Katharine awoke as she felt the sudden rush of blood to her head. She opened her eyes slowly as her grogginess made her dizzy; it was too dark to see anything. Stretching her back out, something hard dug into her shoulders and what was that smell? This wasn't the cosy balloon sofa she'd fallen asleep on. She struggled to sit up, rope loosely wrapped around her wrists, her ankles too. Confused and scared she called for help but her voice was muffled by the thick silver tape across her mouth. Beginning to panic she swung her legs around so that she was kneeling and using the wall behind her for stability she managed to stand. Reaching her full height, she hit her head on something above causing her to crouch a little. Where was she? With her sight impaired by the darkness and her nose distracted by the awful smell, Kat used her other senses to figure out her surroundings. She heard nothing except her own staggered breathing; she could taste the rancid smell as it reached the back of her throat and as she felt around, the cold touch of metal contained her. Looking up to where she hit her head, she softly moved her restricted hands above her… plastic. The sudden change of material triggered something in her head, and as her feet knocked against something that sounded like a glass bottle she figured it out. Pushing upwards, she opened the lid of the garbage bin, what was left of the moonlight was enough for her eyes to adjust quickly.
She was outside, in an alleyway and from the colour of the brick wall opposite her, she knew she was just outside the department store. Fully awake, she looked around her for fear of walkers but the coast was clear, just her and the bin. Using the strength she had, she pulled herself over the side of the bin and finally removed the tape covering her mouth. The sweet air filled her lungs; clean, fresh air replaced the vile stink from the bin. Hopping to the steel doors of the mall she tried the handle, locked. Thumping her tied hands against it hoping somebody inside could hear her. Realising she wasn't getting anywhere; she carefully fell to the floor and fiddled with the rope around her ankles. Eventually, she freed her legs and tried to twist her wrists to escape the rope. Thinking quickly, she began to scrape the rope up and down the jagged bricks surrounding the doors, her old age handcuffs began to fray. She smiled as each thread split, proud that she'd thought of a plan that worked. The smug look was wiped off her face as she spotted a walker out the corner of her eye. Her wasted attempt at banging on the metal door must've drawn some attention to her. It was when another walker rounded the corner that fear truly set in. Speeding up the motion to break the rope, her eyes fixed on the zombies who'd spotted their prey and gained a little haste in an uncomfortable run. The rope snapped and Kat slammed her fists against the door desperately, with the walkers getting further to her in the alley, she looked around and ran, squashing herself through a gap in a chain link fence that blocked her path.
It was the sunrise glaring through the windows that woke Ivy and she yawned as she stretched her arms out.
"Morning!" Andrea nodded from across the room; she was standing by the window watching the world go by. "It's funny, even when the world is going down the pan, some things are still beautiful." She said referring to the orange sky. Ivy sat up and rubbed her eyes throwing a silent smile back at Andrea. Looking around she saw that T-Dog and Morales were still snoozing over by their Poker table. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she pushed her feet into her boots and as she fastened the laces, she spied an empty couch where Kat had slept.
"Hey! Blake!" The young male stirred lazily. "Blake! You seen Kitty?" He grunted a 'no' and fell back to sleep.
"Maybe she'd on the roof?" Andrea suggested. "I saw Jacqui and Glenn head up a little earlier, maybe Katharine went to get some air?" Ivy smiled as she got to her feet and headed to the door. "You're welcome." Rolling her eyes, Andrea turned and continued her thoughtful viewing of the world outside.
Jogging up the stairway, Ivy didn't feel a need to panic, they'd survived the night in this place, and Katharine probably was just getting a sight from the roof. Nothing to worry about. Opening the door, she filled with life as a cool breeze brushed against her face, her hair flowing gently.
"Hey." Jacqui greeted her and Glenn gave a smile as he perched himself on the wall which acted as a barrier between the roof and the fall to certain death.
"Morning." Ivy returned the formality as she inspected the roof top. "Have you guys seen Katharine?" Two blank faces stared back at her as they shook their heads.
"When I got up this morning, she wasn't there; I just assumed she'd just popped to the bathroom." Jacqui explained. Now Ivy was beginning to worry, Kat wouldn't just wander off without saying anything. Seeing the look on Ivy's face, Jacqui pulled Glenn off the wall and they followed her back down the stairs.
