One year later

Chapter Two

Kenny just lay there, his eyes half shut, the blood flow from his wound slowing down as his heart stopped...

I open my eyes and sit up, looking over to AJ's crib to make sure he's okay. Fast asleep, for once. Moonlight streams in through the dusty window. Outside, it's still dark, but I can't sleep. I stand up and get dressed, deciding to take a short walk to clear my head. I dither on wether or not to bring my gun, but decide against it, instead picking up my knife and grasping it tightly. I glance at Alvin one last time to make sure he's okay, and seeing that he's still sleeping, grab my flashlight and step across the floor boards to the door.
Outside, the world is silent. I realise that there was no need in taking the flashlight, as the moon is full and shining brightly. It's so different out here at night. The few animals that remain hunt, a faint hooting can be heard from the tree tops, as well as rustling in the bushes. I can see no traces of walkers, but still keep my knife ready, used to being jumped by the undead.
I haven't seen desolation like this in a long while. Everyone warns you that staying out at night is dangerous, but honsetly, the world is just as dangerous in the daytime...
Suddenly, I hear a noise.
A shuffling, scraping noise. A moan.
It's a walker.
I'm instantly alert, knife out, senses tingling. I can't see him yet, but I know he's close.
Over there, by the trees. I can see him now.
He's long dead. Skin is peeling from his face, revealing cracked skull and bone. His head lolls to one side, indicating that his neck has been broken. His arms hang limp by his sides. He seems pretty harmless. I lift my knife and am just about to bring it down when he strikes.
The blade is knocked from my hands as he throws himself at me, teeth bared in a snarl. I yelp and dive out of the way, hands scrabbling in the dirt for the knife, my eyes not daring to leave him. He seems dangerous, unpredictible, unlike any walker I've ever come aross before. I curse inside my head as he runs towards me. My fingers brush against cold steel and I swipe the blade across his face before he can bite my arm off. He screeches, arms flailing, momentarily distracted. I use this opportunity to run, trying to get as far away from the walker as possible. I don't know what I'm going to do. My heart is racing, insides spinning around like a washing machine. After a few minutes I decide to go back and face him. After all, it's only one walker. He isn't the biggest threat I've ever encountered.
I raise my knife, ready to stab it into the back of it's head.
There's nobody there.