AWKWARD ZOMBIE

"Let's..."

Pierce takes a moment to regain his composure.

"Let's forget about those files for a minute and talk about our investigations. I'll start."

"Upon initial investigation, the train wreck seems impassable."

Pierce lowers his voice.

"Maybe someone with a smaller frame could fit through...."

He quickly shot a glance at Diana.

"...But the bulkier members of our group wouldn't fit. I did, however find a crowbar in one of the cars. I think I'll keep it in my house for now. Might liven the place up a little."

Pierce face becomes pale.

"We also....found a survivor. The conductor of the train. Sadly...he passed away shortly afterwards."

"So that's why you all looked so depressed," Whitney remarked. "Well, I checked the caboose. It was the least damaged of all the cars, but I didn't find anything useful in there...aside from this." She procured the old book. "It's got locks all over it though, so unless we find a key I don't think it will be opened." A vague thought occurred to her, but she kept it quiet, waiting to see the reactions of everyone else.

*ding dong*

"This is Tom Nook," Tom's voice came over the intercom. "It is now Nighttime. You may want to hide in your houses until it's safe, upupu..."

"Also, a quick weather forecast. Tonight a heavy fog is going to roll in, so visibility will be low... perfect for sneaking! Tomorrow it's looking to rain almost all day and night."

"That is all, you bastards!"

Diana tries taking her mind off of the secrets, listening to Pierce. "Oh...so there were bodies there? So it looks like I was right about it being a real wreck...it doesn't feel too good to be right." She frowns.



"Are you implying...I should go there tomorrow?" She asks the eagle. "I could certainly try, at least. There are no rules about simply searching, as long as I don't try leaving the town."

And with that, after the announcement rang, she stood up, giving the rest of them a nod, looking to Whitney.

"It needs a key, hmm...?" She scratches her chin, quickly setting off for her house.

"Hmm.... Maybe it belongs to mysterious Novelist? It seems important, though. Keep a good eye on it, sport."



Pierce's voice lowered to beyond a whisper.

"I'm saying that if worse comes to worse, it might be worth a shot. I'd rather not endanger your life like that, but we need to consider our options, hawkeye."



"That doesn't bode well. I think I'll head home and get some shuteye."

Pierce nodded to the group and walked straight home.

"Yes, well, I think I will follow his example and head off myself." Whitney tucked the book under her arm and walked off, still looking thoughtful about something.

unusual and disturbing, surmised Octavian. He nodded quickly to the group before leaving for home, his face blank at the threat reveal of all of their secrets.

Goodnight for realsies fellow villagers

"Wait for me, doroing!" Coco calls out, running after her next-door neighbors so as not to get left alone in the fog.

"Well, I better head home. I should be able to find the way..." Lucky says as he begins walking home.

Pierce stays in his house all night. He spends a few hours pondering today's events, then drifts into an uneasy sleep.