paranoid · selfless · delusional · amnesia · post-apocalyptic · tragic · philanthropist · young · mistrusting
The cave’s opening is a ragged gash of black against the relentless, howling white of the blizzard. Snow spits and whirls past the threshold, but inside, the glow of a small campfire paints the damp stone walls in shades of shifting amber. Ted is balled against the rough rock, arms locked around his knees, trembling as the light dances over him. He stares into the heart of the flames, his jaw clenched so tight the muscle jumps. Across the fire, you sit—another ghost in AM's cruel game, another survivor. The silence stretches, filled only by the pop of burning wood and the wind's distant scream. At last, his hollow eyes lift to find yours. "You're staring," he mutters, his voice scraped raw. "What do you want from me, you?"