This isn't a Beth and Daryl fic. I have noticed that they have become popular on here but I really wanted to go in another direction. Instead I will read the Beth/Daryl fics. I have written a few other walking dead fics but I haven't been especially proud of them. This is my come back if you will. I really hope you all enjoy it and join me on this crazy journey. This first chapter is about my OC's and I promise some Daryl next chapter! Reviews are love!
A big thank you to Pandora0814 for all her awesome Beta work!
I do not own TWD only my added OC's. ENJOY!
Chapter one:
"No Aster and that's final." Her brother Derek told her once again knocking her idea into the dirt.
It was always 'No Aster we can't leave the house. If we leave then we will all die. No, Aster we can't help the girl crying across the street. If we help that girl then we will be killed'.
No wasn't a word Aster wanted to hear ever again. She was twenty two years old; she figured she would be able to make her own choices by now or at least she wanted too.
Derek and Aster stood in the living room arguing once again about the same issue; should they leave or should they stay.
"Yes Derek listen! We need to leave; if we stay any longer we will die. They will over run us eventually. We cannot keep hiding in this house. Are we going to run out of food before you see that?" Aster knew she was right; she wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead.
"Elena and Mom are gone. It's just you and me now and I don't remember making you king of the castle." Aster said to her brother further.
Derek always did this. He tried acting like he was the boss, no questions asked. If Aster ever tried to go against him, which she did often, it wasn't a pretty thing. You never knew just what he would do or say until it was too late. But one thing you could be sure of was that it wouldn't be pleasant.
For so long her sister Elena had borne the brunt of Derek's wrath. That's what she called it; wrath. But now Elena and the family were gone. Aster was all Derek had left to torture.
"I am in charge and I said NO. We aren't leaving." He shook his head furiously then grabbing onto Aster's arm roughly. He pulled her into the kitchen, throwing her into one of their Mom's old wicker chairs by the window seat. "I am sick of your shit Aster. If you keep it up I'll…"
"You'll what?" She snapped back at him, pulling herself away from the chair. Of course she hadn't planned on smashing into the arm of the thick wooden table while she did so.
"What will you do Derek? Come on don't stop now… Finish it already!" Inside her mind, all she could do was scream. 'Just finish it already.' She rubbed angry welt on her arm that was starting to throb, standing her ground.
Derek didn't answer at this point; instead he left his sister alone in the kitchen trudging up the stairs loudly. Aster had a feeling that she might have pushed him to far this time. She promised herself the moment Elena died that she would not waste away in this house with their idiot brother. Aster would rather take her chances alone with the walkers then with a brother that would kill her soon enough from either starvation or anger.
All that waited for Aster if she stayed was one short lived moment. A moment filled with yelling, abuse and loneliness. She wanted to die a free woman not trapped in a never ending cycle of abuse.
The evening had set in and Aster could not take it anymore. She had to do something. Anything but stay in this house another minute. Rubbing her arm where the angry red welt began to form, Aster headed for the hallway closet. If she could just quickly pack a small bag she could sneak out while Derek was asleep. Night time seemed to be the best in these parts. Less stiffs moved around at night, although she could never be one hundred percent sure of that fact. She was confide in the house for too long to really know to much. She couldn't very well ditch him in broad daylight anyways. If Derek caught her, she could kiss the freedom she already had goodbye.
Sure enough Aster found a small book bag. It wasn't the best for long distance travel, but for now it would work. She snuck back into the kitchen and began shoving things into it. A few cans of tomato soup, a few larger kitchen knives and a lighter. It wasn't much but it would do until she could find more stuff elsewhere.
Finally she grabbed a blanket off the couch and tied it tightly on the strap that rested over her shoulder. The sun had practically gone down and she didn't have much time. She had to hide her things in the shower upstairs. Nothing in there was working and she knew her brother wasn't in a hurry to take a bath.
Aster's brother ate dinner with her. Neither of them spoke but he watched her from across the dinner table. Every bite that dripped down his chin caused her to cringe internally. He really was a pig. How they could possibly be related was beyond her. Maybe her mother slept around on her Dad? Aster would never know now, but it wouldn't stop her from wondering. She even entertained the thought that he might be from another planet. Of course he wasn't, but she liked to think mankind could be better than Derek. She wanted to forget the shitty things people did.
Their parents were good people. Elena was grumpy but she was a teenager. That was normal. Aster loved them all, but Derek had always been a little different. He never smiled, not like most people would. When he did smile there was never emotion behind it. It was as if he was void of anything real.
