The World of the Walking Dead: A Novel

Disclaimer: I do not own AMC's 'The Walking Dead'. If I did, I'd be prone to give it a corny name based upon completely biased feelings of a certain character, hence the improved title 'The Walking Daryl'. Haha!

All things considered she was doing pretty darn well. Having absolutely no idea how she ended up there, and no idea if and how her presence may have been impacting upon the series, she had to take a bit of time to commend herself for her valiant efforts.

"Hello, I need to speak to the Sherriff please, it is rather important." She asked, trying her best not to fidget.

"No problem Little Lady, I'll go get him for ya."

"Thank you." She gave the kind officer a smile whilst bowing her head as further acknowledgment, a habit she had not been able to shake.

Getting herself to the police station was the most logical thing she could have thought of doing. She had woken up that morning in the small dingy room of a low budget motel. After asking the nosey woman at the front counter where she was, she asked to borrow a pen and a piece of paper, sat herself down on a seat outside and took a moment to collect herself.

King County, Georgia. That's where she was. How? No idea. Why? Not sure. But what had really confused her was the one little fact that, if she was where she immediately assumed, why were there no zombies? The Walking Dead had become a slight bit of an obsession. Quotes from the show were used often and her love of the Boondock Saints actor, Norman Reedus, fuelled her love of the series that much more.

She had decided that, in order to establish whether or not she was in her current favourite fandom world, she would make her way to the Sherriff's office, hoping to catch a glimpse of either of the two well-known officers.

"Excuse me, ma'am, my names Rick Grimes and I'm the Sherriff's deputy. He's not here at the moment but I might be able to help. If you'd just follow me, I'll talk to you in the office."

She couldn't believe it. No, that's not right. Scratch that. She could believe it, what she couldn't believe was her luck. She mentally thanked any and all deities who'd decided to send her to this realm.

"Thank you, sir. That would be wonderful."

She followed the Sherriff's deputy behind the desk and to a small office to the side. He gestured for her to take a seat.

"Now what can I help you with ma'am?"

''

She didn't exactly like lying but when she did, she did it good. She sat up straight, hands clasped and in her lap and began to lie, not unlike a veteran con-artist. It was time to allow her inner actress to reign supreme.

"I must apologise for my manners. I'm known as Zee, short for Zero,"

Seeing the quirked eyebrow of Rick had her speaking quickly.

"An unusual name, I know. I apologise for the upcoming confusion and inconvenience. The administration from my department was supposed to have set up the program well in advance and definitely before I arrived here but I am assuming that was not so."

"Who, exactly, do you work for?" Rick interrupted, more than a little befuddled and unsure as to where this meeting was going.

"The government, of course. If you'd like me to be a bit more specific, I can be."

At this, Rick's mouth twitched upwards; eyes lighting up in amusement.

"The program I spoke of is the reason I am here."

That's right, keep it up. Make him believe you. Your old life is non–existent. For all you know, this could be true.

"I am part of a new subdivision of law enforcement. Due to my rather innate ability to see what others don't, I was recruited during my last years of schooling by the police force. I've been mentored by some of the more seasoned detectives known within various organisations. I am here to learn and to be of assistance to your office; a work experience of sorts as a detective consultant, sir."

There was silence as Rick digested the information.

"Well, I admit, we here at the station haven't heard anything from anyone ma'am. Do you have any documentation with you that would verify your story?"

She had nothing. She couldn't even prove her identity to herself, let alone anybody else.

"I, uh, well that is to say, no. I've no identification. My visit here this morning isn't entirely business orientated. You see, I unfortunately have had my luggage misplaced by the airlines and what I had carried with me is now gone. Forcefully taken, you see. I need to report a mugging at knife point. I've had a large amount of bad luck since I arrived here. I had bad luck before but this is really going above and beyond."

Her eyes met with Rick's. He immediately straightened up in his seat, leaned forward with a pen in hand and began to take a statement. He asked her if she was alright, where she was currently staying, what she would be doing now that she had nothing on her to support her stay here and to prove who she was.

''

"I guess this is where I say, "Welcome to the team", so welcome! Now I do need ya to fill in some forms, do the admin thing and what not. This is certainly the most strangest thing the department has done, and I've been 'round for quite a while darlin'."

