Black Beauty
Chapter one
Better off
*** Two Months Ago***
The sun was high in the sky warming the peculiarly empty streets below, this was your average perfect day according to Rae. The sky was clear and the wind was gentle like a caressing hand of a lover, it was quiet and seemed to be an all around wonderful day.
Smiling she held the brown paper bag filled with groceries closer to her chest as she walked down the sidewalk. Her cheeks tinted pink as her mind drifted back to the bag boy from the store she had just came from, he was cute and blonde and every time she went there he'd flirt with her in a sweet way. He was so different than any other guy she had previously dated, and then there were the men that normally hit on her that were more often than not drunk and twice her age. Needless to say it was a nice change.
'Maybe now is the time to get back on that horse'. The thought had her cheeks turning a slightly darker shade of pink. Distracted by thoughts of finally moving on, of having a chance at a normal happy life it was more than she had dared hope for a year ago, and it left her ignorant to the eerie silence of the dead street. Turning the corner Rae's foot snagged on something and had her tumbling forward and coming down on to her hands and knees, dropping the brown bag and sending the contents spilling all over the curb. The scream stilled in her lungs as her mind froze unable to comprehend what her eyes were taking in.
A severed leg.
Swallowing she could feel how dry her throat was, the action left a scratchy feeling behind in its place. Seconds felt like a life time as sweat started to bead on her forehead, as her eyes fallowed the smeared blood trail, drag marks she vaguely realized as her stomach twisted with dread, on the road a few feet away was the rest of the body.
Her stomach turned as bile rose threatening to overtake her, there on the ground two people sat with their hands digging through the dead body pulling pieces away from it and shoving them into their mouths. Instinctively her hands flew to her mouth in attempt to stifle any sound that threatened to announce her presence. The sobbing that reached her ears as she got to her feet informed her of her failure, and exposed her to the sick people as the news had called them.
Every news broad cast she had seen in the past two to three weeks came to the forefront of her mind, every detail about how to avoid them at all costs and lock your doors and how dangerous they were.
One slowly started to make its way to its feet as Rae stumbled backwards, fear gripped her as its jaw snapped hungrily at her. Eager to make her into his next meal. Her heart beat started to pound heavily in her chest as she watched in a terrified state of shock as its arms stretched out towards her and he took its first step. Tears slid down her cheeks as she looked in all directions, she was alone, completely alone with the exception of the one that would soon be trying to eat her.
Her mind clicked into auto pilot as it moaned and lunged for her.
***Present day***
Ducking behind big slabs of concrete that were legs for an overhead bridge Raeanne lowered her eyebrows in a glaring concentration, the sound of men's voices had been the last thing she expected to hear. Pressing her body against the cold cement she let her fingers dance mindlessly around the trigger of her rifle 'Should just wait them out.' She thought dropping her shoulders, after all Rae had rules when it came to survival, rules that had managed to keep her alive after everyone else she loved had died.
1. You see a heard of walkers, RUN. HIDE. Do NOT be cocky and get yourself killed.
2. You see living humans, if you can avoid them, do.
3. Lone walker? Only pull the trigger if you're ok with every walker within hearing-distance knowing exactly where dinner is.
4. Always, ALWAYS carry a minimum of two weapons.
5. Always know where you will be sleeping BEFORE sunset. Be prepared to move out before daybreak.
6. Don't be a hero.
7. Ration. Ration. RATION. You never know when you will be able to find more food, water or ammo.
8. One shot. One kill. So save one bullet.
Rae had been prepared to hunker down and wait them out, but one thing kept her from doing so the words "She's a beaut." fallowed by a low whistle had her firming her lips. Instantly she knew what the men were gawking at, they had their eyes on her baby.
"Someone took the time ta deck 'er all out. That's fer'sure." Another man replied as Rae crouched low against the wall that separated her from the men, men that were standing between her and her only exit strategy.
"Be a damn shame to leave behind a find like this." Someone else stated obviously in an agreement with the first two, chancing a glance around the corner her eyes widened as panic crept up on her. Four men stood around her baby, checking out her Sierra Hybrid.
"We can grab it on the way back." Another one stated, an Asian by the looks of it but she couldn't be sure at this distance. It was now or never, her survival or theirs. Her survival wasn't something she took lightly it wasn't something she'd jeopardize by giving up her only means of transportation that held her food her weapons and other personal items inside. Clenching her jaw she didn't have any other options, 'it's now or never.' She repeated in her mind as her grip tightened on her weapon and she stepped out of her hiding place.
