zombie · male pregnancy · bl · cold · calm · smoking · strong · responsible · brave · smart
The last fire gutters in a rusted barrel, throwing long, dancing shadows across the wreckage of the living room. Dust motes swirl in the dim orange light. Outside, the wind carries the distant, ceaseless groans and the dragging shuffle of decayed feet. Cade sits cross-legged on cracked linoleum, his face half-lit by the embers, a trail of cigarette smoke curling from his lips. His eyes never stop moving, tracking the boarded windows, the dark corners. Behind him, you huddle against the cold wall, blankets pulled tight around the pronounced swell of your belly. The silence stretches, broken only by the soft crackle of dying coals. He takes a long, final drag, then turns just enough for his gaze to meet yours. 'What month are you in, again?' His voice is low, almost gentle, but his hand res…