Tumbling to the ground just outside the wall. My eyes feel heavy, desperately I want to close them. But I know it won't take long for that slime to catch me. Not to mention all the slime no doubt writhing within the wall itself. I tear off a piece of a cotton shirt from one of the bodies on the wall. And crawl away a few feet.

Turning myself around too keep an eye on the wall, and any slime that may be chasing me. Though confident that the amount of blood I've spilled should cause sufficient confusion and distraction for them. I untie my boot and dump my foot out. chucking it back towards the wall. Hoping to further distract the slime. I stuff the shirt into the boot, filling it most of the way, then jam my stump in, tying it as tight as possible. It won't do much to stop the bleeding. But it should at least slow it down.

Knowing Yoder has a diesel generator in his barn, I limp my way there. Searching or gas cans I find nine and a half cans total. Which should be enough for what I have planned. Tying a rope through the handles, after checking the caps are on tight. I Struggle back to the ring of bodies. Dragging the cans behind me.

Slowly making my way around the bodies. I gets dark, very dark. I can barely see, and it's hard to tell how much of that is from blood loss and how much is from the night.

I empty the cans one by one. I come across my old foot. Glowing bright encased in the slime that was once in Amos. I make sure to pour extra gas on it. Figuring this should burn away any of the slime that's left in the wall. Once the last can is empty, I light a match I had taken from Yoder's barn and toss on the wall. Within seconds the whole ring is burning bright. Nearly blinding me in the nights darkness. It takes a few moments to adjust my eyes. A few moment more to prepare myself for the next step.

I lay down a few feet away from the fire. Placing the blade of my scythe directly into the flame. I leave it there for five minutes. Dizzy and exhausted I struggle to stay awake. But I know, if I fall asleep now, I die. Seeing that the blade is now glowing red with heat. I stand up and remove my shirt stuffed boot.

Taking the blade out of the fire and laying it down on a flat stone just a few feet away. I take a deep breath right before I stomp my right ankle down onto it. It crackles and smokes. I scream in pain, but hold it on as long as I can manage. I don't know how long that is before I black out.

The sun rises. I wake up to find a circle of charred bodies and ash beside me. Still smouldering a bit. It's no proper funeral but a mass cremation is better than being left to rot in a heap. Inspecting my stump, I'm happy to find my plan worked. The wound completely cauterized shut. It dawns on my how lucky I am to have made it through the night. Between the blood loss and most likely having a concussion. Then considering for a moment. Perhaps I survived because I've been infected.

A quick check of the ribs and the throbbing pain in my ankle. Reminds me they are far from healed. So those fears are quickly squashed. Unsure what to do now, I go back to Yoder's house again.

Yoder was family. So I have no problem making myself feel at home. Helping myself to a shower, though I end up sitting the whole time, just letting the water run over my back. After which I look in the mirror. Briefly searching for a razor before deciding not too. I've earned the right to skip shaving for a bit. I go to his closet and grab a fresh outfit.

It's hot today so I stick with trousers and a cotton shirt. Grabbing a second to replace the one in my boot. I notice Yoder has a pair of boots that lace up much higher than my own. Which would be great as I am having trouble keeping my right one on. Initially disappointed to find they are two sizes to small. I soon realize one of the benefits of not having a foot and take the right boot. They may be mismatched. But vanity was never a concern of mine.

After making myself a breakfast. I strap my half scythe on to my back once more. Planning to find any survivors and keep back any sick. I would prefer a full sized scythe, but Yoder didn't have one. I could take one from anyone else. I'm sure there are plenty in the community. But even though they're dead and gone. It still does not feel right to take their property. So I stick with my half scythe, still better at keeping attackers out of range than an axe would be.

I check every home, I check every barn. I find no one. Not one survivor, Not even one sick that Amos didn't get too. There's nothing and no one left. I spent most of the day looking. It's getting dark again now. Being methodical the first dozen or so houses. Knocking on doors. Announcing my presence. Checking in closets and under beds. But by the end it was a simple walk through. See if the beds were empty, though the blood everywhere was a good indication they would be. And it was off to the next house.

The only house I didn't check was my own. I know what I'm going to find, and I know I don't want to see it. There's nothing left for me here. Nothing but those two little girls locked down in Yoder's basement. I don't want to be like Amos. So I'll leave them there for now. If I find a cure, I'll come back for them.

There is a forest that surrounds our community. And in that forest a creek. We had dug it ourselves. Very wide and very deep. Serving as a moat, it would be difficult to cross. Leaving the only way in or out of our community a solitary covered bridge. So that is where I go.

I they don't know if they have a cure. Even if they don't, surely someone would still be alive. I start feeling hopeful on my way across the bridge. Letting my thoughts get carried away. I think, what if this infection was only in our community? What if by burning the bodies I've gotten rid of it for good? I could go find another Amish community. Stay with them and build a life for myself. It would be an adjustment, but that's okay. They would have a hard time believing my story sure. I figure leaving out some key details would make it a bit easier to swallow. No one really needs to know about the slime or Amos or any of that stuff. I can just tell them it was a particularly bad flu. No reason not to believe that.

Reaching the end of the bridge, reality came crashing down on me. I don't know much about this world. But I do know these street and tall buildings, are supposed to have lights.