Chapter 1: Waking up

~14 years ago~

Sitting down and reading my news paper, I sipped on my coffee as I chuckled, watching her run to me. Her brown curls bouncing as she skipped towards me, her bright blue eyes and happy smile made me smirk at her.

She stopped to stand in front of me, her sweet face kind and warm. Her hands behind her back as she swayed slightly from side to side. This made me raise an eyebrow and chuckle. "What'cha got behind your back there?" I question and she gives me a toothy giggle. This made me smile and pull her to me.

Tickling her sides gently, Lori watching us and smiling softly. Her hazel eyes witnessing the interaction between me and the giggling joy in my hands. She wriggled and tried to get away from me. "Fine! Daddy...let me breathe...please!" she giggled and gasped as I just chuckle.

"What do you have for me?" I asked her again and slowly Lori walked up behind her, resting her hands on the little girl's shoulders and kissing her cheek.

"Why don't you show daddy what you have for him sweetie?" she suggested to the little girl, her blue eyes sparkling up at Lori as she gave her a small grin.

"I was getting to that part mommy," she said sweetly, her voice warmed up my soul and made me chuckle at her. Pulling her to my side, I sat still and watching her intently. Gently, I pushed a loose curl behind her ear and away from her face.

"So...what is it you have behind your back baby girl?" I asked her and she smiled shyly. Her cheeks blushing softly as she looked down, moving her hands away from behind her back and to her front. Her eyes on the little box she had in her hand.

"A present," she answered softly while she looked up at me with those big, bright blue eyes and grinned. This made me smile widely at her, my own blue eyes examining the box and then glancing at her face.

Present day...(RPOV)

A beeping noise echoed in my ear as it surrounded the pale room I was in. My eyes fully opened, vision blurred but getting clearer. The familiar face of Shane, my partner at work and best friend since I could remember. He held a bouquet of flowers in his hand as he slowly walked towards me. His body doubled, tripled as he moved. My vision hazy.

"Hey bud," he spoke as he leaned down to look at me. "You're still here...we're still hanging in," he said as he checked to see if I was listening to a word he spoke. He shook his head "I'm sorry man," he said as he "I know I say the same crap every time I come in here," he spoke as he leaned back up to stand straight.

"Everybody pitched in on these," Shane said as he looked to me then back to the flowers. Touching the petals lightly. "They...ah...they want me to bring them down. They say that they send their love and they just...they hope you come back real soon, so..." he paused and chuckled. Touching the petals again.

Shane than began mumbling something I couldn't exactly catch. "They picked these out. You probably could tell...huh?" he questioned as he kept touching the flowers nervously. It was as though he was talking to himself and not to me. "I'm just going to set these on your side table okay?" he asked me as he moved away from me.

Blinking I remembered something. "That vase...that's something special. 'Fess up. You steal that from your Grandma Jean's house? I hope you left her that spoon collection," I said as I chuckled to myself.

There was no answer...just the sound of my laughter which then turned into my coughing. "Shane?" I called to him as I turned my head to look at him but found no one beside me. "Shane? You in the John?" there was still no answer. Instead I decided to look around the room and saw that the flowers had grown old and dry...dead.

Slowly raising my tube covered hand from being in the hospital, I saw as it slowly deteriorated between my fingers, the crisp petals falling to the table and landing silently. Moving my head to the other side, I saw how the watch on the wall wasn't moving. Frozen.

Wriggling as best I could to one side, all while pulling tubes off of me, I pulled the covers off and gapped as I tried not to scream from the pain in my side. Grabbing anything I could, I held on and fell to the floor trying to get onto my feet. "Nurse...help!" I called out as I pulled off the remaining tubes. My body too weak to get up on its own.

"Nurse!" I called out, my voice raspy and out of breath. "Help!" I called again...not a sound or movement came close to me. All there was...was silence. With all the force I had, I got up and waddled to the bathroom. Opening the door, I walked in and looked into the mirror. Stubble had crown, my face pale and bags under my eyes. I looked...terrible.

Opening the tap, I washed my face with water and drank as much as I could from it. My stomach filling up on it, as I walked out and headed to my bed. On the bedside table, something caught my eye and made me stop. Picking it up, I clutched it tightly and ran my fingers along the engravings. My hero...My Daddy. Slipping it over my head, to rest around my neck, I turned to the door and walked towards it.

A bed cart blocked the entrance, lights flashing and papers all over the floors as I moved the cart away from the door and looked down each hall. Where is everyone? Walking down the hall, I looked around and noticed that no one was around. Just an empty hospital.

Reaching the reception desk, it was dark and there was no light. I found a phone and put it to my ear. Dialing the number I knew off by heart and was surprised to hear nothing. Not even to tell me that the phone didn't connect to any signal. Rummaging around, I looked for anything and found a matchbox.

Pulling out a matchstick, I looked around for anything with any use and found nothing. I continued to walk along the lonely hall, stopping at a hall double doors as I saw the light flicker. Leaning a hand against the door frame, I looked down the hall and saw something I couldn't believe...a dead...eaten up nurse.

I decided to walk down the opposite hall and found myself into more shock horror. Bullet holes in the wall, blood pools on the ground, blood splatter on the walks and floor...broken glass on the doors...fallen roof tiles...dangling wires...and finally...the thing that scared me most. A door that read 'Don't open, dead inside.'

What worried me most was as I walked closer, I stopped to wonder what that had meant...and the next thing I knew the door began to be pushed. As though someone could sense I was outside and wanted nothing more than to kill me. A few fingers reached out to the chain, padlock and plank. Moaning, slamming and growling as they gasped and tried to open the door.

The fingernails long, dirty and untamed. Without another second, I stepped away and rushed as quickly as I could from it. Heading to an elevator to press the button. It didn't work. Finding a door, I saw that it led to stairs and shut it behind me. Leaving me in complete darkness. The smell of rotting flesh, humidity and the cold made me cough. Lighting a matchstick so I could at least see where I was going.

Walking cautiously down the stairs as I gripped the handles to lead me down. My finger tips burning as the matchstick would almost reach them. Hissing, I shook it and let it drop to the floor, pulling out another matchstick as I lit it and continued down the stairs. Gripping the walls as my feet would fumble on ever step.

Finding the exit, I didn't hesitate to shake off the matchstick and push the door open. The bright light from outside blinding me slightly, raising my hand and trying to block out some of the light. Walking out, I went as slow and quietly as I could down some more steps. Stopping at the bottom as the scene unraveled in front of me.

Lines of dead bodies were laid outside. Wrapped in white sheets, tied with rope and left on the street. Flies covered every one of them. From head to toe. Gaping, I would look around and see that some were shot in the head and some were just left to rot.

