Chapter One – Zoey, Louis, and Francis
"Yin, get over here now." I call over to my partner as she sniffs around for something. Probably some sort of food, leave it to her to sniff around a dock where dead fish might be located. Food would be good, but fish from before the disease would probably be infected by now too.
Even though Yin let her guard down, I kept my Pump Shotgun loaded and ready. And good thing I was ready, because next thing I know an infected is barreling towards me. It didn't stand a chance; it has a hole in its head with smoke blowing out of it. Dad would be proud if he saw me now.
"Yin?" Where hell did my dog go? She was right in front me just a few seconds ago and now she's gone. Did she disappear somewhere nearby? "Yin! C'mon here girl!" Damn infected.
I call again and again, no reply. Damn, now I really am alone. I kind wish I never left them, even if I was the only one left. Well, me and Yin at least are a team, right? Yin's my German shepherd, loyal companion she is. Except she just left me to dance alone with some damn zombies. Now I'm stuck with some blood thirsty monsters and a thousand mile long ocean.
I'm careful where I walk while I search for Yin. I know she's still alive and I'm going to find her. I'm really good at being quiet, especially because I have my sneakers on. Aside from that, I have hunting in my blood. Well, not literally, but you get what I mean.
I walk across the docks, it's a boardwalk actually. There are closed stalls with signs that declare their closing or them being out of business or whatever. There's trash everywhere. Old candy wrappers, empty cups, bags for Cotton Candy and popcorn, old ice cream wrappers and plastic bags flying in the wind and scattered across the boardwalk. It's actually pretty calming.
I hadn't really worried about the time, but I could tell that over the horizon the sun was beginning to set. The ocean was calm and reminded me of my need for sleep. Maybe because it was soothing and I hadn't slept probably in days, but really who knew? Time was a royalty in Post - Apocalyptic-o land.
That's when I heard the strangest thing: voices. Human voices to be exactly precise. And they weren't gurgling, coughing, or screeching. They were talking. And out of instinct, I lifted up my pistol from its holster, and crept behind one of the abandoned stall vendors.
"Would ya look at that? A dog." A loud voice boomed obnoxiously. Wow, Yin had left me for another group of people? That traitor!
"Yes Francis, a dog." A woman's voice replied with immense sarcasm which was highly amusing even though I had no idea who she was. I just found it amusing, don't ask me why. It could be my lack of sleep or close to insanity issues.
"I wonder if she's bitten." There was a third voice now, it was man's voice. He sounded a bit relaxed. I tried to sneak a peek, crouching still carefully almost crawling now. My pistol was in my hand…just a little closer.
"Louis, you can't be seriously being thinking of taking the dog with us." The man with the loud voice again replied. God he's loud, I could almost hear it echo off the water and bounce back at me. He trying to attract the zombies, I swear.
"We can't just leave here her…Zoey!" The man with the relaxed voice replied to his companions as the girl replied, "What? The dog might be bit! We should shoot it before it bites us!" That was all I need to hear before I spring into action.
"No! Don't!" What the hell did I just do? I really don't know, I kind of just lost it. Not that I really had "it" to begin with, which was pretty clear. All I know was that I had jumped out from behind the abandoned stall with my pistol in my hand to save my dog. Yin immediately sensed danger and whimpering she walked back to me. I place my hand on her black harness on her back that reads "POLICE". It was a gag from my Dad.
"Holy crap, another survivor! And he's a kid!" The woman was pointing a finger at me. I didn't take much notice to her; I was too focused on Yin.
"Holy crap! Another survivor and she's a bitch!" I shot back nastily as I scratched Yin behind the ear as she whimpered terrified. I'd be scared if some black haired bitch held a gun to me.
"Hey, I kinda like this kid." It was the guy with the loud voice. Now that we were out in open, I was able to get a clear look at them.
The loud guy, he was covered with sleeves of tattoos. He was wearing a leather biker jacket with a white tank top, fingerless gloves, boots and black jeans. Is he supposed to look like a biker?
Then there was the bitch…I mean woman. She had black haired tied back in a ponytail, a light red…or was that pink? Whatever, I'm partial colorblind, let's say it's pink. Anyway, it was a pink track jacket; she also wore converses and blue jeans.
