Chapter 1

The roar of Amber's motorcycle echoed through the air as it sped across the highway, heading towards the city. All hopes of finding her brother had thus far been in vain. The first port of call was the hospital, although that had just been one huge death trap. After barely escaping Amber sort out his family home. Again there was no sign of either Rick or Lori. If it hadn't been for Morgan's son nearly shooting her, Amber would have just wandered aimlessly around the streets until thinking up a new plan of action. Morgan quickly informed her that her brother was in fact alive and heading to the city in search of his wife and son. For someone who was supposed to be in a coma he was doing a pretty good job getting around. She couldn't moan though, this gave her another purpose to keep going.

It had been nine years since she had last seen Rick. In the beginning there had been the occasional phone call on birthdays and at Christmas, even then they had been brief. Amber often laughed to herself as she remembered Lori giving her an ear full over the phone, stating her and Rick were alike in the fact that they never talked much or shared their feelings. Eventually, the phone calls stopped all together. It had never been her intention to lose contact but things had changed for the young woman in those nine years. Her military career had kept her from keeping contact with them, especially since the new assignments she'd been getting. From her experience, it was better to keep them at a distance, it kept them all safe. Not that they would understand if she attempted explaining that. Suppose it didn't really matter now, seeing as the world went to hell.

Amber tried to concentrate on the task at hand, there was no point pondering over the past. You can't change it no matter how much you want to. The only important thing needed now was to find Rick and his family. The young soldier grew more nervous the closer she got to the city. How the hell was she supposed to find Rick in a city full of Rotters?

On arrival, she noted the streets seemed practically bare, not a good sign in her books. There were remnants of military everywhere, like that of the hospital. Turning around one of the many street corners she noticed body after body scattered across the street, including a large decaying pile near the bottom of one of the military's tanks. A few Rotters appeared here and there as the bike slowed. There seemed to be a mostly eaten corpse a few feet away. Turning her face away from what seemed to have once been a horse, she grabbed her beloved sniper rifle from her back. Looking through the scoop she started to scan each of the bodies but still couldn't see any sign of her older brother.

Recalling the last time she'd heard anything off Lori it was off of her Private, reporting that a Mrs Grimes had tried to contact her several times over the past week. She'd left the message that if things got worse that they would be up in the mountains. Sighing, Amber slung her rifle around her back once more and turned her bike around. She wasn't going to find Rick here; it was too big and too dangerous. Best chance was to find Lori and Carl. That way, she and Rick would be trying to achieve the same objective. Heading out of the city she prayed it was the right thing to do.

...

A few hours later...

The sun had set and it was now getting increasing dark as Amber salvaged some gas off the many cars that littered the highway. Now having a full tank in her black Honda CBR600F motorcycle she smiled to herself. She'd been overjoyed the day she stumbled across the showroom displaying this beauty within its window. It made it easier for her to weave in and out of the cars on the streets and highways. Only downside was that it gave little to no protection against Rotters.

Reaching for the water canister at her hip she grimaced at its light weight. She hadn't come across a single stream or lake for miles, there had to be one now. Swallowing the dry lump in her throat Amber ran her parched tongue over her chapped lips. Further up the road she spotted a clearing to the right. It wasn't safe to stay out in the open, especially at night. Starting the engine she tilted the bike to go down the path hoping to get a drink, maybe even a wash. The bike jutted over the rough terrain making her tighten her grip on the handles. Eventually Amber slowed as she caught a glimpse of an orange glow coming from downhill. Turning off the engine the soldier made her way by foot, taking cover behind one of the many trees.

Muffled laughter... human laughter, filled her ears. It had been a long time since she'd heard anyone laugh. Readying her handgun and she tried to get closer. The rifle wouldn't be effective in this situation if these guys weren't friendly towards strangers - too many trees. There seemed to be a small camp fire going, small enough so it couldn't be detected from the highway. Smart move, she thought to herself. There was a dozen people there, sharing jokes and stories. Amber couldn't help closing her eyes as she tried to soak in the feeling of being near people again. It was painfully short lived. Screaming ripped through the cheerful atmosphere causing her to press closer to the tree.

"Rotters…" she breathed as the familiar groans grew louder. Within seconds of finding life it was being destroyed in the next. Debating whether she should enter the now infested camp, the screams sent shivers down her spine. "It's happening all over again", she whispered. Memories spun through her mind. It hurt to think, to remember. Seizing her head between her shaking hands Amber let out a pained whimper. Lightning shot down her spine and into her legs, rooting her to the spot.

