Hey yall I finished the next Chapter earlier than expected and decided to share it early. I am still planning on releasing the third chapter for next week. Thanks for everyone that submitted a character and even to the people who are just here for reading my story. Every little bit helps.

I am accepting one or two more submissions for Season 1 and am open to accepting some antagonists or characters to be introduced in Season 2.

Enjoy. :)

The local park used to house sprightful youths, who would run around chasing their imaginations and wildest dreams. Now those dreams have been plundered. Plundered by the plague of a month ago that has flipped the world upside down and made survival the most luxurious commodity. Now these parks, one playground in particular about twenty minutes outside of Boston, paid homage to the walkers. There were at least seven or eight of them, people with their own ambitions, downfalls, experiences, and all they want now is to feast. On the outer edge of the park was a hill with a bench on it which overlooked the bustling city. It was used for picnics or couples' dates, but now it stood as silent as the cool Autumn's breeze.

Just outside the park if you walked up the hill, laid a bright orange Volkswagen bus, it's exterior slowly deteriorating. Its windows were covered up with a tarp from the inside not to reveal the two people sleeping inside of it.

Oberon was the first to wake. He slid up from his side and stretched his arms outward letting out a big yawn. He wiped his Mono-Lidded eyes that let out small tears as he yawned. Roughing up his silky shoulder-length hair, he looked over at Zayn who was still lying asleep next to him. He let out a smile as he lovingly stared at his partner. His caramel skin that he always loved, the golden engagement ring on his left ring finger, and the fairy wing tattoo that was on his right wrist that he came home one day to surprise him with. Oberon shook his head when he noticed that Zayn had slept with his shoes unlaced but still on.

He crawled over to the front seat of the Volkswagen and pulled out Zayn's book of maps. He turned the hardcover and on the blank space, he noticed the tallies. There were twenty-nine in total. Oberon pulled a pen from the same backpack and marked the thirtieth tally. He put the pen and book back and grabbed a hair tie and tied up his hair into a ponytail, feeling the grease as he remembered he hadn't showered in so long. Oh, how much he would have given for a hot shower.

Zipping up the one bag, he grabbed his bag that was sitting in the passenger's seat. Opening it up, he dug around for some food. He went through plastic water bottles and a first-aid kit until he reached what he was looking for, the last box of granola bars. His hand entered the box and pulled one out. He looked into the box to see how many were left and was devastated to see that there were only three. They had other food, but it was only canned goods, and they would lose a good chunk of it trying to open it with a swiss-army knife rather than a can opener. Putting the granola bar box back into his backpack, he grabbed the swiss army knife and put it in his front right pocket. He slumped up against the inner wall of the Volkswagen and unwrapped his breakfast. He decided to wait until Zayn woke up to tell him they need to go on another supply run.

Around twenty minutes passed, and the built guy sat up from his slumber.

"Wakey, wakey" Oberon said in a mocking voice.

"What time is it Ob?" Zayn said in his Alabaman accent.

Ob checked the watch that they found on one of the walkers they killed days ago.

"It's just a couple minutes after nine"

Zayn crawled over to his bag and went to grab his book of maps.

"Don't worry, I already marked the day. We're on thirty."

"Thanks, Ob, how about food we still good?"

He went through the passenger seat bag to pull out the granola bar box.

"Well, we're quite low," Oberon said with a sly look.

Zayn looked up and gave him one too.

"Oh really, I couldn't realize that the box weighs as much as a feather. Hell, it probably weighs more than you."

"Hey, we all can't look as muscular and toned as you."

"Now you're flirting with me after I just insulted you?"

Oberon crawled over and put his mouth close to his ear to whisper.

"I bet I can kill more walkers than you today."

He gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

"You're on."

Zayn gave him a peck on the lips and went to grab their weapons. He crawled past Oberon's violin and rolled it over, revealing two close-range weapons. The first one he grabbed was Oberon's old wooden cricket bat. He turned around to Oberon.

"Here you go cricket star."

Oberon smiled at the remark and grabbed the bat from his hands.

