Riches to Rags (A Story Based in the World of The Walking Dead)

The Before (Prologue)

I had everything.

My father was a big corporate executive at some company and my mother was an up and coming actress. We lived in a nice house in the perfect neighborhood and all my friends were jealous of it growing up. Come to think of it now, most of those people weren't really my friends, I was just a trophy for them to acquire and brag about to their actual friends.

I had a couple of boyfriends during high school, but it was the same way with them as it was with my friends. They wanted to acquire not only my money but they also wanted to be able to brag about deflowering the most popular girl in school. None of them ever got the chance though, I wasn't that stupid.

I had the money to buy anything and everything I could ever want, but the only thing I ever truly wanted was a true connection with someone, or anything really. That's why I got my dog, Brutus.

Brutus is some sort of Pit-Mix that I got at the local shelter, and as soon as I brought him home my mom had a fit.

"Why would you go to the shelter for a dog?!"

"We could've found you the perfect dog through a breeder."

"Why would you want some ugly mutt like that?"

I knew she could never understand it. My mom and my dad grew up from humble beginnings, while I've had everything given to me. I know they meant well and wanted to give me the best life had to offer, but I didn't want that. Brutus wasn't perfect, he had scars from his last owner(s), but he loved me for me.

I did everything with Brutus once I got him fully trained. I took him almost everywhere I went and who'd say anything to the richest girl in town with the scariest looking dog around? He truly has been my best friend since he came into my life and ever since August he's become my protector.

On August 26, 2010, my world, and probably everyone else's, fell apart. I woke up the same way I always do, being jumped on by Brutus. Afterwards, I had a normal breakfast with my dad, since my mom was away shooting for some movie that we didn't know would never come out. Then, I left the house and took Brutus on his daily walk to the dog park to play and exercise. That's when I started noticing things weren't the same as they usually are.

There were less cars in the streets, but I didn't think that was too weird. When I got to the park and seen it empty, that's when I got confused. I sat there for a few minutes looking for a 'Closed' sign or any reason that the park would be empty, but the sounds of distant screams and groaning growing closer soon gave me the answer I was looking for.

I watched as a girl, probably around my age, ran out into the intersection about a block away from the park. Behind her was what I had thought to be a man and he looked to be chasing her. I saw him tackle the girl and bite into the side of her neck as she cried out for help.

I quickly pulled on Brutus's leash, desperately wanting to get away from the intersection as more of those things quickly joined the first one in devouring the poor girl's body. As I ran from the gruesome scene, trying to get back home as fast as I could, another small group of those monsters shuffled down the same street my house was on. I watched as they walked closer and closer to my home, before I realized what time it was. It was time for my dad to leave the house for work.

I hurriedly pulled my phone out, but there was no signal anymore. I looked to my house and sure enough, my dad was walking out the front door. He turned his back to the street, blind to the threat that was now approaching him, to lock the door.

"Dad!" I screamed, as Brutus and I rushed towards him.

The group of monster started to break apart as some of them were intrigued by my sudden outburst, while the others were dead set on getting to my dad. I saw my dad turn around, confused by the fear in my voice. Neither myself nor my father were fast enough to defend him from the monster that had reached the steps to our house. I watched as the cruel creature grabbed him and closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of his screams and the groans of the other things joining the first, yet again.

The sound of barking and growling and groaning forced my eyes to reopen, though I avoided looking at my home. Brutus was now attacking one of the rotten-looking people, as it had come too close to me for his comfort. Brutus bit and tore at the monster, but it wouldn't stop trying to bite him back.

I signaled Brutus to retreat to my side, and as soon as he was away from the seemingly invincible corpse we ran. We ran for as long as I could go, before I noticed the sky was dark and full of stars and there was no more city lights to be seen. We had managed to run off into the woods that were about half a mile away from my house. During the day, the woods seemed like a safe option, but at night it felt like being in a horror movie. I never knew if one of those freaks was gonna jump out and grab me like everyone else, but having Brutus by my side helped soothe my frazzled nerves.

I managed to find some weird little shelter that was elevated with a ladder leading up into it. Inside there was a small trunk with a padlock on it and a single window that was wide open. Brutus laid down at the foot of the ladder, protecting me. I curled myself into a ball in the corner furthest from the window and the ladder and cried over the loss of my dad, seeing that girl die, and not knowing where my mom was or if she was even alive.

Most of all, I cried because I had everything...

Now, I have nothing.