Come Hell or High Water

By Evelyn Chartres

(Nom de plume)

Copyright 2021

Montréal, Québec

ABOUT

Tessa is blessed with beauty, youth, and a dutiful partner who will do anything for her. Yes, she truly has it all. So why does guilt gnaw at her when she sets eyes on her lover?

She is a prisoner of a world enveloped by a phenomenon known only as the fog, a blight tha t brought about a runaway greenhouse effect, shrank the polar ice caps, and choked off the flow of life-sustaining sunlight. The fading embers of her world are about to be extinguished. People are desperate, and everyone is on borrowed time.

As a witness to Tessa’s final moments on this apocalyptic earth, ask yourself this: With the sky out of reach, where will she run when the world turns to ash?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

ABOUT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

ABOUT EVELYN CHARTRES

ALSO, FROM EVELYN CHARTRES

LICENCE

DEDICATION

To Pamela. From inception to print, you have been there for me the entire way.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

Tessa stared up at the ceiling, counting the tin tiles. So far, she was at one-hundred-and-ninety-two squares, and this endeavour was doing precisely fuck all to help her sleep. There was a song stuck in her head, one that featured the haunting voice of the woman who performed at the restaurant earlier. What a shame that she could not remember the singer’s name to find her music and play the song over and over until excised from her mind.

Frustrated, she rolled over to the side and looked down at the wood planked floor. After a moment of hesitation, she slid her bare feet onto the surface and, despite her misgivings, found that the floor was warm. Tessa sighed before turning her focus to a pair of doors and, after counting down to three, pushed off the bed. Her legs protested, tired after a night of debauchery and bliss.

As memories of the evening flooded back, Tessa smiled, turned around, and feasted her eyes on the root cause of all that sin. She set her eyes upon Evelyn’s chest as it peacefully expanded and contracted with each breath, causing her to remember how shallow her own breathing had been prior to climax.

In that moment, an intense feeling of guilt washed over her, fuelled by the thought that such pleasures were not meant for the likes of her. Tessa sighed and grabbed her rebreather from the corner. She checked to confirm that the device held a charge, slung a large metal cylinder over her left shoulder, and positioned the mask on her face.

This model needed about a half a minute before returning recycled air. Tessa closed her eyes and focused on taking measured breaths, but as the air quality dropped, a feeling of unease intensified. Her body craved—needed air and the room was full of it. However, she desperately desired that modicum of freedom found just beyond those doors. This forced Tessa to fight back the urge to rip off that damned mask and make her do it all over again.

As a bead of sweat ran down Tessa’s neck, fresh air filtered back into the system and cleared the fog that built up inside the mask. She looked towards a mirror and saw wild, curly auburn hair framing the mask. Despite the low light conditions, she made out the streaks of tears that ran down her cheeks during the wait.

“It will only get worse,” Tessa said under her breath.

She popped open one door and stepped out onto the balcony. She never quite got over the sight of that intricate wrought-iron railing nor the native stone façade, although the view that lay in wait just beyond was no reason to celebrate. They were surrounded by what a childhood friend once described as a thick rusty cloud.

A phenomenon that was more commonly known as the fog, was so pervasive that it covered the whole of the Earth. This blight on the land also blocked out most of the sunlight. So, without the help of a timepiece or its digital equivalent, it was nearly impossible to determine the precise time of day.

Despite the lack of visible daylight, another side effect of the fog was the loss of seasons. Tessa had no memory of when she last felt the cool chill of an autumn wind or tasted a snowflake on the tip of her tongue. These days, the climate rarely varied, resulting in consistent heat and humidity. I hate this!

She turned to her left and, despite her proximity, barely made out an old billboard through the fog. The current poster featured a siren with an underwater city in the background. Given the harsh conditions of the atmosphere, a couple of panels had fallen away, teasing her with a glimpse of a shining habitat in space.

“I bet you, that they are not dealing with this shit,” Tessa muttered while her blue eyes rolled up towards the sky.

The mechanical filters behind the mask made her voice sound different—alien. Despite having worn this contraption hundreds of times, her mind naturally flagged what she heard as anomalous.

She had been barely a teen when rockets of unprecedented size pierced the ailing sky to escape this dying world. The wealthiest hedged their bets, investing heavily in aerospace and space exploration while the rest remained fixated on reality television and social media. It turned out that fighting against the fog was not cost effective. So, they simply left their mess behind for others to deal with.

“Bastards,” Tessa swore.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Evelyn asked from behind.

Tessa jumped in surprise, so much so that her breasts moved noticeably. She looked down at her feet, closed her eyes, and counted down from six to calm herself before providing an answer.

“Yes… sorry,” Tessa said. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Evelyn moved in for an embrace from behind and rested her head against Tessa’s back. Despite the environment feeling warm and humid, Evelyn was cool to the touch. That was one trait, among many, that Tessa loved. Her wife was always a departure from the mundane, the hot sauce that spiced up an otherwise bland meal.

“You didn’t… well not precisely,” Evelyn said with a giggle. “The door was open, and you tripped the alarm.”

“I never heard it,” Tessa said.

“Must be the mask,” Evelyn said, leaving Tessa with an excuse before closing those doors to silence the system.

Now Tessa was further riddled with guilt, having made another contribution to the annihilation of the world. Not that anyone else was faultless, mind you, in spite of the bulk of the population demanding action. A lot of regions had declared martial law to focus their nations solely on fighting the effects of the fog. Even in countries that maintained the illusion of free speech, no one dared to speak out against those in the East, where it was rumoured that the phenomenon took root.

They were told that they could not interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states. Tessa quickly learned that those words were excuses to skirt around the truth. In reality, the ruling council had been unwilling to trade comfort and financial security for a guaranteed future. Doing so risked their own affluence, so they weaponized the very tools used to build their civilisation to tear it apart.

“I’ll do better next time,” Tessa said in a distant and tired voice.

“Hey!” Evelyn exclaimed before kissing Tessa’s bare shoulder blades. “If you’re going to mope, then I’ll just have to drag you back inside and have my way with you.”

Evelyn always had ways of cheering her up. It was not just the offer of sex in exchange for blessed sleep. It was how Evelyn stuck with her through thick and thin. Her wife was quietly attentive and focused on those seemingly insignificant details to determine if a storm was brewing up ahead. She also knew how to stay clear of perilous situations, which often made Tessa wonder if she could read minds. Right… like that’s possible.

“I’m not sure that my legs could take much more,” Tessa said with a chuckle.

She ignored that her own chuckle sounded like a blocked hose from a vacuum cleaner and focused once more on the advertisement. This time, her eyes flowed over every detail of that space station.

“Do you think I should have gone?” Tessa asked.

Evelyn shifted slightly until she was able to see under Tessa’s arm. At first, there was confusion etched onto the delicate features of her face, but she eventually realised what her lover was talking about.

“Life there would appear to be a blessing… initially,” Evelyn said.

“Free from the bonds of the Earth and to see the stars again,” Tessa added.

“You can see one now, silly,” Evelyn said while pointing straight up.

Tessa looked up and saw the dim glow of light penetrating through the thick fog. It looked more like a brighter patch of fog than it did the sun. Had Evelyn not pointed it out, it was doubtful that she would have found it.

“While technically correct,” Tessa said, “I meant actual stars—wait. How can you always tell where the sun is?”

Evelyn giggled while circling around to face Tessa and perched herself atop the railing. Given the proximity, Tessa had no trouble seeing those piercing green eyes, dark hair, sharp facial features, and the smile that promised so much.

