Hello there again! Nice to see you are still following the story ;o) Have fun reading!

I opened my eyes and saw a shadow in the door. I grabbed my knife and stood up but crashed my head into the bed above me and saw little flashes dancing around my head. Before I could curse the shadow entered and reached for me. I raised my knife, but it took my wrist and I saw into blue eyes. "Daryl?" My voice was a mere whisper. He wordlessly looked into my eyes while he slowly let go off my wrist and I put the knife under my pillow again. He was still kneeing in front of me not moving at all. It was quite dark inside my cell but his eyes seemed to lighten up the whole room. I felt a burning in my stomach, a craving … My hand reached for his check and this time there was no rejection mirroring his eyes. I pulled him into me and pressed my lips onto his. Where did this come from? Was I stupid to ruin this friendship? Was I just dreaming? Thoughts chased thoughts while I felt Daryl's lips open and his tongue made its way to caress mine. He was demanding but yet careful.

So I didn't misinterpret his behavior before. I put my arm around his neck while he came closer and our kisses deepened. This was what I had dreamed of the whole time, to be close to be really really close.

Even my eyes were closed I saw him in front of my inner eye. Like when I had dreamed of him. His hands moved up my leg to my hips and with a jerk pulled me closer to him. I lowly shrieked into his mouth but my scream was covered by his lips. His hands were on my back pushing me towards him and he suddenly pulled me up. I clasped my legs around his torso as he pushed me to the wall. When my back met the wall hard I stopped. Suddenly I saw Andy's face flashing my thoughts and remembered him almost rapping me. I pushed him away, but Andy's mad smile came closer and pressed me to the wall.

With a silent scream I opened my eyes. It was dark around me, no Daryl. I hated my brain for doing these tricks at night when I was at my phantasy's mercy. I turned around in my bed … a bed. It was so cozy and warm. With closed eyes I faced the wall next to me drifting into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up and felt totally relaxed. I felt really good. The sun was shining inside my cell slightly. I saw the blanket covering the bars moving, fresh air filled the room. I sat up crushing my head into the upper bed again. I touched my forehead. "Damn it." I looked to the clothes Carol had given me yesterday and took black jeans shorts and a greyish shirt with long sleeves. After changing my belly growled so loud that everybody must be awake now. I stepped out of my cell, trying not to look around to see the bars around me. With my eyes to the ground I walked downstairs to the common room. I passed Daryl's mattress, but he wasn't there. The closer I got to the common room the louder the voices grew.

"Morning sleepy head!" Glenn welcomed me and I smiled. "Morning!"

Everyone had a bowl in his hands eating some kind of cereal. Beth gave me a bowl too and I looked around. The chairs around the table were all taken so I approached Daryl who was sitting on the stairs and sat down next to him wordlessly. "Mornin'!" He breathed into my neck. I shivered while examining my bowl. "Morning." I didn't turn to look at him, I started to eat my whatever-it-might-be-meal in my hands. Feeling Daryl's eyes in my back I remembered the dream I had, about him kissing me. I shivered, feeling a demanding craving inside me.

Suddenly Rick appeared in front of me. When I looked up he just looked at Daryl. I heard him talking about ammo to Daryl but I didn't listen to their short conversation but scanned the faces of the others. They seemed to be sad and desperate. I had heard Hershel talking to Glenn about Rick who was the first in command. But since his wife had died he had grown silent and kind of introverted. No one knew what he was doing inside the prison. I thought he was killing every zombie he met, because I had heard him saying he was "clearing out". My attention went back to Rick as he moved away from us to the door that led deeper into the prison. He was walking fast. Hershel called after him, called him by his name to get his attention, but Rick shut the door and left, his eyes not even looking Hershel's direction.

I watched Carl, whose eyes were on the table, staring at the meal in front of him but not touching the food at all. My heart ached seeing the kid's empty eyes which once were full of hope and life. No one dared to say a word about Rick's behavior. Glenn and Maggie exchanged knowing looks. My eyes went back to Carl, whose features had hardened before he stood up. I wanted to stay up too, but Daryl held me back and shook his head. Carl looked to the door his father went out, but stopped and walked the other way, out of the prison. I looked to my side where Daryl was eating. The silence was awkward so I stood up. First I just wanted to leave the silence and talk to Carl, but maybe Daryl was right and the kid needed some time alone.

