"Wait, you knew her? Personally?"
"I knew all of them," he murmured. "At least, I thought I did. Once. A long time ago."
"What were they like?"
Some crumpled copy of a smile crossed his face. "They were going to change the world."
And around them, the world burned.

~~~

Cities on fire were a common sight, along with the smoke and ash that forever filled the air, making it hard to breathe. Ash was more common the pollen, dumpster fires more common than trees. The streets were filled with so many dead bodies, all looted only moments after the poor soul's death. Survival of the fittest was cruel, but it was survival that mattered, not manners. so regard for the dead was at an all-time low, some survivors even reverting to cannibalism just to get a meal. There was no plants, no crops to crow. It stopped raining when the world went to hell, the rivers were all dried up or just plain toxic.

It was never supposed to end up like this. They meant to do so much, to make the world beautiful and safe for all. But anyone could be corrupted by power, even the kindest hearts.

Food and supplies were depleting before their eyes and no one knew how to fix it. They would have to leave their base- an old which was an awful smelling gas station with no gas. The station was placed near the edge of a city, or what was left of it. At one point it had been beautiful with its skyscrapers and fancy cars, but now the most beautiful thing that could be in it was food cans or a water bottle. The small group of survivors only got smaller by the day. Their base was becoming their grave ever since their doctor was murdered. They could make their lives easy- just submit to their new leaders- but most rather be dead. And, so they did. Groups of survivors were getting harder to find. they were all dying out, desperate to keep their freedom.

The glittering city over the horizon was so daunting. It's large stone walls, beautifully designed architecture that reminded them of Victorian stories. Behind the gates laid 'paradise'. Yes, it certainly looked like one, but it was all a sick lie. Anyone who entered the city was never allowed to leave. Rumors floated about, and very few things were fact about the city. But one thing everyone knew it wasn't paradise, it was a prison.

George brought the half empty water bottle to his lips, only taking a small sip just wishing to wet his dried and cracked lips. "We had such grand plans. I never thought it would end like this." He spoke to his fellow survivor.

"We? You were... Almost one of them?" His fellow survivor spoke carefully. George could see him move uncomfortably on the old metal bench- and he had a feeling it wasn't because the other's ass was getting sore.

"Oh yes. I'm the reason all this happened... My friends trusted me. I trusted them too. But what we found was too much... I should have killed them all." He darkly admitted. He turned his gaze away from his fellow survivor. "I found it, all because I wished for something so greedy." He was old now, and honestly, with the doctor, dead George was figuring he didn't have long to live. He had many regrets, so many things he wished to fix. But his time was ending now.