Everyone thought it would pass, that these seemingly brain-dead people would just recover and return to their families. But they didn't. They grew stronger, escaping their hospital wards. And the longer it went on, the more they started to decay. And the more they started to feed.
The first victims didn't know what was going on. They were attacked on the street alone. The lucky ones just had their brains eaten, scraped off the sidewalk or torn from their skulls. The less lucky ones were those that made it out alive, with just a bite or a scratch. Because that was all the Sickness needed to transfer.
When news of the Sickness reached Stardew Valley, few took it seriously. One of those who did was Harvey, the local doctor. He made more orders for medicine. He stocked up on supplies. He kept others prepared even when they didn't believe him, and as the news grew more chaotic, the townspeople began to understand.
Emily was the first to get it. Haley followed, once she realized this wasn't just her sister being strange. Gus stored up food. Willy kept his boat ready. As the end seemed to arrive, the sleepy softness of Pelican Town melted away to a united front. All pitched in what they could, and so when the first wave arrived, they stood ready to take the tide.
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Wind whipped past The Farmer's face as she nudged her horse to go faster. The train station was a dangerous place, but that was why she needed to go. Oatmeal obliged, his hooves slamming against the stones in rhythm. As she rode, she thought of all that had changed. Her time at the farm was supposed to be cathartic and relaxing, not fighting for her life. Still, she wasnât about to abandon the town. She loved too many people here now.
They had locked the gates of the tunnel a season ago, closing the desert off for good. The bus lay unused, the Junimosâ hard work for nothing in the end. Her crops were grown from foraged seeds now, or those she could salvage from a seedmaker. Pierre had stocked up when he was convinced of what was coming, but it ran out eventually.
Just as she always did when she thought about her troubles, she opened her locket. Even with the jolting movement of the horse, she could always tell what was inside. A tiny picture of a man with ridiculous spiky blond hair and smiling blue eyes. The tiny nub of blue in the corner of the picture, she knew, was an electric guitar that now sat unused in its holder in her bedroom.Times had changed for everyone, but the most for Eva Denner. No, that was selfish of her to say. Jodi, Vincent, and Kent were still grieving as well, and Abby and Seb had never been quite the same. It hurt all of them, she knew, but sometimes it felt like she was the only one.
She pulled Oatmeal to stop beside the tracks. The abandoned bath houseâs glass reflected light into her eyes, and she shaded them to look at the tracks before her. It would be a lot of work, but they had to go. Public transport from outside of the valley was a huge danger, and blocking these tunnels would be the last thing they needed. She hoped.
She descended from her horse and readied her pickaxe, iridium gathered before she grew too afraid to return to the desert. She used it to tear at the tracks, twisting and breaking the metal as both a way to protect the people she loved and get out her anger. She wished she could tear it with her bare hands, just rip it up like a letter from someone she hated. And yet she couldnât.
She left exhausted, numb, and lost. She would fill the tunnels tomorrow, and then she could rest. She would let herself rest. She left the mountains with head hung low. It was how she lived.
we surviving the apocalypse with this one, boys đ«Ą
Calico Desert was in turmoil. And for once, it wasnât related to the apocalypse. A sandstorm was raging through as Drifter and Sandy trudged through the dunes. They werenât as bad as those in larger deserts, but both still wore goggles, scarves pulled up over their noses and mouths. Drifterâs hood kept most of it out, but every time it flew back he could feel particles rooting in his scalp.
âSoâŠyou made a deal with the eldritch casino guy and now youâre out here killing unkillable bugs. Also Iâm here for some reason. Doesnât quite match what youâd expect, huh?â Sandyâs voice was muffled by her scarf, leaving her basically shouting against the wind to be heard.
âI donât expect anything these days. Things just happen.â He also yelled as they reached the stand of palm trees surrounding the entrance to the Skull Cavern. He turned back for a moment, making sure she made it and checking the visibility. In the distance, he could just barely make out a group of people walking east along the road.
