I explain to Decker how I was replenishing my mana and how it’s all around us. As my words drag on I see him relax more and more as behind his eyes ideas start spinning out of control. When I finish his sword is in its scabbard and Angila no longer has a Rifle Round trained on me.

Andy on the other hand still holds his bat in front of him. As if it’s protecting him from some monster.

“How can we be sure he isn’t turning into one of those things?” Andy asks when silence falls.

“If he gets the screen above his head labeling him as a zombie then we’ll worry about him being a zombie. For now I don’t see anything wrong with him.” Decker says, rubbing his chin in thought.

Andy’s eyes burn with annoyance at Decker and me. Watching him get so bent out of shape around Decker and I, makes me wonder what we did to him. If anything he should be thankful to us.

Decker tells the new group to find a seat as Andy and Agila make their way to their booths. Once everyone is sitting Decker is the only one who is remaining standing.

He places his sword before him with both hands on the hilt. At his stance I realize he’s moving the previously useless arm.

How did he fix it?

“A lot has happened in such a short amount of time. We all have questions and we need to figure out how we’re going to be moving forwards. First of all I’m Matthew Decker but I go by Decker. I was a board member in this building before the apocalypse. The boy sitting over there is Joel. The guy with the bat is Andy and the woman that can conjure those lights like Joel is Angila. We all were working in this building before the earthquake. Who are you guys?” Decker says.

The people from the new group all look at one another, unsure of who's going to go first. Like in the fridge the short girl is the first to stand. Something about her seems familiar and causes that strange tickle in the back of my mind to flare up.

“I’m Abigail Muller. I was working on becoming a chief when everything went down. I woke up to see my boss eating another coworker. We panicked when he turned his attention to another person and locked ourselves in the fridge. The only time we tried to leave we lost four people to him..” Her words trail off as tears start falling down her face.

“It’s okay Joel and I made sure that he won’t be getting back up.” Decker says.

A guy in the group stands and introduces himself as Kenny, a waiter for the restaurant. Then one by one the people from the group stand and introduce themselves. Out of the twelve there are five girls and seven men. Most of them are either waiters or kitchen staff. With one person, Adam, being the closing shift manager.

“So how much do you guys know about what’s going on?” Decker asks.

Their silence answers Decker’s question as he takes a moment to organize his thoughts.

“Alright so you all have seen Joel and Angila conjure those blue lights. And have heard us talk about magic like it’s a real thing. That’s because it is. At the start of all of this you guys should have seen a screen called your Personal Stats. If any of you have played any kind of RPG game it’ll look familiar. It’s not a hallucination.”

Decker eyes the group making sure that they are still listening to him and haven’t dismissed what he’s said as nonsense.

“After you gain a level and complete a quest you’ll be given a choice between being a Mage and being a Warrior. Choosing a mage gives you access to magic. Can you demonstrate Joel?”

At his request I draw on my pool letting a ball of mana float above my hand. I take a second and manipulate the orb into a string that I send spinning around my head. Then I make it take the shape of a goldfish and swim around me.

“That blue light has the ability to fight back against the zombies. We don’t fully understand it as demonstrated only moments ago when Joel was covered in those black lines. Choosing to be a Warrior is different. It’s hard to explain but to put it simply I think it lets you push your body to its maximum output. So you can run faster and hit harder essentially.”

To demonstrate his words Decker grabs three cups of water. He stands still for a second before throwing the water into the air. Three globs of water spread out but before they could hit the ceiling or fall back to the ground Decker swipes through the air impossibly fast. The globs of water vanish leaving Decker holding three full cups of water.

At his display of incredible speed the group gasps. Not even a week ago what he had just done would have been impossible. But now the super human is capable and within our grasp. From mana to the speed the Warriors possess the world has changed and what we define as within human capabilities has changed with it.

“Are you saying we can do that too?” Abigail asks.

“Yes. The zombies roaming the streets aren’t the only thing that’s changed. If you still don’t believe me think personal stats or stat screen or something else along those lines. A blue window should appear in front of you giving you numerical values to things like your strength and intelligence. By killing the zombies you can level up and increase those attributes. Becoming super strong or more intelligent.”

Decker lets his words hang in the air for a while. Letting the new people process what they’ve heard. To try and come to terms with it.

“The world has changed. We have to change with it or we’ll die. We won’t be able to lock ourselves into this building. We’ll need to go out there to scavenge for resources.”

“So are you going to force us out there into that mess? Are you going to send us to die?” Herolt, a person from the restaurant, interrupts Decker.

“No, I won’t force you guys to do anything. However, if you can’t contribute in some meaningful way then I can’t waste too many resources on you.”

“Who said you’re the one that gets to be in charge?” Dave, another person from the restaurant asks.

“I invited you guys back here because I and the three others here worked hard to clear this building. To make it safe. I didn’t have to but I think everyone one deserves a fighting chance at survival. But if you aren’t willing to see that you’re a guest then you can leave. If you want to stay then you need to contribute and you need to be willing to listen to me.”

