Tales from Post-Apocalyptica, installations A and B

[J. J.]

A.

She inhaled the cool, dawn air deeply into her lungs and felt a shiver tickle its way from her nose, to her fingertips and the soles of her feet.  It was her turn to go fishing for the camp, and she had spent half the night awake in the anxious anticipation of setting out at sunrise.

 

She shivered a second time, this time from the chill of the morning, and slipped into a sweater as her nipples began to harden uncomfortably.  Movement in the tent behind her caused her to turn and suddenly she was face to face with him.

 

“Don’t go,” he murmured, despite the fact they both knew that was impossible, and leaned in to kiss her. 

 

“I’ll be back,” she smirked, after pulling away from the kiss and plucking the hat off his head, “because I have to return something that belongs to you.”

B.

The heat felt like it was inescapable from all directions:  directly from above, and reflected off the lifeless, cracked pavement of the empty parking lot.  She whimpered and wiped sweat off her brow with the back of her hand for what felt like the seven hundredth time.  Her feet dragged across the ground with gravelly, hollow sounds as she trudged toward the structure of the strip mall.  All of its windows had been broken and most of the stores looted bare, but there was a chance that she’d be able to find some running water and a space she could lock herself into for a hard-earned rest.

 

She cautiously leaned into what used to be a men’s clothing store and blinked numerous times while her eyes adjusted to the darker interior.  Peering around, she nearly shrieked in her excitement when her eyes laid upon an entire display of wool sweaters amidst the other, empty tables and debris.

(These are small flashes in an umbrella series but not meant to be connected in any way.  No two characters from one installation to another are the same.)

[J. J.]

Cheers to all for your comments, always much appreciated!

Gita, in an attempt to avoid a lot of confusion, I added the comment so that it was explicit that these "Tales" have a common greater setting, but between them there is nothing else common.  For example, I didn't want it to seem like they were just different points in time for the same character, because they are not.  I posted two because I had two to post at the time ;)

[Gita]

I like the writing in both of these. I'm curious about your note at the end. Please explain, if you don't mind, what is the reason  for presenting them as a duet?

And I agree with Lapham about seeing where it takes you and getting crazy with it.

[Joey Delgado]

You've done. You've turned me into a fanboy waiting impatiently for the next installation. Nice work. More please.