"We'll check in here." Glenn said as he and Jacqui vanished through the door to the third floor of the department store, the food court. Continuing down another level, Ivy stuck her head through the door to the furniture department and called out.
"Guys, can you help me look for Kitty?" Andrea heard the anxious tone in Ivy's voice and as she moved from the window ledge she shook T-Dog and Morales awake so they could help in the hunt. Blake had woken by this time and raced over to Ivy.
"I'll go with you." He said as he followed her back to the staircase. The pace quickened as the fear of losing her sister crept through her mind. Down to the ground floor, Ivy swung the door open into the clothing area.
"Dixon!" She shouted. "Have you seen my sister?" Merle was standing in front of the stores main doors; a look of disappointment dressed his face as a gathering of walkers still bombarded their escape.
"Yeah, I seen her." He said. Ivy and Blake stopped in their tracks as they were about to run right passed the rough redneck.
"Where is she?" Ivy interrogated him, frustrated by his lack of information. Merle stayed quiet and watched the doors. "I said where is she?" Ivy's pitch changed as she became angry at this ignorant pig of a man, she moved to him and pulled at his arm to turn her around, a creepy smile sent shivers through Ivy's blood. The tension between them was enough to concern Blake who stood by helplessly, and then Dixon's lips parted.
"She decided to take out the trash!" Merle snarled. Bewilderment fogged Ivy's thinking and then she clicked, dread sank into her stare.
"What have you done?" She whimpered, turning her eyes to the crowd of undead still trying to walk through the barricaded doors. Merle had set her out there to try and cause a distraction so the rest of them could escape but it had failed. The disappointment lifted a little when he realised he now had a back-up. A second chance. Sending Ivy out after her sister could clear the doors for them.
"Through those doors," He pointed to the stock room at the side of the store. "There's an exit into the alley…you best hurry, she might still be alive." He said with a sinful glare. Loathing and hatred fired up in Ivy and she clenched her fists ready to swing for the repugnant hillbilly.
"Ivy, let's go!" Blake grabbed her arm to stop the tension and as she spat in Merle's direction, Blake pulled her towards the stock room. With a scream of rage and fury, Ivy kicked at an empty box in her way and with determination she headed for the exit sign with her berretta firmly in one hand.
"You ready?" She asked in a harsh voice, Blake could sense she was understandably angry and so he gulped back his fear and nodded. Unbolting the door, she took a deep breath and before she raised her gun she stopped. If she'd learnt anything, it was that going around firing guns was foolish and would draw too much attention to them. Blake watched her as she scanned the room and then smiled. Breaking through the glass casing, she wrapped her fingers around the wooden shaft of the fire axe and beamed at the power it made run through her body.
"Can I use this?" Blake asked in his pleasantly polite manner as he too had found himself a weapon, ten whole inches of hard metal self defence, a wrench.
"Good idea." Ivy nodded, knowing that it'd be tough outside. "Just make sure you stay close, okay?" Blake nodded and the pair prepared as Ivy slowly opened the double doors.
His hands trembled and he tightened his grip on the wrench for comfort as they both crept out into the alleyway. Ivy checked both ways before deciding it was safe and although she wouldn't mind allowing a horde of hungry walkers in to tear Dixon apart for what he had done, she closed the steel doors behind her for the sake of the others. As the metal clanged shut, stirring down the alley. Clambering to its feet from behind the trashcans, a walker stood, a dead rat in his hand, the animals blood dripping from the decaying mouth of the undead. Adrenaline masked the fear and Ivy watched as Blake charged over bringing the heavy wrench into the walker's forehead. The feeder slumped to the ground but still stirred, until the wrench met it with one final blow. As the skull cracked, tearing the skin open, blood splashed across Blake's jacket. Silence. As their eyes met once more, Ivy and Blake shared a moment. They both knew Blake was ready for this and wasn't just going to get in the way. Then a clashing noise as the metal fence was hailed with walkers on the other side trying to make their way through to the armed duo. Blake made a move towards the mesh fence but Ivy stopped him.
"No! There's too many of them, if they break through that fence, we'd be overcrowded in this small space, come on, this way." They took a last look at the hungry faces trying to gnaw through the metal chains of the fence before turning to head towards the high street. As they approached the main street, they could hear the commotion happening at the stores main entrance and slowed down to a stealthy pace. If they could just sneak out into the street and make a left they'd be free from the mob trying to raid the store. As if having a silent conversation, Ivy and Blake both seemed to know the equally silent plan and coming to a stop at the corner, Ivy carefully poked her head around the corner, signalling for Blake to make a dash for it. He quickly scampered out of the alleyway and headed in the opposite direction from the horde. Looking around the barren street he smiled, they'd made it; he turned to make sure Ivy had followed as successfully.
