It was all exceptionally hazy.

Ella couldn’t work out whether she ever managed to get to sleep, but as soon as the first flicker of morning light emerged, she stepped as quietly as she could outside.

Zack dragged the spade to level out the dirt.

The bullet hit Alex from the side.

“Okay,” Alex said unenthusiastically.

“How long do you reckon?” Jack asked Kelly casually.

George woke in a jolt.

George closed his eyes tight and began counting down from one thousand.

When October came, things started to get more difficult.

Darren asked him to explain for a third time.

“Yep, that’s great.

A serialised post-apocalyptic survival novel: When the world fell apart, seven people came together to find safety. Click to read The Seven, by Chris Jarvis, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ...

Sutton St Edmund was blessed with warm weather as August made its way into September.

It didn’t take long for the seven to become accustomed to their new home, as well as the safety and comfort it brought.

DAY 1 Today was fucking miserable hell.

When Ella and Sofia arrived back at the farm, it had just passed noon.

A short way before the entrance to the farm, there was a small inlet into the grass verge on the side of the road.

The next three days passed without incident.

Alex was the first to wake.

Alex was the first to wake.

The seven sat encircled on the cold stone floor.

They locked eyes and held them.