Prologue
"Shoot!" was all that escaped the woman's lips as she ran through the woods, her breathing rough and ragged. Her black brown hair streamed behind her as she ran from the dead. She knew her window of time was running out, but she made sure to make the most of it.
She could hear the growls and the hungry moans of the dead as she quickly climbed a tree with ease. She winced as she adjusted her body in the tree; the branches scraping against her cheeks and bare arms. The sharp branches welded red droplets of blood.
The dead shuffled underneath, growling as they smelt her but not yet seen her. 'I can't stay here' was all that ran through her mind. Her bow and quiver strapped in her back reasurred her and gave her a tinge of hope against the sinking feeling that slinked into her mind.
Reaching back, grabbing her bow; swiftly notching an arrow, her eyesight focusing as she aimed carefully, THUMP, one of the dead fell. The blue-tipped arrow in it's eye, the other two dead looked over with disinterest in one of it's fellow dead that had fallen.
She took another breath, just as the two dead lifted their heads; THUMP, THUMP and down they both went, allowing her to slump back in relief.
She clamoured down the tree, her arms still bleeding from the long scratches that laid on her arms. She winced as she glanced to the three dead before ripping her arrows out in a deft motion, and slipping them back into her quiver.
Her emerald eyes surveyed the forest before her, she watched for a moment before moving into a small town where she planned to rummage and hopefully bandage her arms without much trouble.
Chapter One- Third Persons POV
The hospital lay quiet except for the slightest shuffle of feet caused by the dead in sealed off rooms. But movement could be heard, seen as a man who was sickly pale as if he hadn't seen the sun in months, he clutched his side as he moved through the halls with wide eyes as he took in the desecrated halls. The insulation and electrical wires hanging down, papers strewn across the floors but what disturbed him the most was the splashes of blood against the wall.
It alarmed him and made him wonder what the hell happened, as he thought this; a deep fear and worry gripped his beating heart as he thought of his wife and son. As he shuffled through the ruined halls, he came across the nurse's station; first thing he grabbed was the phone, he didn't hear anything..nothing..nada...not even the damn dial tone.
He allowed the phone to slip from his grasp, he moved forward; not looking up as he came across a fork in the halls. He took the right first, only to see closed glass doors, looking through the glass he sees the corpse of a woman. The corpse was eaten, the gore spread across her body; his expression was one of horror as he leapt from the window.
He shook his head in disbelief as if he wanted this all this to be a dream but it wasn't. He turned to the left, shuffling along until he stops to see 'DON'T OPEN, DEAD INSIDE on the door.
He looked to the door frantically as he backed away and continued down the hall. His gait improved as he began to limp instead of shuffling but his side still pulsated and ached to the touch. He went down the darken steps, he fished around through the dark only to find matches which he quickly used to navigate through the darkness.
The dim light illuminated the sign that read 'EXIT' As he opened the door, the blinding sunlight disorientated him as he stepped down the cement steps to touch the ground. But as he shielded his eyes, one of the dead was upon him.
A cry of surprise left his weathered lips as the dead gnashed it's teeth as he kept it away with his ever weakening arms. He met the eyes of the creature to only be shocked by the hunger in it's sickly eyes, he could feel his arms slacking as he looked for a way to escape. But a THUMP alerted him as the creature feel from his arms to the ground.
A blue feathered arrow stuck in the creature's temple 'Bullseye" a strong yet soft filled his ears as he turned his head to see a woman. Her black brown hair was loose but lightly tied back; her bangs framing her face and her attire was of a elbow length black button up shirt, a hunter's tan vest snug as on her legs were clothed in an army green tight cargos with brown combat boots on.
But what he noticed was her green eyes; sharp and focused as she asked "You didn't get bit?" and he could do was shake his head as her voice filled his ears."No, gunshot wound" As she heard those words, her eyes softened into what they really look like. 'Like a child' he thought as she stepped forward, her hand outstretched for him to grab as he looked to it with a moment of hestitation before he grasped her hand and stood.
