apocalypse: the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation.

an event involving destruction or damage on a catastrophic scale.

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𝑺𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑺𝑪𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴𝑺
Prologue

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( 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 )

I moved the pencil in a slow up in down motion creating a shade like effect on tree I had just drawn. The full moon light that shone down on the small meadow I sat in proved me enough light to be able to draw the few green leaf trees that sat just a few feet in front of me. I wasn't suppose to be out. I was suppose to be in my sweaty blue polyester sleeping bag I'd called my bed the last two months. Suppose to be sleeping next to my little brother who usually crawled into our mother's sleeping bag that laid across the tent. That was usually after he'd have woken up from a nightmare.

I too was victim to the same haunting nightmares. Although I never crawled to the safety of my mother, I usually just put on a brave face and said I was fine. I never was though. I don't think anyone in our little camp was fine. Hell, I doubt anyone in the country was fine. Not when at any given moment you or your loved ones could be taken. My uncle Shane calls them Geeks. Just one bite and become one. I've only ever seen one once. They don't come up this far north, on the hill top my camp was set up on. They looked like people... only not. With green pale skin thats half fallen off, blood shot eyes that are widen and unblinking. All they do is walk. Walk slowly across the ground until they run into a living soul... then they jump.

I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought.

I drew my knees to my chest, balancing my worn out sketchbook on the top of my knee caps. It was one of the things I'd brought in my backpack the day of the evacuation. It was a rush of grabbing as much as we could fit in our small five seater car and later how much we could carry with our bare hands. While mom worried about the essentials, I worried about possessions.

Things I could physically live without but mentally could not. I grabbed my sketchbook that's pages were filled with drawing done by my fourteen year old self. Of course after two years the book was almost completely filled up. I grabbed my stuffed blue bear which I creative named "blue bear" that I'd had since I was a baby. It was a worn out bear who was more grey than blue and had lost one of its ears. Mom tells me I was a very aggressive toddler.

I had also grabbed an old photo of my dad, dressed in his deputy uniform. It was one mum took on his first day on the force. I had just been born when dad graduated from the academy and joined the force. Him along with my uncle Shane were partners. They'd been best friends since school and since remained strong right up until the accident.

My grip unconsciously tighten on my pencil.

I began drawing a small bird that I couldn't quite make out in the moon light. It looked to be a blue jay but I was never good with birds. I remember when my dad took me and my little brother out onto the farm lands next to our small town. Dad always liked nature. He loved showing me and Carl all the wonders nature had to offer and would sometimes point out different animals we saw and would explain their what they were and their origins. I wished I paid more attention to those but I was always off in my own world.

I guess that's why I was sucked in school.

"Rory?" A harsh whispered voice spoke up from behind me. I cursed at myself as I turned to face the angry concerned face of my uncle Shane.

"What are you doing out here in the dark by yourself you know it ain't safe!" He scolded walking at a normal pace down the small inclined hill where I sat at its bottom. I shrugged turning back to face my forest canvas.

"I couldn't sleep." Was all I could come up with. It was true though. I couldn't sleep in that small four hi four tent that felt like 300 degrees. I heard him sigh and take a seat on a grass patch next to me. He took on the same position as me with his knees to his chest and his hands hung around them loosely. He looked at the trees in front of us with a look I couldn't read. I suddenly wondered one thing.

"What are you doing awake?" I asked now looking at the side of his face. His gaze remained on the meadow.

"I took watch tonight." He short answered me. I mentally smacked myself in the face. Of course they're had to be at least one person awake during the night. In case anything... or anyone showed up.

"But apparently I wasn't watching close enough because a little escapee got out." He joked poking at my ribs. I let a light grin take on my features and used my elbow to give him a small push away.

"I wasn't escaping I was just..." I paused. What was I doing? I wasn't trying to leave camp or purposely get hurt. It was a cool night and yet I felt like a thousand degrees in that tent. I wanted fresh air, that much I knew. But why was I out here in the meadow, sitting down on the short damp grass, drawing my view? I suddenly felt Shane wrap an arm around my shoulders and pull me into his slide. His hand ran up and down my arm.

"I know... I know it's been really hard for you but I promise I'm always here aight. You, your brother and your momma are my only concern." He spoke in a soft tone made to comfort me. In a way it did. I always tried to be brave for mom and Carl. I didn't want them to know I was struggling. That I was scared. That I feared everyday might be my last, or worst their last day. I never told mom about the nightmares or about my fears. She has enough to worry about. I know she still misses dad. When she thinks I'm not looking I see her wipe away a tear and cling onto the sliver chain around her neck that housed her wedding ring.

She was still grieving... hell we all were. When the outbreak started Shane had gone to the hospital were dad was to get him. But had returned telling them he had found him... with a heartbeat. Mom was inconceivable and my brother sobbing and then me... I was just frozen. Like I was waiting for mom to shake me awake and tell me to get ready for school so I could breath a sigh of relief at this only just being a nightmare.

But Shane had been our backbone, comforting us and helping us during the evacuation. If it wasn't for him I know for certain I would be dead. My mother and my brother would be dead. He saved us and for that I am grateful. I try to comfort mom but I know she puts on a brave face for me and my brother. Wanting to protect us from her feelings... just like I'm doing with her. But I know she lets them out with Shane, another reason I'm grateful he's here.

I lean more into his side allowing my head to rest on her shoulder. I guess mom and I are the same in that we let our true emotions out when with Shane. She confides in him and so do I. I've told him of my nightmares, my fears, how I've really been feeling. Things I'm too afraid to tell mom at risk of her worrying more.

I guess it a way I pretend he's dad. I always felt I could tell my dad anything. Whenever around him I always felt safe, always felt loved and felt I could tell him anything and he'd know just what to say. He was always like that.

My eyes caught sight of the watch that sat on Shane's wrist. I watched the hands flicker up to the top. I mentally sighed. Midnight.

Marking the start to another day. Another day to live. Another day to survive.

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꒰⁐⁐⁐⁐୨୧⁐⁐⁐⁐꒱
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
‿︵‿︵‿୨ ୧‿︵‿︵‿

➥　 ⁺　 ₊　 ✿

𝑨𝑼𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑹 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬!!!

My newest prologue done!!

I know what some of y'all are gonna say and I know yes I hate Shane too but Rory doesn't know about all the stuff he's doing. She won't find out until like season two and when she does... oh boy

This isn't gonna be one of those books we're she immediately knows Shane is no good. She doesn't hate Shane if anything she looks at him like a second father. Which is gonna make season two so much more painful

Lori and her will have a very close relationship. I hate seeing fanfics where they villainise Lori and make her abusive. She's not. Yes she makes mistakes but overall I think she's a pretty decent mother for one raising a kid in the apocalypse.

Also my first book writing in first person. Do we like it because I'm finding I'm actually really liking it