People didnât usually travel in groups. In the early days there had been more nomadic groups, who thought themselves tough for having a bus or a van that they could ride around, but they forgot that gas isnât eternal. Big groups attracted zombies, so you had to be really confident to travel with more than three. Or really foolish.
He turned back, breathing a sigh of relief as they entered the first level of the cave. It was slightly buried in sand, but they could still get down into the caverns below. They went down a couple floors before finding an Armored Bug, and Sandy gawked a bit at the scale of some of the tunnels and creatures. She had dealt in the riches of the caverns, but never gone very deep inside.
It was ironic how heâd had to learn about the cavern himself. The whole reason he had come to the desert on that fateful day was his wifeâs promise to teach him to conquer the caves one day. She told him he was finally ready with a proud smile he desperately wished he could have seen again. They had so much bliss then, even in the danger. And then they had been forcibly ripped apart.
Drifter gently laid the poisoned bird along the path of a meandering bug before running back to where Sandy was sitting by a pile of rocks. She kept eyeing the serpents above themâfor good reason. Those things certainly packed a punch, and had left Drifter unable to mine for a bit earlier in the year. Those had been some of the scarier weeks of this lifestyle, when he wasnât sure if he could defend himself. Not being able to rely on people as much made this all so much harder. He was lucky to have Sandy here.
Finally, the pink bug noticed the meat, landing to inspect it before using its large mandibles to tear out chunks. It was a sort of gruesome sightâhe knew all too well that those bites tore and hurt. Both of the watchers recoiled a bit as it snapped down the last piece.
And flew away.
Drifter groaned, leaning back against the cave wall. That had been his only lead. What was he supposed to do now? He just got the strength to face what he might see, but if he waited too much longer it might falter again.
âWait, look!â Sandy called, and he peeked out from behind his hands to see the bug teetering in the air before crashing to the ground. It took a few moments for it to stop twitching, but finally, finally it was over.
The pair left the caves with heads and the corpse held high. They were doing it, they were really doing it! They called for Qi in the casino, presenting the rather gross fruits of their labor.
âCongratulations, Iâm impressed. You could at least have removed the body, though.â He pulled the carapace off it in a fluid motion, dropping the rest in Sandyâs hands. She gagged, tossing it to the side. âYour deal is done! Itâs been a pleasure working with you.â He bowed with a flourish and turned to leave.
Drifter clenched his fists. âQi! What about your side of the deal? Where is my wifeâs zombie?â
Qi looked back with a fake innocent smile. âOh, right, that. Of course, of course, her zombie!â He smiled with far too many teeth before breaking Drifterâs worldview forever.
Begging your forgiveness for not scheduling this, but finally you have the resolution!
The other Denners had varying reactions.
Jodi saw him first. She was reading a book on a couch in the community center, trying to keep Vincent distracted and calm. When she made eye contact with Sam, she screamed, bursting into tears right there. She shook as Vincent just stared until Sam came over to hug them both. Kent ran in, ready to fight since he thought they were in trouble. When he caught sight of Sam, he wordlessly enveloped him in his arms. He didn't cry, but the thousand-yard stare he had while he held Sam said everything. Across the room, after finally getting a second to breathe, Sandy and Emily hugged each other tightly. They both expressed their fears that the other had been killed or turned, and Sandy apologized again and again for not coming back. So did Sam, but no one really minded that fact. The entire town was just so glad they were safe. Sebastian and Abigail unabashedly embraced Sam in a group hug, Abi scolding him for scaring them. Really, though, they were just relieved.
The town lingered in the community center a couple hours more. Even though the danger was gone, they were cautious and nervous, especially after Sam and Sandy explained that the lock on the gate had broken. Clint, along with a couple Iridium bars Sam supplied him, said heâd get working on a new one that very night. No one wanted to risk too long in this vulnerable state.