"Watch out!" Ivy whispered with a grimace. Too late, not looking where he was headed, Blake collided with a public trash can which tripped him then noisily clattered across the road. Ivy flinched and rushed to his aide. Blake tried to stand, but the fall had twisted his ankle, he scowled in pain. Amongst all the ruckus, a walker at the back of the herd had heard the din and accompanied by a few other zombies was now headed towards Ivy and the injured teen. As the officer helped Blake to his feet, she flung his arm around her shoulder, placed the wrench in his other hand and then picked up her axe, ready to run. Unfortunately, by the time they'd prepared themselves, the rest of the horde had noticed the event and had decided the chance of a meal was more worthy than what could be in the store. The hoard was in full swing, all eyes on Ivy and Blake.
"Run!" Ivy begged as Blake struggled to limp. With Ivy as his crutch, Blake eventually managed to slowly sprint down the street. The sound of hungry screeches behind them.
By this time, the group inside the store had all met in the ground floor and after a confrontation with Merle, they'd discovered what he'd done and were now witnessing as the doors were cleared of walkers.
"What did I tell you?" Dixon smirked. "Plan worked." The others stood their ground and shot him fierce frowns.
"We're not going anywhere!" Jacqui snarled in disgust.
"How could you do that to them?" Andrea sneered. "To that young girl! Don't you think there's enough death around without you helping them to their next meal?"
"Ungrateful bitches!" Merle defended his plan. He'd thought of a way to clear the doors so that they could get to their truck and his plan had worked. Why wasn't everybody praising him?
"They're right, we need to stay here. Until they get back. We can't just leave them!" Morales joined in.
"Seriously?" Merle snorted.
"If you want to go, then go, but I'm not going anywhere until those children are back here safe." Jacqui said before storming out to go check the roof for a better position to be able to spot Ivy, Blake or Kat. The rest of the group soon followed and whether it was a sudden change of heart or the fact he couldn't leave without the truck keys, Merle too headed up the stairs.
"This way!" Blake advised as he saw the left turn was clear. With Blake in the condition he was in, the walkers were gaining on them and fast.
"Hurry!" Ivy practically screamed at him but although the adrenaline was acting as a pain killer for Blake's ankle, it was still proving difficult for him to run any faster. Weaving in-between the cars and trucks spread across the city roads, the terror was drowning them. Then, Blake fell. The sprain in his ankle was under too much pressure and just gave way. The wrench spun across the road and landed under a FedEx truck. "Get up!" Ivy demanded as she once again tried to lift him to his feet and although his attempts to stand were backed by survival, he could do it. Looking back at the walkers scuffling through the street after them, Ivy thought to carry Blake. She tried to drag him over her shoulder, but he was a heavy guy, he may have only been sixteen, but the toned muscles from all his sports training added his extra weight. She couldn't do it. Another glance at the undead now close enough to see the greys of their eyes. Ivy looked down to Blake and with an apologetic look in her eyes; a tear trickled down her cheek. Blake knew what was happening.
"No! Ivy! Please!" He pleaded as she grabbed her axe and turned her back on him. "IVY!" He bawled as she began to run, tears down her face as she made a regrettable decision. It was no use, he couldn't have made it, she told herself, refusing to look back as his screams were stifled under the bodies of the walkers piling onto him to get their share.
"Forgive me." She prayed in a whisper as her sobbing left her lips soaked. It was either him or both of them and she couldn't let that happen, this was about survival of the fittest and without her own survival how was she ever going to find her sister? As Blake was engulfed by the pack of hungry feeders shredding him to pieces, the rest of the horde continued after Ivy knowing there was still food on the run. Back to full speed, she wiped her eyes to clear them from blurry tears and turned another corner. A walker stood in her way but she didn't slow down, instead she moved faster and lifted the axe above her head she swung it into the walkers skull. A split second later she had leapt over the fallen corpse and the axe left a trail of blood dripping from its edge. Another walker, this time the blade of the axe swiped into the side of the head. Two walkers down. By the time she came to a third, the emotion building inside of her had replaced the thoughts of Blake's suffering and she only had one goal. Searching for Katharine. Once the third walker had been put down, Ivy studied the streets for any signs of her sister. Atlanta was a big place, she could be anywhere. Making a quick escape down a quiet alley, Ivy ducked behind a waste bin and held her breath as straggles of walkers trudged past. She dropped her head back against the wall as she gasped for air, sinking to the ground she was just about to breakdown over how she'd discarded Blake for her own selfishness when she spotted a familiar material pattern. Katharine's shirt.
