And here come the walkers. I do not own Rick or any of the Walking Dead characters. Just my OCs. Unfortunately, none of the Walking Dead characters will come in until the group heads down north, so it may be a while before Rick's group makes an appearance. I apologize for that. Warning: contains some graphic gore.
"Nathan?" Jane asked as she picked up the ringing cell phone on the end table. "Nathan! I-I saw it!-On the news-"
"Jane, listen to me: Lock all the doors and windows and start packing. Get only essentials: money, drivers license, passport, food, water and the spare gun. Get the gun, Jane. If any come into the house you shoot them, you hear me? You shoot them in the head. Stay inside until I come home."
"Bu-" Jane was cut off as the line beeped dead, sighing as she swiftly set the cell down and started running around the house, making sure everything was locked as she looked out the windows. Nothing was outside yet.
"Mommy? What's wrong, Mommy?" Sarah asked, wondering why her mother was acting so strange.
"Nothing, honey. Go upstairs, Sarah. Mommy will come to get you when we are ready to leave." Jane spoke sternly, tearing through her living room closet to pull out a suitcase.
"Where are we-"
"Go!" Jane hissed, Sarah running up the stairs, fearful of her mother's wrath.
Jane rushed into the kitchen and packed canned food and water, tossing some of Sarah's favorite snacks in as she rushed up the stairs into the master bedroom. Jane fell to her knees as she skidded on the floor, violently ripping the drawers open, digging through various papers as she pulled out all three of their passports.
"Mommy, wh-"
"Stay in your room!" Jane shouted, wild in her frenzy as Sarah's eyes began to water. She didn't understand why Mommy was so mean.
"Fuck!" Jane cursed as she pulled out drawer after drawer, grabbing a handful of various clothing and money that was stashed in the very bottom.
Dashing to and fro like the very mad woman she was, Jane grabbed the spare gun under the mattress, almost tripping down the stairs in her haste.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Jane cursed under her breath, stuffing the suitcase as she bolted up the stairs once more and nearly broke down the door to Sarah's room, causing the girl to cry.
"Mommy, you're scaring me!" Sarah cried loudly, Jane shhing her softly.
"It's okay, Sarah. Mommy doesn't mean it, but you have to do exactly as Mommy says, alright?" Jane asked, voice calm as Sarah nodded, her small body trembling.
Jane rushed around the room, pulling the drawers out as she gathered some articles of clothing. Running back down, Jane forced the suitcase to close, pausing as she felt a tug on her shirt.
"Mommy, you forgot Mr. Butterfly." Sarah spoke, holding a large stuffed butterfly with a heart on it's chest. It was something Rolins had given to her on Valentine's Day, and since then the little girl refused to part with it.
"Yes, yes I did." Jane spoke hesitantly, voice quavering.
"Mommy, is something wrong?"
"Nothing, honey. Just-" Jane snapped her head in the direction of movement outside, her eyes widening in terror upon seeing a figure slowly approach their front yard. Looking closer, Jane gasped as she noticed the person was indeed one of their neighbors. Poor Mrs. Lyne...she was such a sweet, plump woman. Looking at her now, however, the old woman was not so pleasant looking.
Jane quickly pulled away from the window, muffling her gasp with her hand. She couldn't believe it. How could something so horrible happen to such a sweet woman? Mrs. Lyne appeared as if half her face was ripped off, her large stomach torn open as intestines trailed behind her, her aged limp slowing her down.
"Gun...gun, I need the gun..." Jane whispered, frantic as she grabbed the weapon, hands shaking.
"Sarah, go upstairs, honey. Don't come out until Mommy says so, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy." Sarah replied, voice shaking as Jane stooped down to her level.
"Mommy is so proud of you for being brave, honey." Jane whispered swiftly, kissing her daughter on the brow. "Mommy loves you, sweetie."
"I love you, Mommy." Sarah, clutching the butterfly in her small arms as she began to sob.
"Shhh, Sarah, don't cry. Big girls don't cry. Now go. Go upstairs and close the door." Jane ordered softly, yet firmly as Sarah stumbled up the stairs, hiding.
Jane looked out the window, seeing Mrs. Lyne now in their yard, another stumbling figure in the distance, and to Jane's horror, was Mr. Lyne.
"Damnit, Nathan, where are you?!" Jane whispered in desperation, taking the safety off the small 3 mm pistol.
Jane looked out the window once again, seeing no one else but her unfortunate neighbors in the street stumbling toward her. It was a good thing they were so old that it affected their movements, even when they were members of the undead.
Looking down the road, Jane felt excitement fill her as she saw a cruiser fly down the road. No doubt it was Rolins. And he wasn't letting off the gas.
