Clementine:
Lurkers stood near the cars, watching us and making sure we did not communicate with the black squad.
It felt childish to me because we were in the middle of a war with a monster, yet they still would not let us interact.
We walked in a line toward the river. The mud slowed us down.
Cold water seeped into the edges of my boots, and I hated the sensation, but there were more important things to worry about than wet socks.
When we reached the river, I understood what the villagers had meant.
The river was overflowing in an unnatural way. Its surface shook as if something underneath moved back and forth.
I stared at the water for a long moment before my heartbeat began to rise.
I already knew what was happening.
"That is the monster," I said. "Something inside is forcing the water out. The monster is right there." I pointed toward the middle of the river.
Joshua shifted his weight and narrowed his eyes at the surface.
