Look to the Light

Set in a near-future world reshaped by a deadly Cordyceps outbreak, society has collapsed into scattered settlements and guarded corridors. The present timeline follows a perilous cross-country trek as survivors pursue a possible cure or sanctuary. The environment is tense, with infected threats and human adversaries shaping daily life and choices.

The story moves through a fractured United States, with Salt Lake City serving as the location of the Fireflies’ secret lab and a focal point of military and survivor conflicts. References to Boston anchor Ellie's origins and the Fireflies’ broader mission, while Jackson, Wyoming, represents a remote refuge the pair may reach. The journeys between these places unfold amid ruined urban landscapes, checkpoints, and fragile pockets of hope.

🧭 Survival

Survival drives every choice in Look to the Light, pushing characters to prioritize safety and the greater good over comfort or ideals. The journey forces moral trade-offs, including deception and violence, as a means to protect Ellie. Resilience becomes a measure of humanity as the world tests loyalty, courage, and adaptability. The theme frames how far people will go to keep each other alive.

🤐 Truth & Lies

The decision to hide the Fireflies’ true plans from Ellie sits at the story’s ethical core, highlighting the fragility of trust. Truth becomes a tool that can save or wound, shaping Ellie’s sense of reality and their bond. The moral weight of protecting someone you love clashes with the cost of withholding information. This tension propels the emotional arc and questions the price of safety.

💔 Trauma

Trauma threads through both Ellie and Joel, molded by violence, loss, and morally gray choices. Ellie's encounter with David and the hospital ordeal haunt her silently, fueling both vulnerability and grit. Joel bears the burden of protective decisions that blur lines between salvation and harm. The legacy of trauma shapes their relationship and their capacity to hope.