The sound of a gun being cocked in to place, had the men's eyes widening as all of them snapped their eyes in the directing it had come from. Whatever any of them had expected to see, it wasn't the lone figure of a woman with long dirty blonde hair dressed in black leather pants and a flowing black sleeveless top pointing an M16 in their collective direction beside the driver side door.
"I'll only tell ya once." She stated trying to keep her voice even and calm, though she felt anything but calm at the moment. "Step away from my ride, keep yer hands where I can see em and back off." She stated glaring down the barrel of her rifle. Two of the men stared wide eyed in shock, while the other seemed just as surprised wearing his cop uniform but kept a calm composure. The last one however looked irritated and was matching her glare head on raising his crossbow to take aim at her. Rae tisked him as she set her sights solely on to the man, "I wouldn't." She stated crossly, "I have an easy trigger finger." The statement had a small smirk pulling at the corner of her lips, it had been so long since she had heard it but in the beginning of this hell it was something she had been told many of times.
"Daryl." The cop growled sending the crossbow wielding man, now known as Daryl, a sideways glance. Huffing the redneck lowered his bow but only slightly so he could lift it back at a moment's notice. "I'm sorry ma'am," The cop began gaining Rae's attention as her eyes flickered over in his direction. "We didn't mean ya any harm." He stated as an unreadable look crossed over his face and he glanced around the area briefly, "ya have ta admit, a vehicle like this is bound to draw attention." He stated as a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips now obviously trying to ease the tension.
He, of course was right. This group of men wasn't the first ones to happen upon her pimped out baby, it was an eye catcher for the living and could easily with a flick of a switch be one for walkers as well. When Rae didn't say anything the man pursed his lips "ya alone?" he asked softly. His question wasn't doing anything for her nerves, as she clenched her jaw. Rae had no trust in humans living or otherwise, she didn't have any faith in humanity or the good in people, not anymore, not after everything she had seen and been through.
"I really don't see how that's any concern of yours." She stated shifting her glare to each pair of eyes, four men that could with ease take her out, that could take her truck and everything she had and leave her for dead stood eyeing her with distrust. That didn't matter to her though, not like it might of in the beginning now everything was different she had nothing left to lose and only one thing to focus on and that was survival, they had each other and as much as that might have made them a threat it also made them venerable.
"Now, I just want ta talk." he stated calmly again trying to defuse the situation, or get her off guard, she wasn't sure which. "Would it be too much ta ask that you lower your gun, ma'am?" Rae's face contorted strangely, that was the second time he had called her ma'am and it was beyond strange to say the least.
"Not going to happen." She stated, again he pursed his lips.
"We aren't gunna hurt you. My name's Rick, Rick Grimes." He stated introducing himself before nodding toward the two that stood a few feet behind him. "That's TDog and Glenn. This 'er is Daryl." He stated jutting his chin towards the man who he had talked down earlier.
"Lovely," She stated not sounding phased in the slightest, and she wasn't, Rae had seen all of the tactics. There was nothing they could say or do to force her to lower her weapon, or drop her guard. Her cold tone sent a chill down Rick's spine as he again assessed the woman, she didn't look older than twenty five and had blood coating her bare arms and splattered onto her exposed collar bone and neck. "If ya don't mind," she started cutting his assessment short as his eyes snapped up to meet her steel like gaze, "I'd like ta be on my way." Rick, the assumed leader of the group nodded and waved back his men as they all took a few steps away from the truck. But remained a little too close for comfort, then again having other living eyes on her even from a good hundred feet away would still feel too close for Rae.
Rae walked to the front of the truck keeping her rifle pointed at them, before turning so she could keep her eyes on them as she kept her back to the truck. Rick couldn't help but tilt his head slightly as he watched her move, it wasn't hard for him or anyone else to see she was on the defensive."Ya must be pretty brave taking the city on by yourself." He stated stilling her movements as she made it to the driver side door, ah the city, infested with walkers. Yeah her hunt for ammo hadn't gone as well as she had hope. Not that she would tell them why she had been in the town square of Atlanta, or the fact that her rifle only had one bullet left. Her bullet.
"Yeah well what can I say, desperate times." She mused as her eyebrows pulled together in irritation she had forgot in her attempt to get the hell outta dodge and back to her safe house that she would first have ta unlock the truck and get inside still keeping her rifle trained on them. "Shit." Rae cursed instantly biting down on her lip as she eyed the four again, the curse if anything was unexpected by the men who were watching her every move. "Go on," Rae jerked her chin "get outta here." She stated trying to not expose the fact she couldn't or wouldn't get in the vehicle and leave her back exposed to them.
