The End is Near

Chapter Nine

I've been driving for days, and I'm nowhere near Montana. Great. Just great. I've had to change cars several times because they'd have only a little bit of gas and it's slowed me down. A lot. I drive the car over a hill and slam on the breaks, staring at the road in front of me in shock. The road is completely covered in walkers, a giant horde of them. I quickly reverse and start driving. I need to get out of here. Fast. There was no way that the walkers didn't hear or see the car. I speed down the road to a small town and screech to a stop. I grab my bag, jumping out of the car, and start running.
I don't know how long I've been running, hours at least, but I don't want to stop. Images of the gigantic horde keep flashing in my mind, motivating me to keep running. It's dark and I know I have to find somewhere to sleep. I stop in a grove of trees, catching my breath and thinking. I put my hand on my forehead, trying to breath as I think. It's a good thing I started running when I turned ten years old. I close my eyes, as I remember passing through a town about a mile or two back. I sigh, preparing myself to start running again. I start stretching my legs and tense when I hear the loud snap of a branch behind me. Immediately, I start running again.
I reach the town about 10 minutes later, slowed by my exhaustion. I stop, looking around, trying to catch my breath. It seems pretty quiet, no walkers in sight. I spot a small house down the street and start walking towards it. I pull out my knife when I get to the door, getting ready to open it. I push the door open and wince when it creaks loudly, looking around to make sure nothing jumps out from the dark corners. I take a deep breath and walk in, cautiously looking around, tightening my hold on my weapon.
I walk around the entire main floor, carefully turning corners and always keeping my knife up. I'm about the enter the kitchen when I hear it, the click of a gun, ready to fire. I freeze, my body tensing, and get a tighter grip on my knife. I'll fight if I have to, but whoever is behind me has the upper hand.
"Slowly put your weapons down and turn around." I'm guessing whoever is behind me is a guy, based on the deep, menacing voice. I crouch down and put my knife down, soon followed with my bow and arrows and my katana. I stand and slowly turn around. The guy looks to be around 30 years old, with a scruffy beard and menacing eyes. He's pointing his gun right at my forehead. I lock eyes with him, his narrowed and mine cold, analyzing, and planning. He's alone, no one else in sight, but there could always be people hidden. "What are you doing here?" He asks, still pointing his gun at me. I take a deep breath, trying to keep the exhaustion off my face.

"I needed a place to sleep, I didn't think anyone was here." Thankfully, my voice stays strong, cold, no sign of my exhaustion. "I'll leave if you need me to." I don't want to make any enemies in this world, and I know just by looking at him, that right now, he'd be able to win in a fight.

"How old are you?" He asks suddenly. My eyes widen at the question and I have to think. It was August 20th when this all started, and I've been travelling for about a month. My birthday passed in that time. I missed my nineteenth birthday.

"I'm nineteen." I answer, confused by the question. The mans eyes widen and he takes a closer look, now realizing my young features and small stature.

"Are you alone?" I clench my jaw, nodding, keeping the unwanted memories out of my head. "How long?"

"Almost the beginning." His eyes widen again.

"And you've survived on your own this whole time? How?" I raise an eyebrow, thinking of everything I've done.

"I always keep my guard up, always watching, always listening. I have my weapons on me at all times and never travel in plain sight. If I need to rest or find a place for the night, I'll always make sure I find somewhere the walkers can't get to, but I can leave quickly if I have to. I always have enough supplies, I'll stop at any stores that seem safe and stock up on supplies." He looks impressed, as he should be. All of that is hard to pull of by yourself, I would know, I've been doing it for a month.

"When do you sleep?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Do I look like I've had any sleep?" He laughs and shakes his head.

"No, if you weren't talking and moving around like you do, I would've taken you as a walker." I smirk.

"Yeah, I'm on my own, there's no time for sleep." I only slept when my body forced me too, and even then, I would only stay asleep for an hour or two before I started travelling again.

"Can I ask you a couple questions?" I narrow my eyes at him, but nod cautiously. "How many walkers have you killed?"

"Too many to count." He nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

"How many people have you killed?" I take a deep breath, holding back more unwanted thoughts.

"Only one."

"Why?"

"Because she asked me to." He nods again, pleased with my answer.

"Was she who you were traveling with?" I nod. "What happened?" I close my eyes.

"She was bit." Sympathy fills his eyes and he nods in understanding.

"I'm sorry, that's a tough thing to go through, especially alone."

"I managed well enough." I reply, shifting on my feet, starting to get uncomfortable with the topic.

"Would you kill?" I look at him, trying to see if he's trying to trick me with the question. All I see in his eyes is curiosity.

"I wouldn't kill an innocent person. But if they deserve it, if they need to be killed in order to save people, then yes, I would kill." He nods.

"Ok, I have one more question." I nod. "Would you like to join my group?" My eyes widen as I stare at him.

"What?"

"I want you to join me with my group. You're a strong girl, you're smart, and you know how to live in this world. You could be a great help to us. Do you want to join us?" I stare at him as I think, I wouldn't have to be alone, I could have help. I nod.

"Ok, I'll join you." I say. He smiles and nods happily.

"That's good to hear. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to help some of the group members, they know nothing of fighting or surviving. And you seem to be an expert in those fields." I smirk, nodding.

"Sure, sounds like it'd be fun to whip them into shape." He laughs, nodding.

"I'm sure you won't be saying that when you meet them. My son is with us, and he doesn't even know how to use his gun." He laughs, shaking his head. I raise an eyebrow.

"He doesn't know how to shoot a gun?" He sighs, shaking his head.

"Not at all. I always tried to get him into it, but he liked working on cars more."

"I'll see what I can do then. How many are with you?" I ask, turning to look out the window, watching for any movement.

"There are ten of us, counting me. Eleven now that your with us." He smiles. I nod, bending down to pick my weapons up. I put my sword back in its sheath and put my bow on top, with my quiver. Strapping my knife back to my hip, I turn to meet the mans shocked eyes. "Wow, those are some amazing weapons you've got there. When did you get them?"

"I've had them since I was a little girl, my dad got them for me and taught me how to use them." I almost smile at the memory, but I force it down. I haven't smiled since the day Julia died, and I won't smile again. "So when is the rest of the group going to show up? And I never got your name. I'm Cassie. " I say, looking to the man staring out the window.

"They're actually coming right now. And I'm Walter. Get ready to meet your new family." I almost smile at his words, but force my cold exterior to stay in place, I'm not letting them in, not yet. He motions for me to walk outside with him. I follow, looking at the ground. Here goes nothing.