Suction sound of three pair of rubber covered feet echoed through the fog shrouded landscape. The middle occupant sunk up to her knees. Her dancer trained body couldn't handle the ruggedness of walking through this primal swamp. Their armored car got stuck then sunk setting up their situation of walking. The signal to stop came from Rath's clinched fist.
The ground shook as the black object came nearer. She wanted to run, but her legs didn't react besides the rope around her waist would trip her up.
"Why did I listen to him?" she thought.
Her traveling companions didn't move. If she didn't follow them and stood between them, she would've believed them to be statues.
She wanted reassures from them. The fear of attracting the black object stopped that attempt. It grew bigger still the mist obscured her vision. It moved better through the swamp water they did.
Slowly going by, her eyes followed its footsteps squish against the mud soften ground. Her muscles tensed up ready to run, but no signal from Rath and Jess was given.
Slowly the object faded further into the mist. Finally the footsteps faded away enough for Rath to start moving further into the mist.
"No turning back for us," thought Kate continuing their trek through knee deep water.
Slowly the water went to their ankles. Finally solid ground. Fog cleared up where pieces of pavement under their feet was seen. It made walking easier. Uphill they went. Scenery around them looked like a bad lost world movie.
No more worrying about sinking with section of pavement not claimed by the vegetation went in the same direction they traveled. Reaching the top of the hill, trees cleared so the outline of Manhattan Island could be seen along with the signs of decay and nature reclaiming the steel and concrete buildings. If it was bad from their vantage point, Kate didn't want to imagine how it was in the city, but she was going to find out soon enough. Seeing their next destination didn't give Kate any hope. The moss covered the George Washington Bridge still stood even if sections of it was missing.
Shifting her backpack, her tired legs continued on until they reached they reached the bridge entrance. Here they rested. Actually she rested as Rath and Jess began removing their wet suits. Noticing how her body seemed enhanced by the tight rubber brought giggles from her lips then her traveling companions attention on her.
"Care to share the joke," said Rath putting his grey coveralls on.
"You wouldn't understand," Kate replied.
"Try me."
"I'm a ten in this suit."
The confused look on Rath's face just brought more laughter.
"Believe she's meaning that she's ready to be eaten by the next sex crazed degenerate," commented Jess, "It's funny a smart guy like you don't see it."
"Maybe my humor took a back seat."
Unzipping Kate's wet suit, "Maybe you need to relax and remind us why," pointing to Kate's cleavage, "you're not horny."
Rolling his eyes, he walked away staring at the long path into New York City.
"You embarrassed him," said Kate pulling her wet suit off.
"Sometimes it helps not letting him get too serous," commented Jess sliding coveralls on.
Putting her coveralls on, Kate watched Jess putt her red hair into a ponytail.
"I even asked about the white batch over your left eye," said Kate asking while Jess braided Kate's black hair.
"It's remind me why I kill vampires and for nosy girls to ask personal questions."
"Better then your questions about what about my sex life."
"Touché," replied Jess wrapping a doe rag under her head, "Get some sleep."
Getting into a sleeping bag, Kate looked at Rath returning then laid her head down.
Sitting down, "Too bad we can't hold our breath," remarked Rath.
"Those tunnels were flooded," replied Jess.
"I got first watch."
"I'll kill you if you let me oversleep," she said laying beside Kate..