The Walking Dead

Chapter One

7 months later

Rick stands behind a makeshift podium made of cardboard boxes at the front of the room. Several people, of all ages, gather in the lobby of the tiny apartment building. Carl and I sit towards the back, making small talk with the large men guarding the doors.

"Alright everyone," Rick begins, trying to gather everyone's attention. "As we all know, we're running low on food and supplies, we're going to have to send a group out this afternoon. Any volunteers?"

A few people make their way to the front of the crowd. Mostly familiar faces; Daryl Dixon, Glenn Rhee, Maggie Greene and Shane Walsh...the usual volunteers. There are two people I don't recognize though. A tall, skinny African American woman with a katana strapped to her waist, and another woman, a little shorter, with blonde hair and a blank facial expression.

"No one else? Alright. I'll see you all in here at noon. So uh, next on our agenda..housing. As you all know, we've had a lot of new additions to our building this month, and more are still coming in. We're gonna have to start doubling up on rooming. I sincerely apologize for the inconveniences this change may cause you and your families. A list will be posted outside the lobby when the meeting is over. Uh, Now we'll have Carol come up here and speak. "

Carol Peletier, a frail woman, probably in her mid forties, makes her way to the front. She begins speaking, something about a new set of rules that I honestly was far too tired to even listen to. After about another hour, the meeting is ajourned. Everyone hordes around the door, squinting to catch a glimpse at the new living arangements. I'm fairly small, so I'm able to squeeze my way to the front of the crowd, crouching so that I'm not in anyones way. I quickly scan the list and find my last name paired up with none other than Dixon, in big bold letters.