~*~*~Flashback~*~*~
After I had gotten lost in the woods, I followed Daryl around until he got back to his house. I heard Daddy shouting for me and knew I'd be in trouble if I didn't get inside fast. I had thanked Daryl before running over to my house. I didn't look over my shoulder, so I hadn't seen the frown on his face when he heard my daddy yelling at me. Daddy was pissed at me that night and knocked me around a bit. I just crawled into bed and prayed that he wouldn't be there in the morning.
My prayers were answered. I woke up and he was gone. I jumped out of bed and pulled a pair of torn pants on and a shirt. I hunted around for something to eat in the house, but we didn't have anything that wasn't rotten. I finally found some stale crackers and just took a handful of those. I pushed my hair out of my eyes and walked barefooted out onto the porch. I spotted Daryl on his own porch across the street, cleaning that big crossbow of his and smoking a cigarette. I trotted across the street to him and nibbled on an overly crunchy cracker as I did. He looked up and frowned at me before he looked back down at the crossbow he was cleaning. I continued to stand there until I heard him sigh loudly. "What the hell you doin' over here, kid? Don't you got school or somethin'?" he asked sharply. I raised my eyebrows.
"It's summer." I pointed out to him.
"Well then go play with your friends, just get the hell on outta here."
"I don't have any friends." I said bluntly as I swallowed a mouthful of crackers. Daryl glared at me. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and blew smoke out before placing the cigarette back between his lips.
"Well botherin' me ain't gonna make you none." he snapped at me before he noticed the large bruise on my cheek. "Where'd you get the shiner?"
"I fell..." I murmured softly as I sat down on the porch steps with my crackers. He eyed me for a moment before he shook his head.
"What, did the floor punch back at you?" he scoffed. I shook my head.
"Just fell." I repeated. I wasn't going to tell Daryl my daddy hit me. I didn't want anyone to know. Daddy'd get in trouble and they'd take me to a new family. I didn't want to go live with strangers! Daryl eyed me suspiciously, but he dropped it. "So can I sit here?" I asked him. He frowned down at me before he rolled his eyes.
"Just keep your mouth shut." he ordered me. I smiled happily and nodded, obediently being quiet as I ate my stale crackers.
~*~*~End Flashback~*~*~
"What the fuck you talkin' about, neighbor eatin' somebody?" Daryl barked from the kitchen as he stood up and walked over to me. I stepped aside so he could look out the window. He did and looked about as shocked as I had looked. "The fuck...?" he muttered in a low voice. I had a horrified expression and I slowly shook my head. A low grunt made me look towards the couch though as Merle sat up with a groan, stretching tiredly.
"Whas goin' on?" he slurred out tiredly as he stood up.
"Neighbor's eating somebody." I said shakily. Merle paused before he stood up and walked over to the window, nudging Daryl aside so he could look out. He looked stunned before he turned and walked back over to the couch, starting to hunt for the remote.
"Merle, the hell you doin'?! Our neighbor's eatin' some poor shmuck, not really the time to be watchin' TV." Daryl said in disbelief as he tried to think of what to do. Merle glowered at him as he found the TV remote under the sofa.
"Aw shut the fuck up, lil brother. I heard bout shit like this on the news. Thought it was some stupid joke or somethin'." he muttered to himself. I walked over to him with my arms crossed as Merle flipped through the few channels they had until he found the news channel. The anchor, a middle aged woman looked frazzled.
"...knows where the virus came from. Symptoms first appear as a high fever and then death. Time varies before reanimation. The virus is spread through a bite. Citizens are urged to head to a safe facility as fast as they can. They can be found in Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta..." I no longer paid attention to what she was saying as I turned to Daryl.
"Daryl, Atlanta! That's only a few hours away." I said excitedly. This seemed serious. Daryl peered out the window and thought for a moment before he nodded.
"Then we'll head there. Maybe somebody'll be able to tell us what the fuck's goin' on." he muttered.
"Kid's comin' with us?" Merle asked as he switched the TV off. Daryl nodded.
"Ain't just gonna leave her. Go pack up some stuff, Denver. We'll get outta here soon as we can." I nodded at Daryl's words.
"Be careful, don't let that thing get near you." Merle reminded me. "You heard what that news bitch said." he muttered. I nodded again and started for the door.
"I'll be careful, I promise." I called to them before I stepped out onto the porch. I stood there staring at the monster that had once been Mr. Brown. I didn't feel fear, just curiosity. I wanted to understand what was going on, but now wasn't the time. I kept quiet as I darted across the street and into my house. I ran to my room and hastily changed into jeans and a t-shirt as well as a pair of sneakers. "Wake up, Daddy! Something's happening and we gotta get out of here!" I called over my shoulder. My dad may be a sorry son of a bitch, but I wasn't leaving him to fend for himself. I didn't hear a response, but I didn't bother to slow down packing my things into a duffel bag. I zipped it up, done in record time. I grabbed it and ran into the living to get my dad's pistol from underneath the couch cushion. I was shoving that in my bag when I heard heavy breathing and dragging footsteps. I paused and furrowed my brow. "Daddy? Is that you?" I called as I stood up. I froze and dropped my bag when I saw what it was. It was my dad alright, but he wasn't himself. He was like Mr. Brown, his flesh pale and peeling, his eyes glazed over and pupils surrounded by red. There was a hunk of flesh missing from his arm and I knew it, I knew he'd been bitten. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I stumbled back. I hated my dad, I really did, but of all the things that could happen to him, he had to turn into one of those?! Well, at least he looked the monster he truly was inside. "Daddy?" I whispered as I took a step back. He didn't respond except to let out a low groan as he shuffled slowly towards me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took another step back, my foot getting caught on the rug and sending me to the ground. I fell to the ground and let out a lungful of air. My dad started to lurch towards me, an unsatiable hunger in his eyes. "DARYL!" I finally managed to scream at the top of my lungs as I scrambled away from him on the floor. Seconds later Daryl came bursting through the door with his crossbow raised. There was a soft whistling sound and his arrow flew straight into my dad's skull. I looked away as my dad's body fell to the ground. Daryl walked over and pulled his arrow out of his skull before he walked over to me and grabbed my arm, pulling me up.
"C'mon, kid, we gotta get outta here." he muttered as he picked up my duffel bag. I nodded and ran back across the street to Daryl's truck. Merle was getting his bike out and I already saw they'd loaded up some supplies. Daryl tossed my bag into the back of his truck and got into the front seat with me. "We'll follow after you, Merle." Daryl called to his brother. Merle nodded and pushed his bike out to the street. He swung his leg over it and started the noisy bike, I buckled myself in and took a deep breath as I leaned back in my seat. Daryl started the truck and pulled out of the weed infested driveway, starting after Merle. I closed my eyes and tried to piece this all together. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My father, he was dead. Dead people? Up and walking around eating people. My life? Falling to pieces.