1 year later

Once again I was scraping through the same woods in the hope I'd find something to eat. With my self-made bow and arrow and a small knife, I tried to survive through the day. It was already getting dark but I hadn't found anything to eat yet. Just as I was about to give up I heard something in front of me. I hid behind a tree not sure what the noise was caused by. I saw a squirrel climbing up a tree and I took my bow out and focused it on the small animal in front of me. I was too concentrated to notice that another sound was coming towards me until it was too late. A walker ran me over and tried to bite into my skin and I struggled to get my knife out. I screamed until the walker was ripped away from me. I was to numb to move until I heard a few voices around me.

"Was she bit?" and I slowly got out of my numbness and sat up. "No….That thing didn't get me...thanks for saving me..." I said with a shaky voice. "Check her just to be sure!" a man with a crossbow bend down to me and started to check on my arms and neck. I just let it happen to confused what these people wanted from me since I had barely anything on me to give them as a thanks for saving me. "She's clean," he said with a special accent after a while standing back up.

"We should ask her the 3 questions, she looks weak," said a woman with long dreadlocks and a katana on her back to another man who seemed to be their leader. He hadn't said a thing until now. "How many walkers have you killed?"

I was confused by the weird question but decided to answer. "Too many to count." "How many people have you killed?" "One." He looked at me and asked his final question: "Why?" I had to think a moment about how to answer his question because it brought a lot of memories back. "He tried to rape me." I finally said trying hard not to get emotional.

The people looked at each other and then the leader held his hand in my direction helping me get up. "I'm Rick this is my group. We have a camp near here if you want to come with us." I thought that was all unreal and I needed a second to realize the situation.

"Hi Rick my name is Elena and I would like to come with you if it is alright for the rest of your group." I noticed that about 6 people were standing around me. They started walking so I followed them nervously and silently. The guy who saved me with the crossbow on his back slowed down the be at my level and looked at me for a moment. Since he didn't say a word I decided to break the silence. "Thanks again for saving me. May I know my savior's name?" I looked at him forcing a smile since I felt completely tired and hungry at the same time. "It's Daryl. I heard you scream and ran over when I saw your situation and decided without hesitation." "Nice to meet you, Daryl, I really appreciate it." They walked about 30 minutes until they arrived at big gates opening up as they walked towards them.

As I walked in I thought I arrived in a paradise. I walked through a street with a lot of different houses not getting out of my disbelieve how a place like this could still exist. Rick stopped at a smaller house and looked at me. "You can settle down in this house. There is a bed and some food. You can take a hot shower and then get some sleep, you're safe here." I couldn't believe what I just heard. A hot shower? I didn't remember my last time having a warm shower or a bed to sleep in. I looked at Rick nodding, thanking him and started to walk towards my new home. I got in and looked around letting out a scream of joy. I ran upstairs and as soon as I saw a king-sized bed I jumped onto it and for the first time since everything started a year ago, I felt actually save.

I quickly ate something and then went to bed since my tiredness grew bigger and bigger with every second. I wanted to save up my warm shower for the next morning and so I went to bed with a slight smile on my face and falling into a deep and calm sleep.

I woke up in the next morning by the sun kissing my skin. I stretched myself and directly got into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The water slowly made its way down my skin. I took some shampoo that was already in the shower and rubbed the dirt away. After I turned the water off I got out of the shower wiping myself dry and putting on some fresh clothes I found in a closet. Just as I entered the kitchen I heard a knock at the front door.

"Come in" I yelled pouring myself a glass of water emptying it in one sip. I looked towards the main entrance as the door opened and Rick appeared together with a boy who was wearing an oversized cops hat and a baby in his arm. "Good morning Elena, how did you sleep?" "Oh, you can't imagine how good it felt laying in a bed again and having a warm shower! Thank you so much for that I promise I will do whatever you want to make it up to you."

Rick stared at me and smiled honestly glad I felt better. "I'm glad you like it. There is actually something that you could help us with."

I looked at the boy who hadn't said a word yet. "I hope I don't sound rude but may I ask if those are your children?" Rick looked behind him running his hand through the baby's hair and smiling proudly.

"Yes, they are. His name is Carl and his sister's name is Judith. And we all need your help because a friend of ours is getting a baby soon and she is really sick. We need to get her to another camp to bring her to a doctor. Can you help us bring her there since you know the woods better than we do?"

"Sure I'll get you there. When are we leaving?"

"Thanks Elena I really appreciate the help. We are leaving in 30 minutes. We'll meet up at the gate. See you later." Rick smiled at me and turned around and left. Carl looked at me and smiling. "Thank you." I nodded at him and then looked at them as he walked out and closed the door. I quickly ate something and then jumped into my boots. I grabbed my bow and arrows and went to the gate. A few people were waiting already and as soon as everyone was gathered around the big gates opened and we started to walk out. And that's how our journey to the camp called Hilltop started.