Jane flinched and closed her eyes as she watched the cruiser smash into Mr. Lyne, causing the zombie to go flying at least ten feet from the force. Jane watched as the cruiser continued to fly down the road, running over Mr. Lyne as Rolins drove down the road before sharply turning around, the tires screeching.
The cruiser came to a halt near the edge of the driveway, Mrs. Lyne turning toward the source of the noise as Rolins got out of the car, gun raised at the woman's head.
Twirling the gun in his hand, Rolins smacked Mrs. Lyne in the head with the butt of his pistol. The woman stumbled and fell, Rolins continuing to beat the woman until her fragile skull cracked open.
"Nathan!" Jane cried, opening the door as Rolins looked at her, panting slightly as he flicked the blood and matted hair from his weapon.
"Where is Sarah?"
"Upstairs. I'll go get her." Jane answered, swiftly returning with Sarah and the suitcase, the mother trying her best to cover the girl's eyes.
"Don't look, Sarah. Don't look."
"Get in the car." Rolins ordered, taking the brief case from his wife as Jane put Sarah in the back, the child clutching her stuffed toy.
"Why can't I look, Mommy?" Sarah asked, Jane blocking her view of the bodies.
"Because you shouldn't." Jane answered, feeling the trunk slam shut as she secured Sarah in the seat.
Glancing around swiftly, Jane closed the door and moved into the passenger's seat, the small firearm shaking in her hands.
"Are you ready?" Rolins asked, sliding into the driver's seat as his bloodied gloves gripped the wheel, smearing the fluid across the leather.
Without waiting for a reply, Rolins slammed on the gas, the cruiser backing up only to jolted to a halt from Jane protesting.
"What?" Rolins asked, snapping slightly, which caused Jane to flinch.
"I forgot something." Jane replied, getting out of the car.
"Jane-I said only essentials!"
"This is essential!" Jane replied, rushing into the house as Rolins sighed.
"Damn it, Jane..." Rolins muttered, looking around to see several infected walking towards them in the distance.
Drumming his thumbs in annoyance, Rolins sighed as Jane ran back out of the house with several photos and albums in her arms.
"I'm back. Happy now?" Jane asked, getting into the car as Rolins simply nodded.
"What did you take, Mommy?" Sarah asked, Rolins now driving the cruiser almost calmly down the road, as if nothing was happening. Looking around, both parents were startled as the swift outbreak of violence filling their small town, several infected dotting the neighborhood.
"I...I took pictures from when you were a baby." Jane forced out, the woman in shock upon seeing windows smeared with blood, body parts and intestines littering the street and yards.
She could see a screaming, trapped woman in her car as she struggled to fight off two zombies. It didn't take long before a rush of blood violently splattered against the car's window. The only thing that was louder than the woman's screams was the sound of panic in the officer's voices over the radio, static heavily cutting into their requests for aid.
Jane gasped as the car suddenly lurched forward, the woman instinctively putting an arm over Sarah to keep the girl from flying forward.
"Nathan! What the hell?!" Jane hissed, the car now completely stopped in the middle of the road amidst the chaos.
"Take the wheel." Rolins ordered, Jane's eyes going wide as the man got out of the car.
"Nathan, what...what the hell is wrong with you?!" Jane asked, her voice quavering as Sarah began to tremble.
"Mommy, where is Daddy going?" Sarah asked, concerned.
"Nowhere, honey." Jane answered swiftly, getting out of the car as she swiftly walked towards her husband, ready to punch his face in.
"Give me one good reason why-"
"Get out of here." Rolins cut her off, Jane looked shocked as she briefly looked around. Nothing yet.
"Excuse me?"
"Take Sarah and go to the Department. It's dangerous here, Jane." Rolins spoke softly, Jane's face flushing in rage as her face twisted into a snarl.
"Yet you want us to leave without you!" Jane growled, her fists beginning to shake in anger as Rolins sighed.
"We don't have time for this. The sooner you get to the Department the safer I know you will be."
"But what of Sarah, Nathan? You have a little girl! A little girl that needs you!" Jane cried, her voice causing the man to flinch.
"Jane, I know, but others may need me-it's my job-"
"You're job?! Fuck your job, Nathan! It never does you any fucking good! I-"
"Shhhh! I know, Jane, honest to God, I know, but I need to keep you and Sarah safe. I can't do it on my own, Jane. I just can't. Now go. Get out of here. I'll meet you at the Department no matter what."
"But-" Jane was cut off as the man kissed her almost roughly, Jane not even able to kiss back before Rolins pulled away.
"I love you, Jane. Now go. Get in the car."
