Somewhere in Old Texas.
"I've been running for 4 days now"
"I'm fucking hungry",
"I can't begin to imagine the toll this has taken on me."
"What day is it even today?"
"Who the hell am I even talking to?"
I can't even stop to think about the answer to that.
'No one, probably.
Why do I keep on writing?? Not like anyone's left to read this. Plus, it's slowing me down.
Still, I keep writing. For her.
This world is already over; or let me say; turned to SHIT.
Most people- are no longer people, the rest of us- or me (right effin' now) is just trying to survive. But at this rate- it's becoming harder and harder to keep up to my "staying alive goal. Maybe I should just d**-
(Once again, banish that thought. I made a promise).
My last entry was a few days ago, before I started running.
I was telling myself I was a good girl working for the Hardstone mob, doing my duties without complaint. It wasn't easy though, the running around and whatnot; but I did not complain. not when the walls have ears connected to the bishops.
Also, I chose the job. Being a worker was no easy task, especially keeping up with the men and their shenanigans.
Be it as it may, it was still better than being in the kitchen and cleaning up with the bulk of the girls, getting their bums tapped every time by some thirsty creep. I can't have that.
Plus, those girls there are pussies too. And I'm no pussy. In the Raiding squad, I get to do the bum-tapping.
Now looking back from my current situation, I say to myself; "Funny, isn't it?" 5 years ago When I was found on the highway out of Ohio, bloodied and starving, I swore I'd never be defiant again. I'd do what I was told. I'd survive.
.........
But promises like that don't last long out here. Not when the world ends.
I know this begs the question- 'all this tough talk, why are you running Juliet?', don't worry, I hear myself asking the same question.
Let's do this flashback thing.
_____________________________________________
Last week Thursday (at least I'm sure of that day), The day was going normally until my squad- 'The 2nd division' went out on our raid.
I, Bella (the closest thing to a sister I had. Or?), Ruger, Dannie (my model), Johnnie, Richard- we made up the 2nd division squad.
We didn't see eye to eye on a normal Tuesday, but on raids, we cooperated. We had to, because out there with the dead... it's do or be done.
Where was I? Oh yeah; we went on our raid using one of the trucks we normally use. We were sent to the outskirts of the Italian Square, to raid for supplies.
[FLASHBACK — Written from memory]
A Certain District.
"Yo Ruger, come 'ere," Dannie called out. He pointed at the half-collapsed building ahead. "Looks like it used to be a pharmacy."
He stepped closer, eyes lighting up. "Heh... Ezekiel's gonna kiss us if we bring this haul back. Pray I find some real dope in there, man."
Ruger spat on the ground and chambered his rifle. "Pray for oxy, not that synthetic shit."
Dannie tossed me a look over his shoulder. "Julie, babysit the kids while we're gone."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "I will."
And just like that, they disappeared inside, leaving me to conduct a raid. In other words, we separated.
It's funny how one decision can ruin your day...... in this case ruin my 'good record'.
I led my group to this building. It looked like an apartment- yeah it was an apartment.
The place was quiet and dark- like those houses in horror movies.
But we were tough.
We held our knives up along with our flashlights, ready for action.
But I wasn't comfortable.
The issue bothering me was the place stunk. I also remembered I did not bring my mask along.
Bad Luck no. 1.
"I'll manage." I muttered to myself.
Noticing the awkward silence, I started rambling.
"Gods, this place stinks."
Silence again.
Johnnie looked at Bella then answered mimicking my voice, "this place stinks!"
Bella giggled.
I didn't.
"Bella, was that even fun-"
"Guys shut up. I smell walkers" Richard cautioned.
"Grreahh...grreahhhh" came from the dark corner.
That was our blue-eyed friends. It seems our little jokes woke them up
"Bell your six-" said Richard.
'SLICE!'
as Bella's blade dived into the skull of the male walker. Then-
'Thud!'
As it fell to the ground. It was dead. Rather Brain dead.
But that wasn't all. The noise woke the rest of them, and they became agitated.
"RRRRAAHHHHH!!!!" As they charged towards us- where the sound came from.
'Pow!'
'Slice!'
'Crunch!'
I swear to God I don't know what 'crunch' is.
-But that's the sound the crack of their skull makes when a knife dives into it.
After all the action... We were surrounded by dead zombies. I don't know but it was like up to 20 walkers we chopped up.
I looked up to scale the building.
Damn it was big.
I then came up with an idea.
"We need to split up guys. This building's big." I said to my group.
"Good idea, Me and Rich will head left while you guys' head right."
"Nope. YOU stayed with me while John and Rich head left." "I need to teach you a thing or two about jokes.
"You know that shit was funny" Johnnie smirked.
"Can we go????" Rich stressed.
"Okay grumpy cat, let's bounce. That's how we separated. Me & Bella to the right, the boys to the left.
Heading upstairs with Bella I began to wonder, 'how do these algae grow on walls indoors??'
The place was like a botanist's lair- an evil botanist's lair.
'What were we looking for in this god-forsaken place?''
Supplies.
My mind was fixed on finding some machine oil, my car needed it to work. The bishops wouldn't share theirs.
seeing how that place was looking, my hopes were starting to drown.
I then decided to check on Bella- she was my rock, at least during raids. She always had my six, as I had hers. She had a deficiency though; she hates dark places- like this one.
I threw her a glance as we stepped on the debris. She caught my eyes and smiled.
"Hey, I'm good." That's what her eyes said, or so I thought.
The walkers came fast. One lunged at Bella; her knife went through its eye socket with a wet crunch.
Two came at me, held one by the neck as shot the other, then I stabbed the fucker.
The upstairs hallway was a tomb, walls fuzzy with mold. Bella's breath hitched—she really hated the dark.
I nudged her.
"Eyes up. We're the predators here."
Most of the rooms were empty or cleared out. We kept on moving until we reached the last floor on the right-hand side of the building.
'Creeeeeakk!' ...... ...
We turned around... what made that noise??
Bella gave me a tense look.
We were not alone. Who the hell would be in this damned place?