The first thing you learn around here is that names aren't as important as the used to be. They don't hold much meaning at all.
So don't take offense if no one cares to hear what your momma named you after the doctors had washed the blood off of your body.
The second thing that you learn is that it's real hard to survive on your own out there. It's better to stay in pairs, but small groups are better. Rarely do you ever find a large group of people wandering about these parts.
So if you find someone, tag along with them. But try not to be annoying because it's not uncommon for them to leave your ass behind when you're not paying attention.
Third thing that most people come to learn is that survival is everything; that is your only real purpose now. There's nothing more to it, and there isn't anything less. Your goal is to stay alive.
Because if you don't, well….
The fourth little fact that people come to learn is that if you die, you don't actually stay dead. Roughly five minutes after your heart stops beating your fingers, and the rest of your limbs give a slight twitch. You slowly rise off of the ground, completely ignoring the hole in your chest or the fact that your arm has been severed, and start to walk around. Your senses of smell and hearing are heightened, and you discover that you're only after one thing in particular…
Blood.
Fresh blood.
The blood of any person that can still safely call themselves a living, breathing, human being.
And to put it simply, you are driven by your desires, instincts, to get this blood by whatever means….
So, you start the hunt.
Fifth thing is pretty simple. Those that are dead no longer are human. They're driven by the need to feed, and all memories that they have possessed prior to death no longer exist. So if they were your friend before, they're not now. And you're only left with one option: to kill them.
But don't bother shooting them in the arm, chest, or legs because that doesn't stop them much. It might hinder their movements a bit, but they'll still keep coming. The only sure fire way to kill those who have been categorized as the living dead is to shoot them in the head. That is their only weak spot, which makes it your only target when you come face to face with those fuckers.
So remember, shoot them in the head or your ass will be… dead.
The sixth, and final rule, is a combination of all the rules put together: don't take offense if no one wants to hear your name, stay in a group (if at all possible) and don't get on anyone's nerves, survival is the key, zombies are not your friends, and always remember to shoot those bastards in the head if you want to stay alive.
Those are the rules.
You either follow them to the best of your abilities, or you wind up thirsting after blood for the rest of your undead life.
It's as plain and simple as that.