The engine roared to life and she gave a little gas while humming to the Johnny Cash song that was playing in the background. She glanced over to her dad and uncle, who were sitting next to her in the front. They were looking back at her with a questioning look, but she only smiled and focussed on the road in front of her.

This week had been a good week; Daryl and Merle had a week off and now the three of them were roadtripping on the highways through the forests of Georgia. Lizzy was grateful for actually being able to enjoy all of this; simply driving in her new car together with her dad and uncle, while listening to their favourite music.

"Eyes on tha road, sugar. I would like ta live 'nother day."

She looked at her dad who was sitting next to her and she stuck her tongue out at him in response. Merle chuckled and shook his head.

They had bought some hotdogs and soda after Daryl had suggested to stop at a camping spot somewhere so they could eat before going back home. Merle and Lizzy had both agreed to the plan, and after 20 minutes they found a good spot.

Merle had made a fire and Daryl found some sticks for the hotdogs. They held them above the flames, while the radio of the pick-up was still on.

After they finished their hotdogs, they got into the car to head back home. However, when they were on the highway, they had to stop because of a traffic jam. "What's goin' on?" Lizzy asked in surprise. Daryl didn't say anything but opened the window so he could have a better look. "Turn 'round." her dad instructed her, while he squeezed his eyes together and looked at the cars in front of them. Daryl looked at Merle. "They all got bags 'n shit, looks like they all runnin' off 'r somethin'." he said to his older brother. Merle snorted. "Turn 'round, Liz." he demanded again. Lizzy nodded and turned the steering wheel sidewards, but the sudden sound of a klaxon made her jump up. "I can't 'cuz of this moron behind me!" she growled frustrated, while she pressed her klaxon as well in response to the man behind her. Merle grasped her hand and squeezed it. "Listen girl, ya gon' take tha other road against th' traffic. There's no one drivin' there anyway. Think ya can do that?" he rasped quietly. Lizzy's eyes were widening. "But daddy— that's against th' law!"

Her father shook his head. "Somethin's tellin' me that th' law ain' gon' be much 'f a problem. Just do it."

Lizzy bit her lower lip, quite nervous about the fact that even her father was feeling rather uncomfortable here. Meanwhile, Daryl hadn't said a word. Lizzy sighed and gave a little gas while turning the car around. Her daddy had been right—no one was driving on the other road. That's just weird, she thought, while she drove back home.

When they drove passed by the neighborhood that was a few meters away from their cabin, Lizzy halted and felt like her throat was being pinched.

Right in front of a random house, 2 men and 1 woman were attacking another woman.

They were eating her.

Lizzy felt like throwing up and she bit the inside of her cheek until she was tasting blood. "What the.." she heard her uncle say.

"Media obsessive bullshit, huh?" her father said to his brother, who was looking at the people in horror. Lizzy clenched the steering wheel. "Is this really happenin'?" she whispered with a disgusting undertone. Her father laid a hand on her shoulder. "Go." he urged in reply. Lizzy turned around to look at him. "We gotta help them!"

Other people were running outside their houses now as well. A few were crying, while others were attacking and eating eachother. The sound of gunshots startled Lizzy.

Merle squeezed her shoulder. "Baby girl, we can't help 'em. Look at them, Lizzy, they pretty much dead already."

Lizzy looked at her father and shook her head with disbelief, but when she made eye contact with her uncle who nodded, she pushed the gas pedal in anyway.

When they stopped in front of their cabin, Daryl and Merle got out right away. Lizzy was however practically frozen in her seat. The door next to her opened and her dad tilted her out the seat. "Toughen up, girl." he grumbled to her as he pushed her towards the front door.

Once she was inside, Merle locked the front door behind them and ran into the kitchen. Daryl was already there and had grabbed 3 backpacks. "Lis, I need ya ta grab all tha canned an' other long lastin' food ya can find. Daryl, get all tha weapons 'n shit." Merle commanded, before he ran off to their bedrooms to gather some clothing and blankets.

Lizzy did as she was told and grabbed almost everything she could find. She was glad they often went camping, because they had a whole collection of canned goods.

When she was finished, she threw everything in her backpack. She went to the fridge to grab the 5 bottles of water and cans of soda. Daryl appeared with their hunting knives and his own crossbow. He grabbed ammo that was tucked in his pockets, and then the guns. He put most of the ammo into his backpack. He stopped, hesitating before handing over a strap along with a knife to Lizzy. Lizzy looked at him, but Daryl gave her a confirming nod. "Ya know how ta handle it." he murmered. Lizzy sighed. "On a tree, not on livin' things." she said sadly, but she took the knife anyhow and placed it in the strap that she attached on her waist.

Merle walked down the stairs and looked at Lizzy. He gave her an approving nod when he noticed the knife strap hanging around her waist. "Go change," he ordered, refering at her bare legs. "Long pants 'n a tight shirt. Ya also might wann' put that beautiful long hair o' yours in a ponytail."

Lizzy nodded and sprinted to her room. She quickly changed into a long pants and t-shirt, and combed her hair together in a ponytail. When she opened her closet, she noticed her daddy had already collected her clothes and personal belongings. She smiled when she realised he had also already taken her precious necklace with him, that meant a lot to her. Her daddy had given it to her for her seventeenth birtday.

She took a few things her daddy had forgotten, such as soap and shampoo. When she was sure she had grabbed everything they would need for a few days away from their home, she went downstairs and tossed it into her backpack. Her uncle and father waited for her in the hallway. "We 'r gonn' drive ta Atlanta, ta see what tha fuck's wrong. After that we will stay at our campin' spot 'til the government sorts this shit out." her daddy explained while readying his gun. Lizzy nodded and grabbed the knife behind her belt with trembling hands. They all grabbed a backpack and adjusted it on their back. Daryl had his crossbow prepared and looked at Lizzy with a questioning look. Lizzy gave a nod, to confirm she was alright. Daryl gestured at the knife and Lizzy nodded again. She raised her knife and turned around to look at her father.

Merle opened the door and they walked outside.

Nothing.

They weren't surprised, since their cabin wasn't very close to the actual town they officially lived in. Lizzy sighed in relief and walked to her car, but her father whistled at her. She turned around and frowned. "We ain' taking ya car, darlin'. We takin' our own pick-up." he said as he stood behind his motorcycle and started to push it towards their other pick-up. "Why?" Lizzy wondered, quite disappointed by already having to leave her new love behind. Merle and Daryl lifted the heavy motorcycle into the bed trunk of the pick-up. "'Cuz urs uses too much gas." her uncle explained. Lizzy heaved a sigh but nodded eventually. She walked to the dark blue pick-up instead and opened the door to the passanger's side. Soon as her dad hit the gas pedal, she watched as their house and her pick-up faded away in the distance.