DISCLAIMER : I do not own Walking Dead.
Chapter O1
Living.
One word, six letters and a hell of a meaning. Before everything happened, one simple word didn't have much impact on people as much as they have now. One word that challenges every single human being in the country- maybe the world.
Looking ahead, seeing nothing but abandoned cars, clothes and most of all dead bodies scattered around the road send a far too familiar tinge of queasy feeling at the bottom of her stomach. Shutting the window shut, she let a heavy shaky breath out as she glanced wearily at her companion sleeping soundly beside her. She lightly taps his legs a few times before smiling lightly when he stirred and slowly opened his eyes at her.
"Hey sleepy head" she whispered not wanting to wake the other passengers at the back
"We stopping soon?" he asked in a groggy voice from all the sleeping he just woke up from. He nodded back when he heard a mutter of 'Yeah' from his sister. The silence continued until she stopped in front of a convenient store in a middle of a small town. Both siblings stepped outside and looked around warily, everything was deserted. From the stores being locked and motel doors shut.
"Jayden." Jayden turned her attention to her brother lightly tapping the window of the van before a little head popped out "Mason, we're just scouting inside alright?" Mason nodded before shutting the window tightly. The sibling held their gun tightly around their belt and their bolt cutter before quietly entering the store.
"Max, don't go too far you hear me?" she called over her shoulder when he went behind the counter as she herself browsed the store not daring leaving the van all by itself knowing nothing is safe anymore. Setting three baskets from the corner pile, just beside the door she began filling up the basket with food, essentials they need. "Max, I can't hear anything"
"I'm here" He shouted back as quietly as possible before merging out of the door with three carton boxes and head straight to the van "Mason, open up" The van opened and three little feet shuffled along and help set the supplies neatly to one corner
"You got us more water?" Mason asked in disbelief when he opened the box and was greeted with two dozen of 500ml water bottle each boxes
"Yeah, except the last box. I figured you guys want a treat from all the terrible driving your momma has graced us with" Max teased ruffling his nephew's hair before going back the door
"What else is in there?" Jayden asked ignoring the comment made by her brother
"Jackpot" Max emerged from the door once again with five full boxes of -God Bless this boy Jayden thought to herself- cigarettes of all different brands. Some she might not prefer but with the world gone to shit, she doesn't care as long as she won't run out like the last time.
"Get the medical section, I'll get the snacks" Jayden pointed the stack behind the counter before bringing another two basket to fill. "Then we're getting out of here. Is there anything else in that storage?" she continued
"Nah, just a bunch of meat that probably won't do us any good. I got a box of noodles, another sack of rice and pancake mix from one of the boxes, figured it would be alright with how much water we have." Her brother replied back getting down from the counter and filling the van with more supplies
"Don't forget Rylee's jello" She smirked when she caught a box full of assorted jello flavours before heading up front once again. "You driving or I am?" Max asked after shutting the back door
"I'll drive" she said lighting a cigarette before jumping on the driver's seat. Holy Shit that feels good. She leaned her head back and let the familiar burning in her throat satisfy her. "Easy on those. I may have no more complains of you smoking but that doesn't mean I will let you have as much as you want" she said stirring the wheel before heading off to the main road again
"Y-You think Dare's still alive?" Max broke the silence with a very heavy question that both can't seem to avoid enough. Jayden's hands grip tightly on the steering wheel before nodding sharply.
"He's fine Maxwell" she breath out, wiping the tears that were threatening to fall from her face "He's a tough son-of a bitch" she smiled looking at her brother who grew silent but with a light smile on his face "…You of all people should know that"
"Yeah…" Max nodded his head "I remembered the first time he caught me smoking in your backyard… Guy wouldn't even let me step foot inside the house, he said 'you gotta tell your sister 'fore you come in 'ere" he laughed at the memory before wincing at his sister's laugh "I don't see why it's so funny! He left me outside till you come home the next night."