"Nathan..." Jane stuttered, dumbfounded as she found herself getting into the drivers side and closing the door.
Sighing, Rolins tapped the back window, Sarah looking up at him as he smiled.
"Where are you going, Daddy?" Sarah asked, her eyes brimming softly with tears as Jane sighed.
"Nowhere, Sarah. Daddy's just doing his job. You listen to Mommy now, okay?" Rolins asked, Sarah sullenly nodding her head. She didn't understand what was going on, but knew her parent's words were law.
"Daddy, wait! Mr. Butterfly, protect Daddy!" Sarah cried, Rolins suddenly twitching.
"Sarah, that's yours. You need it more than Daddy." Jane spoke softly, Sarah shaking her head.
"No. Take Mr. Butterfly, Daddy!" Sarah wailed, Rolins hesitating on opening the door.
"But, butterfly..."
"Protect Daddy! You won't get hurt with Mr. Butterfly protecting you, Daddy!" Sarah yelled as Rolins regretfully opened the back door and took the stuffed toy from his daughter, taking the opportunity to swiftly kiss her brow.
"I love you, butterfly. Listen to Mommy, okay?" Rolins asked, Sarah nodding her head.
"I love you, Daddy. Remember, Mr. Butterfly, keep Daddy safe!" Sarah reminded the toy, Rolins breathing in a soundless laugh as he and his wife both glanced at one another briefly.
Hearing pounding on the hood of the cruiser, Jane took it as a sign that it was time to leave, and slowly accelerated the cop car down the ruined street.
Rolins watched them slowly disappear from view before looking at the stuffed butterfly in his bloodied hand, and toy staring at him.
Rolins' head jerked in the direction of a cry, the man being pulled from his thoughts as his instincts screamed something was wrong. Determined, the man went to investigate and offer any aid that he could.
Moving towards the source of the noise, Rolins cautiously slid his pistol out of it's holster, pausing to set the toy safely on the ground.
Walking towards the back of a house, Rolins readied his gun and pressed himself against the wall, hearing what he thought was sobbing.
Peaking his head out of cover, Rolins felt his heart clench in pain as he saw the yard covered in blood limbs. There were party hats, balloons, presents and a cake on a bloodied picnic table, the cake marked with a small, blood dyed print.
"Shit." Rolins cursed, on alert as he scanned the yard and nearby windows for any movement around or inside the house. As far as he knew there was nothing in the yard or house. He did, however, notice a child in a treehouse in the yard, crying.
Swiftly debating on what to do, Rolins stepped out cautiously into the yard, slowly lowering his handgun.
"Excuse me." Rolins called out, the sobbing suddenly quieting as a small head poked out from the treehouse's window. It was a little boy.
"Excuse me, little boy...are you hurt?" Rolins asked, briefly looking at his gun.
"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a police officer." Rolins explained softly, holstering his 3 mm pistol before showing his hands to the boy.
"Where are your parents? Are you hurt?" Rolins asked, inwardly flinching upon seeing the child begin to sob again.
"Shhhh! Keep your voice down! Are you trapped? Do you need help?" Rolins asked, the boy's cries becoming louder as the man groaned. He was going to attract those damn infected.
Looking around, Rolins was startled to see the scariest fucking clown he'd ever seen in his life. The clown emerged from a nearby bush, red makeup smeared in a sickening grin as the flesh around his mouth seemed to be eaten off, his eyes bloodshot and seeping with a yellow puss.
The zombified clown released a gurgled gasp, hair matted and teeth covered with flesh as it nearly tripped over its overly large shoes, gloved hands dragging behind what looked like intestines. Well...it was a good thing Caplin wasn't here. Poor Cap would be puking all over the yard.
Looking at the clown, it almost reminded Rolins of the movie IT with the demon killer clown. Rolins himself was never scared by such things, but Jane sure as hell was. Looking at his wristwatch, he noted that they should have been at the Department by now. Hopefully they were.
Rolins swiftly turned towards zombie IT again, feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach. He really didn't want to use his gun to kill the zombie. He really didn't. Noise attracted them.
Rolins waited for the zombie to approach him, it's arms outstretched as it opened its bloody maw and lunged.
Rolins moved to the side, out of the clown's reach before locking his leg behind the zombie clown's and taking it's legs out from under it. IT made some kind of garbled gasp before falling backwards and creating a dull thud as the clown hit the ground.
Without hesitation, Rolins stomped his boot on zombie's ruined face, flinching as he heard it's red noise squeak every time he pounded his heavy boot onto it's skull.
Rolins felt a sudden crack as the skull caved in, a gush of blood and brain matter seeping out of the cracked skull.
