𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 // 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

01// 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯
01
[new beginnings]

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THE END OF THE WORLD ISN'T AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT IS. Well to me it's a new start. I like to think of it as a cleanse from your old life to a much, much, much worse one. I kick the rocks that were in front of me as I walked in the dense forest of green and brown. The wind flew by me as if it were in a hurry to blow something away. My red hair got stuck in my face as I tucked it behind my ear. The smell of dirt and wet grass intoxicated my nose.

I hear the sound of running water and i swiftly turned my head to the side. There was a running river that didn't look contaminated but it could've and I would've been dead if I drank the water. So I went by the stream and looked both ways. No roamers in sight or in the water. I grabbed my water bottle from my duffel bag that was covered in moss and blood. It reeked so bad that I almost threw up from the smell. I leaned down to the stream and just listened to the calming sounds of the water and how it guided itself with ease. I scooped up some water and took a swig of it. Nasty but refreshing. I placed it back in my bag and went back on the road.

My life was already over when I was born. I had a shitty life when I was just a child. Having to go through foster care, almost getting molested by my "uncle", and almost died 3 times from "family issues". I wanted to be done with life when it came down to that, but then the apocalypse came and everyone I knew was dead. This was my chance to start new, turn a new page. I tripped and fell over some sign and fell face first into a rock. I wasn't bleeding but it did hurt like a bitch. I looked over to the stupid sign that tripped me and read it.

"Alexandria. Houses for all any community for all."

Yeah right. Probably some type of gimmick. Then I thought for a moment. Maybe this place has some stuff that can be useful, like food or artillery! I saw the address to this community and it wasn't far from where I was, maybe about a mile or two away. I began to pick up the pace and walk straight. This was going to be a long walk so might as well listen to music. I grabbed my "uncle's" old ass Walkman and threw in a cassette that my friend used to listen to when we were bored. I bobbed my head to the music and started to walk to the beat.

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I finally made it to the last song and it was a good one. It was about 30 minutes since I started the mixtape. 3 minutes and 20 odd seconds of sweet music. I danced my way down this open path and made it to a gate. I finally had reached this Alexandria place but it didn't look abandoned, in fact it looked like it had some upgrades like a huge ass wall. The gate was huge and I didn't know if I had to knock or say something.

"Um hello?" I said in a rough voice. I cleared my throat and I heard the gate unlock. Two guys were on the other side of the gate and they both looked like they own the place.

"Who are you?" The man with short straight hair and a small beard asked me.

"I'm just a girl looking for shelter." I said with a straight face. They both looked at each other and smiled.

"Well you've come to the right place. Welcome to Alexandria. My name is Aiden and to my left in my partner Nicholas." Aiden said. Nicholas gave me a small wave and I waved back.

"How long have you been out there?" Nicholas asked. I took a step into the place and it was a beautiful community.

"I think maybe 2-3 years maybe, I've lost count." I said. They both looked surprised at the response. Sexist.

"Wow, that's impressive." Aiden said with a childish smirk. I shook my head and walked pass him.

"So, what now?" I asked.

"Well, we might as well bring you Deanna." Nicholas said as he led me to a very nice house. Bigger than the ones I've lived in. I saw a couple small kids playing some game and some mom gossiping. They're acting like the end of the world didn't happen. Nicholas opened the door and I stepped into the house. The first thing that I saw was that there was a bookshelf full of books. The house looked like it was freshly built but at the same time it had history.

"And who's this beautiful young woman?" A lady said from the granite kitchen. I gave her a small smile. She gently put down her glass and came over to me.

"We don't know much about her, but you can interview her." Nicholas said. Deanna thanked him and he gracefully walked out of the house. She insisted for me to sit so I did.

"So... what's your name young lady?" She asked.

"Quinn. Quinn Laurence." I said. She started to set up her camera.

"What's the camera for?" I asked.

"Just for a study." She said. I slowly nodded and shook my head.

"Repeat your name for the video." She said as she clicked a button on the camera. I sat up straight and fixed my hair.

"My name is Quinn. Quinn Laurence." I said clearly.

"How long have you've been on the road?" She asked.

"I've been on the road for about 3 years... too long in my opinion." I pushed my hair back and smiled.

"Do you miss anyone special?" She asked. I thought for a moment. The memories of friends and family left my mind a while ago. But the most vivid one was when I was at school. I had met a boy who had short brunette hair and a smile I couldn't forget.

"Well, there was one boy. He was such a good kid. He always told me that I looked pretty, and that he hoped I had a good day." I said. She smiled.

"You've probably survived on that memory for a while." She said. I nodded my head.

"Any other family or friends still out there that you know of?" I shook my head. I knew that most of my family and friends were dead, that I knew of.

"Last question... do you believe that you can survive?" She said. For a while I thought I was going to die in a split second. Like a flash of light then I'm gone. Nothing more.

"I've been through thick... and thin but I do believe that I can outlive this world." I said. She nodded and turned off the camera.