Alicia trudged along behind Chris and Nick as the trio swept through the nearly empty aisles of the abandoned supermarket. The large fluorescent lights hanging high along the ceiling had long since lost power and now the only light came from the cracked and stained windows at the front of the building. Alicia adjusted the headphone sitting in her left ear playing soft indie rock music.

"You know one day that music is going to get you killed." Nick spoke over his shoulder at his sister.

Alicia looked up from running her fingers over the edge of the empty shelving unit. She rolled her eyes at her brother. "We haven't seen any of those things in this entire town. I think I'll be okay."

Nick sighed and held up his hands, "I'm just saying."

"Ya, well I don't need you telling me what to do." Alicia looked down and saw an empty can of corn on the ground. She readied herself and kicked the can with all of her might. It rocketed past the pair of boys and bounced down the aisle. It clanged against both the metal shelving unit and the cold laminate tile and finally stopped when it smacked into the far wall.

"What was that for?" Chris turned to Alicia with an annoyed look on his face.

She shrugged, "What is anything for these days?" Almost as soon as she finished speaking a low groan could be heard at the back end of the market.

All three of them stopped in their tracks and listened intently. The groaning only increased in volume and the sound was soon joined by the shuffling of feet as well.

"Come on, let's get out of here!" Nick started jogging back towards the front of the market. He led them along the route they had taken in from their jeep which idled outside along with Madison and Travis. As their feet pounded on the tile the store seemed to come alive around them. Darkened aisles they had passed by earlier were suddenly pouring out walkers.

"This way!" Nick wind milled his arm directing Chris and Alicia around a turn. Their original route cut off by a shambling pack of the dead.

"You just had to start something, didn't you?" Chris yelled at Alicia as they zigzagged through the selves.

"I didn't think there were any here!" Alicia defended herself.

"You can argue later, let's just get out of here." Nick grabbed an abandoned shopping cart and charged forward with it. Walkers piled up on the other side as they near the front doors. As they reached the line of checkout counters he wheeled the cart into a long emptied soda refrigerator sending the walkers sprawling. With the path clear the three teenagers raced out into the late afternoon air, momentarily blinded by the bright sun. The sharp crack of gunfire drew their attention toward the jeep which was quickly being surrounded by walkers itself.

Madison held out an arm towards them as Travis fired into the hoard. "Come on! Get in!"

Nick and Chris reached the jeep first and piled into the backseat. Travis handed the handgun to Madison and started up the engine of the jeep. Alicia made it to the vehicle last and jumped up into the back bed, seated on the piled of good they had scavenged, holding on to the support bars. Madison looked back uncertain but Alicia waved them on, "I'm fine. Go! Go!"

Travis kicked the engine in gear and the jeep rocketed off. They bounced along the unkempt road swerving through walkers and abandoned cars. Alicia in her perch bounced along with the jeep grasping the support pillars with all her strength. The road away from the market and back towards where they had come ashore took one last sudden twist just outside of town. Just as they turned the corner a walker ambled out of the bushes. Travis attempted to swerve out of the way but was too late. The jeep rammed straight into the walker.

The car bucked as it rolled over the body and the back tires lifted a few feet into the air before they crashed back down into the pavement. Alicia went airborne in the back bed of the jeep and Travis's attempt to swerve caused the vehicle to twist sharply to the right. Alicia's airborne body jerked in the air. Her grip on the support beams slipped and she fell over the side of the jeep.

"Alicia!" Madison screamed as Alicia went over the edge of the pavement. The road sat on the edge of a steep hill of bramble that quickly dropped out into the blue sea waters. The waves below crashed into outcroppings of rocks jutting out of the water from the sea floor. Alicia tumbled down the hill side, the thickness of the landscape slowed her descent but not quickly enough to avoid the fall. Her body tumbled through the air before splashing down into the water. Narrowly avoiding a particularly sharp slab of rock submerged in the waves.

"Travis, we have to stop." Madison turned toward the man and grasped his shoulder. He slowed but the quickly encroaching horde of the dead behind prevented him from stopping entirely.

