Author's Note: Holy craaaaap I am alive! I am SO sorry I have not worked on 'On The Way Down' (my Ib story) but I plan to get back on that! A whole mess of shit has happened in the past few months that left me with no possible time to do any writing whatsoever. But now I'm settled in a house and I can start writing again. I know where I am gonna take my Ib story but I wanted to do this so bad especially after I had a dream involving it a few days ago. I got into 'The Walking Dead' in January, and I'm a Dixon Brothers fangirl. I love both of them, I can't help it. I hope you guys enjoy this, I incorporated a little bit of myself and a few of my friends into the character so hopefully I can develop her into someone you all can enjoy. I hope to get back into writing more and more as spring approaches! My love for Merle and Daryl is UNBREAKABLE! Dixon Brothers FTW!

This takes place between season two and three, more going into three as spring enters and the temperature picks up and the plants are in bloom.

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Fuck Woodbury. Fuck walkers, fuck the entire situation. She thought the small haven was safe. Far from it. She thought the governor was a great leader, she lied to herself. When he couldn't get in her pants, she was forced out for planning 'treason.'

"What a dick..." She mumbled, her voice a murmur against the warm spring air. Now here she was sitting along the road, under the biggest tree should could find. In the faint distance she had heard yelling and what seemed like gun shots, but she didn't care. She was as good as dead. All the months of struggle, fighting, killing, and trying to be the master manipulator had lead her to this moment. No food, water, her weapon broken, and nothing but the clothes on her back. After the governor and his cronies ran her out she only had the makeshift creation she thought was genius. It was a long leather glove strapped on by a metal brace with a knife attached, well, held on by duct tape.

Her mind had wondered on how she was stuck in this situation a little bit more. Normally she didn't think of herself as a person waiting for death or walkers on the side of the road. As she heard the groans and gun shots in the distance she knew they were approaching. The eighteen year old had made her way through what seemed to be state after state in a matter of months. Different camps and groups that had fallen apart and anarchy seemed to be her greatest acquaintance. Her journey started in the Florida area while on a trip to visit family and look at universities. When the chaos broke out of the zombie apocalypse she was forced to fight with her family. She had never really gotten along with her relatives, they even had her paying rent while she was down there for a few months. When she realized the situation she did the only think she could think of, she ran.

For all she knew, and what her heart told her, her family up north was long dead. The journey slowly took her near Atlanta, which was supposed to be a safe zone. She had bounced from location to location and finally found her way to Woodbury. That was her biggest error.

How she stumbled on the small community she still didn't understand, it was almost fictional, right out of a twisted story. She had been stumbling along the woods for what seemed to be weeks, finding streams and getting her hands on anything she could to eat and seemingly past the mental breaking point. The dried blood on her leather glove and the light rusting on her blade was the evidence to how many walkers she had already gone through. The young woman's brunette hair was straggly and hanging down past her chest, covered in dirt and sweat from weeks of fighting the heat and humidity.

The bugs sounded in furious passion as the day continued on. The sun was luckily shrouded by trees in different locations throughout the day. Her racer back gray and pink striped tank was stained with dirt and blood, both of herself and the walkers. In denim cutoff shots and stolen combat boots she had stumbled around the woods again at the peak of the afternoon for food. Anything she could get her hands on she would eat. Even back home she was taught that nothing should ever go to waste, and if you wasted it, you're sinning.

Brown eyes had surveyed the area before her ears peaked at the sound of all too familiar groans off in the distance. When there wasn't walkers bothering her and she wasn't on the hunt for food or water; in that rare time, she could enjoy the bird calls. At least the animals and in a sense nature were unfazed by this calamity of events.

Moving along the ground she slid her blade over the trees as she passed along, the sound of metal scraping bark hopefully attracting walkers. The sooner she got to killing them the sooner she could take a short bit of time to relax. She had noticed that many seemed to just roam if you were quiet and almost frozen, but if you had an open cut or you were in their range and moving, you were their prime target. Quite a few walkers just slumped to the beat of their own misshapen, beaten, drum. But that day she was in a rowdy mood, looking for something to kill and to get something out of her own misery. It really wasn't misery though, it was a boredom. She had already grown up fast, and now surviving on her own in the zombie apocalypse? Chalk up her teenage years to being on her long list of what's gone wrong in the short time she had been on her journey. The isolation had become normal, the insanity embraced, the odor ignored, and the sun burn pleasing to her. Pain was pleasure anymore, a comfort, some form of letting her know physically and mentally she was still alive.