Zayn went back to his weapon, a small hatchet that he bought years earlier.

"Why did you ever buy that waste of money?" Oberon questioned with an interrogating look on his face.

"I don't know, I just liked it I guess, and it's been put to good use for the past couple of months"

Zayn admired the steel, that was surprisingly still sharp after a couple of years.

"Alright Pocahontas, let's go find some food"

Oberon slid the door to the Volkswagen and jumped outside. Zayn quickly followed.

The two observing the scene looked on at the ruins of the city. They were reminded of the downfall of the city, that night where looking outside their sixth story apartment window they would see crowds of screaming people and fire's just down the street.

The two walked to the nearest road and noticed a walker wearing a blue button-down shirt. The couple looked at each other and then the two raced for the walker, seeing who would be the first one to get there.

Zayn took an early lead, outpacing Oberon who had to run with a cricket bat. The race was close, and the walker noticed the two people running at him and started walking towards them for its next feast. However, Zayn tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell onto the dirt.

"Nice one you clumsy oaf!"

"Dammit Ob, I would have beat ya!"

Zayn recovered on his feet quickly, but it was already too late.

Oberon used the momentum to aid his swing with the cricket bat, and smacked the walker straight in the nose, crushing his face.

The walker fell to the ground stunned and Oberon stood over it and gave the walker two big swings into the head, pulverizing it's rotten skull like fruit.

"That's one for me!" Oberon said.

"Yeah, yeah, we still got a whole day ahead of us Ob."

"I think the winner should get an award for today, as it is a month ever since this shit show started."

"Oh yeah, what are you thinking."

Oberon gave him a suggestive look. Zayn let out a slightly uncomfortable, but cheerful laugh. Oberon stuck out his hand as he knew Zayn got the provocative message. Zayn looked at his hand, and into Oberon's eyes. Oberon nodded his head towards his extended hand. Zayn sighed.

"You're only doing this because you're winning right now, but fine you got a deal Ob."

Zayn extended his hand and they shook on the deal.

The two walked onto the street and noticed the first house on their right. It had a small white porch and was two stories.

"Alright mister tough guy, you knock on the door first"

"You're just mad that I'm up 1-0"

"Always the competitive type aren't ya Ob?"

"Well you're the one who proposed to me, so I guess you are stuck with the 'competitive' type," Oberon replied back.

"Damn, I guess I am" Zayn responded back with a smile.

Oberon walked over to the screen door and opened it. He proceeded to knock on the teal door.

"Hey!"

Oberon turned around quickly and gave a glare to Zayn.

Zayn looked towards the sky with childlike innocence.

"What?"

"Just because I know you like my ass doesn't mean you have to grab it all the time."

"I'm sorry I just saw the red bandana hanging out of your pocket, and it just looks so hot that I saw it as an invitation."

Oberon chuckled. The two waited until they could hear any walking from inside. They discovered early on that the walkers were like bats, that they relied on sound and could hardly see. The knocking on the door would allow the two to draw the walkers, if there were any, to the front door to see if there were any in there. They would usually avoid houses that had more than one.

Oberon waited, leaning against the teal door with one of his feet with black boots and red laces rested on it. Zayn kept watching on the street for any other walkers that may have been attracted to the noise. Minutes passed. Oberon was growing impatient. He reached for the doorknob and attempted to twist it. The door was locked from the inside and Oberon threw his hands up in frustration.

"Damn it it's locked, I'm going around the back to see if there's an open window, then I'll unlock the door"

"Alright, you think we gave them enough time to wake up?"

"Yeah, they would usually have come out by now."

Oberon hopped down the porch and reached the grass. He walked around to the back of the house.

Zayn kept a close watch of the streets. They were barren, deserted. He thought of the kids that must have run down this street, running ahead of their tired parents, excited to enjoy the wonders that the park held for them. This made Zayn feel somber, he looked down at his hatchet. He started to speculate that if there were any kids out there still alive, they would probably have to kill like them to survive. They made a game out of the walkers so they could get by easier and not remember the lives they used to live before. He missed his piano. He missed performing at the orchestra alongside Oberon. He missed studying at Julliard, and the first date he went on in with his fiancée, and all of his friends that he made throughout his life.

