Roderick jumped down from the box and stood, ashen faced, looking at us. His eyes were wide and the tears flowed freely down his cheeks wetting the collar of his shirt.

“What did you see?” Reese asked, her voice trembling. I grabbed her hand and held it tightly, my own throat tight with fear. She gave my hand a squeeze back and we stood together waiting for Roderick’s response. In the corner Georgie started to wail and fell to her knees rocking back and forth, wrapping herself into a tight ball and shielding her ears from what he had to report with her arms.

He put his hands up to his face in what appeared to be an attempt to wipe away the tears and what he’d just seen from his eyes. Lingering for a minute, he composed himself and then lowered his hands to his sides, his fingers shaking as he did so.

“Roderick, what is it? Please tell us, you’re scaring me.” I quivered.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at us and the tears started rolling again.

“Bodies…lots of…bodies.” He choked out. His hands went to his face again to cradle it as he sobbed.

Reese and I gasped in shock and Georgie started screaming. I quickly let go of Reese’s hand and ran to Georgie, falling to my knees to embrace her in a massive hug. She hugged me back and started crying into my shoulder, her tears wetting my t-shirt.

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“Are you sure?” Reese asked.

He nodded mutely and looked away, not able to look Reese in the eyes.

In disbelief Reese went to see for herself. Roderick put an arm out to stop her but she pushed him away. She climbed up on the boxes and tentatively looked out the window. I watched as her face turned pale and she wobbled. Roderick quickly grabbed her as she stumbled backwards, falling from the box she had been standing on. She turned her head away from him and began to vomit violently.

Taking a deep breath, I let go of Georgie and rose to my feet.

“I need to see for myself.” I said determinedly.

“No Ariah, that really isn’t a good idea.” Roderick said hoarsely, his hands still shaking.

Ignoring Roderick, I walked towards him and clumsily climbed up onto the boxes next to him. A couple toppled to the ground as I got my balance and adjusted my weight so that they wouldn’t cave in under me.

Roderick embraced me and held me tightly. I paused and let his kindness comfort me, but I still had an overwhelming urge to see what had happened. Untangling myself from his arms, I moved towards the window. He grabbed my wrist in another attempt to stop me.

“Let her look Roddy, she’s going to have to eventually.” Reese mumbled before vomiting again. Roderick looked at me sadly and let me go.

I gulped and moved forward. My throat felt tight again. Shaking, I climbed up on the box at the window and looked out.

I was definitely not prepared for the horrific scene before me.