Sanguine (adjective): cheerful; optimistic

A decade had passed since the beginning of the apocalypse. The leaders of the world government had long turned their attention to larger urban areas, where they could rescue more people and secure more precious resources for the remaining life on planet Earth. They thought this city was lost. Lost for good.

But the paint was getting fresher.

Following the neon streaks of pale yellow, fiery orange, and radioactive green, the group of black-clothed agents couldn’t help but slow down. Formless shapes and snaking swirls crawled up and down the broken walls like rainbow ivy—a tattoo across the body of abandoned structures.

It wasn’t the doing of monsters. Only a human heart could create such art.

The colors became more vibrant as they sped on, scenes of holidays and family forming among the ocean of spray paint: a group of three, gathered beneath a Christmas tree, with a massive pile of neon pink presents at their feet. It was as if nostalgic memories had guided the hand of the artist across the concrete surface.

When the agents finally reached a gray area, swirling with dust and untouched by the tendrils of creativity, they found them.

Survivors.