The End As We Know It

I own nothing except my own characters that were created through my own imagination and experiences. This is my first attempt at writing so please be kind and understanding. I thrive on comments and suggestions so If you want something to happen or if I got something wrong feel free to tell me. Just please be kind and understanding is all I ask. "Treat others as you would wish to be treated."

Chapter One: Escape to Safety

"When the world ends where will you be and what will you do with the life you have be given."-E.B.D

Silence filled the air, streets were empty and there was no sign of life to be seen anywhere. The city of Atlanta was dead. Proof of this waited for unsuspecting travelers around the next corner. The once empty streets are now filled with the undead shuffling slowly and dumbly waiting for their next meal to appear around the corner or out of an ally. Light, sound, or movement would attract their attention just like it would when they were alive. They could only be killed by a death blow to the head destroying the brain. The only thing that was keeping their bodies moving. You would have to be a fool to enter the dead city and hope to survive or get out without becoming one of the many undead bodies walking the streets.

But one woman did just that she entered the city. But she did not come here blindly she was on a mission. She needed supplies she had a long journey ahead of her through the countryside and she wanted to be prepared. She was like a ghost as she snaked her way through the city streets creeping from store to store gathering everything that would fit in her military small pack that she stole from a dead soldier. So far she had medical supplies, weapons, water, blankets, and a tent all she needed now was to gather some extra food and cloths and she could leave this undead grave yard once and for all.

Snaking her way from corner to corner ally to ally she slowly made her to a small mall. Her compound bow at the ready to shoot anything undead that stood in her way. Thankful the bow never had to be used as she ducked into the store un-noticed by the undead on the street out front. She pushed the hood of her small cape off her head and began to carefully gather supplies keeping an eye and ear out for any undead that might have gotten into the building. She grabbed food and cloths and a few cleaning supplies and some batteries and quickly stuffed it all in her bag and buckled it shut. She heard something move behind her, she wiped around bow drawn and ready to fire eyes alert and blazing with rage. The nose was that of a walker shuffling through the wracks of cloths she had been amongst only a moment ago. Without hesitation she shot it right between the eyes. Once she was sure the thing would not be getting back up she retrieved her arrow and cleaned it off on a cloth in her pocket. She turned on her heel pulling her hood over her head and heading toward the entrance. Seeing the multitude of walkers out front she decided to try the back way out. Drawing her sword she began to carefully snake her way to the back of the building.

Thankfully she made it to the back without a problem only one other undead had stood in her way and she easily dispatched it with her sword. Creeping out the back door she creped down the ally heading toward the main road out of Atlanta. Sadly she was cornered as both exits to the ally were heavily blocked by the undead she would need a distraction and a faster way out. Looking around she found her fast way out, A black Yamaha Ninja sport bike was parked against the far wall. Frisking through the saddle bags on the bike she found the keys. ' What idiot leaves their keys to a bike like this in their SADDLE BAGS! How stupid can people actually be?' She thought as she hopped on the bike and rolled it toward the exit that lead to her way out. Now her distraction, she took the RC car attached to the outside of her bag and put it on the ground, she turned on the remote and slowly drove the car to out to the side walk. The undead did not notice the little red car as it sat there at the entrance to the ally.

Taking a deep breath she turned the key in the ignition and the bike revved to life. Thankfully the bike had a full tank so she didn't have to worry about the bike running out of gas before she got sound of the bike made the undead curious and they began to move toward the ally. Quickly the woman drove the RC car out into the middle of the street catching the undead's attention. She pushed a button the remote and the car began to flash its lights and make noise as the woman sent the car flying down the street and away from the alley. The undead followed the car dumbly thinking that this would be their next meal. Once the way was cleared she turned off the remote, stuffed it back into her bag and rocketed out of the alley the sound of the bike getting the attention of the undead once again. But the bike was far faster then them she flew past them and raced out the of city leaning down to grab the RC car as she flew past and hanging onto it as she flew down the street. The undead tried their hardest to chase after the bike but to no avail. Even with one had the woman skillfully wove through the reaching hands of the undead and in a matter of minutes made it out of the city. Once she was far enough away she stopped and reattached the RC car to the outside of her pack pulling the straps tight before riding on.

She rode for what felt like hours before she saw a path leading off the road up to a ridge of sorts. If she could get up there she could rest take inventory of her supplies and decided where to got from here. She moved the bike towards the dirt path that led to the ridge. When she got to the top however she was not faced with an empty ridge like she had hoped. Instead she sped into a camp of survivors. She brought her bike to a stop and looked around. There was an old RV and several other vehicles as well as at least three families two sets of siblings and a few lone strays with faces that said they had once had friends and families to. This was a large group, a group that looked settled and prepared for the worst. Taking one look at the size of the group she could tell there would be no room for her here. There were already to many mouths to feed here she would be adding one more. Even though she longed to stay and finally be amongst the living things weren't the same anymore. She sighed and began to turn her bike around as a few of the men in the group approached her.