“I always know where it is,” Evelyn said, looking straight up towards the life-giving light. “Although, it matters little these days.”

“You must enjoy the freedom?” Tessa confirmed.

“I do, in a way,” Evelyn said. “Still, I need to be careful.”

“Oh?” Tessa asked.

“It limits your freedom,” Evelyn said to deflect. When she saw that Tessa was once again staring at the billboard, she added, “You’d be nothing more than a slave up there…”

Tessa looked down at her feet before returning her focus to those emerald eyes. She then placed a hand flat against Evelyn’s chest to feel that heart beating nice and strong, the presence of which comforted her despite the artificiality of it.

“I’ve been in that situation before,” Evelyn said. “A debt that can never be repaid. Every day you dig your grave a little deeper. Eventually, you’d look up and realise that you can no longer see the stars.”

“The world has changed,” Tessa said, her voice pleading for a sympathetic reply.

Evelyn took Tessa’s outstretched hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed the palm before licking her way to the tip of the index finger. Just before reaching the tip, she looked up with hunger filled eyes, sucked down to the base and used her skilled tongue to massage the digit.

“Yeah…” Tessa said, disappointed that her wife had just served her a cold dose of reality, “…you’re right.”

Tessa looked up with tearing eyes and noted the dejected look on Evelyn’s face. She realised that there had been no ulterior motive other than an attempt to steer the conversation away from this inevitable outcome.

“Either way,” Evelyn said while holding onto Tessa’s hand. “It’s too late now. The starports were destroyed in the early days of the insurrection.”

At first, the world stood by as the wealthiest took off for the stars. Many who could not afford the voyage held on to the faint hope that they could hitch a ride. After all, facilities in space needed maintenance crews, medical personnel, servants, and labourers to remain viable, and the wealthy were not about to settle for a reduced standard of living.

Alas, those fortunate enough to head to the stars were indebted and realised there was no way for them, or even their great-grandchildren, to join the ranks of the elite. Similarly, those left behind discovered that ninety per cent of the wealth had vanished overnight. Early on, there had been a few disorganised malcontents committing misdemeanours, but that swelled to hundreds of thousands. The group became singular in their focus, solely intent on reclaiming what was stolen.

“It’s a matter of time,” Evelyn added when her lover did not reply. “Those up there will realise their bleak existence is endless. Eventually, they will rise up and turn those cities into graveyards surrounded by vacuum.”

Tessa tore herself away, turned around, and looked at her feet once again as a fresh tear rolled down her cheek. In an attempt to hide the evidence, she tried to wipe it away, but the crystal shell that covered the mask blocked the effort. No matter, her deception was all for naught. Evelyn already knew. Somehow, she always does.

With a quick hop off the railing, Evelyn positioned herself face-to-face with the masked woman. With a finger, she turned Tessa’s head to get a better view of those puffy, red eyes. Evelyn smiled warmly and moved in for a hug. As usual, she placed her head between Tessa’s breasts. The heartbeat was racing and strong as emotions overwhelmed her lover.

“Things will work out,” Evelyn said. “I promise.”

Those words permeated Tessa’s psyche like a mother calling out for her child in a raging blizzard. Her mind initially ignored the promise, dismissing it as though it were background noise. Soon enough, a part of Tessa latched on to the idea that something of importance had been said. Still, she could not recall the details.

“Promise—sorry. What?” Tessa asked.

“Things will work out,” Evelyn answered.

This time, the words had the desired effect, but she doubted hearing them at all. To fulfil such a promise, Evelyn would need to violate a vow made during the very genesis of their relationship.

“I thought you promised—” Tessa was about to remind her.

“Wait here,” Evelyn said before breaking away and heading back inside.

While waiting, Tessa looked off into the distance, and through the fog, she barely made out the semblance of a cross. While growing up, that distinctive shape had always been visible, especially at night. Now, the outline was all she could see through the thick blanket of fog.

“When was the last time I saw anything out that far?” Tessa said to create the illusion that she was not alone.

To this day, scientists were baffled about what brought on the fog, let alone how it defied all attempts to combat it. Tessa remembered learning about this phenomenon in school. At that time, their teachers had spoken about an assortment of theories ranging from a cocktail of pollutants saturating the sky to mother nature taking an active role in ridding the world of the disease called humanity.

The uncertainty left her in a constant state of high anxiety. Perhaps things had been just as bad for her grandparents who lived through the great famine brought on by the droughts in the Western prairies. Still, there were famines now and, without sufficient daylight, entire ecosystems had been reduced to dust.

Some conspiracy theorists even postulated that this phenomenon was due to the terraforming efforts of an alien species. It may have been easily dismissed when she was a child, but such theories were gaining traction. In a world destined to die, the desperate latched on to any idea that enabled them to focus their rage.

Evelyn returned through the doors holding some sort of cylinder. It was approximately the length of a small ruler, sturdy and sealed at both ends. The package was covered in yellow script and, despite not being able to read the words, Tessa recognised the characters as being Cyrillic, the language of trade for the Holy Russian Empire.

“What’s that?” Tessa asked, even though she had a pretty good idea.

Without waiting for an answer, Tessa turned back towards the billboard. This time, her eyes drifted to the topmost advertisement. It had all the hallmarks of a fantastical world and even featured an Asian beauty with firm bare breasts, contrasted by her scaly tail that extended well beyond where her legs should end.

This was a world bathed in blue phosphorescent light brought on by a phenomenon linked to the fog. Again, no scientific, religious, or prophetic mind could explain why light-emitting algae blooms covered their oceans and waterways.

This was one of the few cases where truth was stranger than fiction. This was not an artist’s conceptual drawing used to draw in crowds to the last remaining movie theatre in the city. No, for an exorbitant amount, those chosen few could give away all they had for genetic manipulation, surgery, and acclimatisation at one of their facilities.

“Your salvation,” Evelyn said, making every syllable sound like a musical note.

“You know they turned me down,” Tessa said, trying her best to keep her voice from cracking. “They said that my weak lungs negated my chances for survival.”

Not that this stopped others with her affliction from trying their luck… many of whom opted to bribe their doctors. Despite the end of the line approaching on the horizon, wealth continued to hold sway over this dying world. One simply needed enough of it to bypass screenings. There is no way that I can leverage a contact or afford a passable forger.

“Well… It’s not the same treatment,” Evelyn said from a distance.

“Black market?” Tessa asked.

“Not like the ruling council would sanction an experimental drug gifted by the old Russian gods,” Evelyn said calmly.

To deal with the crisis, Russia had turned their backs on the sciences that damned the world and imposed harsh restrictions on those who defied the will of the gods. However, that was not entirely true… any discovery that favoured them would be declared a gift from a divine entity. This absolved the Tsars of fault in cases of failure. After all, gods were known to be fickle when bestowing gifts onto the faithful.

They had been with each other for years, and yet, Tessa could not recall a time when Evelyn had been this serious. She normally giggled, laughed, winked, and oozed emotion with every word. This time, Evelyn was precise and to the point. To what end?

“A product banned by the Great Chinese Protectorate?” Tessa confirmed.

Evelyn nodded, standing there patiently. Only one person could take the plunge, and she was exclusively focused on that advertisement. Tessa may have been handed a potential lifeline, but there were risks.

“What about you?” Tessa asked, while realising just how warm she was.

Despite the lack of sunlight reaching the surface of the planet, the average temperature had increased significantly when the fog appeared. This occurrence somehow stored all of that heat, creating a thermal runaway effect similar to what happened on Venus. Higher average temperatures meant the glacial poles were melting which, in turn, translated to higher sea levels.

