Don't worry, everything is fine. Things are going just the way we intended. Trust us and it will all work out. And let someone know if your neighbor isn't on board with our latest program, because only together can we succeed.

Too soon? Perhaps, but this feels like something we should really be considering, rather than blindly following our various tribes into oblivion.

This is the conclusion (for now) of the story that began with ⁠The Last Halloween, part 1 — you should start there first. To recap:

Tasha has entered into a virtual "experience" of the end of the world, which an android refers to as The Last Halloween. The apocalypse continues, with everything around Tasha being destroyed. The experience overlays her memories so completely that she isn't even aware that she's not actually living through the last Halloween, a holiday she had previously only heard referenced in holos and books.

Note that this is part two of the story, which itself is only part of a broader narrative. If you came straight here, I recommend listening to part 1 first. Thanks for listening, let me know what you think, and the concluding part three of The Last Halloween will be posted tomorrow.

Tasha has entered into a virtual "experience" at the behest of an android of unknown origin or intent. She wanted to know what happened — how the world had ended 30 years ago during the Collapse. Now, she's going to find out. Except, the experience is so complete that she doesn't even remember the present as she relives a past that happened before she was born.

Vance, Mara, and Toby are scavengers, some of the few remaining people left. They're looking for supplies and received a tip that there's a largely intact building in the heart of the city. It sounds too good to be true, and sometimes the Ancients left protections in place to guard places that were especially important. With supplies running low, the three scavengers feel it's worth the risk...

SPOILERS AND BACKGROUND INFO FOLLOW:

So, the idea for this is that the scavs have stumbled upon an old "Halloween Emporium" that specialized in spooks and scares. The various machines are still running, with solar power or something similar keeping them running. Not everything fell apart and most people didn't think a Halloween warehouse was worth the trouble to loot. And the terrifying machines are still doing their job, so most of the surviving remnants want nothing to do with a haunted warehouse.

Tasha is one of the few people still left after the Collapse, at least as far as she knows. Born and raised on a secure compound by her wealthy prepper parents, they've survived for 30 years. But mom passed away years ago in an unfortunate tractor accident, and now dad is sick and dying. Soon, Tasha could be all alone, so she's doing something her parents have strictly prohibited for all of her 25 years: She's leaving the compound to see what's Outside. The story picks up in the middle of things, and I plan to fill in a lot of the backstory over time. Given time, this could end up being a full audiobook done via episodic podcasts. We shall see. Let me know what you think, but it's part of a larger story I'm planning. This is also the first part of the story, which at 11 minutes long I felt was sufficient for a stopping point. Let me know what you think, and the story will continue in the next week or so as Tasha discovers the secrets of the Last Halloween.

Halloween has arrived, but it's no longer fun and games, tricks and treats. In the post-apocalypse, the Ancients somehow managed to release a curse, wild shadow beasts that roam the land. They seem to get stronger around Halloween, and every year, the town needs to muster a defense against the relentless horde.

This story comes from my high school son, who saw what I was doing videos and decided he needed to participate. I helped with editing the text a bit, recording the voiceover, and then splicing everything together.

We hope you enjoy this one! Let us know what you think in the comments. This is a standalone story.

What secrets lurk in the depths of the London Underground after the world has fallen apart? A young woman, looking for supplies and perhaps something more, descends into the darkness to find out.

This is a "one and done" short story, at least for now.