Welcome to my nightmare
Chapter 1
"Hack", "Cough", "Ahem"
Damn my throat is dry and I feel like shit. Finally taking note of my surroundings I find myself very confused. I appear to be in a hospital room but the last thing I remember is going to sleep after binge watching the TWD again. How did I get here and why is my side bandaged? Pressing the call button seems to get no response. It is quiet, too quiet no beeps or buzzing of equipment or even the murmur of voices. I try calling out for a nurse but I can barely manage a croak as my throat is so dry.
First things first I need something to drink. Getting up to go to the washroom I promptly collapse to the floor taking the IV pole with me. Why am I so weak? How long was I out? Slowly crawling I make it to the bathroom and pull myself up to the sink and turn on the water. I shove my head under the faucet and begin drinking only to have to spew it up as my stomach rebels. Taking my time, I manage to keep the water down. Having parched my thirst for the moment I look into the mirror and fall to the floor in shock.
"No, No, No, ah Hell No" This has to be a nightmare, I need to wake up. I try pinching and even slapping myself but all that does is add more sore spots to this body. After spending some time in denial, I have come to the conclusion that I am now Rick Grimes as portrayed by Andrew Lincoln. I really hope the virus (AKA the writers) does not make me as stupid as the characters in the show.
Let's see if I can change how things happen or if I am forced to follow the plot of the show. Starting by looking through the dresser I find a change of clothes. Returning to the washroom I remove my dressing and rank boxers then wipe myself down with a wet paper towel. Once dressed in sweat pants, a button up shirt and wearing my cowboy boots I feel a little better about my chances.
Thinking things through I grab the pillow case to use as a bag then go through the room stuffing any use full medical supplies etc. into it. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any thing I can use as weapon in the room. Not that I am in any condition to fight a walker in melee combat. Here's to hoping that there are no walkers roaming the halls like in the show. Come to think of it where am I going to go when I get out of here? It's not like I know where Rick's house… Huh that's weird I seem to know where the house is. Oh, great I am not just stuck in this nightmare but apparently, I am to be entertainment for some Random Omnipotent Being or Beings. It's the only thing that makes sense considering how I got here and that I have access to some of rick's memories. Hopefully I have some of his skill as well or this may be over quickly ROB.
Quietly opening the door and moving the gurney out of the way I enter the hall way. The gurney and the deserted hallway with papers scattered over the floor is a good first sign. I make my way to the nurses' station where I clean out the pharmacy cabinet on the wall by sliding everything into my pillow case. I also grab the stethoscope and the blue nurse's kit off the desktop. Lucky me there is also a couple bottles of water back here which quickly join the meds in my sack. No luck on finding a weapon but there is an old newspaper here I can roll up and use as a torch instead of burning my fingers on the matches. Even though I am expecting it the sight of the decomposing nurse is still nauseating. As quickly and quietly as possible I sneak by the infamous cafeteria doors. Damn that was creepy, using the matches I light my newspaper torch and make my way down the stairs to the second-floor exit. The glare and the smell are overwhelming as I open the door to the outside. Even knowing what to expect I am still freaking out over all the dead bodies out here.
I take a moment to work up my courage and make my way down the stairway and through the bodies. I slowly climb the grass covered hill, my body aches in places I did not know I had. Thank god the military camp is here so I can take a Humvee as there is no way I am riding a bicycle several miles in this condition. Hm strange that I don't see any bodies lying around out here but on the positive side I also don't see any walkers roaming around either.
Well let's see what I can scavenge from the camp. The Stryker APC would be so awesome to have but I don't know how to operate it and I am not ready to try and clear it if it is occupied by walkers. The 50 Cal and ammo mounted to the Huey would be good to take but I would need Morgan's help to dismount it. Hopefully I can convince him to help me if we meet that is. Moving towards the tents and Humvees I take note of the various crates of supplies and fuel drums. I spot a rifle lying on the ground and head towards it. It is an M4 carbine and by the decaying flesh and dried blood on the strap it probably fell off a walker. Unfortunately, upon checking the magazine it is empty. However, the weapon is still worth keeping along with a few empty magazines lying around which I pick up.
Reaching the parked Humvees, I take a moment for a breather as I am tired after lying in a bed for who knows how long. I listen for the rasp or shuffling of walkers but all is still quiet. I look into one of the Humvees in the front row for walkers and to see if the steering wheel is locked. I quietly open the door and check the fuel gauge, Yes! It reads full. Leaving the sack in the passenger seat and placing the M4 in the door mount I make my way to the big tent.
Once again, I listen for walkers but hear nothing. I am concerned though as the bullet holes in the canvas may indicate a battle took place inside. There may be one of them sneaky walkers lying around playing possum inside. Deciding to go inside and check it out the tent appears to have been a command post from the look of the furniture and map stands etc. Oh shit! There is body at the desk in the back. I am just about to make a run for the Humvee when I notice he has been shot in the head. Slowly making my way through the tent I see a few more corpses with head shots and a lot of shell casings spread across the floor. I guess one or more walkers must have surprised the soldiers. The corpses all seem to be officers, perhaps the loss of command is why the soldiers started killing people in the hospital like Shane described.
Going over the corpses I managed to piece together some body armor, tactical vest, as well as a helmet that fits. I also picked up another M4 as well as a couple of M9 pistols with some spare magazines for the weapons. The most important find was enough 5.56mm and 9mm ammo for the two full magazines per weapon. The commander was apparently from the 7th cavalry as per the markings on the helicopter outside and the unit patch on his uniform. I assume that is why I found a cavalry sword and scabbard tucked away behind the desk. Time to take my haul to the Humvee and head to Rick's house as I have probably pushed my luck being out here so long.
While driving the Humvee and watching where I am going so as not to have an accident like the idiots on the show, I begin pondering what I should do from this point on. Do I stay with Morgan and Duane, go to Atlanta to rescue the scavenging party, or directly to the quarry? I definitely need to get together with other people. At a minimum I will need someone to watch my back and to share watches with.
Pulling up in front of Rick's house, I guess it's my house now, I park and look around for danger before getting out. Putting an M9 in my waist band and unsheathing the sword, I am about to step out but stop to put on the helmet. I definitely want the helmet on incase Duane manages to surprise me with the shovel. Entering through the wide-open door and not hearing any walkers I proceed to close the door and do a quick search for any threats through out the house. All is clear so I start by looking for bags or other containers to hold what I scavenge. My priorities are food, water, medicine, toiletries, clothes, camping gear and hand tools. I don't have any firearms in the house as Lori would not allow it. Damn that is weird when I get rick's memory flashes. For clothes I am taking any thing that will provide protection from bites and scratches for myself, Lori and Carl. You won't see me fighting walkers with bared arms. After changing into fresh clothing with a belt to hang the scabbard and droping my loot by the front door, I take a break to drink some water and eat stale Corn Flakes.
Returning from dropping my first load of loot into the Humvee I catch movement out of my left eye. Looking over my left shoulder I see the walker in the blue suit only to be smacked in the head by a shovel. Duane can be one sneaky little bastard, thank god for the helmet. "Ow, Stop that Duane" Slowly getting up I hear a gunshot, raising my hands in surrender I turn to face an angry Morgan.