Climbing up a small hill, I tried to not focus on the pain in my side and the weight on me. The type of weight that gave me more pain and caused me to feel weak. Gripping the grass as I would climb up and stood still as I reached the top...

More dead bodies in blue bags, abandoned tanks, trucks and helicopters left there half destroyed. As I kept walking back down the familiar street I would drive to and from every day. It was deserted and there was no form of life. The limp in my walk wasn't as noticeable as before, the weight still gave me pain but not enough to want to stop walking.

Finding a tipped over bike, I picked it up and saw the upper half of a woman's body. The other half wasn't there, her once blonde hair was now thin and lifeless. Her guts spilled on the ground as she slowly turned to look at me. Oh my god...Lord have mercy...

Falling over, I saw how the woman looked at me, her jaw snapping at me. Her skin rotting and body torn. The woman I once knew no longer there. Her red-yellow eyes staring back at me. Hers were lifeless...souless and her hand reached up to grab me. Her body crawling towards me.

Picking the bike up from the handles, I walked with it as I tried to gain speed and wandered with it until I decided to sit on it. Peddling it and trying to get my balance right. Slowing down, I raised my leg and threw the bike to one side as I got to my feet. Stumbling up the steps and into the house.

"Lori," I called out into the house. The house I once called home. "Lori!" I shouted out a little loud as I wandered into the kitchen and into the bedroom. Random clothes laying around on the floor, suitcases unpacked and no answer to my calls.

Looking into the bathroom, I felt my heart pound with worry and uncertainty. "Carl!" I called out to my son, but there was still no answer as I tried to search for any familiar face that hadn't changed in any way. "Kat!" I screamed out hoping to get an answer from any of these names.

"Lori!" I screamed as loud as I could, my feet fumbling beneath me as I searched every room in the house. No answer. "Kat!" I shouted through the house, hoping for any voice and any face. Just a human response. One to give me hope...to give me some meaning. There was no answer at all...no form of life.

Stepping into the living room, I dropped to my knees and began to sob. My body shaking from my tears, from my confusion and pain. Where are they? What happened? Is this real? Am I dreaming? Am I dead and in hell? What is going on? These questions ran through my mind over and over again.

"Lori! Carl!...Kat!" I screamed while I sobbed, rolling on the floor to lay on my side. Sobbing to myself as I looked around my empty house. Touching the wood on my floor, I studied my hand and the label that was wrapped around my wrist. "Is this real?" I questioned myself as I examined the situation I was in. "Am I here?"

I felt like I was going crazy. Hitting my forehead with my hand over and over again. "Wa-wake up," I told myself as I cried. When I finally gained my composure, I got up and walked to the porch. Sitting down on the steps by the side of the road as I looked around. Wondering to myself if this was real life. If this was all a dream and I was still in a coma.

This was when I saw a man walking around aimlessly, he then stopped and turned his head to me. Far away in the distance, I tried to wave at him but all he did was walk towards me. A slight limp in the way he walked. I then heard a twig snap over my shoulder, a small figure behind me and that was when I felt something cold hit my face.

Dropping me onto my back with the connection of metal to my face. Blood dripping down my face, I could see it was a little boy and raised my head a little to look at him. He kept calling out 'Daddy' "Carl," I mumbled as I looked up at him. "Carl...I found you," I whispered.

"Daddy, I got this son of a bitch! I'mma smack him dead," Carl called out and this was when I turned my head to more footsteps. Another man held up his gun to the other man who was walking towards me. A loud bang echoed into my ears as my mind began to darken. The man fell down, dead as the other began to rush towards us.

"He say somethin'?" the man asked as he pushed Carl away from me. "Thought I heard him say somethin," he said as he looked between me and Carl.

"He called me Carl," Carl said as I looked at him, that was when my vision became clear for a second. There were two men, both black and one was older than the other.

"Son you know they don't talk..." the older man said. "Hey mister...what's the bandage for?" he asked me as he kept moving his son away from me. This was when I saw the boy holding a shovel in his hands.

"What?" I asked him confused, my head lifting off the ground as I looked at them. The older man had his gun pulled out, pointing it at me and his hands slightly shaky.

"What kinda' wound?" he asked his voice more stern and strong. Curious and threatening at the same time. "You answer me, damn you," he said through gritted teeth. "What's your wound," he kept asking me. "You tell me," he said as he got the gun ready to shoot me in the head. "Or I will kill you," he threatened as I tried to remember...but that was the moment I slipped into darkness...

~2 weeks before the outbreak~

We were sitting in our car, munching on a pick up we had a few minutes ago. We were pulled up and eating our lunch. Me and Shane just talking about anything as we waited for anything to happen which would need our attention.

"What's the difference between men and women?" I asked Shane as I handed him a napkin.

"This a joke?" he questioned me and I just shake my head at him. Taking another bite of my food.

"Nope," I answered after swallowing the bite. "Seriously," I added as

"Never met a woman that knew how to turn off the light," Shane said as we picked out our food together, picking up fries and eating them. "They're born thinking the switch only goes one way. On," he teased and this made me laugh quietly.

"Yeah," I agreed with him and looked out my window. Both of us still munching on our fries.

"They're, they're struck blind the second they leave the room," he joked further. "I mean...every woman I ever let her have a key...swear to god. It's like...come home, house all lit up...and my job's apparently because...because, my chromosomes happen to be different and I then have to walk through that house, turn off every single light this chick left on," he spoke and I just look at him as he talked.

"Is that right?" I question him and knew he was just saying that to say something.

"Yeah baby, mmm," he said and bit his bottom lip. His hand reaching to the side to hold onto the side of the car and to smirk while he talked. "Oh Reverend Shane is preachin' to ya now, boy," he says and I just chuckle at him.

"Then this same chick, mind ya, she'll bitch about, uh, 'global warming'. You see, this is, this is where Reverend Shane wants to quote from the Guy Gospel and say, "Um, darlin', maybe if you and every other pair of boobs on this planet could just figure out that the light switch, see, goes both ways, maybe we wouldn't have so much global warming?" he continued as he joked some more.

"You say that?" I questioned him as I raised an eyebrow at him slightly.

"Well, the uh, polite version. Still, man, that-that earns me this look of loathing you would not believe and that's when the "Exorcist" voice pops out," he said with a small smirk on his face. "'You sound just like my damn father! Always, always yellin' about the power bill and tellin' me to turn off the damn lights!'" he said as he made his voice go deeper.

"And what do you say to that?" I questioned him again, a smile playing on my lips.

"I know what I want to say. I want to say 'Bitch, you mean to tell me you've been hearing this your entire life and you are still too damn stupid to learn how to turn off a switch?'" he says and we both burst into fits of laugher. Our shoulders shaking as we both looked away and then back at each other.

