Authors note:

This is the first in a line of walking dead fanfictions that I'm planning following my OC Cassandra/Cassie. It's going to be following the Tv show through the first few seasons but then I'm going to start diverging due to certain aspects of the show that I don't agree with or wish were different. It'll start to get very different and pretty much go completely AU if I choose to continue it after Season 7 because this is ultimately a Carl Grimes/OC fic. If I do then I'll probably be taking inspiration from the show and the comic books but mostly going my own path at that point.

This article sums up pretty well how I feel about what The Walking Dead recently; sites/erikkain/2018/02/26/the-walking-dead-just-made-a-huge-unforgivable-mistake-all-over-again/#796eb1bd25fa

Hopefully the chapters will get longer as I go, this one seems pretty short to me?

Also I'm British and this isn't beta read so if you notice any words or phrases that are British rather than American please feel free to point it out to me and I'll change it.

I haven't wrote fanfiction, or any fiction actually, in a long time so I'm quite rusty at it, feel free to review and leave constructive criticism because I probably need it haha

Chapter One

It's all about blending into the background and making yourself as unnoticeable as possible. If you're quiet and stay out the way, out of their line of sight, then maybe they'll forget you're there. It's an art that Cassie has perfected over time with a lot of practice. It's easier at school where there are so many other kids screaming to be heard, wanting attention and so little staff around to cater to their needs. Home however is a very different story; Staying out of her father's way and being able to predict his mood has become second nature to her, a necessary skill for survival. He hurts her mom a lot more than her as he only hurts her when mom isn't around, and mom tries to never leave us alone together for too long if she can help it, even though her mom doesn't know he hurts her sometimes too, he generally leaves her alone when her mom is around. She doesn't know why her mom stays with him but she does know that if she knew he was hurting her too she would be so unbelievably angry, her mom is the most important person in the world to her and she knows she feels the same way.

She wants to tell her mom about it, more than anything, but he had warned her that if she did he would hurt her mother even more, maybe even take her away for good and she knew couldn't risk that, her mom was everything to her. She was her best friend; her only friend actually and she didn't know what she would do if she lost her.

"Cassie!" the loud yell jolted her out of her thoughts, white knuckles gripping onto her school backpack in fright. It was her schools English teacher, Miss Ralph, looking down at her with concern. "Are you alright dear?"

"Sorry Miss, I was daydreaming."

"That's alright sweetheart, are you waiting to be picked up by someone?"

"No, I walk home." She said, shaking her head.

Miss Ralph's frown became even more pronounced, "Even now?"

"It's not far and I like the walk." She smiled at her and hoped she would leave it alone.

Miss Ralph hummed, not sounding convinced but to her relief let it go, "Okay, I don't have to give you a lecture about staying on populated streets and stranger danger do I, Cassie?"

"No Miss Ralph, I promise I'm always careful. I walk straight home with no stops and don't talk to anyone I don't know on my way."

"That's good Cassie, I know you're a smart and mature young girl but there's a lot of weirdness going around right now. Just on the news just last night-"she cut herself off suddenly, "well you don't need to know about all that nasty business, just be extra careful on your way home today okay?"

Cassie nodded dutifully and waved as Miss Ralph wandered off towards a group of younger students milling around just outside the school.

She sighed, beginning her trek home slowly, it was always best to take as long as possible to get home in order for her mom to get back from work before her. The streets weren't particularly busy today, mom says the flu going around has got everyone scared and staying in but that wasn't really an option for her because of him.

A shrill scream had her whirling around, her breath catching and then releasing just as quickly as two younger kids ran past, chasing each other and laughing.

She didn't know what was wrong with her today; there was something in the air that had her on edge. All the adults at school had been acting strange and looking worried all day and the fact that more than half the school had been out sick had made the school quiet and eerie.

She quickened her steps, hoping her mom was already back because she didn't want to be home alone with her father but she felt too exposed and vulnerable being out on the street right now to walk as slowly as she usually did.

A weight lifted off of her shoulders when she came up to her house, noticing her mom's car parked out front.

Like always she took care opening the front door and closing it softly behind her, casting glances around to keep an eye out for her father.

"Cassie?" her mom's soft voice came from the kitchen.

As she entered the kitchen her mom smiled wide and seemed to slump in relief, "I was so worried."

"Why?" she asked, before looking back at the kitchen door, "and where is dad?"

"He's in the living room sweetie, just head straight up to your room in a minute okay? I was worried because there's been more and more news of those sick people attacking people; you didn't see anyone acting strange on your way home did you?" her mom asked, hugging her.

"No." Cassie shook her head, "The streets were almost empty, it was weird."