"You were only 16 Max, what do you expect?" Jayden piped in
"Like your one to talk" he scoffed taking a big chip and munching on it before he continued "you were 16 too when you got your first smoke- Dare told me and he was only 13 when he got his!"
"Yeah well, whatever. Our house, our rules."
"Both of you are perfect for each other" Max exclaimed raising both his hands up in surrender "I can't wait till the day you and your crazy husband meet again. Imagine all the blaming and screaming that's going to happen that day"
"I'm just hoping he'll be far too happy enough to get mad at me and himself" he pressed taking a quick sip from her water bottle "God knows how long it's been since we've seen him" sighing, she took a quick look at the picture clipped on the headboard. Herself, brunette locks with a bright smile on her face looking directly at the camera, her arms draped around a man's shoulder with a little girl on his lap and arm around his wife and son who was smiling widely at the camera too.
"It's not anyone's fault that his crack-head brother needs looking out for" Max snipped clearly stating his hate for his sister's brother-in-law.
"Yeah but he's family." Jayden stated simply "Dare's all about family, you know that." She smiled
"Yeah I know" Max replied smiling too "That's why dad loves him as much as he loves us doesn't he? Treats him like he's the prodigal son and all" the siblings laughed for a good minute before calming down. Silence fell between the two as they scout and just look out the window, taking in the rural outlook of their surroundings.
After a few more hours, Max silently eating a bag of potato chips they somehow snagged from various gas stations and convenient stores for the past months or so, the sun slowly descending from the horizon- 4:26pm the digital clock from the car said. Without giving much thought, Jayden slowly pulled the van to a familiar district.
"I remember where we are now…" Max suddenly chipped in, looking more alive than he's ever been before everything started "We're almost there aren't we?" he asked with a strain voice not taking his eyes off the road. Jayden stifled her laugh at his attempt to cover up his excitement.
"Yeah… almost there buddy" she nodded and couldn't help the smile that is also building up "almost there"
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Jayden looked at her husband through the mirror in front of her, taking her shoes and letting her hair fell loose round her shoulders. "We only have about a week left here in Florida, can't it wait just a little bit more?" she asked turning her back to him "help me take it off"
"Wish I could" he muttered carefully unzipping the zip from his wife's dress "dumbass got hisself in trouble again. Couldn't let him go by himself, someone's gotta be there ta pick 'is stupid ass" he said kissing her shoulder blades and letting the dress fall freely
"Well, what can we do really?" she sighed picking her dress up from the ground giving her husband a nice view of her backside. Her husband's eyes lingered longer at the view, his mind going blank not listening to whatever his wife is saying anymore "…it's not like we can change that meth-head anytime soon. I just wished he di- Are you listening to me?" she suddenly asked breaking her husband's train of thought to an abrupt stop from going any further down.
"Wha-What?"
"Stop staring at my ass redneck and pay attention. My face is up here you know" she joked finally slipping a nightwear over her almost naked body. He grunted in reply before slowly taking his clothes off "I just wished he did it some other time."
"hmn…" her husband replied slipping under the covers with her with nothing but his boxer shorts "…'m sorry" he mumbled against her hair, running his rough-hands through her locks
"I know" she nodded lifting her gaze up, capturing her husband's lips softly "He's family. I know…" she smiled against his lips "'sides, you're the one who's going to tell the kids" she added
"What?" he exclaimed, pushing her away "…tha's the worst punishment. Ya know I ain't fit ta do tha'!" he groaned feeling the vibration from her laughing "Ain't gonna be able to even say it 'fore they start cryin"
"Yeah, you bought that upon yourself you know." she turned on her side, looking directly at her husband's troubled face "They love you too much. It's your fault for being irresistible" she smirked earning herself a glare from him "…just stating the truth Dare."
"Nah, it's 'cause ya can't keep yer hands ta yourself" he returned to his original pose pulling Jayden against his bare chest "…I'll talk ta them, but ya gotta talk ta your old man" he nodded "…and Max."
"Still have soft spot for my baby brother don't ya?"
