Time passed...

You know your going crazy when you start having arguments with yourself. I can totally see why Michonne talked to herself. Being alone was driving me crazy, sure at first I didn't want to admit that I needed Michonne and Merle in my life, that I don't need people to operate correctly but I was obviously losing that self-argument. I didn't know exactly how far I've traveled since we got separated but I could see the outskirts of Atlanta. I didn't exactly know whether I just went in a gigantic circle or I came along way. Either one, I was too tired to even care.

I was walking in a deserted traffic snare on the highway, dead bodies decomposing in their car seats. It kinda reminded me of when I first tried to go to Atlanta, before the city became a desolate wasteland of the walking dead. I was looking inside the cars, that was either deserted or had a dead body rotting, but the whole place smelled like the entire world just died right there. Which was probably the case, at least half of the population was wiped out, maybe more, but if I think about that too long I either feel like crying of feel like I'm just fighting and surviving a losing war.

I was looking through one car, where I found a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and a pack of gum. All useless things, not necessary for survival, but they where nice things to have. I was going through another car when I heard footsteps coming from the direction I was facing. I turned around and saw a walker stumbling into my direction, without thinking, I drew my sword from my sheath, now hanging on my belt, and stabbed the walking corpse in the eye, killing it for the second time. I turned around going back to looting in the car, when I heard more feet shuffling and raspy moaning. I gripped the hilt of my sword but from the sound behind me, I had a feeling there where too many to fight. So I rolled under the nearest car and just waited for the dead to just stumble away.

There where like, a hundred of those dumb dead bastards. I have to admit, I was freaking out. There where so many, and I knew if I made one single sound, I would be eaten alive. At one point I started to hyperventilate but in the end I kept my cool. After what seemed like an hour the moans became more and more distant, and the shuffling of brain dead feet faded away. And after five more minutes of chilling under that car I decided that it was safe enough for me to come out from under the car. I looked to my left and saw the hoard, or whatever you want to call it walking aimlessly into the distance, and I looked to my right and saw two lingering ones, now lunging at their new found food. I took them out easily, slicing their heads off and kicking them off to the side of the road. I didn't know what to do at that point, but I saw a wooded area off the side of the highway, and with no other previous destination I decided to just follow that path and go where ever it leads me.

...

I felt like a total failure. I couldn't even find my brother, the last living person in my family, but for all I knew he was dead. I was looking at the gun that I've had since the entire outbreak started. I was just looking at it but I was contemplating on just ending it all. An end to sorrow, and end to misery, an end to everything I've been running from, and I sure as hell didn't want to give that governer douche bag the satisfaction of pulling the trigger on me. Though even though I did have a hell of a lot of reasons to pull the trigger on myself, I knew that I wouldn't do it, I wasn't going to quit, I would try to live out this nightmare, even though in the end it would end up killing me.

I was about to move on, get up from the rock I was sitting on when I saw something that caught the corner of my eye, there were two walkers chasing after something, but it was that something that made me feel sick; those walking corpses were chasing a little girl.

the girl was maybe eleven or twelve years old, she was thin with strawberry blonde hair, and was clutching an old fashion rag doll. The poor kid had the fear of god in her baby blue eyes. I wanted to just walk away, because every time I've tried to help someone in this world it's always come back to bite me in the ass. Then I heard that little girl scream as she tripped on a highly raised tree root, and that did it for me. I ran towards where the girl tripped and before the walkers could sink their teeth into her flesh I sliced the walker on the lefts head off and stabbed the walker on the right in the back of the head, killing them, once again.

the little girl looked up at me, her eyes still full of fright. She was clutching that doll of her's like it was the only thing protecting her in this new world of survival and death. I realized that the sword might be a little intimidating so I put my weapon down on the ground, then i put my hands up.

"it's okay... I'm not going to hurt you." I said, trying to sound gental, even though it probably wasn't working. Little kids have never been my strong suite. Her eyes then opened wide with fear. I then heard a raspy moan, then on impulse, I took the knife in my pocket and jammed it through the walkers eye. As the corpse dropped down to the ground, I looked at the girl, who was now standing, but shaking up something fierce. But the mortal fear in her eyes lessened now, like she had the idea she could trust me.

"So, what's your name kid?" I asked trying to ease the tention from the moment.

"...Sophia." The girl mumbled, biting her lip.

"I'm Zachariah." I said smiling. I then heard rustling in the woods and I felt my eye twich. I knew it wasn't safe there, so i needed to get the both of us out of there.

"kid, I know we just met, and I know you have no room to trust me, but we need to go." I said, and with that I grabbed Sophia's hand and we ran away from that particular area of the woods.

