Delilah Smock
Period 5
Caroline
One chapter
Miles on
Nov 1st 2026
“It's 2026 and the world's over, I mean I'm sad but not totally sad about it; I believe the planet needed this, why? Because we were all so greedy and selfish all we wanted was more and when we had it, it wasn't enough. I won't lie I probably was ungrateful at times too, hell maybe all the time, but this is earth's way of fixing all the things we messed up as humans. I'm Caroline, Caroline Anderson. I'm 19 now my birthday just passed, I think? I'm in this world by myself, my family died; they were taken by the outbreak about some time ago, so I'm alone… well not totally I have my journal and my trusty weapons, ha I sound crazy, maybe I am. I mean could you blame me, I'm alone in a world full of the undead and what's left of the living who want to control everything, and take down people like me for my things. I don't understand why, you'd think they want to keep the human race alive and going for the new world. But I guess people like them think I'm not strong enough for their group… They don't even know anything about me, nor did they think to ask.. I don't do groups anyway so not like it matters, I don't like being bossed around, that and getting close to people just to see them ripped from me isn't my forte. So I roam alone. I've figured out how to do it, how to manage without a group help. I mostly roam from place to place; I started in Arizona, my home town. I loved it there, it was hot all the time yes, but those sunsets man, were the best. I had a blog and I wrote in a journal, and yet still had a great amount of friends... I honestly wouldn't have wanted to bore or raised anywhere else. I miss it a lot, was small and nothing like Montana, where there's nothing but mountains which it's sucks, but doesn't change what happened to my family.. I couldn't bare to stay; I was in basic training for the army. Well I had just finished with my class when they kicked us all out and told us to go home. Then it didn't make sense, but now it does. That it was the beginning of the end, they didn't want us. They told us to go home to our families… little did they know that our families were dead; some of them ended their lives there, closing themselves in and ending it, before they could witness anything, or be overrun by the dead. Others tried to outrun it, sadly my family was taken by the it. Others called them roamers or walkers but in the end they were zombies. My family was gone, I was determined to find them to put them out the their misery I couldn't bare the thought of them eating someone or worst an animal. Yes, I care about animals more than humans, big deal. I found my brother Charlie, he was turned locked in his room, like my parents put him in there so he wouldn't hurt anyone. They probably couldn't handle knowing he would eat someone either, come to think of it, they probably didn't have the heart to do it. I did his fast, with a knife through the brain, than laid him on his bed peacefully. When I found my parents, they were both zombies of course, but my mom was eating my dad, like someone had gotten to him before me, which is okay. I shot my mom in the head and drag them both back to the house and laid them on their bed, they laid together where they belong… I found a letter from them it was on the kitchen counter it read.
“Dear Coraline,
Our sweet daughter, we love you so much! Your father and I couldn't be more proud of you. You've grown into a bright beautiful young lady… your father and I wish we could have told you this in person, but some events have surfaced and we won't be able too. Your brother misses you so much, we all wish you could be here! You keep up the great work sweet heart, keep yours head up, keep your heart pure. Fight for what you believe in, fight for our nation and your family… we will see you again, I promise! We love you sweet pea♡”
- Mom, Dad, Charlie.
I still have the letter to this day, little old now though. I read at times when I feel drained and overwhelmed, to remind me why I don't just end it now to be with them. When I read it I couldn't help but smile, as I read every word I could see my whole family in the kitchen, making breakfast or cookies, laughing and smiling, I could imagine me walking in and and surprising them with a visit. My little brother, Charlie running over in excitement, my mom crying with joy, and my dad being the only one who knew of my visit smiling holding my mom; I imagine us as a family again. But that will never be, after all that I decided to burn my house down with them in it because I didn't want someone random messing with their bodies.
But now I can no longer remember what they sound like, let alone what they look like. From that point I started my Journey, like I told before I'm in montana which means I’m no where close to being done; I'm going to north Carolina, it's my favorite place and well I'm sort of named after it so….”