Once everyone dispersed, Jodi demanded the Denners eat dinner as a family. She didn't take this lightly, either. Pumpkin pie from their rationed vegetables, eggs cooked to perfection, and a salmon Willy had given Eva for some work, which she had, in turn, given to them.The feast laid out before them, Vincent smiling and giggling hysterically at his brother's jokes, Kent subtly wiping away tears of joy, Jodi standing proud over her work and her family, and Sam, heart and tear ducts constantly full, breathing in the feeling of family. And Eva found herself smiling more that night than she had in a long, long time. Now, she felt she had all the reasons in the world to do so.
Sam and Eva slept in the farmhouse that night, with the blue blankets and the end table full of tigereyes, and the guitar with the solar powered tuner. Despite the draft of autumn wind and despite the still unused nursery on the floor above, Eva felt that her home could never feel lonely again.
In the morning they would work side by side, like they always used to, feeding Remy and letting out the chickens, watering the grapes and harvesting from the greenhouse. Sam fed Oatmeal carrots and Eva watched, her back against an oak tree that could wait on being cut down, as her husband jumped their horse over chests and hay bales, before wiping out as a jump went too far. He let himself down next to Eva in the grass, and in an instant she was taken back to a day over a year ago, when they had laid in the grass, just talking about names of all things.
They even made affixing the new lock to the gate a sort of date, strolling through the trees that dropped leaves the same color as Evaâs hair.While Sam clicked the lock shut, pocketing their key, Eva searched around the dying leaves, bits of zombie flesh, and piles of dust for the old lock. That iron could still be repurposed, for a sprinkler or a crab pot. Finally, her hand brushed it, and she picked it out of the debris and into the light.
Her heart froze as she realized that the lock wasn't broken.
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âMarlon! Do you need any help? The Junimos said they can send more,â Eva called. She herself was carrying a large rock over to his tunnel, where the old adventurer and a couple dozen Junimos were piling branches, rocks, and whatever they could find to fill the entrance.
âIt would be appreciated, Ms. Denner!â She dropped off her boulder, then spoke to the Junimos that had suggested it. They ran off into the woods, seeking out others of their kind to help. She watched their little round bodies bounce away, disappearing into the leaves.
As they continued their work, the sun beat down on them. Even in fall, it felt comparable to the heat of the desert, shining on a place that used to be full of possibilities and people, but now was full of nothing but death and memories. She had come to hate memories, but she couldnât escape them. They told her that this life couldnât and shouldnât become normal, they told her that everything used to be okay, before she made her mistake. The mere day had become their enemy, and the night full of dreams of the past.
It felt good to work. Lugging these logs and stones across the station was difficult, but it felt right to do manual labor. The town depended on her, and this made her feel like she was actually doing something for them. Before the world started to end, she was excited for days when she had nothing to do. She would wander about the hills and valleys, breathing in the life she saw and returning home with pockets full of nuts and berries she discovered. She would dance and chat on festival days, not a care for other work she could be doing. But now? Now she needed work. In order to feel right. In order to feel like she wasnât disgracing her husbandâs memory.
She sent Marlon and Rasmodius back before they finished. They had other things to do, and they were almost all the way there. She placed the last few boulders with only the help of the Junimos, climbing up the precarious piles carefully. They werenât the finest crafted things, but they would hold against a tide of zombies or raiders.
Raiders were actually uncommonâmost normal people had either already died or joined stable groups and built loyalty. Raiders were made up of cruel people taking advantage of the danger, escaped violent convicts and people who had always wanted to let loose and now didnât have the law holding them back. Eva didnât think theyâd dare fight Pelican Town, though. It was larger, and close knit, with a fair amount of fighters after some training.
She was proud of how far her people had come, she told herself. She wasnât going to wish for more, or that the past had been different, because that was foolish.
Eva once again left the railroad exhausted, yawning and wiping her brow as she walked back down to the saloon. Maybe sheâd just take a meal to go, in this state. She wasnât feeling like another awkward conversation with Seb about her problems. She pushed the saloon door open in front of her, and promptly jumped back at the wave of sound.
âHAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVA!â The entire town stood before her, even Marlon and Gil, with Gus in the front with a pink tiered cake. How did he get that? Looking closer, she realized each layer was carved melons from her greenhouse. And they were rightâit was October 9th, and she hadnât even noticed. She barely had time to think further before she was pulled inside the saloon by joyous friends.
