OP in the Apocalypse: I Gained a Zombie System and Became the Top Dog

I knew that knowing the world would end would make some things a little pointless, but until I saw the Craner Institute on an invoice for where we sent our positive, highly contaminated samples to be destroyed, I was ready to throw my work out of the window and order the crap out of my supplies. They were charging us a fortune to steal samples for their tests.

Oh fuck!

Was I injected with vaccines made from samples that I tested and labelled positive?

My vision blurred, the anger burning my eyes with unshed tears.

It's like some cosmic joke!

'That explains a lot. Your memory has the Carner Institute's information in subtle places since you started university. They have their hands in a lot of pies,' the Ai grumbled, and I couldn't help but wonder if this had something to do with the government and the cause of the apocalypse.

There's only so much I know, and it isn't much. I was locked up in my house for three months, and whatever happened during that time is virtually unknown. Even my AI doesn't have the capability to find out.

Unless… could I attach my AI to a computer with internet access?

I folded the paper and shoved it in my pocket, stalking to the bathroom because I stupidly decided that today was a makeup day. No more makeup days, I decided as I splashed my face and rubbed at the makeup I had left.

I looked in the mirror and let out a scream of frustration. I walked into the damn bathroom with my lab coat still on. I rolled my neck, pulling my lap coat off as I left the bathroom, shoved it in my bag at my desk and took the stairs down to the locker room to grab my spare lab coat.

It has been three gruelling weeks, and I haven't even been able to find where this bitch stashed Nexus, and Devon has been carefully curating a list of medical warehouses, but even his contacts are having trouble. For some weird reason, she has more properties and storage buildings than the two top families combined.

I would personally feel a lot more comfortable with Ferona's brains all over the wall, but that is exceptionally counter-productive, and her brother is a psycho. I have no choice but to make her the second in my horde. Controlling the chair of the gangs will keep the rest under my guiding hands if I keep it a secret, at least until the apocalypse starts.

These circular thoughts about heists way out of my comfort zone are ludicrously grounding for my anxiety since I now lack a bare white room and won't force myself into such a predicament again. I took one final deep breath and rounded the corner out of the women's locker rooms, bumping into a hard wall-like object.

"What the f-" I growled, frozen midway through rubbing my nose as my head lifted to lock with Orion's steady, bright blue gaze.

Fucking hell, how didn't I notice this before? Rain's uncles have surrounded me, and it's making me uncomfortable.

Are three more going to pop out of the fucking woodwork? Don't these men have any sisters, Christ?

I stepped back and pivoted into the women's locker room, but low and behold, my bad luck. He misinterpreted and grabbed hold of my elbow to, I could only assume, steady me. I panicked, tripping over my feet and taking my boss with me.

Oh my god, I need to level up my agility.

Hopefully, the cameras show that this was an accident because his wife would beat me within an inch of my life, and the Zombie system would be dammed against a woman feeling scorned.

It snorted in my mind as I scrambled backwards. The weight of Orion on my legs was crippling. I started gasping heavily and pushed him off me with too much strength. He slid across to the other side of the hallway with surprise cacked all over his pleasing face.

I let out a strangled groan and ran up to my desk without sparing a second glance behind me. The safety of being surrounded by loud and bustling workers set me back into my work mode. I can't let him know that something is wrong. He is arguably a lot smarter than Devon and has been my boss for a lot longer than Devon, who has been stepping through my front door to keep Rain in check.

He's rational and decisive but cannot read minds, so he won't believe me. When the day comes, I could already be fired and locked out of the building. I itched the back of my hand in anticipation and lowered my head when he came past my desk and into his office.

I pulled my survival portal and checked some of my stats, cursing at listening to Devon's suggestion of improving my strength through weight training I'd rather not do again. Honestly, his idea was a solid plan: to protect myself against anyone we come across over the next year and beyond in the apocalypse. Having an abnormal amount of strength will, without a doubt, keep me alive. The only issue is, as just demonstrated, I can't fucking control it.

Strength: 20

Stamina: 15

Speed: 5

Agility: 2

I didn't even go any further because I hated myself enough for not acting fast enough, but in my defence, planning to overthrow the equivalent of a cartel is long work. Especially when I've had to have Molly in my house acting like she's inches away from taking it out from under me. I want to bury the bitch. She doesn't even deserve to be a part of my horde. Having Rain brings it down enough.

The bar is on the floor!

I grumbled at my desk, typing out the tests I had conducted this morning before the clock struck four o'clock. I shook my head and sighed after I turned my computer screen off and leaned back in my chair. I then clicked the Mob map to check the town for where I could improve my agility.

The trampoline park?

I tapped my chin in frustration. No, it won't work. I need a full-body workout.

'There's an indoor rock-climbing centre behind the retail park.' 

Well, damn. Maybe you should be doing my training plan.

'I did warn you, they don't know what your stats are, and it isn't like Devon is a teacher in the private security firm,' a snicker bounced around my mind, 'in fact, he doesn't even own it.'

Maybe I should investigate hiring some private contractors.

'You took the wrong information from my statement.'

I rolled my eyes and pulled my bag onto my shoulder, resigning myself to getting a membership for the year at this climbing park. I slipped out of the office five minutes early, silently hoping my boss would not pull me up on this tomorrow. I got to my car without a fuss, pulling out of the underground car park and to the other side of town.

The centre was, unfortunately, closer to several schools, and the traffic was a decent way to send my heart rate through the roof, my breathing and brain counting a way to mindfulness. I pulled into the centre's car park around thirty minutes later, taking a duffle bag out of the boot and giving myself a little pep talk at thinking this far ahead to keeping bags of certain outfits in the car.

The outside of the centre was an impressive brown and white brick expanse, and a part of me wondered if they had done it on purpose to look like a rock face. I stepped into a bright, colourful area with rows of benches and a line of cash registers against the far wall; two double doors lined the right wall, leading to the rock walls. After paying for a yearly membership, a smirk played on my lips when I received six months for free for buying a year, and I nearly laughed when I realised it'll all be gone way before I have to pay for another year.

What a steal!

I skipped into the locker rooms, dropped a pound into one of the longer lockers, and pulled out my tight-fitting gym clothes. I locked it up and found a cubicle to get changed in, taking a picture of the weird rubber shoes to show Devon later. They might come in handy for something stealthy later.

I returned my work clothes to my locker and walked into the rock-climbing area. Luckily, there were plenty of signs telling me where the beginners could climb, and I tested myself with some light stretches and patted my hands into the chalk before I allowed a sexy brunette helper to run her hands up my legs to attach the harness.

Gosh, it would be a shame if she turned into a Zombie.

"Why don't you let me finish that, Marnie? I'm going to be training this one," a deep voice filtered in way too close to my left ear, and I froze, my entire body going rigid as Orion's hands gripped onto my waist.

What the hell!