The Change: The New Normal, #1

By L.M. Halls

Will you be ready when the waters rise?

In this taut post-apocalyptic thriller the results of climate change are here, now.

With no social structures left in place in the coastal areas, life is kill or be killed. Synda is luckier than most, having a cabin up in the mountains with most of the amenities of normal life. As a woman alone, however, she sees the worst in humanity. Will she find the best or lose herself?

This short story will take you on a journey for survival of the body and our concept of humanity when everything that makes us human is gone. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.M. Halls
• Release date: Jun 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513009919

Book preview

1

She wished the world had actually ended. For many it had, but for the rest, life consisted of adjusting to this new ever-changing normal. The waters rose faster than the scientists predicted, creating devastation. There were many new names for the after effects of what was called global warming, then climate change.

The Change, as most people called it, dismantled major social structures on the coasts. No more power grids, oil deliveries, or internet. Humanity was not prepared for this.  The banking system in shambles, numbers on a screen no longer determined financial security.

Synda was lucky. She always wanted a place out in the woods away from everything. She had spent years building her sanctuary, stocking it with dried beans, a well, and solar panels.

When the waters started to rise at an astonishing rate she retreated to her cabin. She followed the horrific stories on her cell phone When her cell phone stopped working she knew the Change was official.

Initially, Synda spent her days building walls around her property to protect her home. She had a dog and some chickens to keep her company. The eggs would do for now, she would have to learn to hunt and the thought made her shiver. First, she would have to make sure that she had a future.

As the waters rose, people would come further up in the mountains to where she lived. She hoped that any meetings would be amicable but as a single woman she knew her vulnerability.

She picked a good location for her home, a sunny spot high up on the mountain with thick woods all round. The trees would hide her presence to all but the most errant hikers. Synda wandered through the paths to find fallen wood and dragged what she could back to her land.

She used rope and pulleys and stacked the trees on top of each other. Each day was back-breaking work but soon she got the hang of it. The barrier was stronger than expected and inconspicuous. Yes, she would have to rebuild the walls as old wood decayed but for now it was safe.

She dug a tunnel under the wall and reinforced it with smaller logs. She removed the hood of her car to make a