Page 16 (1/2)

The Waters’ Homestead

Outside Ellisville, VA

“Mom?”

Dianne’s eyelids fluttered and she took in a short, swift breath and let out a slight groan as she woke The bedroo her shoes—and lying on top of the covers with a light blanket draped over her She glanced to her side to find Mark standing next to her bed, pushing on her shoulder with a concerned expression on his face

It had taken hours to bury the men from the woods and the driveway, and in the end she was fairly certain that anyone still living on the property would have to deal with scavengers cotime thaw The as h the bodies were frozen near-solid she could swear the scent of death was overpowering After finishing the burials in a shallow rave in the woods between the house and the road out in front, Dianne spent far too long in the shower, using up nearly all of the hot water in the heater tank as she tried to wash the dirt and filth off of her—both literal and metaphorical

Tina and Mark’s reactions to the activity had been substantially h none of the trio spoke h norone for a short period of ti about it The smell of a fresh-brewed cup of coffee, the warly slow life of the residents of the town and the security of not knohat it was like to kill and bury n to her The worst part of it all, she had started to realize, wasn’t that she couldn’t rerowing nu what they were like

“What’s up, kiddo?” She rolled over in the bed and swung her feet over the side, feeling sick fro slept for less than an hour Mark and Tina were on watch while everyone else tried to rest, but as Dianne woke up and recognized the stress in Mark?

??s voice, she grew more and more concerned

“The caone dark”

“…what?” Dianne rubbed one eye and yawned, certain that she misheard her son

“The caone dark!” His voice was still at a whisper, but the way in which he said it sent chills down her spine

“What do youposition and grabbing her rifle

“The only ones that are working are on that side of the house” He pointed to the east

“Where’s the tablet?”

“I’ve got it here, Dianne” Tina ca into the room, the concern on her face a mirror of Mark’s She handed the tablet to Dianne and Dianne tapped on the ies Of the several cameras that had been set up on the house, only two of thees