Hello! This is something I will be working on the side while concentrating on another.
Because it is based on the TV series The Walking Dead, it will have gory and horror parts in it, so please be careful when reading if you easily get squeamish. It might start off slow, but there will eventually be Daryl/OC.
I do not own The Walking Dead.
Enjoy!
The Silent World
Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender.
-Tupac Shakur
Chapter 1: Time
The eagle drifted across the darkening sky, its powerful wings keeping it steady against the rising winds. Lazily it tipped to one side, slicing the air with such ease that it would fool anyone into thinking that there was no wind up where he was.
Below him was different, the leaves in the trees were rustling violently, branches sighing as they swayed. Animals had taken shelter, burrowed in holes and tucked safely in nests. They knew that this storm was going to be a bad one. Across the road a line of houses sat quietly; their windows were dark and chimneys free from any smoke from what would have been a warming fire.
But there was no such smell, not even the familiar sounds of cars or families. There was nothing any more other than decay. Thunder echoed effortlessly down the abandoned street, lighting sending the darkness away for a split second.
I didn't want it to, it only mean that I could see the homes empty like shells, and that there was no one else here but me.
A crack out of place made me spin around, eyes narrowing to locate the cause. Beside me, Trix growled, his strong k-nine nose picking up something mine could not. Lowering my hand to his soft black fur, I tugged slightly for him to follow me.
We could not stay here any longer.
Grabbing my bow from the ground I got to my feet quickly and shivered at the lack of earthy warmth. Sure enough the unmistakable groan of a walker met my ears and again we were on the move.
We walked through the rain for what felt like hours.
Clothes were drenched and my long hair pulled heavily down my back. Trix wasn't much better, looking like something out of a Stephen King novel. Then again, this whole world was worse than anything from any movie. The dead no longer rested with peace, instead they ripped apart the living, devouring them with an ever present hunger.
So much time had passed since the end began, I could no longer be sure if only months had passed or years, but all that mattered was the simple fact that I was alive, a woman that was wondering alone in a world where civilisation had crumbled, and I was on the menu.
Slowly the rain eased, the low clouds parting to reveal the last of the blue sky. Night was closing in and I had nowhere to rest safely. A large oak tree came into view and I glanced down at Trix, walking steadily next to me. Circling the tree, I made sure it was clear of walkers before I sat, sighing as I leant back onto the rough, damp bark. Trix sat happily against me and I smiled, giving him a reassuring rub, my black German shepherd leaning in affectionately.
The couple of squares of bread I pulled out of my backpack made his chops water and I could feel my own stomach growl eagerly as I unwrapped it. I held some out for Trix who gently accepted it from my grubby fingers before chomping down. I looked at my own stale piece, the green in the corner making me doubt my stomach. Taking a bite, I chewed carefully, my eyes scanning the empty land around me. No doubt it had been cleared ready for construction, cleared for new buildings and families to call it home. Now it was just a sad reminder of what had been lost.
A soft growl brought me back, turning in my damp clothes to Trix who watched me carefully with sharp yellow eyes. They dropped to the bread in my hands and I realised I hadn't swallowed. Forcing the mouthful down, I waited, debating about another bite until I surrendered it to Trix. At least it was more than what I had yesterday.
Night had settle in now, and I shivered, Trix lying against my leg, the contrast sending chills down my body. The sky was clear now, stars blinking in the black canvas. I enjoyed doing this, allowing the ache from my feet to ebb away and my eyes to slowly relax…
Trix flinched from his rest, growling at the engulfing darkness and I snapped to full alert. I froze, my ears straining to hear what Trix could and once again the groaning of the walkers filled my ears. I groaned but got to my feet, patting the side of my leg for Trix to follow me.
It was always like this; running and moving, barely catching your breath before the dead were growling down your neck again. Time dragged on, it kept filling that jar of life even without the walking dead. I knew I was young but no one could say that there was there was so much to live for anymore. There was no chance of finding a good job, a nice home, marrying the man of my dreams and raising a family of my own.
My life now was surviving, killing things that had once been alive, creatures that were once human like me.
But for what? What was there to live for?
All that kept me walking was the hope that there was actually something worthwhile out there. Who knew, maybe the answer was right around the corner, maybe I could discover a sanctuary or another piece of something to keep my hope from dwindling. That or tomorrow I could be munched on by a walker.
Only time would tell.