"You know, I don't actually say that, though," Shane said reminding me that he wasn't a rude and carless prick.

"That would be bad," I said laughing some more.

"Yeah, I go with the uh, go with the polite version there too, so..." he trailed off which made me chuckle a little and him smile.

"Very wise," I approved as I looked at him, a smile on my face as I held in my laughter.

"Yes sir. So how's it with Lori, man?" he questioned me as our laugher calmed down and it turned silent in the car.

"She's good. She's good at turning off lights. Really good. I'm the one who sometimes forgets," I answered him, keeping the joke going and earning a little chuckle from him.

"Not what I meant," Shane said when it turned silent again.

"We didn't have a great night," I answered a little hesitantly, not liking revealing my relationship with Lori. Especially not the rough times we share.

"Hey look, man, I may have, uh, failed to amuse with my sermon, but I did try. The least you could do is, is speak," he suggested and this made me thing of mine and Lori's argument last night.

"That-that's what she always says. 'speak', 'speak'. You'd think I was the most closed mouth son of a bitch you'd ever hear her telling." I tell Shane and he just stayed silent for a moment.

"Do you express your thoughts? Do you share your feelings and that kind of stuff?" he questioned me as though we didn't do that. We did it just...was hard sometimes. Things weren't like before. Like when me and Lori were young.

"The thing is, lately, whenever I try, everything I say makes her impatient like she didn't want to hear it after all. It's like she's pissed at me all the time, and I don't know why," I answer him truthfully, unsure myself to Lori's sudden change.

"Look man, that's just shit couples go through. You know, it's, it's a phase," Shane tells me trying to calm my nerves and doubts about my marriage.

"Last thing she said this morning? 'Sometimes I wonder if you even care about us at all.' She said that in front of Carl...our son. Imagine going to school with that in your head. Difference between men and women? I would never say something that cruel to her, and certainly not in front of the kids," I tell him and he just stayed silent.

The radio began to tell us information about a car chase. Asking for assistance and we began to buckle up. Sealing up the food and Shane threw it in the bin. Driving towards the route where the chasing was happening and turning on the siren.

They informed us of the status as we tried to block the men who were being chased from going any further. Shane jumped out of the car as I put it to a sudden stop. Preparing the road for the car and allowing it to pop the tires.

Getting into formation, we all turned the safety off and stood our ground. Weapons in hand. Mine was a revolver, Shane had the shotgun and Leon had his pistol.

"Sounds like they're chasing those idiots up and down every back road we got," Lam said as we all got ready for what was about to happen.

"Maybe we'll get them on one of those video shows, you know, like 'World's Craziest Police Chases', what do you think?" Leon asked us as he got all nervous and excited of the possibility.

"What I think, Leon...is that you need to stay focused. Make sure you got a round in the chamber and your safety off," I tell him and this was when he checked, noticing he didn't and corrects himself of his mistake.

"Would be kind of cool to get on one of them shows," Shane commented as we all waited for the men to come driving up to us. Everything after this point happened so fast. The cars were speeding towards us, zig zagging and hitting into each other.

The car was being chased by two cop cars and as the car got closer, it's tires popped and the car came swirling and flipping towards us until it rolled off into the field. "Holy shit," Shane cussed as we watched the car now destroyed and the other cops get out of their cars. Ready to shoot.

Slowly we edged closer and saw a man open the door, pulling his gun up at us. One man screaming 'gun' and taking cover. "Put it down!" I demanded but he didn't listen. Instead a shoot out began. Bullets flying everywhere as one grazed my side. The vest I had caused it not to hit me, but made me fall to the ground.

Rolling around I waited for the firing to stop, getting up I complained about how the guy shot me. Shane telling me he got worried and that I was lucky I had the vest. I went to warn him about not telling Lori when I lifted my arm and suddenly felt a stinging pain along with a gun shot.

Falling to the ground again as I felt the bullet dig into my skin. Shane trying to stop the bleeding as I saw the blood stain my shirt. Shane ordering the others to call for an ambulance. Telling me to stay with him. Slowly losing consciousness...

Present day...

"Got that bandage changed out," the man asked me as I laid down on a bed, I was sweating from the dream I just had and my heart was pounding in my chest. "It was pretty rank," he told me and I just looked around to see I was tied to the bed. "What was...the wound?" he asked as he washed his hands. The boy stood by the door, baseball bat in hand.

"Gun shot," I answered him quickly without thinking. Knowing that it was the reason I was in the hospital in the first place.

"Gun shot? What else? Anything?" he asked me as he wiped his forehead with a cloth.

"Gun shot ain't enough?" I questioned him quizzically. This was silly. Why am I tied to the bed? I'm not a threat to him or his little boy.

"Look, I ask and you answer, It's common courtesy, right?" he questioned me back, stating his point as he walked closer to me. "Did you get bit?" he asked me as he leaned down to look me directly in the eye.

"Bit?" I asked confused. Why would I be bit? Who would want to bite me? What is going on?

"Bit," he stated so that I knew what he was asking. "Chewed. Maybe scratch? Anything like that," he said as he shook his head a little.

"No, I got shot," I stated from the memory and as up to date as I could remember. "Just shot," I told him as he looked at me curiously. "As far as I know," I tell him as truthfully as I could. Unsure of what was all the fuss about.

The man began to place his hand closer to my face. To touch me. Pulling my face to one side he spoke softly. "Hey...just let me," he said as I let him press his hand against my forehead. Checking my temperature.

"Feels cooler now," he commented as he talked to his son. "Fever would have killed you by now," he tells me as I gulped. Remembering the dream I had. Surely it should be a memory...

"I don't think I have one," I tell him and he just looks at me with raised eyebrows.

"Be hard to miss," he tells me as though it was obvious. Wriggling, he slowly reached behind him and pulled out a pocket knife. "Take a moment, eh?" he said as he made me look at the knife which was inches away from my face. "Look how sharp it is," he tells me.

"You try anything I will kill you with it, and don't you think I won't," he threatened as he put it closer to my face, I looked at him from the corner of my eyes and he slowly moved off the bed. Cutting the rope and letting me loose from being tied to the bed. "Come on up when you're able," he tells me.

Trembling I rubbed at my sore wrists, my body shivering from the treat and possibility of being killed. "Come on," the man said as he walked up to the boy who stood by the door and tapped the boy's back. Eventually, when I finally gathered my thoughts, I grabbed a warm looking piece of cloth and saw I still wore what I had retrieved from the hospital around my neck.

"This place...it's Fred and Cindy Drake's," I told them as I walked to the dinning room and saw them prepare the food on the table. They had completely re-aranged the home, there were beds laid out where the living room used to be.

"Never met them," the man tells me with a bored and sad tone.