And the last one was a black man. He looks like a businessman, a really shrimp and wimpy type of guy. Anyway, he wears a white shirt and a red tie; he wears gray slacks and shiny, pointed shoes. I notice he has an expensive looking watch and keeps his sleeves rolled up. Yeah so what if I notice this kind of stuff? I'm perceptive, okay?
"Hey kid, what are you doing here? With a gun?" Was this a serious question? Jeez, I don't know, I have gun because there is a goddamn ZOMBIE APOCAYPLSE going on, maybe? Maybe they wanted to know my name or something?
"That's a really stupid question. If you want to know anything, I'm Ashton. This is Yin. Don't touch her or I'll gladly shoot you." I replied sharply and once again with a nasty intention. "Especially you, Bellatrix." I specifically eyed the girl with black hair.
"My name is Zoey." Did she just ignore my hostility? She did not just ignore me! Vengeance will be mine!
"I'm Louis." This was the businessman speaking; he was the one who asked the stupid question in case you're wondering.
"I'm Francis." The guy dressed like a biker, replies. (Really, it looks like some cheap costume.)
"Hey kid. Exactly how old are you?" Louis was just full of questions, wasn't he? I was actually kind of waiting for this question. I expected them to ask it anyway.
"Thirteen. And if you're wondering why I can handle a gun so well…" I flip the pistol up, grab it and place it in my holster, "I'm from Michigan, we hunt a lot there, you know."
"You're from Michigan? No way! That's over a thousand miles away; did you really come here on foot?" Bitch...I mean Zoey replies. Damn, that's already a bad habit; I should fix that, shouldn't I? Maybe not.
"I came here on vacation with my family. Before they were brutally slaughtered by claws that is." I'm talking about those jumping things…or whatever. The ones with the hoodies that leap on you and pull your flesh apart, I'm what people call a sharpshooter, so I usually shoot them before they get me.
"Claws? Do you even know anything about the vampire apocalypse, kid?" Francis asks as I slowly walk towards them, Yin is careful inching besides me, she probably doesn't trust Zoey. I wouldn't either; in fact, I don't.
"Not really. It's not like you all know to much either, do you?" It was true, I really didn't know all too much about the zombies or whatever the hell they are. Wait, did he say vampires?
"Well, we do have nicknames for the special infected." Alright, I'm lost. I don't really know what the hell they mean, but whatever. Maybe they could be an asset to my team except I already don't like Bellatrix and Francis. Louis isn't so bad, but Yin would be able to make up for all these guys are lacking; which is pretty much everything.
"Hey, should we take the kid with us?" Louis pointed his finger towards me as if I was one of the infected. I almost want to bite his finger and start drooling then again Zoey might shoot me, so that kind of scares me.
"This brat? No way! Besides isn't that just replacing…?" Zoey's voice goes from being over confident and cocky to sorrowful. I actually feel for her. She must be missing her family; maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Agh, what am I saying? She's a witch, no sympathy for her. For some reason this quote reminds me of an internet meme.
"I don't think it's replacing, besides he's here all by himself. I know we didn't get off on the right foot, but none of us did…" Louis trailed off a little when he said that as if he was remembering something painful. What was with these guys? Definitely something suspicious that I can't exactly put my finger on.
I had almost forgotten that Yin was there before she nudged my hand with her head, her soft head made up for my lack of company. I wonder how these guys got here. I hadn't seen them in town before now; then again I was a tourist, like I knew anything decent. Oh, that boat I hadn't notice until now could have been it maybe.
While I hear them discuss their options in low whispers (except Francis who takes like a NORMAL PERSON while whispering) I run my fingers through my silver hair, which I used to do during school days when I got bored. I continue to pet Yin in silence while I almost make an attempt to overhear the muffled voices but I don't hear anything good.
Finally they reach their decision.
"Alright, kid. You're with us now. But you better behave." Francis explains in his gruff and loud voice.
All I'm thinking now is: "Do I get any choice in the decision here"? But I don't argue.
Author's Note - Shorter than most, I got compelled to write this. Don't know why. This one's alot easier, I might do more first person perspective, I like it better. I'll probably do first person for the Truth (Alexis and Prince only) and Nelly's Song (Prince Only) and then there is this one too (Ashton only). I really like Ashton as a character, I love his automatic hate for Zoey and his nickname for her "Bellatrix" (evil girl in Harry Potter). Lonely Star From Texas might be first person too.
