A Long Way From Home//Carl Grimes

Chapter 1- A New Start

I hear the leaves crunch under my boots as I walk through the dark forest. I've been alone for a while, just trying to stay alive. It's tough. You know, having to spend every minute of every day keeping an eye out for my surroundings. Checking to make sure the twig that I heard snap was just a squirrel, or the leaves I heard rustle was just the wind. But, it's usually not. It usually is one of the walkers. The human-eating, feet dragging, noise- making beasts that roam this world.

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Everything was silent for a while until I heard footsteps-that weren't from me. I quickly grab my gun out of it's holster. I've never shot it;I don't know how. I see a figure emerge from the trees. "Drop your weapons." I say loud enough for the person to hear me. The person turns around. It's a man, maybe in his 30's. He has brown hair and a beard. My hands tremble at the thought of having to shoot the man in front of me. An innocent person, just like me. Except, I'm not innocent, and he might not be either. I begin to worry as he doesn't let go of his gun. He puts his pistol on the ground and let's out a chuckle.
"Why are you laughing?" I ask angrily. The man stops immediately and looks at me. I try and be as serious as possible, but it isn't who I am. This world has made me tough, that's for sure. The only people left in this world are tough.
"You remind me of my son." He says. His son. Wow, what a compliment. "Well, I'm not here to hear about your son. Who are you?" I ask turning the safety off on my gun. I at least know that much about guns.
"I'm Rick Grimes." He says. Rick looks very clean compared to me. I'm covered in blood and dirt. At least I think I am anyway. My main priority isn't to check every mirror I find.
"Do you have a group?" I ask quickly. I mean, it's worth a shot. I really shouldn't trust Rick yet. I have no clue who he is. But, if he does have a group, they'll be gone soon. It happens every time. I meet someone, get attached, and something bad happens where I'm along again. I slowly lower my gun, I have nothing else to lose. If I die, there's no one left alive to miss me.
"I do. But I have to ask you some questions first. What's your name?" Rick says. I hesitate for a moment before answering, "I'm Cassie Smith."
I usually don't tell people this. What is coming over me? I usually don't trust anyone. I've been screwed over one too many times.
"How many walkers have you killed?" He asks me.
"I guess I've killed too many to count." I say.
"How many people have you killed?" Rick asks. That question hurts. I can feel tears forming in my eyes as I choke out, "Just 2."
"Why?" He asks again. Goodness, Rick Grimes is just full of questions today. I'm definitely not letting some stranger see me cry so, I hold in the tears and say, "One was a woman in my old group. She was bit and she asked me to end it before she turned. The other was my little brother James. He was too young and didn't understand that he had to kill the things. He got bit a couple of months ago." I somehow managed to choke that out without crying. I loved James so much and he was all I had left.
"You're welcome to come back with me, Cassie. We have a prison. It has big fences and it's secure. There are even kids your age." Rick says giving me a weak smile.
"I would really like that." I say smiling back. I follow him as we weave our way through the trees. What am I getting myself into?

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Hi guys! If you're reading this then I love you. Thank you SOOO much for reading this. I'm Lilly by the way. I really hope you guys like this story as much as I do!