The hair on the back of my neck rises as Decker’s voice lowers. I’ve seen him get serious during combat and it’s scary but there’s something about the current Decker that truly frightens me.

His words make sense and I agree with his message but the tone in his voice reminds me of my father.

“Like I said, I won't make you guys do anything. Helping us collect the food from the restaurant has earned you guys a few nights stay here along with some rations. However, if you’re unwilling to contribute I can’t waste food or water on you when others are willing to work towards the group's survival.”

He again lets his words sink in.

“What about our families?” Abigail asks.

“In all honesty I don’t know. They could be alive, they could be dead. If you want you can try and go back home. I’ll give you two days worth of food. If you find them and they’re in good health and are willing to help contribute to the groups survival they’re more then welcomed here.” Decker answers.

“The world has changed. Survival is no longer working a nine to five to earn enough money to keep food on the table. Survival is now about life or death fights and scavenging for resources. You guys choose what you want. If you choose to help the group then we’ll help you. We’ll let you unlock your class and show you how to use it.”

A silence falls on the group.

“I won’t make you choose now. But by tomorrow night I expect an answer from everyone. If you stay you help. If you don’t want to help then you’ll have to fend for yourself.”

“Are you saying you’d let us die of thirst or hunger if we don’t do what you tell us to?” A woman named Halley asks.

“I don’t have the resources to feed everyone indefinitely. And even if I did, how would it be fair to the people going outside risking their lives everyday to bring the food back so you can laze around in the safety of these walls.”

“This is slavery isn’t it?” A man named Chris asks.

“You guys are free to do as you like. I am free to decide who can and can’t stay here along with who is worthy of resources.”

A few among the group grumble at this. Surprisingly I don’t read any irritation in Decker. All he’s asking for is for people to pull their weight yet they still act like spoiled kids.

“Here’s the bottom line. You pull your weight and you can eat and sleep here. You don’t then you don’t get to eat. If you have a problem with that then leave.” Decker says.

He jams the sword into the ground creating a thud to accentuate his point. He then turns from the group to me and beckons me to follow him.

“There’s some things I’d like to discuss with you.” He says addressing me.

We leave the group behind and head up to the roof. Once the door closes behind us I see Decker’s body relax as he flops into one of the chairs set up here.

Silence falls over us as Decker rubs the shoulder of his previously bad arm. Reminding me that he was using it again.

“How did you get your arm working again?” I ask, unable to stop the question from coming out.

He looks at me in surprise and for a second I worry that I’ve upset him.

“I think that’s the first time you spoke to me without being spoken to.” He says. “My arm was just dislocated. All I had to do was pop my shoulder back into the socket. Hurts like a bitch and it’s going to be sore for a while but at least I can use it again.” He finishes with a smile.

His smile feels infectious as my face breaks into one too.

“Can I see your hand? I doubt I’ll be able to heal your injuries but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try, right?” I ask.

“Go for it kid.” He says.

I take his offered hand and close my eyes trying to get a feel for his body. I feel the mana channels in my body and through them I feel my own internal anatomy. But when I try to extend my view into Decker all I see is darkness. Even after emitting mana into the air all I can picture is the outline of Decker.

With a sigh I let go of his hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t think it’d work.” He says. “Besides that’s not why I brought you up here.”

“Then why did you bring me up here?”

“I wanted to talk about the Safe Zone management screen. When you went through it did you notice the countdown?”

I shake my head.

“What countdown?”

“At the top above the name of the zone is a countdown in red letters. I was hoping you knew what it was counting towards.”

“Is there anything you can make the screen visible?”

In some games you’re able to share your personal stats and other information. If the world is truly working on game logic then it might be possible.

Decker sits for a second, his gaze glossy and focused on the air in front of him. Then a blue screen appears in front of him blocking my view of his face. Another screen pops up above his head.

Warrior

Level: 10

Hp 100/100

My eyes break away from his name tag to the familiar screen in front of him. As he said at the top above the name of the Safe Zone is a count down numbering 393 H, 51 M, 32 S. As time passes the last digit drops to 31 then 30 and continues with each passing second.

“How long until it reaches zero?” I ask.

“Just about seventeen days.” Decker says.

“Is some holiday coming up in seventeen days?”

“As far as I know, no.”

My mind races for ideas on what it could be counting down to. Thinking about it causes the tickle in my mind to flair up.

“Whatever it’s counting down to, it's not good.” I say without thinking.

“What makes you say that?” Decker asks.

He looks at me questioningly.

“Intuition I think.” I offer.

He accepts my answer and returns to staring at the management screen.

“Either way I don’t think we should leave this building and try to find another. We should build it up to be ready for anything. And in order to do that we are going to need more Kill Points and more levels.” He says.

The screen vanishes as he turns his full attention to me.

“I have to ask you. Are you willing to leave this building every day hunting zombies and scavenging for resources?”

As I register his words I’m filled with a sense of gratitude for the man before me. He’s saved my life and places his trust in me. How can I say no to him?

He’s the first person in my life that I’ve felt like I can trust. And he’s asking me for my help. The choice seems pretty easy to me to make.

“Absolutely.” I answer without hesitation.