“What do you mean?” Evelyn asked in return, permitting some confusion to leak through that impenetrable mask she perfected over several lifetimes.

“Are you going to take the drug?” Tessa demanded.

“Of course not,” Evelyn replied.

“Why?” Tessa asked.

“You know why,” Evelyn replied.

“How can you be so sure?” Tessa pressed.

“My body would reject it, as it would any drug, intoxicant or narcotic,” Evelyn said matter-of-factly.

Evelyn was finding it more and more difficult to hold back the wall of emotions that Tessa had kicked up. Neither of them wanted to end the life they had, but it was time to acknowledge that the world they knew was gone.

“So… you won’t try?” Tessa pleaded.

“No,” Evelyn said in a whisper.

“Why not?” Tessa pushed.

Evelyn cocked her head, her eyes moist, a prelude to the deluge of tears that would surely follow. At first glance, this line of questioning was irrational. They had discussed this aspect of her physiology at length early on in their relationship.

The truth behind this fruitless exchange was very near to the surface. Still, while neither were ready to acknowledge it openly, Evelyn knew it was now or never.

“Because… there… there’s only one dose,” Evelyn admitted in defeat.

“So, none for you?” Tessa confirmed.

“None for me,” Evelyn answered with a nod to allow for the gravity of the situation to sink in.

“None for my family?” Tessa pressed.

“Tessa…” Evelyn said softly.

At this point, Tessa’s face was streaked in tears. It was difficult to keep her mask intact amid all this chaos. This choice, this gamble, this sacrifice, were all going against what she always desired.

“We’ve lived well over the years,” Evelyn asked with a smile, “haven’t we?”

Tessa’s eyes narrowed and her jaw muscles flexed while mulling over those words. For the first time, she hated everything about this relationship. This situation bore all the hallmarks of her getting dumped. Was last night nothing more than one final hurrah before getting kicked to the curb?

“What the fuck does that have to do with my family?” Tessa asked.

Evelyn’s eyes opened wide at the sight of this tempest of emotion building up before her. Instead of cowering or backing away, she moved closer, wiped the tears from her face, and looked up into those deep blue eyes.

“Everything, and nothing at all,” Evelyn said with a warm smile.

The cryptic response did nothing to calm Tessa’s mind. Still, given their years together, she decided to give Evelyn the benefit of the doubt. Although, patience would only hold back the surge for so long.

“You need to start making sense,” Tessa said in a flat tone.

Evelyn observed how every visible muscle in her lover’s body was twitching. One wrong word, and Tessa would go off like a firecracker. That would force them to take a path down a road that neither were prepared for.

“Okay. Okay,” Evelyn said. “The truth is… I’m nearly bankrupt.”

“Bullshit,” Tessa said in obvious disbelief.

“When was the last time you paid for anything with cash?” Evelyn asked. “Or used your bank card?”

“Last week—” Tessa replied. “No. Wait.”

Reality was far more nuanced. The trading networks were now irreparably fragmented. Some of it was due to governments, and some related to the collapse of the general economy. Hence, people no longer put their trust in systems used for generations to secure goods and services.

“Try three months,” Evelyn said softly in an effort to avoid the appearance of being argumentative.

“Can’t be,” Tessa insisted.

“We’ve been depleting my reserves all this time,” Evelyn said. “Inflation is out of control. That chicken we had last night cost as much as the average worker makes in a month.”

In reaction to those words, Tessa widened her eyes in surprise while she unconsciously backed away. How could she miss the signs? Easy. Tessa had chosen to remain blissfully ignorant. Given how shitty the world was… why not look the other way?

“We still have heat and power because this island remains under government control. That’s why they blew the bridges last week,” Evelyn added. “I don’t expect that will keep the insurrectionists at bay for long, though.”

Tessa noted that Evelyn knew a great deal about what was going on. Every level of their government had been opaque for years, using the distraction caused by the fog to consolidate powers. That’s when they began to wield their authority to muzzle the press and silence all forms of dissent.

“How would you know?” Tessa asked.

“Do you know what I desire most of all?” Evelyn deflected.

“What the fuck—” Tessa yelled.

“You!” Evelyn said, while raising a lone finger to beg for a moment’s reprieve. “I would like nothing more than to spend an eternity getting to know every intricate aspect of your mind and body. Alas, an ecological disaster is upon us, and this is the only way I have to keep you safe.”

Given the situation, it proved easier for Evelyn to show rather than tell. She broke the seals around the carton and removed the fitted top. Within, there was an injector, one of those mechanical models that people used to treat severe allergic reactions. The sight of that needle prompted Tessa to focus on the perky siren.

“You really want to turn me into one of those?” Tessa asked, closing her eyes in an attempt to ignore the rising anxiety.

Around the time she was born, a scientist claimed responsibility for the birth of genetically modified twin girls that were resistant to a common infection back then. While the act had been publicly condemned by scientists and the governments not under their sphere of influence, such research went on in secret.

“It’s your best hope,” Evelyn said calmly. “Do you see this situation getting any better?”

When the rich departed, they took their immense wealth with them, and the rate of environmental decay worsened. Those left behind were desperate for a way out and willing to give anything, including their souls, for a chance of surviving this apocalypse.

“Not the best odds,” Tessa said, turning her focus to that cross to remain centred.

The first clinic to offer a treatment that enabled humanity to live under the sea appeared in what was left of the Grand Chinese Protectorate. These clinics soon spread like wildfire and required volunteers to sign away all of their assets. Realistically, only five people out of one-hundred could opt-in, and even wealthy families were forced to decide who among them would live. With less than a sixty percent chance of success, such a gamble often left families destitute, too poor to bury their loved ones.

“No… they are not,” Evelyn conceded. “Still, it’s the best that I could manage.”

“Really?” Tessa asked, immediately experiencing a twinge of guilt for questioning her wife’s dedication. “You could turn me.”

“What would you hope to gain by that?” Evelyn asked.

“…to spend an eternity with you,” Tessa said, turning once again to focus on Evelyn’s green eyes. “Isn’t that what you want?”

The look on Evelyn’s face was heart-wrenching. Her eyes were puffy, red, and glistening with tears. Her face had been robbed of the smile that fell naturally on those lips, one which either beckoned or warmed the hearts of those in the room. Every feature was slack, neutral, except for that quivering lower lip.

With a heavy sigh, Evelyn slipped the injector back into the packaging and placed it atop the railing. She then wrapped her arms around Tessa’s waist. Finally, she leaned forward until her left ear rested neatly between Tessa’s breasts to listen to her heart.

“Strip you of your soul?” Evelyn asked. “You want me to break my promise to never again destroy something so precious?”

“A small price to pay,” Tessa said in return, “to be together?”

“Small?” Evelyn confirmed.

“Isn’t it?” Tessa asked. “What is my soul worth to me? Here and now?”

Evelyn pulled away, allowing Tessa to witness a pair of teeth growing apart from those perfect pearly whites. Her canines became longer and sharper until she gained a proper set of fangs. Next, her fingertips changed, growing thicker and longer before they darkened, transforming into obsidian talons.

Evelyn pressed those sharp claws into Tessa’s back. At first, the discomfort went on unnoticed, but she continued to increase the pressure. Over time, the pain grew until it forced Tessa to try to break away. However, Evelyn held tight, rendering her lover incapable of escape. Well, not without leaving a piece of her behind.

“Evelyn…” Tessa said. “You’re hurting me.”

In response, Evelyn eased off on the pressure, but only just. This was a lesson, and she was not about to let it drop, not before first confirming that Tessa understood the gravity of this choice.

