The Walking Dead Fanfiction

I own nothing

This is Rose Chapter 1

I was running, the cold air causing my breath to mist with every exhale. I could barely see, the forest seemed to absorb any light that got through the thick trees. My legs hurt, ached from the strain of my muscles tensing, pushing them to go further than they could manage, just that little bit more. Stray branches caught on what little scraps of clothes I still wore. Cuts and bruises littered my body, creating a morbid mosaic across my skin, a show of my time spent in their 'care'.

I could hear them gaining, their heavy footfalls on the forest floor creating a steady rhythm. I had to run faster, ignore the stinging of my bleeding feet as they tore on the sharp bed, branches snapped as I threw myself through the dense foliage in my efforts to escape. My lungs screamed for air, faster, I could hear them gaining.

It wasn't the dead I feared anymore.

I was so tired, I was scared, I was hungry, but most of all I just wanted it to end. I considered the possibility of slowing down, maybe they would be so angry that they would just kill me, the second it entered my thoughts I dismissed it. The sadness my family would feel at me giving up, I was just so tired, so weary, I wanted to be with them again. Even if they did catch me they wouldn't dispose of me, they would keep me; use me to their pleasure like before. That was worse than any death.

I could hear their shouts from behind me "I see her, shoot her in the legs!" a bullet flew by me, leaves and debris flying into the air, I flinched and changed direction, veering off sharply to my left. I was always a good sprinter, for a girl anyway, but the abuse and starvation was taxing my weary muscles, unable to take the sheer load that was being forced on them.

I could hear them stumble, knocking into one another to follow the direction I had taken. I had brought myself a bit more time.

My knees were beginning to buckle now, my thighs cramping and causing pain to shoot up my legs, not much longer left. Breathe in through your nose Rose, remember, in through your nose and out through your mouth just like your sister told you, focus.

Tears stung my eyes as I used every ounce of strength I had left in my battered body, trees whipped by the sides of my vision as I ran, jumping over falling branches and scrambling out of the way of thick trunks, I gave a loud exhale as I lost my footing, the floor falling beneath my foot and causing my ankle to give a loud crunch. I held in my scream, biting my lip so hard that blood burst into my mouth, a steep decline met my fall, twigs and rocks bashing my body as I fell down, my limbs being snagged every way, I was going so fast, my body out of control, I dimly registered the shouts following me getting closer.

My head smashed into a rock, everything blurred, then darkened around me.

"Hey, loser, wake up. Don't you think it's a bit late to be sleeping in? Come on mop head, get up everyone's waiting for you" I was always terrible at waking up in the mornings. At least Grace decided to wake me up nicely this time, instead of pouring water over me, or yanking the bed sheets off.

I must admit, I certainly haven't missed sharing a house with her. I opened my eyes, squinting as the sun hit me right in the face, she was standing at the end of my bed smiling obnoxiously for someone this early in the morning, from the clock on the wall behind her I could tell it was only 10 in the morning, much to early to be up on the weekend when I have the day off work.

"You guys have arrived early, did you really have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning?" I hoarsely whispered, flopping back into the bed sheets. I could definitely just fall back to sleep.

A hand grabbed my foot and gave it a sharp yank "Oi Rose! Don't fall asleep again, we're all going to watch a movie in a bit, go put some clothes on and come join us" She was always so bossy, I guess it came with the territory of being the mum of a young toddler and 8 months pregnant. I had my money on it being a girl, I already had a nephew, who I loved to dress in Pirate costumes and cowboy hats, I could really do with a niece to spoil and buy princess dresses for. Obviously I would have to take pictures too, for future humiliation purposes of course. I am definitely the cool aunt.

By this point Grace had strolled out of the room, muttering about dragging me out again if she had to, I was wide awake now. Grace could scare anyone out of bed.

I managed to slowly drag my foot out of bed, testing the temperature outside the comfort of my warm cocoon of duvets and blankets, I decided it was quite mild, not exactly warm but I wouldn't be freezing anytime soon either. At that I flopped out of bed, my whole body just tumbling off the mattress straight onto the floor. It's much easier to just get it over with, face the harsh world outside of my duvet.

