fallen | ✓

Chapter 9: "In The Past.."

Three years ago...

Hazel's POV

It was the end of the world. The walkers out broke and many people died. Like my family. My mother was a medic at the hospital in Atlanta, and she taught me all I know..

My father was an engineer and an alcoholic. He was never there for me. He was a pig. He smoked and got high whenever he felt like it. Mother was basically the only one that cared and loved for me.

He was only ten before I watched him be ripped open before my very eyes. Well, my brother, I mean.. He always ran around with sticks. A hyper boy he was. He seemed like the one to survive longest, but no. It had to be me to watch them suffer and perish before me.

It was him, and only him that cured me.

I couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't have him. He wasn't family but I still loved him like he was. He cured me of all my worries and hatred for the goddamn world.

He chose not to kill me for a reason, and I will always keep that part of me sane for him.

But now he's gone.

~~~

I scuffed my feet, making the perched birds on the roofs fly in all directions. Terrified as hell, I ran down the hill, stumbling a bit before climbing up the hole in the gate.

The prison.

Locked tight with a few flaws, but build for the old inmates. Keep them out of the people's way. No one wanted to be pounded by one of them. They where life trainers. They dedicated their lives to body building.

I looked up and shakily made my way to the gate. A pair of arms grabbed me by my jacket. I shrieked. The arms pushed me down when two knees dug into my back and my arms were on the ground. The owner of the arms hissed, "Why are you here??"

I squirmed and my breathing went uneven. I managed to cough up, "I-I can't breathe.." My eyes rolled back and I gave in, my body relaxing against the cement. Black filled the edges of my eyes and the pressure on my back released. I gasped and my lungs filled with air.

The arms pulled me back up again and spun me around to face the owner. It was a strong man, much taller than me. I flinched when I saw his orange uniform. He was a prisoner. "Answer me." He demanded, staring me down. He must have been at least six feet tall.

"A better life, s-sir." I swallowed my soul as he loosened his grip a bit. "Why should I let you live.." He snapped. "I am... A medic. Also, I have the potential of being... Your friend..?" I replied.

His features softened for a split second before he decided to ask more questions. "Do you have a group coming?" He hissed.

"No," I said. "You better be candor with me." He said, sticking a switchblade to my neck. I quickly inhaled and my nostrils flared. I stared at him, from my left. He stared at me with his cold eyes when his grip loosened.

"What weapons do you have?" He asked, his voice releasing a small amount of anger. "A knife and a pistol. No ammunition." I said.

He spun me around and slammed me into a wall, patting me down, grumbling. "Do you not trust me?" I scowled. "You can't blame me for my trust issues.." He grumbles. I turned my head, annoyed as he checked all my pockets. He went for my butt pocket and I smacked his hand, hissing, "Enough."

He scowled at me and I pulled my knife and gun, throwing them on the floor. I smashed my heel into the shaft of the pistol and looked back up at him. He half gawked before pulling himself together and exhaling his tension. "I trust you." He let out.

~~~

I sat on the edge of the roof, watching him on the ground, sharpening his sword with a large rock. I half smiled and yelled, "What's your name?" He hesitated before replying, "Axe." I nodded. He then paused and looked up at me. "You gonna tell me your name?"

I pondered for a while before replying, "Hazel." He nodded before going back to sharpening his sword. "That's a pretty name." He commented, turning the blade over. I stiffened and blushed, smacking my cheek and grumbling in frustration. Is he seriously flirting with me?

He then glanced back. "Something wrong?" He asked innocently. "No." I clenched my jaw. He smiled and went back to sharpening his sword. I frowned a bit and shook my head. Then my ear twitched and I shifted my weight. "So I'm your friend now right?" I grinned.

"Don't push it."

I breathed and covered my laugh with a cough. "You know you can laugh right?" He stared at me with a blank expression. "It's not illegal." He closed his head and clenched his jaw. I nodded. "Mhm," I replied.

"So now that we're a team-" I started. "Eh?" He tilted his head. "We're a team yeah?" I scowled, throwing a pebble at him. He easily blocked it with his hand and shrugged. "Yeah alright."

I slumped back. "Where are we going next?" He slowly moved his head, opened his mouth and he looked up, seeing a truck pull in. He stood up and started walking towards it. "Excuse me." He said.

I watched him, crossing my legs and fidgeting with my radio. I heard a gunshot and my head shot up. Axe had a gun! I saw the other man fall and I jumped down landing on a crate. I got up and scrambled to them. "Stop!" I screamed, running. Axe turned to me and scowled, throwing his arm in my trail. I shoved him out of the way and he grabbed my hood. I choked and fell in the grass. He released.

"This idiot is a disgrace-" He started. "I do not care!" I shouted, scrambling for him. I looked down at his bullet wound. It was in his gut. My fingers brushed against it. The man's eyes thrashed open and he pressed a pistol against my forehead. I froze.

By the time this happened Axe was hot on my trail, yanking me away just as he pulled the trigger. It skimmed my shoulder. I screamed.

Axe's eyes widened and he glared at the man, sitting me down and grabbing his sword, raising it and bringing hell upon the man's knee, cracking it open. The man screamed and I swayed, the edges of my vision going black again. I blinked and looked up, seeing Axe shooting him in the head.

I then dropped, and Axe ran to me, scooping me up. The last words I heard were, "Stay with me.."