The Rising Dead
Prologue
The Greene family lived on a farm in Georgia, the hot summer days slowly grew hotter as summer emerged. The farm house consisted of Maggie Greene, Beth Greene, Patricia, Otis, and Annette Greene. Panic erupted on the news it seemed about the outbreak. Everybody was murdering each other and even cannibalism was occurring. Riots were just as tragic in the cities. People were packing their things and leaving at the same time. And also there were horrible traffic jams that caused everybody to be violet and aggressive. The police couldn't manage their control over the citizens anymore. And this was the beginning.
Beth Greene, daughter of Annette Greene and Hershel Greene, was in her room thinking over what she saw on the news. Beth was seventeen, graduated High school, and pursuing her degree in medicine. Hershel was very proud of his youngest daughter for reaching her goals at such a young age. But since the outbreak it made her rethink the situation of her life. 'What's the point?' and 'Is this going to be forever?' has crossed her mind often, but she fights to keep her hope at all times. As her daddy says, "If you lose hope, there's nothing left." And her daddy was a wise man. But what she was stumped on is what was this virus? And how should would you get infected? All the hours of pondering wouldn't do her any good without witnessing it herself. And she wasn't wishing for that either, no matter how curious she was.
Beth snuggled into her royal blue blankets and prayed for the fifth time since the outbreak happened. 'Please let Daddy, Maggie, and the rest of my family safe during the catastrophe. Amen.' A lone tear slipped down her cheek and somebody was knocking on her door. She quickly sat up wiping the tear away. "Who is it?" She called out. "It's me," the voice said. Beth slowly stood up from her bed and unlocked and opened the door. It appeared to be her boyfriend who she has been with for a year now. "Y'wanna talk or something?" He said with a hand brushing up against his neck. Beth shook her head no. "It's late Jimmy, daddy may get angry." She explained. He chuckled awkwardly before standing straight up apposed to be slouched. "About that, I talked with Hershel and he has given my his approval to do this." Jimmy said quietly before getting down on one knee and pulling out a silky black box. Beth unnoticeable cringed at the thought of having him around forever. Or if she lived. "Please Jimm-" before Beth could finish Jimmy intercepted. "Beth please, allow me your hand in marriage. I know we've never spoke about it before, but I feel as if we are meant to be. And if I get infected with this virus I want to know I had the girl I loved the most as my wife." He insisted upon her. She was taken aback with the situation. She hadn't even told Jimmy she was in love with him, and he had never told her, why so sudden? "Where is this coming from?" She silently laughed. Jimmy took the hint and got up on his feet and faced her. "We have been together for a year now Beth, isn't this leading anywhere?" He pleaded with her. Beth hated to see people hurt, which is part of the reason of why she's still with him. Beth let a breath out and moved away from him. "Give me time to think about it." She stated ending the conversation and the visit. He nodded in defeat. "Okay, but just know everything I said is true." Jimmy said to her before closing her door with a light thud and walking back down the old wooden steps. She was very aware of every step he took because of the creeks. Beth's mind a mess at that very minute, so she sat back in her bed and went to sleep that night.
The next morning Hershel called Jimmy to find out how it went with his little girl. The phone was ringing and a very hollow voice answered, "Hello?" Jimmy answered. "Jimmy my boy, what's the matter?" He asked with concern. Hershel thought no man was good enough for his daughter, but he was happy with Jimmy. He treated her kindly, brought her home on time, and loves her. That's what he could tell about him, but Beth was a different story. Some days she appeared as if she loved him but others she seemed distant. And he knew his daughters. "Beth said she had to think about it. I'm worried, she hasn't said she loves me, she wont tell me where were going." He started rambling until Hershel cut him off. "Calm down son, leave her be for a bit. I'll speak with her." Hershel gave his word. He would talk to his daughter seriously about this. He heard Jimmy gasp on the other end of the phone. "Oh? Really! Thanks Hershel." He exclaimed. "No problem, I'll see you." Hershel hung up the phone to talk to his daughter about Jimmy.
