This Is Reality

Chapter 1

Being eighteen and all alone in the middle of the world going to shit isn't what it's like in the television shows, comics, and movies. Not having someone to have your back, not knowing when you are going to eat, every survivor you meet may not be sane. Entering a group is risky, nothing is like it used to be or was pictured to be. Nothing is supplied, there is no supply crates, nothing is left, you're on your own for literally everything now.

Since the beginning of this mess, I've been alone. It's been roughly 6 months if I have been counting correctly. The only thing I can trust nowadays is my lucky hunting knife, and my crossbow. There's not much to me, and I can't describe myself too well. My long black hair only makes the heat of Georgia worse for me, my blue eyes glisten in the bright sunlight. Sadly, in high school I was widely known for large boobs... they all called me "Double D" it was very humiliating. Sure, that's my size, sort of, but no one ever called me by my real name, Dodger.

Walking down the burning hot highways of Georgia is never fun. It's easy to get dehydrated, but lesser chances of being cornered by those 'things'. I haven't made up a good term for them, all I know is that they are dead, and they want to eat every living thing they can get their nasty, rotted hands on. Over my days of surviving, I've run into groups, most were very unstable or at the risk of dying any day. I'm better off on my own, less things I have to worry about.

Then the day came, when I ran into a group that had potential, but was going down real fast and real hard. They needed some serious saving before they fell, and they looked to me for guidance. Out of nowhere, practically overnight, I became their new leader. I didn't have the slightest clue on why, but this is how it began.

Since it is more than likely the end of January, it's slowly becoming warmer. Even though I'm in Georgia doesn't mean it's always warm here. The winters can get pretty brutal.

I pulled my hat over my ears, zippered my coat, held my crossbow ready for action, and went south, in hope of finding food and shelter.

Hunting is dandy and all, but when I light a fire in the middle of nowhere, I have now become an easy target for anything. For the next few days I eat squirrel and a single fish, trying to limit my use of fire. Even though it may be cold, I could be dead if I let it go all night for heat.

Trailing through the woods isn't as accurate than walking along the road, but it's easier for me. Lately, I've had the eerie feeling of someone following me. It's not a dead thing because if it was, it would be dead again already. Usually my senses are well enough to let me know if the presence is bad or not, but I just can't tell. It's something I've never experienced before.

I made my way back to the highway because I found a map. By looking at the map, and using my best judgement to pinpoint my location, I was about 10 miles from the next town. Since I had left Terminus, I have barely reached any kind of water. Celia was human enough to give me a gallon of water when we split but it didn't last as long as I thought it would. The gallon was bone dry and I was on the verge of moderate dehydration. I had searched every vehicle I have passed with no luck whatsoever. By the looks of it, the cars were never opened, but completely empty, it was just strange.

I walked for another few miles or so until I came upon water bottle and gallons in the middle of the road... Who in the hell... I know I was being watched but they are still following me? Taking the water is risky. Whoever left these could have contaminated or unfiltered them and could not have boiled the water properly. I walk past them like I never saw them. Even though my bow is across my back, I tighten the grip on my knife, whoever it is, they were close.

I followed the map to the town I saw, when I arrived and cleared it out, it was useless. I rummaged through the apartments and stores, only to find two bottles of water and an old Swiss Army knife. I went through all that for food, and didn't get any. The bottled water is good and all but I need food. I haven't eaten in days, I'm starting to become weaker and more fatigued. If I don't come across some type of food, I could be done for.

After leaving the town I went off into the woods again. Upon entering I quickly shot and obtained two squirrels. I was posted behind a log when I saw a rabbit. As I pulled the trigger to my crossbow, another arrow had hit it just before mine. The way the arrow impaled the rabbit, the hunter was to my right. I quickly and quietly climbed the tree next to me to get a bird's eye view of the hunter. He was kind of tall and held a bright green compound bow.

"Now where'd ya go?" He called out

I sat on the branch with him in my sight to get a closer look at him. The grin he plastered on his face did not seem very friendly to me. It was kind of like a "rapist" smirk. He picked up the rabbit and his arrow, leaving mine by the tree. Was he the one who was following me? As I watched him leave, he joined a group of men. I have to admit, men sometimes scared me more than anything nowadays. Since they are so inactive, any of them could turn into the men at Terminus. They are all just so desperate...

Once the group was far gone I hopped down and collected my arrow. Headed east, away from them, I continued on. I walked and walked through the woods until I heard the men's voices again. I lowered myself into the crouching position and stayed in the woods. There was a man and a woman sitting next to each other by a small fire next to a truck. They were speaking but I couldn't hear them. When the group of men approached the man and woman, panic was all over. An old fat man pulled a young boy from the truck and held him in a headlock. I thought that was illegal?