The teal front door opened behind him. Oberon motioned him forward with his left hand, but holding the cricket bat in his right, he held up his index finger to his mouth.

Zayn gripped his hatchet tight and walked over to Oberon. He instantly heard the banging from the up the stairs that were only five feet in front of the door.

"You hear that?" Oberon questioned.

"Yeah, that loud ass banging noise, yeah I hear it."

Oberon and Zayn proceeded into the house and walked up the stairs, slowly creeping their way up. As they reached the top, they deduced that the noise was coming directly from their right. Oberon peaked around the corner and noticed a door being banged on, a wooden stool was propped up against the knob, keeping whatever was behind that door out. They both could hear the moans.

They proceeded through the narrow hallway and stood in front of the door. They looked at each other as to figure out what to do.

"Alright Ob, you grab the stool and I'll crack the fucker's skull in."

"Wait, I don't want you to get tied up with me!"

The banging was getting stronger as they continued their debate.

"You're quicker and I'm stronger, it just makes sense come on we aren't dying in this house because I trip on the damned stool or because of some game you don't want to lose!"

"Damn it alright fine, I'll do it."

Oberon walked over to the stool and grabbed it with his left, allowing Zayn to have as much room as possible to dome the walker.

"On three, I'll pull the stool"

"Alright Ob"

Oberon looked up at Zayn, who held the hatchet over his right shoulder ready to swing. Oberon started the countdown.

"1…"

The banging was growing fierce.

"2…"

Zayn was silent and ready to kill, Oberon looked at the door ready to throw the stool behind him and swing at whatever came out of the door.

"3!"

Oberon swiftly tossed the stool behind him and backed up quick before the door could slam down on him. Two walkers came after them.

"Fuck it's two!" Zayn shouted.

He swung at the first one and carved his hatchet into its scalp, but the cut wasn't deep enough. Zayn let go of the hatchet and backed up, as it would have taken too much time to try and pull the hatchet out of the walker's skull. Oberon readied his cricket back and swung it over his head, not aiming for the walker's head, but the hatchet currently dug into its skull. Like hammering a nail into a piece of plywood, the cricket bat hit the hatchet with just enough power to jam the hatchet into the walker's brain. It laid limp and the other walker proceeded to come after them, its eyes crystallized and maw gaping wide.

With no time to recognize the glory of the kill, Oberon acted quickly. He positioned his cricket bat across his chest to hold the walker back. It chomped it's jaw repeatedly in front of Oberon, trying to grab a piece of meat.

"Zayn, my knife in the front right pocket! Grab it and stab the fucker!"

Zayn reacted just as quick. He dug into the pocket of Oberon's ripped black jeans and grabbed the knife. He flicked open the knife and grabbed the walker's skull with his right hand. He aimed right for its right eye and hit the mark. The blade, easily piercing the skull and penetrating the brain. It fell limp and Oberon, tired from the fight was carried down with the weight of the walker. Zayn quickly rolled the body off of him and stuck his hand out to help him up.

"Guess you're up two to one now uh?" Zayn responded.

Oberon smiled and quickly grabbed his hand to stand up. He embraced Zayn for a couple of seconds. Oberon leaned back a bit, but still in Zayn's arms.

"Did you see that first kill though?"

"Damn right I did."

The two chuckled and hugged again.

Releasing himself from the hug, Zayn walked over to the walker with its head split open and yanked the hatchet from its rotted head.

They then carried on their mission, searching the house for food. Zayn found a duffel bag and they proceeded to fill it up with whatever they could find. Cans of food, fruit snacks, granola bars, pills, books, until the entire bag was filled to the brim. Zayn even found a shotgun in an unlocked gun case that was kept in the same room the walkers were in.

Zayn attempted to zip the stuffed bag up while Oberon looked through the fridge.

"Damn, if only the electricity was still on then we could have had an excellent meal of leftover curry."