He wobbled at first but she steadied him, "Eliza, but call me Eli" her melodius voice said as her hand was once more in his vision. "Rick Grimes" he shook back firm but was surprised at the firmness that she shook back with.
She stepped back as she held the bow down beside her as he walked forward with a limp. "What happened?" he asked after a moment of silence as they continued through the parking lot. They ignored the flies but the bodies stacked like logs drew his attention "Everything has gone to the dead." she stated simply as she looked to his state of dress which consisted of a hospital gown opened to reveal his bandage and the splatter of the dead's blood.
Rick glanced her with an alarmed look in his eyes "What? For Real?" his southern georgia accent filled her ears as he continued to ask about everything while she continued to answer as best as she could, while she watched the roads and alleys, a growling sound filled both their ears.
Eli and Rick turned their heads to the nose which was one of the dead that laid on the grass, the only thing was that the dead was cut in half as if torn apart by the very same things that wanted living flesh. She looked to it with hidden pity and hatred as those things used to be people too but they might have killed her family and they did kill her friends so the hatred usually won out in the end in the account for the need to survival.
Rick was silent as he was still digesting it all as he awoke to a completely different world then what he was in. Eli just placed a hand on his shoulder to steer him away from the snapping, crawling sight in front of them. "Come on, I'm sure you're in a hurry" she murmured as she steered him away as they continued down the road.
HE barely nodded as he was staring at everything in shock while she looked for any more sign of the dead. They reached a two-story home painted blue with a white roof 'Picturesque' was the first thought that came to her mind until she heard Rick rush forward with a burst of energy as he went through the door.
She followed close behind as she hoped the best; that he wouldn't find what she found when she searched her grandparents' home. She saw the inside, which was in relative order except the frames broken and some leaves scattered that must've blown in.
Rick was in despair, he was worrying almost panicking about his family. He needed to find them. He had to. He cried out "Lori, Carl" multiple times as he cradled his head in his kneeling position. "They're alive. I'm sure of it" Eli said as she stepped toward him. HE turned to face her, tears shimmering in his bloodshot eyes.
"How do you know?" His country accented voice was raspy from holding back tears "I just do. The pictures are gone." she stated simply as she motioned to the bare walls and then to several shelves. He looked around and with silent resolve filling him, he nodded "You're right" he said as he stood; still clutching his side.
He limped past her and onto the steps down the path where he sat, looking around but she stayed inside for a moment as she readjusted the pack on her back. She heard a loud SMACK, she rushed outside only to see Rick falling and the crack of a gun signaling one of the dead going down.
A black man and child stood over Rick as she she called out "HEY! He wasn't one of the dead" she rushed over, her bow slinging against her waist. They both faced her "Was he bit?" the man who held the gun asked as his son, she wagered held the shovel tight.
Eli shook her head "No, gunshot. Found him by the hospital, one of the dead nearly got him" She said directly as she looked to into his eyes. The man was steely gazed as he nodded once "Help me take him inside, Duane come quickly" The man moved to Rick's head and shoulders while Eli went to his feet. Duane, the man's son opened the door and looked to them frantically.
They carried him past mattresses in the living room while Duane shut and bolted the door before sliding a board into place. "Set him on the bed" and with an OOMPH! Rick was set upon the bed. The man threw Eli some bungee cords as she caught them he murmured "Tie him up, I need to be sure." she nodded as she tied Rick to the bed posts.
"I'm Eli" she introduced herself as she reached over to tear away the bandages to show a slightly inflamed wound that was stitched up. "Morgan and my son Duane" Morgan said as he touched the shoulder of his son with a tender look in his eyes before he looked back to her as she cleaned the wound, disinfected it before she inspected the stitching for damage till she felt satisfied and then rebandaged it.
"You seem to know what you're doing.." he commented as duane stayed close but he caught a glimpse of her bow. Eli let out a rare laugh as she replied "You're looking at an almost graduate of Med. School, passed all the tests and everything but.." She trailed off a she gave him a rueful smile.
