We went back up to Mrs Higgins. We bought the pumpkin seeds. We bought Silas a skill book.
We were feeling good. We were feeling invincible.
Then the Global Announcement rang out. It wasn't a blue box. It was a voice that echoed in the sky, loud enough to rattle the windows I had just reinforced.
[ATTENTION EARTH.] [TUTORIAL PHASE 1 COMPLETE.] [INITIATING PHASE 2: THE HUNGER.]
The purple sky turned red.
[ALL SAFE ZONES ARE NOW CONTESTED TERRITORY. SURVIVE UNTIL DAWN OR BE PURGED.]
"Contested?" Silas asked.
A red timer appeared in the corner of my eye. [05:00:00].
"It means the game is cheating," I said, grabbing my axe. "The monsters aren't just wandering anymore. They are being directed."
I looked at the pumpkin seeds in my hand.
"We need to plant these," I said. "Right now. On the stairs. In the lobby. Everywhere."
"But they take an hour to grow!"
"Then we have to hold the line for an hour," I said. "Get the staple gun. It's going to be a long night."