"CARL! NO! CARL!" Her eyes lifted, setting her sights on her targets as she turned away from the tree and down to the campsite below. Like instinct her body drew her forward, her gun started shooting bullets into all the Rotters in her way. She couldn't take the risk of ignoring those cries in case it was her nephew. Her body moved faster, each action precise and brutal. When she finally located a young boy believed to be to Carl, he was running from three Rotters. She sprinted after him and shot anything that got in her way. Even if it didn't kill them she made sure it got them out of her path.

Grabbing another cartridge Amber reloaded her gun and shot at the closest of the Rotters. Another whirled on the spot and snarled before lunging towards her. She smirked, blue eyes shining as blood splattered up her clothes. Ahead of her the boy fell to the ground. The soldier took aim and shot. The reanimated corpse tumbled to the ground.

Marching up to the boy she shouted, "YOU CARL?" A moment of hesitation crossed his fear stricken face but he nodded. Grabbing his arm she yanked him to his feet. A brown haired woman appeared by his side. She glanced up after holding the boy tightly to her body. Her face whitened. Before she could speak a word Amber started firing again. "MOVE!" The woman flinched at the command but pulled Carl to follow her.

New gun shots rang out at the other end of the camp. The Rotters numbers were dwindling. Amber did her best to protect the woman and Carl. She was joined by a man with black hair as he shot down Rotters to his right. He yelled to the woman and boy where to start moving to. Amber hesitated before turning to him, "Protect them, I'll cover you!" After a moment he nodded and followed them.

The screams, snarls and gun shots blurred together sending everything into chaos. Turning quickly she raised her pistol to shoot again but stopped, finger resting against the trigger. A cross bow was pointing squarely at her skull with a rugged man breathing heavily behind it. Everything slowed. The snarls and screams disappearing into the background, any movement would've caused both to pull the triggers.

"LORI! CARL! WHERE ARE YOU?" That voice... that's... The young woman snapped out of her trance and slowly lowered the gun as the man in front did the same. Turning her head slightly, she was careful not take her eyes off the man in front of her for too long. Amber saw another man in a sheriff's uniform run up to the woman and boy she'd just help save. He hugged them tightly as though he would've lost them if he let go. She only looked on at them emptily. If this was her family why did she feel nothing towards them? Casting her eyes down, Amber blamed the adrenaline for overwhelming her. Turning around she began to walk away quickly. She had to get away. She didn't want to be near anyone with this empty feeling, reminding her of how broken she truly was.

"Wait!" Amber froze on the spot at the voice. "Don't move!" Slowly turning around she noticed the other survivors making a small circle around her. A man in the sheriff's uniform stepped closer to her. "Who are you?!" he demanded.

Swallowing she gave him a fake smile as she attempted to hide that empty feeling. "No one" the soldier replied. She had no idea why she was acting this way. Perhaps she didn't want to be close to anyone… not after that night. That was, if this was actually her family.

Confusion swept across everyone's face, apart from one, the redneck just glared at her. The sheriff frowned, "I'm not in the mood for games. Who are you?"

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours" she answered seriously. In her experience, never give your name to just anyone. In the corner of her eye she noticed the mothers pulling back their children and the men tightening their grip on their guns. She couldn't find the black haired man from earlier. The sheriff's blue eyes caught her attention again as he stared at her for a second before his frown turned into a puzzled look. He stepped forward and scanned the young woman's face. "There's something… familiar about you."

The boy, Carl, stepped towards the man, "Dad, she knew my name."

The man seemed to think it over for a second before his frown reappeared. "I'm Rick Grimes. Now you are?"

Amber's eyes widened as her heart stopped. So this was her family. The family she'd been looking for. A smile traced her lips as she relaxed enough to put her pistol back in its holster. The feeling of emptiness started to reseed as she started to smirk at her older sibling. Confusion spread across his features as she shifted her weight so that she was leaning on one leg.

"So you don't remember me Rick? Charming and here I thought the elder sibling was meant to be the smarter one, well that's what you always told me anyway." Amber crossed her arms, still smirking at him. "Or is your old age finally getting to you bro?"

Rick's face dropped as he stared at her. She could almost hear the cogs ticking away in his head as his brain processed what she'd said. She couldn't help but laugh as she took her dog tags from around her neck and tossed them to him. Catching them he looked down. "A. Grimes," he whispered. Lifting his head he moved forward again and stared into her eyes. Realisation struck him before he pulled his sister into him. The sudden action caused her to lose her breath slightly. When he pulled away tears ran down his cheeks before he kissed her forehead. "Thank god... Amber".