Pausing for breath, Rolins gasped before hearing a groan behind him. Turning around, Rolins felt his heart falter as he saw three zombies emerge from the house. He recognized these people. They were the Hates.
"Ohhhh, Christ!" Rolins cursed, looking for an escape route but found none.
Looking above, Rolins found a branch low enough for him to climb upon, though he was unsure if he could hoist himself up if he even managed to grab it.
Deciding to die trying, Rolins jumped towards the branch and grabbed it, cursing as he dangled in the air.
"Christ..." Rolins muttered, kicking his feet against the tree as he managed to pull himself up, shaking a hand off his boot as he sat just out of reach of the gaping maws and hands underneath him.
Breathing heavily, Rolins looked up towards the treehouse, the entrance closed.
"Hey! Hey, kid!" Rolins called, cursing as he nearly slipped off the branch. There was no response.
"Kid, can you open the door?" Rolins asked, hearing no response.
Deciding not to wait, Rolins balanced himself on the branch and pushed the wooden door open, the hidges groaning in protest.
Easily pulling himself up, Rolins slammed the door shut and nearly tripped over the rope that had served as the ladder.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Rolins spotted the little boy settled in the corner gently rocking back and forth. Rolins cursed to himself that he was unable to remember the boy's name. He was Nick Hate's boy, and was one of the children that bullied Sarah. Looking at the Hate family-mostly now zombiefied-it was still a damn shame. Even though Nick had hated Rolins with every fiber of his being, Rolins would never wish this fate on anyone. Sure, Hate was the biggest asshole Rolins ever knew that would spread rumors about him and his family-that some had believed, truthfully-but he didn't deserve this. Not at all.
"Excuse me, little boy? I'm Officer Rolins, Sarah's father. Are you hurt?" Rolins asked, the hair on the back of his neck raising. This wasn't normal. Something seemed...off.
"I'm sorry for your family, and I know you're scared, but I need to know if you're hurt. Can you answer me?" Rolins asked, pausing before cautiously approaching the boy, instinctively fingering his handgun.
"Little boy?" Rolins asked once more, the boy shaking before suddenly raising his head, eyes red and seeping with puss.
"Christ." Rolins muttered, the boy releasing a shrill scream, pale, clammy face twisting in hunger as he charged.
Without thinking, Rolins swiftly pulled his pistol out of it's holster and fired, the brain matter flying as the bullet lodged into the child's skull.
Rolins' face was void of emotion, though his eyes were sullen as the small body fell backwards onto the ground, the man releasing a deep sigh.
Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, Rolins saw that more zombies had now congregated to the small yard, lured by the noise of the gunshot.
"Fuckin' a." Rolins muttered, knowing he fucked himself over more than usual on this one. It was a shame he had put the kid down. Poor boy.
Looking out the window, Rolins saw a a branch he could jump out onto, and noticed the fence nearby. If he could just make it over that fence...
Sighing, Rolins looked at the body of the boy again, getting a sick feeling in his stomach.
Rolins hesitated as he pulled out a small knife, now kneeling over the body. He wasn't sure if he could do it, but he needed to see his family again. He needed to see if they were safe.
Taking a moment to collect his nerves, Rolins plunged the knife into the boy's stomach, hearing the tear of flesh and cloth as he cut the stomach cavity open.
"It's just a deer. Just a deer. J...just a deer." Rolins muttered, replacing the body of the boy with a deer, pulling his knife out as blood now seeped onto the floorboards.
Breathing a deep sigh, Rolins silently steeled himself as he plunged his gloved hands into the cavity, grabbing clumps of flesh and organs as he rubbed it in his chest and stomach, gagging.
Deciding to be safe than sorry, Rolins quickly smeared blood through his hair.
Feeling that it was enough, Rolins then looked towards the window and approached it, seeing the awaiting zombies below.
Rolins jumped out the window onto the branch, then without hesitation, leaped from the branch and sailed over the fence into another yard, landing with a loud thud on his shoulder.
Not bothering to see if he wounded himself, Rolins jumped to his feet and sprinted out from the front yard towards the street. Pausing in slight fear, Rolins realized he had left the toy in the next front yard. His daughter would kill him if he lost that toy.
Quickly sprinting to the toy, Rolins picked it up with a bloody hand, slightly musing that he must look like bloody killer running around like a nutcase.
Once he picked up the toy, Rolins then sprinted down the road, not daring to find out if the blood hid his scent.
Running out of blind instinct, Rolins barely noticed a car flying down the ruined street as he skidded to a halt, nearly face planting in the bloody asphalt.
I hope the story is okay. Please let me know! Might contain a character x OC pairing later, but that's still highly debatable.