It takes a few minutes to free myself entirely. I spend a few more stretching. Covered in gore, the smell turning my stomach, I find my way to Yoder's closet and take some fresh clothes. Then wash my hands and face in the washroom. And Make myself a small meal in the kitchen. Amos did say to take my time.

Finally, scythe in hand. I head out the front door. No question in my mind where Amos wanted me too meet him. Not far from Yoder's door lies a ring of bodies. There must be at least sixty people there. Stacked two high. How did he do this? He must have been setting it up for hours. God, this has to be nearly everyone in the community.

"Do you like it?"

Amos yells over the wall, from the inside.

"Yoder helped me set it up."

There's a door way of sorts, A gap left open, with two bodies left to the side. I approach and stop at the entrance.

Amos continues.

"I suggested we have a mass cremation. A bit unorthodox sure. But he went for it. It's like you told me. When people don't know what to do, they'll listen to anyone willing to guide them. The poor guy, he was so sure they were killing each other. Of course he eventually realized it was me. Hunting them down and well... you know."

Any hope of finding a cure was gone now. There's no one even left to give it too. There is those two little girls. Maybe one or two others. But I can't think about that right now. No time to think of other options. Right now, I have to deal with Amos. Then I can clean this all up and figure out what to do next.

I step into the ring. Amos puts his hands up.

"Before we start, could you please help me seal this door up. Hardly any reason to make a ring if you're going to leave an opening."

Begrudgingly I oblige. We use the two remaining bodies left to the side. Barely recognizable at this point. But I can tell one of them is, or was Susanna. No doubt an intentional move.

We back off to opposite ends of the ring. Both drawing our weapons. Just like before, Me with my scythe, Amos with his axe.

We begin our advance. The scythe is not ideal in this situation. It simply wasn't designed for this. If Amos can get in close, he has the advantage. I need to find a way to make the scythe work in close range. I made keeping him away work before. But I don't think that will be enough this time. I need to do some serious damage.

Realizing if I'm going take him out at range. I'll need to make a wide swing. Which is risky because it would be too slow and easy to defend against. I need to get Amos between the blade and myself. Then pull it in towards me. While kicking him towards the blade. I need to get in and make the first contact, Holding the scythe on both ends I pretend the blade isn't there for the mean time. I want to stun him first. I know Amos is going to be blindly swinging in a rage when I get into range. If I use strategy, I may be able to win this.

We both reach the middle of the ring. As expected Amos chops downward toward my head. Holding the scythe to my chest, I'm prepared for this and sidestep. then pushing the scythe out, the handle goes around his neck. I'm behind him. Pulling the scythe Back to me. Choking him with it. The axe in his left hand. He swings around himself and gets me in the ribs on my right side.

Collapsing to the ground I hold my side. It can't be over yet. fifteen seconds and I'm down already.

Backing off Amos says.

"Stand up Levi, I want a real fight."

I look at my hand expecting blood but finding none. His axe is quiet dull now, and there was not much power in the swing, most of it absorbed by his own body being in the way. Still I can barely stand.

"Oh come on Levi, I barely hit you."

I don't let him know he hit my already broken ribs.

Again at opposite ends we begin our approaches once more. Both walking methodically this time.

"Ya know Levi. You really should just get infected. I know I'll be like them soon. But after this what's left to live for anyways. For right now, it's great. I feel no pain. And my ankle is now fully healed. Guess I didn't need to break those fingers of yours after all."

Meeting in the middle he swings down again. Raising the scythe I use the middle to block the chop. Axe suspended above my head, I kick. Hitting hard, directly into his knee. It gives out and he falls. Seeing the opportunity I step back and swing the blade. Directly to the inside of his elbow. After contact is made, Its a hard pull toward myself. Slicing his arm open all the way to the palm. Blood pouring out the gash is deep. The handle of the scythe rams into my ribs. Throbbing pain prevents me from following up, I pause for a moment.

Standing up Amos says.

"Ho Brother, This is what I wanted. Look at his. I can't even move this arm anymore."

I regain my stance. Trying to hold off on registering any pain until this is over.

With only his left arm working now, I should be at the advantage. Amos swings from the my left this time. I manage to get my scythe over in time to block, But I don't catch the handle of the axe. The head burst straight through the shaft of my scythe. Breaking it in two. Before I can process what happened he's swinging back. The blunt end hits like a hammer straight to the side of my head. My vision goes dark for a moment. I feel myself fall onto something.

Sight returns and I realize I've hit the wall of bodies. My back rested against they, they are propping me up. Amos stands over me.

"Eye for an eye."

He swings down on my right ankle. Three times. Four. I lose count.

Knowing this is my last opportunity I raise the half of my scythe that has the blade with both hands. It tears across the back of his knees. Collapsing once more. Tendons gone. He won't be standing back up. Grabbing the axe, I toss it over the wall.

"That's not how a fair fight works Levi."

Stumbling to get behind him I realize my right foot is still sitting on the grass. Completely detached from my leg. I press the bloody stump that once was my ankle against his back and press the blade to his throat. One quick pull, a little gargling, and he's done.

No blood comes out. Just the silver slime that had been working its way up to his brain. The slime abandoned ship once the host body died.

Feeling weak from loss of blood, I want to lay down and give up. Embrace death. But the slime is on the move, coming toward me. And I don't want to become like the rest. I grab my boot, still housing my foot. and drag myself over the wall.