"Everyone's staying in and packing up, the news said people should be getting evacuated real soon to the big cities to better treat people for whatever sickness is making people do this. The military will be there too in order to protect us."

"We're leaving? But what about school? And your work?"

"Schools not going to be open sweetie and no one's really going into work either, not unless they have some important job to do, the whole town will be evacuated. I need you to go pack some clothes, toiletries, and anything else you want into a backpack but make sure it's light enough to travel because we might have to walk a ways okay?"

She nodded, swiftly and quietly running up the stairs. She emptied her school bag out and used that, throwing in the all the essential things she needed before perusing her bookshelf. She really wanted to take her Harry Potter books but all of them would be too heavy together and it would be silly to just take one or two. Eventually she decided on a new book a relative had gotten for her last Christmas that she hadn't gotten round to yet, The Fault in Our Stars. She didn't really know anything about it and neither did her aunt who got it for her when she asked but she had assured her that it seemed very popular at the moment.

A loud crash sounded from downstairs followed by yelling that startled her, the words were muffled by her closed door and she knew better by now than to go check it out, but the urge to check on her mom was still overwhelming making her clench her fists tightly, fingernails digging into her palms. Instead, she took a deep breath and exhaled, calming herself and simply hoping they would be evacuated soon, he was always nicer around other people, or at least he pretended to be.

She was gently shook awake the next morning, her mom sitting on her bed beside her, leaning over her, "Cassie, time to get up sweetie. We've got a busy day, need to make sure we're all packed up and ready to leave so we can get on the road as soon as we need to. Looks like we'll be going to Atlanta, the news said they're setting up a refugee centre with military protection there and that's where the CDC is so I bet we'll be the first to know as soon as they figure this thing out."

"CDC?" Cassie mumbled sleepily.

"It stands for the Centre for Disease Control sweetie, it's where they test all the nasty diseases and find cures; they'll figure this one out too, you'll see. Now come on, up and at 'em."

Cassie groaned but did as she said; looks like it was going to be a long day.

Long day was an understatement in the end, it took hours for Cassie and her mom to make a list of what they were going to take, pack it all up and move it out into the car for a quick getaway and then her mom insisted they clean the house top to bottom to make sure it was nice for when they got back. She was just glad that her father, after dictating to them all the things he wanted of his packed up to go, had taken the opportunity to go down to the local bar to drink the day away.

By the time he stumbled back through the front door, Cassie and her mom had finished everything that needed doing, ate and settled in front of the television. Her father came home basically falling through the front door cursing loudly, making both of them tense.

"Fucking piece of shit!" he yelled, tripping onto his hands and knees. "Jen! Jenny! Get your ass o'er ere and help me up 'nd into ma chair!" he slurred.

"Cass, go upstairs and play in your room until bedtime okay?" Her mom whispered to her, pushing her towards the stairs before standing and making her way to over to help him.

"Hey! Where're you runnin' off ta princess?" his voice calling out to her stopped Cassie in her tracks.

"She's tired Kev, packing up and cleaning took all day, we only just finished. Let her get to bed okay?"

"Fine. Fine Whatev'r! Go! Get outta ma sight!"

She didn't need to be told twice, shooting up the stairs two at a time into her bedroom, sliding the lock closed after her.

It was barely even seven but once she got into her pyjamas and ready for bed she found that she actually was tired after all. Getting into bed she hoped that they'd be going to the refugee centre soon, she couldn't stand staying home all day now that she wouldn't be going to school.

She fell asleep wondering what it would be like at the refugee centre, wondering if it would be easy to blend in to the background there or if they'd notice what her father was doing to her mom, if they'd stop him.

"Cassie. Sweetie, wake up." She awoke to her mom whispering in her ear in the near pitch black.

"Mom? Wha's goin' on?" she whispered back.

"We're leaving for the refugee centre now."

"Now?"

"Yeah sweetie. Your Dads friend got attacked yesterday by one of those ill people; he's not doing well honey, so we're heading to the refugee centre together with him and his wife to get him some help."

She got up out of bed and they rushed around, Cassie grabbing her backpack, her mom getting any last minute things they needed to take and checking the appliances were off before they were all standing around the front door ready to leave. Her father got right in the car, impatient to go but she stayed next to her mom who was dawdling just outside the house.

"Mom? What's wrong?"

"I don't know sweetie. It just feels..."

"Feels... what?"

Her mom shook her head briskly, long blonde hair whipping around her face, "Never mind, I'm being silly."

The car horn blared loudly into the night, jolting Cassie.

Her father was leaning out the driver's side window, "What the fuck are you doing?! Get in the car now!"

Her mom pushed her forward gently, "Come on, we need to get to your fathers friends house, they're waiting for us."