Author's Note:

Hey there! Thanks for clicking on my fanfiction, Sophia's Lost Days. This is an idea that I've had floating around in my head for some time- and since I've been rewatching the series, I figured it was time to give it a shot.

This should be around 13 chapters, each one titled after the respective Season 2 episodes so you have an idea of where the story is in the timeline. The chapters will link to the episode title in one way or another.

If this story does well, I will do a sequel following the events of the season 2 and the following seasons.

Please enjoy this first chapter of Sophia's Lost Days. As it is not overly long, the second chapter will be uploaded shortly.

Word count: 1,664.

Last Edited: 18/3/18 (Grammatical errors corrected)

Chapter 1 -

What Lies Ahead -

Sophia had never been so terrified in her entire life. Those one-sided shouting matches between her Father and her Mother, when she used to cower in her room? The first few days of the nightmarish outbreak, when they had to flee- leaving behind everything...and everyone...that they'd ever known? When the camp got swarmed, and the walkers stormed in, killing her Dad, Jim, and Amy? That was nothing compared to the true fear that she was currently feeling- for this time…she was alone, with no one to comfort her. Yes, Mr Grimes had led the walkers away- but that still meant she was on her own until he got back...and who knows what could happen between now and then? If he ever even came back at all- after all, who knows how many more walkers were out there?

There was so many on the highway...

The thought of being alone for too long, at the mercy of the shambling undead, sent shivers down Sophia's spine. After all, she was just a kid- she didn't know how to shoot a gun or use a knife...her father would never have allowed her to learn. So she was completely defenceless- unable to do anything but sit and wait, shivering in the dank water of the creek.

Unless…

Unless she ran back to the highway.

She was a fast runner- all her teachers used to comment on how good she was...even her father used to crack a smile when he saw her running in school sports contests...sometimes.

Yes- she could run back to the highway and find her Mom! But then...Mr Grimes wouldn't be able to find her if he got back. He'd worry...and her Mom would go crazy when she found out. So she'd have to stay put. It was going to be scary- and cold...but she had to do what Mr Grimes said. He knew what was best- he was a grown up...and he was a police officer. A good police officer. So that had to count for something, right?

Taking a deep breath, Sophia did her best to steady her nerves. Settling down as best she could, Sophia curled around herself- it was starting to look like Mr Grimes was going to be a while.

Sophia was really starting to worry- the sun was getting lower and lower...and Mr Grimes still wasn't back. There had only been two or three walkers chasing her- so how long would it take to kill those few? Unless he'd run into more...which wouldn't be good. He was great at shooting things...but he was still just one man. And one man could only take down so many of the undead before he got tired.

So...what was she supposed to do? Wait for Mr Grimes and get stuck in the cold and dark all night...or make a run for it...and get back to her Mom and the others?

Clutching her stuffed doll tighter, Sophia took another deep breath- steeling herself for what she was about to do.

Shaking slightly, Sophia focused herself as best she could- remembering something that her Mom had told her after one of her Dad's scariest outbursts.

"You're so brave, Sophia. My brave little girl."

The words were simple, but they brought Sophia a strange amount of comfort- enough to make her crawl out of her hiding hole, and rise to her feet.

Looking all around, Sophia was relieved to see no more walkers around- but she knew it probably wouldn't stay clear for long...after that herd on the highway. So she did her best to recall what Mr Grimes had told her…

"If I don't get back- run back to the highway. To the others. Keep the sun on your left shoulder."

With a renewed feeling of determination, Sophia turned around until she felt the lingering warmth of the sun on her left shoulder. Satisfied that she was heading in the right direction, she headed out, taking care to be as quiet as possible.

After all, she couldn't be sure what was lurking in the woods.

As the last rays of sunlight began filtering through the trees, Sophia began to worry- surely she should have been able to see the highway by now. Taking deep, albeit shaky breaths, she came to a stop by a large, gnarled tree. Sophia did her best not to panic, doing her best to repeat her Mother's words in her head. Panicking would do her no good- and would only get her worked up...which could lead to a fatal mistake. No- she had to stay calm. She'd get to the highway soon enough, and be back with her Mom before nightfall.

Sophia was starting to shiver- night had set in, bringing with it the terrifying darkness...which was only pierced by the pale moonlight trickling through the treetops. She knew, as she made her way through the dark, that she'd made a wrong turn somewhere...gotten turned around...but she had to keep going. If she stopped, she might fall asleep- and that would get her killed, out in the open.

No. She had to keep going. She could find somewhere safe- a cave, perhaps...and cover it up with leaves or something...like those explorers in the movies. Yeah, she could do that- and in the morning, she could find the sunlight again.

A little proud of her plan, Sophia set off with renewed confidence and a spring in her step. She wasn't going to give in to the dark and let the monsters get her. She was going to be brave like her Mom was when Dad got angry.

Be brave like Mom…

Another hour had passed, at least- and Sophia was starting to give up hope of ever finding shelter. The forest was dense, she was getting colder- and she was growing more and more tired...which didn't bode well. She'd not had anything to eat or drink all day...and that was taking its toll. She was slowing down, running out of energy...and Sophia wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going.

In her muddled, scared confusion, she barely just caught the whispers of water- of a creek nearby.

The almost melodic sound of water running over smooth rocks brought a new hope to Sophia- and a smile to her face.

Laughing nervously, she dashed forward, picking up her pace until she was almost sprinting. In her excitement, she did not notice the dip in the path ahead..

Until the ground fell out from beneath her…

And she went flying.

Sophia cried out in pain, clutching her doll, as she went tumbling down a steep incline. Sticks and rough stones scraped against her skin as she rolled downward, in a seemingly endless spiral.

A sharp pain ran down Sophia's left leg...until she finally rolled to a painful stop in the icy waters of the creek.

Panting, with tears streaming down her face, Sophia struggled to catch her breath...but it seemed like the world just wasn't being kind to her.

The dull, eerie groan of several walkers pierced the otherwise silent night air. Although it had been months since the start of the outbreak, that chilling noise still sent shivers down her spine, bringing fear into her heart. And now...now she was stuck in this creek- with no way of seeing what direction the walkers were coming from.

Be brave like Mom.

Starting to panic, Sophia struggled to get herself up- leaning on her elbows to support herself. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the source of her pain- her left leg...and forced herself to look down.

She wished she hadn't.

A sharp rock was clearly the culprit of her wound...and the result was…

Sophia dry heaved, tears streaming down her face.

A large gash ran from her left knee...all the way down to her left ankle...deep enough to show white bone shining through the glistening red blood.

As the red liquid began to pool beneath her, clouding the otherwise clear water around her, Sophia started to cry. There was no way she was going anywhere with that leg- and she couldn't even defend herself. She didn't have anything resembling a weapon on her- only her tatty stuffed doll.

And she was completely...entirely alone.

Struggling backwards, as she saw the walkers at the edge of the incline that she'd fallen down, Sophia cried harder. She'd never been more terrified in her entire life.

Was this it?

Was she going to die here, alone, torn apart by walkers?

Would she never see her mother again?

Gulping, as she cried ugly, harsh tears, Sophia began to grow dizzy from the blood loss.

Her arms no longer able to support her, Sophia let herself fall backwards. Lying on her back in the creek, she watched as the world above her began to swirl and blur.

Just before her eyes slid shut…

Sophia could have sworn she saw someone leaning over her…

With a kind face…

Just like…

Just like her Mom.