Perkatory: Coffee, Zombies, and the Brewmaster System

Zoe's grip tightened on her dagger as the glowing zombie advanced, its pulsing veins casting ominous shadows on the overgrown park. The emberroot she had risked so much to find was tantalizingly close, but the zombie had other plans. Her heart raced as she realized the Fury Brew she had taken earlier had worn entirely off, leaving her body heavy with an exhaustion that dulled her reflexes. Every muscle felt like it was dragging against lead.

The glowing zombie snarled, its movements disturbingly fast and fluid. Zoe darted backward, her breathing ragged.

"You're in trouble," the Brewmaster System announced in her head, its usual sarcastic tone replaced by genuine alarm. "That exhaustion you're feeling? Yeah, that's the Fury Brew wearing off. Side effect: total energy drain. Congratulations, Carter."

Zoe glared into the darkness, her chest heaving. "Couldn't you have mentioned that before I drank it?"

"Details, details! Next time, don't use experimental combat brews without asking first! Now focus—it's about to pounce!"

The zombie lunged. Zoe barely sidestepped, stumbling as her legs wobbled beneath her. She swung the dagger in a wide arc, grazing its shoulder but doing little to slow it down. The creature snarled, its glowing eyes tracking her every move. Zoe was painfully aware of how sluggish she had become. Her body screamed for rest, but the predator in front of her wouldn't wait.

"Okay, think!" the system barked. "You've got another brew, don't you? One of the experimental ones?"

Zoe's hand fumbled for her pack as she backed away, her eyes never leaving the zombie. Her fingers closed around the second potion: "Blaze Brew—Version 0.9."

"What does this one do again?" she whispered.

"Potentially sets things on fire," the system replied. "And, oh yeah, might also blow up your insides. Great odds, right?"

Zoe had no time to hesitate. She uncorked the bottle and drank, the liquid burning down her throat like molten lava. Heat exploded through her veins, and her skin prickled with energy. The zombie lunged again; this time, Zoe rolled under its outstretched claws, her movements slightly sharper but still far from perfect.

She turned and thrust her hand forward. A burst of flame erupted from her palm, striking the zombie square in the chest. It howled, stumbling back as its glowing veins flickered erratically. The fire didn't seem to harm it as much as Zoe had hoped, but it brought her precious seconds.

"You're not doing great," the system commented. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not a combat assistant. All I can do is yell at you, so stop sucking!"

"Helpful," Zoe muttered, rolling to avoid another swipe. She swung the dagger again, landing a deeper cut along its arm. But the glowing zombie seemed unfazed, its movements growing more erratic and aggressive.

Zoe stumbled as the zombie lashed out with a clawed hand, its glowing fingers raking across her side. Pain flared, sharp and immediate, as blood seeped through her jacket. She gasped, clutching her side as she backed away.

"It's got reach!" the system yelled. "Stop underestimating it!"

The zombie snarled and lunged again. Zoe tried to dodge, but her exhaustion slowed her down. This time, the zombie's arm slammed into her shoulder, sending her sprawling onto the ground. Her dagger skittered out of reach, and panic surged as the creature loomed over her.

"MOVE! Now!"

Zoe kicked out desperately, her boot connecting with the zombie's knee. It staggered, giving her just enough time to roll away and scramble to her feet. She grabbed her dagger, her hands shaking as she faced the relentless creature.

"Run!" the system screamed again. "You're not winning this fight!"

Zoe turned and bolted, weaving through the overgrown park as the glowing zombie gave chase. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her legs barely carrying her forward. She spotted an alleyway ahead and ducked into it, her feet slipping on the damp pavement. Piles of trash lined the walls, and she dove into them, burying herself under a mound of rancid bags and broken crates.

She held her breath, her body trembling as the zombie's snarls grew louder. It entered the alley, its glowing veins casting eerie light across the walls. Zoe's heart pounded so loudly she was sure it would hear her. The creature paused, sniffing the air, its milky eyes scanning the piles of garbage.

For a moment, Zoe dared to hope. It turned away, its snarl fading as it moved back toward the street.