"I've been here," I tell him and remembered how this house was filled with life. With good and kind people. "This is their place," I state as I wandered around the room. Walking to what was once a blind as I tried to look out between what was now covered with thick cloth.

"It was empty when we got here," he tells me as I tried to lift the cloth to one side and look out the window. "Don't do that," he tells me before I could look out or open the curtain. "They'll see the light," he tells me as though it made sense to me.

"There's more of them out there than usual," he continued to speak as he went back to preparing the table. "I never should have fired that gun today," he said as I walked towards them. "The sound draws them, now they're all over the street," he tells me as I try to process what happened today.

"Stupid using a gun," he said as he fixed the table up. "It all happened so fast," he kept talking as he blew out a candle and the boy was already sat. Ready to eat. "I didn't think," he commented on himself.

"You shot that man today," I said as I remembered what happened earlier today. Surprised he did that right in front of me.

"Man?" the man questioned me slightly amused.

"Weren't no man," the boy spoke up to me.

"What the hell was that out of your mouth just now?" the man asked the boy, as though to scold him for what he just said.

"It wasn't a man," the boy said properly. Pronouncing his words correctly and this made the man nod at the boy.

"You shot him," I repeated as I tried to prove my statement. To uphold the law it was qualified as murder. "In this street. Out front. A man," I said as I kept my face serious. Murder was a serious issue and isn't right.

"For him...you need glasses. It was a walker," the man told me as though it was something I should already know. I just woke up today and everything...has...changed.

"Come on," he tells me as he pointed to a chair opposite him. "Sit down, before you fall down," he told me as he put food on the plates. I pulled up the chair beside him and pulled the cloth that was on my shoulders a little tighter. "Here," he said as he looked at the food. "Eat," he commanded of me and I began to cut into the food.

"Daddy...blessing," the boy prompted, reminding the man of some traditions that some families followed. It wasn't the same for my family, we didn't really have time for prayers...or believed in them truthfully.

"Yeah," the man said as he gave a nod to the boy, holding his hands out to either side of him. One hand for me and one for the boy. The boy took his father's hand gratefully and I just sat there unsure what to do. Agreeing with them, I slowly held my hand in the mans and the young boys. Joining them in their prayer.

"Father, we thank thee for this food. Thy blessings...we ask you to watch over us in these crazy days," the man said as the man looked at me from the corner of his eye. "Amen," the man finished off.

"Amen," the boy replied and we all let go of each others hands. Beginning to eat the food in slight silence. The man still looking at me from the corner of his eye.

"Hey mister, do you even know what is going on?" he questioned as I munched on the food quietly and thankfully. I'm so hungry...I didn't realise until now...

"I woke up today. In a hospital. Came home, that's all I know," I said as I stopped eating for a minute to answer him.

"But...you know about the dead people, right?" he questioned me and I just looked at him, looking away from my plate and into his eyes.

"Yeah, I saw a lot of that. Out on the loading dock, hauling trucks," I tell him and this made the man shake his head.

"No. Not the one's they put down... the one's they didn't," he said as he gave small nods. "The walkers," he tells me. "Like the one I shot today," he said after a few minutes of silence. "Cause he would have ripped into you," he tells me as though I should be thankful of him saving my life.

"Try to eat you, take him some flesh at least," he tells me and this just makes me confused. "But I guess if this is the first you're hearing, I know how it must sound," he tries to empathise but it just makes me wonder. What kind of life is this? What happened to the world? Is this...real?

"They're out there now...in the street?" I asked him curious and wondering if this was true.

"Yeah," he assured as I looked over my shoulder. "They're even more active after dark sometimes," he tells me and I just looked at the boy and the man. "Maybe it's the cool air or...hell. Maybe it's just me firing up that gun today," he tried to explain but this just gave me more questions to ask.

"But we'll be fine long as we stay quiet," he tried to reassure but this just made me want to see what was going on outside. To see these flesh eaters with my own eyes. "Probably wander off by morning," he tried to assure more his son and himself, rather than me.

"Well...listen. One thing I do know...don't you get bit! We saw your bandage and that's what we were afraid of," he tells me and I just look at him curiously. "Bites kill you," he informed me. Telling me that whatever there is out there...to be sure I don't get bit. "The fever burns you out," he explained further.

"But then after a while...you come back," he tells me. This made me so confused. I didn't know what to make of it. Staring into my plate aimlessly. Unable to eat with this feeling in my gut. What is this hell?

"Seen it happen," the boy said and this made me confused further. It also made me shocked and worried for the boy. Seeing something like that must have been scary.

"Come on," the man said as he comforted the boy, touching his shoulder and giving it a small squeeze. We then ate in silence, finishing our meal and cleaning up as best as we could. We all sat in the livingroom and the boy tried to get some rest by his father.

The two of us sat in our beds, mine closer to the windows and theirs closer to the exit. "Carl...He your son?" the man spoke to me and this made me turn my head to look at him. "He said his name today," the man said as I looked at him questioningly.

"He's a little younger than your boy," I told him. Remembering Carl's small, innocent face. His bright blue eyes, pale face and straight brown hair...it made me miss him. Miss Lori...miss Kat.

"And...he's with his mother?" the man questioned me and I just looked around. Wondering if they were even alive...either way...I only wanted to be with them. To get back to my family.

"I hope so," I tell him and that was when I felt my hand reach up to what was around my neck. Letting my finger graze against it. My hero...My Daddy. "I also have a...a daughter...she's older...19...her name's ah...Katherine...we call her Kat, for short," I tell him and he smiled at me sadly.

"Dad?" the boy called out to the man.

"Yeah?" the man asked as he gently rubbed the top of the boy's head.

"Did you ask him?" the boy asked the man as he sat up a little.

"Your gun shot...we got a little bet going," "My boy say you're a bank robber," he tells me and I just laugh quietly

"Yeah...that's me," I joked as I sat up a little more. "Deadly as Dillinger...kapow," I teased and laughed to myself. "Sheriff's deputy," I tell him and the man nods slowly with a small 'aha'.

There was a sudden alarm that went off. A car alarm. Someone must be trying to steal it. The boy sat up, his eyes wide and a worried look on his face because of the noise. "Hey, it's ok...daddy's here," Morgan said as he held his son to try and sooth him. "It's nothing," he tried to reassure. "One of them must've bumped a car," he said to both me and his son.

"You sure?" I questioned him. The boy looked still scared but tried to calm down from the sudden fright.

"Happened once before," Morgan told me and I just went to get up. "Went off a few minutes," he said reassuringly. "Get the light, Duane," he instructed his son and rose from the bed to look outside. Duane doing as he told as the room got slowly darker.

