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You half-crawl, half-swim to the passenger-side window and press your feet against the closed glass. Your left leg throbs, so you bend your right knee and strike the flat of your foot against the window pane. A spiderweb crack radiates from the point of impact. You strike again, splashing water around the van. The spiderweb spreads through the glass. A shadow crosses the outside of the window, and as you ready to strike again, the window explodes inward. A torrent of water gushes in from the passenger-side window. Hands reach in, long dark clawed fingers feeling inside the van. Blood spills in with the water, as the zombie's arms cut across the shards of broken glass.

You push backward, nearly banging your head on the dashboard as you escape the zombie's flailing arms. You turn and crawl along the ceiling, keeping your head above the rising water. You cringe as your left knee touches the hard metal. You reach up to grab the inverted driver's seat from which Uncle Lou hangs and pull yourself across the van. Using the steering wheel, you hoist yourself up and drag your body across Uncle Lou's. Garbled growls float through the water. You reach across Uncle Lou and grip the edge of the window. In one swift motion, you pull yourself out of the window and into the cool, murky water.

Swimming for a few yards, you feel the slick muddy liquid around you like a cocoon and pop your head up for a quick breath. Two zombies run from the shoreline near the van and rush into the water toward the sinking vehicle. Once they are near, their heads dip below the water's surface. You swim for shore, body aching from being tossed around. Hitting the dry earth of land, you look back as a wave of blood bubbles up from the van.

You run through the forest a short distance until finally exhaustion overtakes you. Collapsing on to the ground, you suck in the damp air and let the breeze cool your skin. Your left shoulder aches, but it is your left knee that has you most concerned as it is already swollen. You try to stretch out your leg but can't get it straight. Sitting up, you check the joint and feel it is not broken.

The forest is quiet save for the buzzing of insects and gentle music of birds. You stand and feel the pang of strained ligaments in the left leg, but you can walk. And walking is what you'll do as you recall Uncle Lou's words. Ten miles from the Cathedral.

You think of Uncle Lou in the van and almost break down in tears at the thought of those zombies feasting on his body. You think back to the first time you met the man, back when you first took the boat to the Cathedral. You recall the many meals he cooked, the long talks you had on watch duty with the man, and his passion for life even while your group struggles to survive. How will you tell the others of his death?

All of the gear is still left in the submerged van. But what went wrong? Why did he lose control of the van? It all happened so fast, but Uncle Lou mentioned the brakes weren't working.

A cold breeze rustles the trees. Your wet clothes cling to your body. Though it is early in the day, most likely still morning, you don't want to be out here in the woods at night. Your only option is to head back to the Cathedral, roughly ten miles away. Given the injury to your leg, you can possibly make the trip back in ten to twelve hours. Of course, you'll take any vehicle you find along the way. Considering your options, you could return to the van and try to retrieve supplies, though there is a strong likelihood the zombies are still there. Following the road back is the easiest course, though you'd need to walk in the woods off the road to avoid anything travelling that route, most likely bandits or zombies. Hiking through the woods is the most direct way to the Cathedral, but the forest will slow your travel and be just as treacherous as the road.

After weighing the pros and cons of each choice, you…