Degeneration

STORY The storm was louder than ever and it was snowing again outside. It was Atohi’s watch up in the church’s second tower. He’d been up there for at least two hours, watching for signs of life. There was nothing, no movement except the falling snow; the same as always. Sweeping the distant snowfield, Atohi scanned back over the same spot, brows furrowed. “Something’s different”, he muttered quietly. Zooming in, he could just make out large footprints in the crisp snow. He followed them with the binoculars, pausing and scanning back as his gaze swept over a flash of red. There, standing several miles away stood the man in the old red coat, watching him. Atohi reeled in shock, the binoculars tumbling from his hand, stumbling back. Fear filled his mind, overwhelming him as the world turned black, and he collapsed to the stone floor. Since the snow started falling, many have entered the church...