Chapter 11: Journal entry 1

I guess to start this off, I hope you're reading this Rick. It took me awhile after I got back into this hell hole called Atlanta to find a journal to write in, and well…I am writing this cause I hope you'll read it someday. If I'm not there with you…I'm sorry I couldn't keep my end of the promise, and I just hope I was able to accomplish something, maybe make the city safer for your group to move into. I bet Carl has gotten big, he's a strong kid, and I know he's doing well, and I hope you're well too. But that's for another time.

From now on, I'm going to record everything inside this journal, some of the entries will be short, but still, it'll help me get by. So far this is Day 3, so I'll start with day one now.

Day 1:

The city was a mess. I was making my way back into it the same way I entered the first time, but alone. I had my sword in hand, the comforting weight of the blade calming me.

For five minutes nothing happened, not a thing as I moved through the empty alleys and back streets of the city. I knew well enough to stay away from the main streets and the more once populated areas. That's where the Walkers would be, waiting and hungry. I encountered my first Walkers when I crossed into an alley. I wanted to set up shop near the center of the city, work my way out. Figured it would be easier that way.

I leapt over a dumpster, bringing my sword down into an arc behind my back. The blade easily pierced the Walkers head as it began to sluggishly rise from where it had been laying against the dumpster. Another Walker turned towards me as the sound of the hardened steel hitting the metal echoed. It's growl was cut short as one of my knives cut into its face just above the left eye. It fell backwards, dead as it should be.

"That was easy enough." I spoke to soon as a third Walker grabbed me from behind. I gagged at the smell of its rotting flesh. It was strong though, its arms clamped on me. It tried to bite at my neck as I slammed my head back, cracking my head against its skull. It loosened for a second and I took the chance.

I dropped, its arms releasing me, and I spun on my heel, cutting off its legs. It toppled to the ground, and I finished it with a knife to the temple. I guess I shouldn't have been so quick to judge a place as safe before I was certain. I'd have to be more careful.

I don't know how much longer it was or how many more walkers I'd killed before the sun began to set. I know it was too dangerous to try going any further, so I made my choice. I decided I'd set up shop in this apartment complex. It was good sized, nestled between two others on each side, and the front overlooked a small street. Perfect.

Day 2

I slept awkwardly. It's so strange, not being in the R.V. listening to Dale snore like an eighteen wheeler. And not hearing Andrea humming as she and Amy fell asleep. I miss Amy, and Andrea, and everyone already.

The apartment building is better than I thought. I only was able to check part of the first floor last night, but I was able to find several kerosene lamps and some canned food. I've never been a fan of Vienna sausages, still not but they helped take away the hunger.

I just finished the first floor. Nice haul, killed eight walkers, found at least seven dead already, all appeared to be suicides. I'm going to burn them outside later, for now I wrapped the seven dead in blankets I found, giving them some dignity I hope.

Not even a third of the second floor, but I needed to stop to eat. Already killed another ten or eleven walkers, the buildings bigger then I'd originally thought. My swords starting to dull, but I found some antiques in one room. Didn't get to look through the stuff to much, but maybe there will be a whetstone.

Halfway done now. Had a close call earlier.

I slowly opened the door to an apartment, I'd already had to deal with about a dozen or so walkers today, and I was getting tired. No survivors have showed up yet. Maybe I forgot to mention it, but I'd set up several markers along my route telling anyone who comes how to get here. I also made sure to barricade any entrances into my route where a walker could get in. Hopefully the route is still clear. Maybe I'll do a small walk through tomorrow.

But anyways, I'd walked into the apartment, slow but I'd gotten sloppy as I got tired. The Walker was beside the door, and as I opened it, the corpse reached around and grabbed my wrist. It pulled hard, tugging me into the room hard. It was on top of me faster then I'd have thought possible as I rolled on the ground. I was lucky as I flipped it onto it's back, pulling a butchers knife I'd found from my belt and stabbing down. I missed and hit the wood paneled floor, but I was fast enough to pull it back before the walker bit me, and with the second strike, I buried the knife into its forehead. Like I said, I was lucky. I'll need to be a lot more careful as I work.