"We can't. There's too many of them. Besides…" He looked back at the slope Alicia had tumbled down. "It's too dangerous to try and follow her."

Nick leaned forward from the back seat. "There." He pointed forward through the windshield. Further down the coast the slope to the water evened out. "I think we can get down there and circle back."

Travis exchanged a glance with Madison, waiting for her to solemnly nod her head before he gunned the jeep once again, racing for the slope before them.

Down in the water below Alicia's body spun lazily in the waves. The fall knocked her unconscious on the way down. The current pulled at her, slowly dragging her out past the rocks into the vast ocean beyond.

Night had fallen by the time Alicia finally awoke. She opened her eyes slowly with a thudding headache pounding in her skull. She could still taste the saltwater on her lips. She was surprised to find herself laid out on top of a rather thick patch of grass. She glanced down to see a black leather jacket had been draped across her torso.

She sat up and took a look around at her surroundings. She was lying in what appeared to be a small campsite but as best she tell she was alone. A small fire burned in a ring a few feet in front of her with thin tendrils of smoke coiling up in the night sky. On the other side of the fire sat a small pile of bags, likely holding the belongings of whomever she had been sharing this campsite with. Her attention was caught the item on top of the pile. Sitting open with a piece of charcoal was a sketchbook. Alicia could make out a few of the lines of a drawing of what appeared to be a person on the open page but the distance and low light made it difficult to know for sure.

Seeing the sketchbook brought back old memories of Matt to the surface of Alicia's mind. While the deep pang of sadness and regret she once felt at leaving him behind had faded she still missed the boy. Absent mindedly she reached over to run her fingers over the design she had permanently etched into her forearm. The movement caused the jacket to slide off her body. Almost immediately a cool breeze blew off the water through the camp. The chill of the evening air caused a shudder to pass through Alicia's shoulders. After a brief moment of indecision she picked up the jacket and slipped it over her shoulders. The warmth it provided was a relief as the fire began to die down.

"Well, look who's finally awake."

Alicia jumped to her feet and spun around to face the voice that had surprised her. About a dozen feet behind her at the edge of the tree line stood a girl. She had a cocky smile on her face and she held a pile of logs and branches in her arms. The girl shifted on her feet but didn't come any closer. She looked like she was waiting for something, almost like she was trying not to frighten her. "I suppose I have you to thank for that."

The girl's smirk widened and she resumed walking towards the fire. "Don't mention it. There's nothing like a good afternoon swim." She made her way past Alicia and kneeled next to the flames. Carefully she went about laying a few of the large pieces of wood in the pit. Almost immediately the new fuel caught fire and the flames roared higher. Alicia could feel the increase in temperature even from the distance away she stood. The girl dropped the rest of the wood in a pile a few feet away from the blaze and turned back towards Alicia.

The soft light of the fire flickered across the girl's body which finally allowed Alicia a decent view of the girl. A glint of light on metal stood out and drew Alicia's attention. For the first time she noticed the weapons. The girl had a pair of pistols, one holstered to each thigh. Alicia couldn't help the sudden adrenaline that coursed through her veins or that her natural response was to step back away from the stranger.

"What's wrong?" The girl furrowed her brow at the sudden change in Alicia's demeanor. After a moment of silence, she tracked Alicia's eyes and seemed to remember the guns herself. "Whoa," she held up hands towards Alicia. "I'm a friend alright?" Slowly she reached down and pulled the guns out of their holsters. She held them gingerly, not placing her hands on the grips. Slowly she turned and tossed them to her pile of belongings. "See, nothing to worry about."

She took on step towards Alicia and held her hand out invitingly, "My name is Elyza, Elyza Lex. What's yours?"

Alicia paused for a moment, chewing tentatively on her lip and staring at the offered hand. Finally she met Elyza's gaze. "Alicia, Alicia Clark."

Elyza felt a flush through her veins as the girl spoke her name. A nagging feeling at the edge of her consciousness tugged at her. As if the name should mean something to her. She stood with her hand aloft for a beat longer than would be comfortable as the feeling distracted her. Finally when she realized Alicia was not going to be taking it she dropped her hand back to her side. "Well, alright then. Can't say I blame you. I probably wouldn't trust me either."