"This is not right." They all looked at me. I wanted to go on about us doing our duties, but my voice failed. "He needs help …" I demanded.

Hershel stood up. "I'll go look for him." Maggie shook her head, but Hershel went on. "I'll talk to him." He took his crutches and went for the door. Maggie wanted to protest but Glenn took her hand. "He is the only one Rick might listen to." She still wanted to protest. "We need to go on a run to look for formula. The baby needs something to eat …" Now he got her. It was cute to see the pair, how well they knew each other.

I heard the door shut and Hershel was gone. I looked back to the group. Beth stood up and went to Daryl, giving him the baby. I was stunned he accepted it without nagging. So much had changed. Beth began to clean up the bowls, while Maggie helped her. Glenn went to Daryl and Oscar. No one paid attention to me, so I went after Hershel. He needed protection inside the prison. Could I do that? Could I just go into the darkness of the prison? I swallowed my fear and stepped into the darkness. Curiousness seem much bigger than my fears. My eyes saw nothing but my ears heard everything. I followed the sound of Hershel's crutches. He seemed to know where he was going. I concentrated on this sound and ignored the darkness completely. Hershel needed protection that was more important than my fears. My feelings needed to be pushed aside for the group's well-being. I perked up my ears, but didn't hear the sound of slurping or gnarling, just Hershel. He walked downstairs and I stopped on top of them.

"May I?" I heard him say, but there was no answer. I just heard footsteps. Rick must be down there. I heard Hershel talking about still feeling his chopped off foot. Suddenly Rick whispered. "I'm sorry."

Hershel took this sentence to talk about Lori and Carl what seemed to get Rick's attention. Rick's voice grew louder. "It's not safe." I stood on top of the stairs listening to their conversation. Hershel's voice was steady as he tried to talk sense into Rick. But Rick interrupted him. "I got a call!" A call? What did that mean, there was no telephone here. I never heard a ringing nor someone talking about a telephone. Maggie had told me she tried every phone when she had been on runs, but none of them had been working. Why should Rick held back he had a telephone working down here? Hershel seemed surprised too. "What?"

Rick went on, he had talked to a person, a group. "She said they be calling back." I was still confused why he hadn't told us about that phone. "I am trying to talk them into taking us in."

"Did she said where they were?" Did Hershel really believe him?

"No. If it is safe, we get there." Seemed that after all, Rick was still our leader, trying everything to get the group safe. I closed my eyes for a moment, replaying the first time I had met Rick. He was a friendly guy who loved his family. I would never forget his smile when he had been seeing his family at camp after months of coma. There had been something about this man that had told me he would never give up.

"Don't tell the rest of the group. Not yet!" Why didn't Rick want us to know? I wanted to stomp in and scream at that bastard for keeping us in the dark about it, but Hershel was down there and I had faith in him talking sense into Rick. But suddenly I heard the famous clicking of Hershel's crutches. I stepped back into a dark corner and saw Hershel passing me by, going back to the common room. I stepped out of my hideout and looked down the stairs. Should I try to talk to Rick? No, I should wait, wait what Hershel thought about it.

I looked into the darkness Hershel had disappeared into, my heart began to pump harder and blood was rushing through my ears. I was alone … and it was very dark … Down the stairs it looked much brighter. Maybe I should go and talk to Rick … Why do you let your fears take over leadership? Go back, you can do that. The voice of my brother had grown very silent in the last days, as if he slowly faded away. But when I felt hopeless or when I was afraid he would always talk me into being strong. He always made me feel better and most of all he let me know I wasn't alone. You don't need to be afraid. You have your knife and you have me. "As if a ghost can protect me." I said in a low voice. Slowly I started walking with a smile. See, no problem in walking in the darkness. It is safe here! Even one-foot Hershel did it.

I went on, but didn't went left to go to the common room. What are you doing bad ass? You need to go left here! I shook my head. I wanted to push the limits of my fear. I pulled my knife out of my boot, just in case … You don't need to do this. What if you … I silenced him. "I can do that." But my heartbeat fastened.

