The next morning, Jack and Angel geared up for their quest, packing essential supplies and grabbing Philip's car keys. As they stepped outside, they were met with a daunting sight: four zombies shambling towards Philip's car.
Jack's fear spiked, but he steeled himself, gripping the center table leg tightly. "Angel, don't be afraid. We need to fight to survive."
Angel nodded, her hands shaking as she held her makeshift weapon. Jack whistled, drawing the zombies' attention, and charged forward. He took down two zombies with swift precision, but a third jumped onto his back, sending him crashing to the ground.
As the zombie snapped its jaws mere inches from his face, Jack struggled to keep it at bay. Meanwhile, Angel froze, terror etched on her face as a zombie approached her.
"Hit him on the head, Angel! You can do it!" Jack yelled, desperate to distract her.
Angel's eyes widened, but she took a deep breath and kicked the zombie with all her might, sending it crashing to the ground. "Yes! I did it!" she exclaimed, triumphant.
Together, they dispatched the remaining zombies. As they stood victorious, Jack apologized for his earlier remark about her parents. Angel warned him not to mention it again, but her expression softened slightly.
Just then, the mysterious screen reappeared. Angel's eyes lit up as she clicked "yes" and joined the game. Jack's screen displayed daily quests, showing he'd killed two zombies with eight more to go. Angel's screen showed a similar quest, but with one kill to her name.
As Angel felt a sudden shock, Jack reassured her it would pass. When the shock subsided, she gazed at the screen, confusion etched on her face. "What does this mean? It says I need to complete quests to earn gifts."
Jack nodded. "I think it's like a game. Mine shows two kills, and yours should show one since you killed that zombie."
Angel's eyes sparkled with determination. "Let's complete these quests and uncover the truth behind this apocalypse."
Meanwhile, in the secret safehouse, the masterminds behind the apocalypse prepared to launch the next phase of their plan. With the required number of players signed up, they initiated the countdown. Two rockets soared into the sky, dispersing toxic gas cylinders that would soon unleash a new wave of terror.