Jon knew that they could not waste too much time arguing. So, Jon packed up a tent and supplies, and headed off with Zoe toward the grove behind the Lutheran church.
Sarah, meanwhile, was making arrangements with Jon's parents about staying in Zoe's room. And Mikey had been told not to make the trip, because of their parents' concerns about Mikey's robot-girl body staying in the elements for a long period of time. Zoe didn't know just how long the process would take, after all. It was possible Jon would be camping out in that grove for a long time.
Along the way, Jon ran into Karyn. "Jon, what's going on? What..."
"It's a long story. Zoe got exposed to the sun and turned into a slime mold thing." Jon said. "Eventually, her body's going to break up and produces spores that will grow back into her eventually or something like that."
"You're oversimplying it, but yes." Zoe replied. "It could be a long time before that happens. Someone has to look after me during the whole process. And the best place to do so is the grove behind the Lutheran church."
"We're going to be all by ourselves there." Jon replied. "Would you like to come with us?"
"I don't know." Karyn replied. "My family really needs me. I've got to run all their errands during the daytime. But if you need me for anything, you've still got my cell phone number. You can call me."
"Thanks." Jon replied.
Jon and Zoe continued on their way. It was not long before they reached the Lutheran church itself. On the left side was the entrance to the woods. Behind it was the little grove where they intended to camp out.
"Well, we're almost there." Jon said. "I just hope we..."
It was just then that a strange creature rushed out of the woods. The creature appeared to have the head and upper torso of a human girl, but the wings and webbed feet of a duck. With a shock, Jon recognized her as their classmate Rebecca 'Becky' Fadil. "You should get out of here! Hurry!" Becky shouted.
"Becky?" Jon asked. "It's me... Jon." Jon had not seen Becky since before the sun changed everyone. "Karyn's friend? From school? You don't recognize me because I'm a slug-girl now."
"Jon, you've got to get out of here!" Becky replied. "Before Steve 'The Stud' comes back."
"Steve 'The Stud' Farber?" Jon asked. "That annoying jerk at school who thinks he's the hottest and coolest thing around?"
"Yes, but he's changed! He got in a fight with his father afterward, and is now hiding in the woods. He doesn't want anyone to see what he looks like now! And if he finds you, he's likely to get really, really, mad. So just go."
There was a loud noise from the woods. Something was moving in the woods ... something big.
"He's coming!" Becky exclaimed. "Get out of here before it's too late!" Becky rushed away down the road with surprising speed for a duck-girl.
Zoe turned to Jon. "We don't have too much time. You have to find a spot for me to rest."
"I don't know." Jon replied. The trees began to shake. The thing ... whatever it was ... was getting closer.
Jon pondered for a moment whether to take Becky's advice and get out of there, or stay and face whatever Steve 'The Stud' Farber had become.