"It's the blue one, down the street," he said as we all peered between the planks of wood that blocked the windows. "Same one as last time," he informed us. "I think we're ok," he tried to reassure as we saw the streets filled with bodies, their feet scraping the ground as they walked aimlessly. Never tiring.

"That noise...will it bring more of them?" I ask them, trying to get enough information about these so called 'walkers' as I could.

"Nothing to do about it now," Morgan said as we all stood there, staring out the window. "Just have to wait 'em out till morning," he tells us as we then saw a woman turn to face us.

"She's here," Duane gasped as his body stiffened and a small whimper escaped his lips. The woman walker looked directly at us and began to move to the porch steps.

"Don't look," Morgan instructed his son. "Get away from the windows," he ordered as Duane stood there staring at the woman. "I said go! Come on! Come on, quiet," Morgan told his son and me, more his son as the boy ran to the bed, jumped onto it and began sobbing.

"Shh, shh. It's ok, here," Morgan said as he sat down with Duane, holding him as his son cried. "Cry into the pillow," Morgan said as he covered the boy's face with the pillow and held him. Walking towards the door, it was also blocked with boards and the peep hole was still there.

"Can you remember?" Morgan reminded the boy as he held him. My eyes looking out of the peephole to see the woman had reached the door, looking around and then directly at me. When she noticed me my breath hitched into my throat. My body shivering as she reached down and tried to open the door using the handle.

Stepping away, I slowly approached the bed and sat down. My eyes glued to the door and flickering to Morgan every so often. "Shh. She, uh...she died in the other room. On that bed. Nothin' I can do about it here...that fever, man...her skin gave off heat like a furnace. Should have put her down. I should have put her down. I know that, but...you know what?" he said as he looked at me then Duane.

"I just didn't have it in me. She's the mother of my child," he told me and we decided that we would wake up early. To go back to my home and go to the police station. That there were bound to be weapons and fresh, clean water for us. They agreed and we decided to sleep, I got some sleep but...I was mostly terrified of what was going on outside. The woman still trying to get in until she gave up and left us.

Waking up, we quickly ate breakfast and grabbed any weapons that were lying around. Duane handed me a helmet for doing any woodwork and his baseball bat. Thanking him, I was then handed some new clothes and was bandaged up again. Morgan took another bandage with him in case anything happened to my wound.

We had took down the planks that barricaded the door and decided to head down the porch. Taking the lead, Duane and Morgan slowly approached behind me. "You sure?" I asked him as I walked out the front porch. "They're dead...I have to ask, at least one more time," I asked as I tried to regain what was happening now in this fucked up world.

"They're dead," Morgan told me and this was when I began to walk down the steps. "Except for something in the brain...that's why it's gotta be the head," he tells me and this was when one sat by the fence started to get up. When he got up, I hit the baseball bat to his head repeatedly. Slowly losing breath as I gasped for it.

"You alright?" Morgan asked me concerned for my well being. My breath slowly coming back to me as I tried to relax and fight off the stinging pain in my side. On my knees as I gripped my side.

"Need a moment," I tell him and he just stood there waiting. Getting back on my feet, we headed toward my home and entered the opened door. No walkers had entered and it was clear of any inside. "They're alive...my wife and kids," I tell them as I threw the helmet to the ground and wandered into the dinning room.

"At least they were when they left," I say as I looked around and saw the evidence of them clearly. My eyes roaming the room and looking for any other clues.

"How can you know?" Morgan questioned my statement as he followed closely, Duane trailing behind and stopping by the door while Morgan entered the dinning room with me. "By the look of this place they..." he began as he tried to catch his breath, eyes looking around the room as he shook his head.

"I found empty drawers in the bedroom," I told him as I looked directly in his eyes. "They packed some clothes...not a lot, but enough to travel," I say as I glanced around the room and knew they took more than just their clothes.

"You know anybody could've broken in here and stolen clothes, right?" he asked me a little mockingly, as though I said the most stupid thing in the world and knew he wouldn't disagree with me when I said what was in my head.

"You see the framed photos on the walls?" I asked Morgan as I pointed at the empty pegs that once held photos. "Neither do I," I said before he could answer and he looked around too. "Some random thief took those too, you think?" I questioned him and he just looked at me. "Our photo albums, family pictures...all gone," I said as I checked in the cabinet that once held our albums. Non were in there...all gone.

"Photo albums," Morgan repeated with a huge smile on his face, pacing on the spot as he laughed to himself. "My wife...same thing," he said as he took a seat. "Here I am, packing survival gear, she's grabbing photo albums..." he spoke happily and fondly at the beginning but it soon got sad and quiet.

"They're in Atlanta, I'll bet," Duane spoke up as he took a few steps towards us and away from the door.

"That's right," Morgan agreed. Looking over his shoulder briefly at his son before looking back at me.

"Why there?" I asked him, confused as to why they would hed to Atlanta in the first place.

"Refugee settle" he explained. "Huge, when they said it, before the broadcast stopped," he told me, he seemed saddened that the broadcasting had stopped. "Military protection, food, shelter..they told people to go there," he said a little breathless. "Said to be safest," he explained and I just looked away, nodding and gulping a little at the thought of my family being safe.

"Plus they got that disease place," Duane said as I looked at him, surprised the boy knew so much and that they were still here.

"Center for Disease Control," Morgan clarified, just so I knew exactly what to look for and where to look for answers. "Said they were working on how to solve this thing," he tells me and I just felt a sudden happiness...if my family were safe...if there was a cure...we would all be able to live and go back to our normal lives.

Grabbing the keys to the police station and armory, I grabbed a bag to put fresh, clean clothes in. I walked out and led the way for them as we headed to the station. Duane and Morgan following closely as we took down a few walkers quietly.

We walked around the station, took down a few walkers and sealed the doors and windows shut. When we entered a dark room, Morgan handed me a torch-light and we slowly approached the showers.

"Gas and light have been down for maybe a month," Morgan said as we got to the shower room, turning on the tap and both of them stared up at the water.

"Station got its own propane system," I informed the two and they watched the water amazed. "Pilot's still on," I told them as I checked the temperature. Warming up and still works...

"Oh, my Lord," yelled Morgan as he washed himself. "Hot water!" Duane said as he jumped around. A few 'wohoo!'s being exchanged between father and son as we all got cleaned up.

"That feels good, right?" Morgan asked Duane, the pair thoroughly enjoying their shower noisily as I washed up quietly. Chuckling to myself at the two who were pleased by the hot water. Shaving off the months that I've been in a coma.

We were sat on the benches, getting dried and I saw as Duane cleaned himself up. "Duane...dressing room's back there," I told him as I handed him some new clothes to put on. Ones that Carl used to wear...God I miss my family.

"What you say, Duane?" Morgan called out to his son as Duane began to walk away from me. Taking the clothes from my hands without a single shred of gratitude.

