Arthur had seen death before. He had caused enough of it to recognize the moment a body ceased to be a person and became something the living had to step around. But this—
For several seconds, he could find no words for it.
The cold had not preserved everything. Decomposition had begun in the older bodies, and the smell grew stronger as he moved away from the entrance. It settled at the back of his throat, sickly and persistent.
His stomach tightened. Arthur stopped breathing through his nose, but it barely helped.
A child watched him from behind the bars. Then her gaze shifted to Rose and Salina, and she shrank farther into the corner.
Arthur looked back at the two researchers. Neither seemed troubled by the smell. Rose glanced toward one of the cells with the distracted familiarity of someone checking whether a shelf had been properly stocked, while Salina simply waited for instructions.
Arthur swallowed.
[Host, are you alright?]