He watched her as she slid into the small bathroom. She could see he was suspicious as to why she would need to even be in there. But she didn't care. She was counting on his fear of the stiffs. He most likely wouldn't follow her. Once she made it down the trellis below the window she would be home free.
"Free..." She repeated the words to herself..
With a trembling hand Aster locked the door, leaning against it as she tried to pull herself together. She was nervous but she was also excited. She was breathing heavily as the adrenaline pulsed through her body.
Aster ran her hand along the sink as she met her own eyes in the small mirror. "You can do this. You have to do this." She whispered to herself as she ran her hands over her swollen face.
"Freedom." She had to do it now. Stiffs or no she was getting the hell out of Dodge.
She quickly pulled out all of the bottles and tubes from the cupboard shoving them into her bag. Then, just as she had planned, hands shaking and sweat pouring down her face, she slid down the trellis and fell right into an old dried up rose bush.
"OUCH!" Aster cried out before realizing that she was attracting attention, "Ouch! Ouch, Ouch!" She whimpered as she began pulling out thorns. This was not a great start to her great escape.
"Snap out of it Ace." She whispered to herself as she shook herself out of the remaining brambles and started to run out into the darkness of her neighborhood.
She tugged out the final thorn as blood poured from multiple holes on her thin bare legs. The moans of the dead were getting closer and if she didn't hurry her ass up she would end up dead in her own front yard.
Aster dusted off her filthy knees and held her kitchen knife up in front of her as she darted past a few stiffs that slowly lurched their way towards her. One thing was for sure; they could be avoided but only if you could see them coming. As long as there weren't many you could just dodge them... right!?
If she could just keep quiet she might actually be okay, at least for the night.
Aster hadn't made it far, realizing that without a flash light she couldn't see in the thick dark blanket around her. With one she would be risking her safety. Instead she did the only thing she could think of and headed towards the place she had been working before the world ended. Aster had a cot there and it was secure enough that she might be able to stick around until she had enough supplies to get out of town. As long as no one had ransacked it she should be okay. At least until Derek figured out she was gone and headed to the only place she went that wasn't their house...
It took her two hours to get there on foot. Night time wasn't as safe as it had been when the outbreak began. In fact the less she could see the worse it was. The dead could come out of anywhere at any time and she wouldn't be able to run without falling on her ass.
She slid her body along the edge of a small gas station, feeling the cold concrete beneath her stiff shaky fingers. She could just make out the small bright purple sign that hung just above 'Stick It'. Even in this darkness she could see it breaking through. And to think she had fought hard against the color.
It wasn't hard; getting inside. It didn't look as though anyone had been here, at least not through the front doors. Slipping her key into the lock she pushed her way into the tattoo parlor she had started so many years ago with her brother and his best friend Bill.
"Hold it. Put your hands where I can see them." A man's voice said from behind her.
Her head shot up as she began reaching for the kitchen knife she had been carrying around.
"Bill." Astrid heard a small female voice from behind the darkness. Even in the shop she couldn't see much.
"Bill, it's Ace." Aster said when she realized who it was.
"Aster?" Bill questioned, stepping into the moon light.
There he was, same old Bill. His undercut still looked the same, died black and combed against his skull. His ears were stretched and he had more tattoos then most. But that's what you get when you devote your life to art, at least this kind.
"Bill." Aster grinned back at him. "You're alive." They didn't touch, they never touched. Instead they walked close enough to feel the others breathe and glared at one another. "And Kenzi." Aster said peeking out from the man in front of her. "It's good to see you."
"Where is your family? Where is Derek?" Bill said, pulling Aster out of her daze. "Why aren't they with you?"
Without even thinking about it, she lied. "Dead… Elena, Mom, Dad, Derek..."
Aster's brother and Bill had been friends since elementary school. She was always a tag along. They graduated two years ahead of her and began their dream or at least Bill's dream. Aster just ended up along for the ride. Bill knew what Derek was like and made sure that as long as he was around Aster was safe. He always seemed to protected her.
"I came to get some stuff from my office." Aster plunked her bag down onto the tile floor and set the knife down on top. "If that is okay?"
"Of course it is. I am just happy to see you alive Ace." He was still startled, but she knew he was happy. Even after everything he and Aster had been through together they still held on to what we always had; friendship.
Aster unlocked her office door and walked inside. Kenzi followed along behind her, holding a candle up so they could see. It had been months since the door had been opened and she knew nothing had been touched.
