Men and Monsters - A Walking Dead Love Story

Stranger (Chapter I)

Louis had forgotten the last time he had been around anyone else. Aside from those who planned to rob, murder, or even rape him, he had had no contact with the living for what felt like forever. And to be perfectly honest, that was the way he liked it. Nobody to look out for, to keep alive. It was just him. He foraged food for him and him alone, which made it quite easy to survive, especially in times of scarce supplies.

He would lock himself in vehicles or camp on top of buildings when he needed to sleep, and he never stayed in one place too long. This was his life, his routine, and he figured the rest of his likely short life would be like this. So, maybe that's why what happened next was so tricky.

It was like almost every other morning, he woke up in the old van he had been calling home for the last two nights, to the sound of growls and clumsy feet outside the door, ate his meager meal of a cold can of mixed vegetables, gathered his few belongings into his backpack, and kicked open the door, running from the things prowling around his former camp.

He ran through the woods for a good few minutes, until he felt the Walkers were far enough behind him to gradually slow his pace. He was unsure of where exactly he was headed. But, like always, he would know when he got there.

Footsteps. Walkers? No, not clumsy or slow like them. These were from something... alive. Louis his behind two trees stading side by side, and listened. Voices. His heart beat faster. He didn't feel like killing anyone today. He prayed to whatever god may be listening that they would just keep walking. But almost immediately, the squelching noises of boots against the dew-soaked ground ceased. 'Fuck...' he thought.

"I know you're there. Come out." It was a man's voice, laced with a slight southern accent. Biting his lower lip, Louis lifted his hands above his head, and slowly, cautiously, stepped out from his hiding place, and faced his potential executioners.

Two men. One, filthy and long-haired, looking upon him like a hunter at his prey. He held a pistol, his finger on the trigger and aimed at Louis. The second, cleaner, a look of compassion apparent in his eyes, almost as if this world hadn't ruined him yet. 'Pook bastard...' he thought, almost laughing to himself at the prospect of someone untouched by the evil he awoke to every single day.

The ragged man made a gesture with the gun he still held firmly in his calloused hands, indicating that he wanted Louis to hand him his pack. He slowly slipped his pack from it's resting place between his shoulders, and tossed in onto the ground before the strangers.

The kind man looked at his companion, almost horrified. He ignored this, and bent down, unzipping the bag and rummaging through the young man's few belongings. Louis looked up to the man, their eyes meeting for the first time. He seemed oddly familiar... And the other appeared to notice this too, as his eyes widened in shock. His lips parted, and he uttered a single word.

"...Louis?"

The memories flooded back into the young man's head. He knew this man. His name was Aaron, and he was with the Alexandria group. Occasionally, Louis had run errands for them, in exchange for food and sometimes even a bed for the night. But he never would join them, almost afraid of being back with his own kind. This world had changed him in a lot of ways. The man intent on robbing him froze, turning to Aaron.

"You know this guy?" he asked, looking back and forth between the two. "Yes, he would deliver supplies to Alexandria... He's a good man." he turned his attention back to Louis. "We haven't seen you in months. We... We thought you were dead."

The young man cautiously lowered his arms back to his sides, and spoke; "I traveled for a while, trying to find untouched places where I could forage. I found places, but the little supplies that hadn't been looted didn't last long. I headed back here. Just got back a few days ago." his voice felt rough from non use. Aaron nodded, and looked at his friend. Taking the hint, the dirty man rose to his feet, tossing the bag back over to Louis.