Working in the boiling sun made my cheeks go bright red; I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my sleeve, going back to picking the crops. Me, Maggie, and my brother Shawn had been asked by my father, Hershel, to pick the tomatoes which were now fully grown in the fields. Days like this are my favourite. Listening to country hits, working and being around my family. I cherish these moments because you never know what might happen in the future.
After a lot of tiring hours, out in the fields, I decided to finish work for the day. The piercing sunshine had finally got to me, causing me to develop a bad case of sun burn. Once inside, I flopped onto my bed and smiled at my wall of pictures. My favourite, the one of me and my boyfriend Jimmy at the Georgia National Fair, makes my smile extend. Jimmy lives on the farm with me too, but by strict rules from my dad, he sleeps in a different room. My grin is lost at the remembrance of him being gone. He went to visit his parents in a different part of Georgia; leaving me for a couple days. He should be back tomorrow and I can't wait to see him!
I'm startled as Maggie walked into my room scaring me.
"Ha-ha! Bethy you should have seen your face it was a picture!." She remarks. I glare at her because smug tone.
"Maggie you nearly gave me a heart attack!" I bellow. She put her cold hand on my face and began to caress my cheek. I feel instantly soothed at the gesture.
"Bethy shush it! Get some sleep, it's been a long day."
"I know Maggie, but please can you stay with me a little longer? I have trouble getting to sleep lately, my brain cannot stop thinking about stupid stuff" I admit.
"Sure Bethy, I understand what you mean. I get that sometimes; I will stay here until you fall asleep." I chuckle at my sister's honesty. "Goodnight then Maggie…" A silence rapidly occurs in the room, washing out my roaring thoughts. It continues for a while before interrupted by a yawning voice.
"Sweet dreams Beth." Maggie whispers, kissing my forehead gently before standing up and leaving me once again alone.
"Beth can you come down here for a second?" My mother yells from the bottom of the stairs. "In a minute!" I moan while rolling in the comfort of my cosy bed. It was Sunday morning, I wanted my lay-in! A couple of minutes later, after my mum kept on nagging me to get up, I slithered out of bed. I walk, like a mummy, down the stairs where I meet with my mother's frustrated face
"Beth honey, I know it's a Sunday but could you please go down to the town butchers? We need some meat for tonight's big meal because all the family are coming round for dinner!" I sigh remembering the events planned for the evening. Placing a fake grin on my face I reply.
"Sure mum! Just let me get dressed and then I will go…" I say, my tiredness evident in my voice.
I put on my flowery blue tank top, skinny jeans, and black military boots before setting off to town. Walking droopily, I arrived at the town entrance. 'Everyone looks so cheerful' I think to myself as I walked up to the butchers shop. A bell rings as I tug open the door, a horrid meaty stench fills my nostrils. Feeling nauseous, I walk up to the counter to find a man to serve me. I note his features placing him around his late twenties.
"How may I help you? Name's Gareth, never seen you around here before!" He exclaims quickly.
"That's because I have never been in the butchers before. I rarely get out much, but I am actually here for some cuts of pork." I snarl. I'm unsure why but the man makes me feel uneasy with his welcoming ways.
"Ok then feisty that will be 25 bucks." He laughs faintly. I grab the bag, chucking the money on the counter before storming quickly out of the shop.
When outside something seems strange. Everyone is running out of their shops, screaming at one another.
"It's happening, oh my god! Billy run!" I hear someone shout, his tone fills myself with panic and terror. Unexpectedly, right in front of my eyes, a man is bitten in the arm by a bloody guy. I watched, fear freezing me, as he gnawed at the bony arm. Was he eating him?
This was clearly not a man, it was a monster! With a smell of rotten flesh and eyes demonic like. What was happening? I could feel my heart having palpitations. Realising my own danger, I run into a nearby shop not knowing what to do. I hide under the counter. I wanted to cry, but am stopped when a hand reaches out for me.
"Quick come with me." The strange man pants.
"Who are you? What is happening?" I croak trying really hard to keep the tears in. I had never experienced something like this.
"The names Daryl. Daryl Dixon." He explained.