The prison yard didn’t look the same as it used to. Once, it was an isolated place, fenced in and heavily guarded. It was still fenced in, of course, but the guards were no more. They were either dead or long gone, but dead was the more likely option. Jose felt pity for them, as many times as he’d hated them.
The weights were still there, haphazardly pressed against the gates. This area had been undisturbed by the chaos during the first few days. One of the benches was turned over on its side. Jose went over to it and righted it.
“Can’t believe I was here with Evan two weeks ago.”
The dragon’s chest always spoke of great wealth, of treasures like nothing you’ve ever experienced. People dreamed about it and heroes sought after it, while failing to find it. It was just a silly fantasy, until Edgar found it for real.
Inside was nothing but a single egg. He touched it with the pad of a finger, taking in the soft fragility of the thing. It wasn’t gold or jeweled or a precious stone. It was an actual egg.
“It makes sense doesn’t it?” Edgar asked Lor, his faithful companion. “There are maybe a dozen dragons left in the world. What would be more valuable to a dragon than an as of yet unfertilized egg. They’re viable for hundreds of years like this. It could become a dragon someday.”
A prison seems to be operating normally, but a sickness is brewing.
People become sick.
Zombies rise.
Nick meets Jeff, Jose and several others.
They escape the prison and find out things went to hell fast.
A woman is saved.
A woman chooses suicide.
The group tries and fails to liberate another prison.
A slaver is destroyed.
A sort of utopia is found.
Nick held her close, Reyna’s body already cold. The young mother had done the only right thing for her and he supposed he couldn’t blame her. This world was dark and seeing what she saw, she probably decided to take herself and the baby out of the picture. “Reyna…” he said softly. He had hardly known her but this made him doubt everything.
Jeff came up behind him. He wore a big t-shirt with a church logo on it. “Nick, is she dead?” he whispered, almost as though he didn’t believe it. His voice upticked in a slight laugh, like his mind was struggling to process it. “No way. She can’t be dead.”
“Jose found the baby,” Nick said grimly; words empty. “I don’t know what to do, man. Maybe she’s right.”
Her fangs wake me up.
“Hi,” she says and her cheeky smile illustrates the entirety of her visage. I forgot that I was dealing with a full blooded fae, stronger than any I had met before. The elders had described their beauty and the way they used it to seduce then strike, but my elder, Lord Kavob, he sort of forgot to mention the fangs.
I draw my sword and she laughs.
“Mortals,” she says dramatically, pale hand against her forehead. “You see some slightly pointed teeth, smell some blood and you’re out to spill more. Assumptions assumptions. They’ll get you killed you know?”
Jeff - Jeff is the love interest and partner of the main character. He was imprisoned for a gang related scuffle he was part of as a young man with addiction issues. At the starting of the story, he had been in prison for five years. He’s soft spoken but stands up for himself especially when he’s angry. He’s got a loyal streak which was his fatal flaw before. After the zombies his loyalty lies with Nick and their idea of utopia.
Jose - an older prisoner who goes with the group. He’s very kind hearted and well read. He does what has to be done. A pragmatic, creative problem solver. He is well suited to the new world.
Reyna - a young mother that falls into despair as soon as things go bad. Her mental illness does not allow her to cope with the new world as well as others.
Arrogant - He was arrogant before the world went to hell, but during a zombie apocalypse your personality shines through. He believes that he is meant to be part of something bigger and the end of the world gave him that chance. He is entitled to whatever and whoever he wants. He is the embodiment of toxic masculinity.
Privileged - His privileges kept him alive during the initial breakout. He was able to use his sizable estate and keep himself safe. Instead of staying there and using his resources, however, he used that privilege to start oppressing others in any way possible. He believes that he has an inherent right to everything he has.
Fearful - In spite of everything else, he is a very fearful man. He knows that charisma and talent can only take him so far. He knows that it just takes people standing up.
