Hello all! I've decided to write a Walking Dead fic... hopefully it'll be as good as it is in my head.
Disclaimer: I own nothing besides my OC, Riley Drexel... but I wish I owned Daryl. *wink wink*
On still, quiet nights Riley Drexel would find herself lost in thought. She would often think about the dead, and those who weren't.
It had all happened so quickly. One moment, she was arriving at the Jackson Municipal Airport, then the next she was sinking a large knife into the soft, rotting flesh of a walker.
It was like something out of a zombie comic.
Riley was currently laying down in the backseat of a stolen impala she picked up in Tennessee. Turning over onto her side, Riley quickly gave up trying to sleep. The heat was making it impossible to relax. Her tank was reeking of sweat, and she could feel a few beads of the salty liquid roll down her back.
Riley sipped what was left of her water, and nibbled on some jerky. She would need to find more provisions soon.
Maneuvering into the front seat, Riley jumpstarted the car and began driving.
She wasn't entirely sure where she was headed, not that it mattered anymore... everything was either blown sky high, or overrun with the dead. She was about two hours from Atlanta, maybe she could see what she could scrounge together.
The morning sun was rising, making her squint her eyes against the bright light.
Stopping the car outside the city limits, Riley decided walking was the smartest option.
Slipping an empty backpack on, Riley draped a blanket over the things she was leaving behind. The last thing she needed was for someone to see what was left of her supplies in the backseat, and steal everything.
Riley opened the trunk of the impala, and grabbed her large kukri knife, fastening the sheath to her belt, she also grabbed her colt argentine 1911 with a silencer, and slipped it into its holster. Slamming the trunk closed, Riley silently made her way into the dead city.
The smell of rotten flesh was overpowering. Riley had smelt death before, but never this strong.
Spotting a sporting goods store nearby, Riley took her knife out of its holster and quietly entered the store. Creeping through the aisles, Riley had to be sure she didn't stumble over the things covering the floor. Riley grabbed several boxes of protein bars, some new shirts, a few packs of powdered camping food, and a small first aid kit. Not finding anything else of use in the store, Riley stuffed her goodies into the backpack. Turning to leave, Riley came face to face with a lanky asian holding a shotgun.
Bringing out her left leg, she effectively kicked the boys feet out from underneath him, resulting in him sprawled on the floor.
Riley kicked the shotgun away and pointed her knife at his terrified face. She placed a foot on his chest to stop him from wiggling away.
"Woah, woah! Not dead, not dead, I'm not dead!" He raised his hands as a sign of surrender.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Her voice was calm, and her eyes hard.
The asian licked his lips, "I'm just getting supplies, same as you."
Riley considered his answer for a moment before taking her booted foot off the boy and offered him a hand up. "Is it just you?"
"Yes. Well, no. I'm with a group. We needed more supplies, I came alone."
Riley's head snapped up, "A group? How many are with you?"
"Uhh..." he scratched his head through the cap he wore, "about sixteen, maybe."
Riley was speechless. In the whole time the dead started to rise, Riley hadn't seen another living person.
"You're welcome to join us..."
"You sure? You don't even know me."
Glenn smiled, "You don't look like crazy psychopath. And it isn't safe for a chick to wander alone."
Riley glanced out the glass door and saw a one or two walkers roaming near the shop and pushed a large display case in front of the door to keep it closed.
Twisting her long brown hair into a messy bun atop her head, Riley looked at the boy who was grabbing a lantern.
"You gotta name?"
He looked up and seemed surprised she was still there, "Wha- um, yeah. Glenn. I'm Glenn."
Walking over, Riley held out her hand, "Nice to meet you Glenn. I'm Riley."
"Sorry 'bout that." She pointed to the large dusty shoeprint in the middle of his shirt.
"It's cool. Where'd you learn how to do that kick thing, anyway?"
Riley grabbed her pack with a shrug, "nowhere important."
Riley watched as Glenn tried to stuff all his stuff into his pack, with little success. "Do you need help? You can put some stuff into my pack for now. Promise I won't steal it."
"Oh... uh, thanks." Putting what we could into her pack, Glenn and Riley moved toward the back of the store.
"I'll go out first, you cover my back, okay?" Glenn nodded, and waited for Riley to open the door to the side alley.
Slowly opening the door Riley took quick glances in both directions. Once she was convinced there weren't any walkers nearby, Riley silently walked out, knife drawn.
Motioning to Glenn that the coast was relatively clear, Riley crouched down at the opening of the alley. Hearing the asian stop behind her, Riley turned towards him and spoke in a whisper, "Stay here. I'm going out to the street to see if there's a way to get out of here. I won't go far. Just stay here."
Glenn wiped a hand across his forehead, "Just promise you'll come back."
"Promise."
Removing the heavy backpack, Riley edged onto the street, vanishing from Glenn's sight.
Taking a few cautious steps away from the sidewalk, Riley took in her surroundings. Numerous cars were abandoned on the street, suitcases and other personal effects littered every square inch of road.
There were no walkers. Thankfully.
Deciding she should head back, Riley began walking back to where she left Glenn.
She was just two buildings away, when a gunshot rang out.
Unsheathing her knife, Riley ran towards Glenn.
Arriving at the opening of the alley, Riley saw Glenn holding his leg and three mean looking men at the opposite end.
"Glenn! You okay?"
"I'm fine. They wanted our stuff... they shot me." Blood was seeping past his fingers and soaking his pant leg.
Removing her threadbare sweater, Riley tossed it to Glenn, telling him to tie it above his wound.
Her black tank top was sticking to her back, thanks to the sweat.
Riley looked past glenn to the thugs. The one holding the gun, was obviously the ringleader, the guy on his right was holding a bent metal baseball bat, and the man on the left was holding a long hefty looking pipe.
"What the fuck are you doing? That gunshot will attract walkers."
The leader only sneered. "lookie here fellas... we got ourselves a purdy piece of ass."
"Just walk away."
The man in front walked closer, "whatcha got in your pack, hmm?"
Riley held her knife in a defensive position, "nothing." She handed her handgun to Glenn, "if you see any walkers, shoot."
"Open the pack, bitch, and dump e'rething on the ground. Then ya can come with us an' have us a good time."
"Can't do that."
With a smirk, the asshole came charging toward Riley while the other two stayed back.
Lighting quick, Riley raised her knife in an arch, and removed the left hand of the leader. Falling to the ground, the man cradled his arm to his chest while weeping.
The two lackeys looked at each other and ran.
Leaving the handless criminal where he fell, Riley wiped her blade clean on her jeans.
"Glenn, how're you feeling?" She readjusted the improv tourniquet on Glenn's leg.
"Little lightheaded..." He let his eyes close for a moment.
"Can you walk?"
Glenn shook his head, "I don't think so."
"Okay. I'll need you to hold onto the packs. I'll carry you."
Lifting him to his feet, Riley draped Glenn over her shoulders, carrying him in a fireman's carry.
"I'll take you to my car."
Hurring out of the alley, Riley ran in the direction of her car.
"Glenn, buddy... there's a single walker up ahead. Think you can shoot this bastard?"
"Yeah."
Thankfully, the walker went down easily.
Making it to her car, Riley gently placed Glenn in the passenger's seat.
Getting into the driver's seat, Riley reached under the dashboard and pushed the necessary wires together, making the car jump to life.
"Camp is thirty minutes north."