Breath's Shadow

by Ziggie Xuio

Fighting the undead used to be survival. Guns were loaded, knives were sharpened. Now Alexandria's world is ruled by one man and his bat. The Saviors are at the head of a trap, and Rick's group is caught. There's not one soul left that hasn't been malevolently mutilated into a dishevelment of blood thirst and grief and Daryl doesn't have enough willpower to hope for his own savior.

Prologue: It's Not Their World Anymore

Some people called it the end of the world, others said that everything was falling back into place. It's a complicated concept – to some people, their significant other is their 'world'. The end of their world would be that special person dying, so it only becomes harder to survive with the omnipresent grief and sorrow.

To others, the end of the world would means change. A change in the way the government ran, a change in jobs, a change in family. To them, it's the end of their world.

Notice how it's always 'their' world? Whatever they do, whatever they say. Let's say a money-loving uptight businessman wants to sell tons of palm oil, and in order to do that over 1000 square miles of forest needs to be destroyed? That's animals, plants, tribes all wiped out. But it's still 'his world'.

The minds of people always revolve around themselves in some spiralling disarray of selfishness, no matter the consequences.

The world always seemed to belong to someone.

Until it didn't.

Now,

The world belongs to the dead.