Disclaimer- I do not own the walking dead or any of the characters in the show/comics, only my OC's and storyline.
I thought of the idea for this story when I was going to sleep and just couldn't wait to start working on it! I already know the direction I'm going to take the story in and what's going to happen to the characters and I'm really excited to share it with any readers! I hope you enjoy:).
You was suddenly woken from your sleep as the sound of the door to the room you shared with your mum slammed open against the wall. Your mum rushed in letting out heavy breaths as she began to rummage through the draws beside the bed.
"Mum what's going on?" You asked, your voice rusty from sleep. You rubbed your eyes, attempting to wake yourself up to see what all the commotion was about.
"We need to leave" she said quickly, her voice driven with panic. You stared at her as she packed some clothes, stuffing them in her backpack. She turned to look at you, as your gaze met you noticed the glimmer of fear that was running through her eyes. "Now!" She said speaking a little louder than before. You noted the desperation which filled her command.
You immediately rose from then bed, still confused but you didn't think it would be a good idea to disobey her even if you didn't understand what was going on. You headed over to the stool where you and your mum store the small amount of canned food you earned and began to place it in your own bag, in a much calmer manor than your mum.
"Mum what's going on?" You asked, walking towards her once you were satisfied you'd gathered enough of the necessities. Being this close to her, you took in her appearance, a shiver shot down your spine as you realised she must've run into trouble. The fabric to her tshirt which had covered her left arm was ripped from the shoulder down, her exposed skin on her bicep was a deep shade of red with bruises forming in the shape of fingertips. You lifted your eyes up to her face, you noticed a split in the skin on her bottom lip, small amounts of blood were escaping from the open wound. Her short hair was drooping over her face, half of it not tied back into her previously neat pony tail.
"It's not safe here for us honey, the men here, their leader.." She sounded as though she was about to explain herself but she shook her head dismissing the idea. "We just have to leave okay?, Don't ask questions just trust me".
She rose her hand to your face and cupped your cheek as she gave you a small reassuring smile, however her attempt didn't calm you down as the emotion in her eyes that she was trying to hide betrayed her. Something sinister must have happened. You trusted your mum with your life and loved her with all your heart. No matter what you would follow her but you couldn't fully comprehend what she had said because it didn't make sense. The both of you arrived at the sanctuary over 3 months ago, it was safe here, there was a point system but it worked. We've had our struggles getting the food we need but this place is better than facing the dangers outside these walls where you had both lost everything. But looking at her now, maybe you overestimated the safety of your new home. You become slightly annoyed at how naive you must've been.
You didn't ask anymore questions, deciding to accept what your mum had said. Home was were your mum was, you would leave if you were with her. You nodded, looking deep into your mums eyes, lifting one of your hands to her one covering your cheek, giving it a tight squeeze. After a few moments, you both turned away from eachother and collected anything left that would be needed.
You pulled on your jacket and tied up your boots, throwing your backpack over one shoulder, deciding you were ready. You walked towards the door which your mum had left open, you checked the cost was clear but your mum suddenly grabbed your wrist, pulling you back inside.
"We can't be seen leaving so we need to move quickly and quietly until we are out of the gates and no matter what happens to us, if you somehow end up back here, do not trust anyone" She explained. The only response you gave was another nod, letting her know you understood what she was saying as you repeated her last warning in your head frightened by the tone she had chosen to use.
"Stay close to me" she commanded, finalising her instructions. "I love you Lacey" she said softly, looking as if she was about to cry.
"I love you too mum" you replied with a smile, taking her hand in yours.
She pulled you behind her as you both snuck out of your room. Shuffling down the corridor with both your backs against the wall so she could make sure no one was coming around the corner. You still didn't know why everything was so secretive, why couldn't you just leave if you wanted to?. You were aware of the rules that were put in place by the leader Negan but you barely ever saw him which led you to believe they couldn't be that serious if he wasn't around to enforce them.
After what seemed like an eternity of sneaking through the compound you and your mum reached the gates at the front of the old factory. There was a man guarding the fence on a raised platform, but the darkness surrounding you hid you and your mum from his sight. Only then did you realise it must be the middle of the night, what had your mum been doing outside your room so late?. Before you could think about it any longer your mum pulled your arm, dragging you through the rip in the fence which you assumed she had made. Finally free, you both bolted for the cover of the trees. Just before you were completely surrounded by nature, you took a look back at the place you had recently considered to be home and you couldn't help but think you would miss the security it provided. Turning back to your mum, you followed her continuing to run in the opposite direction to the sanctuary.
As you were running through the forest, hearing the crunching of leaves beneath your feet your thoughts drifted to the only family you had left. Because of the rushed circumstances you hadn't even managed to ask her if she was okay. She was the strongest and bravest woman you knew, she had definitely seen her hardships in this new world. We'd come across bad people before and she'd received the scars to prove it but this must be more serious.
Both you and your mum were unable to continue running for much longer, both wheezing from sprinting. Coming up to a small deserted house, engulfed by greenery you both decided it was a good place to catch your breath. Not really exercising for months was really paying a tole on you now, all you had both been doing was working in the gardens which was hardly exhausting work. You looked over to your mum who was was bent over with her hands set on her thighs. She was violently coughing, clearly struggling to carry on running with the wounds she had received from whatever happened back at the sanctuary.
She eventually stood up straight, tilting her head back and resting it against a large piece of glass which appeared to be a window belonging to the house. You started to walk towards her wanting to help her in anyway that you could. It broke your heart to see her like this, beaten and hurt. You were a few feet from her when there was a loud shatter of glass, your eyes widened with terror at the events which were about to unfold in front of you. Countless pairs of rotting hands gripped onto your mum's torso, her eyes searched for yours in a state of panic.
Everything seemed to freeze as you locked eyes. She masked her fear, looking at you softly allowing a small smile to appear on her face despite her struggle. You knew what she thought was about to happen, she was saying goodbye. You began to move towards the window, refusing to let this happen. You reached for her hand, inches separated the two of you as she was dragged through the window by the dead.
You let out a painful scream as if your heart was literally being ripped from your chest. Your mum's gut-wrenching cries forced you to the floor with the weight of what you were witnessing. You continued to scream, calling out for your mum over and over hoping she would climb through the window unscathed. The blood drained from your face, every inch of your body was shaking with despair. You couldn't believe this was it. She was all you had left in this world, all that mattered, all that kept you going.
Your mum's cries finally came to a halt leaving you in silence but you knew what this defending silence meant. Only the low moans of the dead from inside the house could be heard along with the small sobs you were letting out. You somehow rose from the ground, and headed towards where your mum had been, you kept your eyes closed, not wanting to see the horror that would be in front of you. You placed your hands against the frame of the window, shards of glass ripping into your skin causing blood to pour out from your injury.
You could hear familiar moans of the dead in the distance, the sounds of your mothers dying screams must've attracted more of these monsters. Not caring whether you lived or died, you sunk to the floor once again as if it was dragging you down by your feet. You dropped your head and thought about your mums last moments, the look in her eyes and the reassuring smile she gave, almost as if she was trying to tell you everything was going to be okay. You hugged your knees, not caring enough about your life to prepare for the painful death that you was about to endure.
The moans become much louder as the dead started surrounding you, you squeezed your eyes shut even tighter. You then felt a hand grip your shoulder roughly as the sound of gunfire filled your ears.