𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑮𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑮𝑼𝒀 ❦ Rick Grimes

- one

— ACT ONE OF THREE —
THE BEGINNING OF THE END

chapter one | battlefield
*edited

EXHAUSTION. That was the only word to describe how the twenty-eight year felt. Running through the tree's on her low energy became difficult. Breathing got harder with each passing step she took.

If you think you're at 100%, you're not. You've got at least 20% more to give.

She repeated the statement in her head like a mantra.

20%

20%

20%

Her 20% more was slowly dwindling down.

She was almost out of bullets. Her knife needed sharpened, and unfortunately, she didn't stand a chance against the dead men stumbling towards her.

She was out of practice.

Her aim wasn't as good.

She gave up that life over a decade ago.

Hell, she barely sent her brothers a Christmas card. Not that holidays like Christmas mattered anymore. Not in this new world she was forced to live in.

She finally reached a clearing and collapsed. Her 20% had become non-existent as she laid on the hard ground.

Exhaustion took over and eventually, the woman let it. She stopped trying to fight the battle and closed her eyes.

&&

"What the hell?!" She exclaimed. Her dark, long hair was now soaking wet. Along with the front of her t-shirt.

"Are you dumb?" The voice asked her. "Ya missed breakfast, Sonny."

Sadie wiped her eyes with the front of her palms.

"I tried to wake ya, but bitch, you just weren't wakin' up. So we dumped a little water on ya." Another voice laughed.

"Who the hell are you callin' a bitch?" Sadie spat.

"You. You're the bitch." The eldest of the three of them replied.

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Can you just get up out of bed?"

"Oh, sorry Dad." Sarcasm dripped from Sadie's voice as she spoke to her older brothers. "I forgot who I was talking to. Dad."

"Will you shut your fat mouth?" Daryl growled.

"Why don't you shut yours, asshat?"

"Both of ya'll, shut your mouths before I shut 'em for ya!" Merle shouted.

Both Daryl and Sadie mumbled under their breaths while Merle began talking once more.

"Sadie, you're comin' on the run with me."

"Excuse me?" Sadie scoffed. "I'm not doin' jack shit with you."