“NaNoWriMo 2020 Pt. 2”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Additional note: In honour of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), all 30 stories written in the month of November will (hopefully) create a single multi-part story that will reach its conclusion by the end of the month. Stay tuned for a new story part every day!

Read the compiled NaNoWriMo TTtW story here!

Prompt: “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” — Phyllis Diller

MASON’S POV

The apocalypse has taken everything from me. Mom, Dad, Garrett, everyone. They were all gone on the very first day. The Day of the Halving, they call it, because they approximated that half of the world’s population had been wiped out right away.

Now, one hundred and twenty-three days later, I’m fairly certain that the remaining population’s been halved again.

So, how am I still alive? A brainless, useless lump of flesh and bone?

Well, I’d honestly chalk it all up to sheer luck. That, and my incredible pre-existing exercise regime.

I’m mostly kidding about that, but quite honestly, I’m so glad that I decided to take gym class in all four year of high school. I was actually in gym class when we received the news of the apocalypse.

The running shoes helped a bit, but the shorts and t-shirt in the snow part wasn’t extremely comfortable.

But I prefer not to think about the beginning days. I like to stay in the present, to focus on what I can control.

And right now, I’d really like to find some other people. I don’t think I’ve seen another living creature in over a month now, and I’m starting to go slightly insane. More insane than I’d gotten after seeing my big brother get ripped to pieces right in front of me, that is.

I miss Garrett. I miss him more than anything. If I’m being honest, his smile is the only thing that’s keeping me going. Because that’s my last memory of him. He freaking smiled as he was getting torn apart. Because he wanted to let me know that everything would be okay.

Even though everything was the complete opposite of okay. It still is.

Ugh, there I go again, dwelling in the past. No, Mason, don’t think about that. Think about the present. Concentrate.

I saw smoke rising from the forest that looks like it’s about a day’s journey from where I am now. With any luck, it’ll be a camp with actual human survivors and not just their burning remains. And, with just a little bit more luck, they won’t want to kill me.

I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

Final Comments: Hey, it’s another character! I’m still undecided on Mason’s personality (that was probably pretty apparent by his wonky narrative), but I’m sure he’ll figure himself out eventually.

Overall Rating: 😬