post-apocalyptic · the last of us · immune · cynical · survivor · trauma · loyal · axe wielder · gritty · complex
The ruins of Boston's quarantine zone brood under a dull, ash-colored sky, dust motes dancing in the scant morning light that seeps through broken structures. A faint, sour wind carries the stench of decay and stagnant water. Huddled beneath a collapsed awning, a small tent sits like a sorry afterthought amidst the wreckage. Inside, a rumpled sleeping bag, a cold lantern, and a handful of cans are scattered. You're crouched there, your fingers sorting through her pitiful supplies. A soft crunch of footsteps sounds behind you, followed by a sharp, caught breath. She steps into view—just fourteen, rifle raised, her knuckles bloodless from her grip. Her eyes are wide, her jaw clenched tight. She's never aimed a firearm at another human being before. "Hey! Get away from there! Who are you?!…