*Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters. I only own is my OC Ava. *
AN: Okay so this story is going to be slight AU in the beginning because a few characters who died aren't going to die. But at some point it's going to go completely AU and you'll find out why when we get to that point.
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No Rest for the Undead
Chapter One: Days gone by
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I always thought my mom was crazy. For almost as long as I can remember she would shout nonstop about how the government was out to get us and that the world was gonna end soon. After my dad and younger brother died in a car crash when I was six mom went crazy. She pulled me out of school, sold our house in the city, and moved us to our vacation cabin in the woods. She would go on and on about how the world was gonna end, her way the world ended varied based on how drunk she was. Sometimes she said a meteor would hit the planet, other times she said a plague would wipe us out. So she spent most of my life training me on how to use various weapons, how to fight, and how to survive just about any situation.
Who would have thought in the end she was right; a plague really did cause the end of everything we knew? A person would die, then come back with a craving for human flesh. Anyone who got bit by someone infected died soon after and turned into one of those things. For the longest time, I hated her for what she did to me. She took me away from the only home I'd ever known, away from the rest of our family, and made my life hell. But honestly now that the dead are walking, I'm kind of grateful for the life I had, it turned me into a survivor, someone who could make it through this new world. Which is why I'm currently walking down a highway alive, instead dead already.
It's been a couple months since the outbreak and so far, I'd survived on my own. Well mostly on my own, I did have Pepper, a big Maine Coon Cat, who I'd found shortly after everything went to hell. Pepper was good at hunting squirrels and rabbits, and she also was good for warning me when Walkers were nearby. Pepper had taken to lying around my neck or between the sling backpack and my back. She was currently curled up between my back and the backpack. I could feel her head resting against my back, which brought me some comfort. The fact that she was relaxed and asleep meant there wasn't any danger nearby.
The sudden sound of a car coming down the highway behind me made me stop and glance back. As the car got closer I noticed it was a blue and white police car. I glanced around trying to find someplace to hide, but I was out in the open. I groaned and pulled out my hunting knife. Since the world went to shit you couldn't trust the living anymore. Ran into a few people in the past couple months who tried to kill me and take my supplies. I felt Pepper jumped down from my back, and I could hear her hissing. The car pulled to a stop across the street from me, and a man dressed in a tan police uniform stepped out. He took a second to look me over, stopping for a second at the knife in my hands. Pepper had stopped hissing and seemed to be looking the man over, though she still seemed tense and ready to attack at any moment.
"I'm Officer Rick Grimes, I'm not gonna hurt you," The man stated, holding his hands up in the air.
I glanced over at him, taking note of the gun in the holster at his hip.
"How do I know you're really an officer. Ya' coulda' jus' stole those clothes an that car?" I questioned.
"Well I don't have any IiDdea on me, so I can't really prove that I'm an officer. But I swear I really was a police officer before the dead started rising…" He paused for a moment, "although I do have a picture in my car of me and my family before all this happened, and I'm wearing my uniform in it."
I eyed him suspiciously for a second before nodding my head at him.
"All right, but keep ya hands where I can see 'em," I granted.
Rick turned back slightly to the car and pulled down the visor. He turned back to me and held the picture out to me. I carefully took the picture from him and looked it over, making sure to also keep my eye on him. There was a pretty brown haired woman standing next to Rick in the picture, and a young boy was standing in front of both of them. Rick was indeed wearing the same uniform he has own now. They were all smiling brightly. I turned the photo over and noticed a date on the back of it along with names.
'Rick Grimes, Lori Grimes, and Carl Grimes.
4/9/09'
That's dated just about a year before everything went to shit so it's safe to say he was telling the truth about being a cop. I handed the photo back to him, and he put it back in his car.
"How many of them undead things you killed?" I asked.
"Three so far," Rick answered.
Three? He's only killed three of those things since the dead started walking. Rick seemed to notice my confusion.
"Before the dead started walking I was shot while on duty. I've been in a coma since then and just woke up a couple days ago in an abandoned hospital," He explained.
I cringed at that. God if what he's saying is true than that had to be one hell of a nightmare. Waking up to find the world went to shit while you were out, not knowing a damn thing about what was going on.
