There’s a two week deadline.  The Dames will pick the entry which most intrigues us, post that entry in the next month’s ROD  along with a link to that writer/reader’s site-if there is one included.  And you get a prize!

As of now, the ROD is on hiatus while the Dames think of ways to freshen it up.  :)

The winner of ROD #36 is Sam. Congratulations Sam!! Send me your mailing address (rindaelliott(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll get it to Dame Jackie for your copy of the Loss ARC!

Fingers brushed my back. Heart pounding, I jumped off the cliff. For a second I was flying, then water crashed around me, bitingly cold. My lips slipped apart, air streaming out and water pouring in. My lungs burned, begging for air. Finally, my head burst free. Air! Coughing, I shivered as I heard their moans.

They never stopped.

Glancing up, I watched as they pushed against each other while trying not to fall. Something about water kept them away. Thankfully. Now I just needed to wait till dawn, when the sun would burn them.

Liza’s head broke the surface of the water beside me, her tangled hair hiding her face.

“Liza!”

Her hands jerked out suddenly, catching me on my bruised side. Gasping, I slipped below the surface. Resurfacing, I got a wave of water in my face as she swam off.

“Hey!” I yelled. “What are doing?”

She was racing towards the beach… and the crowd of infected there. I started after her. I was almost there when she stood up, the water splashing around her calves. Treading water, I yelled her name again.

An inhuman howl cut the air. I didn’t realise it was Liza till she fell to her knees. Shudders racked over her body as the infection took hold. I forced myself to turn away. She must have gotten bitten. There was nothing I could do. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to ignore her screams.

It was going to be a long night.