Then it stopped.

It grabbed a trash bag and hurled it across the alley, the contents scattering in a disgusting heap. Zoe froze, her body rigid with fear. The zombie turned back toward her hiding spot and snarled, its clawed hand reaching for another bag.

"MOVE!" the system screamed.

Zoe burst from the pile of trash, the sudden motion startling the zombie. She sprinted down the alley, her legs barely responding. The creature roared and gave chase, its glowing form a terrifying beacon in the darkness.

Zoe's lungs burned as she ran, her vision tunneling. She turned a corner and spotted the faint outline of Parker's safety field ahead. The traps. If she could just make it there, she might have a chance.

"You're almost there," the system said, its tone unusually encouraging. "Don't you dare give up now!"

Zoe stumbled into the field, her foot catching on a tripwire. There was a sharp hiss and a nail gun hidden in the brush fired a volley of nails. The glowing zombie shrieked as the projectiles embedded themselves in its legs, slowing but not stopping it.

"Good start," the system said. "Now keep going!"

Zoe pushed herself forward, weaving through the traps Parker had meticulously set up. The glowing zombie followed its movements jerky but determined. It tripped another wire, setting off a series of small mines buried in the ground. The explosions rocked the air, sending shrapnel and dirt flying. The zombie staggered, parts of its glowing flesh torn and oozing, but it kept coming.

"You've got to be kidding me," Zoe muttered, her voice shaking.

"It's highly resistant. But not invincible. Keep going."

Zoe reached the final trap: a steel wire net rigged to spring when something heavy stepped on the trigger plate. She darted around it, skidding to a stop a few feet away. The glowing zombie lumbered after her, its eyes locked onto its target.

"Come on," Zoe whispered, her breath hitching. "Just a little closer…"

The zombie stepped onto the plate. With a metallic snap, the net sprang up, wrapping around the creature and hoisting it into the air. The zombie thrashed and snarled, its glowing veins pulsing erratically as it struggled against the steel wires. But the net held.

Zoe collapsed to her knees, staring at the trapped creature in disbelief. For the first time that night, she felt a flicker of hope.

"Well, I'll be damned," the system said. "It actually worked."

Zoe let out a shaky laugh, her body trembling with exhaustion. "Don't sound so surprised."

"Oh, I'm very surprised," the system replied. "Now, maybe get out of here before something else shows up?"

Dragging herself to her feet, Zoe staggered toward Perkatory. Her body ached, her injuries stinging with every step. She barely made it through the back door before collapsing into a chair. Blood seeped from several cuts, and her head throbbed with pain.

She pulled out her remaining supplies and began treating her wounds, wincing as she applied disinfectant. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but she forced herself to stay awake. She couldn't afford to pass out before being sure she was stable.

"You need better healing brews," the system said, its tone softer now. "Ones that don't leave you half-dead from the energy drain."

"Yeah," Zoe muttered, her voice slurred. "I'll… work on that."

Her vision blurred, and she felt herself fading. Despite her best efforts, her body gave in to the overwhelming exhaustion. The last thing she remembered was the faint hum of the safety field outside.

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The morning light filtered through the boarded-up windows of Perkatory, casting long shadows across the floor. Emma approached the café cautiously, her gaze drawn to an unusual sight outside. The glowing zombie was hanging between two telephone poles, tangled in a steel wire net. Its body was battered, its glowing veins flickering weakly. She paused, her stomach twisting as she noticed the deep cuts and scorched marks across its form.

"Someone fought it," she murmured, her brow furrowed. Her eyes darted to the café.

Her pace quickened as concern gripped her. Emma pushed open the back door and froze when she saw Zoe slumped in a chair, her clothes stained with blood and her face pale.

"Zoe?" Emma's voice was sharp with panic. She rushed to her side, gently shaking her. "Zoe!"

When Zoe didn't respond, Emma turned toward the door and screamed. "Darren! Pearson! Somebody, help!"

The sound echoed through the café as Emma's voice cracked with desperation.