Making the Best of It

Chapter 2

The note terrified me. For me, trying to escape was completely out of the question. Even if I did manage, I probably wouldn't survive long on my own. I was strong, but Lilly's death left me getting weaker every hour.

"Jocelyn?" I heard outside my door.

"What do you want?" I assumed it was the Governor.

"Um, I'm Andrea. I heard you were new, and I know where you stand. I've been in the same place as you are now."

"I'd let you in, but I can't unlock the door from in here, and I don't know who has the key."

"Don't worry about it. We can just talk."

"How did you get here?"

"My friend and I were all alone. They saved us. They took us in even when they didn't have to."

"Good for you," I snorted. But if someone heard me tell her about how they brought me here I'd be dead.

"I want to be friends, Jocelyn. I just want to help."

"Then help me. Get me out of here."

"You know I can't do that. He will be furious."

"So? Why should he be able to control me? Why can he force me to stay here? I have to be somewhere."

"Where do you have to be, Jocelyn?" Andrea asked me.

"The safe haven. In Atlanta. My parents are there, I know it."

"Jocelyn-"

"They have food, water, and protection."

"Honey, I-"

"I can feel it, my parents being there. I know it. They-"

"There is no Atlanta," Andrea spit before I could say anything else.

"You don't know that!"

"I've been there, sweetie. It's all walkers. We lost good people there."

That's when I broke down, for real this time. Every hope I had in the world was gone. My parents, Lilly, my boyfriend Liam. All gone. I was only twenty-four and I'd lost everything.

"I'll go now..." Andrea said. But before she did, she slid a knife under the door.

*

After I stashed the knife under my pillow for protection, I took a long nap. I woke up to the sound of gunshots. I looked out my narrow window to see people running in all directions. I saw the Governor shooting at someone. He wasn't watching over me now. I could escape. My room was on the second floor of a building but I could hopefully climb down the side.

I opened the window and cut out the screen that was keeping me from freedom. I slowly climbed down the building. I didn't realize how hard this would be. It was wet and slippery from the day's short rain. Before I knew it, I was free falling. I hit something, but it wasn't the ground. I had knocked over a man and his gun. It wasn't a man if recognized from this town.

He quickly recovered and scolded me, "What's your problem girl?"

"Help me," I whispered, "they kept me locked up in that room." I pointed to the opened window. I scrambled to my feet.

The man sighed and said, "Follow me."

I limped quickly after him. My ankle was twisted. I whimpered with every step.

When we reached the makeshift wall, he tore a small hole in it with the butt of his gun, just larger enough for us to fit through.

"What's your name, anyways?" I questioned.

"No time right now for that. Just keep walking."

I realized that this man could be working for the Governor. I didn't know him. Though I'd never seen him in Woodbury, the town I was in, it couldn't mean he wasn't there. I stopped.

"What are you doing?" He growled. "We have to go. Now!"

"I don't know you! Where are you taking me?"

"You're the one who asked me for help, kid! Are you going to take it or not?"

"I'm not a kid, I'm twenty-four! And I'm sorry if I'm a little skeptical when I was just captured by a crazy guy who's been watching me for days!"

"The Governor?"

"Oh great! You know him? I knew I shouldn't have come with you!"

"Not personally, girl. All I know is that his guys took some of our people!"

I didn't know what to do. I had nothing to do but to go with him, though. Or go back to Woodbury, which was completely out of the question. Or I could go off on my own, but I'd die nearly instantly.

"Fine. Take me to wherever you're going, but I can barely walk. I'll slow you down, if that's okay..." I looked down at my ankle.

"That won't be a problem." He scooped me up in his arms and carried me.

I was going to tell him to out me down, but it was nice. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Was this an apocalypse or a fairy tale?