Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead, just Isabelle. :)

Reviews are welcome and greatly appreciated~

edit: Decided to add dates to the story, it'll make sense later.

September 9, 2010

Fuck.

This was honestly the last thing I needed, a god damn gun pointed to the back of my head. Seriously? I'm just trying to get by, trying to survive this hell. But no, I can never catch a break.

I'm sure you're wondering how I ended up here, which is funny because I'm not even from Atlanta. I was born and raised in California, and I just graduated from college and just finished with basic. I was given a short break before being shipped off to god knows where, and decided to spend said break with a good friend of mine here.

As for why she's not here with me right now? I don't want to talk about it, I can't. Not yet.

"Who are you?" A raspy, southern voice questioned me, I only assumed it was a police officer, considering the fact that I was in an "abandoned" police station and he hadn't shot me yet. I swear to god I thought this fucking place was empty.

"I'm sorry o-officer," I managed to sputter out, "I'm on my own," the barrel of his shotgun didn't feel as pressed to the back of my head as before, "and I was looking for weapons, to get by."

A large sigh of relief escaped my lips as I felt the cool air strike the back of my head, indicating that he'd put his gun down and no longer found me as a threat. However, I still didn't have the nerve to turn around and face him, nor speak anymore unless spoken to, so I kept my lips pressed together in a thin line.

I shifted uncomfortably, I'd been on my knees and my legs had been going numb; but I still couldn't get them to move.

After a seemingly long pause, he spoke to me again, "You never answered my question."

I put my arms down and let them fall to my sides, but I didn't turn around to face him. "I'm just someone who's trying to survive, just like everyone else." The cold, rough surface of the floor was starting to make my knees ache but I didn't say anything since I didn't want to come off as a whiny bitch. "Officer, I'm really not a threat."

Another pregnant pause, which frustrated the hell out of me. Was he going to shoot me or not? Who the hell does he think he is playing with me like this?

With the ache in my knees, my frustration grew more as he remained quiet, "if you're going to shoot me, just do it." I gritted through my teeth.

I heard him step back, or maybe forward. It was hard to tell, seeing as I wasn't facing him.

At last! He finally spoke! "I'm not going to hurt you, just get up and answer my questions."

I did as I was told and turned around to face him, when he held out his hand.

"You don't have to call me 'officer' anymore, just call me Rick. What's your name?"

Damn. For a guy who was about to paint the wall with my brains, Rick wasn't that bad looking.

Shit he's waiting for a response, think of something, dumbass!

"Err..my name i-is.." Why couldn't I respond? It was as if I completely forgot my own god damn name. I cleared my throat to regain my composure, "Isabelle. My names Isabelle." For some reason I repeated to myself.

"What brings you out here, Isabelle?"

"Umm..l'm just visiting for vacation-"

He smiled, "And you come to Georgia for a vacation?"

I couldn't help but smile back, his smile reminded me of hope for some reason. "Not really my choice, heh," My smile quickly faded when I remembered why I was here, "I'm here to visit a friend." I told him while breaking off eye contact. I really hoped he'd take the hint and not ask me about her.

He stood up and pulled out a set of keys, which I assumed would be for the armory. "So you were trying to pick this lock?"

I rubbed the back of my head like a child getting caught stealing candy or cookies, "Yeah, turns out you need a weapon to survive those things out there."

"Well, Isabelle, it's all been cleared out already."

Well shit.

With a smug grin on his face that I could just eat up, he presented me with a black duffle bag.

For Christ's sakes how could I have been so damn oblivious? He's a sheriff, of course he'd have all the weapons in the armory. I mentally face palmed myself for my ignorance, and continued to eye the duffle bag.

"Where are you headed to?" He asked me.

I leaned my head back to hit the locker behind me, I'm not good with these types of questions. Why couldn't he just be like "I like you" and join me? Noooooo, it's never easy.

"I was originally going to go to California to get to my family. But, they evacuated. They're safe now, so now I don't know," I shrugged, "Maybe try to find an evacuation out here, but I don't know." I straightened myself out more and turned to Rick, "What about you? Any family? Wife or kids?"

"Nope. Still a single man in his 30s," he chuckled to himself. How anyone was so...optimistic was beyond me. "Probably going to look for my sister and get ourselves evacuated. Same plan as you."

Maybe he could travel with m-

"Why don't we travel together?" Word vomit. Fuck, now he probably thinks I'm some creep who is all creepy and freaky and we-

"Sure, I mean you managed to sneak in here without me knowing or leading any walkers here." Ah, so that's what he called them too.

Wait. He just accepted my travel request. Or whatever you wanna call it.

For some reason, I couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my face. I've been alone for some time and...well it was a lot to take in.

And it was definitely going to take some getting used to.

A couple hours had passed since our interesting first encounter, and we hadn't said much to each other. Instead, I took a short nap, which he didn't mind.

We were set to leave in a little bit, since neither of us wanted to stay there any longer. I promised him that I'd tell him more about myself once I'd taken a hot shower and gathered all of my supplies.

He led me to the showers and as soon as he left I stripped down and never had I felt so...dirty. I was more than eager to wash my body of the dirt and caked blood. Ahhh, how good it felt to have the hot water hug my body.

I then remembered something.

I packed a razor.

I quickly jumped out of the shower and snatched my bag to dig through it and retrieve my razor, I don't think I've ever been that excited. There's just something about shaving that makes me happy, makes me feel more feminine. I stored a mental note to be on the lookout for any other clean razors in the police station.

After my little me time, I hurried out of the shower to get dressed in a new clean set of clothes that I was smart enough to pack, but then I realized that they'll probably get as dirty as the last ones, but at least there wasn't any caked blood, right?

I walked over to the mirrors in the women's restroom, and observed the face that stared back at me. I looked a little gaunt, but I still looked the same. I still had my recognizable features: my big, almond shaped light brown eyes; my long, thin nose; high cheekbones; and full lips. I usually hate my face to be honest, since it never gotten me to be taken seriously, I was either some "dumb broad" or "too girly/pretty/incompetent" to join the army. But today, I liked my face. I really needed sleep though, and to cut my hair. I mean it's already short because I cannot stand having long hair.

Huh, I wonder if Rick thought I was some boy at first. Bet he was real surprised when I turned around.

Okay, now I'm just being cocky.

First Walking Dead story, let me know what you guys think so far :)

Also, there may be some inaccuracies in the story, if you see any, please let me know in a message. Just a reminder: this story will be somewhat AU as in following the main story but making some slight changes.

Note: when Isabelle says basic, she means basic training for the Army.