I DO NOT OWN THE WALKING DEAD (although I wish I did lol); I JUST OWN MY STORY LINE :)


Prologue

I never encountered a man like him before. All it took was one sideway glare. One single glance in my direction. One long hard look into his cavernous eyes, and I was completely captivated by him. Neither of us knew one another; but, in an instant… I belonged to him. I was his hostage, his prisoner, his property. He was like a drug I couldn't rid myself from, a demon I never wanted to escape from. A powerful escape from reality, a pleasure unlike anything I'd ever experienced in my whole entire life.

The way his fingers trickled across my skin, the seductive graze he'd give me when I growled; he was pure sin & I couldn't get enough of it. Like an addict needs heroine, I needed him... All it took was one second, and my world, my normalcy... It all changed forever...

XxxxxxxX


Chapter One - The Governors' Wife

"Hunny, did you hear me?" Phillips' face appeared alongside my reflection in the mirror, as I pulled my face back up from the sink; and shut off the faucet, "My burgundy tie, do you have any idea where it is? It was here yesterday, I know it was"

Drying my face with the towel, I tried to mentally locate it in my mind. I knew I'd seen the thing just the night before; but the question was where?

"Give me one second Sweetie; I'm sure it's in here somewhere"

As I hurried to dry the remainder of my face with the towel, and scrounge the room for this missing tie, I could see Phillip becoming more and more anxious; or rather, I could feel him becoming more and more anxious with every second that passed. He'd always gotten that way, whenever something wasn't completely planned out, or something was missing and it through off his carefully prearranged day; hence the tie. Some might say that he technically had symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; although he was never actually diagnosed with such. However, I'd gotten pretty used to it by then – his meltdowns when things were shaken up a little, and not being able to locate a tie? Ha, that was just a minor freak out, I'd dealt with worse.

"I'm really – I'm going to be late Beth" he said with a fretful tone as he too, continued scoping our bedroom for the misplaced tie.

"I know, just hold on a sec. We'll find it"

I never understood his panic attacks over small things like that, I mean, honestly… just wear a different tie. But nonetheless, I kept looking.

"Ah here it is!" I shouted from the living room as I retrieved the perfect burgundy tie up from the floor next to Harley, our fairly new six-month old German Shepard, "I found the hairy little bandit"

I dusted it off, thoroughly checking to make sure the pup hadn't done any damage to it, and thankfully she hadn't, before handing it to Phillip.

"Harley this is not the way to get on my good side" Phillip joked as he wrapped the tie around his neck, prompting me to help him finish it as his nerves settled from his apprehension.

I have to admit, my nerves had to settle a bit as well. I really hadn't felt like dealing with one of his freak out's that morning neither, and had the pup done anything to the tie, there definitely would have been a freak out.

"Thank you sweetheart" he said as he lowered his lips to mine and gave me a gentle kiss, "What would I do without you?"

I just smiled. Even with all his quirks, and the stress he'd put me through when he'd panic about minor things, simple moments like that would make that all disappear. I loved him, I really did. He was the only man I'd been with my entire life, the only man who'd ever touched me.

We'd been married for three years by that time, and before that, we dated for almost two. He was all I'd ever known for such a long period of my life, that it felt safe, normal, planned out.

"Have a good day Sweetie, knock em' dead" I said with a smile briefly as he planted one more kiss on my forehead and made his way out the door.

Phillip was a business man mostly; he earned a degree in law a few years back and began working for a high-end public affair law firm in Atlanta. We'd moved to the city particularly for his job; but also due to his passion of wanting to run for city public office as well. He'd always been a people person, and he liked the challenge of petitioning government and trying to make differences for the common good of the public. He was trying to earn a spot as the city Governor at the time, which of course I was proud of him for; however, along with his campaigning, a lot of our personal life was beginning to become something of public interest.

Even though I'd never imagined myself being interviewed on behalf of my husband, or hearing my family members tell me how they'd seen me on TV occasionally, I learned to cope with it all because I loved him. I loved that he was passionate about it, I loved that it gave him something to work towards. He had many goals, and that was a great attribute of his. The life was demanding at times, sometimes stressful; but I appreciated it more or less. It did have its downfalls sometimes, being in the public eye, but I dealt with it all. I mean, I knew the type of person Phillip was when I married him- that's what I signed up for when I said 'I do' to him.

Before he'd come into my life, I was just a normal southern girl living at home on my Daddy's farm, going to college and just trying to do the best I could. I lived a rather simple life, very slow paced and nonchalant. That was normal to me.

