



The rotten strode out towards us, fighting the current at every step. It was going slowly, but with a clearly defined goal. We were probably the first-ever supper for the month, and it wasn't about to give up and abandon us. Gigi panicked and huddled behind me, expecting that I would be able to shield her. But I have no weapons and no plan other than to defend Gigi. I was the one who recommended swimming, and it's only because of my suggestion that we're in trouble right now. So I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep her safe right now.









"Gigi, go that way around the rotten and go back to the base," in an authoritative tone, I demanded.









'But-"









"No buts anymore, just leave!" I yelled as I rushed ahead, toward the rotten.









It widened its mouth and screeched once again. It gently stretched out for me once I was within grasp. This rotten was older and



I sniffed as I shoved the final cracker into my mouth. Everyone had completed their meals peacefully, and Gigi offered to clean all the dishes. She returned with a light match and lit seven candles in the main room. It was almost dark outside, and the candlelight cast a warming, comfortable warmth that was just strong enough to have seen by.









"I'm going to look for a book to read. Isn't there a bookcase in the library section?" I inquired.









Peter gave a nod. "Yeah, together with a billiard table," he continued, his gaze fixed on Justine. "Would you like to see how well we perform in the dark? I'm sure I can still pound your a$$e$."









"Dumbass, don't put too much faith in yourself. Ricky muttered. "You're such a dickhead, you know."









Peter sighed and rolled his eyes. "Prick. I'm only stating the obvious."









Ricky laughed, but Justine merely smiled. 





I went into the bathroom first thing in the morning, along with a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a cotton swab, and a new bandage and gauze. I spotted the wound on my lower leg after stripping away the previous bandage. When I went scavenging, I almost forgot I had this. When I looked down at my wound, I noticed it was a reddish-brown hue and gently swelled up whenever I touched it. The injury was mending, but I don't want to risk it becoming infected. So, I gently cleaned it, dried it, and applied a new bandage on it.









Then I changed for the day in the new clothes that Gigi had picked out for me beforehand, and I felt terrific. My clothing wasn't grubby, ripped, or drenched in blood for the first time in months. I feel like a whole different person when I wear them. It was weird to imagine that something as fundamental as new clothing might brighten one's happiness, yet they d

The rotten strode out towards us, fighting the current at every step. It was going slowly, but with a clearly defined goal. We were probably the first-ever supper for the month, and it wasn't about to give up and abandon us. Gigi panicked and huddled behind me, expecting that I would be able to shield her. But I have no weapons and no plan other than to defend Gigi. I was the one who recommended swimming, and it's only because of my suggestion that we're in trouble right now. So I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep her safe right now.









"Gigi, go that way around the rotten and go back to the base," in an authoritative tone, I demanded.









'But-"









"No buts anymore, just leave!" I yelled as I rushed ahead, toward the rotten.









It widened its mouth and screeched once again. It gently stretched out for me once I was within grasp. This rotten was older and less coordinated, swift, or muscular than the younger ones, so that was something. This travels at such

Chapter 18