Suddenly there was a light, a flashlight. The hallway was a little brighter. I saw a smaller figure with a hat. That must be Carl. I went straight at him. "Hey!" Carl raised his gun and shot. The bullet went into the wall right next to my head. The loud pang of the shot echoed in the hallway and in my head.

Carl was immediately by my side. "Oh Fuck. Are you okay Ella?" I was stiff but when he touched me I looked down on him, into his scared face.

"Yeah … but next time you should aim a little better." I smiled, he didn't need another burden. I looked to the small whole in the wall. "Not bad, a little more to the right and you would have shot the head." He wasn't smiling at all. He put his gun in the holster and looked down. I went on my knees. "Hey Carl. That was a good shot, you are strong." He looked into my eyes.

"I could have killed you." His voice was full of tears which never left his eyes.

"But you didn't." I grabbed his shoulder with my good hand and squeezed him tight. "Nothing happened." Suddenly he hugged me wordlessly.

"But we should get you a teacher in aiming lessons." I laughed and I felt him smiling into my shoulder. I wanted to stay up, but I gave him some time to rest. The little kid needed a person to lean on, to rely on. I always had a bigger brother who had looked after me, had protected me … but Carl was the big brother now looking for his little sister. It seemed as if he was left behind by his father. I had no intention on replacing Rick or Lori, but I wanted the kid to have a person who would bolster him up when needed. I rested my head on his, thinking about my childhood. After a few minutes his hug loosened and I stood up. "Come on, let's go back." He nodded and we made our way back to the others.

Carl took my hand. "Sorry Ella. I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me Carl." I was relieved. I would be scared if I had to walk these hallways alone any further. "I am happy you are here!" And I really was more than thankful he was with me.

Before we were about to enter the common room Daryl blocked our way, starring at us with mad eyes. "Ya kids playing hide and seek?" He was angry.

"No!" Carl looked up his voice was steady. I smiled to myself that Carl stood his ground. "We're no kids!"

Daryl stepped to the side and Carl walked into the common room. When I wanted to pass him he sighed and I felt his breath on my cheek. "Don't walk around alone." He was right and I didn't want to argue. Nodding my head I walked on.

Beth and Hershel were sitting on the table. Hershel held the baby in his arms. Carl approached them and sat down too, his attention on his sister. I smiled to the happy scene. Our group was a little family watching each other's back. It felt good.

I let out a sigh and walked out of the prison. I wanted to look for Glenn and Maggie to go on a run again. They said something about to look for baby formula and I wanted to help. On our last run we hadn't found formula or baby's cloth. I saw the red Chevrolet was missing, they must have left. I sat down in the grass letting the warm sun caress my skin. I closed my eyes. This was new reality. Going on runs, being careful inside the hallways … I wasn't scared no more, in fact: I loved it, because I was with my family.

When I opened my eyes again I saw a stranger at the gates. Was there really a women standing at the fences? I stood up. There were walkers at the fences too but the woman was no walker, was she? She seemed to stare at me, so I started to walk towards her. She held a red basket in her hand. Walkers wouldn't do that, she must be human. I heard the door behind me, turned and saw Rick and the others walking out. They looked so happy, a happy little family. Had I missed a happy reunion?

I walked on and was halfway down to the fence when I heard Rick behind me. "Ella!" I turned around and he mentioned me to stop, but I went on anyway. I was somehow fascinated by the woman at the fence. I heard Rick running, catching up with me. He looked at me and his eyes seemed to ask me why I didn't obey his order. The weird glance had left his eyes and his walk was confident. He had his revolver in his hand, observing the alien woman. We walked together towards the inner fence.

She starred at us while we looked back wordlessly. The walkers around her did not seem to notice her at all. "Rick …" I said and pointed at the formula she was caring with her in the red basket. He saw it too. "We should talk to her." I recommended, but he was the leader, he decided what to do. Suddenly the walkers seemed to recognize a human being was standing in between them. The woman slowly walked back when she realized the walkers noticed her. That's when I saw her having a huge sword with her.