"Thank you," Duane said as he turned to look at me. Morgan replying with a small 'mhm,' and we both watched as Duane walked off to get changed.

"Atlanta sounds like a good deal...safer anyway," I said to Morgan, to try and convince him to join me subtly. That way he wouldn't be alone and we could all find shelter. Together. "People..." I drifted and he just started getting changed.

"That's where we were heading," he said as he slipped his shirt around his arms. "Things got crazy," he told me "Man, you wouldn't believe," he said as he shook his head. "The panic...streets weren't fit to be on, and then...well...my wife couldn't travel," he said, his eyes slightly distant as he spoke of his wife and his suffering.

"No, not with our herd, so we had to find a place to lay low," he spoke and shook his head, his gaze moving frantically from to his feet to up towards the door. The same door Duane walked out of.

"And then, after she died...we just stayed hunkered down," he said regrettable, you could tell when a man regretted something and he truly did regret it. "I guess we just froze in place," he tried to explain their actions, unsure what exactly got them to this point in their apocalyptic life.

"Plan to move on?" I asked him. He gave me a small smile and a quick reply of 'haven't worked up to it yet' which made me nod slowly at his choice of words. It was his decision. He could say yes or no. I can't force him to come with me. We got changed silently, I slipped into my officer uniform and put on my hat.

When we were all ready to go, I led them towards the armory room. "A lot of it's gone missing," I say as I inspected the weapons. Picking up a shotgun and doing what had to be done.

"Dad, can I learn to shoot? I'm old enough," Duane asked Morgan confidently, moving closer to the guns as his dad got some things ready himself.

"Hell yes you're going to learn. We gotta do it carefully, teach you to respect the weapon," Morgan instructed his son, making sure his son always grew to be a good and proper man.

"That's right. It's not a toy. You pull the trigger, you have to mean it. Always remember that, Duane," I teach Duane the basics on gun training, telling him on how it is to handle weapons such as the gun.

"Yes, sir," Duane agreed as I touched his shoulder lightly, keeping it personal and educational.

"Here," Morgan spoke to Duane, preparing a bag of guns and walking towards me. "Go on," Morgan said as he patted his son towards the bag of guns.

"Take that one. Nothing fancy. Scope's accurate," I informed Morgan as I gave him a sniper rifle. Fully loaded. We then continued to pack silently and headed outside to a group of cars and trucks. "Conserve your ammo. Goes faster than you think. Especially at target practice," I told them as we walked outside, carrying bags full of guns.

"Duane," Morgan called out to Duane which earned him a 'yeah?' from Duane. "Take this to the car," Morgan instructed as he handed the boy the bag of guns and ammo.

"You sure you won't come along?" I asked them, trying to see if there was any convincing and if he would willingly go now that I've asked him more obviously.

"A few more days...by the end, Duane will know how to shoot and I won't be so rusty," explained Morgan as he rubbed at his head and face nervously. Opening the door of my cop car, I pulled out a walkie-talkie and handed it to Morgan.

"You got one battery. I'll turn mine on, a few minutes every day at dawn. You get up there, that's how you find me," I instructed him and informed him of what I would do to keep in contact with him. He patted my shoulder and walked towards his car.

"You think they're here?" he asked me unsure but hopeful.

"Can't afford not to," I spoke out and followed them closely. "Not anymore," I say this mostly to myself and kept my own hopes up. They're strong. All three of them in their own way...I know it. They have to survive.

"Look, just one thing..." Morgan began as we saw Duane shoot the boot and walk towards us. "They may not seem like much one at a time but in a group all riled up and hungry. Man, you watch your ass," he informed and instructed me. Trying to encourage me to never doubt these so-called 'walkers'. To always stay alert and ready for the worst.

"You too," I answered politely and honestly. They were a good pair. They need to look out for each other and survive.

"You a good man, Rick," Morgan said as he shook my hand and looked me directly in the eye. "I hope you find your wife and kids," he tells me kindly with a small, warm smile on his face.

"Be seeing you Duane," I called out to the boy. "Take care of your old man," I told him and he just gave me a small nod.

"Yes, sir," a small grin forming on his face as he looked up at me. We all began to walk towards the cars when we heard sounds of footsteps and gurgling.

"Leon Basset? Didn't think much of him. Careless and dumb, but can't leave him like this," I speak of the man who I had worked with. He was young and still wearing his cop outfit when he died...

"You know, if they'll hear the shot," Morgan questioned as he clutched his son tightly to his side. He had pulled out a gun but soon put it away when he realised the walker wasn't going to be a threat.

"Let's not be here when they show up," I suggest as I walked to the man who had been there when I got shot. The one I had known for a while and worked with. A man I couldn't let wander around aimlessly. He has done his duty...time to end it.

"Let's go, son," Morgan told Duane as they both started walking. "Come on," Morgan said as they began running towards the car. Looking into Leon's eyes, I watched as he shook the fence and quickly pulled out my gun, aiming it and shooting him. With a single hit, he slowly let go of his grip and fell to the ground. Dead...

We got into our cars and drove off. Honking our horns and beeping our beeps. The drive was silent, my mind wandering in its own accord as I remembered my family. When I last saw them. What we last said. I missed them...so much.

I decided it wasn't good to leave those that I knew and cared about dead. Especially ones like my neighbor, who I knew and could roughly point out where she could be. Driving I stopped at the point I had last seen my neighbour and saw she was no longer there.

Walking to where she had dragged her body, I slowly reached her and saw as she looked up at me. Crouching I watched her helpless body and pulled out my gun. "I'm sorry this happened to you," I spoke sadly and shot her. Her dead body falling down to the ground and didn't move.

I reached back to the car and began my way towards Atlanta. Going down roads and watching as thunder had clashed and lit up the sky. "Broadcasting on emergency channel," I called into the radio, hopeful that someone would answer me. "Will be approaching Atlanta on Highway 85. Anybody reads, please respond," I asked.

"Hello," I called into the radio. "Hello?" I called out again. Nothing. "Can anybody hear my voice? Anybody out there? Anybody hears me, please respond," I kept repeating, doubt running through my mind but I tried to keep hopeful.

"Hello, can you hear my voice? Hello? Hello?" I called in again, but there was still no response. I need to keep trying. For Carl...for Lori...for Kat.

KPOV

"Hello, can you hear my voice? Hello? Hello?" we could hear through the crackling of the sound. The radio buzzing and the voice of someone playing through it. This made us all look at it and rush towards it.

Picking it up, I looked around and my blue eyes caught the hazel ones of my mother. Both her and Carl staring at me as I prepared myself to speak into the radio. "Can anybody hear my voice?" the man's voice asked again.

