DISCLAIMER: Grace Palmer is my original character, everyone else involved in the plot belongs to Robert Kirkman.

I'm new to 'The Walking Dead' Fandom so I decided to write my own fanfiction, I hope you enjoy it - if you have any constructive views or if you enjoy the story please say so! (Please don't flame.)

Enjoy!

Chapter one.

King County, Georgia, was overrun – I didn't know what to do, everything was so normal and then out of no-where, the dead began to rise as if they were just pretending to be asleep the whole time. I was out with my parent's at the time, we decided a little town like King County would be a great place to visit for a holiday – I'm from London originally. We were having a picnic in the park when a group of three or four walkers came rushing towards us. My dad and mum shoved me and told me to run and I did, my feet pounded the pavement as I feared for my life and more importantly… my parents. I was about to turn a corner when I decided to look back, checking to see if they were still behind me. Though it turned out to be the worst decision I could have made, I could see more and more of the dead joining the ever growing crowd, at first I wondered what was drawing them in… and then that's when I saw it, my mum and dad screaming as their intestines were torn from their insides. For a moment I just watched as their hands reached out to me from across the green – tears streaming down my cheeks as I watched them being torn to pieces… eaten alive…

I turned my gaze away, hunching over as the contents of my stomach rose and I threw up all over the pavement. This was my worst nightmare; it was like they plucked my most terrifying fear out of my brain and made it real, I didn't know what to do, so I ran and I didn't stop. I ran for around ten minutes until I stopped and came across a gun shop which seemed to be empty – blood was splatted against the glass window and a dead body lay inside, I'm guessing that would keep any sane people away.

"Oh my god…"

I just stared in shock for a moment but I entered anyway, I needed guns – if I didn't I would end up having the same fate as my parents – I didn't have the time to mourn, not until I got to safety. Slowly I crept inside, the door chiming to let the shop keeper know of any possible customers, that didn't matter anymore – he was dead on the floor with little flesh left on his bones. I had to fight the vomit from rising again, pinching my nose as the smell made me gag.

"I'm so sorry…"

I whispered to the corpse on the floor as I stepped over him, picking up a backpack and placing it on the counter. I couldn't carry huge guns, it would slow me down and I have gathered some information on these things on the way down here, I know that noise attracts them and a gunshot could be heard from miles away depending on if there was a breeze - so a gun with a silencer on it, would be the best choice. I'm just glad my dad was part of the Scotland Yard, I was brought up around guns – he even taught me how to shoot, I smiled at the heart warming memory but quickly shook it off, I didn't have time for this. As I grabbed two USP Handguns, I noticed two silencers in a glass cabinet behind the counter; I grinned and climbed over, breaking the glass before removing the contents from inside. I never thought I would be doing this, walking into a shop with the owner lying on the ground half eaten; my parents would be ashamed of me – disgusted with my actions but I needed to get out of here, I needed to survive.

I quickly screwed a silencer on each handgun, using holsters to strap them to my thighs – easiest place to grab them if I was attacked. I then looked around the room, grabbing boxes full of ammo and stuffing them into the backpack. For a moment I stopped, the world around me slowed down as a group of around ten of the dead began to walk past the window. Luckily the door was shut but I ducked down, holding my breath as I gazed into a mirror – waiting until the group had passed.

"Jesus Christ – what is happening to the world…"

A radio was playing in the shop, a song being interrupted with important news, they spoke of shelter in Atlanta but I didn't really listen. When I gathered the courage to stand, I bit my lip, turning to stuff supplies into my bag. I needed to be prepared – I needed to be ready and all this ammo will keep me going for weeks. Before I leave the shop, I grab two tactical knives and slide them into my combat boots – There big enough to make damage and light enough for me to handle, two plus's there.

Once again I step over the corpse, holding my breath as the putrid scent tried to slither up my nose again. I gag and walk to the door, looking right then left to make sure the area was clear.

"Time to go…"

I grab the handle, tightening the strap of the bag before taking in a deep breath, swinging it open and running down the pavement. The sun was beginning to set and the last thing I wanted right now is to be stuck on the street at night with these flesh eating creatures. Eventually I find a small house, it was empty and the car was gone, the exits out of here were filled with traffic – citizens of the town trying to make a desperate escape to freedom, I don't know if I want to leave just yet, I won't get anywhere and if I stay in the basement of this place, block the windows and doors after gathering food and water, I should be just fine for the time being.

The basement windows were boarded up with thick wooden planks, the door was locked from the inside and I was the only one with a key. If I didn't have some lanterns on the room would be pitch black – I allowed no light to be let in so I knew no light would be let out, revealing my location.

I was sat down looking at my phone, I just had a small meal and a bottle of water – I needed to conserve supplies so when I move location, I won't starve to death or die of dehydration. The past couple of days were great, I always recorded my days with photos – my phone was full of them but I hadn't taken that many recently, I had four images from the past week of me and my parents – they were so happy, huge happy smiles, arms draped around each other's waist completely oblivious to the fact that they would be dead in a couple of days.

"I love you so much... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, I should have but… I wasn't strong enough…"

I let out a slight whimper, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"But from now on I will be; I will fight for survival… I will do it for the both of you…"

I rolled onto my side, spreading my body across the couch as I pulled a blanket over my slender frame, I'm twenty one years old and I still go on holiday with my parents – well I used to go on holiday with my parents, now I'm trapped in this nightmare with nobody but my own company. I wipe my eyes and stand, walking to a mirror as I gaze over myself. My long auburn hair fell in large subtle waves to the centre of my back, my grey eyes shine weakly in the little light and my pale face looks ghostly because of today's events. My name is Grace Palmer and I am the last living survivor of my family.