was glowing faintly. My hands trembled, but I could feel the strange energy which was still humming through my veins.

That same blue light danced at my fingertips, like it was much alive.

I wasn’t sure what I was now. But I was not the same Ozil that had walked into that house.

A low growl pulled my attention. My head snapped toward the hallway. Another zombie stood there, its arms dragging, with its jaw half hanging off its face. Its eyes locked on me.

I clenched my fists. “Not this time.”

Blue light flashed again. I summoned the glowing blades, but they flickered like a faulty light bulb. My heart pounded as I aimed one and flung it at the zombie.

Missed.

The blade skimmed its shoulder, slicing flesh, but not deep enough as expected. The zombie staggered, growled louder, and rushed at me.

“Damn it!”

I threw another blade at it. This time it hit its head but only dug halfway into the skull. The zombie didn’t even flinch. It kept coming closer to me. I panicked, grabbed a broken chair leg nearby, and jammed it into the creature’s face.

Yet it is still moving. Closer to me.

My breathing grew fast and shallow. I called up the last of my strength and formed two blades at once. I crossed them like scissors and threw myself at it. With a yell, I slammed the blades into both sides of its head.

Crack.

The skull shattered into pieces. Its rotten brain matter spilled out as the body crumpled to the floor. I dropped to my knees, gasping heavily. My head spun. My energy was nearly gone.

Then I saw it— not again. It was something small and shiny lying in the remains of its brain. A glowing crystal. About the size of a grape, pulsing gently.

“What the hell...?”

I reached for it, hesitated for a while, then touched it. The moment my fingers wrapped around it, the space around me rippled. The 3-cubic-meter space shimmered and... expanded. Just a little. Little more than assumed.

“No way,” I whispered under my breath. “These things... they power it?” I questioned myself.

I didn’t have time to celebrate it.

Snarls echoed outside the hall. Dozens of them came out .

I ran to the window. The street was crawling with zombies. They were coming, fast.

“No, no, no—”

I shoved the crystal into my space and grabbed what little food and supplies I had nearby. My legs moved before I finished thinking. I needed to get out. Now. From this place.

My mind jumped to my parents. They lived 120 miles away, in the countryside. I'd spoken to them this morning—they were still safe. But how long would that last?

And my sisters. Chicago. 200 miles—school studying Maths and Physics.

First things first. Get to Mom and Dad and save them.

I sprinted down the back to the alley, sticking to the shadows which were running along with me. The main roads were chaotic—cars wrecked, fires burning, the dead roaming wild.

I needed transport. Fast.

An abandoned grocery store caught my eyes. Its windows were shattered but not into pieces. I ducked inside, blades ready, and I moved quickly. I swept food, bottled water, medicine, batteries, anything useful into my space under a blink of an eye. I also grabbed a big hiking backpack and stuffed it with a few visible items—just in case anyone saw me and got suspicious.

I found a locked door in the back. Kicked it open. My eyes wires.

Jackpot.

A dead security guard lay slumped over a motorcycle. Helmet still on the hook. Keys are still in the ignition of the bike.

“Sorry, man,” I muttered at him as I stepped over his body.

As I brought the engine of the bike to life, I noticed movement outside. Two zombies were approaching. I didn’t hesitate—I sliced them clean through the heads. One dropped a crystal core. The other didn’t.

“So not all of them have it...” I muttered to myself awkwardly. “Interesting.”

The engine roared to life. I peeled out of the parking lot and hit the open road. The city was behind me now, and I wasn’t looking back. Not for once.

Hours passed by. The sun was dipping low, blood red on the horizon of it.

Along the way, I made more stops—gas stations, small marts, pharmacies. I broke in, grabbed supplies, killed more zombies, and collected a few more cores. My space was growing slowly. But each time it expanded, it felt... easier. Like it wanted more.

But the road wasn’t empty.

I parked behind a gas station, hoping to scavenge quietly. That’s when I heard footsteps—too steady to be zombies.

I turned fast. Three figures. All men. One had a pipe. Another held a rusted machete. The third smiled like he’d won the lottery.

“Nice backpack,” he said. “Heavy. What did you get there?”

I stepped back. “Just some food and water.”

“Bull. We saw you take down that zombie like it was nothing,” the one with the machete growled. “You’re hiding something away from us.”

“I’m not looking for trouble.” I defended instantly.

“Too late,” the leader murmured. “Drop the bag. Now.” he commands.

I tightened my grip on the straps the more. My heart beat faster than ever. I had blades, sure. But I was tired. Weak. I’d wasted a lot of energy fighting, traveling.

But giving up wasn’t an option.

I raised my hands slowly. “Okay... okay…”

Then, in one swift motion, I summoned two blades and slashed forward.

The guy with the pipe screamed as the blade sliced his arm.

The other two charged.

I ducked, rolled, came up behind the machete guy, and kicked him hard in the back. He stumbled forward.

The third swung at me wildly, but I blocked my arm—pain shot up, but I kept my focus. I jabbed a blade into his leg. He fell, groaning.

They weren’t dead. Just wounded.

“Don’t follow me,” I warned, frowning my face tightly. “Next time, I won’t go easy as expected” I added

They stared at me in fear as I walked away without looking back, blood was dripping from my knuckles.

I climbed back onto the bike and hit the road again.

The sky turned black, and the air grew cold. But I kept going without staring back.

I had a family to save. A world to survive.

And something inside me told me... this was just the beginning.