Meredith leads me to the prosthetics store. Mostly arms and full legs. After poking around for a few minutes, I do find a foot. It's almost exactly the same size as my real foot. The inside is padded. And it's got a sleeve that pulls up nearly to my knee to keep it on. I take a few test steps around the store, It's much more comfortable than what I was using before.

I turn to Meredith.

"Can we find a shoe store now?"

"Of course we can deary."

Along the way to the shoe store we chatted. Meredith said the foot looks very nice and she's happy I was able to find one.

The shoe store has nothing I'm comfortable with. I want a standard black leather boot. Almost everything here is canvas. Not a single boot in sight. I don't want to ruin my new foot in the snow the first day I have it.

"Are there any store's that have boots?"

"There's one. But I don't think it'll be what your looking for."

She leads me to a dark store. the windows are covered in black. The walls lined with black shirts with unsettling images on them. She points me to the boots.

There's only one pair and it's my size. The boot itself is huge. Going up to my knee. It's black, and it's leather. But it's covered in silver studs. And the heel is covered in spikes. I can't picture what type of person would want to wear these. But I guess I am that person now. Reluctantly I put them on.

"Well, I guess I can be on my way now. Thank you."

We begin walking back to the main area where we had first entered. Meredith lowered her voice and whispered to me.

"You need to help me."

I whisper back.

"What?"

"That woman you saw knitting, she's a monster. She tries to control us. Making everyone's life miserable. And if you don't do what she says, you don't eat."

"What do you want me to do about it."

"Kill her."

"But you have a gun."

"I couldn't I've never shot a gun before. If I miss, I'm be kicked out. I can't survive there on my own."

"I'm sorry, but I can't, I can not in good conscious kill and innocent person. And I really have to get going. I've wasted too much time already. You'll have to sort this out on your own."

The rifle fires and Meredith starts yelling.

"Help! Help!"

I begin running. The only exit I know is the one right where everyone else is standing. Meredith shuffles behind me.

"Stop him! He tried to take my gun! Said he was going to kill us all and take the mall for himself!"

I skip up the stairs to buy myself a moment to think.

"He's going up the stairs!"

I keep running to the north side of the mall. Three men are coming up the stairs at the north entrance. Two more are behind me on the stairs I just ran up.

The stairs are a half stair case, a turn, then the second half. I get to the north just as the men are reaching the top of the stairs. Throwing myself over the railing I land on the halfway point for the stairs. And run down the remainder.

I slip into the hallway we entered from. The door closes behind me and its dark. I know when we entered it was a long walk, A right, two lefts, then another right.

I can't see anything but there were no open doors along the way. As long as I keep a hand on the wall I'll be fine. I hit the first left. And hear the door opening. Beams of light begin to dance behind me before I take a right. They start to shout. But their voices are getting fainter and fainter.

I burst out into the parking lot and run north.

BANG, Still running forward I turn my head to see Meredith back on the roof shooting at me. BANG BANG

I don't think I've been hit, so I just keep running.

I go north along that same road until it reaches an end. My only option is to go east or west. I choose west knowing the stable was northwestern part of town. And hoping I'm not already too far west and past it.

The sun starts setting when I see the sign.

"Starlight Stables"

A quick hop of the fence and I'm in the stables. The horses don't look good. Skinny, malnourished, barely alive. I search around and find a bit of hay to feed them. I share it around equally. I'm only taking one, but I don't want the others to starve to death.

They're slow eaters, but I don't mind waiting. Propping myself up against a wall and getting some much needed rest for a few minutes. I've wasted a whole days time. But the horse will make things so much faster, I don't mind.

Once the one that looks to be the strongest seems to have had his fill. I toss a saddle on him and head off. Not taking well to me at first. He tries to buck me off and fight. I'm not surprised. He probably hasn't seen a human in a week. Eventually he warms up to me and riding along we make great time.

I go south until I find an exit onto the highway.I wanted to avoid the highway, but on horse back I trust I'm fast enough to out run any problems.

Heading east I just need to follow this until we hit home. We're out of Crestview and into Balston. After that we'll be in Gristol.

It takes us about two hours to cross into Gristol, and as we do the horse starts to slow down considerably. We pull off the highway. Looking for food and rest, I pushed the horse too hard for how malnourished he is.

Mostly a residential town, there are plenty of houses to choose from. Instead of stopping right away we head south. If Gristol's layout is anything like Crestview. The south should be mostly farm land. This horse would be more comfortable in a barn. It'd be better food for him. And Less chance I'd need to take on any zombies. Still not having a weapon on me.

We trot along another ten minutes or so. When the horse suddenly falls. It lands on it's face, and I hit the ground hard. Someone tied a wire across the street connected to two light posts.

Looking at the horse, I see he has a broken leg. And won't be able to continue. I take a moment to sit beside him. Petting his neck in an attempt to comfort him. If I had a way to take him out of his misery, I would.

I hear a voice call out.

"We got something. Having real meat for dinner tonight!"

A few other voices begin cheering. I run into a nearby bush. Hoping it's dark enough they don't notice me.

Four of them emerge from the nearest house. Three men and a woman. They approach the horse and stop at it's side.

"Ma, how many meals you think we can get outta this one?"

The youngest and largest of the group asked.

"Got a good few days before it starts to turn."

Another of the men added.

The horse neighs and whinnies as it tries to get back onto its feet. One of the men kicks its broken leg, saying.

"Still got some fight left in him."

The Mother chimes in.

"Stop that."

Raising the barrel of her rifle and shooting it right in the back of the head.

"Now you boys go on and drag this up to the house."

They were gone before I could even process what just happened.