Surviving Together Is All That Matters

Chapter 2 Part 1: New Encounters

Paisley's POV*
Trekking through the forest was all I was doing during the apocalypse, but this day felt different. It felt like something was about to change my life forever. I was looking for a signal, a sign of hope, hope in this monstrous world. I walked onto the road from the trees. I was longing for food, water, shelter and any sign of human life, the good kind. I saw 3 people walking on a road. A man, a woman and a boy. He looked the same age as me. I couldn't tell what he looked like as he had an oversized sherif hat on. "Are you alone?" I hear the man say cautiously with a heavy southern accent. "Yeah, have been for a while, do you think I could tag along with you? I've been longing for human life for months." I say, not realising how much I was talking. The man and the woman both looked at each other in question, I assumed they were in a relationship, with a son. We all walked towards each other, the boy starting to hide behind the two adults. "We're going to have to ask you 3 questions, if this doesn't bother you." He says. I look at him in question. "Yeah, sure." I say, trying to be subtle. "How many walkers have you killed?"
"Walkers? Uhm, too many to count."
"How many people?"
"Two."
"Why?"
I looked up to him, the sunlight stinging my eyes. "I had to. They were on the edge of killing me, it was for mine and my groups sake. And the other. She was bit, on her neck. I didn't want her to suffer." I say, creating a long pause. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. No one should, especially at your age." He says sympathetically. "How old are you anyway?"
"I'm fifth teen." I say with a smile. "Haha, same age as my boy! His name's Carl." He says, swerving around to pat the boy on the back, hiding behind them. "Nice to meet you Carl." I say. "Nice to meet you too." He says and offers a fist bump. I swear I've recognised him from somewhere. "What's your name?" The man says. "I'm Paisley. You?"
"Rick. This is Michonne." He says as she smiles and introduces herself. "Is it just you three?"
"No, we have a lot more. We were separated. A prick who calls himself the 'Governor' completely destroyed our camp. We're all trying to find them at Terminus. Do you know where that is?" Rick asks. "Hmm, I've heard of it before. Not sure I've ever been there."
"Come with us, you'll like the rest of our group." He says, smiling.
"I'd love to!" I say enthusiastically, as we start to walk.
I see Carl at the back, kicking stones and looking down at the floor. I look up and see Michonne and Rick walking away, so I decided to break the ice. "Hi!" I say, trying to make him look up. "Hey." He says, looking up and smiling. I suddenly feel a sharp pain in my chest and throat as I gaze into his blue eyes. He was so attractive . "I think I've seen you before." I say. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that! Didn't you go to my elementary school?" He says. "I remember it so clearly now! You helped me out of the window! I never got to thank you for that, so thanks." I say as we both laugh and look up at each other. Rick breaks our gaze. "We'll rest for the night." He says as we stop in the road.
It was getting dark, Rick and Michonne made a fire while Carl and I slept in the van we found on the road. I'm suddenly awoken by unfamiliar voices outside...