Red To Silver.

Sebastian

“You're trying to tell me that those boys are already infected?” I asked in horror as I searched through the trash bin, taking out the cotton swab that contained their dried blood. “But how? Was this why they were kidnapped? Does someone else know of the apocalypse?” All the questions tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

As someone who used to perform experiments in this lab, nothing felt unfamiliar. I got behind the desk as I placed the swabs on a flat surface before adding a drop of antiseptic to make it liquid again. That single drop of blood was transferred into a glass slide that I moved under the microscope before adjusting the lens.

“The apocalypse has already begun. It just hasn't started taking effect. A random person walking might already be carrying the disease.” Buis explained as I looked through the lens of the microscope.

A soft gasp escaped my lips when I realized it was right. Strange, dark and tiny particles danced in the liquid, and I watched in horror as it slowly invaded other blood cells, making them multiply until everything was covered in those particles.

What made it worse was that this blood was supposed to be stagnant. The cells should be dead. Everything should be dead. But these particles… they were alive even in dead blood cells. How the hell was this even possible?

“Are you saying the explosion caused the apocalypse?” I asked in despair as I ran a hand through my hair, my mind spinning with different thoughts. “How do I know I'm not infected?”

“You are not.” Buis replied as I relaxed into the chair. “It is time for your second mission.”

“Hold on, hold on. I don't get a reward for mission 001.8? It's a mission after all.” I replied with a grumpy face and Buis went silent, making me scoff in frustration. “Seriously, you're so unfair. A mission is a mission. I should be rewarded.”

The screen finally changed and I huffed in amusement when I saw my new stats level written on it. Nothing changed, except my intelligence had increased by 10. That was still something.

“You need to get ready for mission 002. Remember, you have twelve hours to complete it.” Buis finally said and I got up, stretching as my stomach grumbled.

“At least let me return home, eat and freshen up. I need to get new clothes as well. Give me a two-hour break at least. I'm only human." I pleaded as I walked down the stairs and out of the plant.

My mind kept drifting back to how I got upstairs from the ground last night. I didn't have an answer, and neither did Buis, and it bothered me. Could it be that I sleepwalked? That had to be the only answer.

But then, I heard someone call out my name.

I was definitely losing my mind.

I spent the next two hours wisely. Using the money I had, I bought myself clothes that wouldn't just cover me but also help me through harsh conditions. Did I mention that without the sun, Sloradath would turn into a frozen city?

And that made it worse because the zombies thrived in cold weather. Heat wore them out but without the sun and without gas, how could people fight against them?

I bought clothing gear, mostly black because I hated laundry. And the electricity would go out anyway.

“Buis,” I suddenly called out as the screen came to life. “Is there a way to preserve electricity during the apocalypse? I was thinking about solar panels but the sun wouldn't even get here. What should I do?”

“You have twenty-nine days to stockpile fuel and gas. What you can do is find a machine that will work without stopping,” it explained as I chewed on the toast I had made in my apartment. “One machine wouldn't do, however. Two wouldn't work either.”

“So, about ten manual generators? Since the electric ones wouldn't work anymore. If not ten, then twenty? Thirty?” I muttered, my mouth full as I dragged my new suitcase out with me. Ditching this apartment was the only way to make sure John and his girlfriend wouldn't show up and try to make the system kill me again.

“We will figure it out along the way, Sebastian.” Buis replied calmly and I hummed, running my hand through my hair. I also remembered that the plant should have a few manual generators in the storeroom. That should work too.

I had just walked past a window when I froze and took multiple steps back to glance at my reflection.

I looked a bit different. Not exactly too evident but I could see the difference. 

Would Ria leave me for someone else if she saw me now?

“You're not building yourself up for anyone but for yourself. The past should always remain in the past.” Buis interrupted my thoughts and my lips thinned because I knew that was the truth.

Why was I even thinking about her? I was preparing for the end of the world, yet I still wondered whether the woman who betrayed me would find me attractive.

It was quite pathetic. But as Buis said, the past should always remain in the past.

The moment I got to the plant, I froze at the spot where I had parked the car. I remembered vividly that the color was a bright shade of red. Now it was… silver. A spray paint bottle laid by the side, telling me that someone had done this when I was gone.

No way.

Even the plate number had been changed. Scratches appeared at the side of the car to make it look like it was a very old car. This was exactly what I had been thinking of doing since.

“Hello?” I called out as I searched around the building for signs of a soul but there was no one there. No footprints, no signs that a human had walked in here to help me achieve what I had been racking my brain for.

“Buis, do you have an explanation for this?” I asked in confusion as I returned to the car but it didn't change.

I wasn't hallucinating.

“Again, I have no idea.” It replied and I ran a hand through my hair, millions of questions running through my head. “You shouldn't be bothered by this. Your two-hour break is over. You have to begin your mission now.”

“But—”

“Mission 002. Gather food supplies worth ten thousand dollars. You must spend ten thousand dollars. Clean the whole plant building. Failure to do so will result in termination of specimen. Time left: 12:00:00. Mission is involuntary.”

The system didn't give me a chance to complain as the timer started to count and I let out a groan of frustration. Twelve hours to go shopping for the whole city and then clean this building that was ten times bigger than my apartment.

“Great job, mom.” I hissed in frustration as I got into the car, taking out the dashcam and throwing it out of the car. “Hold on, what if I somehow get caught? I don't have a driver's license.”

Minutes passed and I got no response to my question, making me want to slam my head against the wheel. It was so good at answering me whenever it felt like it. What a system.

I eventually got on the road anyway, stepping on the accelerator as the timer kept on counting to my doom. Failure would result in my death anyway.

Just as I got closer to the busy part of the city, my heart sank when I saw that there was a hold-up by military officials, and they were busy checking the cars in front. Shit.

I was right.

I wanted to turn back around but there was no way out. I was going to get caught.