Stumbling along the way in the grass she turned and saw something along the left line of her vision, it was the walker she had heard earlier. Turning again to her left she sunk down, watching intently for the moment to strike. It was a game anymore, the most unique way and the quickest time to get rid of the walkers on her ass. There wasn't a prize but her own genuine satisfaction. Dropping to the ground on all fours she carefully crawled before moving up off her knees into a crouch again. She kept silent while her eyes surveyed the scene in front of her. The walker had something attached to it. What appeared to be a choker around the zombie's neck and it had a long pole behind it. Whatever it was, or wherever it had been before, it was as good as game to her. Creeping closer she moved in for the kill only to be met by the sound of a loaded gun cocked somewhere near her.

"HANDS UP!" Her head slowly turning she was met by three men, one holding the zombie at the end of the pole it was latched to. "I SAID HANDS UP!" The man holding the walker yelled. He was pudgy and had glasses, but the gun held in his free hand was more than enough to change the situation.

"Aw for shits sake what the fuck you doin' now Milton? Causin shit." Another figure appeared out from the brush in front of her. "Well hello there, we got ourselves a lil' pistol it seems. Milton, gimme the gun. You best damn know you can't do that shit." The older man's hand out he snatched the gun and cocked it, stepping closer to you. "Now, sugar, who is you?"

Her frame still she kept her hands up before turning to face him. "Ooohwee look at you. Now this is a treat. You and I, we the same." Holding his other arm up she smirked at the sight of what was a metal contraption.

Her voice a harsh whisper she finally spoke, "This is only a weapon. I can assume yours is gone." Pouty lips curved into a sadistic smile at the sight of the older man staring down at her. "If you gonna shoot me, I suggest you do it, I'm not patient." The walker still groaning she let out a louder moan, obviously annoyed. "Look, I've been doing this for weeks, if you are gonna kill me do it now cause if you try to feed me to that, you'll be in for a show. Though you seem like you'd enjoy it."

"Ya damn right I would. Hey Milton, let's take 'er back." The man glanced over and to her before back to him. "I'd enjoy some company...of a good sort." Milton adjusted his glasses, surveying the situation. "What the hell are you even thinkin' 'bout? We're takin' her back. Walk ahead there with that ugly fucker. I'll take care of princess." Milton pushing ahead with his pet zombie the two followed a few yards behind.

"Where we going?" She whispered, glance still on Milton stumbling ahead in the distance. A slight glare shot back to the man watching her he smirked at the sight in front of him.

Leaning closer he pushed her ahead with the gun, whispering into her ear with cool air that left a chill up her spine. "Woodbury. Keep movin'." The two did just that, they kept moving. "So tell me princess, what's ya name?"

She rested her hands behind her head as she walked forward, moving past walkers off in the distance and the somewhat still time set in the motion around her. "Carrie. My name is Carrie." The man behind her shrugging at the name she caught it from the corner of her eye she huffed. "What, ain't that a good enough name?"

"I expected somethin' more...exotic. If ya catch my drift." The gun moved down her back slightly, the cold metal pressing into the curve of her back before her tailbone and bottom. His eyes moved down over her rear and back up to the back of her head to keep her from trying anything. The two walked on in silence as Milton continued to groan as much as the walker and yelp as he moved through the woods. "SHADDAP!" Carrie giggled at the sudden outburst from the man behind her while they continued to venture on. "What? You think that's funny? I'm not a funny guy sweet cheeks!"

Her head tilting back she smirked yet again, obviously unaffected by the chain of events. "I told you my name, now tell me yours."

"Princess you in no place to tell me to do anything with a gun at ya ass." Pouting her lip in his direction he grinned at the sight. "My name is Merle." Merle glanced down to see her bite her lip, holding back chuckles as her shoulders shook for a second. "You findin' my name funny? I can shoot ya ass."

"My ass is too good to shoot." She replied, Merle's eyes widening at an answer he did not expect. Finally they made it through the woods to a clearing along the road. Large swift crafted gates were in front of them. When they had caught up to Milton Merle had moved from behind her to her other side. In a swift motion she reached her blade to the walker and sliced his head clean off. "I had been waiting to do that for a while." She mumbled, obviously annoyed. Milton glaring at her and to Merle they turned to the wall, guards all now standing with their assault rifles, ready to fire.

Milton standing still he extended his hand back to the girl behind him. "We have someone for the governor, someone new. She can be useful." After a few minutes of deliberation the doors had opened and the three made their way in. Carrie was in awe of the sight before her. The community seemed like nothing ever happened. Houses sat along the vertical streets, cars and vans parked along them with families all bustling and moving around the area. In the center was green grass and trees with young children running around. There were also small shops and buildings, even a water tower; this place besides it's wall was completely unharmed. Just as quickly as they had walked in the gate behind them had shut.