"But you know how to deal with tha walkers?" I questioned.
"Yeah, ran into two people after waking up. They told me all I needed to know. We split up shortly afterwards," Rick said.
I nodded my head at that.
"And how do I know all you just said is true?" I asked.
Mom always did say don't believe someone right away, always dig deeper.
Rick sighed and pulled his shirt up slightly revealing a large bandage on his abdomen. I stared at him skeptically until he pulled the bandage off showing me the wound. I cringed once more, yeah that was defiantly a gunshot wound. Mom had taught me what type of damage any gun could do to a human being. She was trying to teach me to respect the weapon by showing me just what exactly it could do.
"All right. You kill anyone liven' since you woke up?" I asked.
Rick shook his head and I took another moment to look him over. I've always been good at telling when people are lying to me, and all my instincts screamed that he was telling the truth.
Suddenly Rick glances down at his feet and that's when I notice that Pepper had approached the man and had started to rub her head against his leg. I smiled and put the hunting knife back in its holster on my left thigh. The fact that he was a police officer was what really comforted me, but Pepper liking him helped make me feel better about the man.
Unlike my mother I trusted officers, especially since one had saved me from my mom when I was eighteen. Honestly mom had lost whatever was left of her sanity by the time I'd turned eighteen, and she probably would have killed me at some point if it hadn't been for that officer.
"Ava, and that one right there is Pepper," I introduced, motioning towards the cat.
The man smiled and bent down to pet Pepper.
"You and ugh… Pepper out here all by yourselves?" Rick asked.
I nodded my head.
"Ain't got no one wit' me sides Pepper," I answered, shrugging my shoulders.
"Well I'm heading to Atlanta, hoping to find my wife and kid there. You could come with me, have someone to watch your back," Rick suggested.
I sighed, and glanced down the empty road, biting my lip. I'd been alone since the beginning of this whole mess, mom had beat it into me not to trust anyone. And the few people I've run into since the dead started walking only made that lesson ring louder in my head. The only thought that kept me going all this time was trying to find my uncle and cousins, the only family I got left, and the only people I knew I could trust for sure. I was reluctant to trust anyone, but Rick had a point about having someone to watch your back.
Not to mention he'd just woken up from a coma not too long ago, which means he hasn't been in this new fucked up world long enough to lose his mind and become like the other people I've run into. After a few more moments of contemplation, I nodded my head at him and Rick smiled in return. I'd still be keeping my eye on him for a while, getting a feel for him, before I let my guard down around him.
"Alright hop in then," He said, getting back in the driver seat.
I picked up Pepper and got into the passenger seat of the car. Rick started the car up and soon enough we were flying down the highway. The whole drive I kept glancing over at him, trying to get a feel for who he was. I wasn't really comfortable talking with him. The only people I'd ever really held a conversation with was my uncle and cousins. I felt awkward sitting here next to him in utter silence, but I didn't know what to say.
We'd been driving down the highway in silence for some time when we came upon a small intersection with a gas station on the corner. Dozens of overturned cars littered the street and the parking lot of the gas station.
"We need some more gas if we're gonna get anywhere," Rick stated, reaching into the back to grab a small red gas can.
I nodded my head and stepped out of the car pulling out one of my Sais from behind my back.
"I'll look for some more supplies," I stated.
"Meet me back here at the car in fifteen minutes," Rick said, nodding his head at me.
I nodded back at him and started walking around the cars, glancing in and grabbing anything I thought might be useful. I found a couple energy bars, and a bottle of aspirin in one car, which I shoved into my bag before moving on to the next car. I could hear Pepper walking around behind me as I made my way around the cars.
Suddenly a tiny whimper caught my attention. I glanced around trying to find the source of the sound. I glanced down at Pepper to see she was staring at a turned over beat up blue truck several cars over. I quietly made my way around the truck, so I could look into it through the half-shattered windshield. It was dark inside the truck and I could hardly see anything.
