Run, Run Faster

Chapter 1: The Outbreak

I can't remember the start of the world's end. All I remember is sitting in my classroom, after giving the students their assignment when my boyfriend had ran in, grabbing my arm. Screaming about needing to leave with his older brother to head to Atlanta. The students had laughed, thinking he was insane. But I knew better. I had happily followed him out of the school, which was when I got my first encounter with the undead. I was sure a scream escaped my lips, drawing attention to us.

"Kelsi, Kelsi!"
She turned to see who was speaking, breaking her from her thoughts. The truck had stopped, and the elder of the two brothers had gotten out and walked ahead. She smiled apologetically to her boyfriend, kissing his cheek lightly.
"Sorry, I must have zoned out."
"I noticed. You keep doing that since we left. You sure you are okay?"
She nodded, getting out of the truck and walked up the road, following the other people getting out of their cars. She heard her boyfriend following behind her, reaching her arm back for him to take. When their hands joined together, they went in search of the brother. It wasn't long before they found him, he was talking to a guy very rudely about what had happened.
"Even at the world's end, he is still an asshole," Kelsie commented as she approached him, earning a chuckle from the asshole's younger brother.
"Hey, I heard that princess. And don't think I won't kick ya ass," he smirked, pretending to hit her.
"Are you guys a family?"
A woman had just got out of the car that the guy was leaning against.
"They are. I'm just an add-on," Kelsie explained, wrapping her arms around the brothers.
"Treat her like family though," the older one said.
"I'm Lori, this is my friend Shane and my son, Carl is in the car."
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Kelsie, and this asshole is Merle," Kelsie hit him in the ribs, laughing. "And this little cutie is Daryl."
"I ain't no cutie," her boyfriend frowned, squeezing her side.
More people surrounded them, all trying to get a look at what was happening. Only thing that could be seen were miles and miles of cars, all doing the same thing. Sitting there.
"What were you giving Shane a hard time for?" Kelsie asked Merle, an eyebrow raised as she waited for his answer.
"He got in my face for wanting to pass. You know how it is, Kels." Merle grinned, trying to help himself.
A young boy got out of the car that Lori had not long exited. Carl. Kelsie smiled down at him before pouncing at Merle, laughing. The pair continued to play fight, with Daryl looking on with an amused expression. When they broke apart, each declaring that they won, a woman was talking to Lori. She had a young girl standing with her.
"What's happened?" the woman asked, obviously she didn't get a good look before hitting the road.
Lori shrugged in reply, wrapping her arm around her son's shoulders. A bright light flashed over the miles of cars, and could be seen for several miles after. Atlanta was not safe.

The two groups, as well as the woman, her daughter and husband and a couple more had decided to group together and find camp somewhere. The woman had introduced herself as Carol, her daughter was Sophia and husband was Ed. His presence did not make Kelsie happy, something the Dixon brothers could sense. Two sisters, Andrea and Amy, had also tagged along not long after the explosion. As well as an elderly man, Dale. As they continued up the road, heading away from Atlanta, they were joined by several more people. They found a quarry, and everyone started to set up camp. Kelsie and the brothers set their tent up down by the water, wanting to be away from everyone. Nova wasn't a huge people person, but she was friendly. She did prefer the quieter areas though, which was how she met Daryl several years ago. Roaming the woods, looking for a cool place to hang out and read her books.
"Hey, Kels, think you could help me with this," Merle called out to her, gesturing for her to help put up the single tent.
"When you stop being an asshole," she replied, before marching over and helping.
Daryl was going through the things they had brought. Several weapons, any that they could find quickly. A couple bags of clothes. They had little food, so he guessed that he would go out hunting eventually. Basically, they had the essentials. He grabbed the sleeping bags, heading over to the tent.
"We are gonna need these," he stated, putting them down by the tent.
"Hey, Daryl, tell Kels that she should go hunting with you tomorrow. So you can finally teach her how to use your crossbow."
"Babe, tell this asshole that during an apocalypse is not a good time to teach someone a skill."
Daryl shrugged, not enjoying the fact that he had just been dragged into another one of their arguments. While he loved them both, he did not love their arguing.
"Her choice, man," he mumbled, grabbing his crossbow and counted how many arrows he had.

The following morning, Kelsie was jolted awake by Merle leaving the tent. Asshole, she thought as she rolled over and buried her face in Daryl's chest.
"Mornin'," Daryl mumbled, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as an arm wrapped around her. A response followed but it was nothing he could make out. "If you could repeat."
"Morning to you too, handsome," she repeated, lifting her head as she spoke.
"Did he wake ya?"
She nodded in reply, kissing his chin before grabbing her shirt and slipping it on. Daryl wrapped an arm around her waist, sitting up and dropping kisses to her shoulder.
"Merle was right last night... I don't understand why you don't want to learn," he whispered, holding her close.
"I just don't think right now is a good time to teach me something." She turned her head to look at him, catching his lips in a tender kiss.
"Okay, okay. But you are gonna have to learn sometime. To protect yourself. From them."
She sighed, she knew he wouldn't understand. But he did have a point. The reason they started talking in the first place was because a, they had been alone in the woods. And b, they both had a similar background.
"Kelsie," Daryl spoke, breaking the silence that had been lurking between them.
"Maybe once things have settled down a bit, okay?" She smiled to show that she meant it, kissing him sweetly.
"Okay," he nodded, pulling her closer for a hug.
"I love you, Daryl Dixon. And don't you forget it."
He chuckled, pressing a tender kiss to her lips before they both got dressed for their days ahead.