"Hey?" I called into it as I pressed onto the button Shane taught me to press. "Hello?" I spoke clearly into the radio, Dale stood next to me and watched as I tried to communicate.

"Can you hear my voice?" the mans voice called out again. As though I hadn't responded at all. His...his voice...it's...so...familiar. Why?

"Yes," I state into the microphone "I can hear you. You're coming through. Over," I called to the other person but he didn't seem to hear me. Didn't seem to respond to my reply.

"Anybody who reads, please respond. Broadcasting on emergency channel. We'll be approaching Atlanta on Highway 85. If anybody reads, please respond," he kept speaking, as though I had never replied and as if I was invisible.

"We're just outside the city" I called into the CB but no one answered. "Damnit!" I cursed as I heard the thing crackle, nothing other than that was happening. "Hello?" I called into it, holding down the button and hoping it worked. "Hello?" I called again, unsure if the thing was even working correctly.

"He couldn't hear me. I couldn't warn him," I tell Dale who stood by me. Mom and Carl were stood there watching me as I struggled to talk to the man on the other end of the line.

"Try to raise him again," Dale tried to tell me, but I didn't know how to and knew I wouldn't be able to. "Come on, son. You know best how to work this thing," Dale called out to Shane who was making his way towards me.

"Hello? Hello, is the person who calls still on the air? This is officer Shane Walsh, broadcasting a person unknown, please respond..." Shane said as he gently took the thing from me and got onto one knee to talk into it. "He's gone," he said after a few minutes of no answer. The man hadn't spoken and it was dead. The man who we had spoken to had left.

"There are others," Mom stated as she came up behind me and placed her hand on my shoulder gently. "It's not just us." she said hopeful, her hand giving my shoulder a slight squeeze and my heart dropped slightly. This person could be dead now...because of me.

"Yeah. We knew there would be, right, that's why we let the CB on," Shane said a little mockingly, this made me frown at him and get up to stand beside my mom and brother.

"Lot of good it's been doing," mom said a little disappointed, her eyes drifting to the CB and then back at Shane. "And I've been saying for a week, we ought to put signs up on 85 to warn people away from the city," mom said and I just nod.

"Folks got no idea what they're getting into," I said a little blankly. Both me and mom have discussed this and it was true. Atlanta isn't safe.

"We don't have enough time," Shane said as he got to his feet and looked directly at me and mom.

"I think we need to make time," mom suggested a little threatening. We all needed to do at least something so people didn't walk into the trap which was Atlanta.

"Yeah, that, uh That's a luxury we can't afford," Shane told us sadly, as though to tell us it wasn't going to be possible. Rubbing at his face and head.

"We are surviving here," Shane spoke as he got closer to us and shook his head. "We are day-to-day," Shane argued back and this made me shake my head

"And who the hell would you propose to send?" I questioned him and mom just grabs my hand and kisses the back of it kindly. To calm me down. She always did this, ever since I was a little girl. To either prevent arguments or to calm me down from something like this.

"I'll go. Give me a vehicle," mom spoke up, I just looked at her and shook my head vigorously at her. Mom...not you. Please...

"Nobody goes anywhere alone, you know that," Shane told her, reminding her of our rules to survive. Mom just glared at him for a minute before walking off towards the camp.

"Yes, sir," she said as her hand slipped out of mine and left me there. Carl began to trail behind her but I quickly pulled him to my side. Shane following my mom too.

"Hey, hey, hey, come on, take a seat, buddy. You're alright, go ahead, you're alright," Shane mumbled as I held tightly onto Carl, walking us towards his work again and sitting down. I rubbed his back gently as we saw Shane enter the tent with mom.

We sat there silently for a few minutes, Carl doing his work as I watched the CB, my eyes glued to it and my mind running away with my thoughts. "What do you think about mom going to do that sign to warn others about Atlanta?" his small voice asked me and made me look at him. Our blue eyes connecting.

I saw fear behind his eyes. "I say...she isn't going anywhere. I wouldn't let her and she wouldn't do that...least not to us," I tell him and he smiled at me a little sadly. His gaze drifted towards the tent, suddenly he got up and began to run towards the tent. Chasing after him, I called out for him. "Carl!" I shouted out for him and he kept heading towards the tent.

"Mom?" Carl called out for mom as she moved towards the tent door, seeing Shane exit first and rub Carl's head. Smiling at me slightly as he rubbed at his lips and face.

"What's up, buddy? She's in there, go on," Shane told him as he walked past us. Leaving me, mom and Carl alone. Carl slowed down when he saw mom crouch down to his level and smiled kindly at him.

"Hey. I don't want you to worry. Your mom is not going anywhere. Okay? Yeah, yeah" she said as she looked at Carl, her eyes flashing at me and then back at Carl. Nodding at him, a small smile on my lips as our eyes met, she smiled back and looked to Carl with kind eyes. "Go finish your chores with Kat," she tells him as she patted his sides gently.

"Okay," he said with a nod, smiling happily at her and she slowly got back to standing. Carl walking towards me, my hand held out for him but he just goes to hug me and makes me smile. Wrapping my arms around him as I held him to me. "You were right," he told me which made me giggle.

Looking at mom who looked at me with pride in her eyes, smiling I pulled him away from me slightly and looked down at him. Our eyes meeting as I gently caressed his head and placed my index finger under his chin. "I told you she wasn't going anywhere," I said kindly and let him hug me for a few more seconds.

Taking his hand we walked back to the others and got back to doing his homework. Helping him and teaching him some things as I would teach him then assist him after marking some of his work...

RPOV

Driving towards Atlanta, I stopped a few minutes away from a nearby gas station, there were cars flipped and destroyed laying around on the streets. Getting out, I opened the boot and decided to go fetch some gas as I was running low. Pulling out a few things that would help me get this gas.

Continuing on my walk, I came across torn apart cars and a field that made my side hurt a little from the shot wound. Tents were left opened out weirdly, multiple toys and childs play were laying around on the grass. Dead bodies covered in flies and rotting in their cars. This is a grave yard.

When I finally reached the gas station, there was a sign dangling that read 'NO GAS' and it made me want to curse but, I knew that if some of these bodies were still alive...they would get me and pull me to shreds. I was going to turn around to search any of the cars for gas to steal but that was when I heard rustling of feet.

Getting to the ground, I looked under any cars for any feet that could be moving. When I saw small feet in big bunny slippers, a long coat and picking up a teddy bear...I knew it was a little girl. It has to be a little girl...how did she survive all this time?

The little girl looked like she hadn't washed in a while and wasn't being taken care of properly. All skin and bones. Fragile. Walking closely, I got back up into a standing position and walked towards her slowly. Following her carefully.

