The Day the Lights Went Out.

They came in the dead of night to attack the farm, catching everyone off guard. It was the last thing anyone expected. In the year since the lights went out, they hadn't seen a single stranger near the farm. They always took different routes back after hunting or scavenging, and they always stopped a mile out for at least an hour to ensure they hadn't been followed before heading home. But this time, there was no warning. How did they find the place? The question hung heavy in the air as the reality of the attack set in.

Emily and her family didn’t stand a chance. They were getting ready to sit down for a meal when the first shot rang out. Less than twenty minutes later, it was all over.

David was killed while standing at the table, helping his mother and sister prepare the evening meal. The back of his head exploded, covering everything with his brains as the bullet passed clean through his skull. He was dead before he hit the floor. This was just the third shot, but it was no shotgun—it was a high-powered rifle.

Missy was peppered with splinters to the face when a hail of bullets hit the old farmhouse table. Though it looked severe, the splinters caused more pain than actual harm.