[Currently Under Rewrite]
She was lost. She was alone. She was scared. She was surrounded by the dead.
Ashley Grant was thrown into the terrifying world of the dead walking the streets. All she wanted was to go to the grocery store but she ran into...
I sit against a tree, away from everyone else. I wish I kept my big mouth shut. If father knew I told anybody this? He would beat me until I passed out.
I take out my paper and pen and start writing another letter.
Dear Grace,
We had to leave him, Grace. Merle was left behind. I feel so incredibly guilty. But that's not all. We found Lori and Carl, Ricks wife and son. They're not exactly what I was expecting. Then again, its not fair to expect anything of anyone anymore. When Rick left my side and ran to his family, I felt so alone again. Like, my meaning of living ran away from me. But, Rick's happy so I'm happy. This was one of the longest days of my life. First, I met Rick and we made a deal. I went to Atlanta with him and nearly got killed by biters. Then, I run into Merle, which was like fate. And then I got caught on a fence and nearly got bitten by a biter, as ironic as that sounds. Then we left Merle on a rooftop for dead. And then we- well Rick was reunited with his family. Grace, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do at this point. Give me a sign, please. -Ash
I fold it up and put it in my bag with the rest of the letters. There's over a hundred letters. I write her a lot. Since we had her funeral, I've wrote to her about everything. What I find on my runs to how I feel.
I hear a twig snap in front of me and I look up quickly. It's only T-Dog. I sigh and give him a small smile. He smiles back and sits in front of me.
"I'm sorry... About Merle." He says looking down.
I shake my head. "I don't blame you, T-Dog. It's not your fault and I'm not mad at you." I tell him. No... I'm more mad at myself than anyone.
He looks up. "Thanks, that means a lot." He says with a smile.
"You're welcome. Why aren't you over there with the rest of them or in bed asleep?" I ask.
"I wanted to know if you were okay." He says.
I smile. "Thanks T-Dog. I'm okay. Just a bit down." I tell him.
"Does it have anything to do with what you said at camp?" He asks.
I nod sadly. "I miss them. But I miss my sister more. She was my age when she died. I feel guilty about it. If I didn't ask her to take me, she wouldn't have died protecting me." I say looking down.
"If you weren't with her, think about the horrible things they would have done to her." He says, trying to cheer me up.
"That isn't really helping, T-Dog." I say sadly.
"Sorry." He mumbles.
I chuckle. "Its okay. Thank you, T. You are a really good person. Inside and out." I tell him and reach over and give him a hug.
He hugs me back and then let's go. "Let's get back to camp. Find you somewhere to sleep." He says and stands up.
He reaches his hand out for me and I take it and he pulls me up. "Alright." I say as I sling my bag on my shoulder.
We walk back to camp side by side. Once we get there, he leaves and walks to his tent I guess. I walk up to Rick, not wanting to interrupt his conversation with Dale.
They both look at me and I feel embarrassed. "Um... Where do I sleep?" I ask them.
"Well, we don't exactly have an extra place for you." Dale says. I frown. "I guess... If you ask somebody to share with them, I guess that would be fine?" He says not really sure.
"Um..." I say uncertainty looking around.
"I would let you sleep with us, but there isn't any room. I'm sorry, Ash." Rick says sadly.
I look at him with a small frown. "Its okay, Rick. I'll find somewhere." I tell him as I walk around camp.
I don't really know these people and I don't want to get in their way of things.
I walk behind the RV and set my bag down. I guess I'll sleep here tonight. I lay down in the dirt, getting comfy.
I look up at the stars as I hear chatter in camp. Not much of a refugee camp, huh?
I wonder what I would be doing right now if I never met or went with Rick. Probably sleeping in an abandoned car crying myself to sleep, like I have been since as long as I could remember.
I feel myself falling asleep into the wondrous land of dreams.
I run through the trees as I look around. I stop in a small clearing and see figures coming from the treeline. Its Rick and T-Dog and everyone here at camp. But, there's something different about them. They're dead.
They continue walking towards me as I back away. I hear growling behind me and turn to see my mother and father stumbling towards me.
I hear a scream and turn to see my sister right beside me.
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She turns to me with a look of fear. "Ash! What happened?!" Grace asks me. I stare at her with wide and unbelieving eyes. She's here. She's standing right in front of me. "Ash!" She screams.
I snap out of it and look her in the eye. "Grace... What are you doing here?" I ask as the growling grows quiet.
She turns to me and grabs my upper arms tightly. I feel her touching me! She is actually here! "Ashley, you need to understand something. I will always be here for you. You are not alone. Do not blame yourself for my decisions. I protected you. Now, it's your turn to protect them." She says just as I see Rick jumping into my line of vision and a scream pierces through the air.