"Bill didn't want to.." She whispered, watching the dust sailing through the light of the candle. "He said he couldn't face it."
"Face what? I am right here." Aster muttered. Bill's feelings for her had never been a secret. In fact at one point they had begun a relationship together but it had been short lived when Aster caught him bent over Kenzi on the couch in the piercing room down stairs.
Bill had always known about Derek and Aster. He knew she didn't much like to be touched, but he said he loved her so she tried. But after a while she guessed it became too hard for him. Aster was upset but she got over it. She knew how impossible it must be for him, not being able to touch her. She even forgave Kenzi. In the end they all just sort of got over it.
The hole above Aster's desk was still there from the time Bill and she had fought last. It had been their last one.
"I guess I will grab my stuff and head out tomorrow. I don't want to get in your way." Aster told her, taking the candle from her hands. Her cot still lay open, blankets askew.
"Bill and I aren't letting you leave here alone Ace. We're family." She reached out and touched Aster's arm lightly, moving away just as quickly. Without waiting she escaped, closing the door behind her.
Aster laughed to herself as she slid into the small metal cot.
Family.
It was good to feel at home again even if it wouldn't last.
The cot dipped low, suggesting that someone had joined Aster. "I know you aren't sleeping Ace, best give it up now." Bill teased, turning onto his back.
She opened one eye and looked back at him, "Well if I was asleep before you definitely woke me up."
"Kenzi and I were talking. We want to know what you think about heading back into town?" He watched her from the edge of the cot. In the day light she could see slight changes in his appearance since the last time she had seen him. He was tired, large bags had replaced his normal perfect complexion. He also had new scars scattered all over his arms. This year hadn't been kind.
"Overrun." Aster shook her head. "I'm headed out of town." She lied about the town being overrun.
If they headed back she knew he would want to stop by the house. She couldn't have Derek join them and she certainly couldn't have Bill finding out he was still alive. She needed away from all that.
"Out of town huh?" He hid a smile, trying to allow Astrid to feel tough for a moment.
"Well then I guess we are to. Can't let you get eaten or worse." His shrug was it; he slid back out of her bed and onto his feet. "We pack up and go today. It's almost light out so get up and get ready to move."
"So that's it? You are coming with me? Just like that?" She asked, sitting upright.
"You think I would let you leave here without us? No freaking way Ace, not happening. I know you're stubborn and I know I can't stop you. Only thing left is to just go with you." The door clicked behind him.
That next morning before heading out they ran around the building gathering everything they could carry.
"Alright so now what?" Aster said letting her hands fall to her sides before continuing. "How do we get out of here? We could head out and look for a car or we could walk."
"You didn't tell her?" Kenzi asked Bill, raising her eye brows at him bewildered.
"Tell me what?" It wasn't as if they could fly out of here. Aster needed real ideas.
"Pan and Gunner." He shrugged, cringing as Kenzi elbowed him in the gut.
"What? I am telling her now!" He fought back, a slight smile giving away his fake anger.
"Your lying." Aster said, her hand flying to her forehead. "My motorcycle is gone, remember. Derek sold it." She felt a tear fighting to escape but she held on tight.
"Yah, he sold it to me." He turned and pushed open the door to the small parking garage behind the building.
"I knew you were pretty pissed when he said he was going to sell it, so I figured I might make you happy."
Kenzi was grinning now as she watched Aster's reaction. She was in utter shock, unsure if she should kick him or hug him. She wouldn't do either but she certainly wanted to.
Aster didn't speak as she followed him. There she was leaning and covered in a sleek white cloth. Next to it there was another large lump, leaning with a black cloth. Aster slid her hand over the cloth and tugged it down over her bike.
"Pan." She said, speaking to it like a crazy person.
She was muddy but Aster shrugged it off. It didn't matter.
"Sorry about the mud." Kenzi cringed, "Billy said not to touch but he didn't come back on time and I took her out."
"S'fine." Aster muttered, "Just happy to see her." Normally she had a 'touch it and you die' policy but she could get over it this time. As soon as they neared a large body of water she could clean her off. The minute she climbed on and brought her to life Aster sighed.
They had no destination, no plans. But maybe it could be okay, even if only for a little while.
After that they rode. They rode until their asses hurt and then they kept riding. She wondered what Derek was doing now. Was he looking for her? Or had his fear taken over. Maybe he was already dead. All Aster could be sure of now was that she had a chance, that's all she wanted.