Sometimes I missed being close to my family, my dad, my sister Maggie; but, that was one of the choices I made when I agreed to move to Atlanta with my husband. Prior to that, I lived in the small town of Senoia. I attended a community college and then eventually made it into a University for my Master's Degree. It's funny because at the time, I thought that was the craziest part of my life. Small town girl gets accepted into a State University to complete her degree on Animal Studies, Science and Medicine. It was unheard of, and probably one of the most exciting things that had ever happened in my life, that is, before meeting Phillip of course.

He and I met during my senior year of Graduate school. I was smitten with him from the second I laid eyes on him, I actually remember saying that it was love at first sight. He was handsome, charming, sweet, caring, and funny. Everything I'd wanted in someone, he was.

He was in his last year of Law School and we actually met during a case study on Animal Cruelty. He was volunteering at the local courthouse for service credits, and I was part of the petitioning side, trying to prove that the city had violated animal protection laws.

It's funny when I think back about it because Phillip was actually helping to defend the city, and I was looking to help prove that they committed a crime. We were technically enemies, on opposite sides; but somehow, I guess fate intervened, despite the circumstances.

I'd always catch him staring at me during the debates, stealing glances or starting casual small talk before and after; but once the trial was completed a few months after, and the verdict was made, he finally worked up the courage to ask me on a date. I was apprehensive at first, worried that this man was some kind of raging lunatic that had some vendetta against poor innocent animals. However, I gave him a chance and well, found out that he wasn't this crazy man I thought he was. He actually loved animals; he just had to complete the case for his degree.

After that, everything was history. We just clicked and became inseparable ever since. My family had their reservations about him at first, because he was so set on moving to Atlanta; however, they supported my decision to be with him nonetheless and eventually warmed up to the idea. Things just kind of progressed, and after two years we were married and heading to the city. I honestly always thought I'd live and work in Senoia, conducting studies on the many acres of woods and wild animals we had there; but, I decided to give up a part of me to be with Phillip. I loved him, and I figured I'd make it work.

I wasn't as involved with wildlife the way I wanted to be; however, I did frequently make trips out of the city to conduct studies and experiments often. It wasn't completely diminished.

That particular day, I was actually heading out to the northern hills of Georgia. There had been a lot of talk about the recent migration and the increasing numbers of deer in that area, so I wanted to see it for myself. Kind of observe the area and find out the root of the cause, and why there was such a sudden increase.

I had originally planned to go with a co-worker at the small animal clinic I worked part-time for in Atlanta; but at the last minute she bailed, said her son had come down with some kind of stomach bug and she wouldn't be able to.

I wasn't sure if I'd have another chance to go in the coming weeks, because of all Phillips public events and stuff, so I decided to make the trip anyway, alone. It wasn't like I'd never done something like that by myself before. I did it all the time in Senoia, so I wasn't really concerned about it. I wanted to complete this study, so the logical thing to do was to just go and do it, with or without my co-worker.

After Phillip left, I carried on with my usual morning routine. I jumped in the shower, dressed myself and tied my hair up in a messy ponytail. Grabbed a quick bite to eat for breakfast, and then packed a bag of some extra water and a few snacks for myself for the drive and the expedition.

Once I finished and I was set to head out towards my destination, I quickly fed Harley, grabbed my cellphone and my documentation journal and made my way out the door, closing it behind me, never knowing just how symbolic those couple of minutes would be to me later. How unfamiliar those things would feel after that day, how much my routine would forever change.

Waiting in the elevator as it descended was always a pain. It was one of the worst parts about living in a 22 story, high-rise apartment. Phillip and I lived on the 21st floor, and it was a beautiful spacious penthouse style apartment; however, the constant stopping at each floor on the way down the elevator was pure misery. Sometimes it would take nearly ten minutes to get to the bottom, especially in the morning hours when all the business men and woman who lived in the building were all leaving for work at the same time. It was definitely my least favorite thing about living there.

When the elevator door finally opened on the lobby floor, I prepped myself for the amount of news casters and reporters that seemed to increase each and every day outside the complex doors. As the race for Governor continued on, Phillip was more and more of a target to the press as a result, and myself, being his wife, was a prime focus as well.

I was starting to get somewhat used to it; however, I don't think anyone could ever prepare enough for the intrusive and very demanding attitudes of news reporters pushing microphones in your face and following you with cameras the minute you step onto the street. It was a stressful thing to deal with; but I tried to remind myself that everyone had a job to do. My father always told me that, of course, pertaining to other circumstances; but I felt it applied to that situation as well. It was their job to conduct the newest happenings in the city, even if that meant trying to dig up any kind of dirt they could on the potential new Governor and his wife.

