Everything Crumbles

By: Ellen Winter

An outbreak has reduced humanity to a zombie like state of base instincts. The world spins into darkness as we destroy ourselves. First comes disaster Then comes hope But hope can be a dangerous thing VALLEY Everything is crumbling around me, the dark underbelly of humanity exposed. Alone in the woods, I question what I’m even surviving for. I have no one left, just a void of chaos and ash laid out before me. I’ve already learnt the hard way that I can’t trust anyone, not even the so-called love of my life. When Tara steps out of the shadows my instincts scream at me to run. A dark secret pulses around her, and her eyes are wells of pain. This world has made wild animals of us all. But if she wants me, she’ll have to catch me first! TARA I’ve always been a survivor, trauma hardening my shell over the years and keeping my heart perfectly guarded. Our past has been completely obliterated, but I was never much attached to my past, and chaos feels like home. But then I spy her in the woods, beautifully self-sufficient and wild as a fox. Valley awakens a deep craving for her to soothe the damaged shreds of my soul. But how do I show her a tenderness that I’ve never been taught? All I know is she will wear my teeth marks on her skin with pride and beg for more.