Author Andy Rafferty brings us sad tale of the end of the world, and the love that can linger through such horrors. After I finished reading, I had to wipe away a few tears but also found myself shuddering at he thought of what might happen if the events unfolded for real… especially given I live in an apartment.
She glanced over towards the far bank and froze. A pack of the dead were shambling along in the shadow of the trees. A dozen of them, some still wearing the tattered remains of army fatigues. Most were naked, their livid skin twisted with signs of conflict. One had no arms, another was missing its jaw.
Even now, after all this time, her instinct was to run. She fought it down. Movement might attract one of them, if it happened to look in her direction, and while there was little chance they would make it across the water or up the steep cliffs, it was not worth taking any risks at this stage.
The Way This Will End by Andy Rafferty, featured in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology (p. 51). Crone Girls Press.
Q (Crone Girls Press): What inspired your story in this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A (Andy Rafferty): I’m a fan of apocalypse fiction but the stories themselves are often very violent and aggressive. I wanted to write something about sadness and love for a change. That and the idea of the couple putting their house in order for the theoretical “next people” to come by the people who are still fighting on even though they aren’t able to continue.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: Horror appeals to me because it acknowledges that the world is grim and cruel, but it also allows for moments of hope and defiance against the inevitable. I write it because it lets me put my gloomy moods into perspective, or turn then into something more upbeat.
Q: There are a number of different flavors of horror. Where does your story fit, and what drew you to this particular category?
A: I think it’s apocalyptic horror. I think it’s about the people who survive the end of the world and what they do in the face of it. I get drawn to the apocalypse because… well the world is not filling me with confidence right now.
Q: The world has been through some turbulent times in the past few years. How have current events changed (or not!) your approach to the genre as a writer?
A: I’ve found isolation becoming a bigger theme both in my writing and reading. At the same time I’ve seen so much wilful stupidity that the bar for what counts as “realistic” character actions in the face of horror has been irrevocably moved. I’ve also found for some reason that I’m a lot more interested in short-form fiction than novels – especially those where a single protagonist deals with inexplicable threats or cosmic horror.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I’m going to keep honing my ability to tell satisfying horror and occasionally fantasy stories in less than thirty thousand words. I’ll keep plugging away, writing short stories and sharing them with anyone prepared to read them until someone makes me stop! I’m also interested in exploring audio a little more – I’ve had some successes but it’s a challenging area to write for and very different to creating straight prose.
About The Author
Andy Rafferty writes for a live-roleplaying game company; his job involves coming up with scenarios designed to make people fight. In his spare time, he tries to come up with stories that make people afraid. He lives in Lancashire with his partner and a cat and thinks there should be more sad apocalypse stories.
You can find him on Patreon, and Twitter.
Be sure to check out their story in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology
Crone Girls Press 