A Blossom Of Hope

chapter one, a wooden cabin

It was five years ago when the outbreak happened it's kinda fuzzy since I was thirteen at the time. Wait why am I writing this down? it's not like anyone's going to read it. You know how teachers say how you should write down your day in a dairy journal thingie, like who wants to know about some random eighteen year olds life. Oh god why am I doing this well it was good I guess? Well as good as it can be in a post-apocalyptic world. Umm so bye peace out.:)

The girl shut her book as it made a small echo her ocean like eyes shift up off the journal as she took in the surroundings. She looked around as the leaf's rustle in the background in the midday sun. As the cool breeze blows by her face while laying against a tree. A quiet rustle following with a stick braking escapes from the near by shrubs. "Oh come on it's too early to run away from those creepy things," she muttered to herself in a hushed yet annoyed tone.

Instead of seeing those black broken like creatures she had expected to grab a glance of, A little brown Rabbit hops out of the shrubs. A sigh of relief leaves the girl's lips and she grabbed some grass close by her keeping it in the palms of her hands, leaning it down to the rabbit. The rabbit was weary, but hesitantly made its way to her, perhaps it had been someone's beloved pet once long ago. It seemed to be older in age from the grey flicks in its fur, she was surprised a small animal could last so long in this world of hers. When the rabbit was distracted she pat it slightly, the rabbit flinched ever so slightly, and a sigh left her parted lips. "I'm sorry little guy, but I'm afraid todays your last.. I haven't eaten in days." She hummed out softly, feeling remorse but she needed to eat. The girl didn't know how much longer her body could handle without food, she already felt faint. Her hands reached out and they wrapped around the rabbits neck and a sharp snap Emmitted from the rabbits body along with a high squeak. She felt horrible instantly. Who was she to take something's life, she was just trying to survive like it.. but she had to eat, and in the end it was either her or the rabbit. She pushed her feelings away, she couldn't afford to be so weak, not like this.

(Time skip).

She blew out the fire as embers fly around the surrounding heavily wooded area, as she savoured the last bite in her mouth. Though the texture was slightly grainy it was a heavenly taste she hadn't had in so long. Dusk was arriving and she had to leave and find shelter quickly as the monsters would be drawn to the smoke, and they'd be quick since it was getting dark.

"Shit.. I gotta find somewhere to stay for the night." She muttered out accidentally. after searching for close to an hour she luckily found a small cabin, her hands wiped the dusty window and she tried to peer into the cabin. Unfortunately dust had laid on the inside as well. The girl cautiously went to open, the door had scuff marks beneath the door, the brass doorknob worn yet dusty showing it hadn't been used in years. Her gloved hand opened in gently, stepping back as it makes a loud creak echo all throughout the cabin. She stood still, slightly behind the door, as she waited to see if anything happened. the sun being the only source of light that was inside the cabin, she grabbed a worn flashlight turning it on as it flickered slightly, but a few bangs on her hand and we were back in business. Shining the torch around the dusty room, as items made of metal glint as she moved the light across the room. there seems to be two doors and an archway, "I should probably look in the bathroom first to see if they have-.. or well had any suppressants, since there's hardly any left and being in heat with a fogged mind in this type of apocalypse is a death wish. it would also be great luck if they had scent blockers as well." Though that's all it would be, luck. And she knew there would probably be none. She gently closed the door behind her as it made a soft click and she began to look around. She looked around before her eyes landed to the ground and a dark red trail, her eyes widened, is that- was that- blood.. A dark red almost black sustenance led to a door, slightly rubbed on the knob. "It's fine. It's old."she says to herself, trying to calm down from the sight of blood. "It's old and dark, it is okay. everything is fine" she slowed her breathing, as she was trembling slightly. Blood always brought back bad memories for her. She looked at it for a moment"I'm just-.. going to save that one for last, whatever or whoever it was is probably long gone." She hoped to herself, though she knew it was bad to leave it be. As something could be alive and it could be one of those creatures. But she'd feel safer in mind if she left it. She walked through the house, her light flickering slightly, she walked past an old leather couch that seemed to get a lot of love from its old owners as it was worn quite some, there were shelves with plates and a place that looked like there used to be a hunting rifle, as there was the faint outline of it on the wall from the lack of sun exposure and some pegs hanging out to hold it in place. Part of her wished it was still there so she could use it but oh well. There were some paintings and the lights above seemed to be those old chandelier ones that old people always seemed to have. She smiled faintly. This cabin seemed to be loved by its old owners. She walked past the coffee table which was in front of the brown leathered couch, it had a few magazines and two old chipped mugs. She walked to the archway and slowly crossed into it. It was an old kitchen, it was dusty and the sun was only faintly showing through the small window. She quickly closed the curtains in case something or someone may look through. She shun her flashlight around and quickly made to raiding the cupboards for some food. She found a few cans and she stuffed them in her worn out light blue dirty bag. Though some seemed to have already been eaten, and there were old finger marks like someone grazed their fingers to the dust, though dust had already nestled its way into the place once more covering the faint prints. Once satisfied with her fingers around the dusty kitchen that was littered with old already eaten cans she made her way out and back to the main room. She then turned to the door which wasn't all covered with blood and an ominous trail and she walked over turning the old bronze handle. And her gaze was met with an old bedroom.

"just my luck of course it's the bedroom". She mumbled softly, Glancing around the dusty space. There was a bed in the centre and pressed to the wall with old stained sheets, a Dark brown bedside table that looked to made of oak. She noticed a glinting object in the corner of her eye. but other than that the room looks safe. Walking over to the glinting object as floor boards creaking with almost every single step she took no matter how soft. She stood In front of it, Picking up the glinting metal item, gently swiping the glass from the frame.. it was a picture of an older couple. they seemed so happy and were smiling brightly while holding each other, there was writing on the back saying, for we shall always hold one another my dear. she brushed the picture with her thumb before setting it on the bedside table were if belonged. She didn't bother snooping in this room, she just felt bad for the old owners of the cabin. They seemed so happy and she knew they probably didn't make it, she didn't want to be the person to ruin the mood but she knew that they probably didn't survive like many others didn't. A small sigh left her mouth and made her way from the room. Gently closing the door behind her.

Now.. it was time for that room covered in blood, well at least from the outside. She made her way to it, her breath held in her throat as her gloved hand turned the knob. a faint putrid smell instantly hit her sensitive nose and she covered it as the scene was laid Infront of her. A bloody room and a withered body layed in the tub, a note on the sink. She almost gagged softly. She had tried to grow used to such scenes but she could only do so much. She picked up the note to read..

To whomever may have found my letter, I'm sorry deeply. In the end of everything I couldn't protect the one I loved and I suppose this would be my karma. I'm sorry to have led you to such a sight. I hope I can just find my love in the after life. I don't have much time left. I have to end this, I've already lost everything and everyone I loved.. goodbye..

Tears welled in her eyes as she read the note in her hands. She gently put it down in place, though the sight of the man in the tub was horrible she had things to do in the end. And though she felt horrible. Her hands reached up to the medicine cabinet and she opened it looking through it. She couldn't find anything of use though. No suppressents and no scent blockers.. she looked at the body once more before apologising for disturbing it's eternal rest. And she walked from the room closing the door. She made sure to sweep once more before setting up camp in the main room making sure everything was locked. Before passing out on the couch into a deep sleep. Hopefully tomorrow would bring something New.

1741 words, hope you enjoyed!