The Sherriff was nothing but sceptical, waiting for a camera crew to come through the doors like in that TV show Punk'd. After hearing the explanation from the young woman in front of him, he was at a loss of what to do. Calling through to other departments proved futile. No-one knew what was going on and it all came back to the incompetence of the people around him. The blame game made its usual appearance and it seemed to be someone else's fault from some other department who supposedly should have handled everything.

"I'm sorry 'bout all this, darlin'. I ain't sure how any of this has happened. They're blamin' each other like a bunch a school kid's back there. Now, where are you stayin'?"

"I stayed in a motel a couple of blocks away. Had enough emergency money in my pockets. That fellow didn't bother checking, funnily enough. Guess I'm not completely unlucky, aye?"

Rick eyed the young woman. He knew she had nothing with her now and, after being mugged, guessed that she now had no means to gaining accommodation. With this in mind, he addressed her.

"You know, I've a spare room at my house. My wife, Lori, certainly wouldn't mind if you used it."

Oh dear. Zee now found herself in quite the predicament. No matter what, she just could not like Lori. Not one miniscule amount. She could say, with the utmost certainty, that she hated Lori Grimes. She detested her, loathed her and whatever other synonymous words you could find. The way in which Lori treated her husband, and the way she kept watch over her child, were reasons enough to warrant her feelings.

"No! I mean, uh, thank you for the offer but I couldn't. It just wouldn't be right."

"I insist."

"No, really. I don't want to put you out or burden you or anything. I'm a big girl Officer Grimes. I'll figure something out."

"Now listen here Little Lady," the Sherriff interrupted, "I think that would be a good idea. Rick here is an upstanding man, one of the best men I know and it ain't gonna be no problem."

"No problem at all ma'am. Really, it'll be fine." Rick joined in.

''

"It's very nice to meet you ma'am. You have a lovely house; really beautiful!"

With her hand extended, Zee smiled pleasantly at Lori. This was going to be a challenge. She'd rather cunning zombies than be forced to exchange pleasantries with this woman.

"Your husband has told me all about you and Carl. It's great to put the name to a face."

Lori was not impressed. Not in the slightest. She was angry before Rick decided to bring home some strange, young woman but now she was really pissed off. How dare he think that this would be alright! Who in the hell did this woman think she was? She's racked her brain for any and all occasions where this, this, this hussy's name may have been mentioned but had so far come up blank.

"Yes. I'm afraid he never mentioned you. Well, come in. Carl's in his room at the moment. Honey, could I have a word with you in the kitchen please?"

Lori sent her husband a look that clearly read 'you're in trouble. Now follow me!''. Rick turned towards Zee and ushered her inside, sending her a reassuring smile whilst pointing out the living room.

"Take a seat, Zee, and make yourself at home. Don't worry, I won't be too long."

With that Rick disappeared and Zee hesitantly approached the living room.

Upon reaching her destination, she couldn't help the laughter that escaped her. Young Carl was sat on the floor playing an intense round of fighting on the Xbox; so much for being in his room. The apocalypse really didn't change Lori much, did it?

"Wow, you're doing really well there, Champ."

Carl whipped his around at hearing a foreign voice. He looked up at her, curiosity shinning in his eyes.

"I work with your Dad down at the Sherriff's office. My name's Zero, but you can call me Zee."

Again she held her hand out. Carl paused his game and stood, making his way over to her. He shook her hand, excited to meet another person who worked with his Dad.

"I'm Carl. It's nice to meet you. You don't look like you work with my Dad. What do you do? How long have you known my Dad? How old are you? You don't look old at all. Are you trying to trick me? If you are, you're not fooling me!"

Carl's onslaught of questions made Zee smile at his inquisitive nature and at his cautiousness around a stranger.

"Well, Carl, I've only just started working with your Dad. He's very good at what he does. Now, I'm not a police officer, I'm a detective. I help the police when they get stuck on a case or can't find any clues."

"A detective? That's so cool. Do you have one of those funny coats? Do you have a pipe? Do you wear those weird hats with the flaps on them like in Sherlock Holmes?"

She laughed out loud, once again, and answered the enthusiastic little fellow.

"Cool? I haven't been called that before. Have you read Sherlock Holmes?"

"Dad read it to me once. I think being a detective would be cool. You're cool!"

"Maybe I could read you some detective stories, hmmm?"

"Yes, please!"

Carl was standing in front of her with a look of purely innocent curiosity and admiration. It was such a shame that he would have to grow up too fast and be forced to survive rather than live.

"What are you playing? I have younger brothers who love playing the Xbox. I used to play with them all the time. I'm pretty good at it, if I say so myself."

