The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 1

Meredith

**

IT WAS A peaceful Friday evening. The music played in the background, the warm water covering my entire body as I relaxed my head on the back of the tub. The bathroom was lit with candles and I felt my mind finally calm with ease. I had been a hard, long week. Work was killer, people were assholes and I almost drove myself crazy. I had woken up this morning for work, but I lied in bed for 45 minutes contemplating whether I should just go and make the money I deserve...or call out and take a mental health day. So, here I am.

I called out of work, did some laundry, went out to the bar for some drinks, returned back home, watched some TV for a bit, slept, ate, and now, here I am. Soaking my body in the lavender stress-relief soap bubbles. I needed this. I deserved this.

I open my eyes to the sound of the floorboards creaking. I gave myself a moment to decide if it was the upstairs neighbors walking around. Though, it had only been 6:00, and the neighbors don't get home from work til 7:30. I let out a sigh, slowly closing my eyes. I allowed myself to return back into my calming space until I hear the floorboards creaking again. I furrow my brows and opened my eyes. I let out a gasp when I found two large hands hovering over my head. Before I could react, the hands press down on my shoulders and my head is dunked under the water.

I let out a gasp, pulling myself up and looking around me. I inhaled deeply when I realized it was nothing but a dream. A haunting one at that. Of course, it is a memory, but it still haunts me to this day. I hear the sudden growls and snarls and gargles from behind. I pull myself from the ground, gathered my things and stood up. I look around me, pulling my knife out for protection. I had spotted two drooling freaks coming my way, and just behind them, about more than five of them trailing behind.

I was more than capable at taking these things down. But once it hits double digits, I tend to run to keep myself alive.

I dart off from the dead, pushing through branches and jumping over logs. I'd turn around another large bush, only to be met with even more of the dead. I search around frantically for another way out. I find a space between two bushes and took that chance to make my escape. I push down the branches and stepped out of dangers way. But before I could keep moving to a safer spot, I lose my footing and drop. I roll down a hill, hitting trees, slamming into the ground.

I roll into something hard and hear voices around me. I open my eyes and look down to see a pair of bright, blue eyes.

"What the shit?!" I hear behind me. I felt two rough hands grab at my shoulders and I'm yanked from the body underneath me. I slam into the ground and look up, meeting face to face with a barrel pointed in my face. I follow the barrel of the gun and look up to see a man standing over me, his face angered and his eyes ready to pull the trigger.

"Well, looky here." He forces a smile. "Looks like we got a runner." I see movement from behind the man and see the other man I knocked down pulling himself up from the ground. He dusts himself off and turns to me, shooting me a mean glare.

"Hey." The other calls. I turn my eyes to him. "Eyes up here, darlin'. You answer to me and only me." He says. "Baby brother here don't exactly know how to deal with the crazies these days."

"I was running from the dead. Wasn't paying attention and I fell down that hill." I explain. I'm not gonna lie- it is a bit nerve-racking to have a gun pointed in your face. I mean, I've had knives, bottles, plates and all kinds of shit up in my face in a threatening manner, but never not a gun.

"Uh, huh." The man nods. "They all say that." He says.

"I'm thinking you two haven't exactly been face to face with more than 9 of those drooling freaks walking the earth. Once I hit double digits, I run to save my own ass." I scoff at the man.