"Kitty!" Ivy snapped out of her downer and jumped to her feet, she moved over to her sister who was cowering in the corner of the alley behind another trash dump. This time, tears of happiness and relief replaced all other emotion. Reaching out her arm, Ivy stroked her sister's golden hair.
"Kat, it's me…" She said softly amidst more tears. Pulling gently on the young girls shoulder she turned her face to face. Grey eyes. Faded skin stained with blood covered Katharine's face. She hadn't been hiding by the bins, she'd been feeding, a stray cat had been her first feed and its fur matted in Katharine's teeth and covered her blood soaked shirt.
"No…" Despair and heartbreak were overwhelming Ivy as she backed away from what used to be her baby sister. "Katharine…no…" With each step she withdrew, Katharine advanced. "Why?" Ivy pleaded with the Gods to make things right again but as the alley wall blocked her retreat it felt as though her heart had been ripped out. Looking into her sister's once beautiful eyes, Ivy wept as the vacant stare came back. It wasn't looking for love or comfort any more, it was deciding where to take the first bite and as Katharine's undead body stood before her sister, Ivy held out her hand and brushed the blonde, wavy hair from her face ace she'd done hundreds of times before. Kat's grey, lifeless eyes widened at the touch and snarled ready to bite into the flesh of Ivy's forearm.
"I'm sorry Kitty!" The axe came straight into the centre of her forehead and Katharine Kennedy sagged to the floor. Ivy followed in a heap of tears and screams, mortified by what she'd had to do. Kneeling in the alley shedding so much pain and anger over the body before her, axe still firmly embedded in the carcasses skull. Ivy wasn't bothered whether she drew any attention to herself; in fact she'd appreciate it if the ground opened up and swallowed her away from this cruel existence. Strangely enough, no walkers did appear, and Ivy was left weeping over her dead sister's body as the sun reached its highest point.
As the time went on, Ivy had dried up her sorrow, no more tears left to cry, no more pain left to screech, nothing. She felt like the walkers herself, she felt as though her soul had been taken from her. After removing the axe and finding a nearby blanket to place over the deceased, Ivy strolled back into the open street. As empty as her heart. She walked through the city aimlessly and after dodging a few walkers who're distracted by the feast of city dwelling animals she made it to the outskirts of the city. Back on Route 85, Ivy wound her way through the traffic jam heading out of the city, taking no notice whatsoever of her surroundings as the hot sun beat down above her. Then something did grab her attention. Hearing a sound, she dived into the back seat of a Mustang and closed the door gently behind her as the sound grew closer. A strange sound, one she recognised but it wasn't something you'd hear every day in a city. The sound of horse's footsteps. With curiosity taking over, she warily poked her head up to the window; just enough to see what was outside.
Indeed it was a horse, on the other side of the highway; a horse was heading into town. The bright sunlight shadowed the rider from Ivy's view. Should she get out and join them? Should she warn them not to go into the overrun city? Should she stay put and keep herself to herself from now on? Her conscience battled inside her but in the end she decided it was probably for the best that she didn't get involved with anybody else from now on, she was already mourning the loss of her parents and her sister, and she couldn't handle losing someone else. Staying in the car she sat up in the seat and watched out of the back window as the horse continued towards Atlanta. As the rider became visible out of the silhouette, the horse spooked at something and turned making the stranger visibly clear to Ivy. She recognised that uniform. The same as her own. Kentucky badges were stitched into his sleeve, the sun sparkled off his sheriff's badge and then she saw his stubbly distinct jaw-line shaded by his hat. She instantly recognised her colleague from the department in Cynthiana. Quickly she opened the car door, scrambled out and as he took control of the steed and rode away she tried to call after him. Her voice was dry and hoarse from the screeches she's emitted earlier and instead of a loud, bellowing sound, a tiny, croaked whisper of a name that he didn't hear as he disappeared into the maze of buildings.
"Rick!"
End.