Surviving the Eternal Night: I Lasted Ten Days with Just One Rat

At fifty degrees below zero, I survived until day ten with nothing but a rat.

A volcano erupted, and endless night descended. When I crawled out of the basement, all I had in my pockets was a lighter and half a bottle of water full of ice chips.

Upstairs, the ghouls were scratching at the door.

Downstairs, I was running for my life.

They say there’s a geothermal power plant in the north. It has light, warmth, and a chance to survive.

But the road north is full of people hungrier than I am, and things that aren’t people.

I took her with me. She said she was a nurse, but she looked at me like I was food.

I took him with me. He said he knew the way, but every time we stopped, he drew the same symbol in the snow.

I took that child, too. She’d hidden in a trash can for three days. When I found her, she said, “Uncle, I’m so hungry.”

Now I have enough food for one person to last three days.

Outside the window, the raiders’ torches are drawing near.

Behind me, that child is saying it again

“Uncle, I’m so hungry.”

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“At fifty degrees below zero, what would you set alight to keep warm?”