Tales From The Apocalypse: Tales From

By Paragon Papers

In the shadowed remnants of a world ravaged by apocalyptic calamities, the remnants of humanity cling to survival and seek redemption across the wastelands. From the submerged citadels of the drowned cities to the dark recesses of the Whispering Sands, each settlement harbors secrets and faces threats that could extinguish the faint glimmers of hope once and for all.

In this sweeping saga of survival, betrayal, and profound courage, a fragile coalition of settlements emerges, striving to forge a new society from the ashes of the old. Led by visionaries and warriors alike, they confront not only external enemies but the internal shadows of their past deeds. As the coalition grapples with the specters of old-world technologies and the looming specter of a new warlord known as the Artificer, the very fabric of the new world order is tested. Heroes will rise from the unlikeliest of places, challenging what it means to fight for humanity's future.

Dive into a meticulously crafted universe where each chapter adds layers to a grander narrative. "Echoes of Yesterday" isn't just a tale of post-apocalyptic survival; it is an exploration of the resilience of the human spirit, the harshness of a world reborn, and the pursuit of hope in the darkest times. Can the remnants of mankind not only survive but thrive, or will the shadows of their pasts forever dictate the shape of their future?

Join the journey through desolation and discovery. Witness the rise of a new civilization and the challenges it must overcome to secure a future where light might once again outshine the darkness. This is not just a story of the end times—it's a narrative about the beginning of a new epoch. Will you brave the journey into the heart of a world reborn from ashes?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paragon Papers
• Release date: May 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224464029

Book preview

The Refuge of Broken Shadows

Decades after civilization collapsed under the force of nuclear armageddon, the remnants of humanity adapted to the harsh realities of a world reshaped by radiation and despair. Settlements, small and fortified, dotted the scarred landscape, each a bastion against the ever-present threats of raiders, wildlife, and the cruel whims of nature.

In the north, amid a dense forest that had reclaimed a city once vibrant with life, stood the settlement known as Haven. Built from the rubble of old buildings, its walls were lined with scrap metal and remnants of a world long gone. Haven was ruled not by law, but by necessity and the iron will of its leader, a woman known only as Rhea.

Rhea had been a child when the bombs fell, saved from the blasts by the depth of the underground metro system where she lost her family but found her resolve. Now, with scars marking her face and hands, she led Haven with a mixture of ruthlessness and deep-seated compassion. Her decisions weren’t always popular, but they kept her people alive, and in the wastelands, that was all that mattered.

One cold evening, as the sun set beyond the jagged horizon, a lone figure approached Haven. His approach was slow, deliberate, marked by the limp of a wounded man. At the gates, he was met by armed guards, their rifles trained on him without hesitation.

I seek refuge, the stranger called out, his voice hoarse. I bring news of the south, and skills as a healer.

The guards took him to Rhea, who scrutinized him beneath the flickering light of oil lamps. His name was Jonah, and his eyes held a haunted look that Rhea recognized all too well—the look of a man who had seen too much death.

What news of the south? Rhea demanded, her tone steady.

Gangs, more brutal than before, consolidating power. They’re moving north, Jonah replied, his voice a low warning. He spoke of a world outside that was changing, becoming even more dangerous, if that was possible.

Rhea considered his words, weighing the risk of an attack against the value of his skills as a healer. You may stay, she decided, on one condition—you work under our rules, no exceptions.

Jonah nodded in agreement, relief visible in his tired eyes.

Weeks passed, and Jonah proved his worth many times over, healing wounds and concocting remedies from the forest’s bounty. Yet, there was a shadow that lingered over him, a secret he kept close.

It was not until a group of scouts brought back a salvaged item from a raid that the truth began to unravel—a journal, old and weathered. It belonged to Jonah and detailed not just medical knowledge but his travels and the family he had lost to the raiders he now warned against.

One evening, Rhea confronted him in the quiet of the infirmary. You’ve been running from your past, she observed, her voice softer than usual.

Jonah’s defenses fell away as he confessed, revealing a past filled with mistakes and loss, his family victims not of random violence, but of a gang he once belonged to. I’m trying to make things right, he admitted, his voice strained with emotion.

Rhea listened, her expression unreadable. She understood the burden of past sins, the weight of survival. We all carry our shadows, she finally said, a trace of empathy in her tone. Here, you have a chance to reshape yours.

Jonah’s integration into Haven became complete, his past a part of him but not defining him, as was the case for many in this new world. As threats loomed on the horizon, Haven remained a testament to the possibility of redemption and the strength found in shared burdens.

Under Rhea’s leadership, and with Jonah’s newfound loyalty, Haven prepared to face the future—united and resolute. In the darkness of the world outside, they forged their light, a beacon for all those who, like Jonah, sought refuge from the shadows of their broken pasts.

The Citadel of Echoes

In the post-apocalyptic world where society lay in tatters, the ocean became a realm of forgotten tales and hidden refuge. Amidst the silent cities submerged beneath the waves, a new society arose, anchored around the colossal structures that once scraped the skies. Known as the Citadel, this submerged city was a beacon of hope and survival, a place fiercely protected by its inhabitants from the toxic waters above and the dangers lurking in the depths below.

The Citadel was a marvel of adaptation and ingenuity. Its people lived within the upper floors of what were once towering skyscrapers, now partially underwater and reinforced with salvaged materials to withstand the pressures of their aquatic environment. These urban reefs became home not only to humans but to marine life that thrived among the coral-covered ruins, creating an eerie blend of natural and man-made landscapes.

Ezra, a young engineer born in the depths of the Citadel, had never seen the surface. His world was the flicker of bioluminescent lights and the constant hum of the water filtration systems that kept their environment livable. He was part of a team tasked with maintaining the delicate balance of their underwater habitat, ensuring that the structural integrity of their submerged buildings remained intact.

The day the sensors detected an anomaly on the ocean floor was the day Ezra’s routine life took a sharp turn. The anomaly turned out to be an old submarine