Author's notes: Well, I've finally found some time to myself, time to continue the story. I'm glad to see these reviews. Next chapter I'll resolve some of the inconsistencies.
Jennifer reached the park, just in time. She was nearly out of breath by the time she had laid out her picnic blanket on the hill. Edward arrived on the spot, and they began to eat. After finishing up their meal, they decided to lie down and watch the clouds go by. After what seemed like hours, they decided to go home. Edward said, "If there's anything you need, just come over to my house and ask." Jennifer nodded, and they went their separate ways to their respective houses.
When Jennifer arrived at her own house, however, she sensed that something was horribly wrong. She opened the door, and gasped at the sight. There were walking corpses shambling about, and the walls were stained with blood. Jennifer was struck dumb for a split second, but then she came to her senses. The ghouls menacingly advanced on her, but she was much faster than them, and ran towards the kitchen screaming "Helen, are you OK? Are you here!" When she arrived in the kitchen, she saw Helen, only something was wrong. She was holding a large cleaver, and a red oni mask had fused itself onto her face. "Helen, thank goodness you're OK. Pass me a knife; I'll help fend off those ghouls. Helen, or the thing that seemed to be Helen, grinned.
"No, I don't think so Jennifer. You see, these marvelous creatures are my pets, and your friend Helen is dead." She said, though the voice was distinctly Helen's "I am the Butcher George Maxwell, and you are about to join the ranks of my pets." The Butcher, as Helen now called herself, lunged at Jennifer with her cleaver. Jennifer dodged to the side, and instead of severing her head, the blade simply scratched her on the shoulder. Jennifer ran out of the house and headed down the road. The Butcher watched calmly. "After her, my glorious pets, and take your time. It's no fun to kill too quickly. I want to see suffering." And the ghouls wandered off into town.
Jennifer ran off towards Edward's house. Her legs were burning, but she ignored the pain, knowing that she would be torn limb from limb if she were to stop. She came to her destination at last. For the past year, Edward had been living with the Mason family. They had moved in after the Clock Tower murders, and were only too happy to adopt an "amnesiac" orphan boy. There was the mother Julia Mason, the father Alexander Mason, and their 12 year old daughter Maria Mason. They lived in a house similar to Jennifer's own. Jennifer ran down the walkway to the door. She knocked urgently, and Edward opened the door.
"Jennifer, thank goodness you're alright. The town is on full alert. Walking corpses have been coming out of your house, and I thought you'd been torn to shreds." His speech was interrupted by a moaning sound. "Speak of the devil! Hurry inside Jennifer, Nolan and Gotts are already here." Jennifer ran into the house, and Edward closed and locked the door. Inside, the Mason family, along with Nolan and Gotts, were sitting near a pile of tools and gardening supplies.
"Mr. Mason" Jennifer said, "is there anything we can do?" Mr. Mason shrugged.
"Well, I think we'll have to fight them. They don't seem all that strong, and they're definitely slow and stupid. Gotts was off duty when they attacked, so we only have what we brought in from the tool shed." Jennifer turned to Nolan, who was closest to the pile of equipment.
"Nolan" she said, "what can we use to fight?" Nolan looked over at the pile.
"Well, there are some pitchforks, some hatchets, a couple of machetes, and a pair of hedge clippers. But these monsters just keep coming, and if we want to stop them, we'll have to go directly to the source and find out what's causing them to rise." Jennifer sighed.
"I think I know why they're rising; I just don't know the details." She sat down and began her explanation…