An awkward silence hung in the air for a long moment before Elyza finally spoke again. "Well, you must be hungry right? I've got some food if you want." She turned back towards her pile goods and started rummaging through a backpack. With Elyza's back turned Alicia subtly reached towards her pocket to check on her butterfly knife. She let out a sigh of relief when she felt its sharp contours.

"Here we go." Alicia quickly moved her hand away from the knife when Elyza turned around. "How would you feel about my best bag of trail mix?" She held up the bag as if it were the finest of meals.

Despite herself Alicia couldn't help but feel the beginnings of a smirk tug at the corner of her lips. "Sure, I'll take some." Elyza smiled and handed the bag over to Alicia. "I guess I have to thank you for two things now."

"Actually, three things."

Alicia cocked her head questioningly as she crewed on a handful of the snack. "You seem to have taken my jacket as well."

Alicia looked down and realized she was still wearing the leather jacket. "Oh, sorry, you can have it back."

"No," Elyza reached out and placed her hand on Alicia's arm. "It's fine, keep it. Besides," Elyza let her hand slide down Alicia's arm and smiled as she stepped away. "It's looks good on you."

Alicia choked on her trail mix in response to Elyza's complement. Elyza laughed and patted the brunette's back as Alicia hunched over and coughed. "Man, I knew I had killer game but this is taking it a bit far don't you think?"

After Alicia finally got her breath back she righted herself causing Elyza's hand to drop off. "Well, I'm glad my savior is humble."

Elyza slipped her hands in her front pockets and shrugged. "It's what I do." The posture quickly diverted Alicia's attention to Elyza's state of attire. With her jacket now gone she only wore a simple white tank top. Alicia's swallowed thickly as her eyes traced the obvious musculature of the girl's arms.

Realizing she was staring Alicia dragged her gaze away and shook her head to clear it. With the moment broken the realization of situation dawned on her. "Wait. When you rescued me did you see anyone else around?"

"Not really, plenty of walkers milling about but I assume that's not who you mean."

Alicia began to look around wildly before gesturing at Elyza. "You have to take be back there."

"Whoa, slow down." Elyza held up her hands. "A whole hoard of those things was walking by. It's too dangerous."

Alicia glared at Elyza with fire in her eyes. "I was with my family when I fell. They would have come back to look for me. I need to be there."

"I get it, I really do. Just wait until morning light. It'll be much safer." Elyza took a step forward intending to put a comforting hand on Alicia's shoulder.

Alicia took a quick step backwards and grabbed her knife out of her back pocket. The blade gleamed in the low fire light as she artfully flipped it open. "I don't need your permission. I'm going now."

Elyza retreated as Alicia practically growled at her. "Okay, okay, I'll take you there."

Alicia cocked an eyebrow skeptically, "Why would you? You just said yourself it was risky."

Elyza shrugged, "It's not like I have a lot else going on."

"Jokes aren't a reason to risk your life."

Elyza sighed and looked away, "It'd be nice to not be alone for once."

Alicia's gaze softened at the admission. "Alright."

"Thank you." Elyza breathed a sigh of relief and headed to grab her bags.

"Wait!" Elyza paused as Alicia carefully went around her to the bags. Being careful to keep Elyza in her view Alicia leaned down and patted the ground until her hand found the first of the pair of pistols Elyza had discarded. She slipped the first pistol into the back of the waistband of jeans and after taking the second gun she closed her knife and returned it to her back pocket. "Alright, let's go."

Elyza frowned but picked up her bags anyway, "Not exactly trusting are you?"

"I've been given reason not to be."

"Haven't we all." Elyza kicked dust over the fire, effectively dousing the flames. "This way." At the edge of the clearing that had served as their camp Elyza stepped behind a brush and with a grunt of effort she pushed into the open a dull golden motorcycle. She strapped the bags to the back and slid onto the seat. The single headlight shot out a wide beam of light and the engine grumbled as she turned the key in the ignition. After kicking up the kickstand she looked over to Alicia. "Let's get this show on the road." She patted the empty space of leather behind her. "Climb on."