...

we tried to find somewhere to stay, even a tent would be good enough for me but we couldn't find anything, which wasn't good considering the sun was starting to got down and then, we would be royally fucked. right when I was about to suggest sleeping in a tree we came across a small cabin. I looked back at Sophia, who was clutching her doll close to her chest. Poor kid, I thought to myself. I didn't even want to ask where this kids mom or dad was, afraid of the answer.

As we walked to the front door I out my ear up against it trying to hear footsteps. It sounded safe enough so I opened the door, which wasn't locked, so that probably wasn't a good sign.

"Wait here, okay? Anything comes near you, just scream." I said to the little girl behind me. She nodded in agreement, and with that I started looking through the abandoned house. I walked into the master bedroom and there was a walker in there, but through the rest of the house it was clean. Not much of a problem, though I was pretty happy that the house was relatively safe for the moment. I then went back to the door where Sophia was and gestured her to sit on the couch that was near the window.

I looked through the cabinets to try to find food, considering I barely had enough for me, there was no way I was going to be able to feed the both of us. I found a can of tuna, canned ham, and three bottles of water. Better than what I usually find I thought to myself as I walked back to the living room. I let Sophia choose what food she wanted and she chose the canned ham, which was fine by me,lately any food is good food to me.

We sat and ate in awkward silence. I wasn't certain what to say, or do for that matter. Again I say, kids ain't my strong suite, but what was I gonna do? Wait for her to become walker chow and just turn a blind eye? No way was I gonna live with someone's blood on my hands, even now. The sun had almost set at that point, I was at least grateful I had a roof over my head. I looked to my new companion and I just wondered.

What the hell was she doing out there alone? I thought. She was obviously with someone. I mean, no weapon, no stuff besides her doll, no nothing. But the question was, who was she with? I've had my run ins with people, and lately, they ain't exactly friendly. I figured I had to ask sooner or later, so I thought, why the hell not?

"Hey kid," I said to get her attention. She looked at me, fear still in her eyes, "if you don't mind me asking, why are you alone? You seem a little too light traveled to be just you." I asked. We were silent for a moment, then her eyes opened wide, like she was just electrocuted.

"I need to get back! I need to find them! I need..." Sophia cried as she stood up from where she was sitting.

"Hey, hey, hey... Calm down! Who's 'they'?" I asked trying to soothe her. She stopped yelling, but she just broke down crying, which for me was about ten times worse. She could be attracting walkers with her crying, and also that was way beyond my comfort zone.

"Uh...i-i-it's okay, come on... No need to cry..." I stammered, trying to get her to calm down but it obviously was not working. I put my hand on her shoulder, saying every now and again 'it's okay', but that wasn't working. After maybe five minutes of her crying I just started singing. That used to work for me when I was a kid, so I figured might as well try it. I just started singing the first song that popped into my head, which was 'Cats in the Cradle'.

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way

But there where planes to catch

And bills to pay

He learned to walk while I was away

And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it

And as he grew

He said I'm gonna be like you, dad

You know know I'm gonna be like you...

And the Cats in the Cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

When you comin' home dad I don't know when

But we'll get together then, son

You know we'll have a good time then.

After I sang that little part, Sophia started to calm down a bit, and by the time I finished the song, the poor thing fell asleep. I got up to get her a blanket, and when I came back she was taking up the entire couch. At least she's calm down I thought. At least grateful that she stopped crying. I covered her up with the blanket, and gave her the pillow I found in the master bedroom. I just sat on the floor in front of the couch, taking my belt off and placing my sword on the floor next to me.

I was about ready to fall asleep, I was exhausted, though my mind was racing. I was originally contemplating on killing myself, and now here I was, taking care of a kid I literally found in the side of the highway. What the hell was I gonna do? I can't take care of a kid, every goldfish I've ever owned hadn't even last longer than a year, so how was I gonna take care of a kid? One thing was as clear as day; I needed to find this girls mother, or father, or whoever was responsible for taking care of this kid.

"Mama..." Sophia mumbled in her sleep. I looked over In the little girls direction. She stirred a little, but then she went back into her comatose state, completely shut away from the world around her. I smiled a little, at least this kid had a family waiting for her, I thought, and through hell or high waters, I'm gonna help her find them.

And with that last thought, while a single tear traced down my cheek, and then I silently fell asleep, for tomorrow was going to be a lonnnnnnng ass day.

I'm trying to get better at updating more often than I do, but with school and other things I juggle its difficult...

anyway enough with my problems, new installment, some time has passee since Zachariah got separated from Merle and Michonne, we now have Sophia into the mix which means (drum roll...) the rest of the walking dead guys are going to be expected in the next few chapters.

i know the story is kinda lagging but give it time it will get epic!

for those of you who still follow this story I thank you for you patients, I will do better.

anyway you guys know the drill, if there's anything I can improve on please tell me, or if there's anything you want to see, just review

favorites follows and reviews are appreciated and you should expect another update at some point this week

until that time, stay classy ^_^