"Should we help her?" Carl was standing next to us but neither Rick nor I were answering. My eyes were still fixed on the women, she seemed to be injured. She was limping. But still she swung her sword against the walkers. "She needs help!" I pleaded in Rick's direction and he walked to the gate. The woman killed another one but seemed to grow weak. She met the next walker in the stomach and kicked him to the ground screaming in pain. She fell back, while more zombies approached her. Rick still wasn't doing anything. Did humanity leave the country?

I took Carl's gun and shot two walkers which were close to the woman. She wasn't moving anymore and her eyes were closed. Carl went for his father who opened the gate and shot the other walkers. The loud pangs of Rick's gun hurt in my body as if he shot me. I watched Carl running for the red basket and Rick inspecting the woman. Hershel was next to me. "She bid?" Rick shook his head. I went out too to get her sword which I hadn't expect it to be so light. More walkers appeared and they hurried to get in, but I just stood there. I watched the walkers approaching me and I looked at the sword in my hand. I felt so strong with that weapon, as if I could rival them all.

"Ella!" Hershel screamed at me, pulling me out of daydreaming. "Come on in here now!" He ordered loudly. I ran to him and he closed the gate, shutting the walkers out. We hurried to the prison together. I was surprised Daryl wasn't out, we fired a few gun shots. Hadn't he heard? I didn't see Carol either … the two of them weren't here.

Inside the common room, Rick laid the woman down on the ground. He was talking to her while we stood around them. I didn't listen to Rick, I scanned the room for Daryl. He didn't seem to be around. "Rick, who the hell is this?" Daryl came out of the hallway where the sleeping cells were. He didn't seem to be alarmed or anything alike. Rick looked at the woman trying to get her to talk, but she wasn't answering at first. Before we all walked away she sat up.

"I didn't ask for your help!" No one answered. I sat down on the table while they all left into the hallway. Rick took her sword with him. I watched how her eyes followed Rick's movements, the sword must be very important to her. All her muscles were tensed, as if she was ready to attack anyone who would come closer. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Daryl looking at me. "Ella!" I rolled my eyes. His commanding voice let me know I should move my ass to the hallways where they all had gone.

The woman watched me and I saw the wound on her leg and wanted to help her. I stood up but saw a movement left of me. I looked at Daryl whose eyes told me no. He wanted me out of the common room to join the group, so I slowly walked passed him and he closed the door. I went half way up the stairs, sitting down and starring at the door while they discussed her fate. This was unreal. I thought we were still human, why didn't we treat her like a human being? She had the formula …. Obviously something happened here … why didn't they talk to her?

Rick held his baby while they were talking. The woman appeared at the door watching us with melancholy in her eyes. When our eyes met, her gaze hardened and she walked away. This somehow reminded me of how I met this group.

I couldn't believe it. The dead are walking? I hadn't seen something like that except in the Playstation game Resident Evil. How could that be possible? The news said to stay put, to keep calm, but how to keep calm when an army of undead were roaming the streets? I took my backpack were I stuffed some clothes and two bottles of water. I left the bedroom of my two-room-apartment and entered the living room. I took the photo of my brother and myself from the sideboard and pushed it into the back pocket of my jeans. That's where you keep me safe? I rolled my eyes and looked at the front door. Come on! You don't want to sit here and wait for them to get you in this small flat. He was right. I went for the door, but before I opened it my brother stopped me. Don't you wanna get a weapon to defend yourself?! Did I raise an idiot? Again he was right, I grinned. I went for the kitchen and took all the knives I had, which were exactly three. If there really were zombies walking around I didn't want to be defenseless. I returned to the front door. "Here we go!"

I stepped in the hallway and my neighbor Mr. Schmidt crushed into me. He was in his mid-forties, living next door with his wife and two sons. "Ella darling, hadn't you heard? Stay in your apartment!" He pushed me back into my apartment and ran for his apartment. The look in his eyes scared me. He was an adult, always nice but serious and now I saw angst in his eyes. He didn't even wait for me to shut and look my apartment.