"The governor will show you around the town, or I will, or Merle, when you're approved to live here. You'll be a lot better off here. Food, running water, a lot better than berries and stinking for months right?" Carrie still silent they made their way down the street until they arrived at a building that looked like a movie theatre. "Alright, follow us. I'll ask if you can remove your...crafted weapon." The brunette glanced down to her trusty companion before glaring at Milton. "Or...we can discuss with the governor if you can keep it or not." Milton opened the door to allow the two to move in before him. Cold air immediately hit her as she stepped up onto the hard floor, the place was definitely air conditioned. How did the area even have power?

Climbing the steps they passed another floor and turned the corner to meet two large doors. She surveyed the area to find that it was a very well decorated 'town hall.' There were pictures on the walls, decent furniture, and more than interesting scenery in the chain of events that had preceded this so called capture. "Alright, follow me, and keep quiet." Milton whispered. Opening the door they walked in and she admired the large space. It was certainly decorated for a leader.

Milton escorted them around to a table where a man that appeared to be in his forties sat with his elbows on the table, chin propped on his hands. Merle kept the gun behind her as Milton walked up in front of them to greet the leader. "So, who is this little lady?"

"Sir, we found her fending in the woods and she killed the walker we had on observation while we were out on the rounds...I'm sorry sir."

The governor stood up and moved around the table, standing in front of Milton he leaned against the table. "It's no issue Milton, they can be easily replaced. At least we know she has had her fair share of getting rid of those...monsters. Can you get me and Merle a drink? Thanks." Milton nodding he ran out of the room and shut the door again behind him.

"Now sweetie, what's ya name?"

"Carrie." She whispered, hands still above her head.

The governor glancing up at Merle he looked back at the brunette in front of him. "How long have ya been running? Where's the family?"

Carrie glanced down before giving her answer with a simple glance. "I'm...so sorry. You seem like you've been on along for a while now. Did Merle give ya any hassle? We've been workin on gettina his head straight."

Merle shot a look down to the back of Carrie's head, trying to get her to feel what he wanted her to say. "He was enough. I'll put up with what I stumble on."

Resting a hand on her shoulder the governor chuckled. "Good attitude for someone in your sitiation. Well, I also need to know, how old are you sweetie?"

"I'm eighteen." Merle tilting his head back he gave a sly smirk before sharing a look with the governor. "um...whoever the guy was that just left-"

"That would be Milton dear, my left hand man."

"Well uh, Milton wanted to take this, and I was hoping I could keep it?" Carrie dropped her hand to the governor, showing him her weapon.

The governor held her wrist gently with both hands. "This is...interesting. You made this yourself?" Carrie nodded quickly before he turned her arm over. "We can definitely upgrade this, get you some leather, a stronger brace, I'll get ya a new blade for it to. How that soundin to ya Carrie?" She smiled and gave another quick nod. "Merle, take her to an empty apartment here with the rest of y'all. He'll help get ya settled and cleaned up and tomorrow we'll have Gonzalez introduce you to what ya be doing, alright?"

"Yes, sir." The governor leaned back, obviously charmed in an euphoric sense at the words of her answer.

"Alright, Merle drop it, it's fine now. Take her up."

"Got it." The two moving out from the room she stood still in front of him before they began walkin. He pressed against her as they moved down the hall. "Listen here sugar tits, let me just tell ya somethin, we got us taco vendors here, we got the porch monkeys, you keep clear of them and stick with me. Imma treat you good here." Carrie scoffed at his remark. She was raised in the north after all, and it clicked in her head what she thought was a stereotype was true. Southern men were redneck, racist hicks. "Get you cleaned up and we can have a lil...fun." He pulled her hair back lightly, enjoying the view from behind.

"So let's see what I'm dealing with. A hick who obviously can't keep it in his pants gets to show me around? Oh joy..."

"Oh baby you don't get half of it. Ya keep me company, I keep ya company. I'll show ya a good time, don't you worry bout that." The idea left her spine tingling in disgust. While she enjoyed the "company" of...older men, he was completely disgusting. Noticing her snicker he spoke up again. "What so funny sugartits?"

"Sugar tits, really? Damn...you're a smooth operator aren't ya?"

"And I ain't gonna work for nobody but you." She cracked her knucles and bit her lip, doing anything to stop her laughter. His ignorance amused her to the nth degree. She hadn't seen anyone like him in years, since she was about fifteen. A loudmouth, annoying, beligerant, ignorant man who just wanted to get into her pants. In a way she felt at home; it was a sick and twisted way of it but she felt more comfortable as she walked with him. "Aight, here we go." Opening the door he let her walk in and glance around. It was a small space. A cot against the window, a small kitchen space, a table with a radio on it, a door open to a small closet, a couch, and a door leading to a bathroom. "This is ya space. When you wanna move up, you let me know, bumpin uglies will get ya everywhere here."

