A/N: I know many people dislike stories narrated in first person. But in this case it's for the purpose of the story. Believe me.

You'll find out why...

Italics: OC's thoughts

CHAPTER 1: FREE

- Gunshot -

It immediately woke me up. Again. What? I stood up and walked closer to the window. I wiped the dust covering the glass and gasped. The ocean of rotten bodies shambling down the streets was bigger today than it was before. A faster figure was making it's way away from the forgotten tank in the middle of the street. I believed it was a guy dressed up in sheriff clothing running and shooting at walkers, nonstop.

"Moron," I shook my head. I paid attention to the path this officer went, shooting at every geek on his way. "Damn it. Is this guy new or wha'?! I'll never get outta here." With every gunshot, he drew the walker's attention away from the tank and to him, to the alley he apparently ran to. I figure he was really new in the city, for everyone hiding in Atlanta knew most alleys were blocked.

When the guy disappeared I grabbed my backpack, which was settled besides my sleeping bag on the floor, and headed to the rooftop of the building I was crashing in for better view. "Who would've known yer damn scout-backpack would eventually be useful lil' sis." I mocked while running. No answer.

I pulled out a lantern from my bag and cautiously opened the staircase doors; I tightened my grip around the butt of the axe in my left. I quietly stood waiting for any type of sound, once I was glad it was dead quiet around I climbed the stairs all the way to the rooftop. When I got there my eyes immediately flew to the building up front. There were more people, one of them played sniper. "You've gotta be kiddin' me. How on earth 'm I supposed ta leave this hell hole with all the noise this dumbasses are makin'?!"

I sat on the ground and pulled a pack of sweet cookies. I waited, for didn't know what my next move would be, after the shooting on the street all the walking corpses had come to the party. I would be stuck in the city for who knew how long. I looked up ahead again. I caught sight of the officer, next to him I could make out the shape of a chubby man. I looked up to the sky and saw a storm getting closer. I scoffed and looked back to that building; I saw two more people, a blonde woman and a black person. "Come on! Leave!" I impatiently shooed them away.

Suddenly I heard some noises around me. I stood up apprehensively and stepped away from the rooftop door. I pushed my bag a few feet away to get more space and waited. The door slowly opened and what at first was a moan, it became a choir. Five pairs of feet stumbled their way out to the rooftop. Fuck! I let out a helpless breath and quickly looked around. The people in the building were gone and my only way out was through the geeks or jump.

The rotting bodies shuffled towards me arms stretched to take hold of my beanpole body; I waved the axe and cut one of the geek's arm off. I laughed ballistic and ran to one side of the roof; the next door building was too far to make a jump for it, the other one was ever farther. Gotta make yer way through. I let out three quick breaths and ran towards my bag; I dodged the walkers and waved my ax only when necessary. I got to the door and without a second thought I ran down the stairs to the room I slept in. Safer. The geeks followed behind. Time to pull out a stunt bud. I looked over my shoulder and half smiled when my plan was worked. I slowed down my pace and breathed in deeply; I immediately turned and embedded the axe in the fastest geek's head. I shot a glance at the upcoming walkers and turned around again.

"They're gone?" I cheerfully asked to myself once I got back to the rooftop. Ugh. Smells like wet dog. I didn't see anyone, I walked to the edge of the building and looked down at the street, there were less walkers; I looked to my right and saw a bunch of them running towards a fence. How come I never grabbed binoculars? How stupid are ya? I walked towards the fire escape ladder and half smiled at the sight of a clear path. All I needed was to get out of the city. A loud noise caught my attention and I ran back to the front side of the building, I saw a red sports car speeding down the street, I nodded amazed. Let's give 'em credit.

A few moments later a van followed the car. Missed them. I followed the van with my eyes until I lost sight of it. I looked down at the street and realized this was the time to flee. I turned towards the ladder when a loud holler made me freeze.

Da fuck? I slowly turned around and carefully paid attention to everything around me to locate the source. More people? I looked at the building where the officer and his friends were. Didn't they leave? "Oh no. No, no, no, no," I shook my head when it came to mind. "Fuckin' bastards left someone behin'?!"

