Bethyl

Chapter 1 (Beths POV)

I've been living in a two story shop in a shopping center. It's like a ghost town. I've been alone for a few months now since the apocalypse.hl My momma died. We were stuck in a herd of them. Me, dad, momma and my sister. My dad, my sister, and I got away because of her. She sacrificed her life for us. I miss her so much but I'm glad that she's not in this disgusting place filled with filth and monsters everywhere you turn. She's hopefully someplace far away from here. Me, Maggie, and dad were surviving in a shack in the woods but it wasn't safe. Who am I kidding? It's not safe anywhere. We traveled far towards Atlanta but me, my sister, and daddy were split up. So yeah, maybe I wonder from time to time.. were they gutted like my mother? But I try not to think about it. I try.

I walk out to the sidewalk making sure to close the door. I hear groans coming from a block down. My heart races. I quickly get back into the shop and lock the door. I look around and find a large dresser not too far away, so I push it against the door. I breathe heavily until my breathing is calm. I then run upstairs to look out the window. When I get to the window I feel like I've blacked out. A whole herd of walkers, probably about a hundred, are on the streets of the shopping center trying to find their lunch. Luckily they can't smell me from up here. I just lay in a nearby bed and close my eyes.

"You are going to beat this world. You are smart, you are brave, you are strong. The love I have for you is infinite and you remember that." I hear the last words my momma spoke to me before she died.

"I love you momma." A tear falls down my cheek. I forget about the apocalypse for once and just remember life before this. Before there was no civilization. My friends, family, being happy. Life was so easy. Now it's just to hard. I put my face into my pillow and let all the pain out. I haven't cried since my mothers passing. I needed this. The groans outside fade away and I just hear my steady heart beat. I turn over and wipe my tears. I look out the window to see that the herd has passed and there's only about five lost ones outside.

I should leave here and head in the other direction the walkers went. I need to find a safer place with weapons and supplies. I walk downstairs and breathe heavily as I move the dresser away from the door and run upstairs to grab my bag. I only have two weapons. An ax and hammer. They are useful but what if I'm stuck in a herd of them. One vs. 5 dozen. The odds are slim. Very slim.

I walk out into the streets, my bag on my back and my ax in hand. A walker heads toward me groaning and reaching its arms out. I slice the monsters head off. You could say I've had some practice. I walk down the street quietly awaiting any danger. There are trees far back in the long meadows. I figure that's a forest. Once I am gone from the shopping center, I start to run. I ignore the four walkers following me slowly. I run through the meadows and into the woods. I walk quietly once again because there may be more walkers.

I change my pace walking faster. I stop for a moment to catch my breath and rest my hands on my nees.

Errr. Argh.

Another walker. I get up and look around trying to find it. It's further into the woods.

"I've got this one Rick." I hear a man shout and walk closer. I hear the walker like it's a few yards away from me. I can't tell what the man looks like but he has dark clothing on and a crossbow.

Err. Ehhr.

The walker walks towards me now. Oh, Crap. I duck in the brush. The walker grows louder and is a few feet away.

"Rick, the walker ain't comin' towards me. Come here." The man is still aiming his crossbow at the walkers head. The man supposedly named Rick quickly walks over. He just looks into the woods and steps forward.

"Do you think there could be another group that's near here, Possibly hiding?" Rick asks the man and he just shrugs.

The walker gets closer and I pick up my ax aiming at it. I miss the walkers head and hit its shoulder. The walker fell on top of me trying to bite me. I struggle with my ax and it falls out of my hand. I push the walker away as hard as I can. I can't help but cry.

"Daryl, let's go!" I hear the two guys having that conversation run over in the crackling leaves. I push at the walker and I push my leg on its stomach causing it to fall to the side. I have a matter of seconds to grab my ax but an arrow goes through the walkers head. I look up to see the two younger men I saw through the brush. The man with the crossbow steps on the zombie and grips at the bow causing it to slowly come out of the walkers flesh.

"Are you okay?" The guy named Rick asks and looks at me with worry.

"Yes. Thank you." I get up and grab my ax.

"You look young." Rick says frowning, "You could always come with us. We have food and lots of supplies. We're safe from the walkers. We have more in our group."

"Most of em' are gone. I'm Daryl."

"Nice to meet you both but I wouldn't want to harm your group."

"Oh, no. You wouldn't be. I swear. You are just a kid." Rick exclaims.

This angers me. I am a young woman. I may look weak but I am not a child.

"I'm 18 and I can take care of myself. I've made it this far haven't I ?" I start to walk away. Rick runs up to me and places his hand on my shoulder.

"Please. Don't do this. We could use another member. Our group will treat you like family and so will I." Daryl aims at walkers coming towards us and gets them all down with one shot of his crossbow.

" Okay. Thank you."I need a break for awhile. This guy seems nice. A great leader.

"Rick." He smiles lightly.

"I'm guessing your the leader?" I question.

"I guess I am." He laughs.

"We should get to the car. We're drawing attention to ourselves." I say walking along with them to the cat.

There's a shiny blue car and a motorcycle alongside it.

"Oh, wow. I've always wanted to ride a motorcycle. My dad never let me." I chuckle.

"I'm sure Daryl wouldn't mind if you rode with him." Rick looks at Daryl and he nods.

"What's your name blondie?" Daryl asks and sits on the motorcycle patting the seat behind his.

"Beth." I roll my eyes. He grins and I sit behind him as he starts up the motorcycle.

"Hold on." I wrap my arms around his waist and he takes off. We follow Rick until we reach this unknown place that I'm hoping is truly safe.