Perkatory: Coffee, Zombies, and the Brewmaster System

Zoe's stomach churned as she followed Darren down the dimly lit streets toward Perkatory. The tension in his jaw and his hands clenched into fists at his sides set her nerves on edge. She'd known Darren long enough to recognize when he was holding back, but the fact that he refused to tell her what had happened—insisting she needed to see it for herself—only made her anxiety worse.

"Darren, just tell me," Zoe said, her voice tight as she quickened her pace to walk beside him. "You're acting like the world's about to end. Again."

He glanced at her but didn't slow down. "I… I can't explain it. You'll understand when you see it."

Zoe frowned, her unease growing. "If something's happened to the café—to anyone—I swear, Darren…"

"They're fine," Darren said quickly, though his tone did little to reassure her. "Everyone's fine. For now."

For now. The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Zoe's grip tightened around the hilt of the knife strapped to her belt. She scanned the darkened streets, her instincts on high alert. The faint groans of zombies echoed in the distance, a reminder of the constant threat lurking just beyond the safety of Perkatory.

They rounded the final corner, and the café came into view. The sight of it brought an odd mix of relief and trepidation. Perkatory stood as she'd left it, its windows boarded up and the faint glow of lights spilling through the cracks. A small crowd of survivors had gathered outside, their murmurs filling the air with unease.

"What's going on?" Zoe asked, quickening her pace.

Darren didn't answer. Instead, he led her through the crowd, which parted as she approached. Erica and Matthew stood near the entrance, their faces pale and grim. Erica's laptop was tucked under her arm, and Matthew's hand rested on the hilt of his machete.

"Zoe," Erica said, her voice shaky. "You… you're not going to believe this."

"Try me," Zoe said, her heart pounding. She glanced at Erica, who gave her a terse nod before stepping aside to let her through the café's front door.

The moment Zoe stepped inside, she froze. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she could only stare.

The interior of Perkatory was in disarray. Tables and chairs had been shoved aside, and in the center of the room stood… something she couldn't quite comprehend. It was a machine, though that word didn't feel entirely accurate. It looked cobbled together from scavenged parts—metal panels, wires, and tubes—but it pulsed with an eerie, unnatural glow. Strange symbols were etched into its surface, glowing faintly as if alive.

"What is that?" Zoe whispered, taking a hesitant step forward.

"We don't know," Darren said, his voice low. "It wasn't here this morning."

Zoe turned to him, her eyes wide. "What do you mean it wasn't here this morning? How did it get here?"

"That's the thing," Erica said, stepping closer. "We don't know. We locked up last night, which is the same as always. When we came in this morning, it was just… here."

"And it wasn't exactly subtle," Matthew added. "The thing's humming loud enough to wake the dead. Literally."

The machine let out a low, rhythmic hum that vibrated through the floor as if on cue. Zoe took another step closer, her eyes scanning its surface. She reached out a hand, hesitating just inches from one of the glowing symbols.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," the Brewmaster System said suddenly, its tone uncharacteristically serious.

Zoe froze, her hand hovering in midair. "You know what this is?"

"Not exactly," the system replied. "But I know enough to tell you it's bad news. That thing's radiating energy on a frequency that's… let's just say it's not friendly."

"Energy?" Zoe repeated, lowering her hand. "What kind of energy?"

"The kind that messes with things it shouldn't," the system said cryptically. "Look, Carter, you need to get rid of it. Now."

"Get rid of it?" Zoe said, her voice rising. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Figure it out," the system snapped. "Before it figures you out."

Zoe clenched her fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She turned back to Darren, Erica, and Matthew. "Has anyone tried shutting it off?"

"We've tried everything," Erica said, her voice tinged with desperation. "Unplugging it, breaking the wires, even smashing it. Nothing works."

"It's like it's alive," Matthew said, his hand tightening around his machete. "And I don't think it's here to make friends."

Zoe studied the machine, her mind racing. She'd seen plenty of strange things since the outbreak began, but this… this was something else entirely. It felt wrong as if it didn't belong in their world.

"System," she said, her voice low. "If you've got any bright ideas, now's the time."

"Bright ideas?" the system said. "Sure. How about you stop poking the creepy glowing machine and start thinking about how to get everyone out of here?"

Zoe gritted her teeth. "You're not helping."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the system said sarcastically. "Was my warning about the mysterious, humming death machine not helpful enough?"

Zoe took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She turned back to the others. "We need to clear everyone out of here. If this is dangerous, we can't risk hurting anyone."

Darren nodded. "I'll start getting people outside."

"Erica, see if you can find anything about this thing on your network," Zoe said. "Anything at all."

"On it," Erica said, already opening her laptop.

"Dr. Vance," Zoe said, turning to him, her voice firm, "I want you, Riley, and Ethan to guard the machine. Don't let anyone get too close to it, especially not the curious ones who think they're invincible. And stay alert. Matthew, you stay with them. You'll know if something dangerous is about to happen."

Matthew's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "You figured it out, didn't you?"

"I'm not blind," Zoe replied, her tone softening slightly. "I've seen how you've been able to sense things before they happen. You might not have told me, but I know you told Jake. Just… use it. We're counting on you."

Matthew's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and respect crossing his face. "Got it. I'll keep watch."

Zoe turned her attention back to the machine as Darren moved outside to clear the café. Erica's fingers flew across her keyboard, her brow furrowed in concentration. Matthew took up a position near the machine, his machete in hand, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.

The machine's hum seemed to grow louder, filling the air with a sense of unease. Darren's usual humor was absent, replaced by a grim determination as he worked to move the crowd. Erica's usual confidence was tinged with frustration as she searched for answers. Matthew, usually calm and collected, stood tense and ready, his gaze flickering to the glowing symbols as if expecting them to shift at any moment.

As Zoe studied the machine, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The glow of the symbols seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat, and the hum grew louder, filling her ears with an almost hypnotic rhythm.

"What are you?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

The machine offered no answers, only the steady, unsettling hum that seemed to burrow into her skull. Zoe's grip tightened around her knife as she stared at it, her mind racing with possibilities. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't going away on its own.

And she had a feeling it was only the beginning.