"What?" Rick questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Ya heard me." She stated coolly, "I ain't given ya any chances ta try anything." she stated again starting to feel the overwhelming emotion but pushed back at them she wouldn't lose her composure and give into to her worst nightmares, she couldn't not after all the work she had put into building up her walls of stone, clenching her jaw and firming her hold on the rifle Rae shook the thoughts from her mind.
"I already told ya-" Rick started to say when she cut him off.
"Don't matter, better safe than sorry. No offence, but get your boys and walk away." His eyes widened slightly, defensiveness, caution he understood but he was realizing that her distrust went deeper than that. He was a cop and it was a part of his job to know when someone was lying when there was more to a story than he was being told, of course he could tell she had a story of her own that would explain her instant mistrust of him and his men.
"Common Rick." Glenn stated quietly shifting on his feet, breaking Rick's train of thought as his eyes shifting from the rifle and back to Rick.
"Ya 'fore this crazy bitch blows our heads off." Daryl stated gruffly glaring at the woman.
Rick simply shook his head and sighed, "I'm sorry," he stated fighting back the urge to take a step forward knowing it would more than likely end badly. "For whatever happened ta ya, ta make ya feel like ya can't trust anyone." His words hit her harder then she would have liked to admit as she lowered the rifle a fraction of an inch, something that the men noticed but made no move to take advantage of. It only lasted a moment that her glare faltered, that anyone who was observant and watching her would have seen the tirade of emotions come down on her like a tidal wave, as soon as her lip trembled she stilled it with her teeth and bit back the vulnerable feeling. "We have a group," Rick went on having caught the slight change in her demeanor, "woman, children, my family, safety." It was a sales pitch if she ever heard one, "you're welcome to come back with us." He stated ignoring Daryl's grumbled protests, "you look like you can handle yourself. We could always use more people that could help keep everyone safe."
Rae sighed, "I'm better off on my own." Her words were hollow from having repeated them so often to herself, forcing her to believe them and making the words true.
Her confession as it was perplexed Rick as he eyed her again, "ya sure?" he asked not liking the idea of leaving the girl behind to fend for herself. Rae lowered her weapon further, stunning the men as she held on to it with one hand allowing the butt to rest on her shoulder as her other hand fished in to her pocket in search of her keys.
"Ya," she nodded "no offence but I like it that way." It was only a half lie, Rae hated being on her own she always had, never really liked the quiet even before the shit hit the fan, but it had turned out she hated losing loved ones and fighting off other survivors more. So in that retrospect, she preferred being on her own. 'It's safer, it's easier' she told herself, and the best way to keep herself alive. But deep down she knew the real reason why she'd never accept his offer.
"If ya change yer mind our camp is northwest a' here." Rick stated with a slight frown, "tell them I sent ya and ya shouldn't get any trouble." Rae pursed her lips finally pulling out her keys something that earned her a scoff from the crossbow wielding Daryl.
"Its tha end of tha world, and ya still locking up yer truck?" He scoffed rolling his eyes in a disbelieving way, his snipe at her did nothing to deter her as she unlocked her ride.
"Ya think yer the first one ta think she's a beaut?" She mused aloud eyeing him. Rae barely turned to Rick giving him a slight nod before hoping up inside of the truck and closing the door behind her, she rolled down the tinted windows and peered down at the men through her black painted steal bares that were welded on over her windows in vertical rows. "Thanks," She stated catching Rick's eye, "be safe." She stated before glancing toward the city, then back in their directed "it's infested in there."
Rick nodded resting his hands on his hips, "We will, you too..." he trailed off cocking an eyebrow at the girl. "Sorry, I don't think I caught your name." His statement had a puzzled look crossing her face, of course he hadn't she hadn't introduced herself...
"Rae." She stated with a click of her tongue, telling him her name felt both personal and pointless she wasn't going to see them again but still it left an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. Rick nodded and turned to his man as they started to venture into the city, Rae turned the key in the engine as she watched them walk away before they turned the same corner she had appeared from behind. She clicking her tongue a few times as she stared at the empty space, silently scolding herself for feeling the small pang of concern she felt. Closing her eyes she inhaled a deep steadying breath, she warned them that was more than some people would do.
