I decided to change the story back to PG13. One chapter doesn't make a story R. It is a regular and continuous barrage of bad things which make a story R. Enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 7: Tomorrow's Aftermath

Zack searched through his cabinets for something to eat. It was early morning, and he still was tired. Where was everything? No food anywhere. He'd have to go to the store today. Well he might as well go now. He scratched his empty belly as he opened the door to his house.

The world passed by Zack in an instant. Something wasn't right. There was no sound of seagulls in the air, and there was this smell. Zack's brain just wouldn't register it. There was red everywhere. Why was everything red? What was going on? Why couldn't he understand? There was some sort of lump among all the red, slightly moving as the waves tried to push it into a pile of shipping crates.

"That's... What? Is that Won?" The pounding in Zack's head wouldn't stop. That was blood that was everywhere, saturating the sand. The overwhelming stench of blood flooded his nostrils. "I, no... Won..." Zack fell forward to his knees and heaved up the contents of his stomach. He took a deep breath and once again the smell of blood hit him. Zack dry retched till he was out of breath.

What happened? Zack's head was spinning. It was incomprehensible. He's lifelong friend, gone, murdered so violently. Stumbling, he climbed back up and ran as fast as he could away from the beach.

What was he going to do? He had to find the Mayor or Harris. They would know what to do. Weak in the stomach, it was all he could do to keep from falling again. Zack ran, barely able to keep from panicking. He had to keep a level head. Harris could be anywhere in town, so he had to go to the Mayor.

The Mayor's house, right next door to Jeff's store. Funny how he ended up so close to where he had originally wanted to go. Zack burst into the Mayor's house and tripped on the doorframe.

The Mayor stared down at his surprise visitor, all sprawled out across the floor. "What in the name of the Harvest Goddess is going on here? Zack, you look like you have seen a ghost!"

"I might as well have," Zack panted heavily. He tried to stand back up, but his legs buckled and he crashed back down to the ground.

"My you are a mess. Please sit down and tell me what is going on."

"You don't understand. I have to... Won murdered..." Zack gave up on standing and just laid there trying to catch his breath.

"What in the world? Are you sure Zack? We must take precautions immediately!" The Mayor helped him sit up and held a cup of tea up to Zack's lips. "You need to drink and get your strength back, I'm going to need your help."

"What do you want me to do?" Zack said after he managed to get himself under control.

"I want you to go throughout town and tell everyone what has happened. To be certain that no harm comes to anyone else, tell everyone to stay in groups of at least three, with two able bodied people per group. That way if the murderer decides to try something again there is guaranteed to be somebody to at least give a fight. Then get them all to come to Rose Square. If we stay in a large group, we should be able to protect ourselves. Then we can work about figuring out who the murderer is."

"I'll do my best!" He was right to have come to the Mayor. Zack was still a bit weak in the knees but he managed to walk without falling. He'll go get Ellen and Stu first, they had absolute no way to protect themselves. Just please, he wanted nothing more than that they wouldn't find any more dead bodies.