I sit listening to the zombies bang on the door while trying to figure out what to do. While waiting two pings informed me that I leveled up twice. I left the Attribute Points alone figuring that I should come up with a new plan before spending them.

Watching the door shake with each thud becomes mesmerizing after a bit. The exhaustion of the short but fierce battle fades. I probably ended up killing a little over a dozen. My hand is caked in dried blood and still tingles from the Cannonball blast.

Looking around the hall I see the alcove for the elevators and the other stairwell door. Then, as if I’ve been struck by lightning an idea hits me. The zombies aren’t standing around the fire command center door anymore.

The majority if not all should be focused on the stairwell opposite of the fire command center. The other starwell lets out right next to the fire command center. If I can get to it fast enough I may be able to sneak past the zombie and into the command center. There I can lock the door behind me and silence the alarm.

From there I don’t know what I can do but I’ll at least get the building a little closer to being safe. I stand and open my Character Sheet. I dump all my free Attribute Points into Intelligence pushing my mana up to ninety. I clip the gun holster to my utility belt and undo the clasp that holds the gun inside. I open the other stairwell door and start my descent.

No zombies greet me as I make my way to the ground level. Peeking around the corner of the open door into the lobby I see the hoarder still swarming the other stairwell. Most are still trying to push their way in. A few more zombies shamble in from the street, drawn either by the horde or by the fire alarm.

None however are in my immediate vicinity. I reach into my pocket to retrieve the master key for the building. My heart sinks, the key isn't there. I check my other pocket and feel panic starting to build in me. Where’s the key? What happened to it?

Looking around the floor I see it lying on the ground twenty feet from me. Where I dropped it after being attacked from zombies outside the first time. My heart sinks further as I realize my only option is to try and get it.

Checking the lobby I only have to deal with five zombies between me and the key. By the time I get to the key the other zombies will probably already see me, but if I can get into the command room I should be fine.

The plan is shoddy at best but it’s all I got. I raise my hand, fingers pointing like a gun. The mana builds as I take aim. One Rifle Round flies out and I start running to the key. The body hasn’t even fallen before I take my next shot. Then the third shot and a third body hits the ground.

The other two zombies turn towards me and let off howels of desperation. Blood and flem flying from their maws. I form two Rifle Rounds, simultaneously, and let them both go at the same time.

Keeping my momentum I fall to my knees sliding forwards. I grab the key and turn around jolting to my feet. The zombie horde by the other stairwell is now starting to notice me. Their howels and moans for my flesh ringing out through the lobby. As I race to the command center a zombie stumbles out of the stairwell next to the command center.

I take the baton in my hand and cast Mana Saw on it, the rotating biting mana humming with power. The weapon slices through the air as I snap the baton across the zombies skull. It’s head flies to the side smacking into the door of the command center with a sickening thud. Still not completely dead, I pull back for another crack at it’s temple.

The mana around the baton races faster and sings as the baton swishes through the air. I slam the baton into it’s skull digging deep into the bone and flesh. The baton glides clean through the skull and digs into the door leaving a groove in the thick wooden door.

Releasing the mana surrounding my baton I focus on the door before me. I jam the key into the lock, turning it as I do so. I pek around and see the hoard stumbling forwards. The dead bolt snaps out of the door frame and I twist the handle as fast as I can. I pull the door open, turning around and letting off a few more Rifle Rounds. Three bodies hit the floor as I slam the door shut.

Within seconds the door thunds in place as zombies try to beat it down. I breathe a sigh of relief. Despite making the idiot mistake of forgetting that I didn’t have the key, the plan went somewhat smoothly. For having boosted my intelligence as high as I have, I’m not the brightest tool in the box.

Looking around the room I’m greeted by a small desk in the center of the room. A large map of the building laid out over it. A chair sitting silently behind the desk. Against the wall with the door is a large panel of lights and words that I can’t make heads or tails of.

Against the wall behind the desk is a series of machines, one that spits out paper and another that has a digital display. A red box hangs next to the machine that spits out paper. Inside of it are the controls to the fire alarm.

I open the box with the master key and press the button that silences the alarm. The building falls silent, aside from the horde beating on the door. I smile while plopping down in the chair at the desk. Mission accomplished.

Now I need to get out of here and make sure no more zombies are in the building. With the hoard beating on the door I don’t know how I’m going to manage that. Maybe I can push the door open knocking enough back that I can get off a few shots with my long range spells and bullets from the gun. Speaking of the gun.

I take the gun out of the holster. Looking it over I realize just how stupid I am. The gun doesn’t have a clip in it. Checking the chamber reveals nothing. This gun that I stupidly risked my life for is nothing but empty cold metal.

“FUCK!” I shout.

Annoyance and anger run rampant through me. How could I be so stupid. Thinking back to it, Officer Reddeck did mention that he’s not allowed to keep the gun in the building while it’s loaded.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

I sit in silence stewing in self loath and annoyance. So the gun is useless. Meaning I have to fight my way out into that horde with nothing but my mana and weapons. I sigh and try to calm myself.

I’ve fought plenty of them so far I can continue to fight more. It’s not a huge deal. It is what it is.

Turning my attention inwards I focus on my mana pool that now feels like the size of a small lake. I can get off maybe twenty Rifle Rounds before running out.

So depending on how many are out there I can down a decent amount without getting close. That should be how I go at this next fight. Killing as many as I can from a distance. But how am I supposed to make that distance?

Without many options or ideas I sit in the chair trying to figure out what to do. My eyes wander the room as I spin back and forth. From the wall to the door to another wall and back. Wall. Door. Wall. Door…

“The Door.” I say out loud standing from the chair.

A devious smile breaks across my face. The beginnings of a plan forming in my mind. All I need to do is wait for my mana to replenish and then I’ll be ready.