"Boy is in our family s'much as our kids are" he grumbled stifling a yawn "Sleep. We both got'a big day tomorrow."
"Love you Dare…" Jayden said kissing him hard and passionate on his lips
"love ya too"
"Momma I'm hungry" Jayden turned her attention to her left, stifling a laugh from the boy who obviously is not a very well-ordered sleeper. His hair going to every direction possible, clothes tangled and his hands rubbing his sleepy eyes "Morning momma" he greeted kissing her. Something he learned from his dad.
"Me too!" her brother shouted from the porch before hearing the bell of the front door chime, finishing a smoke from the looks of it. Taking his position in the table, helping his nephew up
"Me three momma" a little voice that made her everyday a little too much better. Jayden couldn't help but smile when said little girl raised her hands up for her to lift her, Mason smiling up to his little sister "Morning momma" she stifled a yawn and rest her head on her momma's shoulders.
"Morning my little angels" she greeted them back, placing the little girl on the counter. "We're having…"
The day went on relevantly smooth. No trouble may seem to be in their area, considering her aunt and Uncle's farm house if way-way off the highway and out of is in the very deep end of the rural Georgia town. The power generators have also been saved up as no one's lived here since the outbreak from the looks of it, so imagine the exciting looks from Mason and Rylee's shouts of glee when the hot water was turned on.
"You all settled in?" Jayden asked looking at her two kids, sprawled around the bedroom, each sporting a big grin on their faces. "I'm going to scout around the area and check the barn. Maybe aunt Rosie still have her chicken coup in-tack. I think I might have heard chickens somewhere here" she announced turning her attention to her brother
"Yeah, I'll check the woods" he nodded
"Can I come?" The little boy piped in with a determined look on his face "My feet starting to die momma. I can't help you with dead feet" he rolled his eyes as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Jayden stared at her little boy in front of her; dark brown slick hair that he got from her, innocent squinty eyes from his father and an attitude too much like his father that will surely send his ass to the principal's office on his first day of school.
"Fine" she nodded "but…" she continued stopping his little cheer of excitement "you carry the walki-talkie, you listen to your uncle and stay close. Hol-
"Hold his hand or tug on his clothes throughout the walk." He scoffed, cutting off his mom's sentence "I know what the rules is Momma. Don't have'ta remind me again"
"You are your father's son after all" Jayden quipped exhaling loudly before giving him his bag "Max, if anything happened anything at all you come straight here. I want to hear your voices every 5 minutes. Don't go too far and just scout the perimeter."
"Will do momma-bear" Max nodded
"How 'bout me?" A little voice chimed around the house "I wanna come too"
"Not with them you're not" Jayden scoffed squatting in front of her little girl. Can these children be any more like him? She thought to herself. Her little girl's lips started forming into an irresistible pout that no one can dare say no to; light hair tangled tightly together, blue piercing eyes with her little hands clutched around her necklace, sporting a crossbow in the middle. "You're coming with me princess"
"Oh okay" she nodded running towards her big brother "You be safe okay?" she hugged Mason's arms before doing the same to Max.
"You heard her" Jayden smiled turning to her brother and son "Don't go in too far" she reminded them before setting them off the woods. When she couldn't see them anymore, she took Rylee's waiting hands and walked the opposite direction but not before closing the door tightly.
"He's smoking out back" his sister smiled lightly rubbing her hands against his shoulders when his sister finished telling him his plans. Following his sister's direction he pulled himself up and head off. Max looked around his father's big house with determined look on his face. Bustles of noises in the living room can still be heard, followed by his father's booming laughter and exclaims of his drunken glee.
Now, standing in front of him was the man he no longer see as his brother-in-law but the man that he wants to grow up to be.
"You just gonna stand there kid?"
"Heard you're going home later tonight…" he said not bothering to reply to his question.
