Today's tale, Virtual Insanity by Cara Thereon, is where the dystopian future gets really dark...
"Let me go, you fucker."
I was seething. I'd gone out at dusk as always to scavenge, leaving Winnie home to take care of Mom. I was usually very careful, hence the timing and going alone. Today I'd gotten cocky because I was under the mistaken assumption that the last of this section of D-Troop of Russia had long cleared out.
They were the latest country to invade this part of the U.S. — right in time to raze the minimal harvest that grew up in fall. I'd hoped to grab some leftovers to sustain us through the harder nights to come. What was supposed to be a quick trip into an overgrown section of field went sideways. I stumbled out of the brush into a group of gray-geared Grunts out scouting. My shock made me slow to react. They recovered from their own shock fast, the nearest man grabbing me before I could scramble back into the brush.
It was humiliating to be trussed up, my hands tied behind my back as they marched me frog-legged to their encampment. They reverted to Russian, but it didn't take much to figure out what they were saying. The groping hands that slipped beneath my shirt were communication enough.
They escorted me into the main camp. I realized how stupid I was to believe they'd all moved out when I saw how many men occupied the area. As I moved down the line of tents, clumps of dead grass catching in my ratty sneakers, I prayed Winnie wouldn't try to come looking for me. The last thing I needed was both of us dying as whores of war.
One of the Grunts ushered me into the bigger tent of the troop head. I had a moment to look around. It was well furnished for a makeshift encampment. A big bed sat toward the back of the tent and there was a nice carpet to hide the muck. They'd been here a while, or planned to stay.
My heart threatened to jump out of my chest. God, I hoped Winnie didn't get scooped up.
The Grunt pushed me to the ground in front of a long wood table, pressing at the back of my head to get me to lower my eyes.
I snapped my head around and growled. "Fuck you."
"Found a feral one, did ya?" There was hardly any accent to his English, which surprised me
I turned back to glare at the gruff man standing before me, and I realized now why they didn't just take advantage of me back in the field.
He towered over me, forcing me to strain to meet his black gaze. War had aged him, adding lines to his weathered face that made determining how old he was impossible. It was clear he fought more than sat around amassing spoils, given his a lean appearance beneath his puke-green fatigues.
"One of the Unwilling."
That made me sneer. Damn right I was unwilling.
The man reached out to touch my cheek and I snapped my teeth. I tasted the dirt on his fingertips as I bit down. The Grunt wrapped an arm around my neck, but I refused to let go. I'd go down fucking swinging before I'd submit, I told myself!
But a well-placed slap dazed me enough that I let go as quickly as I bit.
He lifted his hand to examine the nipped digits. I didn't think it was possible for his eyes to grow any darker.
"Leave her with me." His eyes raked over me. "Leave the cuffs and rope as well."
Buy Lust in the Dust:
It's the end of the world as we know it.
Peace and plenty are ideals barely remembered. Everything we used to rely upon has crumbled away, and pleasure is something few can afford. Every joy has to be fought for. When all the trappings of a civilised life are taken away, all we can hope to truly call our own are our bodies and our hearts. In the ashes, we make alliances where we can, and find solace and humanity in unexpected places. And maybe even a little hope for the future…
Lust in the Dust brings together ten erotic short stories set in times where civilisation and the rule of law have crashed and burned. The aftermath of a terrible war, a zombie invasion, a cityscape over-run by nature, a medieval fortress. Wherever there is life, there is lust.
Edited by Janine Ashbless - with stories by S. Nano, Elizabeth Coldwell, Raven Sky, Sommer Marsden, Cara Thereon, Jones, Gregory L. Norris, Nicole Wolfe, Janine Ashbless, Quiet Ranger.
Peace and plenty are ideals barely remembered. Everything we used to rely upon has crumbled away, and pleasure is something few can afford. Every joy has to be fought for. When all the trappings of a civilised life are taken away, all we can hope to truly call our own are our bodies and our hearts. In the ashes, we make alliances where we can, and find solace and humanity in unexpected places. And maybe even a little hope for the future…
Lust in the Dust brings together ten erotic short stories set in times where civilisation and the rule of law have crashed and burned. The aftermath of a terrible war, a zombie invasion, a cityscape over-run by nature, a medieval fortress. Wherever there is life, there is lust.
Edited by Janine Ashbless - with stories by S. Nano, Elizabeth Coldwell, Raven Sky, Sommer Marsden, Cara Thereon, Jones, Gregory L. Norris, Nicole Wolfe, Janine Ashbless, Quiet Ranger.
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