The cry went up as I approached the Healers Guild. I stopped, uncertain what was going on, and peered through the darkness. I saw shapes moving. They were hideous, deformed creatures, shambling through town as the healers within the guild attempted to save those townspeople outside the circle. I, unfortunately, had the Undead between me and the Guild's Circle of Power.

I moved to my left, towards the relative safety of the trees. Some of the dark shapes behind me moved quickly after me. "Greater Undead." I thought to myself. "Now I'm in for it." I had no weapon that could affect Greater Undead, so I ducked behind the trees, trying to lose them. I half ran, half slid down the hill, and came to my feet in a pile of leaves that crackled loudly. I ducked under a branch and headed towards the trail.

Suddenly, they were all around me. I threw a Lightning Bolt at one, and backed up slowly. He went down, and I realized they were only Zombies; the Greaters were still up the hill. I took out my sword, and moved forward. There were two more of them. I lunged to the left, swung to the right, and cut one. I was no great swordsman, but their slow movement allowed me to hold my own against the two of them. I backed up against a tree, ducked as the one I had hit clawed at me, and cut him down. I heard the sounds of the Greaters crashing towards me, and decided that it was time to leave.

I ducked under the claws of the other Zombie and ran down the trail. I realized I was getting further and further from any potential help. I spotted the dark shape of a row of bushes beside the trail and ducked behind them. I landed on my side and skidded to a stop, trying to control my breathing as I listened for the sounds of pursuit. They were not long in coming. I could hear the sounds of several pairs of feet approaching my hiding place, and a voice that sounded like fingernails on a rusty gate saying, "Find him. He has the amulet that the Master wants. He dropped right about here."

I scuttled backwards into the brush, pulling the cloak over me and trying to be quiet. They knew! How had my theft of the amulet been discovered so soon? And how did they know it was me? I lay there, my breath sounding like forge bellows in my ears. A hand touched my shoulder...