Morgan was silent as he just nodded, understanding what she meant, reaching into her pack; she pulled out two cans of tomato soup and a package of goldfish crackers. "I've got some dinner, i've been scavenging.." She smiled softly as she offered the cans and the crackers to Morgan who smiled "It's much appreciated."
Duane finally spoke up as she was just standing back up "Your bow is nice.." his small voice made her smile as she replied "Thank you, I've had it since I was your age." she felt a maternal side of her rise up as his eyes lit up with amazement "Really?" He came forward with a bright smile.
Eli nodded "Yup, My grandfather gave it to me on my first summer when I visited them" and Duane nodded as he turned to his father "Can I touch it, dad?" Morgan glanced her way, she nodded warmly "Eli says it's okay, just don't break it. I'm gonna start dinner." Morgan says with a light smile as Duane nodded as he eagerly came over to Eli who held out her bow to him.
The bow itself was a deep chestnut brown with etchings of feathers into the frame. Duane gingerly held it, glanced to her as she nodded before he took a superhero pose. "Look! I'm Hawkeye" Eli laughed warmly as she nodded "Yes, you are!"
Rick stirred in his sleep causing Eli to say "Hey Duane, Let's go into the living room so we don't wake up.." she flicked her eyes to Rick as he nodded as he handed her bow back before she led them both into the living room as Morgan was pouring tomato soup into three bowls while the goldfish crackers floated inside.
Duane looked to her and smiled brightly as he could feel his mouth water and his tummy rumble. "Come on, son" Morgan said as he set down the bowls down on a coffee table where a lantern sat. It was shining yet dim light bright enough to cause their shadows to move across the walls. Duane nodded as he rushed to his father whom had his meal waiting for him. Eli stood back in contentment as she watched Duane sit beside his father.
But just as she moved forward, she could hear the slightest movement; she tilted her head to the door where Rick laid, Morgan noticed and nodded discertly before looking back to his son. She moved to the room with silent steps, only to find Rick awake and blinking rapidly to check his surroundings.
Rick's POV
The feeling of disorentation filled my head as I blinked rapidly to refocus my blurry vision, and to rid myself of the ringing in my head. As i did so, a tender cool hand touched my forehead; I lifted my head to meet the eyes of Eli. "Your vision will return soon." she stated as she looked over my stitches.
"Eli" I murmured as I sat up to see her more clearly. "What are you doing?" I asked as she opened her pack to reveal several pill bottles "I'm giving you some antibotics" I nodded as she handed me the two white pills and a bottle of water. With a quick movement, I took the pills along with a gulp of water. Her sleeves were folded up revealing white bandages 'What happened?" I asked as I rubbed my newly freed wrists.
She touched one of the bandages with a look in her eyes as she answered "I was scratched by branches when escaping those things. Actually it was right before I met you." She added with a light smile that quelled my worry. I moved myself off the bed as she stood close by.
"Um..the boy and the man?" I asked as I looked to her with questioning eyes. She moved forward, leading me through the doorway "Actually this is their hide-away" she said with a smile as I looked around; recogonizing the place as one of my neighbors. "I know this place" I muttered as I continued to look around as we entered the living room lit by lanterns.
The windows boarded up with blankets also covering them up "This was the Mccuuray's place" I mentioned once more as Eli looked to me as that man said "It was abdandoned when we showed up" I look to him, to see him and the boy sitting at a coffee table. "Morgan and my son Duane.." he motioned for us both to sit down. "Rick Grimes" I introduced myself as I moved to sit down. Eli sat beside me while morgan placed a bowl in front of me.
Glancing down I see tomato soup with several goldfish floating about. I moved to take a bite but Duane's voice calls me out of my motion "Daddy, Blessin" Eli smiles out of the corner of my eye. I'm a little shocked but I reach out to hold Eli's hand along with Morgan's. "Heavenly Father, we thank you for this meal and we thank you for letting us live another day." I feel Eli squeeze my hand before we all say "Amen"
Then all of us dug in, I relished the taste of the hot soup settling in my stomach. Eli had only took a few bites before she slid her bowl over to Duane "Eat, I'm not that hungry.." she said quietly as Morgan looked to me. I didn't know what to say so I shrugged lightly as Morgan nodded as he ate his soup.