When I was done writing in my journal, I put it away in my army backpack, with everything I needed and used. Like a jacket, what left of my water and food.. and some other supplies, I have a machine gun, little handgun that was on my hip and a thigh knife. I walked out of the old abandoned gas station and took a deep breath, then let it out with a sigh. I walked to the empty road and headed toward anywhere other than trees, not caring about the zombies aside of me, or the ones within the trees, I walked for miles and miles until I made it to another store type thing. There as I approached I heard people, inside I grew excitement because I haven't talked to actual human sense after the army kicked us out. I got closer and hid behind a car that was far enough away that they wouldn't take notice. There were two men who would be about my dad's age, they were loading a truck with I believe food. As they went inside I noticed another who was I think my age, he didn't fit in with other two guys, maybe he was getting robbed or this was a peace treaty he had to keep them from hurting him. Perhaps I'm wrong, I'm just happy to see other still alive. Talking to my journal isn't always fun, in no way was I going to go up to them, they'd pull their guns out real fast then I'll be weaponless. I'll never know what is going on nor would I want too, so I left and continued to walk and watch the road go on for miles more. Night came sooner then I remember, so I found a good tree and climb up onto a branch. I decided to sleep on there, I wanted to write but I was so exhausted from all the traveling. I ended up looking at the star most of the night, thinking about the guy I saw back at the store. How his brown hair moved like grass on breezy day, or how the scarf made him look gay when I knew he wasn't, I thought about his eyes, though I wasn't close enough to see the color. I fell asleep to those thoughts and more. When I woke I heard the moaning of zombie endlessly moving beneath me, not noticing me or where they are in the world. All they knew was eat, eat, eat. Which brought up more thoughts. So I pulled out my journal and pen and began to write.
“who was that boy back there? That's the question I keep asking myself… I don't know why honestly, he and I don't know each other nor would we ever. I just can't help but wonder where he's from. Him just like the zombie and I have wonder from home because that's all we know. Which being my next question. I wonder if zombies were to turn back into human would they'd wake up frightened or confused? Wake up worried about the terrible things they've done while they were a zombie, maybe they'd wonder about their loved ones, like their boyfriend or girlfriend, wonder about their son or daughter. What if like me that boy was from another town, a place where he lost his family and wasn't able to stay because of the thought of what happen them… hmm maybe he is a complete jack hat who only thinks about himself and somehow ended up in a my journal, a girl he doesn't know exist... “
I slammed my book closed in frustration, I knew I could never answers those question I had asked myself, those who wouldn't let me sleep. How could I let that deprive me of my sleep? I thought. I shook my head and jumped off the tree and continued to walk with a stomach who growling for food, crying for something to eat, my throat bagged for water or anything to drink at this point. My mind wished for sleep and on not on the ground or a tree. Before I knew it I was daydreaming and it was interrupted by the sound of zombies coming straight at me. I throw up my gun and blaze it at them, then stop and run off the long road leading nowhere and into the trees, I ran and ran without a thought of stopping for reasons I don't know. I fell on the ground and stayed there on my knees, breathing heavily holding my chest. I realized then that my life could have ended there… all I've done to get this far would have been over. I needed sleep and water, I knew I could go without food for a while longer, but water?The thought of my family blasted through my head and I started to tear up. I was dehydrated so bad my throat was in a drought. I shifted myself against a tree, letting my arm fall and my head rest. I had no energy, no motivation to move. And before I knew it I was out.
Chapter two
Two days later, the group.
I'm going in and out of consciousness, seeing the inside of my eyelids then a ceiling of a room, than just a ceiling. Just blankly staring at it, I started to blink in realization that I was really looking at a ceiling, that I wasn't dreaming or I wasn't seeing things. I start to breath heavy again, slowly freaking out that I wasn't were I was before.
“where am I?” I thought to myself. I go to sit up, but is too weak to move.
“Hey! You're awake!” a man's voice said from afar.
I didn't say anything just adjusted the bed I was in, so I was sitting up. I looked at him, confused because I didn’t know where I was.
“Not much of a talker huh? Well that's okay I'm not much of a talker either, honestly rather sit in silence.” he walked to the window with his hands in his hips.
I was annoyed with his humor, even though it was there and good. I continued to look around at the room, then it hit me, like a pan to the face. I was at a Hospital! That they still had doctors who would help. I looked at my arm and sure enough I had an IV in, with I hope was water
I looked over at him by the window, he still standing like a weirdo. “How'd you find me?”
“Aha! She speaks. Well how about we chat a little before?” He sat in the chair with his elbows on his knees.
