To Stay Alive (A Walking Dead FanFic)

1 Pilot

"What would you do if the world ended tomorrow?"

"Would I know if the world was ending?"
Bugs chirped in the small silence.

"Yes. If you didn't, I'm sure you would stick with the same boring routine you have everyday." Stannis, my boyfriend, chuckled at my words.

"Well, I'd give my beautiful girlfriend a kiss." He leaned in and pecked my chapped lips, making quick to resume the conversation.
"Then, I would spend all my money on the finest pot in town."
I rolled my eyes, but nonetheless, took in a puff of the tightly rolled blunt that lied between my index and thumb.
"What about you, Skylar Grimes? What would you do?"

Me? I'd probably go home to my family and hold on to them. One last time. At least until my parents started yelling about something stupid.
"I wouldn't do a damn thing. I'd just allow it all to happen and take me down with it if that's what was meant to be." I passed the blunt to Stannis, suddenly feeling sick and uncomfortable in my only safe haven, which was in back of an abandoned school bus that lied right behind our high school.

"Miss Grimes." A stern voice came from the bus' front door, making me and Stannis jump in our seats, and turn.

Our principal stood with her arms crossed.

We would be in fourth period if we hadn't been skipping. It made me feel sick to my stomach to break the rules. What if my dad found out? Sure, my mother did the disciplining, mainly, but the disappointment. That would break me. I was always my father's daughter.

"Y-yes?" I asked, while also wondering why it was only my name she called and not Stannis'.

"Miss Grimes, your mother is here to pick you up. I suggest you get going before I write both you and Mr. Grimm a referral."

My stomach dropped as I stood up from my seat and whispered a low 'yes ma'am' when I walked past her.

Why was she here? She never came get me. Something must be wrong.

My head hung low in guilt to the ground, all the way to the front of the school. My mom sat at her car, expecting me to come from the front doors, but jumped as I came from behind the school. Shane, my dad's working partner along with childhood best friend, stood on the driver side of the car, and my little brother, Carl, sat in the back, tears falling down his rosy cheeks.

"What's going on?" I asked my mom, who, as I observed more, also had tears in her eyes. She wouldn't let them fall, probably trying to stay strong for her children.
"Skylar, baby, we're going to the hospital. Your daddy was shot on duty."
My breath was caught in my throat.
"The doctors say the blood loss and shock sent him into a coma. They aren't sure when he'll wake up."

I could feel how pale I must have been and without a word, I made my way inside the car.

When we made it to the hospital, it seemed busier than normal. Sick people right and left, but as we reached my father's room, the silence was deafening. Carl and mom ran to his side, but I couldn't move from beside Shane, who gave a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder.

From where I stood, it was almost as if he was sleeping peacefully, and in a way, he was.

My mother urged me to come forward, but I refused, even after Shane tried to make me listen. So when visiting hours were over, my mother and brother said their last goodbyes for the night, and we headed out.

Exhausted from today's sudden emotions, I climbed into the backseat, next to my brother, who looked up at me with waterfalls of tears and snot dripping from his nose. Scooting to the middle seat, I pulled him into my arms, and silently, I finally let my tears fall.