“What?” Evelyn asked. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“No—” Tessa whined. “Stop it.”

Evelyn smiled, but this was different… something that Tessa had never before set eyes upon. The sight of those twisted lips was enough to send a chill down her spine. Subsequently, she winced, leading to those claws digging deeper into her soft flesh.

“I said—” Tessa added.

“You wanted to be like me?” Evelyn confirmed. “Once immortal, I could tear that skin from your face and lick off that rich, succulent blood.”

“N—” Tessa said.

“I could starve you until you begged for death and unleash you into a crowd,” Evelyn said. “We could slaughter the innocents, bathe in their blood, and celebrate our dominance over these beasts of burden.”

“No—” Tessa said, fighting off waves of nausea.

“Amidst all that chaos, we could fuck on their corpses,” Evelyn said. “I could make you come—”

“No!” Tessa interjected.

“No?” Evelyn asked.

“Why—” Tessa asked, genuinely confused by that spectacle.

The soft features that Tessa had grown to love returned. A smile filled with warmth, without the protruding fangs, her soft eyes and beautifully manicured nails, and everything was back as it should be. When Evelyn broke her hold, Tessa backed away until she collided with the doors, which made her jump.

“Why?!” Tessa repeated.

“I spent centuries trying to preserve innocence past death. Every single time, that spark of a soul was extinguished, and most gave into their baser instincts. I even caught one doing exactly what I described with her own prodigy, and had to put them down…” Evelyn said.

While her words had been soft and reasoned, the reality that a fanged creature was hiding just below that thin veneer of humanity disturbed her… That was just a taste.

Sure, she had always known about Evelyn’s alternate persona but she ignored the grim reality of what her wife did when out on the prowl. It was hard to imagine that anyone so sweet, gentle and full of life could be capable of so much cruelty.

“I don’t want to lose the spark that drew me to you,” Evelyn said with a sigh. “I’m not sure that I’d have the strength to do what was right…”

Evelyn turned around and faced the railing. She then leaned forward and let her head hang straight down. Before Tessa realised what was going on, Evelyn’s back spasmed as she struggled to breathe through the shower of tears.

“Perhaps—it will be different with me…” Tessa said, but those words sounded hollow.

“Can’t—won’t—take that chance,” Evelyn sobbed before collapsing onto her knees.

Unsurprisingly, Tessa was torn. She desperately wanted to rush forward and comfort her wife, but that brief taste of Evelyn’s cruelty gave her reason to pause. Would Evelyn lash out if approached while in such a vulnerable state?

“Only one way to find out,” Tessa murmured.

Despite her choice, Tessa stood paralysed for a moment, unable to move. Eventually, she was able to move her left leg, followed by the other. After ignoring the wave of anxiety building up, Tessa knelt beside Evelyn and pulled her in close. Her spouse responded by collapsing into Tessa’s arms as violent sobs tore through her chest.

The two remained as such for what seemed to be an hour. Tessa simply rocked Evelyn back and forth, occasionally humming a soft song. It was a lullaby that her mother used to sing when she was a child, but the words had long ago faded from memory. Despite all of those years spent together, Tessa had never questioned how little she knew about Evelyn’s past.

“Centuries?” Tessa whispered, because such a measure of time was difficult for her to grasp.

“Actually,” Evelyn said after regaining some composure, “nearly four now.”

“You mean—” Tessa tried to ask.

“That you’ve been robbing the grave?” Evelyn asked with a weak smile.

They both adopted meek smiles, although Tessa’s mask concealed the details of hers. This had been a trying moment for them, as judged by their puffy and bloodshot eyes. Despite the levity, Tessa had a faint suspicion that this was not over.

“I love you,” Evelyn said softly, her words probing the newfound void between them in desperate need of an answer.

“I love you, too,” Tessa said in return and, despite her earlier misgivings, she found these words rang true. “So… why are you with me?”

“What do you mean?” Evelyn asked.

“I’m one-sixteenth of your age,” Tessa stated. “Aren’t I… let’s say… a bit young for you?”

Despite being the younger in terms of years, it was Evelyn who was always asked for identification before entering a club or bar. It never phased her; she simply flashed her disarming smile along with her card. For all they knew, she was forty-five, but that mattered little once that smile caught their attention.

“You mean, why not date some centenarian, one with a doctorate in history, so I can chat about the finer points of people and places long lost to the sands of time?” Evelyn asked to confirm.

“…I guess?” Tessa asked.

“The past holds no power over me,” Evelyn said. “In fact, such subjects bore me.”

“So—” Tessa wondered.

“I want to embrace life.” Evelyn said. “Specifically, I seek those who see the endless potential in theirs and are willing to let me hang on for the ride.”

“So—” Tessa probed.

“So why would I find any interest in spending my time with someone on a first name basis with Death?” Evelyn asked, intending to answer her own question. “It would be like living in a museum. While a wealth of information… ultimately, a stale, stuffy, and static environment.”

“So…” Tessa began. “You want to keep up with the times?”

“That,” Evelyn responded, “and guide an impressionable young vixen in the ways of carnal bliss…”

“Oh…” Tessa said, as a shiver ran down her spine, “my…”

“Need plenty of energy for that,” Evelyn said with a giggle.

With that distraction out of the way, Tessa was reminded of just how much she loathed not knowing what was going through Evelyn’s head. Sure, people could infer based on experience and even learn to anticipate certain reactions. It was that level of dedication for another that left a mark, and in her mind, they had such a connection. How could she overlook all of those years of near blissful existence and throw it all away based on a singular event? Even one designed to frighten me?

“Still…” Tessa whispered, as her eyes followed the railing until they settled on the injector.

Assuming that Evelyn’s feelings were legitimate, why should she cast away all of their hard work? That injector would set her on an uncertain path, one that might lead to death, and either way they were certain to end up separated.

Tessa would be forced to live under the sea, a place where technology held no sway. Electricity, combustion, and medicine were just the tip of the iceberg of what she would need to give up to live beneath the waves.

“My god,” Tessa said. “I’d have to eat raw fish for the rest of my life…”

“As opposed to a steady diet of blood?” Evelyn questioned. “Or starving to death?”

That hit Tessa hard since those options had yet to enter her conscious mind. The idea of preying on those like her for their blood did not appeal to her. Could she do it if the other party was a rapist, a murderer, or a thief? Would the stain they left on society be enough to make taking a life more palatable?

What about the second option? She had grown up in a time where food was varied and plentiful. It challenged her to imagine living in a world where that was no longer the case. She thought about those newscasts featuring children starving in war-torn parts of the world. Such conflicts may as well have been taking place on another planet. However, that was before the riots spread over every land mass, which morphed into an armed insurrection. Between that and the perpetual presence of the fog, and with nature dying a slow death… I really wasn’t paying attention.

“That’s why you are doing this,” Tessa asked to confirm, “Isn’t it?”

“I don’t see this getting any better,” Evelyn said. “I’ve had a great life. I’ve seen our society turn into a shining beacon of freedom and innovation. Despite all the horrors I’ve lived through, I can honestly say that it’s never been this bad.”

“Worse than the coup?” Tessa asked. “Or all those world wars?”

Evelyn nodded and her eyes glazed over as memories were dredged up from the dark recesses of her mind. If humans excelled at anything, it was unleashing immeasurable cruelty upon one another.

While the singular acts of a person could be ultimately forgiven and buried by the sands of time, atrocities on an industrial scale invariably left scars that refused to fade. To this day, some in their society distrusted anyone from the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, even though that conflict was long over.

“Those were unpleasant periods,” Evelyn said. “Still, despite all that bloodshed and destruction, Mother Nature and society bounced back every time.”

