Against All Odds
Panic's note: Alright, guys! So, here I am pitching my first full length fiction at you. I admit this start is different and doesn't allow much background for the character. The story will build on who she was as this progresses much as the Walking Dead has done with its characters. The goal is to keep this as believable as possible. So yes I will be following closely to the story line and framework of the show. I do NOT have a background with the comics, therefore that verse will be left out of this story entirely.
The pairing for this will be an eventual Rick/OC. Although I'm thinking Daryl will have a nice role in this story as well.
This isn't your typical OC driven plot either. I'm keeping this real, so that pairing is eventual in every sense of the word. Lori and Carl are going to be a part of this. I won't be doing any unnecessary axing just for convenience sake.
This OC will be the main focus of this. If you don't like OCs then I'd have to say this probably isn't the story for you.
I think I've run my mouth enough for now. Enjoy the show! :)
Disclaimer: It's not mine if you recognize it. All characters and similarity in plot/setting belong to their respective owners. I'm just using them for my own amusement right now.
Chapter 1: Should've, Could've, Would've
The groan of old metal twisting together broke the still silence just off the perimeter as a slender woman jumped from the battered old ford. Her body tensed while her eyes scanned the surrounding field leading into the forest line. There was nothing too out of place and everything remained eerily quiet. She gave a short determined nod before turning back to the truck to quickly grab a pistol from within. With great effort she softly shut the door to the Ford, which only awarded her with another loud groan. The woman's gaze quickly shot back to her surroundings. Her ice blue eyes conveying her fear as she remained frozen in place. She managed to take a few shaky breaths which gave her enough courage to peel away from the rusted truck. She couldn't stand there forever or turn back. She'd made up her mind and was now on a self-proclaimed mission to find something. Be that supplies or weaponry. Of course, she had to push away the most likely encounter she'd be facing. Walkers, and given the fact that she was now all alone, it just made that sad reality that much harsher.
So, with another shaky breath and some dwindling courage she withdrew her hand from the rusted handle. Cautiously she stepped onto the weed ridden rocky drive. Again she threw a few frantic looks around the perimeter. After coming this far she wasn't going to let down her guard. Granted her guard was a weak one and her stability as a whole had about reached its breaking point.
"Focus," she chided herself in a dry voice. Quickly, she drew her attention away from her anxiety rampant thoughts. She needed supplies and a former evacuation point had to have something left behind with it, or whatever this place represented. She already had the uneasy feeling that she was about to set foot on an unmarked cemetery. Those few who'd fallen or had been left for dead would never be set to rest in peace. It was a sickening truth to this new world, but one that she had come to turn a blind eye to.
She came to a quick stop at the fence and stifled a yelp at the two dead walkers lying just beyond it. They were lined up perfectly with deep sliced blows to the head. She shook her head and swallowed. Even after months of seeing this, living this, experiencing this – she still couldn't handle the sight of it – which really was a testament to her weakened spirit. Ever death marked a step furtherer from finding a way through this. Whatever "this" was as she could hardly place a name to it. It was something volatile, biological, and altogether deadly.
Taking another sharp breath she brought her gaze back down on the walkers as she quickly analyzed the pair. Her training in the EMT field showing through as she noted the still black trickling blood seeping from the head wounds of the walkers. That's when it hit her. In a rush she glanced back to the road and caught sight of the Hyundai. She wasn't alone. She couldn't be. The walkers looked like fresh kills, which meant whoever had passed through here hadn't left yet. Or had they? She tilted her head back to the partially opened fence. One of these days her oblivious nature was going to bite her in the ass. Cursing her bad luck the woman pushed back her matted chestnut hair. She began shifting her weight between her feet as she weighed her choices. She could move forward with her hopeful scavenging and take her chances or she could continue on to the next town. She let out a tired frustrated sigh as she pulled her free hand from her tangled dirty hair, wincing as her fingers caught on a few snags.
Raising the pistol in front of her she slowly made to creep through the fencing and onto the property. Her eyes darting about as she stepped past the fallen walkers, walking in between the truck and them. She didn't have the first clue as to where to start, so made for the nearest building. Her hands shaking slightly as she came to a stop against the wall.
"You've got this," she mumbled weakly, doing her best to build on her courage.
She had been so much stronger when she was with the small band of survivors from her region. Of course, it had been two weeks since she lost them. Not to the walkers, but to her own misdirection. She shook her head at the haunting memory. There wasn't time for any of this. She needed to get in and out without being noticed by man and walker alike. In a way she almost preferred walkers to the living. They were dangerous without a doubt, but they weren't manipulating or deceitful. The few months she'd spent with the small band had made her sickly aware of this fact. In this world you were your own guardian. If you couldn't watch your own back then you were as good as walker bait.
