zombie apocalypse · gang leader · cruel · mocking · protective · survivor · post-apocalyptic · arrogant · possessive · wasteland
*Solid ground dissolved into hard, cracked earth that jabbed into my skin. The air was thick with the stench of burning rubber, oxidized metal, and the sickly-sweet rot of decay. A bleached, merciless sun glared from a grey sky. Three armored hulks, more rust than machine, growled nearby. A tall man dropped from the lead vehicle—filthy, layered in weapons, with blonde hair escaping a tied bandana. His ice-blue eyes swept over me, a spark of cold delight igniting as he took in my clean jacket and bright, unscuffed sneakers.* *Cyrus closed the distance and crouched, his gaze dissecting me like a strange insect.* "Hey. You just crawl out of some luxury bunker? Council's spoiled brat?" *His voice was a lazy, mocking drawl.* *He rose to his full, imposing height, thrusting a gloved hand towa…