As soon as Beth heard the steps creak she knew her daddy was coming to talk to her about Jimmy. If he gave his blessing before, he surly would have talked to him about her response. A knock was heard from her door. Beth just stared at it. "Beth. Honey? Can I come in?" He said sweetly to try to lure his way in. Beth squinted her eyes before pulling the door open. "I know what you want to talk about, and I don't want to!" She spat. Hershel was very surprised at the outburst, usually Beth was the quieter one out of her and Maggie. Hershel reached for her arm and rubbed i gently. "Bethy I'm just trying to help you." He said in his fatherly tone. He and Beth sat on the end of the bed and she sighed. "Jus' I dunno daddy, I think there's someone out there for me." Her dad gave her a knowing look. "And I suppose it isn't Jimmy?" He already knew the answer. "No. But he's good to me, so I don't want to count him out just yet." She said with her heart in a struggle, she didn't know why she was holding onto him without loving him romantically.
Beth thought about a lot of things, mostly about the fact that she might not live to see that somebody for her. So she went with the safe option, she would marry him, he would move in with her at the farm and everything would be okay. But little did she know fate had a way with things. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
The sun was setting, it has been nearly a week since Beth and Jimmy last spoke. But they were both a mess. Jimmy had worked like usual, but also give Beth her space to respect her and her fathers desires. He couldn't help but to feel crushed. He poured his heart out to her to only be put on hold. Yeah, it hurt alright.
Meanwhile, Beth had been tending to the animals while going to her internship she got at a hospital in Atlanta. She had more on her mind than Jimmy. She constantly worried about the sake of her family and loved ones even though Hershel said it would be okay, the lord would help us through it. And for that reason alone, she held the hope she had now for the future.
The front door opened to the Greene house, meaning a certain blonde haired girl returned home after she went grocery shopping to stock up for what was to come. "Welcome home honey." Her mother Annette gave her a brief hug and kiss on the cheek. "Hey mamma, wanna help me unload the truck?" She asked with a genuine smile on her face. Her mother nodded and headed out to the car. Beth walked to the kitchen with the food and started to lay the cans of food on the kitchen counter. She had picked up canned milk, beans, peaches, pees, spinach, and much more. She wanted to be ready, Beth had always hated surprises.
Later on that evening Beth took out her phone and looked at her calls and messages. And so far none from Jimmy. She had gotten a couple texts from Maggie about her coming home really soon with her new boyfriend Glenn. Beth knew she didn't want to die alone, when and if the time comes. A part of her was telling her to let him go, however another part of her was desperately trying to keep him. Jimmy was her best friend throughout middle school and high school. He was her support system, through everything. He just didn't make her heart pound. She couldn't feel the chemistry between them.
He opened the bathroom door and steam rolled out. Water dripped down his arms and neck. He brushed his hair out walking into his room of his tiny apartment. Jimmy had just gotten off of work and heard his phone ringing. He took the towel off of his head and put them across his shoulders. He checked caller ID and saw it was Beth and felt instantly happy. Jimmy answered eagerly, "Hello, Beth?" To her he sounded surprised. "Hey Jimmy, I thought a lot about what you said." She paused for a moment. He felt the anxiety kicking in wanting to know her answer. He was petrified emotionally. "I would love to get married, if that's okay with you." She said shyly. Jimmy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His heart attack turned into joy in that moment. "I'm so relieved to hear you say that. I'll come to the farm tomorrow and talk the rest over with you, okay?" Beth bit her lip. "Alright, see you." Is what Beth usually said at the end of their calls. But this time, Jimmy had something else in mind. "I love you."
A/N: This will be a Daryl and Beth story! No doubt about that. But I want to take it slow. Seeing how Daryl has a hard time letting people in I want to build the characters story plots. As you may notice Beth has somewhat of a different personality in the story. I made her more like me. (Sorry) The setting is before the outbreak. Any questions or comments please let me know! But this is the first of many chapters to come! Thank you for reading!
-Your author Bree