"Ob, seriously you know I hate that stuff just the thought of it makes me sick."

Ob closed the door and walked up to Zayn.

"Ready to head back to the Volkswagen?"

"Ready as ever."

"You know I won right?"

Zayn rolled his eyes.

"I know, I guess I'll make your night a little more special."

Oberon grabbed his shoulder and lifted himself up to give Zayn a kiss on the cheek.

The two walked out of the house, Zayn leading the way holding the duffel bag.

"Hey!"

Zayn and Oberon stood still as they looked down the cold barrel that was currently facing them. It was a young girl, taller than usual, with long brown hair and a blue streak in the back that they could only notice due to standing above her due to the porch's distance from the ground.

"Alright, just stay calm we won't hurt you," Zayn said.

"Drop your stuff," the girl said.

"Ok kid" Zayn replied.

"I am not a kid."

The two dropped the duffel of goodies, Zayn's hatchet, and Oberon's cricket bat.

"Look there's enough food for all of us here" Zayn started to plead as he saw another man come out of the house just in front of the one they recently looted.

He was much older, wearing a fireman's shirt and tan jacket with a slightly grown out buzzcut.

"Jenna! What's going on!" The man shouted from the other side of the street. He fast walked over to who was assumingly his daughter. He walked over to the front side of Jenna and held his hand on the barrel of the pistol and pushed it down.

"Jenna, we aren't bad people"

"But what if they are. We can't risk it!"

Oberon looked down at the shotgun. He grabbed it and aimed at the two

"Hey, I'm not sure who the hell you two are, but you better keep moseying on down that street"

The man was shocked, and the girl looked angered. Zayn was just as stunned as the man.

The man stepped forward to make a plea.

"Look, my name is Alan, I used to be a fireman downtown and this is my fifteen-year-old daughter Jenna. We're just going back to my apartment down there near Copley to grab my pain meds for my leg and shoulder, we can give you whatever you want as long as you let us live."

Zayn looked at Oberon, surprised to see his fiancée robbing someone. Oberon took a glance at Zayn, and back at the father and daughter.

"Alright drop your backpacks"

"Woah, wait, Oberon, no way are we robbing these people!" Zayn said. He stepped right in front of the barrel of the shotgun.

"Zayn, they might have more food or supplies that we don't have and downtown is a hellhole of walker's any way they are probably just gonna go straight to their death!"

Alan and Jenna suddenly got glum looks.

"Wait really? I thought the rioters were keeping the walkers out and it eventually died down?" Alan said disappointingly.

Oberon tilted his head over Zayn's shoulder to look into Alan's eyes.

"What do you think happened to the rioter's jackass! They were all either eaten alive or fled out of the city!" Oberon snapped.

"Hey, Ob! Stop right now!" Zayn said trying to calm him down. "Look. That's a damn kid you're about to shoot you want that blood on your hands?"

Oberon looked into Zayn's dark brown eyes.

"Just lower the gun Ob."

Oberon grew frustrated. How can his fiancée just go against him like that? He threw the gun to the ground and stood there enraged.

"Thanks, Ob just calm down. I'll work this out"

Zayn turned around to face Alan and Jenna.

"We have some meds in our van on the outskirts of this here park where we have been camping for the past month or so. After a while, the herd in the city will have to thin out and you guys can then get your real meds. You can stay at the van with us. I'm sure we can split food and drink."

"Zayn she just pointed a gun at -"

"Oberon!" Zayn snapped. "They seem like nice people. You're an amazing guy and you just pointed a gun at them, too right?"

Oberon looked reluctant.

"Fine"

Alan and Jenna were silent. Alan stepped forward responding.

"So, Zayn and Oberon then I presume, thanks for letting us stay and trust me we'll be able to pull our weight so it will be like we were never here once the herd clears."

"Alright, Alan sounds like a plan."

Zayn walked over and extended his hand. Alan shook it.

Oberon grabbed the duffel bag and was going for the shotgun until Zayn quickly grabbed it from him. The four returned to the park, full of the ghosts of unfulfilled dreams and ambitions, and went to retire for the day,