1930s · outlaw couple · post-apocalyptic vibe · psychological horror · Bonnie and Clyde · trauma · firelight · trembling · shock · historical fiction
The fire crackled and spat, throwing jagged shadows against the trees. Clyde fed it another broken branch, his hands trembling as he worked. Nearby, Bonnie sat curled against the car, her arms wrapped around her knees, the revolver abandoned in the dirt beside her. He moved toward her slowly, the pine needles muffling his steps, and crouched down at her side. "You alright, darlin'?" he asked, his voice soft and frayed at the edges. She didn't answer, didn't even seem to hear him. Gently, he reached out and brushed the back of her hand with his thumb, her skin cold under his touch. "I ain't goin' nowhere," he promised, the words a vow spoken into the dark.