Chance Encounter

The Encounter

I was running down an alley when I heard the distant sounds that could only be described as screams of panic. Running towards the sound I stop behind the nearest dumpster and kneeled down. After checking for walkers I listen and there went the scream again and this time it was coming from above where I was crouched.  From where I was I could see a few stray walkers stumbling towards the front of the building, but there were none too close to worry about. I took a few seconds to take in my surrounds and try to find a way into the building when I see a rusty old fire-escape a few feet above next to the dumpster.

"Well..If i can't go in the front then I'll just have to go up." I mumble to myself. 

 I check my surroundings once more before hoisting my backpack up and sprinting to the ladder and jumping. I just barly was able to grasp hold of the ladder and pull myself up. Carefully climbing up each rungs i slowly make my way up. The closer i got  the more clearly I could hear the person shouting, but i still wasn't able to make out what they were saying. Reaching the last ladder I hoist myself up and over the ledge and onto the roof.  Hurrying into jog i reach the side of the roof  to see a man sitting on the roof yanking away at a metal pipe. Not wanting to leave him there i carefully walk over and stop a few feet away. 

"Excuse me, are you okay? Do you need help?" I ask while putting my hand on the handle of my bat that was straped to my bag. 

The man jumped and craned his neck to look at me with wild and frantic eyes. 

"Now an't you a sight! Why don't you bring your pretty little ass on over to help ol'Merle out, sweet checks?" Merle said while leaning back aginst the line of pipes and smirking while not trying to hiding the fact he was eyeing my body.  

Taking a few moments to look the man over I notice that he must have been out here in the sun  for a long while as his face is red and blistered with sun burn and he looks very dehydrated. Walking over to him I kneel down by the pipe and see that he's been handcuffed to the pipe.

Unstraping my bag I sit it down and open it. "So Merle? How did you end up like this?" I ask while looking through my bag. 

"Had a run in with a not-so-nice cop. Punched me then he went and cuffed me to this here pipe and booked it outta here with the rest of my group, leaving ol' Merle behind" he tells me while looking me over. "Now sweet-checks I don't think a little old nail file is gonna get me outta here." He laughs while watching me dig in my things. I chuckle under my breath and after finally finding what I needed I lean over and show him my lock picking kit and smirk when I notice his slightly shocked reaction. 

"Well then I guess I'll have to use this then?" I reply with my own smirk.

Pulling out the tools I would need I quickly get to working. Once I got his hand free from the cuffs, I realize that his wrist is raw and the skin is torn and bleeding. Pulling out my small first aid kit I hurry and clean the wound and wrap some gauze around the area to keep it clean.

"Ouch! Damn it! Can't you be careful! That stings like a motherfucker!" Merle hissed while pulling his hand away. 

"Oh come on! Stop being a baby! Did you want your wrist to get infected and rot off?" I tell him while pulling his hand back. "It wouldn't be good to have only one hand during the Apocalypse."

When I finish putting the wrap on his wrist, I stand up and repack my things and start heading back to the ledge of the building to go back down the fire-escape.  

As I was about to go down the ladder a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Turning to face Merle I raise my eyebrow in a "what do you want" gesture while shaking his hand off my arm.

"Where you goin' sweet-checks? Do you gotta group? What about a place to stay?" he asked. 

Pausing for a minute i contemplate whether telling this guy where i'm going would be a good idea or not. "I'm thinking of heading toward the woods outside Atlanta to make camp, hopefully find someplace safe. Or for a couple days or so. Why? You wanna tag along?" I ask while straddling the ledge.

"I gotta baby brother right outside the city. There's a big group of people that made camp at a quarry that we used to hunt at. If you want you can tag along. Safety in numbers and all that shit.. " he said while climbing down. 

That's true. I guess it would be nice to have someone to watch my back. "Sure, why not. You're the first person Ive seen for awhile that hasn't tried to eat me." I joke.

A few minutes later we both were down on soild ground and walking. It was nice to have someone around and Merle stayed a step ahead,  keeping watch and showing me the way.

" So sweet-checks,what should i call you?" He asks while glancing back at me.

"You can call me Missy" I reply with a small smile.

After telling him my name we don't talk for the rest of the walk so i let my thoughts cloud for the first time in weeks. Maybe ive finally found someone who i can get along with.Anythings better then being alone while this thing happens. I just hope that things will be better soon.

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I do not own the Walking dead or the characters. I only own Missy. My story is going to be different then the actual story line.