“You don’t think it will be the same this time?” Tessa asked.

To give herself enough time to find the right thing to say, Evelyn took Tessa’s hands and smiled. Her cool touch was welcome in a world where the temperatures were always uncomfortably high. Humidity was now Tessa’s constant companion. It clung to her skin, and forever left her longing for a bath.

“I would not encourage you to take this risk if I believed it would get better,” Evelyn said.

“So, what should I expect?” Tessa asked after swallowing hard.

Evelyn’s smile grew wide before giving her lover a monster sized hug. With the air pushed out of Tessa’s lungs, Evelyn pulled away and kissed around her mask. Given the situation, it was the best she could manage, but it nonetheless had the desired effect.

“This injector was designed to help the Russian militia gain a tactical edge underwater. Their commanders once envisioned an amphibious force that could operate underwater indefinitely. They would not need to be supplied with oxygen nor require bulky equipment, therefore reducing their chances of being detected while on covert operations,” Evelyn said.

“Okay…” Tessa said. “That’s the why, but I want to know the what. What is going to happen to me?”

“It’s…” Evelyn said softly. “Nothing at first, but you will get sick and eventually feel like death warmed over—”

“So, will I feel as powerful as a blockbuster movie superhero when this is done?” Tessa asked.

“You’ll develop gills that will allow you to breathe in the water… your toes and fingers will become webbed. However, you won’t grow a tail since that requires additional treatments, genetic manipulation, and surgery…” Evelyn said.

The tone in Evelyn’s voice hinted that she would have procured the better treatment, if possible. Tessa was thankful that her wife had done as much as she had. Evelyn could have opted to keep her in the dark until the very end. Live wild, fuck all the time, and leave the world with a smile on her lips. Evelyn is certainly capable of keeping me in a state of perpetual bliss.

Despite the risks, many were opting for similar treatments. Those who could not afford a full transformation settled for treatments like these. Some were experimental, like this one, while others were knock offs of questionable origin and created in illegal drug manufacturing facilities that once produced narcotics. Why anyone would trust a manufacturer of illicit compounds was beyond her. Wait! I know… they are that desperate.

To spare Evelyn any guilt, Tessa decided to make the next move. “So, what’s next?”

Evelyn reached for the cylinder perched atop the railing and removed the injector. Once again, she took care to extract the device from the protective cardboard tube. It was then offered to Tessa, who ultimately had to take the plunge.

“You need to use this now,” Evelyn said.

“Why?” Tessa asked.

“We will need to get closer to the water, and we don’t want to risk a raiding party or government patrol finding that injector,” Evelyn replied with neither a giggle nor a smile.

Since the answer made sense, Tessa responded, “Good point.”

“Now. You’ll need to push this end into the meaty part of your thigh,” Evelyn instructed.

Tessa was about to ask why the injection had to be self-administered, but the answer came naturally. She needed to accept responsibility for moving on with this treatment. Otherwise, she might regret going through with the procedure and blame Evelyn.

This had to be her decision: forgo the injection and die along with everything else on earth; inject and potentially die horribly from the severe side-effects of the retro-virus loads and mutagenic compounds or suffer through the consequences of those nanites going rogue.

Alternatively, she might survive the transition, adapt to her new environment, and live on underwater. Meanwhile, the surface would be turned into a mass grave. Would she be able to go on living with the knowledge that so many had died?

She took the injector from Evelyn’s hand and felt the smooth plastic against her skin. Either her salvation or her damnation awaited within this object, and she found it difficult not to be awe-struck by that realisation. When Tessa was ready, she grabbed the cylinder tightly in her fist.

“You’ll need to jab it in there,” Evelyn said, while pointing at her own thigh. “You’ll feel a pinch, but you have to hold it in place and count to seven.”

All of this was making Tessa’s anxiety levels reach stratospheric levels. To calm down, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. While the air was recycled and stale, the increase of oxygen in her bloodstream was enough to allow her to find her centre.

Next came the hard part. Tessa took a few practice swings until the motion felt natural. She pursed her lips, bit down hard, and sent the injector flying right into her thigh.

“Fuck!” Tessa yelled as a burning pain radiated out from the injection site.

To be safe, Tessa counted to nine before letting the device fall to the ground, averting her gaze from the crimson tipped needle. She had no love for them at the best of times nor did she wish to be reminded of what she had done.

“So, what now?” Tessa asked as a wave of fatigue washed over her.

Evelyn must have noticed the change as well because she immediately reached out to support her lover. Despite Tessa being at least a head taller and weighing more as a result, Evelyn had no trouble keeping her steady.

“Let’s wait till sunset,” Evelyn said. “We can use this time to get some sleep, snuggle, and if you feel up to it…” she added with an impish grin.

“You are incorrigible!” Tessa said while feigning a shock to her sensibilities.

“Keep saying things like that, and I’ll need to fetch my full assortment of toys,” Evelyn said with a wink while opening the door.

“Promises, promises,” Tessa said before stepping into the oxygen rich interior.

“Always,” Evelyn replied, following Tessa into their home.

That night, they ventured out into the old city, or what remained of it. Much of the original shoreline, unchanged for centuries, had slipped under the waves, and worsened as the water levels continued to rise.

They walked down the cobbled roads wearing their rebreathers. Despite it being unnecessary, Evelyn donned one to avoid suspicion. Those out and about without one either had a death wish or were not human. Either option was reason enough to justify being detained.

Every so often, Tessa would catch a glimpse of white light bleeding out into the night from a lonely window. For the most part, these buildings were condemned. Despite being hundreds of years old, surviving countless storms and city-wide disasters, the relentless waves hammering against their foundations had won the day. Their owners were hard hit. With falling property value and the inability to insure the buildings, many were forced to cut their losses.

It was difficult to imagine that this desolate and dilapidated stretch of the cobbled street was where she first met Evelyn. She had been out with her roommates, intent on having a wild night on the town. Plans soon changed when she caught sight of those piercing green eyes and that smile. Without even thinking it through, she came up with an excuse to break away and followed Evelyn. Well, I certainly nailed the wild part.

It has often been said that all good things come to an end, and sadly, it appeared to be true. Tessa only wished that she had more time to spend with her wife. In reaction to that thought, she instinctively squeezed Evelyn’s hand. Her wife looked up, saw the tenderness behind those eyes, and smiled.

“Almost there,” Evelyn said, her voice muffled by the mask as the ambient light increased.

Tessa missed the change in lighting since such things were normal for a big city girl. However, they were heading away from the inhabited portions of the city, not into it, and none of the street lights in the area worked. Still, there was an eerie, pale blue light up ahead and the closer they got to the shoreline, the stronger the light became.

Evelyn did not appear concerned, nor did she have any trouble navigating the darkest streets. Without a second thought, she approached a large wooden door fitted with a hefty iron lock. After fiddling with the locking mechanism, she jerked it open and paused.

Before Tessa could ask what was going on, Evelyn raised an open hand. They remained like that for a good minute to confirm their outing did not arouse suspicion. Once satisfied, Evelyn popped off the lock and opened the door.

“Follow me,” Evelyn whispered, keeping the mangled lock in hand.

As they entered the building, the blue light emanating from the water was bright enough for them to discern massive iron beams and marble. Unlike their building, this construction was comparatively modern. The façades of its ancestors had been preserved while erecting a new structure from within to maintain their heritage on a budget. Despite the superior construction techniques, this marvel of modern construction had been lost to the encroaching sea.

