The Walking Dead: Hearts Collide
Chapter One
When the world ended, it happened quietly. A virus rapidly spread. At first, without detection. But as there were more diseased humans than healthy ones, it became a concern. But it was too late. Everything fell apart. First there were promises of quarantines, then rumors of a cure, and finally all news went silent. The television broadcasts were blank screens, the radio reports turned to static, and neighbors disappeared. People rioted, the military stepped up and killed those suspected to be threats. All of this because someone failed to see true terror in a human ripping the flesh off another and eating it. The bite. Once you were bit, it was all over. Your life was like a timer. And once time ran you, you were dead. But you did not stay dead. No, you came back to life. However, this was not the touch of God or a miraculous miracle. It was a something like a curse. When you came back you were no longer the same person. You were the dead rising, eager to feast into the first piece of flesh near. We call them walkers, the undead, biters, lurkers. Anything but human, because they are anything but. They are monsters who eat the living and do not stop with just one. They keep eating and eating and eating. It never stops. Those of us who were lucky enough to live past the first days, we're the survivors. We fight to survive, but we will never truly win.
Emma Townsdale was forced awake by the relentless shaking of another. She subconsciously grabbed her baseball bat ready to beat her attacker. However, she was not being assaulted. Above Emma, her brother Logan Townsdale stood wide eyed with his bow equipped. His dark brown hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.
"What's happening?" Emma asked quickly standing.
"That guy is out there again." Logan whispered peeking out the bedroom window. His eyes darted around trying to spot the stranger again. For the past two days the Townsdale siblings had narrowly hid from bearded man in who resembled a lumberjack.
"Was he armed?" Emma questioned joining her younger sibling at the window.
"I only saw the axe," Logan answered. "He went east, had a duffel bag on him."
"Did you see you?"
"No, I just happened to look through the blinds when he was passing by."
"Good. We should get moving. It's not safe having someone possibly dangerous around." Emma told.
"You don't think we can take him?" Logan asked.
"I would rather not kill someone when we don't have to." Emma admitted.
"Yeah, we haven't killed the living before. Why start now, right?" Logan turned away ready to begin packing up. They had few supplies. Between the two, there were cans of food for about a week, limited bottles of water, various snacks, and a map of the state. For Emma, she kept on hand her wooden baseball bat from her softball training years in high school. Logan carried his bow and very few makeshift arrows. Her brother grew up naturally skilled with a bow. Their father was an athletic firefighter obsessed with sports. He had encouraged his children to join something active in order to have social interactions and stay healthy. Emma took after her mother and went for softball. Logan, the wild card as their father often called him, found a cheap bow at a yard sale and never parted from the skill. Today, he held his very own homemade bow he and their mother spent hours crafting.
As Emma and Logan Townsdale finished packing the smaller items and moved onto their sleeping bags, they heard the backdoor of the abandoned home creak open.
"Shit." Logan hissed. The bedroom door was currently closed so they could not see anyone. Emma placed her finger to her lips gesturing to stay quiet. The two anxiously listened for any sign as to where the intruder may be. The footsteps indicated heavy boots, most likely male. Emma tightened her grip on her baseball bat ready to attack. The footsteps continued around for awhile. Emma looked to her brother noting the panicked look in his eyes. He was barely twenty years old yet she still saw the little boy she grew up with. She would do anything to protect him. Though, she did wish that this would not result in her having to kill another human. Moments later, the footsteps finally faded as the backdoor slammed shut. Logan let out a sigh of relief.
"That was a close call." Logan said lowering his bow.
"Let's go before they come back." Emma requested strapping the backpack on. Logan took lead opening the bedroom door and exiting the room. As he entered the hallway, Emma noticed something was off. There, at the end of the hall resting was a duffel bag. She knew this was not there before. As their thoughts came together, the hallway closet door flew open smacking Logan directly in the face knocking him backwards. Her brother fell to the floor covering his nose as a bearded man in red flannel lunged out of the tiny storage space. It was him, the stranger. Without a moment of hesitation Emma ducked as he leaped towards her. His arms just barely brushed past her. Emma shoved herself forward shoulder first into the man's stomach sending them both down.
"Get off of me you fucking bitch" the man growled. He brought his knee up connecting to Emma's own stomach knocking the wind out of her. She struggled to capture her breath while as the man grabbed a handful of her hair.
"You are one stupid bitch." Were the last words Emma heard before having her head slammed roughly against the wall twice then against the floor beneath her.