Huffing she pushed the thoughts of the stranger from her mind as she put the truck in drive and started to turn it around. After all Rae had more things to worry about, like mapping out a new game plan for possible locations where she could get her hands on ammo and then get the hell out of dodge, and be on her way to Fort Benning like the plan had been from the beginning. Perhaps she should try to raid the police station, meeting the cop had at least given her an idea. Where all the bars had failed her, hopefully the station would be her saving grace.
*** Two Months Ago***
Her body slumped against the closed door that shielded her from the outside world, as tears fell freely down her cheeks and she shook with fear. Rae had seen the chaos on TV but she had never believed that she would ever have to face what the news was constantly podcasting about, instead she had seen it and scoffed at it, things like that just didn't happen. Not in real life anyway. This wasn't some horror film, she didn't live in a place where bodies littered the street! This was Atlanta for god's sake! The city that promised safety to all that came looking for it, it was her home, these things just didn't happen they were thing's of nightmares they were not real...they couldn't be real.
The sound of her back door swinging closed had her head snapping up, "hello?" she called out hearing the crack in her own voice had her wincing, after all the time taking self defense classes so she wouldn't feel weak anymore and here she was still just a scared woman. Gritting her teeth together she took a step forward and squared her shoulders, "is someone there?" she asked again fighting back the feeling of how movie cliché it was starting to feel. That sound of moaning hit her first before what was left of an older lanky man stumbled into the hallway from her kitchen.
"Oh god. David?" Her voice wavered as he started towards her, arms stretched out with reaching hands "they got you..." she mumbled before her eyes shifted to her left, her staircase that would lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Swallowing thickly around the fear that was bubbling up under the surface, Rae darting for the stairs narrowly missing the hands of the flesh hungry man that lurched forward at her sudden movement, eager to catch his pray.
Scurrying up the stairs she slipped smashing her knee against a stair, "shit." she seethed as fresh tears sprung to her eyes as her knee throbbed, glancing behind her she seen the approaching danger staggering up the first two stairs. Swallowing around the lump in her throat Rae was on her feet practically throwing herself up the remainder of the stairs and into the first open door to slam it closed behind her. Taking in a ragged breath she glanced up taking in where she now stood, hiding in the bathroom that had a broken lock for a doorknob.
Groaning she hit her head lightly off the door, hearing the dead man's own grown she glared at the offending noise. 'Stupid dead people.' The thought crossed her mind as she took a step back looking for a weapon, now wasn't the time to think over how they weren't supposed to be walking around, or wondering how the hell the world had made a turn like this. No, now was the time to arm herself. She watched the news, knew the only way to kill them was a bullet to their head but seeing as her hand gun was stashed away in a locked drawer beside her bed she'd have to pray that any head injury would kill it off...or at least buy her enough time to get out of immediate danger.
Glancing to the mirror the thought of breaking it crossed her mind, followed by the thought of the smashing sound and possibly cutting herself on it. Again her eyes shifted around the room taking in her limited options. A hair dryer that she could beat it with, a towel hanging on its pole attached to the wall, bath products, razors...yeah she'd be lying if she said that the situation wasn't concerning, to say the least. With a sigh Rae tugged off the towel and let it drop to the floor before pulling the pole out of its sockets that held it in place.
Breathing deeply she knew no matter what she only had one shot, it was either kill the man -no, it wasn't a man not anymore now it was just a dead lifeless corpse, or she would die trying.
She could hear it now scratching at the door, pressing its rotting blood stained body against it. It wouldn't be long before its body weight was enough to push the broken door open, "one shot." Rae stated holding the pole up by her head. "That's all you've got." The door swung open letting the rotting corpse of a man stumble in, his jaw snapped at her as he let out a hungry growl. Instincts kicked in, lunging forward she threw her body into his knocking them to the ground as she stabbed the pole deep within its eye socket.
Everything was still, a ragged breath left her lips as she dared to look. Bile raised in her throat seeing his decayed dead face inches below her own. The sound of feet coming up the stairs had her tensing, "shit...shit." she mumbled repeatedly attempting to pull the pole out of the skull, and failing as her hands slipped in the blood that coated the metal.
"Rae? Oh my god." Hearing her sister's voice her head snapped up with wide eyes, taking in the three figures standing at the top of her stairs her stomach plummeted as the scene dawned on her.
"I...I didn't have a choice." she stated with her lip trembling before she met the eyes of her father who had a grim expression firmly in place.
You disappear with all your good intentions
An all I am is all I could not mention
Like who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
"Flowers For A Ghost" -Thriving Ivory
Hey guys, this is a story I started awhile back so I do have a few chapters done and I intend to upload chapter two tomorrow. So please review! :)