Writing Challenge 3 - After the Apocalypse

[Dikiyoba]

Scenario: The zombie apocalypse has come and gone. A cure has been found, most governments re-established, the shambling hordes of zombies and groups of bandits disposed of, and people have returned to living peaceful, normal lives. There are some differences, of course. Billions died during the zombie apocalypse, infrastructure was badly damaged, and every body with a largely intact brain reanimated a few minutes to several hours after death. Write a scene or jot down notes that show what life is like 20-50 years after the zombie apocalypse has ended.

 

Limitations: None.

 

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Rules

 

1. Follow the scenario description and limitations.

 

2. Everyone's work is independent. You can borrow ideas from posts belonging to other people, but you can't take over or interfere with someone else's continuity or characters. Come up with your own.

 

3. Make sure your writing is comprehensible. Use the best spelling and grammar you can. It doesn't have to be perfect (especially if English isn't your first language), but at least read over it once or twice and run a spellcheck on it before you post.

 

4. Don't be overly negative, especially if you aren't participating. It's okay to ask questions or comment on someone's writing. It's okay to provide helpful critiques if a person asks for it. But don't just complain, or point out flaws without the author first giving permission, and especially don't insult anyone or their work.

 

*If anyone likes this idea and wants to do their own, with their own scenario and rules, great. I'd prefer it if you contacted me ahead of time so we don't end up having multiple threads going at once, though.

 

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Dikiyoba.

[Goldengirl]

"We live at a critical juncture," Dr. Andrews stated boldly, as the powerpoint displayed the name of the class - History of the Pre-apocalyptic Era. "Currently, the last generation that lived during the fascinating era before the apocalypse is dying out; this is one of the last generations who faced the zombies as an existential threat. Our common heritage as human beings to understand our history as a people, society, and culture is now what is facing the threat. Therefore, it is our duty as historians to try and save us much from the previous era as possible. We live at a critical juncture..."

 

Wait, Melinda thought absentmindedly as she looked at her notebook. Didn't he already say that? How annoying. This isn't high school, you don't need to repeat every little thing.

 

"...will be assigning you each partners to conduct interviews at elderly homes to recover as much anecdotal evidence as possible concerning the tumultuous events of the zombie apocalypse..."

 

Great. Partner assignments, AKA someone slacking off while I do all the work to get a good grade.

 

"...and in the end you'll come together with your partner to build a narrative of the apocalypse that answers the following prompt: in what ways were political, social, cultural, or economic institutions and practiced changed by the zombie apocalypse, and in what ways did they stay the same? Be specific."

 

No thanks. Melinda's decision was resolute. Gen-ed requirements were fine, and all, but she was much happier learning something more relevant to actual life. After Dr. Andrews went through the syllabus and dismissed class, she turned in a drop request to the academics office and switched into a political sciences course on modern international relations. Zombies and the people that fought them were a thing of the past.

[Student of Trinity]

With this inauguration, the world quietly marks a significant turning point. We can all pause to reflect.

 

Fifty years ago, the conflict over zombieism claimed billions of lives and brains. Twenty years ago was the infamous Wall Street Journal article claiming that the sharp housing price differential between animate and zombie neighborhoods had a biological origin. Have the scars really healed?

 

Even now the lyrics of controversial rapper Arrinarr remain controversial. But public buildings everywhere now have low-rise steps appropriate for the gaits of all ambulant citizens, whether shambling or walking. And tonight, as the reanimated corpse of President Bill Clinton takes the oath of office for the third time, no-one can doubt that the era of conflict has given way to something new.

 

This is Walter Cronkite, bidding you all good night.