FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE OUTBREAK.
Kelly, Chris, Jaime, and Topher ran as fast as their feet could carry them, with Jaime lagging behind. The horde of eaters was close behind them, hindered only by their erratic limping movements. Kelly held Chris' hand tightly, trying not to look behind at the crowd of eaters waiting to feast behind her.
Suddenly, Kelly heard Jaime scream, but it was too late. She looked back to see Jaime being bitten on the arm by an eater, soon followed by several others.
"ARGH! HEEELP!" Screamed Jaime, trying to yank the eaters off of herself.
Kelly tried to run to help Jaime, but Chris held her back.
"Kelly, don't!" Yelled Chris, tightly gripping her forearm, as Topher ran to help Jaime.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! WE GOTTA HELP JAIME!" Screamed Kelly, trying to free herself from Chris' grip.
"Kelly, it's too late, we can't help her! She's already been bit!" Exclaimed Chris, while Kelly and Topher watched in horror, as Jaime was ripped apart by eaters.
"You bastard!" Screamed Kelly with bleary eyes, slapping Chris across the face. When she and Chris first got married, they were happy, and he was a completely different person. He protected her. He saved her. He comforted her. But as things got worse, he became hardened.
"We- we have to go..." Said Chris softly, tugging her away. Her, Chris, and Topher ran off into the forest. As soon as they reached the trees, Kelly vomited on the base of a bush. Chris looked at her sympathetically, and placed his hand on her shoulder, s she cried by the tree.
"Go away..." Moaned Kelly, holding her hand over her eyes.
"Kelly, I'm so-" Began Chris, pulling her towards him, as Topher sat on a rock nearby.
"GO AWAY! GO AWAY, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Screamed Kelly, taking a swing at Chris, and running away, deeper into the forest. Chris and Topher ran off after her.
"Kelly, wait!" Called out Chris, finally catching up to Kelly, and grabbing her by the arm.
"YOU KILLED HER! YOU FUCKING KILLED HER!" Screamed Kelly, hitting Chris repeatedly. Suddenly, Chris hit her back, knocking her to the ground.
"Don't you fucking get it?! We don't live in a world of second chances! Jaime was doomed the second she got bit! For God's sake Kelly, open your eyes!" Yelled Chris, his curly black hair flaying wildly over his face. "Things have changed. We do what we need to to survive, it's time you accept that. We live in a world of evolution, you change or you die!"
Kelly clutched her bruised face, glaring at him, as Topher watched in shock.
"...We- we, um, need to keep moving." Said Topher, a few moments later, looking at Chris warily.
Kelly was solemn as usual, as she and Topher searched the barn for supplies. She, him, and Chris had found the farm the night before, and slept in a shed on the outskirts of the large field of decayed crops. Lowering her machete after finding no danger in sight, she began to stuff a bundle of hay into a plastic grocery bag to use as tinder for a fire later.
"Kelly," Began Topher, lingering before continuing his sentence, "It's been four days since Jaime died, and you've barely spoken to anyone, especially Chris. The hell's going on between you two?"
"What do you think's going on between us?" Replied Kelly, "He's unstable to say the least-...he's not the man I married. We've both changed."
"Well at least stop ignoring each other," Requested Topher, "I can't stand this anymore."
After gathering anything useful they could find, Topher and Kelly went into the small farmhouse, meeting Chris inside. Chris was lying lazily on the couch with his eyes closed, not bothering to turn his head or open his eyes as they entered.
"Find anything useful?" He asked, still not moving.
Topher waited for Kelly to respond, but it became clear she didn't feel like talking, as usual.
"A little; some stuff for a fire, but other than that, nothing worth keeping." Reported Topher a moment later.
"Typical." Commented Chris, making Kelly roll her eyes at him.
Chris snuggled back into the couch, eyes still closed, and continued resting.
"Kelly." Chris whispered into Kelly's ear, "Kelly, are you awake?"
Kelly's eyes fluttered open, and she let out a groggy moan.
"Shh." Whispered Chris, before Kelly could say anything, "I need to talk to you, come into the living room with me, be quiet."
A confused Kelly got out of her sleeping bag, and followed Chris into the living room silently. Chris quietly closed the door to the bedroom which Topher was sleeping in.
"What's this about?" Asked Kelly.
