Chapter Three - Brooklyn

I flung my body away from the stench of rotting flesh as quickly as I could, the touch of the decaying hand gripping and grasping at my shirt sent a shiver down my spine as I rolled across the dying winter grass, battered and beaten from the harsh frost and wind.

Tana pushed herself up against a fallen tree that had vegetation absorbing it into the vines and moss. She screamed and closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable to come as she fumbled around and pulled a retractable pocket knife from her boot and sunk it into the walker's shoulder that loomed over her. It stumbled back - unfazed by the knife protruding from its collar bone. This gave me the chance I had been waiting for and I lunged forward on the balls of my feet and stabbed it through the side of the head. Droplets of blood littered my clothes and exposed skin as I fell onto the ground with the walker landing rigidly beside me.

My eyes widened and I ran over and knelt down beside Tana, hurriedly lifting her sleeves up and looking for any bites or scratches. I let out a deep sigh and pulled her close to me, wrapping my arms around like a shield - a shield, I was going to shield this girl who I loved like mine from everything this world threw at us.

I was going to find a place where we could live, permanently - not camps by trees or ruins of former buildings that lasted a couple of days. It would be a protected, guarded place with walls higher than trees and thicker than a school bus. A place where people didn't have to look over their shoulders every time they heard a noise. A place where you didn't have to sleep with one eye open or be ready to flee at the smallest threat in the shadows. A place with a warm bed and food on the table. Safe.

I sat down on the stiff grass plagued with sick shades of yellow and brown with one leg stretched out in front of me, I played with the frayed fabric of the once deemed designer shorts that used to have an embroidered logo that had signified my wealth but now - they were shorts. An item of clothing.

Shuffling. My ears perked up at the sudden sound of dead grass breaking under heavy footsteps. I turned my head and I stared directly into the hollow abyss of once full of life eyes of a walker as it sauntered through the trees, her body weighed down by the layers of brown rags of shredded clothing. Her once luscious black locks frayed and matted into a mess closer resembling a birds nest than hair. Another, this one a stocky but short male with bulging masses of warts masking his disfigured face following behind the female with staggered, prolonged steps. Another. Two more. Three. Four.

Too many to count.

Tripping over my feet I flew to a stand and practically lifted her off the ground. I ran into the woods with a firm grasp on her wrist, half lifting, half dragging her with me as we ran through the trees. Avoiding them like obstacles in a maze. Run.

All I could think about was my next step and securing my balance. My vision clouded by the thickets of leaves, I could not see more than ten feet in front of me. I was running blindly into a storm.

All of a sudden the trees parted like a gate and I stumbled into a large open field, the breath of fresh air ripping through my weary lungs. I stared in awe as the blinding light reflected off the metal cross-wired fence into a shadow on the fresh but weather-beaten grass as it guarded a disused and ruinous prison. Bricks cracked and windows smashed. A dark aura surrounding the air around it, like a grey cloud in a sky of blue.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow briefly appear in the plastic window of a guard tower standing tall at the front gates with a matching one adjacent like a pair of mighty soldiers standing guard. A disappearing shadow was the least of my worries as branches snapped and leaves ruffled behind me.

Checking my grip on her wrist I took off running trying to find the gate to the prison yard, hoping that luck would be on my side. Just for once.

My coffee brown hair tied into a loose braid hit against my back with every step and the hot Georgia sun burning onto my sun-kissed skin littered with a light layer of freckles across my nose.

I was losing hope very quickly and I began to think of other solutions. I could try and climb the fence but would it be strong enough? Or I could make for the cover of the forest and try to lose them in the maze of trees, but did I have the strength? No.

"Over here," A voice shouted seemingly out of nowhere, it sounded like a child, young but not too young. I span around on my heel frantically trying to find the origin of the voice, "Hey, over here!" it called out again this time followed by a clashing of metal on the fence aimed to catch my attention.

My eyes finally settled on a young boy, around eleven or twelve with a cowboy hat banging a metal pole on the fence trying to gain my attention as a young woman with blonde hair and youthful face was untying a chain around the gate securing it in place and keeping intruders out.

"Come on, hurry!" the girl called out this time waving her hand in the air. With the help of the boy, they pulled the gate open ever so slightly - only wide enough for my slender body to fit through and even then it was a tight fit.

Hearing the click of the lock securing the chain back in place I let out a deep, relieved sigh as I rested my hands on my knees and doubled over in exhaustion. I felt faint and weak from the lack of water and food but I managed to compose myself enough to stand. I did not want to pass out with these unknown people, leaving me at their mercy.

I placed my hands on Montana's shoulders as she wheezed and breathed heavily but she was safe and unharmed.

"Are you bit?" the boy asked, his voice deepening trying to appear older than he was - and more threatening. He deliberately rested his hand on a gun strapped into a belt on his waist, with an intimidating glare in his hazel eyes. "Montana?" he asked.

"Carl!" she cried out and she ran out of grasps and into the boys arms and then blonde haired girl's eyes widened a large smile spread across her face as Carl released her from his arms and she ran other to the girl.

"Oh my god, we thought you were dead," she cried tears escaping from her eyes, "Carl go and get Daryl!" she said and Carl ran as quick as he could through the yard and disappeared into a building.

"No Brooklyn saved me," Montana answered, breaking away from the girl and looking towards me, I felt awkward. I didn't know what to do. This must be her group - her family.

The girl straightened her back, "I'm Beth, nice to meet you," she placed her hand gratefully on my arm, "Thank you for staying with Montana. Daryl's been worried out of his mind."

"It's no problem, honestly-"

Suddenly two sets of heavy footsteps ran down from the top of the yard, one man running quicker than the other.

I lowered my head, avoiding meeting the eyes of the people who had just arrived for no specific reasons but a million scenarios played in my head. Would they kill me right here on the stop? Or would they throw me out into the herd? Maybe. Just maybe they might offer me sanctuary.

I felt a pair of eyes staring directly at me but when I looked up they weren't looking at me but instead they were looking at Montana. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties, maybe younger or maybe older - it was hard to tell. He had shaggy brown hair with hints blonde that was just above his ears, but my eyes were set on his. They were beautiful, the colour of the ocean waves on the sunniest of summer days but there was a dark cage - a suffering memory buried deep within, hidden away from prying eyes.

His slightly sunkissed skin turned pale and he looked faint, I honestly thought he was going to pass out. He looked directly at her - frozen. The girl with the same ocean blue eyes.

"Daddy?"