The first month wasn't as bad as I had thought. Sure it was long and I spent it alone but hey, I was still alive. I was heading out of the city when I was cut off by at least half the population. They were just roaming around the streets and as soon as you came within sight you were food in their dead eyes. That's how I came up with something to call them; Roamers.
I stayed in old apartment buildings, the higher the better. It was amazing what people left behind during a panic. Many of the grocery stores were cleared out but no one thought to stop at any of the hunting supplies stores. Guns, knives, bows, literally anything you could think of just left on the shelves. I only grabbed one gun with some ammunition, I had found out the hard way that sound attracts the roamers. I had a backpack full of blades and some bullets. Money wasn't exactly a currency anymore but a weapon could be traded for shelter.
I only ran into a few people who hadn't evacuated the city. They were usually younger people who didn't believe anything I told them. They thought that people were just sick and they didn't have to be afraid. That being said, none of the lasted very long. Another reason why I preferred to be alone. Having people around that can't defend themselves makes you weak. Having people you care about being torn apart in front of you makes you weak. Basically a lot of things makes you weak so why risk it? If that makes me cold, fine as long as I stay alive.
At first I had no intention on leaving the city until the roamers stated to build up around every corner. I couldn't even leave the apartment floor without running into a swarm. So I though it was time to leave. I packed everything I needed into one backpack, changed into some clean skinny jeans and a t-shirt, pulled my hair into a small ponytail and left the apartment building.
Mid summer in Atlanta is hot and that only made the smell worse. during the day the Roamers stayed to the allies and only came out if they heard you. So staying in the street and being as quiet as I could was all I could do. With a knife in hand and checking over my shoulder every few minutes it was quiet nice to get some air, even if it smelled like rotting flesh. It was quiet and all I could hear was the humming of the power lines. Then that was cut off by the sound of a car alarm. I jumped as it started to get closer. Soon ever roamer in the city was rushing toward the sound. I ran as fast as I could. I hid in a corner store.
"WOOOH!" A loud voice came from the car as it spend by the window. I managed to catch a quick glimpse at the young kid driving the red mustang with the blue baseball hat. He was Asian and from the look on his face that was the fastest and nicest car he had ever driven. He was followed by a box truck that quickly sped down the street. The alarm carried drawing all the Roamers from their hiding spots.
The groaning from outside had be distracted from the groaning just behind me. I felt a tug on my hair ad I quickly realized that I hadn't cleared the store before I hid. That damn kid got me stuck inside with at least a dozen roamers chomping their way toward me. I thought maybe I should run and catch up with the people in the box truck but they seemed reckless so why risk it.
I just barely fought my way out of that store. I was missing a few strands of my hair and my jeans were now ripped but I managed to avoid getting bit. I was tired and out of breath by the time I made it out. I paused for a second but soon I had to start running again when more of the roamers found me. "If I ever find that kid..." I swore as I pushed my way out of the ally.
It was like the rest of that day was spent running from roamers. I had tried to hid but they always found me quickly. The sun was going down when a very distraught voice came from one of he roof tops. "NO! SON OF...NO NO... HELP ME! CHRIST! SOMEONE HELP ME!" The voice called for help. As I walked closer to the department store the man's voice got more panicked. "JESUS PLEASE! HELP ME!" He called. I thought about leaving him up there, but as he called out for help I felt sorry for whoever he was.
"Son on a-" I cursed myself as I quickly made my way into the department store and found the stairs. As I got closer I could hear him start to plead and cry. He was loud and I'm sure roamers had found him by now.
"I AIN'T GONNA BEG!" Finally he stopped crying and as I neared the door there were three roamers pushing at the opposite door. Two ways off of a roof and one was cut off by roamers. I wondered why this man hadn't just found the other door like I had but then I saw it. He was handcuffed to one of the pipes. He was laying on the ground yelling to him self when suddenly he sat up and started to pull on the pipe and the handcuff. Then I saw his face.
"You have got to be kidding me." I said when I opened the door and he looked at me. He was very red, angry, and a bit older then the last time I saw him sure enough if was him. "Merle?" I questioned and his narrowed eyes grew a bit. Just my luck.
"Do I know you girly?" he asked in a raspy voice as I walked past him and killed the roamers pushing on the other door. I rolled my eyes as I walked back over to him.
"How long you been up here?" I asked as I looked at him and his eyes looked me over. "Who cuffed you?" I asked before he answered my last question. I looked up at him and it looked like he was gonna pass out. "Hey!" I snapped my fingers in his face and he looked up, his eyes rolling back. I quickly got a bottle of water and poured some over his head and he woke up quickly.
"Ah!" He yelled snapping his head to me. He lifted his leg and kicked me in the stomach. "Who the hell are you!" He yelled.
The wind was literally kicked from me as I tried to sit up. "Someone who is trying to help you.. Jack ass." I swore once I got my breath back.
"Oh shit..." He started to laugh once he had finished looking me over again. "If it ain't lil miss Harper." He laughed. "All grown up I see." He winked as I splashed him with more water. "Damn fine too." he winked.
"You're a pig." I smiled sarcastically at him. "How long have you been up here?" I asked.
"Jerk off cuffed me like a damn animal like 7 hours ago." He rolled his eyes.
"Who did?" I asked looking over his bloody wrist.
"Don't matter." He shrugged pulling his hand away from me. "What are you doing up here?" he asked.
"Well I heard this poor guy yelling for help... if I knew it was you I would have kept walking." I sighed.
"Bitch." He swore at me.
"Brute." I smiled.
"You gonna get me outta this thing or what?" he huffed.
"Fine." I sighed reaching into my hair for a bobby pin. I struggled for a minute before the cuff finally unlocked. "There." I huffed as I stood up and handed him some water. He took it quickly and drank it. "You're welcome." I said under my breath.
Merle took a step back as I pulling my backpack over my shoulders. "You sure did grow up fine girly." Merle winked at me. "What do you say you and me get off this roof and go bump some uglies." He sai taking a step toward me.
"Not if you were the last person on the earth." I said pushing away and as I walked around him he grabbed my arm. "Let go of me." I said.
"That's no way to treat an ol' friend little lady." he laughed. "Now..." He said pulling my arm and making me crash into him.
"Let go of me." I said and before he had a chance to touch me again I punched him in the face. He stumbled back and swore a few times.
"Well now you just gone and blew you're chances of stay with me, you lil' bitch!" He yelled and backhanded me. I smiled and quickly threw my knife at him. It stuck to his shoulder and he called out in pain.
"Always the charmer." I said with the taste of blood in my mouth. "I wouldn't go with you even if my life depended on it." I sighed.
"Good." Merle barked and before I could move he threw a punch and all I remember is hitting the ground. I could feel him take my bag, spit, and run away. I wanted to get up and go after him but my head was ringing and pounding. Well that's what I get for helping a Dixon. Note to self: next time you see Merle, do more than just stab him.