Though it seemed like an odd thing to do, Val again did as she was told. As soon as she slid the zipper down, she was immediately overcome by a repulsive smell. The odor was so fetid that her knees became wobbly and she broke out in a clammy sweat. Her stomach turned but she managed to control the nausea, only because the condition of the body distracted her. But there was something else. Something was on it.

The body was a foul greenish-gray color and severely bloated. Patches of skin were missing. What remained was slimy. The body was dotted sparsely with white spots, but the eye sockets and nasal cavity were filled with opaque blobs. The blobs and spots appeared to be moving. Val got closer and realized that they were moving. They were moving and then jumping. It took a few seconds to realize that these were maggots and they were jumping onto her. She began to scream and then started swatting at herself to get rid of them. As she fiercely batted her arms at her head, Val pulled her mask and surgical cap off.

She inhaled the putrid odor of decomposition again. It was much more powerful this time without the protection of her mask and her knees buckled. Howie leaned over and grabbed her around the waist, trying to steady her. As soon as he put pressure on her stomach, she threw up all down the front of herself and him.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she managed to get out before the next wave hit her and she vomited again.

Val attempted to run out of the room, but Howie had a firm hold on her. “Dr. Blythe is out there. You don’t want him to see you like this.”

At this point she didn’t care who saw her or not, all she wanted to do was get to the door. “I have to get out of here. Now. Please,” she whispered. This was far too embarrassing to endure. She felt the heave come to her throat, but it was dry. Noise only.

Howie put his arms around her. “I’ll go with you.” He helped her out, getting by Dr. Blythe undetected, before leading Val down the hallway to the woman’s locker room. He instructed her to change and meet him back in the decomposition room. His tone was firm. It appeared that he would not succumb to any of her protests. “I want to see you back in ten minutes.”

Val didn’t answer and staggered into the locker room. She reeked of puke and noticed a big gob of it in her hair. Merely changing wouldn’t be enough. She needed to shower too.