Gus cut the cake as if it were a real one, and everyone took a slice. Vincent looked disappointed it wasnât as sweet, but even the newcomers were excited. She kept getting friendly slaps on the back as she moved around the room, and laughter filled every corner of the place. It felt just like it had before any of this had happened, so much so it almost made her forget.
Seb and Abby pulled out their instruments from seemingly nowhere, playing for everyone. Eva recognized the one, their original song that they played at their first concert. She sang along, but it sounded different without the guitar. Where was Sam? He should go jam with his band! She searched through the crowd with a smile on her face for a few moments before the memory struck her like a medicine ball to the face. How had she forgotten?
She swayed in place for a few moments as the song ended, just staring straight ahead. She didnât cry this time. She just sat in the sordid memory of what happened. She barely felt Abbyâs hand on her shoulder, and her worried question.
âIâm fine. I justâŠ. Thank you, so much.â She tried to smile.
I'm gonna post a schedule talk soon because summer is starting!
What should have been a relatively ânormalâ day in Pelican Town was ruined when Eva decided to leave her house.
She had already watered the crops and done her home chores, and she actually felt like she was going to have an easy day. Because Yoba seemed to hate her though, it was anything but that. And so, when she stepped out for her farm, she was met with the sight of a horde of shuffling zombies.
At first they were just milling about in the bus stop area, aimless, but when they noticed her they suddenly focused, snarling and lurching. The feeling of all those broken eyes turning towards her made her skin crawl.
Crap. She needed help. She couldn't fight them on her ownâcould anyone? How could they have gotten in? Did the gate break? It was strong! How could they possibly win this? This was just like last time, but this time it would be her that died!She drew her sword and sprinted towards town. How could she keep everyone safe? She hadn't counted on this many ever coming, did they have enough fighters?
She came across Haley first, wandering up to the fountain. âHALEY! RING THE BELL!â Eva gestured wildly and Haley took off towards the community center as Eva swung at the zombies that followed her.
Abigail was at her side in an instant, seeing the commotion from her front window. Then, once the bell rang through the town, they were joined by the rest of the fighting squad. Sebastian, Robin, Emily, Kent, Alex, Marlon, Gunther, Leah, Shane, and a couple of refugees named Leon and Maya. They were a motley crew, and they hadn't fought this many before, but theyâd have to be enough.They fought to push the zombies back towards the entrance, away from the other townspeople rushing to the fortified community center. As Marnie ran by, Eva could hear Jas crying. Shane, blocking a zombieâs reaching hand just a couple feet away, grimaced with worry.
It was a losing fight from the start. They couldn't get rid of these things if they were always playing the defensive to not get hurt. In a stalemate, the zombies would win. The fighters would tire out eventually, and then what good would they be? Their main hope for survival had been the gate, ensuring they never got close at all.
Eva partly blamed herself. She had thought that gate would last, and her laxness would get them all killed.At last, she found herself backed into a corner, practically leaning on a bush nearby the cliff stairs. She could see Emily and Alex in a similar position, up against the side of the clinic. She couldn't catch a glimpse of anyone else, they were all too lost in the crowd of groaning corpses. She heard shouts but not screams, which told her they were probably alive for now. She could only hope they could somehow come back from this hopeless position.
Emily was at the end of her rope. Her talents had never been in swordfighting, but she had known they needed more fighters when she signed up. She just didn't think it would go this far.
Alex had a shield, which was their advantage in this situation. It would buy them time, even if he couldn't cover both of them well. She was basically just swinging her sword at this point, occasionally hitting or incapacitating one of the dozens of monsters.
She tried to think on the bright side: she wasn't dead yet, and the rest of the town was perfectly fine! But in times like this, sometimes thinking of the good could hurt. Why couldn't she be fine?These thoughts made her lower her guard for a fraction of a second, and a zombie in front of her lunges forward as Alex used his shield to push another back. It had a clear shot, its slobbering, broken jaw growing ever closer.