Carl smiled mischievously. A worthy opponent at last.

"It's just a fighting game, like Tekken. Want to verse me. I bet I can beat ya!"

She smiled at his challenge and ruffled his hair. He scrunched up his face, trying to evade her as she messed up his hair.

"You're on little man! Let's play!"

''

Rick and Lori made their way back into the lounge room and stopped. Rick smiled fondly, watching the young woman and his son versing each other in a very competitive, though very fun, game on the console. Lori's arms were crossed over her chest, a small smile on her face despite the annoyance and suspicion of this 'Zero' character.

"Noooooooooo! You've beaten me again! You're cheating!" At this, Zee pointed, playfully accusing the boy.

"You're only angry 'cause I beat ya! Again!" Carl let out a giggle when Zee childishly poked her tongue out at him.

"You're son is too good at this. I think I'll need to use my detective skills to see if he was cheating or not!" She addressed Rick, and Lori, once noticing that they were there.

"Well, Carl, do you think Zee needs to investigate the matter?"

Carl shook his head, giggling all the while. He held his hands up in the air.

"I'm innocent, I tell ya! She's making it all up. I didn't cheat!"

"Okay, okay. I believe you, Carl. There's no way you could have cheated. I'm sorry that I accused you of such a thing. Will you forgive me?"

She clasped her hands together and made an over exaggerated sad face. Rick shook his head, chuckling to himself. What a character this woman was. She had already gotten into the good graces of most of the important figures back at the office, and now had won over Carl's favour, in the span of a day.

''

Arrangements were made, dinner had been eaten and Zee walked down the hall to the spare room, her new room, and sat down to think about everything that had happened.

What an unbelievable day. How many lies did she tell? Countless. Did she feel guilty? Only when she was lying to Officer Friendly. She knew, however, that no matter what, if she had told the truth, even to Rick, there was no guarantee that he would believe her and then she'd have no hope at all.

She adjusted her position on the bed and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of what was to come.

''

Earlier on that afternoon, she sat down with Rick and Lori in the dining room.

"I am truly sorry about just turning up here Lori. I don't want you to feel like you have to take me in, because you don't and it's not right for me to stay if you don't want me to. It's a lot to ask for. However, if you do decide to let me stay I will pay rent and board. I can cook, clean and babysit as well."

Rick shook his head.

"That won't be needed, Little Lady."

She interrupted him immediately.

"No, it will be needed and it will be the only way I'll accept your offer."

Lori let out a sigh. She turned to the young woman.

"You'll have the spare room downstairs. Rick's partner sometimes stays over if they've worked the night shift." Lori started, but Zee spoke up again.

"And I'll take the couch or the floor when he does. It's no problem for me whatsoever. I've slept on the ground, in a tree and on planks of uneven wood before."

With that all sorted, Rick explained that she would be getting a slight advance on her pay check so she could go and shop for necessities.

''

It was an early morning start and she was excited. She had a good sleep, left a note on the Grimes' kitchen counter saying that she'd already headed down to the station and proceeded to walk down to the office.

The Sherriff called her to speak with him the second he was alerted that she'd arrive.

"I'll be needing a social security number, darlin'."

"I don't have one."

"What do you mean you don't have one? Everyone has one."

"Sir, you could look in any town, in any state in any country and you will find not one trace of my identity. Not a single bit of proof that I exist. You can try to match my DNA, my fingerprints, anything at all but you won't get anywhere. I was recruited young, before I was legally of age, and I've had to assist in some the most top secret cases. This is just one of those many security measures put in place so that I am untraceable. Essentially, I'm a ghost."

He looked at her, scanned her face for any signs of a lie, and then continued to look at her. His facial features slowly changed and she knew that there would be no more probing about her life. Things would be going more smoothly from now on, she thought.

"Well I suppose that your parents chose an ironic name for you, aye darlin'? Becoming a detective who has zero on her in all the records kept by the government?"

"Yeah, I'll admit my name was a driving force of sorts. I thought it would be cool to be the Great Detective Zero." She made a flourishing gesture with her hands, as if the name were up in lights on a billboard.

"No one would know who I was, any searches would come up with zero evidence, zero proof that I existed and I'd be the greatest mystery ever. It's paid off so far though and, I think, with a little more time I could become an epic law enforcement myth. What do'ya think sir?" She questioned with childish enthusiasm and a conspiratorial smile.

The Sherriff just shook his head and let out a laugh.

