Bab 164: Desperation in its Raw Form

Zen could see Anastasia from a distance.

Her pale arms are reaching, and her dark head is dipping under the water only to emerge once again. Ignoring the pain in his side, he began to broad-stroke with the current. He pauses every so often to check his position to her.

"Hang on, Sia. I'm coming. Wait for me. Please, wait for me."

A bone-deep exhaustion crept over Zen. He couldn't remember a time when he'd felt this physically spent. His vision was blurred - Anastasia's form is no longer visible in the rapids ahead. And he knew it was pointless, but he still called out for her.

Her name was stolen midway from his mouth as he suddenly spotted something in the water. Euphoric, he thought it to be a a human body -

Or rather, a certain zombie's.

"Sia...!!!"