Red Spider Lilies [TPN]

Prologue

Considering it's the end of the world, or more like it's happened and I'm still alive, I say it's going pretty well. Sure there are people around me who aren't moving but at least I'm still alive. At least we arent under a facist dictatorship anymore, am I right?

Now what?

Where do I go. There's no one to control me, yet no one to help me. There's no one.

It's so quiet.

I sit up from the rubble and leave my little nook, it's so cold. Even though it's summer time the smoke and ash from the fighting still hasn't cleared. Guess it'll take a while for it to do so, I read about that once.

"I wonder where Ray is, I haven't seen him for 2 weeks." I pause. "I also haven't seen Norman for months... maybe they found each other."

I should try to find them tomorrow.

"Right now I have to go back inside."

The mountain of rubble I've been hiding under has done well to protect me from the elements but not much for food, water or communication. Then again there was that rat I saw yesterday.

---

"Okay, rubble, it's time to bid goodbye. You've done well in means of protecting me but I have to find people. And as you can see its becoming a more urgent trouble since I'm treating you like a person with a conscience."

I grabbed my bag and went outside, it's so cold even though I've covered myself in all the garments I had. To be fair I didnt have many with me.

I sighed, out of all things I miss from my life one of the biggest (under my friends and family, of course) is my closet. It was filled with clothing for all year round. Though small and shared between me and another girl, it was still full of warm garments that I long for.

I look around me, where should I start? Where would Norman and Ray go. They should be around here still, considering the situation. You had to be crazy to be out here for more than 6 hours at a time, I would know.

"Alright, think, Emma, where would they go. To the fallout shelter at the library? No, but maybe other people would be there. Could they have gone to the woods? Maybe they're making their way out without me. Maybe they think I'm not standing anymore."

I shake my head. No way, they know me, I dont die easily (not that I have before but I've been close).

Then it hit me. The farm, a 2 hour walk from here. That was possibly the safest place to go. No one visits that farm anymore.

But can I make it. Sure I can stan roughly 6 hours of this, but that doesn't mean it's good to do it. I also have to think about the air, which feels more and more toxic everyday.

"I have to gear up." I gasp. "Just like in the movies."

I look around though there is a few stores standing, some must have clothing. Maybe even a coughing mask, or even better, a gas mask.

I walk around and try to look through the dusty windows, some have antiques, some are restaurants (which probably have rats in them), until I reach one with clothing. A thrift store.

"Perfect." I push the door, it doesnt budge. "Hm..."

I push and pull, up and down, east and west. No luck.

Though I wanted to be respectful in such an awful time, right now I'm getting impatient. Which means breaking the window and squeezing through. This is successful, as most bricks to glass are when in forceful contact.

I avoid the glass while jumping through, narrowly. The store is full of fashion from all the decades of 2000: 10's, 20's, 30's, and 40's. Though most of it isn't flattering.

I look through the aisles upon aisles, I pick out a few jackets and add an extra pair of pants to my leggings, sweet relief is the best way to describe how warm I feel.

The final detail I add to me, is a scarf wrapped around my head, leaving nothing visible but my eyes. I flip up my hood.

In the broken mirror I exam myself. I dont look to bad, but as soon as society rebuilds itself, never again.

"Okay, looking great, feeling great. Time to look for Ray and Norman."