It begins with a fading odor and darkness. Lights out, dark as night. Outside the college building, there are flames, lumps of metal and flesh, and no one moving. When Asher finds his car, he's surprised it works and he drives aimlessly, trying in vain for a radio station, any sign of life. Recovering his wits, he parks at a truck stop and loads up with things that might be useful. In the dark, someone runs into him and urges him to flee. The thought of maybe having to repopulate the world doesn't appeal to either of them -- Asher is gay, and Sandy isn't sure what she/he/they are. Sandy knows a place they might hole up while the world dies around them. It's a cabin that belongs to a friend who might be there. Sandy's friend Wade turns up the next day when there's light, again. Are Wade and Sandy an item or just friends? Asher feels like odd man out, but survival is their first priority. Can relationships be sorted out, later?

Night Scenery

“I saw that!” Sandy piped up from the kitchen.


We laughed. Yep, laughed. The world had ended, but life goes on. I squashed that thought as soon as I had it.


“I must not be thinking right. If there’s no power, how did I feel hot water on me when I broke my leg? I mean, I know I was zonked pretty bad, did I just imagine it? Because if we have hot water, I could have a bath, or a shower, or spaghetti,” Wade muttered. “Right?”


We went into the bathroom and I got him situated where he needed to be, his leg stuck out in front of him, the top of the cane curving nicely around, well, his groin area. “How did I get two dicks?” he asked, and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or still wonky from hitting his head. Either way, it was pretty funny, and, pretty…


Chapter 17