I am posting the first chapter on wattpad! As scriptor412 Just so you know, this is me, I am seeing if I like that site better than this one.

I knew where they kept the soap they used for laundry and was able to get to it easily. Once I had the soap in hand I snuck down to the quarry. I had to walk slowly because I couldn't see the path well in the dark.

At the shore of the water, I took my shirt off, welcoming the coolness of the air after the hot day. My throwing knife fell to the ground, I forgot that after leaving Merle and Daryl I had put it back into my sleeve. I rubbed the soap into the shirt and washed it the bet I could. When I was finished, my hands were numb from the cold water, and I was beginning to feel cold myself.

I squeezed as much water out of it as possible.

This was the worst part.

Putting the shirt on. Biting my lip, I did it, already shaking from the cold.

Stop being weak, it's just a little water, just a little cold. You'll be fine later, you always are.

I tucked the knife back into the tightness of the sleeve as I walked back to camp, and put the soap back where I found it. I approached the fire pit in the centre of the camp and sat on the ground, watching the dying embers. I brought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I rested my head on my knees. I was really tired, but I didn't want to sleep. The reason I didn't sleep in the tent was because I was afraid of waking Officer Shane up. Back at home, I always woke Daddy up with my nightmares, he was always really mad. I didn't want to make anybody mad.

I was also afraid of him asking me questions I didn't want to answer.

I didn't know why I was running, or what from, I just knew I had to run. I felt scared, I couldn't breathe. Why was I so scared?

I heard the cracking, snapping sound as pain spread throughout my back. I cried out, falling to the forest floor.

Lying in the dirt and crying from the pain, I turned my head. I looked up to see Daddy standing over me, holding the belt over his shoulder.

But there was something wrong. His skin was darker, dull, almost grey. Blood streamed down his face, but I couldn't see a wound. His eyes were yellow, dead. He's dead. He's dead.

I cried harder as he came closer, opening his mouth as a snarling, hissing, growling sound rang out.

I was crying screaming words at him, but I couldn't tell what I was saying.

Words escaped my mouth as I gasped awake, I wasn't sure what I said. My eyes were watering and a few tears escaped. I wiped them away. I glanced at the fire pit, most of the embers had died out.

Oh no, how long had I slept?

I couldn't catch my breath, I just kept gasping, trying to get as much air into my lungs as possible.

"Please no, what?"

I jumped, falling the side, attempting to scramble away from whoever had spoken.

"Damn, girlie, calm the hell down. What's wrong with ya?"

I relaxed a bit, recognising Merle's rough, scratchy voice. But I was still shaking and struggling to breathe. Whether I was shaking from the nightmare or the cold, I had no idea.

"The hell, ya havin' a seizure or somethin'?"

Why was he up? I was out here every night and not once had I seen him out. "N-no. I'm . . . I'm fine."

He didn't say anything right away, just watched me for a minute, "why ain't ya in bed?"

"Ain't tired."

"Course not, tha's why ya sleeping out 'ere." He scoffed. "Why ain't ya in bed? Gonna get yer'self in trouble. Where ya sleep anyway?"

"I share a tent with Officer Shane. Not comfortable there." I was breathing deeply, finally able to calm myself down. I could still see Daddy's dead eyes, was it possible he was one of them now? Is that why he hadn't come?

He smirked, "Why not? 'e's an officer of the law, serve an' protect an' all that shit."

"Tha's exactly why," I grunted out, frowning. I didn't have the energy to be blank. I was angry, at myself, at him. Even after that, I still wanted to go back to sleep. I was so tired. I thought by now maybe I would get used to so little sleep, and getting nightmares, but still every night, I felt so scared. I wish I could sleep.

He sniggered, "from the way ya talk, I have ta guess your Daddy ain't so fond of the law."

"No, mister."

He rolled his eyes, "Name's Merle."

"I know that." I snapped.

"Then what's with all tha' mister shit. No use actin' all prissy and proper now, girl. Cut it out."

I clenched my teeth together, holding back a retort.

"You get nightmares a lot?"

My jaw dropped, "I . . . how-"

"-Ya talk in your sleep. Bein' outside ain't gonna help ya much with tha'."

I looked away, feeling angry. "Yeah, well. What do you know."

"I ain't no stranger ta nightmares, girlie."

I can't help but look at him again, as I do he lowered himself and sat beside me.

What is he doing? After watching him from the RV, he hardly ever talked to anyone else at camp. Why was he talking to me? I honestly thought, that after skinning the squirrel, the brothers would shoo me away and that would be that.

"Ya gonna tell me your name?"

He was still on about that, really? Everyone else had given up already. "No, not tellin' you nothin'."

He elbowed be lightly, "Ya owe me, I taught ya how ta skin."

"And in return you got dinner."

He hesitated, looking at his elbow and at the area he bumped me with. "Why are ya clothes wet."

"I washed it," I said bluntly, avoiding his eyes.

"Why don' ya wear somethin' else?"

I was getting really annoyed at this point, why was he asking questions? Couldn't everyone just shut up and leave me alone? "I don' have anythin' else."