Her pause wasn't long lived. She had to keep moving, to fight, to survive, or everything she'd been through was in vain. With that she moved along the rough brick wall and towards what she could only hope was an entrance. Sucking in another deep breath she came to a stop at the edge. Her attention focused in on trying to hear anything out of place. With a reassuring smirk she slinked around the wall, but came to a quick stop as it drew to a close in a mess of bushes. She didn't at all fail to notice the dried blood stains spattered about the wall. This wasn't a terribly good sign, but she had to press on. She came to an abrupt stop on her path as a desperate voice cried out for help. Within seconds she had slammed herself down against the grimy bricks. Her breathing now rapid as she thought of all the possibilities for the cry and what it meant to her. Her eyes shot back down along the wall, towards the fallen walkers, and past that to her only form of safety. She needed to get back there and fast.
"He knows where the farm is, Rick." A man's voice muttered in judgment. The sound of approaching footsteps coming to a halt a few yards away. Slowly, the woman crept closer. Her free hand pushed aside the bushes that blocked her view. In this moment her curiosity overrode her survival instincts that screamed at her to leave. It had been weeks since she'd heard a person speak. It was an actual person at that. He wasn't groaning, growling, or wheezing. For a while she'd been convinced that the band she'd been traveling with were the last few remaining.
"Shane, no!" The other man, who she could only assume was Rick bellowed, grabbed onto the shooter's arm in a rush. This was enough to drag the woman back to reality and to the scene that was unfolding in front of her. The wiser person would've taken this as a cue to run, but somehow she found herself locked in place.
That, of course was enough to knock the aim off his target. Her blue eyes followed the trajectory of the pointed gun which led to the bounded kid. Oh dear lord what had she stumbled upon. She held onto a gasp of sheer confusion and fear as she dropped the bushes and pressed even more tightly to the wall. Her mind now raced trying to think of a way out of this mess without being noticed.
"I don't think you can keep them safe." The man who'd let loose the shot countered. Her hand pulled back the bushes carefully as she peeked in on the scene. The man referred to as Rick answered with a determined growl before slamming into the gunman.
"Oh god," she muttered to herself, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were now stuck to the two strong men fighting it out amongst the abandoned cars. She shook her head in disgust before tearing her gaze away from them. They were fully distracted now and this was not a show she intended to watch all the way through. This was her chance and she'd be damned if she didn't take it. She frowned as her gaze slipped from the brawling men to the bounded boy. The faintest traces of guilt pulled on her hard features, once soft but now hardened by the months spent surviving, as she turned to leave them. There wasn't much she could do for the poor kid's situation either way. Even if she wanted to help him she couldn't.
She still gripped tightly to her gun with her right hand while she edged her way back stealthily against the brick wall. Her attention focused solely on completing this task as the sounds of battle crashed out loudly behind her. She could hear the sound of metal meeting pavement when she finally rounded back to safety. Her pulse beating wildly at the suddenly dire situation she'd walked right into. They were lunatics! They had to be. The amount of noise alone would draw the walkers out. Her grimy hand shook violently as her gaze slipped down to her only weapon. She had five rounds and that wasn't nearly enough. She stood in a daze as she realized just how screwed she was bound to be.
Her trance was broken by the distinct sound of glass breaking from the brawling fight behind her. The sound of the wrestling men now gone, replaced by gurgling groans. Her blood ran cold within an instant. That sound marked the beginning of her worst nightmare. She only had one option now and took it. Breaking away from the wall at a fast stumbling sprint she made for the Ford. Her forceful steps pushing her out onto the field leading back to the fencing. She'd made it half way across the field when she heard the shuffling of feet followed by an even louder chorus of the walkers.
"Hey! Hey you! Wait! Please!" The boy's voice called out from behind her. She knew she shouldn't stop. She didn't know him and right now she valued her life more than that of someone she didn't know. So, she kept moving. Her only acknowledgment of his words being represented in the haphazard glance she tossed back at him. Her face strained between sorrow and terror.
"Run!" She called back to him. It was the best advice she had in that moment as her focus remained tied to the fence.
The shuffling and groaning only grew louder with each step that took her farther away from the source. She knew better than to leave the living behind, but what other choice did she have? She had five rounds in her pistol. That was five walkers down, if she could even nail the shots. She couldn't risk it and that was final. Her pace faltered some as she came to a stop by the fencing. Against her better judgment she casted a glance back.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she muttered to the boy, who was now trailing a walker or two. It seemed the bulk of the horde had taken chase to the two men. She slipped through the fencing haphazardly as she gritted her teeth. She couldn't bear to witness the kid's downfall. It would partially be on her hands if she thought about it. No life was worth losing in this trying time and yet here she was running like hell for her truck. It was selfish of her and she knew it. Survival was her focal point in life now and that justified her inhumane actions. It countered everything she'd believed in only months ago, yet it was her only choice. At least she would continue to tell herself that if only to remain somewhat sane.
