I do not own the Walking Dead
Radiance
Chapter 5: Looking Over My Back
First POV (Skyler)
January 14, 2026
All alone. I'm cold and scared. Like tiny pieces of paper, snow fell onto the ruins of Detroit, covering the city in a huge, white blanket. I shivered as I walked through the forest. For twelve years, I survived on my own with just a knife. I scavenged for food every day. I spent most of my time searching for shelter. Every once in a while, I would stumble across a group. They would give some food, but they wouldn't let me stay. People have changed. The bad turn good while the good turn bad. It's a strange world we live in.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps, but no snarling noises. I slowly moved and took cover around a corner. The footsteps got louder. I noticed a shadow get closer and closer to me. I shook with fear. Next thing I knew, a man aimed his gun at me.
He looked about a year older than me and was slightly taller. He was wearing a navy blue shirt under a dark grey collared jacket which had a sleeve missing on his left arm. He wore dark brown jeans with grey wrapping on both of his legs, grey thin knee guards, and brown track boots. He had a black belt with a silver buckle, a silver bracer on his left forearm, black fingerless gloves, and a black winter hat. He had a bow strapped to his back as well. He had lightly tan skin, a small brown goatee on his chin, hazel green eyes, and a dark red scar over his right eye. His gun looked like it was put together piece by piece. I noticed a suppressor attached to the muzzle.
"Whoa! Please don't shoot me!" I yelled as I put my hands up in surrender.
"Who are you?" The stranger asked. His voice sounded so familiar.
"My name is Skyler. I'm just trying to find some shelter. Do you have a place where I could stay?" I curiously asked.
"There's an old abandoned train station not too far from here. That's my group is. You can stay at our place for one night and then you're gone." He lowered his gun and put it away.
"Thank you." I put my hands down and breathed a sigh of relief. Without warning, the stranger grabbed me by the collar and pulled me close. Our faces were just inches away from each other.
"If you try anything, I will kill you. Understand?" I nodded my head. "Good. Let's get moving." He let go and started walking away. I ran to catch up with him. I decided to try and make conversation.
"So, what's your name?"
"Tyler."
"You're Tyler Main?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"I knew you I recognized you from somewhere. I heard you on the radio. You're like the Voice of Survival." I explained.
"I guess you could say that." He replied.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Tyler." He stopped when I stuck my hand out for a handshake. I smiled nervously. He looked at me before shaking my hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Skyler." We continued walking.
It was so quiet. I remember when the whole world used to be loud and all that I wanted was some peace and quiet. Now, it's silent. As we made our way through the ruins of an old building, I saw a zombie walking behind Tyler. It moved towards him and Tyler didn't notice. I pulled out my knife and aimed.
"Look out!" I yelled as I threw the knife. It impaled the cannibal's head and killed it. Tyler turned around and looked down at the dead body as I walked over to him. He reached down and pulled the knife out before looking at me.
"Thanks." He said as he handed me the knife.
"No problem." I replied, noticing Tyler's confused look. "Lead the way." We continued making our way through the ruins.
"I'm guessing I owe you one." I looked at him.
"No, I owe you one. You didn't kill me and you're letting me stay for the night." We both smiled at each other. Suddenly, Tyler stopped moving.
"What's wrong?" I curiously asked.
"Shhh. Do you here that?" I listened closely and within a matter of seconds, I heard multiple footsteps. But they didn't sound normal. It sounded like bones clattering together. "Stay close to me." Tyler pulled out his gun. I followed him as he rounded a corner. There were about a dozen skeletons. They all looked at us as I spoke.
"Oh, shit."
"Run!" Tyler fired as they all charged towards us. I ran as fast as I could, but it was hard to maneuver through the rubble. I looked back to see Tyler catch up. "Don't stop!" He continued firing, taking down four of them. I stopped when a thin wooden beam fell down. Tyler's leg was pinned as the skeletons got closer. I noticed that he dropped his gun. I picked it up and fired at the remaining skeletons. After I killed them, I helped Tyler lift the pipe off of him.
"Now, we're even." We both chuckled. Tyler stood up and looked at me.
"Thanks." I handed him his weapon before he walked over to the dead skeletons. "You missed one." He stepped on a skeleton's neck and put a bullet in his head.
"What can I say? I'm not perfect." He walked up to me, breathing slowly.
"No one's perfect." He walked past me while I stood there. He did have a point. "Come on. Let's go." I ran to catch up with him.
Later
Tyler opened the door to the train station and we entered. There were four other people. Two guys and two girls. They all walked over to Tyler, who took off his hat to reveal short dark brown hair.
"Who's she?" One of the girls asked, gesturing to me, obviously.
"She's going to stay with us now. She's the newest addition to our team." I was surprised.
"Hi, my name is Skyler." One of the girls pulled Tyler to the side. She looked pissed. I listened closely to what they were saying.
"What were you thinking, Ty? We can't just take in anyone we come across." She explained, crossing her arms while Tyler shook his head.
"Lauren, calm down."
"She could steal our resources or kill us or both!"
"Just listen for a moment." Lauren stopped to listen. "She saved me twice. Once with a knife. When my leg was pinned under a pipe, she used my gun to protect me. If she wanted to kill me, she would have done it already. She can stay."
"Fine."