After a moment's hesitation Alicia nodded and slid on behind Elyza. "Can't saw I ever thought I was going to get to ride one of these." She muttered.

"Let me guess. Overprotective parents?" Despite not being able to see her face Alicia could hear the smile in Elyza's voice.

"Something like that."

Elyza revved the engine, "You might want to hold on to something."

Alicia was mid eye roll when Elyza hit the gas. The bike shot up a dirt path before them, racing up to the main road. The same one Alicia had fallen from hours before. The bike caught air as it barreled over the curb and onto the pavement. Without thinking Alicia yelped in surprise and grasped onto first thing she could. That thing just so happened to be Elyza.

Even after the ride smoothed out Alicia couldn't quite manage to let go. With just the tank top on Alicia could feel the outline of the girls' abs beneath her fingers. When Elyza turned the handlebars Alicia could feel the twitch of the taunt muscles.

Elyza tilted her head back, "Getting comfortable back there?"

Alicia gasped in surprise, she nearly let go of Elyza completely but managed to think better of it. Instead she switched her grip to hold lightly onto the back of Elyza's shirt, balling a bit of it in her hand. A blush reddened her cheeks as she leaned away from Elyza. Embarrassed coiled in her stomach.

The ride only lasted a few minutes and neither girl tried to speak for the rest of the trip, the wind making it nearly impossible even if they had tried. Finally they neared a turn that looked all too familiar to Alicia. Elyza slowed the bike until they reached a standstill on the side of the rode. "You fell from somewhere around here right?"

"Yep, just up there." Alicia pointed at the apex of the turn, a few dozen feet before them. "We were trying to get away from the hoard." She sighed. "A horde I started."

Elyza turned slightly in her seat a laid a hand on Alicia's knee. "Hey, it's alright. I'm sure your family is safe." The first cracks of sunlight were beginning to appear over the horizon as Elyza gazed back on the coast. "There." She pointed to a dirt track farther down the road. When they would have tried to find you that's the route they would have tried."

Alicia took a breath and nodded. "Okay, let's check it out."

The path down was coated in loose dirt, slowing the journey but eventually the pair made it down to the base of the slope. The path was empty but the ground showed obvious signs of traffic. Elyza got off the bike and took a knee. "Tire tracks," she traced the indention in the ground. "Fresh too. You were right, they were here for you."

Elyza stood and brushed the dust off her knee, "Did you have a camp or anything nearby? Somewhere they might still be?" When the question was met with silence Elyza met Alicia's suspicious gaze. "Seriously? I can't help if you won't give me anything to go on."

"I have had bad experiences giving that kind of information to something I thought I could trust."

Elyza groaned, "What else could I possibly do to satisfy you? I saved your life, gave you food, let you take my guns so you could threaten me with them, and literally gave you the clothes off my back."

Alicia paused so a moment before coming to a decision, "If you betray me…"

Elyza jumped in before she could finish, "I won't, I swear to you."

Alicia sighed, "Okay, we have a boat. They might still be docked down the road a few miles."

"Thank you, Alicia."

The ride back up slope was much quick than the ride down had been and soon the girls were streaking down the road with the early morning sun cresting the horizon. "Oh, no."

Alicia's grip on Elyza tightened as the dock came into view. The Abigail was gone and in its place piles of walkers lay immobile across the ground. As Elyza slowed in her approach they could see obvious signs of a struggle. Bullet holes had riddled the wooden beams of the dock as well as the skulls dead. "They're gone, I can't believe it." Her tone was a mix of disbelief and sadness.

"Hey, they're probably were just getting some distance from these guys." Elyza gestured to the bodies around them. "I'm sure they'll be back." Alicia nodded at the words but Elyza could see the disbelief in her eyes. "Let's just find somewhere to lay low for a while and wait for them to return."

"Okay." Alicia's voice was soft and nearly emotionless in its reply.

Elyza steered her bike away from the dock. Nearby she found a slight hill, the rise giving her a good vantage point over the surrounding area. She slowed the bike to a stop beneath the swaying branches of an oak tree.

