𝙋𝙍𝙀𝙑𝘼𝙄𝙇

ii. ignorance is kind

━ DESOLATION SILVERED THROUGHOUT the ghost town; clinging onto every perception of an ordinary life. Blood coated the concrete, as the stench of decay polluted the distinct area. For a moment Athena clutched her nostrils, and mouth shielding her senses of the horrific smell.

     Nausea slushed around her stomach, struggling to fathom how upsetting the aroma of death lingered within the atmosphere. Unsure how long it'd be until she'd grown accustomed to the word's new horrific fragrance. For a moment Athena stood close to Matt's old pickup truck, taking in the new scenery and concept of eroded destruction.

     Christmas lights tackily hung onto the brick walls of the three isolated businesses. The words Happy Holidays had become chipped, tampered in a mixture of dried blood. Athena became under the impression that the establishment had seen far too much throughout the course of two months.

     Jumping to the conclusion that the reality of true demise was existent, and the naive mindset she held was just a concept of a fool's paradise.

     Athena clung onto her jacket tightly, wrapping her arms around her chest as the vicious wind began to eat her alive. Instead of remaining close to the truck while her few group members sorted out equipment necessary for today's run; Athena slowly made her way to the store's window.

     Finally getting to savor what corruption truly tasted like. No longer grasping onto an illusion that displayed itself to be even farther from the truth.

     Fascination crept underneath her skin, as she peered inside the window. Almost forgetting what the inside of a store looked liked, proving that she'd been locked away in the comforts of her hotel room for far too long.
Athena's vision became memorized by the amount of vintage furniture, vaguely recalling memories of her grandmother's house. How horrendous the interior was decorated, always looking like the epitome of a 1970's movie set.

       A smile gilded onto her face, oh how Athena would do anything to return to that tacky little house. Suddenly all thoughts disappeared as a loud bang sent her tumbling backwards.

      The girl's heart rate inclined, clutching onto her chest as she managed to catch her breath. Immediately Athena's eyes widened, as her eyes caught onto the woman behind the window. Slamming her hand against the window, comping it's dislocated jaw hungrily. Only having one instinct.

     To break the glass and fed upon Athena's flesh.

     The infected woman's body was slightly decayed, bones bulging out of the side of her face, missing a large portion of skin around the cheek area. She was lathered in dried blood, signalling that she'd been decomposing in the depths of the store since the beginning.

      Athena tilted her head, focusing upon the dead woman quite amazed. Courageously she took two steps closer to the window, wondering what exactly happened to her. The woman's actions became more vicious the closer Athena stepped to the window, aching to indulge within the dead's only sensation.