I could hear all the chatter downstairs, Grace was here with her husband Brett, my amazingly cute nephew Josh and my parents. It was my turn to host the Sunday family dinner. I

t was times like these I really regretted giving my parents a spare key to my house, as I wasn't awake they decided to just invite themselves in. I guess I should be used to it by now, being their youngest child they always felt the need to check up on me, especially as I lived alone. I gave a large sigh as I dragged my hand through my mess of a hair, they exhausted me at times, but I really did love them to pieces and wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

I dragged myself over to the closet, throwing on some jogging bottoms and a t shirt, no need to dress up seeing as its just family over. I looked in the mirror, trying to decide what to do with my hair.

My sisters would often tease me, "mop head", they'd jokingly call me as a kid, unfortunately the pet name stuck. It was in reference to my wild morning hair, curls hanging in front of my face with no sense of direction. Once it was tamed it would look okay, but it took some nurturing to get it to that point. I blame my hair on my mum, it was almost an identical match to hers. My sisters both had shiny, auburn hair which had a natural wave to it, they looked like the women straight out of the herbal essence commercials. I obviously got the short straw on the gene pool when it came to hair.

I decided to just shove it in a bun on the top of my head, not exactly stylish but it would keep it out of the way for now.

I looked in the mirror, the older I got the more I seem to look like my dad, with my mums hair thrown on top of course. My sisters definitely took after my mum in the face department.

A slightly crooked nose, thin top lip with a pouting bottom, a light dusting of freckles scattered over the bridge of my nose, a testament to the amount of time I spent in the sun. All brought together by my vibrant green eyes and dark hair which, usually, fell in soft curls around my face, I was cute. I could admit that.

I was always mistaken for a girl just entering adulthood rather than my actual age of 25, youthful faces ran in the family unfortunately. I wasn't a beauty by any means, but with my large eyes and quirky smile I was considered pretty by most standards.

As I stared in the mirror listening to the chatter downstairs, the image in front of me started to flicker. I shook my head, wondering if I was still just sleepy from my rude wake up call. Images flickered behind my eyelids, distant screams echoed. When I looked up, a different girl was standing in front of me. She looked scared, terrified even, and yet she looked distinctly familiar. As I stared at the unknown girl, images flickered behind my eyelids, blood, torn flesh, death. What was happening? I squeezed my eyes tight, hoping that the images would disappear and that the girl in the mirror would go away, as I opened them again the images slowly faded and my face once again stared back at me in the mirror.

Comparing myself with the girl I saw in the mirror, it was easy to see that I had led an easy life in comparison, full of love and family. The images started again, coming back full force, chasing away any other thoughts in my head. Death, destruction, blood, screams, one after the other, I remembered it all, remembered what happened.

I looked up in the mirror. A girl with a youthful face and bright green eyes was staring back at me. I was envious of this girl, of who she represented and who she had that made her so carefree and happy, and yet, I was sad. Sad that I knew that the light in her eyes would fade with time, with each loss. Slowly, the light died in the girls eyes, being replaced once again with the eyes of someone who was terrified and defeated.

I wanted the girl with the bright green eyes back.

I watched as slowly, the image transformed, her hair grew limp and unkempt, craving the attention it once had, her skin sunken and gaunt, starved to the very bones and that once cute, bashful smile, I knew would never appear on that face again and instead all that would be left is this hollow shell staring back at me. Emancipated. Empty. Silent.

This is me. This is my Story. This is Rose.

Eeek, first chapter I have written. I have no idea if I am any good at writing stories! so really just going with the flow on this and seeing how it turns out. Notice any spelling or grammar mistakes? pop me a review and let me know so I can improve my writing. Not sure what pairing this will have, if any at the moment. Maybe Rose will die in the end? Maybe she'll end up with Daryl or Rick? we'll see. I will more than likely also rate this story 'M' just be safe, as there will be some gruesome bits coming up.