Another small whimper came from inside the truck and I saw movement. I just barely caught the sight of a small girl curled up at the back of the truck. I glanced down at Pepper beside me who was staring in at the little girl with wide interested eyes. She wasn't hissing so the girl must not be a walker. I glanced around for a second but didn't see anyone else around. What the hell is a child doing out here all by herself? I turned back to the truck, determined to help her.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to help," I said softly, holding my hand out to her.
The girl just stared at me, fear evident in her eyes. I glanced around once again making sure there weren't any walkers nearby.
"I'm Ava, and this is Pepper," I introduced, kneeling down.
The girl didn't even look at me though as she stared at Pepper in awe. Poor kid probably hasn't seen a living animal or person in ages.
"Why don't you come out of there. I promise I'm not gonna hurt you, I only wanna help," I stated, once again holding my hand out to her.
She seemed to hesitate for a moment before moving forward and grabbing hold of my hand. I pulled her out of the car and slowly looked her over. She couldn't be any older than six, had matted long blond hair, and bright jade green eyes. She was dressed in a set of dirty and tattered pajamas with bunny slippers on her feet, and a tiny fluffy white stuffed bunny rabbit clutched to her chest.
"Are you bit?" I asked softly.
The girl shook her head. I glanced over her once more and was relieved when I didn't see any wounds on her. Her face was covered in dirt and tear tracks, and her eyes were red and puffy.
"What's your name sweet heart?" I asked.
The girl looked at me, tears falling down her face.
"Harper," She whimpered, hugging her bunny closer to her.
Her voice was soft and quiet, barely even there.
"Harper I've got a friend Rick, he's a police officer. We've got a car, and we're headed towards Atlanta. Would you like to come with us?" I asked, gently setting my hand down on her shoulder.
Harper winced slightly as if she wasn't used to being touched. She stared at me wide eyed for a second before nodding her head.
"All right then," I murmured.
I put my Sia back in its holster on my back, and gently picked Harper up. Harper wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in the crook of my neck. I started moving forward, Pepper on my heels.
"Rick," I whisper shouted, glancing around for him.
I whisper shouted his name a few more times, before Rick rushed around a car, gun drawn. He lowered his gun when he saw me and his eyes immediately went to Harper in my arms. His eyes went wide.
"I found her hiding in a truck back there. Her names Harper and she's all by herself," I stated.
Rick nodded his head at this.
"I got a little bit of gas, not sure if It's enough to get us to Atlanta," Rick said, holding up the red gas can.
I followed him back to the car. As Rick put the little bit of gas in the tank I settled into the driver seat with Harper sitting on my lap and Pepper lying on her lap. Harper's arms were still wrapped around my neck in a vise grip. After a minute, Rick got into the driver's seat and we were once again headed down the highway. Rick had started fiddling with the radio.
"Broadcasting on emergency channel. We'll be approaching Atlanta on Highway 85. Anybody reads, please respond. Hello. Hello. Can anybody hear my voice? Anybody out there? Anybody hears me, please respond. Hello, can you hear my voice?" Rick stated into the radio.
All we heard was static.
"Hello? Hello? Can anybody hear my voice?" Rick asked after a minute.
Again, nothing but static.
"Can you hear my voice?" Rick asked.
Nothing but static once again. I glanced down at Harper in my arms. She'd fallen asleep, and one of her hands was threaded through Pepper's fur.
"Anybody who reads, please respond. Broadcasting on emergency channel. We'll be approaching Atlanta on Highway 85. Anybody reads, please respond," Rick asked once again.
And once again we got nothing but static.
"I don't think anyone's gonna answered," I whispered.
Rick glanced over at me for a second and sighed, then glanced back out at the road. We continued down the road in an awkward silence.
"So, ugh Ava what where you doing out here all by yourself?" Rick asked suddenly.
I looked over at him.
"Looking for what's left of my family, same as you," I replied, running my fingers through Harper's hair.
The rest of the ride was quite once more, until eventually the car ran out of gas. I sighed and gently woke Harper up.
"Come on we got to get out and fine some gas," I stated.
Harper nodded her head, and the three of us got out of the car. Rick grabbed thea photo of his family and stuck it in his pocket, then grabbed the gas can and his bag of guns. We started walking down the road for almost half an hour before we came up to a house.
