I was roaming through the woods. I couldn't remember how long ago it was that walkers took my family. I had to look out for myself, be strong. Walkers no longer gave me the fear like they used to. My dad used to tell me there is nothing to fear because he was there, now he's not. I had to put a bullet through his head. And my mom. And brother. And two sisters. I'm only, well I think, fourteen or fifteen now. I'm supposed to be starting high school, going to homecoming, getting a boyfriend, making friends! Except now I deal with slobbering, rotting freaks everyday!
Back to the importance here, I've been looking for people. So I'm not alone. Just yesterday I almost got lost in a herd of walkers, could've died. I made it all the way from Maryland, USA to Georgia, USA since the death of my family and friends. I thought there is no harm of going south, maybe getting to the ocean, getting gas and hijacking a boat. Safe at sea. I didn't want to leave from any old beach though. I wanted to go to this one beach in Florida my family went to every summer vacation. Even though I now find myself, again as said before, roaming through these woods. I feel like there is no escape from them.
"Hello?" I whispered, worried as I heard cracking of dead leaves fallen to the dry ground. It was always a walker, very unusual for people. Then again, I hid in odd places. Where you wouldn't see people. Maybe there were people in the cities, but I never wanted to risk it.
"Who's there?!" I heard a male voice. He sounded young and had a deep voice.
"I'm Sarah. Sarah Aphrodite. Where are you and who a-are you?" I stumbled to get my words out talking to this stranger.
"I'm Carl, Carl Grimes. If you walk towards that open area with the rocks... then I will follow," he answered me.
I looked directly to my left seeing a fallen tree opening up an area with rocks around it. Finally, I saw a ray of sun filter to the ground. I slowly walked to it, stepping over the tree trunk and resting on a large boulder. Then I saw brown boots and dark jeans peak out of a tree, a tall figure appearing. The first thing I recognized on him was the large light blue eyes he had. He had brown straight hair and a hat. It looked like a cowboy hat, but a sheriff hat. He had a light bluish grey and white flanneled shirt. He was thin but muscular. He was just hot if I would say so myself.
We stared at each other. He had to be around my age.
"So, are you alone out here, too?" I questioned him, breaking the silence.
"No, I can take you to our camp though. But.. you are?"
"Well, yes. I've been for a long time. Long enough to get to Georgia on my own," I answered him.
"On your own!?" he said shocked, "Where are you from?"
"Maryland," I finished, "That's enough about me, you said you had a camp. You said you can take me there so I accept the offer," I stood up straight and said firm.
"Oh yes. It's temporary though. We tend to stay on the move... sometimes we stay in a general open area, other times in cars we travel in, right now we are in a barn. We stay in barns somewhat often I guess..." he rambled on as we walked.
That's all I really listened to. I didn't really care, I guess. Then again I've always been known to not pay attention. What I was paying attention to was the sunbeams filter through the trees and ever so slightly dancing upon his skin making him glow as he walked in front of me. I looked down at out feet. He was wearing old dirty boots, which were odd next to my beat up black converse. We walked carefully making less than the sound of whispers.
I heard another sound of leaves cracking. Right then I quickly pulled out my gun from my black leather holster slanting across my hips and pointed it to the direction the noise came from, my finger sliding against the trigger. I saw a dark figure coming towards us. Once it cleared up I could see it was not a walker. I took my finger off the trigger and immediately slid it in the holster. I began to take my other hand and reach in to the other side holding my hand on the handle of my knife, just in case. A man also in a plaid shirt, faded and dirty, and jeans on appeared in front of us. He had a beard and was quite dirty, but weren't us all. I could see the resemblance of Carl but thought mp nothing of it.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked trying to act tough, now squeezing the handle.
"I'm Rick. Carl, who's this and how did you find her?"
"Um.. This is Sarah. I just found her wondering around the woods. She made it from Maryland, alone. I was just taking her back to camp," he answered quietly.
He looked at him stern, he seemed good at heart but worried, "Is she bit?"
"No I'm not bit! Do I look like I have blood coming out of me? Or have a high fever? No. I don't. Thanks for comparing me to a dead freak. No, really, thank you so much."
I knew my response was wrong, but I felt uncomfortable how he wouldn't even talk to me and had to talk to Carl instead. I didn't know who he was, what he wanted, and how they knew each other. I didn't care I just didn't want to put my life in jepordy no matter what. Maybe this camp sent out a cute boy to capture you and then they kill you and eat you. Trust me, I had to escape from an evil and twisted camp who ate people they captured. Although it was without the luxury of the cute boy.
"I'm sorry, you can just never be sure. I am Carl's father. We should take you back to camp now. You can help Carl take care of Judith while we run out to get supplies before we get on the move again," he replied.
My face went pale in embarrassment and my hand dropped from my knife. I became cold and began to rethink every word I said and every way the conversation could've turned out. I haven't talked to people in God knows how long. Let alone I've always had social anxiety. Thinking of my social anxiety I thought about my best friend Annie. She came along with my family and I. She was with me long after they passed too. We split once we got to West Virginia... At the time we believed it was a safe path. That it would be harder to stay together incase one got bit. The fear of one of us dying always rattled through our minds. We had a difficult goodbye. We decided we were going to leave messages on trees while we went our different ways to Floridia, hoping to cross paths once again before reaching the destination. I prayed everyday I'd find her and that she was okay. Splitting up was a debatable decision. She was as tough as nails through and through though. Kinda like me.
"Sarah? Come on," Carl said to me
I realized I was just standing there staring in to the black void while I thought of the only one left I loved from my past.
"Oh yeah... Sorry. I guess I tend to space out a lot," I answered.
They began leading me back. My new life in these dark ages finally got interesting