"Little girl...I'm a policeman...little girl?" I called out to the girl, stalking her as quietly as possible and keeping my voice low enough for her to hear. The girl had long blonde hair, her skin pale and her whole body froze at the sound of my voice. Stopping in her tracks.

"Don't be afraid," I encouraged her as I slowly walked closer, my arm that was raised was now by my side. "Okay?" I tried to get a response from her as I took more steps towards her. Stopping at a close enough and appropriate distance, I held my hand out in small kindness and slight surrender. I'm not a threat...

Turning around the girl's face was...a face of sheer horror. Her mouth was dribbling, cut up and teeth rotting. Her eyes lifeless, her shirt bloody and her whole body scratched up. Her eyes on me as she limped towards me, her feet scraping along the ground as she hurried to me.

My breathing was un even as I felt the fear run through every inch of my body. Such an innocent thing...turned into a monster. As I grabbed my gun, I began to walk backwards, away from her as her speed increased. Gurgling, growling and running towards me.

Standing my ground, I pulled my gun up and aimed for her head. My jaw hardening as I tried not to think of her as the little girl she was. My finger on the trigger tighter as I soon heard a gun shot, splatter and the girl's body crash into the ground. Lifeless.

Lowering my gun, I took a few deep breaths and decided to try and find any gas as soon as possible. Realising I had just shot the gun, there would be more coming if they heard it and I didn't want to get into a huge group of them. I knew I wouldn't survive so I ran towards the car and drove. Knowing there was enough gas to go far but not enough to Atlanta.

Stopping again I pulled up by a house, staring at a family photo of ours that I had kept for when I felt lonely at work. Lori as beautiful as she had always been, a soft glow on her skin, a bright smile, her long brown hair wavy and her hazel eyes enchanting.

Carl, his pale skin, boyish grin and short brown hair made me chuckle. His bright blue eyes looking right into my soul as I looked at his innocent face. My gaze finally landed on...

Kat...so beautiful, so radiant and...mature. She was growing up to look like her mother in some ways and like me in others. Her brown curly hair, slightly tanned skin and bright blue eyes haunting. Her bright smile was sweet and made me miss them. Wanting nothing more than to be with them again.

Stepping out, I grabbed my gas equipment and headed towards the house, walking towards the stairs and calling out to them. "Hello? Police officer out here. Can I borrow some gas? Hello?" I called out to them, alerting them I am here to help for gas in return.

"Hello? Anybody home?" I called out to anyone, knocking on the door, looking around the house through the windows, that was when I saw an open window and a foul smell invade my nose. A man who had shot himself in the mouth, blood on the walls saying 'GOD FORGIVE US' and a woman beside him on the ground killed too. Flies surrounding their corpses.

Looking inside a truck for keys was unlucky. Just as I was about to head inside the house in search for keys, I heard a familiar sound of an animal and looked to find a horse. "Easy now, easy. I'm not gonna hurt you," I said as I walked up to the beautiful brown horse. A rope in my hand as I slowly stepped closer towards it.

"Nothing like that...more like a proposal," I said softly as I spoke to the horse, he was a little un easy but soon calmed down when I got close enough to show him I wasn't a threat. "Atlanta's just down the road ways. It's safe there. Food, shelter, people, other horses too, I bet. How's that sound?" I suggested to it.

"There we go. Good boy. Good boy. Now come with me," I said as I gently pulled the rope to catch him around his neck, walking us out of his pen and towards the house. "Come with me. Let's go easy, ok?" I told him as I finally got onto the horse and held onto the reins.

"I haven't done this for years," I tell him as we slowly trotted towards the road. "Woah! Woah! Woah! Woah! Easy. Easy, boy." I tell him as he began to run away from the house and towards the fields.

"Easy, easy, easy," I tried to relax him but it didn't seem to work. My entire body bouncing, my back weighing me down a little with the guns. Gradually we got to Atlanta, seeing how it was all deserted. "Steady. It's just a few. Nothing we can't outrun," I tell him as I lead us towards a road, a few walkers climbing out of a bus.

A few walking around the streets. "Okay, whoa whoa whoa," I said as I directed the horse to go to certain places and walked down roads. We were passing a tank when I saw a few birds peck at a dead man on the tank, he was wearing an army uniform. Suddenly I heard a helicopter fly above us and I rushed us into a run and watched as we whizzed through streets.

My adrenaline rose higher, not for joy but fear...as we stopped in front of a huge herd of walkers. All crowded on the street and they suddenly saw us, reaching towards us as they pushed and shoved towards us.

Turning to go the other way, I stared wide eyed, realising we were trapped. "Shit," I cursed under my breath as I turned us again and hoped for a way out. There was no use, they were trying to grab either me or the horse, trying to move we couldn't. The horse reared as it squealed in pain and fell to the ground.

Kicking me off, causing me to drop my bags and my hat to the ground. Rushing to try and get up, I watched as they tore apart the horse, sharing the guts and skin of the animal. Their dirty and bloody hands stuffing their faces as some saw me.

Rushing towards me one tried to get to me, kicking him away I got up onto my feet and ran towards the tank. Crawling under it, one tried to grab at my shoe, so I kicked it in the face and crawled faster. Others tried to crawl under, to grab at me and pull me apart like my dying horse. Pulling out my gun, I began to shoot some in the head that got too close to me.

I then felt the sensation settle in. I'm trapped...I'm dead...I'm running out of ammo...what am I going to do now? What can I do? Is anyone going to save me? Is this real life? Is this what my life has come to?

"Lori, Carl, Kat, I'm sorry," I said as I looked up and pointed the gun to my head, noticing a hole, I quickly climbed in and shut the door quickly. Gasping for air as I shut and lock the door, I leaned back and tried to get my heart beat to slow down. Enough so that I could think and clear my ear drums of the constant thumping.

When I finally thought I was safe...I couldn't have been any more wrong. I went to pull out a gun from a dead army man's holster and saw him come to life. Pulling up my gun, I gasped and shot him from below his chin. His brains splattering along the walls as my ears rang loudly.

The gun shot made my ears feel like they were bleeding, gasping for air and for the sound to leave my mind. When it did, I then heard climbing going off above my head, the tank was still opened from up top. Climbing up, I shut it and sealed it so I was safe and stuck inside. I didn't know what to do. I'm trapped...

Just when I thought all hope was lost, I heard the sound of a CB crackling. Then the voice of a man as he said: "Hey, you. Dumb ass. Hey...you in the tank. Cozy in there?" and this was when I just sat there and stared at where the sound had come from.

I hope you liked this chapter. Please can I have 5 reviews if you would like more! I would appreciate it! Yes...I've also had to change the name of title and the daughter. I saw that one story was too similar to my own...so...I want this to be 100% original.

Much love...

HeroJustInTime90 xx