Chapter 1: It's Just The Beginning

Charlie was letting her sister Casey drive for once so she could get some sleep in the passenger seat. Casey had the Lady Gaga cd that she found in an abandoned car playing as she drove down the long two lane asphalt. She had the music on low to not wake up her older sister. The sisters had been on the road for a few days, each of them taking long driving shifts. When they ran out of gas they would park the car and go scavenge what they could out of stranded cars and houses along the way.

Casey brought her mind back to the present. In the distance she saw some cars up ahead blocking the road. "Charlie. Time to get up." she said nudging her sister's shoulder. Charlie groaned and turned away from her. "Road's blocked up a head."

Charlie let out a groan and opened her eyes. "How long was I out?" she asked while stretching a bit.

Casey shrugged. "About a cd and a half." she replied. As they got closer to the blocked road an RV could be made out. "Hey there's an RV. Maybe the mother load of supplies." Casey perked up.

Charlie rubbed the back of her neck and her head gave a nod.

A few seconds later a couple of guys came around front of the RV and in to sight. "People." they both said with dread.

Casey looked at her sister in disbelief. " This is bad. They could be dangerous." she stated while putting the car in park. "Should we turn around?"

A some more people came out of the RV. Two of them kids. "They have at least two kids with them. They wont pull anything in front of them." Charlie reasoned. She took off her seat belt. She then opened the glove box and grabbed their gun which she put behind her jean shorts. "Plus it looks like they've broken down."

Casey sighed thinking about the last group of people they ran into. How much trouble they were. They were lucky to have made it away mostly unscathed. "If this goes south I get the last cup of coffee." she claimed.

Charlie staled for a second. "Okay deal." she agreed.

Casey put the car in drive once more and got closer to the stopped caravan. As they got closer they gained the people's attention. When they were a few car lengths away Casey put the car in park and turned off the vehicle. "If this gets us killed, I'll bring you back to life and kill you myself." Casey threatened her sister.

Charlie shrugged. "If they kill us you are more than welcome to." she smiled.

The sisters got out of the car and their doors closed in sync. The group up ahead already turned their way with a few weapons pointed their way. Charlie put both of her hands up in a non threatening fashion. "Hey you guys need help?" she asked. "We don't want any trouble. We saw that you were pulled over."

"Is it just the two of you?" a guy with dark wavy hair inquired. He was one of the first to have his gun up at them. He was looking her up and down. Charlie was now regretting her short shorts and tank top she was sporting.

Casey stepped up next to her sister. "Yeah just my sister and I." she said steering the attention her way. "Our dad owned a garage. He taught us a thing or two about cars if you guys broke down."

The weapons went down except the crossbow. "I could really use your help then." said an older man as he made his way in front of them. He held his hand out. "I'm Dale."

Casey shook his hand. I'm Casey." she informed them. "And that's Charlie."

That's how Charlie and Casey found their way to a still smoking RV. "Why'd y'all stop? You didn't know if we were hostile or not." a man named Glen asked the sisters.

Casey prodded something under the hood with a rag covered hand. "Charlie made me pull over." she started to explain. "She saw you had a couple of kids with you. Figured you wouldn't try to murder us while we were unarmed."

Charlie shook her head and rolled her eyes. "We've come across our fair share of unsavory types and you guys don't look it." she added.

"I see." Glen nodded.

Dale walked up behind them. "It needs a new hose." he pointed out. "I've been keeping this one together with duck tape."

"Looks like more duck tape than hose at this point." Charlie jested with a slight smile. "I take it you're out of duck tape?"

Dale shook his head. "All out." he replied. "We were just about to send a couple of people a head to look for a gas station. See if there would be any there."

Casey wiped her hands on the rag in her hand and tossed it at her sister who promptly stuck her tong out at her. "No need. We've got some in the trunk." she offered with a smile. "I'll be right back."

"Case!" Charlie scolded as her little sister walked away. "You know how I feel about that."

"Whatever!" Casey said as she walked away with a little bounce in her step.

Dale chuckled. "What was that all about?" He asked in amusement.

"People who say 'I'll be back' usually end up dead." she explained. They just stared at her. "You know in the movies. Do you know why they don't come back?"

Glen smiled. "I don't know. Why?" He humored her.

"They don't come back cause they're dead." Charlie proclaimed. "Only in the real world now, they will come back. They come back and try to eat you." The two men laughed. "Don't say I didn't warn ya when it happens to you."

Casey came back with the duck tape around her wrist. "Don't mind her." she said handing the duck tape off to Dale. "She was a writer. And see I'm all safe and sound."

"Still am." Charlie slapped her sister's arm. "Just cause I'm the fun one…"

"Whatever" Casey groaned rolling her eyes. She turning towards Dale and Glen. "So where are you guys headed?"

"We're on our way to the CDC in Atlanta." another man said behind Charlie who was leaning against the RV. "I'm Rick."

Casey held her hand out shaking his hand. "Casey. Just driving around keeping on the move." she said. "Don't want to stay somewhere too long and let things go south."

"You guys know that Atlanta is over run right?" Charlie pointed out running a hand through her blonde hair.

Rick nodded. "Yeah it's on the outskirts though so we should be okay." he stated. "We have a plan."

Charlie shrugged. "Alright then." she stood up straight. "Well after Dale's done with the duck tape we'll be on our way. Don't want to be a bother."

Rick held his hand out in a halting motion . "You two are welcome to join us." he offered. "Wouldn't be a bother at all."

Charlie looked at Casey and they shared a few looks. "Alright." they said together.