"Hey wait a sec!" one of the men called

The woman looked back to see it was an older man who had a kind face and wore a fishing hat. He walked behind a man wearing a brown t-shirt, black pants, combat boots and 22 necklace; from how he carried himself she guessed this was their leader. Following him was a young Asian boy that looked only a little younger then her, beside him was a large black man and beside him a man that looked Mexican but she could not be sure. She sat back on her bike as the men approached.

"I'm sorry gentleman to trespass on your camp I thought this ridge was empty. I'll be leavin and lookin for somewhere to set up my own camp I mean no harm and will be leaving immediately." she said calmly going back to turning her bike around. Only to be stopped by the older gentleman as he placed a hand on the handlebars of the bike.

" There's no need for ya to leave. We're not goin' to hurt ya." he said gently

By now the rest of the camp had gathered to watch the arrival of this new comer.

" Your all alone and you look kind of lost. It would be kind of cruel to send you away." said the young boy

" You would be surprised how many would disagree with that statement mi amigo." the woman said sadly remember the other groups she had run into in the past who were not so kind.

" Well we don' do tha' roun' here. Your welcome to stay." said the leader of the welcome party.

"I don' want to be a burden to you. It looks like you have your hands full enough round here." she said nodding her head in the direction of the small crowd of people that had gathered to watch what was going on.

"As long as ya pull your weight and don' start no trouble you won' be a burden to none of us." said the leader

" So you'll let me stay?" She asked cautiously not use to being welcomed so easily into a group. She was use to being told to screw off and held at gun point till she left. But people were giving her a chance and welcoming her into their already large group.

" Well I guess I'll stay then if its really not a problem."she said giving a small smile of happiness at finally being around living breathing people again.

" Alright then. How bout you park tha bike of yers and i'll introduce ya ta everyone." said the leader. The men moved out the way so that she could slowly drive her bike over to where the other vehicles were parked. The leader walked up to her still being trailed by the other men.

" I'm Shane, Shane Walsh. This is Dale" He pointed to the older gentleman " This here is Glenn " the young Asian boy " This is T-Dog" the large black man " and this is Morales." The Mexican man. Placing a hand on her shoulder he gently lead her farther into camp and began introducing everyone else.

" The two blond sisters there are Amy and Andrea" the girls smiled and waved " Thats Jim and Jackie" Jim gave a nod and Jackie smiled " Over there is Morales wife and kids, then over there is Ed and his wife and daughter Carol and Sophia." Sophia gave a shy wave while her mother gave a weak smile her husband simply glared at her "Then over there we have Lori and Carl Grimes." he said

The woman looked over and noticed a tent off to the side of the others and saw two men sitting near it looking over with disinterest.

"Who are those two?" she asked pointing to the two men. Shane looked over to who she was pointing at and his smiled faded and he gave a small sigh almost as if he had hoped she wouldn't noticed those two.

" Oh thats Merle and Daryl Dixon ya best not bother with them. Those two is trouble." said Shane dislike clear in his voice judging by the expression on the other mens faces at the mention of the two the were not popular around here.

" There mean, racist and just straight up trouble. If you can avoid them thats what we do if can." said Glenn his good mood disappearing. As she looked over to the brothers they also had looks of distaste on their face as they looked at the group of men.

" Well on that awkward note thank you for the introductions pleasure to meet you all" she said loud enough for all to hear before turning back to Shane.

" So is there a certain spot I have to put my tent or can I just hunker down anywhere?" she asked

Shane smiled his good mood returning again.

" Ya can set up where ever ya like just not to far from where everyone else is alright?" he said with a smile as the other men began to disperse.

" Sure and let me guess if I need anything come talk to you right?" she asked cheerfully Shane chuckled

"Yeah you can come ta me or Dale or anyone else in camp and we'll help ya get settled in here." He said.

The woman smiled and hoisted her pack over her shoulders and grabbed her tent.

" Alright then I am off to set up shop nice meeting you all. Talk to ya later." she said turning to walk away when Dale called to her from the roof of the RV.

" Before you run off Miss might we know what your name is?" he asked playfully. The woman groaned smacked a hand over her face.

"Jeez I am really out of it today. Sorry for not saying my name earlier. But I'm Emma, Emma Decosta." she said with a smile making sure she said it loud enough for everyone to hear. As she pushed back her hood revealing long dark brown hair, olive skin and oddly enough bright pink eyes. She smiled to everyone as she walked away to go pitch her tent.