"Have'ta." The man in front of him nodded his head, taking a long drag of his smoke before turning and facing the teenager looking at him with narrowed eyes "Don't cha looking at me like tha'" crossing his arms on his chest, waiting for the blow up to happen
"Are you sure it's smart to go?" It only took a couple of seconds before the boy finally broke down "…the news from this, this sort of disease are starting up from all over the world now! Don't you think staying here with your family is the smartest thing to do? The safest way?" Max exclaimed taking deep breath in and out "Hell, even dad's been saying to be cautious 'round us!"
"You done?"
"Dare…" he exhaled collapsing against the closed door behind him "Yeah… I'm sorry" he nodded before looking at the man in front of him "I-It's just that… I'm worried something is going to happened and you won't be there and I just can't-
"Hold your trap right there" Dare said his voice muffled with the cigarette pressed between his lips "Come 'ere" he ordered swinging his hands front and back for him before taking a seat by the railing, both their feet hanging loose "Nothing. Nothing will happen you 'ear me?"
"Bu-
"No ifs, buts and maybe." The older man shook his head strongly "I won't lie ta ya and say I ain't worried 'bout leavin you nothin' 'cause I am." He nodded looking closely at the teenage boy fiddling with his fingers not even sparing a glance at him "…but I know ya will take care of 'em fo me. Am I right?"
"That goes without saying Dare…" he scoffed
"And I trust ya ta take care of yaself too." Dare nodded softly ruffling the teenager's hair "Don't worry 'bout me. I can handle anything, 'M married to ya sister ain't I?" that earned him a light laugh from him
"Yeah you are" scoffing but didn't move away from Dare's hands still on top of his head, even though he felt like a little kid again
"Worse comes ta worst I'll find ya" he said "I always do remember?"
"Bu-
"I told ya before no ifs or buts" taking his final long drag off his rollup "Atlanta, Florida hell y'all couda be in anotha country I'll still find ya" he stated firmly, his narrowed eyes staring intently at the boy's eyes while his hands gripping the rails a little too hard before continuing "I'll find ya. Not a thing can stop me doin' what I have'ta do. I promised you before and that ain't changin non. Remember?"
"That's different! You knew exactly what area I was at!"
"Don't matter" he shook his head gripping his neck tightly now "I promise ya and I ain't bout to break it. You get me?"
"Yeah" he nodded seriously "I get you."
"…and that right there are wild berries" Max said pointing at a small bush filled with as he said berries, showing off his skills that he learned from his nephew's father
"Cool!" Mason exclaimed taking a couple from his uncle's hands "How'd you know they're berries? I couldn't see a thing when you pointed at 'em" he said picking a couple more and putting it in his bag for his sister to see
"Your dad used to take your mom and I camping during school holidays" Max shrugged tipping his head back as he took a few swig of water "…do it all the time till- well till your uncle got his sorry behind lost."
"Really?" Mason asked excitement building up "You got lost and dad found you?" he grinned this time, proudly beaming at his uncle's story
"Yeah" he ruffled his little mop of hair "When I was 'bout your age, I got lost for three days." Holding Mason's hand tightly before jumping off a rather steep rock, and carrying his body over before walking again "Dare would' have found me sooner but I was such a pansy boy crying and running off to wherever I felt like going to" he laughed at the memory
"What's pansy?"
"Ask your mom later" he chuckled at his innocent nephew "your dad promised me he'll find me and he did. I was so scared I couldn't let go off your dad for a week. Your momma and your dad stayed with me night and day at the hospital before I got discharged… after that well… Dare got so freaked out they never took me camping ever again."
"We've been camping before" Mason stated
"Those are kiddie's camp buddy-boy" he smirked pulling him closer to him "We used to always go for weeks"
"Rea-
Mason's voice snapped shut when they heard shuffling on their right. Mason knowing the drill, leaned his back against Max's and looked around skilfully turning the walkie-talkie's volume down not taking his eyes off the woods.
Max tightly wrapped his hands around Mason's forearms, pushing both their bodies to the left before leaning against a big tree.
