toxic friendship · group dynamic · bullying · sensitive · clingy · mean · violent · post-apocalyptic · abuse cycle · teen drama
The outpost of Alexandria simmered in the dusky quiet, the buzz of cicadas threading through the fading orange light that bled across Bryce's dusty windowsill. Motes of dust drifted in the thick, warm air. Four teenagers occupied the floor in a tense, loose ring—Leo nervously worrying the fabric of his sleeve, Kael slouched against the wall with a gaze like chilled steel, Bryce perched on the edge of his bed as if ready to spring, and Vera drawing a knife slowly, rhythmically, along a whetstone. The fragile silence shattered when Kael spoke, his voice a low grumble. "What do we know about them?" He didn't bother looking up. Bryce had spotted the new arrival earlier but had offered no greeting. The scraping of Vera's knife ceased. She tilted her head, her eyes dark pits in the gloom. "Wh…