I still had a few hours of sunlight so I had to get moving. I wouldn't be able to help the man and leave the city the same day. It all depended on the condition that person was in. It was one or the other. "Fuck." I cursed when the best part of me won. I climbed down the stairs as fast as I could and crossed the street, chopped off the heads of some stranded walkers with my axe before it got stuck in one of them. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. I colorfully cursed while trying to free it. Due to my beautiful habit of never letting go I kept on trying to pull the axe off the geek's head. I realized it was a lost cause when the moans around got louder. I rolled on my back, quickly stood up and ran as far from the noises as possible. Defenseless I waved my backpack only when the walkers were too close.

- Ya hear me! -

The killing slowed me down and the man kept screaming so I decided to dodge the upcoming walkers and get to that building faster. I quickly climbed the fire escape ladders of the building where the yelling came from. When I finally got to the roof I looked for the man "Hey!" I hissed. I looked at the door and saw walkers piling up, pushing it. "The fuck is ya?" I said a bit louder and I saw an arm waving. I ran towards it and saw a man, handcuffed.

Oh my God. Seriously, what's wrong with people? "Sheriff, others won' have the guts to handcuff this man," I spat disgusted. I wiped my sweat with the back of my left hand and dropped my bag to have more movement. The man looked up when he heard my voice, eyes wide with fear. He let out a loud sigh of relief. "Da fuck happened to you man?" I asked. I was bewildered, after all this time and all the people I met I've never seen this kind of acting.

"Stupi' officer friendly han'cuffed me," he answered. Hillbilly. "Can ya git me free?" Some sort of hope in his voice, he handed the saw. "Door won' hol' on much." He turned to face the door and I followed. There were about six walkers moaning and pushing against it.

"Sure..." I approached him; I knelt by his side and grabbed the saw. First I tried cutting the metal bar. Nothing. "So, ya were the sum' bitch playin' sniper, huh?" I commented sarcastically. Breaking the metal pipe would've taken days. I looked at the man's appearance, leather vest, tank top, dog tags. He'll sure as hell fin' ou'.

Moans got louder and louder, and the prisoner was growing impatient. "Hurry up, bitch." He shouted, then calmed down knowing I was doing my best. "Try the cuffs." Nothing. He started pulling, and I sawed faster to see if one of them gave up. I shook my head.

I breathed in and looked at the guy, my eyes flickered from his handcuffed hand to the saw. By the look on his face he knew what I meant. "Gon' make ya a tourniquet," I ordered and he nodded. "Migh' bleed less tha' way..." He didn't hesitate and handed his belt. Trust issues weren't useful at the moment. "Take this." I said as I pulled my bag closer and pulled out a towel. He raised it to his mouth and bit it.

Cutting the flesh wasn't hard, it was gross. Shivers ran up and down my spine every time I moved the saw back and forth. I had to stop and give the poor bastard a break every now and then. I waited for his nod to continue.

"I'm done. It's on you now." I gave him a reassuring nod and stood up. He looked at me and nodded. We both took a loud deep breath. I looked up to the sky, didn't want to know how he'd do it. The noise we heard next was more painful than anything else I have ever experienced.

Like a twig. Snap.

The man screamed like never before, I looked down and saw tears rolling down his face. Again. "Come on!" he cried. "Break!" The rush of adrenaline kept him pushing, feeling of survival.

"Saw?" I muttered.

He raised his head and stared at me for a while, bewildered. "Go on." he replied, his voice full of fear. I knelt back down. Killing walkers never made me feel as sick as that moment. I was tortured him; I sawed as fast as possible to get it over with. Suddenly the activity turned harder, every time I moved the saw the whole arm moved with it. I looked at the man and found out he had passed out. I tucked the towel in his mouth. Now or never. I grabbed his forearm with one hand and clasped his right hand with my left. I let out three quick breaths and broke the remaining bones in his wrist. As soon as they broke I jumped away and looked at the man, his eyes wide open like those of an owl and his chest heaved. Poor guy musta paid all his sins out 'ere.

"I'll getcha outta here."