"Anything there Ace?" Max asked in a hush voice, crouching down arms around his nephew's head when he heard a much closer shuffle. Feeling his nephew's head shook, he focused his attention back.
"First rule o' being in the woods is you gotta keep quiet" He can hear his voice repeating over and over again. He may not seem to be as good as the guy who taught him the ways in the woods but he knows enough, enough to get his nephew and himself out of trouble. Holding his hands against Mason's mouth stopped enough the breathing noise coming out as he tried calming his own breathing.
"Second rule, you gotta listen. Listen ta everythin, anything" Max nodded his head before looking around him and listened to every shuffle and whistle of the wind. The shuffles of leaves coming closer and closer to where they were on standby, he stood up but kept his nephew crouched down.
"Shh" he ordered him before taking out his knife just in case and leaned against the tree; waiting, waiting for it to stop. With the way the leaves sound, he can tell it's no animal. No animal equals a human being. A human alive … or those things. But it couldn't be those things. If it was, he would have heard the moans and groans they make every time he finds them somewhere.
Max looked down briefly to where his nephew's head is bowed, keeping the walkie-talkie tugged in tightly in his chest. Counting down to one he stepped out of the shadow, still keeping an eye out to his nephew before a startling cry cried out.
"Please help me!" A blonde little girl's cry of despair stopped him from his spot and stared in disbelieve. "Please help me! Please…" the little girl pleaded her muddy shoes and her purple shirt with a tint of splashed blood.
"For the love of fuck" he cursed bringing himself down to help the crying girl in front of him "Shh, shh" Max tried soothing the panicked girl in front of him, trying his best not to come too strong "I-It's alright. We're alright…" when the girl whimpered when he tried to come closer to her, his hands still trembling from the past adrenaline he experienced.
"We're not gon' hurt you" Mason's gentle voice made the girl jump away somehow stopping the cries she was making before "Uncle Max and I won't hurt ya" he shook his head before taking a hold of his uncle's shirt tighter
"P-Please help me find my mom…" she pushed herself forward and launched herself at Max's chest, crying and clutching on his white shirt "I- didn't mean to get lost. I-I tried but I got so confuse and… please" Max rubbed the girl's back with one hand, still the other holding tightly around his nephew's hand.
"Don't worry" Max said lifting the girl's head by the chin "First, I need you to calm down alright?" he said earning himself a nod from the unknown girl. Mason passing her his drinking bottle to the girl who took it without much of a thought, finishing the bottle in one gulp "Calm?"
"Th-thank you…" she nodded still not letting go of Max's shirt
"Are you bit?" Max asked, his shaking hands searched for a bite mark on her visible skin, when the girl shook her head he let out a shaky breath of relief "Ok… okay…" he nodded lifting the girl up to his arm, seeing she doesn't have much energy left. "Ace, tell your momma we're on our way"
"Already told her Uncle Max" he nodded "…told her we found- what's your name?" Mason asked stopping midsentence just realising he hasn't asked her name yet "My name is Mason but pretty much everyone calls me Ace or Mase when they feel like it. The guy carrying you is my uncle his name is Max, short for Maxwell" Mason babbled on not realising what he's been talking about
"Mase, you're babbling" Max stated earning a small giggle from the girl in his arms
"Shut up Uncle Max" he rolled his eyes at his uncle then turned his attention back to the girl "What's your name?" the little girl looked at the boy in front of her with eyes still glossy from unshed tears, the boy smiled up to her as a silent encouragement.
"S-Sophia" the girl said smiling back at the boy in front of her "My name is Sophia"
...and that is it for me. I do hope you liked it. I haven't edited it yet since I'm in the middle of completing the story first before I do anything else with it.
Just a little something, something. This is the first story I've published in public in a very very long time so please take it easy on me... I'm not very good with 'YOUR STORY SUCKS' or 'GO DIE IN A HOLE' kinds of comments since I have been harassed before and gone into a bit of 'depression' stage so please do take it easy on me, but I do take constructive criticism and will do my very best to meet your expectations. REVIEW PLEASE :D