Duane just dug in, you could tell that he was kinda hungry. "So Rick, have you encoutered one of the walkers yet?" Morgan questioned as he set his bowl aside. "Yeah, just two though. Eli saved me at the hospital" I looked to Eli who was unbraiding her hair "Walkers?" Eli pimped up as she glanced to him questioning "Yeah, that's what we call em' "
"uh, Well that does sound better than 'the dead' " She says quietly as she fluffed out her hair. We go silent for a moment as we just take in the noises outside. Duane left the table to sleep on one mattresses; Morgan quickly followed as did Eli moved her as she walked.
Eli's POV
I sat against the stairs; my pack behind me, creating a simple pillow. My bow laid beside me as I try to create a comfy bed, succeeding I sigh as I lay a blanket over me. Rick and Morgan were talking and they all let out light laughs before a blaring car alarm makes us all jump. We look to Morgan who was calming Duane "It's just a car alarm, one of them must've bumped it." He listened to the noise as it blarred into the silent darkness. "Probably the same one as before."
All of us hear the ever increasing noise, my hand reaches for my bow as Morgan says "Duane, turn down the lanterns" Rick and Duane do this as me and Morgan move to the windows. He moves away the blanket to reveal a crack in the boards. Looking through the crack, I see the bodies of the walkers roaming about, going to the car as it beeped and beeped it's alarm.
Morgan looked after me, Duane did next but as he did, he gasped out "It's her! She's here.." and he ran to the bed; cries of grief escaping him a she tried to be quiet. Morgan moved to him while Rick and I looked to him for an answer "Uh, it was right when it started. She had gotten injured...We found this place and decided to stay while she was sick.." Duane's cries rose in volume but the pillows muffled them as Morgan took a reasurring breath.
As he continued, I could tell he was close to breaking down but he kept it together. "The fever burned through her, she practically radiated heat. she uh..died right there on that bed" He motioned to the room where Rick used to be at. Sadness hit me as I knew how he felt. Duane cried out again, Morgan cooed comforting words while Rick gave me a worried look as I knew he was worried about his family and I was too...I wondered if my parents were alright.
"I should've put her down. I should've but she's the mother of my child" He spoke soberly as he cradled Duane close. The door knob began to turn while Rick still stood by the door. I still held my bow, prepared to do what ever was needed. I could hear my heart thundering in my chest, it was unnerving to hear the slight movement of the doorknob.
Minutes pass, soon an hour before the car alarm stops; Duane had fallen asleep while Morgan sat quiet. Rick had sat down in his make-shift bed while I sat in a half sitting/laying down position. My eyes drooped as I held back a yawn "Get some sleep, Eli" Morgan whispered as he glanced to my way "You too Rick." Rick nods solemnly before he lays back down.
I'm still reluctant but Morgan gives me this look, so I soon lay back and within an instant I'm sleeping.
I wouldn't call what I did sleep, I didn't dream and I was still aware of my surroundings enough that when I woke up; I had a hand on my bow. Rick who was the one who woke me up gave me a sympathatic glance as he said "We're going back to my home. I've remembered the keys to the station's armoury." I perk up "That's great" I say as I get up in one swift movement.
He nods as he fixes his white shirt which I'm sure Morgan gave him. I steady myself as he waits for me; Morgan and Duane stood beside each other, Morgan hands Rick a bat which Rick messes with to get a good grip on it.
Rick goes to the front door, "Ready?" We all nod before he nods once as he opens the door. The sunlight hit us as we exited the house; we were blinded for a moment before our eyes adjusted. We stepped carefully as we hit the sidewalk.
A walker sitting at the end of the white picket fence stood up, the growl escaping it's lips was ignored as Rick murmured "I've got this one." He readied the bat, took a step forward and swung. He swung the bat and the noise of a cracking skull hit our ears. The walker tipped sideways, another swing from the bat took it down but it growled one more time before being silenced forever.
