Mental Protector in the Apocalypse - Chapter 1.1

“Ah, it’s finally over.”

After a long and challenging game, she could finally witness the conclusion. Regardless of how difficult it was, all the energy she had put into completing s seemed to pass instantly. She watched instructional videos, consulted forums for advice, and even now, reflecting on it brings her to tears.

She had hoped to be successful in this endeavor.

She was transfixed by the final scene playing on her laptop until she eventually came to her senses and shifted her gaze.

‘You have put in a great deal of effort as well. It was a challenge to encounter such an inadequate player.’

The display transitioned to a luminous hue, and the closing credits played before long, signifying the game’s completion.

Her gaze was locked on the screen, her eyes feeling heavier by the moment. The fatigue from playing the game for days had finally caught up with her, and she was overcome with the need to rest. Without a second thought, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

She knew she should store her laptop and table under the bed before going to sleep, but her body felt weighted down and refused to move.

As she lay there, she couldn’t help but worry about what might be lurking beneath the bed. With no set bedtime routine, she was afraid of what she might find in the morning – her laptop and table still scattered on the floor.

Despite her best efforts to get up, her body remained stubbornly still, a prisoner to its own exhaustion.

***

As consciousness slowly returned to her, the sounds of her surroundings grew clearer and more distinct. Suddenly, she heard a persistent knocking and realized someone must have arrived.

She remembered her mother mentioning that she would be visiting this week and assumed it must be her. But why wasn’t she answering the door? Her mother should have the access code to the residence.

Despite her heavy reluctance, she forced herself to get up from her seat, worried that the neighbors might be disturbed by the commotion. She felt as if she were moving through a sea of cotton, and she wiped the moisture from her face with her hands.

“Am I still dreaming?” she muttered to herself.

But her confusion only grew as she opened her eyes and found herself in a brightly lit café, in a state of disarray. The walls and ceilings were missing, and the furniture was broken and scattered across the floor. She noticed a menu board attached to the counter and assumed this must have been a café at some point. But she had no memory of how she ended up here.

The scene before her was astonishing and filled her with unease. The walls, floor, and paint chips scattered everywhere gave her a chill, as if she had stepped into a closed mental institution.

She noticed her pace slowing down and a headache forming. Had she spent too much time playing that game?

The knocking sound continued, drawing her attention back to the source. She approached the window and was horrified to see a human-like figure pressed against it, leaking a crimson fluid that stained the glass. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a red, writhing substance emerging from a broken part of its head. She barely suppressed a gag reflex as she stumbled backwards, trying to make sense of the surreal scene.

She stared at the figures outside the window, their twisted bodies and grotesque appearance filling her with fear. The reality of the zombie apocalypse was dawning on her, and she could no longer ignore it. The cafe interior, painted red and stained with the acrid scent of blood, only added to her growing horror.

“Oh no, oh no…” she whispered, unable to contain her anguish.

Her mind raced with questions, trying to make sense of this surreal situation. Was it all just a dream? Could this be real?

Her body trembled as she felt a wave of dread wash over her. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, hoping to find some solace in the moment. Please let me be dreaming, she begged.

But it was short-lived, as a loud shattering sound echoed through the cafe, jolting her back to reality. She immediately noticed the damage to the window. In the aftermath of the chaos, a hammer lay discarded at the base of the glass, its presence unexplained. She couldn’t help but wonder who had caused the destruction and what their motive was.