Surviving Terminus (BOOK TWO IN THE SURVIVING THE WALKING DEAD SERIES)

Where It All Started

     "Fuck." I thought to myself as I trudged through the snow. Tara and I have been on our own since we lost the prison, spending countless hours searching for the others, shelter, supplies, even food was becoming more scarce. I know I've lost some weight due to the fact that my pants were being held up with rope. Tara's lost weight too, but she's not complaining, in fact she's actually boasting about it. Keeps saying that the outbreak was the best thing that ever happened to her figure.

     Tara's a pretty cool person, and after I got to know her, I felt as if she was already part of the family, though Merle has constantly picked on her. She can't see him or hear him, but she's been blaming me for when things happen because of Merle. One time Merle pushed her off the bed in a house we stayed the night in, she claims that I kicked her, and who am I to argue with that? I'm pretty sure it'd look worse telling her that a dead guy pushed her off the bed for shits and giggles.

     We've been moving from house to house seeking refuge from weather, walkers, and just trying to find a place we can catch our breath. When we did find a place, we rarely stayed more than a night We tried to keep ourselves moving as much as possible, covering as much ground as we could in an attempt to reconnect with my group. We've been north, east, south, west, every direction you can think of, but for some reason, we couldn't find them. The more days that passed, the more worried I got. I have to find them.

     Months have passed, seasons have come and gone, thankfully spring was just around the corner. Tara and I were just talking about how much we missed the warm weather, but Mother Nature had other plans for us, a blizzard. A fucking blizzard. The one thing I regret taking for granted was winter coats, because this blizzard air was frigid. Well below freezing, and all we had were long sleeve shirts and light jackets. Merle keeps saying some shit about it being glass cutting season, but I have absolutely no fucking idea what he's talking about.

     "T-T-Tara." My teeth chattered as I called out to her. "W-We n-n-need to f-find some sh-sh-shelter." Tara nodded as she kept her arms crossed over her chest.

     "M-M-Michaela, l-l-l-look." Tara pointed out an old run down property. A destroyed barn sat off to the left and a two story house sat in the middle of the property. I couldn't help but to laugh. I was back at Hershel's farm. It was just how I remembered it and it almost seemed as if it were untouched the entire time we were gone. "W-W-What's so f-funny?"

     "I've b-b-been here b-before. N-Never thought I'd s-see it again." Tara and I inched our way towards the door before I pulled out my knife, I could feel my frozen joints creek with every movement. I nodded at Tara before opening the door, it was dark, quiet, and unnerving. I motioned to Tara, telling her to check the upstairs while I searched  downstairs.

     "Upstairs is clear." Tara called from upstairs. I ignored her as my mind was focused on something that made memories flood my mind. A bed. I gently ran my fingers over a blood stain that remained on the white sheet. Daryl's blood. I remembered the night I slept at his bedside making sure he was okay, but in the end it was him who stood by my side. He beat the holy hell out of Shane that day and he's been my best friend ever since. I wasn't sure when exactly I fell in love with him at first, but I'm pretty sure it was when he knocked Shane down a peg. No one had ever helped me when my dad hit me and no one sure as hell helped me when Paw beat my ass. Well, no one but a dream version of Philip.

     Philip. That name made my stomach churn and my blood boil. I felt so much anger towards The Governor, he killed Hershel, Andrea, Merle, Martinez, and tried to kill the rest of us. I picked up a lamp and threw it against the wall, the loud crashing sound sent Tara running into the room.

     "Michaela, what the hell?" Tara yelled.

     "This is fuckin' bullshit!" I cried. "We shouldn't be here, we should be with my group, my husband!" I picked up the chair I once sat in and tossed it across the room.