I’ve been playing around with a dystopian concept for a bit and thought I’d share a fragment of it here. Let me know if you’re interested in reading more of this story!
I could see the idea forming in his mind as Tom furrowed his brow, doing his best to convey a look of concern. I knew him too well to miss the eagerness beneath it. This was the chance he had been waiting for, maybe since the beginning.
It made me sick to watch it unfold, even as my mind clutched at the ember of a future I’d thought was ash; I might yet be saved. But it would come down to the judgment of the group, as with all things. Alone, each of us – even Tom – was powerless. All that mattered was this: did the others want me here, and would they fight for me to stay?
I thought they might, but it would not be a noble fight, and I would have to do things Tom’s way if I wanted to survive.
We had made this life possible through a ragged ingenuity devoid of nostalgia for the society that had crumbled around us. Then, we made it functional through blood, sweat, and grit. We were a small group, echoes of a lost civilization, and our ways worked for us. They kept us safe, fed, a biotic moving shelter in the dark night that had fallen upon the world.
But our ways balanced precariously upon an edge: the unspoken agreement to accept things that should not be accepted, to remain unquestioning of a fragile moral code. To do otherwise was to risk chaos, violence, starvation, and the failure of the experiment that was our continued existence. That was a risk we could not afford.
Instead, we let ourselves be absorbed into the body of the enduring, and in so doing, we strengthened our defense against forces that would easily overcome us on our own. We closed our eyes and our mouths in silent vow to go on.
Knowing better than to hope in such times, I kept my own mouth shut and waited for Tom to make his play. One of us here would not continue the journey. For the good of the group.
For the Echoes must endure.
So, what do you think? Want more? Have any feedback for me? Let me know!
Very intriguing.
Really enjoyed this, Stephanie. It reminded me, in tone, of Death of Grass by John Christopher. Looking forward to reading what comes next 👍🏼