Morgan nods to Rick as we pass the dead walker, and before long we entered Rick's home once again. I stood outside on watch; while Rick and Morgan, Duane went inside.
In about five minutes, they were outside once again. Rick smiled as he jiggled the keys to me, we quickly got into Morgan's car and drove to the station. "Eli?" I turned my head to Rick who was glancing at me through the rearview mirror "Will you be heading with me to Atlanta?" Rick's question threw me off guard. Well..Hopefully my parents were still there.
I look to him as i answered "If you'd like?" He just nods "Of course, I'll need someone watching my back. Plus you'll be able to look for your family too." I smiled brightly as I heard this. "We're here" Morgan said as we pull into the back of the station. A look passes to all of us, we didn't know what would be in there. "Gotta be on guard" I murmur to them as we make our way to the door.
They nod, Duane stands beside me as I hold my bow ready. Rick holds a gun with a flashlight while Morgan held the shovel. Rick opens the door, darkness meets us as we walk through the ambandoned office to the back where Rick unlocked the door; we entered a basement where we saw a lit caged room. Rick smiles before he unlocks it "Looks pretty cleaned out.." he comments as he looks to us.
"It's better than nothing.." I say postively while Duane looks to the row of handguns. "Dad, will you teach me how to shoot a gun?" He asked eagerly as I glanced to Rick who was currently filling a bag with weapons. Morgan nodded "Yes, especially in this world. But I'll teach you to respect the weapon too." Rick nods to this as he agrees to this.
Rick had almost finished filling his duffle bag while Morgan held a rifle in his hand and a bag full of ammo and other smaller handguns; probably for Duane's practice. Rick hold a black handgun to me which I recgonized as a Colt 45. "Here, it's a Colt 45" I shake my head, I didn't like guns and wasn't too keen on using them.
"I rather not, well not right now." Rick frowns "You'll need it" he persists till I relent "Alright, I'll take it but don't be surprised if I ignore it's existence" He chuckles, smiling to me before he finishes clearing out the armoury. Next we make our ways to the locker rooms, where Rick turns on the shower. We watch as he runs a hand through it "Station has it's own tank, propane too.." He smiles "And the pilot's still on"
"Hot water?" I murmur happily as Morgan and Duane nod in agreement. "Yes." He says brightly. We all inwardly cheer as Rick says "Eli, the woman's locker rooms.." I put a hand up "I rather not go someplace dark.." I admit sheepishly as he nods "Plus you've seen it before, I'm not that modest and I've noticed the shower curtains on those stalls" I pointed to the stalls across the room.
He chuckles as he rubs his neck sheepishly "Alright then." In about ten minutes, sounds of happiness and ethuasism filled the air as we all groaned as the hot water hit our bodies. Morgan was smiling as Duane played and sang a little song. I stood underneath the water, savoring it as I hadn't had a proper shower in weeks. I washed my hair with the shampoo I had, scrubbed down all the dirt and grime that clung to my skin. I even took the liberty to shave, oh baby smooth skin.
I sighed in happiness as I exited the shower; wrapped up in a towel, all squeaky clean. Rick, Morgan and Duane smiled at my expression "You seem content Eli" Rick commented as I nod "Give me a shower and I'll be putty in your hands." Morgan and Rick laugh as Duane follows suite, I chuckle along with them as i take my pack and leave with the room so I can get dressed, i am a tad modest; I admit. Pulling out new underwear, slipping that on; I quickly dressed in black wrinkled cargos, and my red loose long sleeve shirt with my tan vest that held useful items like a compass, swiss army knife and so forth. I finished the knot on my combat boots before I looked to my pack.
I slipped on my pack as I slid my quiver on afterwards, my bow in my hand; I entered the place where Rick and Morgan, Duane were at. Duane sat beside his dad while Rick was situating a hat on. "Looking good Sheriff." I teased as i looked to him. Rick chuckles as he replies "I know" eh gave me a playful grin as he turned to Morgan and Duane "Ready?" He asked solemnly as he glanced to me before I nodded once.
