FRAGMENTS is a collection of short fiction — moments pulled from broken worlds, quiet ruins, and the fragile space between survival and sacrifice.
Not every story becomes a novel. Some remain what they were meant to be: sharp, self-contained echoes.
Big Brother is a 5,000-word short story set in a dying world where survival demands impossible choices.
During a routine supply run along an abandoned highway, Farris discovers a baby girl left behind in a rusted car. In a village where food is scarce and compassion is rarer still, bringing her home could cost him everything. When the child reveals a mysterious ability that defies the laws of their broken world, Farris must choose between safety and sacrifice.
Sometimes being a big brother means protecting someone who may not belong to your world at all.
Read all the chapters free, in the FRAGMENTS tab.
© 2026 Damian Ashen. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.
We walked for over five hours aimlessly, trying to find shelter. The sky began to rumble, and the ash-colored clouds moved faster over our heads, announcing the arrival of acid rain. The sulfuric smell settled around us, traveling easily with the wind. I panicked, knowing that if I didn't find a roof soon, it could spell disaster for us.
"It's a farce!" The old lady shouted.
Their presence inside our house made Lacey uncomfortable. She rolled on the bed, untangling herself from the comfort of her blanket. Silence fell over the room as everyone was captivated by the bright colors of her clothes. The old man stepped forward, curious about what he had witnessed, knowing that nothing in this dying world held colors as vivid as those she wore.
I felt intimidated by the old man standing in front of me. He was the elder — the man who decided who stayed or left, who ate and who starved. His initial expression of surprise quickly transformed into a warm smile. He stepped forward, pulling the blanket away from her face, revealing a necklace I hadn't noticed before — a small charm rested against her chest.
I wandered under the scorching sun, determined to find sustenance for my younger brother and myself. Surrounded by rust and decay, I opened every single door of all the vehicles now abandoned on the highway to find nothing but a few rags and the sight of a couple of cans. My eyes opened wide, recognizing the food, and I impulsively threw myself at it. I hoarded the cans in my hands while lying in the deteriorated backseat, slowly lifting my eyes, looking in every direction.