As the sun draped down over my shoulders, I drank the last drops of water from the flask I was saving for when I needed it most. As I tip the flask up, my lips connect with the hot tin and I hear cries in the distance, "Help…Help…Help!" I drop the flask, turning in circles, trying to locate the direction of the cries coming from what sounds like a young woman. I run through the barrier of trees, which feels like forever, to come to a clearing by the road. I turn my head to face three walkers, hovering over someone, trying to get they're blood-covered hands all over them. I slide my knife out of its sheath, sneaking up behind one of the flesh-eating bastards and I stick it straight into the back of its skull, covering my arm in blood as I pull the knife from the walker's rotten flesh.
As I move on to take care of the second walker slowly coming for me, I look over to see if the strange person was okay with the last one and I get a glimpse of her. A tall woman, with short, blonde hair, who could arguably be in her late teens, bashes the walker's skull in with the back of her gun. All I can think in this moment is, 'wow. She's beautiful..' As I snap out of my stare, I am being pushed onto my back by the flesh-eater in which I forgot was coming for me. My knife falls from my hand and I try to reach out for it, but it is too far away. I push my elbow up into it's neck and try to fight him off, still reaching for my knife. I hear a laugh come from behind me and I struggle to get my words out, "Care to help, or are you gonna let the fucker eat me?!"
The mysterious woman walks up behind me, hitting the fucker in the head, leaving me covered in blood. She puts out her hand, urging me to take it but all I do is stare. She waves her hand in front of my face, "Hello…? Anybody in there?" She clicks her fingers a few times before I am pulled from my day dream. I quickly return to the world in which I call reality, coming face to face with the beautiful blonde holding her hand out before me.
I take her hand, as she pulls me onto my feet. She flashes me a shy smile, keeping a nice grip on my hand, feeling the softness of her pale skin. I decide to make use of this moment, and start shaking her hand, "H-hi..I'm Tara, Tara Chambler." I stutter out as I readjust myself, pulling my hand from her grip and wiping the blood from my face as best I could without making it worse. She giggles a little, "I'm Marie."
"so, Marie...how'd you get yourself mixed up in this mess?" I put my hand on the handle of the gun, holstered in my belt, trying to make myself seem more intimidating to this strange woman. I give her a quick look over She's wearing a worn out men's t-shirt and some ripped jeans, showing her knees and a glimpse of her thighs.
She blushes as she catches me looking down her well-built body. "I came looking for food mainly, a place to stay? Maybe even a form of transport but all I found was, I guess, these.." She states, gesturing to the bodies, lying lifeless on the dirt. "..Are you alone?" she asks, weary of what I may say. I look into her deep blue eyes and all I see is trust.
"Yeah..I lost my group a few months ago, a year maybe? I don't know, I guess I have no way of counting but it seems like an eternity. I've been on my own since, staying away from the dead, let alone the living." I stare down at my boots, as a tear slowly escapes my eye. I reach up to wipe it away but she beat me to it. I feel her touch, sending shivers down my spine. My mouths gapes a little, shocked by the gesture.
I step back after she has rid my cheek of the tear, stuttering my words once again, "I-I found a cabin in the forest a few miles down. It's small, but it's cosy and easy to defend on my own. If you have nowhere to stay, and no food, once I've finished up here you can come back with me? It gets a little lonely out here, and I guess..it's totally okay for you to not trust me. Your loss though." We both stand in silence. She looks like she wants to say something but can't bring up the words. I turn to walk away, "Your choice, have fun out here. Oh and here," I turn, reaching into my backpack, pulling out a bag and I throw it to her "Good luck."
She slowly opens the bag, revealing the little food I had left and she smiles to herself. She calls out, "Hey!" I turn to look at her as she continues, "I think you forgot something."
I call back, a little confused, "oh yeah, and what's that?"
She simply states, "Me." She jogs up to where I'm standing, flashing me another gorgeous smile. I must admit, I hated the thought of leaving her here by herself.