"Mrs. Blake, can you tell us how it feels to know your husband is in the highest ranking for the race of Atlanta's new city Governor?"

"Mrs. Blake, what is Phillip Blake's strategy during this election process?"

The shouting and the many questions rang through my ears as I tried to shimmy my way through them, at many times thinking about just bolting to the parking garage as fast as I can.

"He is very passionate about his running for Governor, and I am very proud of him", I said simply as I tried to push my way through, feeling an increasing sense of anxiety as I smiled my way past, "I'm sorry, I am in a hurry. I can't answer any more questions"

Finally getting to the parking garage, which they were not prohibited to enter into, was like a luxury, although it felt like it took years to get to it and it was only a few feet away from the main door.

As I reached my SUV and got into the driver's seat, I took a couple of deep breaths and began regrouping myself after such chaos. I had to; it was the only way to get my mind back on track.

Eventually I started the car, and drove off towards my intended destination. I have to admit, that was probably the best part about driving the many hours out to conduct these studies; they were mostly in the middle of nowhere, where no one knew who I was, and there wasn't one news reporter looking to follow me around. It was relaxing, and a nice escape from all the madness. I really enjoyed the couple of hours I'd have in peace, even if it was only temporary.

After a good two hours, I'd finally reached my exit on the highway and geared off towards a very secluded and very quiet wooded area. It mostly consisted of dirt roads and not one person in sight. As I pulled off to a shoulder on the road, and cut off the engine, I grabbed my tote, throwing my journal, camera, snacks, water, cellphone and pepper spray into it. Everything was pretty much essential, except for the pepper spray. Phillip had recently given that to me; he said it made him feel more comfortable when I went out on such exhibitions if I had it, so to please him; I always took it with me.

I finally got out the car and headed into the woods, to begin the first half of my study. I stayed in that area for a good couple of hours or so, getting a great deal of pictures, and documenting a decent amount of deer; however, it wasn't really enough to compare yet, so I decided to head back to the car and find a second area to enter into.

It was approaching noon already by the time I returned back to the car, and figured I'd just drive a couple of miles, find a place to stop, and then wander out for just a few more hours, three tops, before heading back home.

As I drove along the dirt roads, trying to balance keeping an eye on my GPS, as well as focusing on the road, all of a sudden a deer came racing out into the street, followed by its' young. I panicked as I swerved left and right to avoid hitting them, eventually coming to an involuntary halt as the SUV reared off onto the side and I heard a loud pop from my front tire.

"Shit!" I shouted out, banging my hands against the steering wheel, when I realized that I had definitely given myself a flat tire.

I jumped out the car and immediately walked towards the deflated tire, examining it to see what the hell could have caused it to completely rip open. As I bent down onto the ground, I noticed a massive claw trap resting behind the tire and instantly my frustration rose.

Not only had this stupid trap completely severed my tire; but some asshole must have set it there to catch a deer, or any animal for that matter. I don't know which one made me more livid, but just the thought of some poor animal becoming caught in such a trap really infuriated me. What kind of heartless person would willingly inflict pain upon another living thing? It baffled me that people were so cruel, and so evil.

After dealing with the many emotions running through me, I finally got back up and went to retrieve my cell phone from the car; hoping that I could call Triple A or something to come help me change the tire. I had a spare in the bottom canvas of the trunk; but I didn't know the first thing about how to change a tire. It was almost foreign to me.

I pulled the phone out of my tote and aimlessly walked in circle, raising the phone up and down as I tried to get an increase signal.

"Figures" I muttered, as not even the slightest increase in service changed, "great, now what?" I asked myself, trying to figure out something to do in that situation.

A second later I happened to smell a faint burning of some sort, and I walked towards the other side of the road to get a view of the dark smoke that was lingering above the tall tree tops adjacent from me.

It looked like chimney smoke, the same dark thick smolder that would release from the chimney top back at home on the farm. I knew it had to be coming from someone's home and maybe, perhaps, they might have a landline I could use to call for help.

I may have made a really bad decision, not knowing whose home I was going to try and wander upon, but in that moment, I really had no other options. So I decided to grab my tote, lock up the car, and follow the direction of the smell. Never really knowing how much that decision would forever change the course of my life…


There you have it... the prologue & the first chapter :)

Hope you are all intrigued and I look forward to the progression of this story... it's going to be intense!

Don't forget to review please :) :)

Until the next chapter... Xo