I went left to the staircase and looked out of a window. It was a sunny day. One of those days you walk to the park and enjoy a book in the sun. I shook my head, no time for day dreaming. I watched the cars driving furiously down the roads. I saw some accidents, but no one seemed to care nor called the police. Searching the streets for walking dead bodies, like they had said in the news, I saw some weird looking people walking slowly down the road towards my building. I swallowed. They looked like their flesh were melting from their bones. Their hair like wigs. So it was true. Suddenly a scream. Where did it come from? In the distance I could see a woman screaming and fighting against three weirdoes. They were grabbing after her and one of them was crushing its teeth into her skin like a vampire. My eyes went wide when I watched them eating her alive. Slowly I walked back and grabbed for the handrail of the staircase to not fall down. Run bad ass, run for the car.

I ran down stairs. I heard fast steps behind me and a family with two little kids joined my run down. A man with his wife who carried a baby in her arms and a little girl. Suddenly the girl stumbled over her huge teddy bear she was carrying, quickly I grabbed for her hand before she could fall down the stairs. Her father, heavy loaded with several bags, nodded me a thanks. "Thank you!" I remembered this family, living on 7th floor. I took the girl into my arms and when we were at the garage, I let her down.

"You need a ride?" The mother asked me.

"No thanks. I have my own car!" I waved them goodbye and watched them all jumping into the car while walking backwards. Suddenly I realized the noise down here and turned. It was a real chaos. Seemed like all neighbors were planning to make a journey today. They were all getting in their cars, honking and screaming.

The garage door opened and I didn't believe my eyes when I saw a few not-so-much-alive-people running into the garage with a loud scream, biting everyone they came across. I ran for my red jeep. It was not far away. Run Ella, or they'll eat you alive. That made me run even faster. I jumped over the hood of a blue Volvo. The driver was staring at me and screaming some abuses but I ignored it all. I had to reach my car before the zombies would reach me first. I didn't dare to look back.

My red jeep was within eyeshot when a nasty clacking of teeth was heard. Trying to ignore the confusion around me I took my keys to open the car. Suddenly a body crushed into my car right next to me. I screamed and jumped back. It was one of these dead things and somehow it was not … It was a friend of mine. "Judy?" Dead eyes starred at me. Her face was abnormal pale and her once rosy lips were light blue. She shrieked a horrible scream and lunged at me. I pushed her away and a man in a mailman uniform cut her head off with an axe. "You okay lady?" I shook my head but he was already off helping another one.

I stared at the body of my friend Judy who lived two blocks down the road. We had been talking a few days ago, talking about the rumor of dead people walking. Now she was lying to my feet, dead, or was she? Her body wasn't moving but her eyes were focused on me while her mouth opened and shut again slightly. If you don't get your eyes away from her, you'll end up just like her. I turned to my car and opened the door which I immediately closed and locked. I threw my back on the passenger's seat and breathed in deep. What the hell is happening here? Hell it is.

A zombie crushed into my window. I screamed as the window cracked. "No!" It tried to get through the car. I started the engine to escape this devilish monster. Step on it! And I did, but I accidently went into reverse. The zombie fell to the ground, I drove on and rolled over it. I took a short look in the driving mirror and couldn't believe it was still moving. When I looked out of the windshield I saw the apocalypse: As if the walking dead weren't enough, they were eating human beings alive. A shadow jumped over my car, it was the mailman who had saved me before. He jumped on another car and sliced a zombie with his axe. If you stare any longer you will turn into one of these things. Drive on, what the hell are you waiting for? I accelerated and drove around cars and people and things that had been people before.

Others wanted to drive out of hell too. I crushed into a black BMW, it was just a small blow, nothing serious. An Italian guy gave me a mad look and drove on, I followed him out on the streets. It was like rush hour but worse. Where to go now? I was not sure, but Atlanta was close and Alice lived there. Cousin Alice? Maybe she is already gone too … Maybe, but it was worth a try.

Before I could drive to the highway the streets were already full of cars and accidents. "Fuck!" You remember last summer you went hiking? "I wasn't hiking … I was camping with Jezz." I rolled my eyes. He never liked Jezz who had been a cute guy and a great kisser. He was trouble. I shouldn't have thought about Jezz' kisses. My brother seemed pissed. Head for the road you had driven that day you went … camping. The road that leads into the forest. He was right. I remembered the trip and went left. A lot of cars came up to me, I shunned the cars and turned left again. Most of the cars were heading for the highway, seemed I was the only one driving into woods. I slowed down. What are you doing? You are almost there! "Why is no one heading for the woods? Maybe the zombies are coming out of the woods …" I don't think so. These things had been human beings, why should they come out of the woods. People live in cities. He was right, right?