A slight breeze blew off the hills down towards the coast rustling leaves as it passed. Elyza sighed as she sat down and leaned against the base of the tree. "At least the wind will keep the smell of those things at bay."

"Ya, I guess." Alicia sat crossed legged on the grass. She laid her chin on her knee and looked wistfully out at the sea, watching the waves come crashing against the shore. The sound of the water faded into the background as Alicia's eyes began to get heavy. She tried to fight the drowsiness that seemed to seep into her very bones but it was a losing battle. Soon her eyelids drooped closed and sleep welcomed her.

Elyza paused from cleaning her nails with the small pocket knife she carried to look over at Alicia. She smiled sadly as the girl fidgeted in her sleep, occasionally letting a low mumble slip out. All of a sudden she jerked awake and looked around wildly, with her breath coming in great panicked gasps.

"It's alright, Alicia." She turned to Elyza with eyes wide and pupils dilated. "You're safe."

She seemed to calm at Elyza's reassuring words. Her breath slowed as she bowed her head and seemed to come back to herself. "Thanks, Clarke."

Elyza cocked her head. "Who?"

"I… I don't know why I said that. Still tired I guess."

"Huh, alright." Elyza agreed but deep down she knew it was something more than that. "Well, I hate to say it but we should probably move to somewhere a little more defensible before nightfall."

Alicia looked back to the dock with a shake of her head, "You should go."

"What?"

"Thank you for your help but I need to do whatever it takes to find them."

Elyza smirked trying to disguise the feeling disappointing welling up within her. "I don't see why that has to affect me."

Alicia glanced over perplexed, "You want to come with me?"

Elyza stood and wiped the dirt from her palms on her jeans before moving to offer Alicia a hand up. "I don't exactly have much else to do. Besides, you still have my guns."

"Right," Alicia took the offered hand and allowed Elyza to hoist her up, once again taken aback by the ease in which the other girl was able to physically move her. "Here." Alicia held out the pair of guns she had taken earlier.

Elyza just looked at the weapons, not reaching for either of them. "Well, go on." Alicia held the guns out farther and shook them.

With a tight smile Elyza took the gun offered in Alicia's right hand. She held it up and cocked it, not missing the way Alicia flinched in the background. "You keep the other one."

"Are you sure?" Alicia looked at the black metal in her hand as if it were some alien object.

Elyza tried to hold in her laughter, "You've never actually fired one have you?"

"Ah, no. No I haven't."

"That's fine," Elyza smiled. "I'll teach you." She reached down and unloosed the holster she had strapped to her left thigh. "May I?"

Alicia looked at her uncomfortably for a moment biting her lip before eventually nodding. Elyza took a knee before the other girl and reached out with the holster. She wrapped the straps of canvas around Alicia's thigh and pulled them tight. "There, all set."

She leaned back and looked up towards Alicia. She couldn't help the grasp that passed through her lips. The dying sun lit the girl from the back, creating a bright halo of light around her head. Dark shadows traced the contours of her cheeks and highlighted her eyes. She lost track of the time she spent staring, the spell only broken when Alicia cleared her throat. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah." Elyza stumbled back up to her feet trying to hide the blush dusting her cheeks. "I'm… I'm fine, but we should find some shelter for the night. Then we can figure out our next move."

The girls got on Elyza's bike and headed back towards the abandoned town. They picked their way around disparate packs of walkers, none presenting too much of a problem, until they finally found a house that looked relatively intact. "Alright, this one should work." Elyza pulled the motorcycle up to the porch, parking it right at the base of the stairs where it would be easiest to get to in case they needed to run.

"Here," Elyza handed Alicia the bags off the back of the motorcycle then slid her pistol from its holster. "Keep right behind me, alright?"

Alicia nodded, "Alright."

A/N: Thanks to everyone for checking out my story! This is the first chapter of what will probably will be a 3 part story. The second chapter should be out in the next couple of days. A big shout out to NutHeda for helping me out with editing. Please drop me a comment if you can, I'd love to hear what everyone's thoughts are on the plot or characterization or just about anything really. Have a great day and happy reading!