They walked past rotting chairs, tables, and what were the remnants of a bar. This place was once a high-end restaurant, but a storm surge two years back left it contaminated with sewage and forced it to shut down. Now waves were lapping up against the opposing wall, or what remained of it…

As waves beat against the stonework, Tessa noticed how the blue phosphorescent light was generated by the churn. Since the east wall had given way to the relentless sea, she saw other ruined buildings dead ahead, empty hulls of civilisation that were surrounded by glowing white-capped waves.

“It’s beautiful,” Tessa said. “Frightening, too.”

“It is,” Evelyn said as she discarded her rebreather.

Without another word, Evelyn walked over to the north-east corner where the flooring had rotted through. Tessa followed and spotted a rigid hulled inflatable boat tethered to one of the support beams.

“How did you—” Tessa asked.

“All in due time,” Evelyn said before stepping onto the boat, taking her place near the engine’s controls. “A patrol is coming this way, so we need to get out of sight fast.”

Tessa knew better than to question her wife on matters such as this. After getting onboard, she sat just ahead of Evelyn and watched as they slipped out into the iridescent waters. Fortunately, the boat was nearly silent. The motor was small and battery powered, so their chances of being detected were low.

The rest of the journey went smoothly. They approached a tower poking through the water, evoking the image of an electrical plug that had been torn in half. The sight of those rods sticking out of the top helped her figure out where they were. This place had once been a museum that showcased the foundations of the European settlement on the isle, and was now, for the most part, submerged. How long before the ocean takes it all?

Evelyn pointed a finger at the shore before they disappeared behind the tower. In the distance, Tessa made out the muzzles of assault rifles lit up by their mounted lights. A patrol had indeed been headed towards what remained of the restaurant, and any delay might have condemned them to imprisonment or death. Tessa sighed in relief and teared up as they came alongside what was left of the tower’s observation deck.

“This place is only accessible at high tide,” Evelyn explained.

Since they were within range, Evelyn tossed her backpack onto the platform which caused the iron beams to resonate. Tessa winced, but her wife did not appear concerned. Instead, Evelyn adjusted the throttle to hold steady against the current and motioned for Tessa to hop on.

Tessa managed to get onto the platform, albeit in an awkward fashion, which almost ended in her face planting. Prior to leaving the boat, Evelyn locked the throttle in place and tore into the pontoons with her talons. The small boat blew past Tessa on the platform, and Evelyn leapt effortlessly onto the makeshift dock.

They watched the boat cut through the waves, taking on water, as it made headway towards an odd series of cube-shaped dwellings that had been a part of some radical housing development. This was an architectural oddity built well-before her grandmother had been a child. What remained was scattered and chaotic after a derelict container ship crashed into them. The impact must have been massive since what remained reminded her of toy blocks, dispersed during a child’s temper tantrum.

“Come on,” Evelyn urged after opening the door.

Again, Tessa complied without hesitation and ventured into the tower. This level was nothing more than an iron lattice floor, just like the outside surface. Inside, she found a cot, sleeping bag, cooking stove, and boxes of provisions—everything they would need to survive a zombie apocalypse… if only it were that easy.

“You have been busy?” Tessa asked.

Evelyn closed the door, securing it with a massive iron crossbar. She responded to the question with a smile, but that only made her look guilty, which, in itself, said a lot.

“Would I have given you an option that was not fully planned out?” Evelyn asked.

“True,” Tessa admitted while thinking how grateful she was for all of this planning. “So, why this place?”

“It’s isolated and hard to access,” Evelyn said. “When the time comes, you’ll be able to get to water through that hatch.”

Unlike the rest of this structure, the hatch was new. Tessa could tell from the shiny soldering lines and freshly painted finish. In the past, there had been a stairwell leading down to the museum floor. That would be her safe space, away from shipping traffic or prying eyes.

“Now,” Evelyn said. “Get some rest.”

“Going to be difficult to manage with this rebreather,” Tessa replied.

Evelyn giggled, adding, “You won’t need it. Not here.”

Tessa furrowed her brow but pulled the mask from her face despite having serious misgivings. The system did not immediately go into alarm, so she took in a few lungfuls of brine-filled air.

“Wait…” Tessa said, confused about what was going on.

“The blue light is generated by algae,” Evelyn said. “It interacts with ultraviolet light that penetrates the fog. In fact, the process generates oxygen.”

“So, I can breathe in here?” Tessa confirmed.

Evelyn nodded and said, “It’s a bit lower in oxygen concentration than you’re accustomed to, but there is enough interchange with the water to keep you alive.”

“Real air?” Tessa asked again. The thought proved just as easy to believe as a woman in white guiding the dead to their final destination.

“It’s the same air, but the concentration drops the further you get from the shore,” Evelyn explained.

“Thank you!” Tessa exclaimed while dropping her rebreather by the cot.

Excited, Tessa rushed to her wife, embraced her fully, and kissed her passionately. Evelyn simply melted with that kiss, letting herself go while revelling in the intimacy.

Once Tessa broke away, she said, “I may need help to slip into that sleeping bag.”

“Is that all?” Evelyn said before winking.

“Well, I might need my personal physician to attend to my needs after that,” Tessa said, feigning injury.

“Let’s get my patient to bed then,” Evelyn said and surprised Tessa by sweeping her off her feet.

“Oh my,” Tessa said.

“You’ll see,” Evelyn said with a giggle.

Tessa opened her eyes and focused on the familiar trappings of the home she shared with Evelyn. She turned to face her wife, but found an expansive space where Evelyn should have been. An element of this situation bothered her, like knowing she had forgotten something but not remembering what.

“Evelyn?” Tessa wondered silently.

Evelyn did not appear, and given the situation, that was hardly unexpected. Still, Evelyn was normally there when she opened her eyes. Her wife often called it her intuition, but Tessa often guessed that it was something else entirely. Perhaps it was related to her superior sense of hearing?

“Is Evelyn out on the—” Tessa tried to ask out loud, but her mouth would not move.

While the inability to speak disturbed her, the growing sense of unease creeping in did not help matters. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead even though she was shivering violently. Wait! If I’m cold then why is my head radiating heat?

Tessa experienced this as a child, a fever so severe that her parents were forced to rush her to the hospital. Was that where Evelyn had gone? Did she run out to secure medication, a doctor, or some form of transportation? Is she outside waiting to lead in the paramedics?

As a wave of nausea enveloped her, the world before her changed. The familiarity of her home was set aflame, turned to ash, and dispersed into the wind. What remained was minimalistic, cold, and far more disturbing. She was in a cell, dull grey, and made of concrete. Wherever she was, the service was terrible; they never bothered to give her a blanket, forcing her to lay directly on the cold surface.

“Ev—” Tessa tried to call out.

Again, Tessa could not complete her query. Just above, she became aware of hissing that originated from metal gratings affixed to the ceiling. Well, that certainly won’t help to calm me down.

If left to her own devices, she may have been able to temper her anxiety, but that was before the sound of locusts reached her clouded mind. While a single instance would have been tolerable, that noise was soon joined by a swarm that converged on her from every direction.

Tessa blinked and realised that her body was actually crawling with fire ants. The creatures covered her completely, so much so that there was no way to tell where one ant began and another ended. The visual display was accompanied by a burning and itching feeling. Her anxiety levels blew the bulb.

Panicked, she gasped for air, giving the ants an ingress point. They followed with zeal, biting her tongue. Tessa’s eyes grew wide, and with all the strength she could muster, she screamed.

“Wake up,” Evelyn hissed into Tessa’s ear.

Those words may have been whispered, but there was urgency behind them. Tessa gradually opened her eyelids and knew that she was safe upon catching sight of her wife’s deep green eyes.

