34

Heather leans in to you and whispers.

"Maybe we should just keep going. No need to risk getting attacked. Chances are there's no rabbit in this hole anyway, so why stick around?"

From this distance, you see no indications that the body is a zombie: no yellowing of the skin, no green lesions, and no involuntary leg movements.

"I agree it is risky," you whisper back to Heather. "But the body looks dead, real dead, and the risk is worth the possible reward."

"Okay fine. We check the body, and if it's dead, we get this rabbit. If that leg moves, you kill whoever or whatever it's attached to and look for me north."

You step out from your hiding place and sidestep left while taking baby steps forward. Moving in this arc, you hope to gain a better line of sight with the figure. The legs are unmoving and appear to be in a state of decay and lack tell-tale signs of being attached to a zombie. The bare feet are scaly and gray. Flies buzz around the body. Frayed brown pants have dried stains—most likely blood. The gray skin of the belly and torso comes into view, which reveal the figure is a man. The head has the same gray skin with parts of the skull showing through the lower jaw, and as you step closer, another figure is visible beside the man. Though the body is face down, the shape suggests it is female, with curly blond hair streaked with dirt and mud. She only wears a bra and short pants. Maggots cover her upper back and exposed dark muscle, ligament, and bone show through the writhing, white mass.

Circling the rock for a better view of the bodies, you make the astonishing realization that they are River and Starr, the couple who sought refuge in the Cathedral but were turned away by your group.

"Holy Crap," Heather says. "It's those hippies."

You move in closer but Heather grabs your shoulder.

"There's nothing we can do for them now. I…wish there was. But…"

Her voice trails, and you realize for once she is at a loss for words. You reply…