"You're really something else, darlin'. I hope that this career won't change ya. Every job needs someone who can joke about it. 'Specially with a job like ours. Now, we need to give you a locker and get your desk sorted. Ask whoever's around if you need help with anything. There's plenty of paper floating around, pens and stationary is in the supply closet. Feel free to go get some."

He led her to a desk against a wall.

"Over there is the interrogation rooms, and that hall there leads to the holding cells. Now I'm gonna have someone bring you some cases we're working on at the moment. It'll take a while so why don't you go and get yourself ready and comfortable? If you want, I can get you your pay for the week. You can go shop for everything you'll need."

"That'd be great, sir. Do you think I could look at some unsolved or cold cases by any chance? I might be able to help with those as well if it's not too much of a hassle."

"Right you are darlin'. I forgot, detective. I ain't too proud to say it, but you'll always have something to go through then."

"Don't be sir. It's ridiculous to think that any law enforcement can be perfect, let alone be able to solve every single case that has ever happened. I'll head off now if that's alright. Tell Officer Grimes I said sorry for any panic I may have caused and that I'll stick the note on the fridge next time so they won't miss it."

Amusement was obvious, as he shook his head once again.

"No problem darlin'. Do you want someone to accompany you to the shops? I mean, after what happened yesterday I don't mind sending someone with ya."

"I'll be fine. I was caught off guard yesterday morning. Didn't take in my surroundings. A stupid mistake but I won't make it again sir. Thank you for your concern though, it's appreciated."

With that, she walked out the office doors. Not ten minutes later, the door was slammed open and a distraught Officer Grimes made his way behind the desk, searching for the detective.

"Has anyone seen Miss Zero?! She's missing!"

''

After dropping off her new things at her 'new house', Zee went back to the station to start a good, honest day of detective work. Upon entering the office, Zee immediately looked up to the call board, noticing Rick and Shane would be out on patrol tonight.

Shane Walsh. She wasn't sure what she would do in regards to his mental health which deteriorated at an alarming rate during the 2 seasons that he featured in. As much as she wanted to change it all for him, she knew that it wouldn't be possible. She'd already decided that she'd be staying with Rick while he was in a coma, no buts about that. Although she knew Rick would be fine by himself, she couldn't help but want to be there for him when he woke up.

Rick Grimes was one of her favourite characters. She admired him for the judgments and decisions he made throughout the first 3 seasons of 'The Walking Dead'. Plus, the dedication and unending love he held for Lori, despite everything she did, was unbelievably sweet and romantic. She was a sucker for romance. She'd try her best where Shane was concerned but once the world went down the crapper, his decisions would be the ones to shape him, even if she was there to influence him. Anyway, she thought, I'll worry about that later.

She sat at her desk, opened up a notebook, grabbed a pen and got ready to attack the case files that were heaped on the desk.

''

"You know he's lying right?"

She watched the man from behind the glass. A murderer, apparently, but that's not what he was. She recognised the defensive speech patterns, his body language. Years of trying to read to people, pretending to be a super detective, proved to be beneficial. Her 'self-training' had finally been put to use.

"Excuse me, darlin'. What did you just say?"

"He didn't murder anyone. He's covering for someone else. Didn't it seem a bit odd that he was all too willing to confess? He's got a good job, a wife, and 2 kids. What reason would he have to murder? There's too much for him to lose. Unless, of course, the person who did it meant more to him than going to jail for a crime he didn't commit. How old is the son?"

"He's just turned 21. You think he did it?"

"Can I see the kids' academic records?"

An hour later Robin Michaels, aged 21, son of the relatively wealthy Gordon Michaels, was arrested for the murder of a 32 year old man. He was to serve the rest of his life in a maximum security prison due the callous and gruesome act he committed in cold blood.

''

It has been a good 6 months living in King County, Georgia. Zero had adjusted quickly to the new world, her new home and her new job. Things were going smoothly until the office got a call out. An armed robbery had taken place, the suspects fled the scene in an old beaten up station wagon. Nothing odd about that at all. Until Ricks' voice came over the radio, confirming that he and Shane would take this. Zero's world stopped. This was the defining moment. This was the lead up to the apocalypse.

''

Authors Note: Well I do hope that you've enjoyed the opening to my 'Walking Dead' fanfiction. Criticism is always welcome, preferably of a constructive nature, as it would be quite useful. Anyway, any reviews would be lovely, however, do not feel obliged.