“I don't chat with people I don't know.” I told
“Well yeah, of course. That's what I meant by chat.”
I just glared at him in silence, he laid back in his chair, like he was waiting for an answer.
“What you waiting for permission?! Cause I'm pretty sure I don't have a choice.” I laid back in my bed.
“Well yes and no. Everyone gets a choice, whether or not the world's dead or alive. I just want to know who you are.”
“Then ask for my name and I might be willing to give to you, otherwise just let me go” I crossed my arms.
“Well how is that fair for me? I mean I did save your life basically.”
“Yeah about that how did you find me again? I didn't quite catch that?” I put my hand to my ear.
“Wow you're something, here's what we'll do, because I can see that you're not comfortable with me and being here, I'll let you get better, like feed you and give you water and stuff. And when you are ready I'll come back and we will chat.”
I glared at him, not wanting anything to do with him or this place. Like I said I don't like groups and how they become uncivilized. Become rude and savage. I walk alone because I don't have to change myself for others. It's moment like these when I wish I had my journal. When I realized all my things were gone, I freaked. I look at the man who was waiting for an answer on his deal to soft at my face, I went pale, I needed my things.
“Well I'll just take that as a yes and come back later.” he walked out without questioning my emotion change.
I waited a good 20 something minutes before leaping out of the bed and waiting by the door, I look out and there's no one. I grind at their stupidity, and went for my stuff. I walked cautiously down the halls looking for storage room that was made into the Armory and the room where they'd keep all the cloths.. Luckily for me the were dumb enough to put labels on the doors. I hurried inside and changed clothes, my bag and journal weren't touch. But my weapons were gone of course. I heard the alarm go off which meant they knew I was gone. I waited until it was clear and then slipped out. I found the map of the place and looked for the nearest exit.
“Hmmm exit, exit where you at? Aha found you.” I said. “Okay, now where would I put the Armory?” I looked at for a moment, I was puzzled, how would I know where they'd put it. I would have put it somewhere way smarter. Then it hit me. They'd put somewhere they could lock, not just from the outside but inside as well. I ran over to the room where all the big Machinery would have been when the world was still here. I went to open it, but it was locked.
“Dammit.” I shouted.
I stepped backwards pushing myself against the wall. The alarm was still going off so it's not like they would hear anything anyway. I ran slimming into the door, and boom I was in. I searched for my weapons and knife. For a good 25 mins I was having trouble. I looked one last time and spotted them behind some other weapons, the locker wasn't locked so was able to get into it without a problem. I shove my small handgun and thigh knife in my bag and check if I had bullets in my big gun. I walked out with my gun leading, and walked slowly to the way out, turning corner after corner until I was there.
“HEY!”
I stopped and closed my eyes, for after all that I was caught.
“Stop right there. Turn toward me slowly, and put down the gun.”
I put my hands up and turned toward him. When I was facing him I started to put down my gun, knowing that I wasn't staying here any longer. right then I shot him in the leg and ran out the doors. I ran out the door and into a group of people.
“Get her!!” the man came out of the doors pointing at me.
People looked at me and I was turned looking at him. I smiled and continued to run. Men were chasing me across roads and in between trees, until I lost them. I stopped running and my hands on my knees to caught my breath, then put my hand above my head.
“Wow, I'm impressed.” Someone said behind me.
I turned quickly with my gun in my hand ready to shoot if needed.
“whoa now. I'm not gonna hurt you.”He told putting his Hands up, his dog started to growl at me. “Whoa girl it’s okay.” he brushed her head.
I just glared at him, without an answer. He walked in circles around my and I followed him with my gun. His dog walked in between his legs like a military dog would.
“Who are you, and how did you find me!” I asked bluntly.
“Well actually you found me. See you ran from that way and I was already here.” He pointed.
“Your point is?”
“That I don't think you have to total right be flashing that gun in my face because if I wanted to catch you I would have sent my dog on you.” He smirked.
“I don't care where you came from or about the dog!” I paused, “How do I know that you're not with that group I just ran from?!”
“Fair enough, but still you don't see me with a gun at you?”
“Fine.” I put my gun down. And began to walk away.
“Wait where you going?” He asked catching up to me.
“Away from you and that place.” I looked around to figure out which way to go.
