She reached the building. The door was open and they stepped inside.
She was breathless now. Johnny—so close.... She led Robbie to the stairs and her knees shook as they went up. "Johnny! Johnny!" she called, her voice close to hysteria.
But there was only silence.
She ran down the hall on the second floor, pulling Robbie with her, heard him sobbing. Then she saw the door and the gold letters on it. JOHN THOMPSON.
"Robbie, stay here." She hesitated. Her hands were cold and clammy. She was trembling.
She shoved open the door.
She screamed.
There on the floor lay a body. It had once been a man. Now there was only a skeleton of bleached white bones. Then she saw it. On the ring finger of his right hand. A gold ring with silver letters on black onyx. Johnny's....
Then she was running and screaming. Screaming and running. Down the stairs and out the door. Behind her Robbie followed, crying, terror in his small eyes.
She collapsed on the ground, her body shaking with sobs. Robbie fell beside her.