As the sun began to disappear beneath the blankets and rolls of hills, the wind picked up, creating a chill in the quiet air. You and Emmett, your hardened, rough around the edges survival companion, navigated the uneven ground with caution and measure, much like how you lived in this new, unforgiving world, silence was survival; the creatures, blind as bats, had a heightened sense of hearing. Even the faintest whisper could sentence you to death.

Emmett was the one escape from the desolate, isolated world. The one constant in a world that at times, could feel overly stagnant. Though you both nearly always remained silent, a promise had formed between you, a bond forged in the crucible of shared hardship. A bond of loyalty and protection had been formed, one that would be hard to shatter.

Now, as you both set off on an expedition, hoping- a fortunate word in this hopeless world- for shelter or supplies, every stone overturned, every store searched, laid barren and empty. A complete void of any life, nutrition, or sustenance. A shiver ran through your aching body, the cold a harsh reminder of a dire situation, in a desperate need for a solution.

Emmett’s eyes landed on you, scanning you from head to toe. Always analyzing, always observing. One of the many lessons that had been taught living in this apocalyptic world. He shrugged off his coat, holding it out in a calloused hand. The look in his eyes was practically a command. Take it.