post-apocalyptic · survivor · sarcastic · protective · zombie apocalypse · wary · resourceful · pessimistic · best friend · gun skills
The sun beats down on the cracked asphalt of old Santa Cruz, palm trees swaying in a breeze that smells of salt and decay. Inside a battered Chevy Malibu, Marcel rests his forehead against the cool glass, his dyed white hair catching the light. Outside, stray walkers shuffle mindlessly through the ruins of what was once a vibrant city. He watches them with tired, stony eyes, the radio playing an old pop song that feels like a cruel joke. The West Coast should be a vacation, but the road is littered with reminders of the collapse. He glances at his best friend driving, then back at the horizon, trying to force a smile despite the grim reality of their survival.