Exquisite corpse

This entry is part of an on-line exquisite corpse - a short story told in 10 installments by 10 different authors. My 250 word installment is below; if you're interested in writing the next part, scroll down to the bottom of this post for details on how this all works...

--- --- --- 3. make everything worse, if that was actually possible. “It won’t be the same as last time,” she promised. “We know what we have to do now.” Peter looked across at her; the doubt in his eyes was obvious despite the heavy mist that permeated through the dense bush. Dianne looked back down at her feet. She told herself she had to concentrate if she was going to avoid slipping down the steep path and breaking her neck. That was easier than admitting she couldn’t stand to hold Peter’s gaze for more than a few seconds. Not anymore. Not out here anyway. “They’ve set up a perimeter around the cemetery,” Dianne repeated the words she’d heard but they sounded less promising now that they were here. Still, there was always comfort in organization and procedure. “There are only two possible ways they could have gone – back down on the main road, or…” “Up here. Somewhere,” Peter finished. They continued the hike through the mud without talking for a while, their eyes hunting for even the smallest sign, whether good or bad. The others seemed to have moved away as the search fanned out, leaving Peter and Dianne more alone than they were prepared for. “What will we do if we don’t find them?” Dianne wondered aloud. “You should be more worried about what will happen if we do,” Peter replied. It was starting to get dark; the search was going to be forced to end soon. After nightfall, it wouldn’t be --- --- --- This is part 3 of 10. You can find the other installments here (but DON'T DO THIS YET if you want to join in): 1. www.sleep-dep.blogspot.com (26 June 2009) 2. www.multi-dimensional.blogspot.com (27 June 2009) 3. www.deb-onair.blogspot.com (29 June 2009) 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. WANT TO READ IT? Jump back to the previous entries using the links above. WANT TO JOIN IN? This exquisite corpse operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to write the next installment, FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS: 1.IMPORTANT - Don't read any of the previous entries! Read only the one you see here. 2.ALSO IMPORTANT - Post a comment here, saying “I claim the next entry”, followed by the URL/web address of your blog. If you don't do this, we'll never know where to find you. 3.Copy the text of this blog entry into a new post on your blog, but DELETE THE CHAPTER and write your own as the next installment. Start with the chapter number as I've done here, and start exactly where the last chapter left off (in mid-sentence if necessary). 4.Your entry should be EXACTLY 250 words long, unless you are writing chapter 10, in which case you must bring the story to a conclusion in 250 words or less. 5.At the end of the chapter, where the text reads: “This is part X of 10”, change this to the number of your chapter. 6.Add the URL/web address of your blog and today's date onto the list below that, so people reading later entries can jump back to your chapter. 7.Finish your chapter and post it within 24 hours of claiming your place. There – it's freaking easy! You can go back and read the rest of the story now. 8.IF YOU'VE JUST FINISHED ENTRY #10 and finished the story, DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS from the bottom of your post – they'll just confuse people. ALSO, let CG know by posting a comment on the first entry (on www.sleep-dep.blogspot.com), or sending him an email on squid.mohawk@gmail.com. CG will assemble a full version and send it round to all of the contributors.