~ Chapter one ~
"You know Polly; I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going mad. You ever heard that song by Queen?" I give a quick glance around the shop, before my eyes rest on the tinned good. "It was called 'I'm Going Slightly Mad. It was a brilliant song."
I only get silence from my companion. I roll my eyes. "What, now you don't want to talk to me? I'm sorry about before. Walker's were all over the place – I got you back didn't I?"
Still silence. I let out a sigh and instead start to sing, low and quiet beneath my breath. "I'm going slightly mad, I'm going slightly mad – it finally happened, happened, happened, it finally happened, oh yes. I'm slightly maaaad – very slightly mad!"
I grab several cans of food, doing a spin, light on my feet as always. Ever since I was a child I've been agile, well balanced. Unlike my head which is sometimes too big for the rest of my body. What can I say? My ego's the size of the moon.
I pull my favourite Beretta out of my hip holster and point it at Polly's face. She just stares back, blank and uncaring – she knows I won't shoot her, despite our differences. She's the only friend I have left in the world.
"I know you're not happy with my right now – but that'll change soon enough. Look what I found!" I whisper in a sing-song voice.
I hold up the can of beans and hot dogs victoriously. Still no movement. She just sits there and sits there.
"Aren't you even going to say thank you?!" I bark out.
I hate the silence. I'd give anything for her to speak. I stare into her eyes devoid of emotion. She knows that it's getting to me, that it's driving me crazy.
"Why won't you speak to me! I need something – anything! Just god damn it Poppy, speak to me!" I shout into her face, still eliciting no response.
I take several deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself. I run a hand through my dishevelled hair and try to ignore the sudden tremble taking over my body.
Hot breath at the nape of my neck has me whirling around. The decaying face of a Walker fills my vision as he shambles forward.
His flesh hangs in folds, dripping from his face as if something once clawed at it – maybe himself. His eyes are vacant and empty. They say the eyes are the doorway to the soul – in this guys case, he hasn't got one.
I bring my gun up instantly, smacking him hard in the head. He stumbles back but with a low moan, he moves towards me once more, his movement's jerky and halting.
I let out a small sigh of annoyance and bring the gun up, hitting him with it again and again in the head until finally he hits the ground – and doesn't get back up.
I give my head a little shake, run a hand through my slightly tangled hair and turn back to Polly. "Do you see? This is what happens when you don't talk to me! You distract me."
She doesn't say anything, just gives me this look of silent contempt. With a groan, I place my hands on the handles of the trolley and continue to do my shopping.
Eight bags of dry crackers, four tins of baked beans and two bars of chocolate later and I become aware of the noise of a struggle and low moans.
I turn a corner to find myself facing two Walkers and a man. I watch for a moment as he punches one in the face only to have the other wrap its arms around his neck. But he doesn't let it bite him – oh no. Instead he bends forward and throws the Walker over his head.