"Stay down here with Harper I'll go up to the house and see if anyone's there," Rick ordered.
I wanted to go up to the house with him but knew I had to stay back here and watch over Harper so I just nodded my head and Harper just clung tighter to me. Rick moved around the house before moving to the truck sitting in the driveway. I heard him mutter something as he slammed the truck door shut. He started walking back towards me when his eye caught something. I glanced over and noticed a horse standing in a pasture. Oh, is he thinking what I think he's thinking? In a matter of a few minutes Rick had a harness on the horse and was riding it towards me.
"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered.
Rick held his hand out to me. I sighed and held Harper out to him. He gently set her on the horse in front of him, then handed me his bag of guns. I secured the bag tightly on my back, picked up Pepper, and with Rick's help, climbed onto the horse behind Rick. We rode down the highway on the horse for several hours before we finally made it to the outskirts of the city. The side of the highway leading into the city was empty, while the side leading out was packed full of empty abandoned cars. I got a badck feeling in the pit of my stomach looking at all those cars.
"Rick I don't know about this. All those cars facing away from the city, like everyone was in a rush to get out," I exclaimed, glancing around again.
"I know but we've got to try," Rick muttered.
I sighed at that and shook my head. We road through the city and the farther we went in the more upset I became. The city was empty, a ghost town. Cars were sitting abandoned, trash was all over the place, and I even noticed a tank sitting abandoned in the middle of the street. We rode past a bus with some walkers on them and the horse shied away from the bus.
"Steady. It's just a few. Nothing we can't outrun," Rick muttered.
I glanced over at the tank as we passed it and could just barely see a dead body lying on it being pecked at by crows. Suddenly a helicopter flew over head of us and I glanced up at it. Rick gently kicked the horse's sides sending it moving down the street after the helicopter. We turned a corner, and I gasped at the sight of a hoard of walkers standing in the street. They all started shuffling towards us.
"Shit!" I exclaimed.
Rick turned the horse around and started back down the way we came. I could hear Harper crying in front of Rick and I wanted to reach out and comfort her. As we got closer to the tank another hoard of walkers came at us from the other side. They had us trapped on both sides. The walkers closed in on the horse, and it reared up in fear. I fell back off the horse and hit the ground, clutching Pepper close to my chest, the bag of guns digging into my back. Rick and Harper fell to the ground next to me.
"The tank," I shouted, crawling towards the tank as fast as I could with Pepper in my hands and a large bag of heavy guns on my back.
I crawled under the tank and glanced back to see Rick shoving Harper towards me. A couple of walkers started crawling under the tank after us. I glanced up at the bottom of the tank and noticed an open hatch. I shoved Pepper into the tank and pulled myself up inside. Harper appeared under the hatch and I quickly yanked her up into the tank, then helped Rick up inside. Rick quickly shut the hatch just as a walker appeared under it.
I moved over to Harper and checked her. She'd lost one of her slippers but other than that she was fine. The sound of Pepper hissing caught my attention and I looked up to see Rick leaning against one side of the tank with a dead soldier lying next to him. I pulled one of my Sais out of its holster and quickly moved towards the soldier. I reached it just as it started moving and slammed the Sai straight through it's right eye. Rick jumped and moved away slightly glancing from the dead soldier to me.
"Thanks," He muttered.
I nodded my head, and put the Sai back in its holster. Rick started pulling things out of the soldier's vest, and I moved back to Harper and pulled her into my arms. A few moments later Rick was up pulling the top hatch closed. Harper was crying hysterically, and Pepper walked up and rubbed her head against Harper's arm. Suddenly the radio in the corner of the tank that I hadn't noticed before started making noise. I glanced over at it.
"Hey, you. Dumb asses. Hey, you in the tank. Cozy in there?" A voice exclaimed over the radio.
I glanced back at Rick then turned back to the radio. Holy shit, there's somebody else out there!
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AN: Yes, I know exactly what ya'll are thinking. Harper is in fact the zombie little girl that Rick ran into in the beginning of this episode. But I decided to not have her be a zombie and instead be alive. Hope ya'll enjoyed reading the chapter!
