A Hopeless Place

by delena20

Tiffany has been surviving on her own for some time now after losing her little sister, fiancé and her infant daughter to the outbreak. The things she's had to do since the outbreak have hardened her and made her much more distant so what happens when she stumbles upon Daryl Dixon while out hunting for food? What happens when she agrees to go back to the farm with him? Why does

1. Chapter 1

A/N: Hi everyone, so this is my first time submitting anything on this site and it is also the first time I've attempted to write a Walking Dead story so please bear with me. I would love to hear your constructive criticism but please no flames. Please if you liked this start to the story then R/R and let me know. Thanks.

Delena

Chapter 1

I jerk awake with a gasp the remnants of the dream still in my head haunting me. It wasn't really a dream it was a memory of seeing my fiancé turn into a walker and watching my little sister kill him but not before getting bit herself. I shake my head trying to rid my mind of the horrible memories of those few days after the outbreak. I'm just thankful that it wasn't the other dream, the one that breaks my heart all over again every time I have it. I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breathe to keep from conjuring up those images. Once I know I'll be ok I stand up and stretch my sore muscles popping my back with a groan. I found a small abandoned cabin about a week ago and have been holed up inside staying safe but I ate the last little bit of food I had left last night so now I have to head back out and look for food.

I quickly gather up the few items I have with me tossing them in my pack before grabbing up my weapons. I put my gun holster around my waist and buckle it on before sliding my knife into its sheath on the holster. I grab my smaller blade and slip it into my boot before standing up and grabbing my rifle and pack up. I put the pack on my back and then sling the rifle over my shoulder. I look around the room and make sure I have everything before I head out the door and into the woods. It's still early in the morning so the air is still cool and feels refreshing on my skin. I start my trek into the woods looking closely at the bushes for berries that I can eat. I grew up in Idaho and went out hunting with my brother and our dad a lot when I was younger so I know which berries are safe and which aren't. I also know how to shoot and kill with a single shot thanks to my dad's teaching.

I continue on stopping to pick berries from bushes every so often and eat them as I go. I keep a close eye on the ground looking for any sort of animal tracks I can find so I can get myself something to eat for the night. I pick up the tracks of a rabbit and follow them quietly. I'm paying such close attention to the tracks that I don't notice the walker coming up on my left until he grabs my arm. I grab my knife and turn quickly going to stab him when a bolt stabs him between the eyes. I turn around quickly with my knife clasped in my hand and find a man standing there holding a crossbow aimed at me. I grip my knife tighter and meet the man's cold blue eyes.

"Who're ya an' wha' ya doin' out 'ere alone?" he asks me gruffly not lowering his crossbow in the slightest.

"I could ask you the same thing but I have a feeling it won't get me anywhere, am I right?" I ask him coldly still gripping my knife tightly. I see him nod slightly at my question and give a nod of my own. "My name is Tiffany and I'm out here looking for food and a new place to stay for a few days," I tell him firmly and watch his face for a reaction.

"Ya alone?" he asks me still not lowering his crossbow.

"Yes I am. Have been for two months now, what about you?" I ask him after giving him an answer.

"Names Daryl an' 'm not alone 've got a group. 'M out 'ere lookin' fer a lil girl who wen' missin' from our group 'bout a week ago," he tells me gruffly but lowers his crossbow. I mimic the action and lower my knife but don't put it away.

"I haven't seen a little girl out in this area but I'd be willing to help you look for her if you can help me get some food for myself for the night," I tell him hoping he'll take up my offer. I watch him closely and can see he's struggling with some sort of decision but don't say anything. He looks up at me and his blue eyes connect with my brown ones and I can tell he's made whatever decision he was trying to make.

"Why don' ya help me look an' then come back ta the farm my group an' I are stayin' at?" he tells me not really asking but more saying I have to. Normally someone telling me to do something would piss me off but the idea of a safe place and real food overrides any desire to be mad.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer Daryl but if I even suspect you're leading me into a trap I'll gut you," I tell him hardly and I know my eyes are burning with a determined fire. I see his lip quirk up in the corner with the hint of a smile before he nods.

"Fair 'nough but same goes fer ya, now le's git goin'," he says before turning on his heel and walking off. I sigh and follow him into the woods. My mind is racing with thoughts of this being a trap but I take a deep breath and squash those thoughts replacing them with more optimistic ones. For once things will go right they just have to because if they don't I'm not sure how much more disappointment I can take.