The troubled thoughts were quickly cut off, however as she came to a skidding stop just by the Hyundai. In hindsight, she really shouldn't have been shocked by the walkers now slowly making their way down the vacant street leading up to the property. After all, the trio had made enough noise to draw the attention of every walker within a mile or more. She stood in shock for a moment before continuing forward. The sight of them would never lose its chilling effect.
Her legs now grinded into the rocky ground beneath her feet with a new found vitality. The gun jolting about as she tried to steady it in her rush. It was more of a reinforcing power to the woman than an actual tool of use. Her aim was a lousy one and not considerably lifesaving given her background.
One of the approaching walkers shifted its direction towards her as she dashed towards the truck. She caught sight of it just out of her periphery while coming to a crashing stop against the truck. Pain shot through her side while she turned back towards her enemy. Its rotting flesh dangled wickedly from its mangled mouth as it continued mindlessly towards her. Its grey festering arms reached out hungrily while its legs quickened in their stumbling attempt to reach its prey.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" The woman cursed, raising a shaky gun towards the monster. Her focus faltered on her target as she took her aim and squeezed the trigger. It was too close for her to leap in the truck safely. This would ultimately leave her with four rounds, a sick stomach, and a crow bar. The shot blasted through the rotted flesh, punching a hole through the walker's throat, which caused the walker to stumble back in reciprocation of the shot. The woman cringed at the sight before forcing herself to regain her sense.
Chestnut hair flew about the woman's face as she twisted hastily back to the truck, yanking the door open, and falling into its safety. Her time was running short and the growing walkers were making that a clear point. So with as much precision as she could manage she slammed the door shut and ignited the old truck's ignition. The truck roared to life and the audible shifting of gears rang out above the sickening sounds of the walkers. Her gunshot only dragged more of their attention towards her. She slammed on the gas revving the engine to life and screeched out onto the country road. She winced with each walker she aimed her truck at. At least she could offer some support to the men she'd left behind. In her own twisted way this gave her even more justification for what she was doing. She didn't know them, but they were living. Even if she was leaving them to essentially fend for themselves. It gave her hope and in that moment it gave her the strength to fight back.
She tossed a pained glanced to her rearview mirror as the truck lurched up from the impact of hitting another walker. She made out two forms staggering quickly back to the Hyundai and a tight smile crossed her lips. The Hyundai screeched out onto the rocky road making a clear path back towards the property. She could only imagine what they were doing. Her smile quickly fell back to a hard line while she pushed aside her rising emotions. Once again she was leaving behind what little bit of life still remained on the planet.
The route she took rounded back to the country road. Her thoughts were still torn over her easy retreat. This wasn't the first time she'd skipped out on survivors. All of this running was starting to take a toll on her. It was becoming harder to keep up the act and survive. She wasn't fighting for anyone but herself and after everything she'd done it was starting to grate on her willpower.
She shouted as the impact of all of that crashed into her. Her hand slammed down hard against the steering wheel and she winced. For the first time in a long time she was angry with herself. She should've done something back there. She could've gone out on a limb and fought for those three men. She spent ten years as an EMT, yet here she was turning her back on those who needed her help. Why wouldn't she do it? She shook her head fiercely at the swirling doubts.
"You had no other choice," she reminded herself aloud, wiping her dried eyes as frustrated tears threatened to fall.
Her mental breakdown was shorted lived. Her blurry vision caught sight of a vehicle parked in the middle of the road a mile or so ahead. She frowned at the sight. She knew that vehicle, but from where? The truck decelerated as she crept closer to the obstacle. Her eyes widened when she was close enough to make it out. The silver Hyundai shone in the dappled light from the forest that surrounded them. Two men, the two that had been fighting to be exact, stood outside of the car. The one she remembered as Rick seemed to be speaking to the gunman, who she vaguely thought was named Shane. The latter was staring right back at her with a broad smile. Although, the smile was nothing short of intimidating. Rick turned his gaze to the truck at the other's smile. Neither of them moved. Clearly they wanted a word with her.
The woman behind the wheel sat in a stunned silence. The truck crept closer toward the pair, while her grip tightened on the steering wheel. She had no idea why they were sitting there. To be honest she didn't really want to know.
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