Jamie Hubler

Strangers and Enemies

She walked outside being careful to observe the positioning of the sun, the clouds, and the sounds of wildlife. She had learned how to sense when the air wasn’t right. Nature seemed to shut down when the winds shifted in a dangerous direction. Even though she was miles away from the closest exclusion zone, being observant was the difference between surviving and a painful death, one that was dubbed The Bitter End, partially due to the excruciating pain its infected experienced, partially due to the bitter smell of those who were afflicted gave off once the toxins aggressively deconstructed their organs.