453

The glow of the rising sun breaks over the horizon as your group gathers once again at their vehicles, ready to continue the journey along the highway.

Excited voices draw your attention to the dark-blue Cadillac, and you turn to see Kelly and Parker at the back bumper, the license plate reading, M4NOFG0D.

"There's something in the trunk!" Kelly shouts and slams her hands against the latch.

When the trunk lid bounces, you catch a glimpse of movement inside.

"No! Leave it alone!" Church yells, his voice cracking at the high pitch, and he runs across the crash site towards his car. "Don't open it!"

Parker takes two sizable steps away from the Cadillac. "Whatever's in there is moving."

All of your companions rush to the reverend's vehicle, and as you draw close, you see the back of the Cadillac shaking side to side and hear heavy pounding from inside the metal trunk.

Kelly bounces her hip into the trunk's latch, muscles in her arms straining to lift it. "Someone is in there," she yells. "Don't worry. I'll get you out! You're safe now."

As you and Church reach the car, the trunk door flips open. A head pops out, mouth open wide and snarling, and it lunges for Kelly, who leaps away. The zombie sits up, but ropes bind its arms and legs, so it just thrashes against the interior of the trunk, snapping its pointed teeth with deep growls.

Church steps in front of the trunk and holds his arms up like the preacher he is, but he holds out his hands to stop the crowd from advancing. "This isn't what it looks like."

"It doesn't look like a zombie is tied up in the back of your Caddy?" Parker says, his voice all sarcasm.

"No, I'm just saying this isn't just any zombie. This man has been my partner, my pastor, for years. And yes, I got him tied up, but it ain't that simple."

"Kill the damn thing," Reilly yells from the front of his Chevy, pistol drawn. From behind him, Nora leans over and tries to peer around her son.

Brody holds back Madison, who shoves him away, and Rachel and her crew stand at the outer edge of the circle of survivors. Jaime and Woody advance by your side.

As the zombie flails, you see he's wearing blue boxers with a pattern of tiny white crosses, and his binds are purple-and-gold ropes you'd expect to see holding back a line outside a nightclub.