"I'm sure someone else'll 'ave somethin' for ya."

"Don' wanna." I snapped again.

After a couple moments of silence, his voice is calm, quiet, in a way I hadn't heard him speak before. "See the way ya flinch. Too hot for those clothes, 'aven't complained once. You're coverin' somethin' up."

I held my breath, he knew. I hugged my knees to my chest tightly, as I did before. I stared into the fire pit but I knew he was staring at me. I could feel his eyes burning holes into me.

" . . . You gonna tell?"

I could hear the smirk in his voice, "tell ya what, tell me how old ya are, an' I won' say a word."

"I ain't nine," I said through clenched teeth, turning to him, "I'm twelve. Why do you keep askin' so many questions? You don' ask no one else no questions."

"You remin' me of my brother when 'e was a kid. Tryin' to act all tough, tryin' to prove 'imself. It was funny ta watch. 'e used ta get lots a' nightmares, acted like such a baby an' tried so hard not ta be. Kinda miss it."

"He ain't like tha' no more?"

He stared back at me, not smiling or smirking. "Had ta go away lots. Once I left for a long time, came back, 'e was different. Still acts like the big tough guy 'e isn't, though."

"What for? Why did you go away?"

"Different things . . . One time was for the Army."

"You joined the Army?" I asked, a little surprised.

He shrugged, "ain't got no profound reason for it, wanted ta get away, leave 'ome."

I nodded, "I'm too young for it, but I thought of it, once I'm old 'nough. I know lots 'bout weapons from daddy. Would be nice ta get away too . . ."

"An' whys that?"

I hesitated, "never really left 'ome, 'cept for campin' an' huntin'."

"So, ya think of the army."

I shrugged, "Daddy knows lots a' people who were in the military, so I hear 'bout it lots."

"Ya wanna get away from 'ome, or get away from your daddy."

My eyes widened, I don't even have time to hide my shocked and fearful expression.

"He hurt ya. Ain't hard ta tell."

"I-I . . . I get . . .I just get inta' trouble lots . . ." I put my head down, hiding my face with loose strands of hair from my ponytail.

A noise escaped his throat that sounded almost like a growl, "Ya ain't in trouble now. Stop fuckin' cowerin', I ain't no kid beater."

He sounds mad but at the same time he doesn't. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to say sorry, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do at all.

"I didn't get along too well with my daddy either, had ta leave, or I woulda killed the bastard."

I raised my head to look at him through the corner of my eye, "it's not that we don' get along, I just . . . don' always listen too well . . ."

He pressed his lips together and looked around, obviously in search of something to say, "Ah, fuck."

He abruptly stood up, motioning for me to do the same, "c'mon." He sighed.

Hesitantly, I stood, following him toward the RV. At the side of the RV, lined up were three cardboard boxes. This was where we put stuff after Glenn came back from his runs into the city.

"Was goin' through these this mornin' . . ." he mumbled, going through one of the boxes. I wasn't sure fully what was in all of them because of how dark it was.

He pulled something out, then shook it out, as if trying to remove dust or dirt. He threw the fabric at me, once I caught it I held it out in front of me.

It was a light coloured, long-sleeved, button-up blouse. Feeling the material between my fingers, I could tell it was really thin.

"Girlies like pink, right?"

It was hard to tell in the dark, but after he mentioned it, it did look to be a light shade of pink.

"Won't fit too well, but it's better then what ya 'ave. Ya can't wear tha' no more, black attracts heat, an' it's thick. Gotta be torture."

My mouth opened, but I couldn't get anything out. I was sure that he was mad a moment ago, but he seemed calm, I couldn't read his expression. This situation seemed kind of . . . awkward.

"Git outta tha' wet shirt. 'm goin' ta sleep, fuckin' tired." He rubbed the back of his neck and began walking toward his camp. "Go ta bed, can't hide from sleep forever."

"G'night mister Merle," I said, feeling the corner of my lip curving upward.

He turned back to me, "what I tell ya 'bout that mister shit."

"I said Merle."

He smiled, pretending to act mad, "Cut it the fuck out."

I returned the smile, trying not to laugh. He rolled his eyes and started to walk away again.

My stomach does a nervous flip as I bit my lip. I wasn't really sure what made me tell him, but I didn't want to not tell him. I couldn't even stop myself before the words leave my mouth.

"My name's Toby."

He glanced at me again, narrowing his eyes, "Toby?"

I nodded.

"Nice ta meet ya, Toby."

I let him leave as I stared down at the shirt he gave me.

Hey, guys, so you've finally officially met the OC. Just to clarify what you learned in this chapter; Her name is Toby and she is 12 years old.

I know Toby is a boys name, but I always thought it might be a cute name for a girl.

Again, I'm really sorry for putting up the wrong chapter in chapter 2 (obviously it's fixed now) but I promise I won't let that happen again.

I think I may do a flashback of the night Shane found Toby next chapter, what do you think? I have one in mind, but I don't know when to put it in the story...

Remember, any ideas or suggestions for the story, I'm open to anything.

More reviews, quicker updates. I really hope I'm not boring you guys.