Evelyn was straddling her, using those legs and that ass to keep Tessa pinned down. Confusion set in, but not before it dawned on her that there was something pressing against her tongue. Tessa had bitten down on something with a gristly interior, almost like a… a fucking hand.

When the taste of blood reached her tongue, Tessa tried to scream, but Evelyn slapped her hard enough to hear a snap. It was clear from those wide eyes that Tessa’s symptoms and associated nightmare were ill-timed.

“Don’t,” Evelyn whispered. “There’s a patrol outside. Bite down if you need to. Just don’t make a sound.”

The idea of them being so close distracted her from the pain. Why would anyone be so curious about the flooded ruins of a museum? Unless… They suspected something?

While those ideas coalesced into a coherent thought, Tessa felt a wave of pain. It started in her abdomen, formed a tight concentric circle around her spine, and radiated throughout her entire nervous system. What the fuck?

Despite having no desire to inflict pain, she could not help but bite down—hard. Tessa felt her teeth strain as they snapped bones. Evelyn kept on smiling while Tessa silently pleaded for it to stop.

Her pleas went unanswered; instead, the pain intensified. The shock to her system overwhelmed her mind, pushed her to the brink, and the world faded to black.

Tessa’s eyes shot open as firecrackers were set off in the room. Facing rusty support structures, her eyes darted from point to point until she caught some motion in her peripheral vision. She struggled to move her head to get a better view, but every muscle protested the effort. Her body was weary and exhausted, and it took all she had to angle her head a few more degrees.

The scene reminded her of a slaughterhouse or other such imagery that was frequently used as propaganda by animal rights groups. The wall was covered in long streaks of blood which hopefully meant that the source was dead.

With more strain, she made out a corpse near her cot, lying face down. She assumed it had once been a man, although the missing head and spine made it challenging to confirm. What kind of creature is capable of doing that to a person?

Against the wall, she saw someone fitted with light armour and a helmet. His head was turned at an unnatural angle, and despite there being no lower jaw, the gash in his throat made him look as though he were smiling. While disturbing, the sounds to the right of her made her stomach churn.

With plenty of reasons for concern, Tessa was highly motivated to get a better view. Near the door, another man was convulsing. In his hands, there was a service pistol with the slide fully to the rear. She thought surely, he must have missed his target, but right below those dimming eyes, she spotted Evelyn’s mangled body and bloody hair.

There were five bullet holes protruding out from Evelyn’s back. She watched first in horror, then in awe, as the holes closed themselves to reveal flawless skin. That explains why she managed to keep on smiling while I took a chunk out of her hand!

Alas, before she realised that this was a government patrol, another wave of pain washed over her. This time, the agony was centred around her lungs, creating sharp and intense spikes of torment that quickly overwhelmed her. Unable to take it any longer, Tessa passed out.

Tessa woke up gasping for air, despite her lungs going through the motions. Something was wrong. Her eyes darted towards the door, spotting Evelyn with her fangs and claws fully extended. That’s not helping matters!

For a fraction of a second, Evelyn made eye contact. At that moment, she knew they were out of time. The flashing red light caused by emergency lights outside illuminated her wife’s face with periodic inevitability.

“Get your ass to the water,” Evelyn said, although her mouth did not move.

Those words somehow focused Tessa, helping to alleviate some of her anxiety. Still, that could only work for so long. She needed to breathe, and for that to happen, she had to reach the water.

With that thought having supremacy over her mind, Tessa turned to face the hatch and noticed that it was already open. Just beyond, there came the overpowering odour of brine. Why does that smell remind me of home?

“Tessa Marie Nelligan! Tout de suite!” Evelyn yelled while hugging the wall.

Evelyn never used Tessa’s full name. Until now, instances had all been relegated to her parents, using it to highlight urgency or to make a less than subtle threat. By invoking that name, Evelyn had emphasised how dire their situation truly was.

“Get to the old sewer pipe! You’ll be safe—” Evelyn said.

A couple of projectiles ricocheted off the brick wall near Evelyn’s position. Tessa’s eyes widened with shock, motivating her enough to roll off the cot.

“Fuck!” Tessa so desperately wanted to say.

In the background, she heard boots marching towards them. Tessa used her arms to propel herself forward, since her legs were effectively dead weight. She hoped they would be of some use to her once submerged.

“Stay the fuck away!” Evelyn yelled.

The marching was soon accompanied by gunfire which shattered bones and tore holes through flesh. Tessa desperately wanted to see what was going on. Instinctually, she understood that her body could only function so long while deprived of oxygen. She focused on that desperation, channelled all of her anxiety, and willed enough strength to her legs to manage a single flailing flop.

The effort positioned her on her right side against the edge of the hatch. That impact hurt like a bitch, and to make things worse, her salvation was within line of sight.

“Over there!” an armoured man yelled as the chaos behind her intensified.

“Fuck—” Tessa thought, looking more like a fish out of water at this point.

In a last-ditch effort, Tessa pushed herself forward with her feet. The motion inadvertently shifted her centre of balance just enough for her to drop head first through the hatch. While it certainly was not graceful, her legs followed suit and slammed against the far side of the opening.

The pain made her gasp, filling her lungs with water which caused her to sink towards the foundations of the tower. Above her, the surface was disturbed by weapon fire. Fortunately, at this depth, the only thing she felt were metal fragments sinking past her.

That mattered little, however, considering she was still deprived of life-giving oxygen. Her lungs no longer worked; filled with fluid, she could not breathe the air either. That’s when the burning sensation returned, this time, encircling her neck.

The itching became unbearable, so Tessa clawed and tore at her flesh, clouding the water in a pink mist. The self-inflicted trauma caused the skin to split into horizontal slits that enabled water to cycle through. As her need for air subsided, her panic calmed. Wow! It’s cool down here.

“Get to the old sewer pipe,” Tessa remembered.

Tessa propelled herself forward using her legs and dove deeper into what remained of the museum. Normally, the dark waters would have been absurd for her to navigate, but her eyes easily perceived the outlines. All around were the submerged foundations of this nation’s greatest city.

Since Tessa had been here as a child, it took her no time at all to find the large diameter sewer pipe fashioned from brick and mortar. While giving it her all to reach safety, the lowest part of the tower shook. A quick glance revealed the orange glow of an explosion, followed by debris raining down around her. Evelyn must have chosen to blow the structure to prevent anyone from following.

Without any thought, Tessa kept on swimming, all the while ignoring her pained muscles. She stopped once under cover of the ancient sewer line, one that serviced their people for well over three-hundred years. This section of the waterway also travelled under a road and several other structures, so it would take a lot of effort to bring about a collapse. Now what?

As though reading her mind, something brushed up against her shoulder. Tessa kicked out, striking whatever tried to touch her while she twirled around to get a better view. Straight ahead, there was a man rubbing his sore jaw, followed by a young girl who did not appear to be related. They looked, for the most part, human. Well, except for the slits on their necks and their webbed digits.

Tessa watched how those ports in their necks opened and closed as they breathed. Their similarities led her to believe that they must have received the same type of treatment. Funny that a tail was so heavily featured in those ads considering that functional gills were the only detail that mattered… Wait! What are the chances of finding someone like me down here?

It dawned on her what this encounter really was. Tessa smiled warmly to disarm the situation and watched as the others reciprocated. Wow! Evelyn really did think of everything.

ABOUT EVELYN CHARTRES

Evelyn Chartres is the nom de plume for a self-published Canadian author. The writer of eight Gothic fantasy novels, Evelyn released her debut novel, The Portrait, in 2016, and her latest, The Van Helsing Impetus, in 2023.

