Title: Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes

Author: Reign of Love

Word Count: 1,093

Notes: Oh hey look, a new story based around another post-apocalyptic drama series and an original character that somehow gets the quiet, rough 'n' tough guy to fall in love with her. But this one has zombies! But yes joking aside, I'm writing a fic on TWD. I only started this because I started binging the earlier seasons recently and it reawakened my love for the show. Up until Glenn and Abraham died. That's where the love started to die down. And then it died completely with Carl. Regardless, the show still holds a place in my heart. With the show coming to an end after season 11, I figured: why not? I can give this ex(?)-fan-retelling of the show a try... so here it is!

This story takes place during season 2, around the time Sophia went missing. I'm debating whether I should continue writing until I reach where the show is currently, or if I should break this story up into different parts considering there's so many seasons. If that makes sense... I'll follow the show's plot points, while occasionally adding my own twists and changes. Hopefully it'll add some originality and unpredictability. I can't guarantee the chapters will always be long, though. Other than that, enjoy your stay and please leave constructive criticism!

Rating: T (mention(s) or possible semi-description(s) of canon and non-canon violence, language and adult themes)

Disclaimer: I don't own TWD or any of its characters. I only own my characters and any changes I make.*

Prologue

Celeste wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to feel. Wasn't she supposed to be crying? Shouldn't she be angry, at the very least? Any normal person would've cried at these sorts of things. But... Celeste wasn't. She was just walking, aimlessly and numbly, through a semi-dense wooded area, filthy and hungry. An occasional dead one would cross her path — not like she'd hear them coming, anyway — and she'd kill them. It was mechanical, killing those bastards. There was no second thought. But Celeste's chest would tighten every time she'd see one. A constant reminder of how the world changed so drastically... and what put her in her current predicament in the first place.

It was around two days earlier, when Celeste's group had been taken down. There was a fairly big horde of dead ones. They seemed to come out of nowhere, overrunning the camp easily. Those who weren't quick enough to scatter were killed. Celeste was lucky to make it out with her life. Her shock had her frozen in place, and it wasn't until one of those bastards came within inches of her that she snapped out of it. She managed to shove it away, before grabbing her bat and smashing its head in. Her bat was the only thing she had time to grab. More were on her tail, she had to make do with what she had. But now that she was safe, Celeste hadn't seen any of her surviving group-mates. That made her anxious; after two days, she thought she'd see at least one of them! But maybe it's for the best that she not find them, they treated her poorly anyway.

Due to a medication overdose as an infant, Celeste lost a majority of her hearing. She has some residual hearing, but it puts her at a big disadvantage. There are certain sounds she just can't hear, and the ones she can make out can sometimes overwhelm her. It's frustrating. But she had to make the most of it. Celeste learned early on how to use sign language, but most people nowadays aren't willing to learn, not with their lives always being at risk. In school, she learned how to talk and how to read lips, but she hated talking and reading lips could sometimes be overwhelming in big groups. Once everything went to shit and Celeste found her group, she quickly realized just how low on the totem pole she was. She'd be left to do mundane tasks within the group, such as laundry, cooking, and inventory. Of course those tasks were important, but Celeste wanted to do more. She wanted to go on runs, she wanted to provide for her people! They just never gave her a chance. They saw Celeste as a liability because of her deafness. After a while, she started to believe it.

Maybe it's time to move on, she thought solemnly, despite the twinge of guilt she felt in her gut. They treated me like shit, there's no use mourning those assholes.

Celeste couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. With her free hand, she ran a hand through her hair, fingers tangling in her curls as she felt the dampness of her sweat mixed with layers of filth. God, she missed showers. She'd kill for one at the moment.

If I'm lucky I could find a ravine or something, Celeste thought, trying to give herself some spark of hope. I could give myself a quick cleaning before going... wherever the hell I'm going.

She stopped when a dead one stumbled into her view, causing the twenty-three year old to purse her lips. The thing continued stumbling around in front of her before actually noticing her. It always took them a second to notice her. Her pace quickened, gripping the bat tightly in both hands. As she approached, she quickly took in its appearance. Tattered clothes covered in dirt and blood; graying, decomposed skin; chunks of flesh hanging around its mouth, showing off yellowed teeth. Their appearance no longer bothered Celeste, but their eyes did. The milky whiteness, looking right at her but right through her at the same time. She made sure, every day, thank God that she couldn't hear; the last thing she'd want to hear would be their snarls. Or them eating a living being. Being deaf in the apocalypse had its perks! However, the major downside of her lack of hearing had to be her lack of hearing. The sound of a dead one coming up on her from behind, someone following her, someone talking to her — Celeste wouldn't be able to hear it. But she had to adapt, be extra alert. Naturally, she had room for improvement.

The closer she got to the dead one, the higher her arms raised, bat ready to strike its head. Until something else hit it first, leaving her in a state of shock. Celeste didn't get a good look at it at first, but once the body hit the ground, she knelt down to see. An arrow, hitting the back of its head, the tip poking through the forehead. A perfect shot.

What the fuck?, she thought. An arrow?

Then her skin prickled. Someone else's in these woods. Fuck. Lowering her arms slightly, she kept a firm grip on her bat, her eyes scanning the area carefully. That's when she saw him — and it was definitely a him — coming out of the brush, a scowl on his face. A brown-haired man, clearly older than her, in dirty, ripped blue jeans and an equally filthy sleeveless brown shirt. He was holding a crossbow in both hands, aiming it at Celeste as he regarded her.

"Drop yer bat!" he demanded. Celeste's jaw clenched. Celeste felt her anxiety bubble over. No way in hell could she face him with a bat, not after what he did to that thing. He clearly was a good shot. She'd be dead in a heartbeat if she tried something. "I ain't askin' again," he snapped, "drop yer bat!"

Tossing her bat on the ground, Celeste kept her hands in his view, hoping he'd at least be reassured that she wasn't going to try something. He wasn't letting up, his crossbow still aimed at her, his scowl still on his face. Celeste could only hope this would end well, but there was no guarantee. She didn't know the man's motives, and she didn't want to get hurt or killed trying to defend herself should the situation arise. She was genuinely fucked.

Reign of Love: Short chapter, I know but it'll (hopefully) get longer and also pick up soon! Hopefully you guys will like this story. Favorite, follow and review!

Also did some editing for this chapter! Enjoy!