No place like home

chapter 1

Cora

I tred carefully along the forest floor, making as little noise as possible so I don't alert anything. I have my gun loose in my left hand and my right hand helps keep me steady by gripping on to the trees.

I effortlessly and cautiously make my way through the forest eyeing my surroundings until I come across a camp site, I walk towards it but a sudden rustle causes me to involuntarily hide behind a tree

My breath is steady and I push my back, if possible, further into the tree trunk. I think about all the possible outcomes of my situation and struggle to find a path to follow that won't allow me to attract the attention of what's behind me.

I roll my head around the tree and scan for what made the noise. Three walkers drag themselves toward the campsite and I mentally hit the tree. Now everything is going to be to contaminated to even touch.

I watch their movement carefully about to waste three bullets but someone beat me to it.
Two gunshots sound through the air and grabs their attention. They hobble away and I wait for them to be far enough so they can't hear me raiding that camp.

I grip my gun tighter and quickly sneak towards the centre of the small camp. I reach for a beaten water cooler but a hand touches mine and I drop my gun in front of them in shock.

I crawl toward my gun but the figure picks it up as I reach for it and they hold in in front of my face. It's clear as day they aren't a Walker but my guard stays up at all time.

They hold the pistol in front of my face and I look up to theirs, expecting anything but what I found.

A pair of chocolate eyes met mine and my heart sank a little, I haven't seen those eyes in an extremely long time. A mask covers half of his face but his hair is exactly how I remember. Chestnut brown swept to the side away from his eyes.

He lowered his mask first and stood completely up, I followed his lead unintentionally until I'm standing at my full height.

I didn't lower my mask like he did but I pulled my hood down revealing my light brown, messy, shoulder length hair. His eyes widen slightly and go glossy.

"No" He whispers searching my eyes for answers I clearly didn't have, "you died... Two years ago... But... What?" He struggles with words and a single tear slips from his eye which he wipes away like it was a bit of dirt.

I'm stuck on the spot. I spent months looking for him after everything happened but I found no traces of him that lead me somewhere useful. My eyes go glossy and the tears threaten to fall any moment but I force them back.

"Dan..." I mutter unsure of myself. I could be hallucinating from lack of food and water over the past few months. "Cora..." My suspicion was incorrect, this is all too real  and scares the crap out of me.

My guard fell but I feel it slowly building back up the longer we just stand here in the open. "What happened to you?" He asked with concern dripping off every word and the truth is I have no idea how to answer.

Before I even get the chance to let go of my breath we hear rustles in the distance and I snatch my gun from him and turn ready to take off in the opposite direction. I hear him cock his gun but he doesn't raise it.

"So that's it? We haven't seen each other in over two years and your just gonna take off" He spits, I've never heard him use that tone of voice and it sends a chill accelerating through spine.

I turn around with a dead expression and slump to one side slightly, "what do you want me to do?" I ask raising my shoulders then slumping them again, "anything other then run away" He says loosing the harsh tone but still making himself stern.

"It's all I've ever done" I say softening my posture and features. It's sad and all too true. Ever since this started all I did was run. Run as fast as I can away from the city, away from highly populated areas. I just ran.

I tried to find him, I tried with every fibre of being to find him. But found nothing but a bouquet of dead ends. I had to give up in the end, or I would still be looking for him somewhere in the opposite direction.

"Well I think you can take a break don't you?" He says sarcasticly and drags me with him. Admittedly I didn't protest, much.

His hand grips my arm tightly so I can't run and he's walking at a pace I can't keep up with properly.

A small rustle catches me of guard and I stop dead in my tracks, Dan stops abruptly as well and gives me a questioning look.

From nowhere a horde of undead charge slowly towards us. I turn to Dan and he's in pure shock and stun. He looks at me with a, what-are-we-gonna- do, look and he drops his arm.

"Dan..." He keeps his gaze set on me and tilts his head.

"Run"