"I- I, um, I've made a decision..." Whispered Chris, "About us. About Topher."
"What're you talking about?" Replied Kelly, lowering her voice.
"I think we should leave Topher behind." Said Chirs flatly, shocking Kelly.
"What?!" Whispered Kelly, louder than she intended.
"Shh!" Whispered Chris, "Kelly, think about it. We're a team, he's holding us back. I say we take our things, and leave. Right now, while he's sleeping."
"Hell no!" Whispered Kelly.
Chris seemed surprised at her answer.
"Why not?"
"Because it's fucking crazy, that's why!"
Chris paused.
"Fine. Forget I asked."
Chris walked away, and got back into her sleeping bag. Kelly did the same.
Kelly didnt sleep much that night, and awoke late. Slowly exiting her sleeping bag, she walked down the hallway, and began to hear conversation in the living room. Staying quiet, she listened in.
"You sure about this?" Asked Topher in a whisper, which she could barely hear.
"Yeah," Confirmed Chris, "You in?"
Topher paused. Kelly didnt hear anything, so she assumed he nodded.
"We need to get our stuff packed." Said Chris.
"She'll be waking up any minute now," Whispered Topher, with some commotion which she assumed was packing, "You sure this is a good idea?"
"Shut up and pack," Hissed Chris, "We don't have time for this."
"Time for what?" Confronted Kelly, stepping into view.
Chris and Topher froze. Kelly tried to think of an explanation for what she'd seen and heard, but only one existed. The packing. The whispering. They were going to leave her behind. Chris had turned on her just as quick as he did Topher, and she knew it, clenching her fists tightly.
"Oh, um, we were just-" Stammered Topher, with an awkward smile.
"Just what?" Asked Kelly, instinctively placing her hand to her belt, now realizing that her gun wasn't there. She didn't bring it with her into the room when she awoke, and now that she remembered more clearly, it had been missing when she got up.
Chris didn't even try to explain, quickly unholstering his hunting handgun, and pointing it at Kelly. Kelly was shocked, but rage was far more prominent in her mind.
"Look, Kelly, it's nothing personal...it's just, you took a long time to wake up, and me and Chris talked for a while-" Began Topher.
"The hell are you saying?" Asked Kelly, but she knew what was happening. She began to back away.
"I gave you a chance last night, and you chose sides." Said Chris bluntly, "You chose wrong. We're leaving."
Kelly didn't speak, her eyes focused on Chris' gun. He and Topher grabbed their bags, and began to move for the door, Chris keeping his gun trained on her the entire time.
"No, you can't take our stuff!" Exclaimed Kelly, "At least leave some food!"
Chris ignored her, and turned his back from her to open the door.
A furious Kelly lunged, knocking Topher to the ground with adrenaline-fueled rage, and grabbing Chris by the arm. He spun around, hitting her in the face with the gun. Kelly didn't give up, grabbing Chris' gun and hitting him in the face at the same time. His grip loosened, allowing her to take his gun. She backed away, keeping the gun pointed at him.
Topher, now back on his feet, stood next to Chris, nervously holding his bag.
"Drop the bags." Ordered a bloody-nosed Kelly, turning to Topher, who immediately threw both bags of supplies to her feet.
"Run." She ordered bluntly.
Topher immediately bolted out the door, leaving a stubborn Chris standing in the living room.
"Kelly, you don't have to do this!" Pleaded Chris, "We can-"
"Leave, Now."
Without speaking, Chris stalked out the door, and ran off.
THREE MONTHS LATER.
Kelly was sharpening her machete inside the large brown cabin next to Toby, Riley, and Zella, when Riley decided to check on Dick with his walkie talkie.
"Dick? Are you there?" Asked Riley through the walkie-talkie, "Helloooo?"
Riley motioned for Kelly and Toby to stop making noise with his hand, Toby responding by raising his middle finger.
"Uh, yeah, I'm here," Replied Dick's voice, "I met a woman in the town, asked her if she wanted to join the group."
"Wait, what?"
"A woman. Her name's Alice."
Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry it took so long for me to post this, I'm going to make up for it by posting the next chapter very soon, possibly even before the end of the day.
Chapter 9, "The Calm Before" Preview/Synopsis: As new opportunities arise for the group, Alice and the others question whether taking a massive risk to find more survivors is worth it.
