The Walking Dead: Purgatory-Survivors' Tales

Forsaken

This story takes place before The Road to Nowhere and before Book Three

As I walk down this lonely path of sorrow, I ask myself, "How will long will I keep doing this?"

Just wandering, with nowhere to sleep.
Nothing to eat.
No one to talk to.

I have nothing.

My name is Eli, and this is what my world is.

The warm sun beats down on me, and clouds lay scattered across the midday sky. An ocean of trees tower over me. These woods are peaceful, but that's just about the one thing I like about them. Each step I take makes a sound, giving my position away to anything out here. I'm wearing rather comfortable clothing: dark blue jeans, and a hoodie over a t-shirt.

I scratch my black hair, and then after my stomach rumbles, begging for food. Tough luck. I don't have any. I ran out two days ago. I've just been surviving on what the woods have to offer, which isn't really a lot so to speak. I don't have anything in my backpack other than a few personal belongings. In the grasp of my right hand, is a katana sword. This sword has been with me ever since this began. I've used countless times, the first time being my girlfriend, who was bitten.

Her name was Sarah, and she was the love of my life. I met her when I was twenty, and I ended her life as a biter when I was twenty-three. I still am twenty-three, my birthday isn't until September. And right now, I think it's early April.

A twig then snaps, pulling me from my thoughts. I ready my sword, and see a biter come from around the corner of a tree. It sees me, and gnarls, its rotten flesh giving off a putrid smell. With one swing, I chop its head clean off. The body collapses to the ground. The head lay a few feet away, still gnashing its teeth. I then use the sword to finish off the biter's head. I then use a handkerchief to wipe the dark blood of the undead ghoul off the blade of the sword. Done here, I continue on my journey through the woods.

Once again, my stomach rumbles, slightly louder than before. And this time, it kind of hurts. I clench my belly, wincing at the slight pain. I fight through it, and I continue on my way. I have to find food.
And fast.

FOUR HOURS LATER

The sounds coming from my stomach are horrible. The noises practically scream at me, getting into my head. I don't think I have much time left.

These woods are dense, and they seem never-ending.

I walk at a slow pace, saving my energy. I then lean on a pine tree for a few moments, catching my breath. I can't die like this. I can't die from starvation. I just can't.

I push myself off of the tree, and I slowly make my way through the woods. I soon reach the edge of the woods, the sky now a chalky orange. I reach a desolate, concrete road. With my sword at hand, I walk down the road aimlessly. As the sun sets, I see a town, way up ahead, a large wall bordering it from the outside.

I start to get a little excited, and I shout, "Hey! Anyone there?!" I get closer to the wall, then three figures appear from behind the wall. One of them shouts, " Stay right where you are!"

Then a wave of dizziness washes over me.

I try to say something, but nothing comes out. I collapse onto the concrete, and I fall unconscious.

                                                                                                --------

I awaken in a bed. A soft, warm bed. I look over the bed and see my shoes on the floor. It's a typical bedroom, with sunlight shining through several windows. To the right is a bedside table with fresh food on it. A bowl of chili, a bag of chips, and a bottle of water. I feel the side of the chili. Still warm.

I sit up and chow down on the chili with a spoon. After, I eat the chips and drink some of the water. The door of the room then opens, and a young girl walks in, with dark brown hair, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and denim jeans. I set my water aside, and I just stare at her, waiting for her to say something.

"Hello", she says with a straight face, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine", I tell her, "Where am I? What is this place? How long have I been out?"

"You've been out for more than twelve hours. You'll have to talk to my father about your other questions", she says, "He always needs to talk to new arrivals, but what I can tell you is that this place will be a new chapter for you. Here, we are family. Here, we stand together."
I shake my head at her, confused.
She motions for me to join her at the window. I pull off the sheets, and climb out of the bed.

"Here", she continues, "We are strong. No weakness, no fear, no mercy. Unlike the people at Haven."
"What?", I ask her, "What's Haven?"

She looks me in the eye and says, "At Haven, a community not too far from here, the people are weak. They may have a wall like ours to protect them, but they always hide behind it like cowards."
I change the subject and ask, "Where's my sword?"

"My father will give it to you. He likes to check out the weapons new people bring." She then walks towards the door, but then she tells me, "Oh, one more thing. I don't think you understand it yet, but we saved you. So you have to earn your place here."

She exits, leaving me at the window, staring at this place. There's lots of people, mostly men, hardly any women, and no children.

I only stare out the window, wondering if I will ever truly find peace.

Eli will appear in book three and so will the girl( who is a mystery for now) and her father.

The sanctuary in this spinoff is NOT Haven, in case you missed it. It is a place that will have an impact on book three.