A fan of the phrase ‘live to eat’, Evelyn shares her recipes on evelynchartres.com. These recipes have a loose focus on French-Canadian cuisine, which feature deep-dish meat pies, seafood, and desserts that are rarely seen outside of La Belle Province.

Evelyn is currently living in Ottawa, Ontario, and is busy laying the foundations for her next book featuring Marc.

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http://evelynchartres.com

ALSO, FROM EVELYN CHARTRES

THE PORTRAIT

“A vision from the past becomes a writer's deadly obsession.”

The Portrait is a Gothic fantasy about Victoria Frost, an author who develops an unhealthy obsession for her character. As events unfold, her infatuation sours, forcing Victoria to question her sanity. Is she simply slipping into madness, or is there something else at play?

The Portrait features a mixture of contemporary and historical scenes brought forward as Victoria explores the world of her muse. Using both prose and art, every scene yields a new piece of the puzzle, providing insights on the origins of her character's portrait and its featured model.

Discover how a vision from the past becomes a writer's deadly obsession.

THE GRAND

“Even things that go bump in the night need a place to unwind.”

You will find The Grand nestled atop a cliff that overlooks a cursed valley. Surrounded by foreboding mountains, this ritzy French palatial-style hotel is a place where a roaring party’s success is measured by its body count. This hotel does not cater to the rich or famous. Instead, its staff and facilities serve a clientele with a more discerning palate.

The Grand is a collection of Gothic fantasy stories with an overarching storyline that incorporates supernatural themes. The Roaring Twenties serves as a rich historical, linguistic, and cultural backdrop.

Centred on the victims, each story brings a unique perspective to the hotel, the staff, and their esteemed guests. At The Grand, it is best to remember: Even things that go bump in the night need a place to unwind.

THE VAN HELSING PARADOX

“A gal has to look out for herself, after all.”

Clara Grey’s parents once said that the world was a dark and dangerous place. There was more truth than fiction in those words. There were things that lurked in the shadows which defied the laws of nature: perversions that fed on the dead, terrorised the living, or escaped the chill touch of the grave.

Clara is a member of The Tower, a religious order of hunters who work outside the confines of the Church. As keepers of the arcane, her order takes an active role in countering such threats. Alas, the life of a hunter can be short, and many go missing before they are ready to serve. So, what does it take to succeed against all odds?

Explore Clara’s origin, a child born before the dawn of the twentieth century. Witness her rigorous education, how she faces adversity, and how she fights in the Great War to become the derringer-wielding flapper she is.

Throughout her tale, keep in mind: No matter the threat, a gal has to look out for herself, after all.

THE VAN HELSING RESURGENCE

“While the Roaring Twenties are long gone, a heroine’s work is never done.”

Clara Grey was a hunter and part of a secret organisation known only as The Tower. During the Roaring Twenties, she sacrificed herself to destroy a powerful vampire. As a reward, she joined the ranks of Heaven’s army, and for ninety years, Clara yearned to take an active role in the mortal realm.

In an attempt to alter the course of history, scientists trigger an experiment with devastating results. The effects are felt not only on Earth, but in other realms as well.

Clara and an echo from her past are sent to Earth to investigate the case of a stolen soul. For this transgression, Heaven could go to war, but they choose to send Clara—and Edith. They fall to Earth, focused on their mission.

Both had been isolated from the mortal realm for generations. In their lifetimes, monsters were on the decline, but learn how much the modern world has changed. While navigating this alien land, will they adapt to their surroundings to fulfil their mission? Or be swallowed up by the evil that lurks in the shadows?

Before reading on, be sure to remember: While the Roaring Twenties are long gone, a heroine’s work is never done.

THE VAN HELSING INCURSION

“Hunting things that go bump in the night is child's play when compared to juggling relationships.”

During the Roaring Twenties, Clara Grey hunted things that went bump in the night. On her last mission, she paid the ultimate price to rid the world of a powerful foe. As a reward, she ascended to Heaven and joined its ranks as an angel.

Ninety years after her death, Clara fell to Earth, intent on saving a soul. While successful, killing an old god in self-defence barred her from returning to Heaven. Lost in the modern world, Clara was forced to seek unlikely allies to navigate through these uncertain times.

Four months later, Clara has settled in with Elizabeth, a young woman she saved shortly after descending to Earth. For a gal who had sworn off anything that hinted at normalcy, Clara learns that being average takes more effort than she suspected.

Alas, repercussions from choices made on that fateful mission have not been idle. Her enemies trigger a chain of events that force our fated femme fatale to act. Is Clara prepared to deal with the fallout? Will her allies come to her aid? Or must she stand on her own?

Before reading on, be sure to consider: Hunting things that go bump in the night is child’s play when compared to juggling relationships.

THE VAN HELSING IMPETUS

“While she failed at normal, she's still a force to be reckoned with.”

Clara Grey is a fallen angel, one who tried her hand at having a normal life. That experiment came to an abrupt end when werewolves kidnapped her gal. While victorious, tales from that fateful night became the stuff of legend. Now known as ‘the Valkyrie,’ she is a wanted fugitive.

She has been on the lam for months, using a nondescript persona to evade the authorities. All the while, Clara is tormented by voices from a goddess that she thought long dead.

Clara has never faced an enemy that can strike from the shadows, forcing her to align herself with the things she hunted in life. Even with an army at her back, does she have what it takes to defeat her foe?

Before reading on, be sure to consider: While she failed at normal, she's still a force to be reckoned with.

HIGH WATER MARK

“When humanity has been driven into the sea, what lurks above the waves?”

Anna is a humanoid mermaid who spends her days with the local timekeeper until a podmate comes to her with a proposal. They hatch a plan to head out into the watery ruins of humanity in search of lost technology and materials. For a young mermaid living in the dredges of society, the promise of riches from such a find is just too good to pass up.

Armed with nothing more than an old map and some rusty road signs to follow, they are soon reminded that adventure often brings forth more than its fair share of rough waters. Her friend gets captured, leaving Anna alone in a world where mermaids are nowhere near the top of the food chain.

Follow Anna as she makes landfall and learns why her ancestors abandoned the surface. Lost in a world that is perpetually covered in a thick fog, Anna must navigate through what remains above the high-water mark. What will she find? An ally? A foe? Or will she find nothing but death and destruction?

Before reading on, be sure to consider: With humanity driven into the sea, what lurks above the waves?

DARK HEARTS

“She may look like the Little Red Riding Hood, but she really is the wolf!”

Julia is a werewolf who turned against her pack and saved an innocent life. As a reward for her good deed, she ends up in prison, but thrives while others like her waste away.

On the eve of a full moon, an unknown benefactor arranges for Julia’s release. Faced with the prospect of returning to the city that nearly killed her, she opts to disappear into the surrounding woods.

This is the opportunity she needs to find herself and reconnect with the wild. As her past resurfaces, the supernatural and dark elements within humanity take notice of her.

Before reading on, be sure to consider: She may look like the Little Red Riding Hood, but she really is the wolf.

LICENCE

Come Hell or High Water is a work of fiction. All characters, organisations and events appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblances to reality are purely coincidental.

The text herein is copyrighted:

Come Hell or High Water

Copyright © 2021 by

Evelyn Chartres (Nom de plume)

theportraitofawoman@gmail.com

All rights reserved.

Draft2Digital – Second Edition – ISBN 978-1-7774480-6-6

Cover and inside art designed by Faera Lane

http://faylane.com

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COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

ABOUT EVELYN CHARTRES

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