A horrible infection has fallen over a desolate town in this short horror story. The townsfolk are forced into action to protect themselves from further outbreaks caused by an addicting berry that grows amongst the base of large boulders. When Emmie returns home to find one of The Lost in her backyard, she suspects the strange berries have grown back, but confronting this horrible human creature unfolds a great realization-one that would challenge her beliefs of The Lost. This story is merely a glimpse of Kenneth W. Cain's work, so if you enjoy "Desolate," be sure to pick up Kenneth's Embers: A Collection of Dark Fiction, available from Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths.