The Dead & The Gone
A Novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The END has arrived.
Beginning Stages
Tidal Waves
That flooded subways, buildings, and city streets ultimately killing thousands instantly.
Blocked Sun
Caused ashy air that suffocated the majority of people that were left in the cities.
Blizzards
With no sun, the temperature dramatically dropped, freezing people to death daily.
Adapting
Chaotic Streets
Blackouts, disorder, and destruction caused a wide spread panic, resulting in chaos.
Robbed Stores
People begin to face the end of the world and rob store fronts for the supplies necessary for survival.
Food Shortages
People still living within the quarantined cities begin to experience food shortages and need to attend food lines to obtain a single bag of canned food.
Bodies in Street
People died daily and were placed in public so that families could have a chance at identifying a loved one.
Flu Epidemic
People with the flu spread it among the city. Whatever healthcare supplies that were left, were used entirely and still did not manage to help. Alex's sister Bri even becomes sick with the flu and asthma from the ash.
Shut Down Schools
This caused a problem for Alex who depended on the meal the school gave and also provided him and his sisters a place to go to be taken care of since his parents were missing.
Coping
Church
Alex finds information within his church such as missing people announcments and news from the priests who have connections.
Nun Convent Opportunities
Because of his involvment with the church, Alex is offered an opportunity for his oldest, younger sister to join a small nun convent up in the mountains and leave the city in order to survive.
Prayer
Alex maintains a strong faith for God throughout the disastrous events and continues to pray for a blessing, even after his sister died in an elevator when the power went out.