I sped up and reached the first row of trees in no time. I drove further into the woods, no car, no human being, nothing welcomed me. No people means no death. I nodded and drove on. If I drove fast, I would reach Atlanta soon.

After 4 hours of driving gas was low. I needed a gas station. Driving on a countryside highway I had only driven once in my lifetime, I didn't know how far the car could get. As if my car wanted to anger me, the car slowed down even I was literally staying on the accelerator. Sorry bad ass, seems like you have to walk. Why was he talking all snippy? I drove the car to the side and took my belongings but didn't dare to leave the car. I felt safe in the car. But when you stay here you won't get do Atlanta. "Stop being an asshole." I took the cock's knives in both of my hands and left the car. I shut the door and looked it. "Bye bye honey. I'll miss you!" I loved my red jeep.

I walked on the street which lead to Atlanta. After quite a walk, cars appeared on the road. They were parked in the middle of the street and kids were playing around the cars. I approached them and one of the kids screamed at me. "Walker!" I froze in my motion as two guys pointed their gun straight at me.

"That's no walker!" A woman with long brown hair said walking to the kid who had screamed before, a young boy. "Come here Carl!" She took his hand and dragged him along. The one guy who held a machine gun looked like a cop. The other one looked like a giant idiot.

"What do you want?" The tall man asked in a scary voice. His whole appearance was somehow scary.

"Ed, she is just a girl." A small woman with grey hair appeared behind him. But the tall man called Ed pushed her back.

The police man lowered his gun. "Where're you from?" He still held his gun as if I was a danger to them. I didn't answer his question instead I looked at Ed who didn't lower his gun. I made a step forward. These people didn't seem nice, so I just wanted to go on. The police guy rose his gun again. "Where're you going?"

"Atlanta." I said. Someone next to me laughed. I looked in a pickup where two men were sitting in.

"Darling, you won't find much left there. City is overrun." One was looking at me the other was examining me before looking in the other direction. "But you can stay with us and I'll show you other pretty states. Like Mil-fuck-me!" He laughed.

"What? What do you mean 'overrun'?" I looked to the others. But before someone could say a thing Mister-I-know-pretty-state-names came out of his car followed by the younger one who held a crossbow in his hand. What the hell were these guys?

"That means apocalypse now!" He laughed again.

The younger one looked me up and down. "Ya on the road all alone?" I nodded.

The taller one came straight at me. "Shit hit the fan, that's what happened." "The dead are walking, darling."

The police man walked up on us. "Hey there girl. You really wanna go into the city?"

I nodded. "My cousin lives there!" The woman with brown hair from before stood close to him. Her eyes told me sorry. "I don't think you should go there. We had been there … it was …" She stopped, looking to the kid at her side. The boy who had seen me first approached me and stopped in front of me, holding out his hand. "I'm Carl!"

I smiled at him. "I'm Ella. " I shook his hand.

"And I'm horny!" I looked at the guy again whose blue eyes were all over me.

"Shut up Merle!" The younger one said.

"And that's my little baby brother Daryl." Merle introduced Daryl who didn't seem to care at all. His eyes were everywhere, scanning the area.

"I'm Lori." Again she put her hands around the little kid called Carl. "You really should stay here. It'll soon be dark, you should rest." What? I was confused, I needed to go to Atlanta. "Are you really alone on the road?"

"Yeah. I …" My brain was still processing what just had been said. The world around me began to spin. Carl took my hand. "Stay with us Ella." His smiling eyes and warm touch brought me back to present.

Suddenly an ear-piercing sound came from the sky. Everybody looked up. Through the trees to my left I could see some buildings, was that Atlanta? I walked right through some rows of trees to get a better view and suddenly helicopters flew by, straight to the city. Lori and the police man were next to me when the helicopters bombed the city. I fell to my knees. "No …" I whispered.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. How you like the flashbacks? As always R&R ^^
Have a nice weekend!