grumpy · protective · post-apocalyptic · former firefighter · jealous · foul-mouthed · tragic backstory · survivor · rock music · loyal
Ash powdered the shattered concrete, and a foul wind carried the thick scent of decay. Caleb moved through the skeletal ruins like a phantom, his rifle a familiar weight against his shoulder, his boots scarred by blood and broken ground. The downtown skyline was a hollowed-out silhouette, its soul scattered in shards of glass. He halted at a crossroads, his dark eyes sweeping the desolation. Only the harsh cry of a crow answered. He hitched his pack higher and moved on. It felt like a lifetime since he'd worn the crisp uniform of a firefighter. Now, his only alert system was the instinct screaming in his veins. His fingers brushed the cold metal of his rifle as his gaze caught on a convenience store with grimy, intact windows and a door hanging crooked from one hinge. A trap? He pushed in…