We left the locker room soon after, Rick decked out in his sheriff's uniform deputy uniform and a squad car's keys in his hands as a duffle bag of guns rested on his shoulder. We stood beside the squad cars, Rick had already put the duffle bag away while Morgan and Duane stood halfway in between.
I knelt down to Duane who gave me a gloomy expression "Cheer up, Little guy. I'll see you again" I said with a comforting smile as Duane murmured "But what if I don't?" I shake my finger at him "You will..In fact.." I reached around and found the front pocket of my pack and pulled something out. "Here, it's my lucky arrowhead.." I held out a leather bracelet which beheld a silver arrowhead, Duane glanced to me in wonder.
"Really? You're giving this to me?" His voice made me smile as I nodded "Of course, but on one condition" My voice was a tad theatrical but he soaked it in as he wondered aloud "What is it?" I smile to him as I reply "When I see you again, you'll show me that you've kept it." I said warmly. As he nodded repeatedly "I will! I will!" I fastened the blanket around his wrist and stood up.
Rick and Morgan had already said their goodbyes; I could see the walkie talkie in Morgan's hand and the other one in Rick's hand. Smiling softly, I faced Morgan; I could see he wanted to say goodbye "It's not goodbye, it's I'll see you later." I said brightly as he chuckled "Of course Eli" He hugged me briskly as I hugged back.
But a growling noise made us look to the fence where a walker dressed in the same uniform that Rick wore stumbled to the fence. "Leon?" Rick murmured in surprise but his face was saddened "I always thought he was a screw-up but I wouldn't want this for anyone" His hand touched his gun. I glanced to him and gave a subtle nod to him as he murmurs "I can't leave him like this"
"The sound gonna draw'em" Morgan warned but still Rick continued on Leon, the walker had been clawing at the fence; growling and snapping. I hold my bow close as the gunshot rings out. Rick walks back; nods to Morgan and Duane before going to the car. I wave to them before I also enter the car. As Rick starts the car, we look to one another and nod as Morgan drives ahead; honks twice. While Rick drives in the opposite direction; he lets his sirens whoop, whoop twice.
I smile sadly as I glance to the rearview mirror; trying my best to catch a glimpse of Morgan's ever disappearing car. Rick was gripping the steering wheel as he took the same path we took when we walked to his home. We came upon that grassy field where he soon parked the car, he began getting out "Stay here, I've got.." I motion that it's okay "It's fine..You gotta do what you gotta do." I smile wistfully as he just gives me a grateful glance. He leaves, his hand on his gun.
I sit in silence; except for the occasional cricket or bird chirping when a gun shot rings out. I look to the field quickly, only to see Rick walking back. His head down as he entered the car, I glance to him as he drives away "You know..this is the first time I've ridden in a police car." I quirk a smile "Well in the front.."
Rick gives me a glance as he chuckles "Really? YOu don't seem the type." HE says sarcastically. "Hey! It was when I was a teenager, my grandparents and parents showed up to bail me out" I give a shudder as he continues to laugh "I was scared to even leave that cell." I said as he laughs warmly. Yes! My plan to lighten the mood worked.
"So what did you do?" He asked curiously as he glanced to me " Senior prank, I defaced the school mural with grafitti." I said with a light laugh as he chuckled. "Seems recent?" He asked questioningly as I shake my head "Nope, I'm 26" He looks to me in shock "You look like you're 18" He said as I began to laugh "I know, it's gonna be a good thing when I'm older" I pointed out as he nodded with laughter on his expression as he continued driving down the empty desolate roads.
A/N- Hello everyone who reads this story, I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter of a Disease-Filled World. :) Eli is my new OC; she's was a medical student, or was a newbie doctor that hadn't yet gotten her certificate. I hope you enjoy her; she's going to be quite entertaining.
Tell me what you think! I have the next three chapters typed up so any feed back will help me to upload them a tad more quicker. :)