"I'll keep that in mind." She replied sarcastically. "Where can I get new clothes? These are filthy..."

Merle pointed to the table, it seemed like Milton took a little longer for drinks because he had ran out and picked her some clothes. "next door we got clothes n that shit. No clothes soundin better to me by the minute."

"Oh go yank yourself, cause god knows I ain't."

"Aw you ain't gonna do me good? Ya gotta come around to me, and come to me."

"You are a sick man." She groaned. When she turned around he backed away from her and to the door. "What do I do tomorrow?"

"Be lookin for Milton or me, one of us'll take ya to the taco stand boy. Or I can take ya there first thing in the morning if ya want me to stay."

Carrie walked over to the door, resting her frame against the wooden door's body. "I'll pass." With a quick slam of the door she locked it and made her way over to the table to pick up her clothes and immediately made her way into the bathroom. She turned on the shower faucet and stripped down, grossed out at the sight in the mirror. She had bruises all over her arms and legs, her abdomen pale compared to the tanned skin over the rest of her body. Dropping her bra and underwear off she found humor in her pale natural skin. She was permanently tanned in her eyes as she stepped under the running water. She knew that she'd have to get soap and shampoo when she was introduced to the town the next day but for the moment just hot water and wiping the dried dirt and blood off of her felt amazing. After what seemed like forever she had stepped out she turned the shower off and immediately turned the sink on to keep the hot water going. She ran her underwear and clothes under the water to clean them off. After she hung them on the shower rod to dry she had changed and moved into her 'apartment' she sat down on the couch. In a white tank top and denim jeans she enjoyed the feeling of fresh clothes on her skin.

Her mind was rattled at the situation she was now in. A community that she hadn't heard about, and now she was accepted immediately? It seemed like a dream until a knock came to the door. She stood up to answer and was greeted again by Merle with an envelope packed with papers. "Here ya go sweetass." She could smell a little bit of alcohol on his breath. He was REALLY like the guys she knew back home more and more. "The governor put everythan in there ya need. Tomorrow I'll be showin ya around the area. Welcome ta Woodbury sweetass."

"I'd prefer not to be called that."

"Does bitch work betta for ya?"

"Whatever floats your boat..."

"Merle. My name is Merle, you just a stupid bitch or don't you not listen?"

Carrie leaned forward, a rich smirk decorating her face, and with a swift lick of her lips, almost taunting him, she spoke. "Not to ignorance I don't." Closing the door again she heard him yell and cuss and scream while she locked the door and moved back to the couch. Attached in was a letter from the governor with a map. He had explained about what she would be doing, where to go for what, the rules and duties of Woodbury, and that her weapon would be worked on by Milton and returned to her by the next day's afternoon. He explained that Merle would be showing her around, helping her get acquainted with the citizens, getting food and necessities to get her adjusted. Down at the bottom of the packet was a small note apologizing if Merle had said or done anything 'not appropriate', the governor saying that they were still working with him to make him a better person.

Carrie sat the papers out on the table and organized them, moving certain ones with others and slunk over to her bed. There was simply a blanket and pillow over the mattress. She didn't care, she was sleeping on a bed. Not in a car she broke into, not on the ground, not facing frostbite, not being in the way of walkers. It was a place of her own again and she could let her guard down for a few hours to sleep.

P/N: Alright you guys that's the first chapter! This was basically to introduce Carrie to the readers. Yes, I do love Merle, he's my fourth favorite character. Then it's Carl, Michonne, and of course at the top is Daryl :)
Told y'all I was a Dixon fangirl...

ANNNNYWAYS, so the first few chapters will be her time in Woodbury. I do have in until a little bit before Andrea and Michonne arrive, I want to space that apart just so she has her own time discovering what has been going on in Woodbury and unlike Andrea she won't stick around to 'keep the people safe.' She fends for herself and that's how I want to keep her character for a while. I picture her looking a little like Maggie and Andrea if they were put together. For people going 'wtf' for her interactions with Merle it comes from experience with myself and people I know. I originally had her as seventeen and then turning eighteen in Woodbury but I just bumped her up to eighteen to make it less weird. This is the first thing I wrote since last summer so I know I'm rusty, I hope I can shake off the dust and get really back into this. Her weapon I don't know where I got the idea...but it's like a tight leather glove held on by a brace like a knee one but she broke it to adjust it to her arm. The blade when she arrives in Woodbury is broken off but it'll be repaired and by the time she leaves it'll be broken again. I'm so mean...

But yeah I wanted to do something outside my comfort zone, I hope you enjoy it :)

Leave a comment, give predictions of what is going to happen, and tell me what you think Carrie looks like!

Take care!

-Lindsey