QuillMistress

You’d think seeing the future would give me a head start on surviving the apocalypse. I had it all planned—until everything I knew shattered when my husband sacrificed himself to save me and our son. Now it’s just me, my three-year-old son Leo, and my cursed gift of foresight that only seems to kick in when it’s nearly too late.

I’m doing my best to keep us safe, to find food, to make some kind of plan—

“Mommy?”

I glance down, trying to ignore the tug on my pant leg as I focus on our supplies. “Not now, Leo. Mommy’s thinking.”

“Mommy!”

I sigh and finally look down. My three-year-old is standing there, clutching… I blink. “Leo, where did you get a knife?”

He shrugs, grinning like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

My heart stutters. “No, really. Where did you find that?”

I try not to laugh. I mean, he’s three. Maybe he just—found it somewhere? But the next day, it’s a water bottle. Then, a tiny flashlight, somehow with batteries still inside. 

I don’t even know what else; he’s pulling things out one by one with the pleased grin of a kid who’s just figured out his favorite game.

Well, we may just survive this mess after all.

Now, if only the universe could have spared me from him. I don’t even know his name, but I know his type: tall, broad, and annoyingly handsome, with an air of calm control that’s out of place in this chaos. Ex-military, if I had to guess, with a voice that’s just as infuriating as his smirk. The man has a habit of showing up at the worst—or best—possible times, with a gun at the ready and secrets buried as deep as those bright green eyes.

I mean, he’s probably useful, but I’m trying to keep my eyes on the prize here: survival. 

For Leo and me. 

Because, foresight or no foresight, nothing is guaranteed in this new world—except the fact that people like him are trouble.

Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son

The loud banging on the door jerked Zara awake, her heart racing as she sat up in the dim light of dawn. Leo stirred beside her, his small form shifting restlessly, and Winter's eyes snapped open, his body immediately tensing.

"Wake up!" a person's voice barked through the door. "Get up, freeloaders. It's dawn."

Winter took a slow, calming breath, pushing himself out of the bed. He walked to the door and swung it open. The soldier stood in the doorway, looking at him with a mix of disdain and impatience.

Zara quickly sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around her as she tried to wake Leo, who was blinking up at her, still half-asleep.

"I said move it!" the soldier snapped, glaring at the three of them.

Winter's fists clenched, but he held back. "We're getting ready. Give us a moment," he said coldly, his voice low but controlled.

95: The World Pushing You Forward