âWithout Decent Restraintâ is a story about the duality of man, both the conflict between the mind and the body, and also how the desire to get what we want can put that very thing in danger. It examines whether or not the things we do, justified to ourselves as being done out of concern for others, can actually have a selfish motive. It explores the horrors that come to the surface when a man is confronted with an unthinking and dangerous version of himself, as well as other elements:
âą A world ruined by a zombie apocalypse with a mysterious cause
âą One manâs determined quest to seek out one thing in the midst of the chaos at any cost
âą The protagonistâs desperation growing when his situation drastically changes
âą His adaptation to his new situation, and learning the things he is still capable of doing
âą A taut climax where his love and his strength will be put to the test
The stakes in any story such as âWithout Decent Restraintâ are always high. However, the stakes for the protagonist in this story arenât just high, they are deeply, painfully personal. He will soon learn that he may be risking it all in order to determine that his family is safe, and that being dead doesnât stop him from being responsible for their protection when the moment counts.
Short Story Press publishes short stories by everyday writers.