“Why me? You don't know me.”
“Exactly why I wouldn't want to be around you.” I started to walk.
“Hey maybe I could help you?”
“And why would I need that?” I turned and asked.
“Because you're lost. “ He smirked.
“I am not lost, I'm just turned around, that's all.” I shrugged.
“You're lost, and I know that because you are running away from that group who could have taken great care of you? Which means you don't do great with groups or you have someone who's waiting for you.”
“Ha, alright fine I am lost. But that because they took me from where I needed to be to get out of here.”
“So where you going?”
I kept walking, ignoring his words. I was walking not knowing where I was going. When we made it to a road again, I stopped to rest for a little.
“Alright, well this is amazing.” he put his stuff down. His dog just patting.
I stared at him while I had my hand over my head. He stood there drinking his water. Then looks at me “Want some?” he asked having the water close to me.
“No I'm good.” I took a deep breath in and let out a sigh, then continue to walk.
“You sure, I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”
“I'm good thanks.”
He catches up me and holds my arm. “Look I know you're trying to play the hard shell that doesn't care. But you still need to drink water to get to wherever going, alive at least. So please drink some water.” He asked nicely.
I smiled sarcastically and took the water and waterfalls it into my mouth. And then gave it back and continued to walk.
“Hey you ever gonna tell me where you're going, or what your name is?” He questioned.
“Nope.” I smirked.
“What why not?.”
“Because you're not coming with me, so there's no reason for you to know.”
“What if I was going to the same place.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Well you'll never know.” he shrugged.
“Guess so.”
We stop talking after that and just walked for miles. When the sun was going down we built a fire to keep warm. His dog was beautiful, a german shepherd long or short hair.
I watched as the guy walked around the fire doing whatever it was “What are you doing?” I questioned him.
“making traps so Incase some zombie come we'll know.” He told while finishing.
“Okay?” I continued to mess with the fire.
He goes and sit on the other side of the fire and lead against a log that he put there. And then pulled out some can food.
“You think you're good there?” I laugh against a tree.
“Yeah. But hey I got you too laugh.”
“Why is that such a good thing?” I asked.
“Because it's good to laugh a little.”
“I guess.”
“Why do you guess, you're still alive, that's a reason to laugh and smile.” He wraps his arms around his legs.
“this would be the moment I tell you why I think differently, but I don't do that.”
“Why? We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” he thought.
“Haha no, no we are not.”I giggled.
“And why do you say that?” he throw his hands in the air.
“Because this. You and I. Aren’t not staying together.”
“Why though?! What is wrong with trusting me?”
“I don’t know you, or where you are from. Anything about you I don’t know, therefore I do not trust you!”
“You never asked.” He said softly.
I stayed silent for the rest of the night. After we ate, we went to bed, He fell asleep first as far as I know, with his dog next to him still awake though. I still sat against the tree using what's left of the fire to write in my journal.
“I hate boys it's official! I don’t know why I thought I missed them… They’re pushy and annoying.. This one especially, he too friendly if you ask me. To fast at trusting anyone especially a girl; I may look harmless but I'm seriously not! And I promise you that. I’ll be honest he not bad looking and I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere but still I can’t let him get to me too much. But I have to hand it to him, his dog may be randomly missing... Ha and he thinking we’re ‘stuck’ together…. Which we are not…”
Chapter three
Giving in
I fell asleep while writing and misplaced my book. When I woke, he was still here and sleeping. I silently got up and packed my things together and started to leave, when I heard whining from the dog, it looked at me with sadness.
“I'm sorry… it's better this way.” I told the dog and left.
But little did I know I had left my journal on the ground still where he laid. Then I was alone again. I smiled at the silents that company me once again, it pleased me and left a smile across my face. I took out my map I had of montana and was looking for the way out, when someone grab me and throw me to the ground.
“You thought you could get away from me! Think again little girl.” The man from the community said very angry.
“GET OFF OF ME!” I fought him, trying to get out of his grip, but no luck he was holding to my arms too tight.
He got into my face with hair dripping sweat “You shot me in the leg you little bitch.”
I spit in his face and said nothing, he wipes the spit off his cheek and raise his hand getting ready to hit me when someone shoots a warning shot at us.
“Get off of her now!”
I looked over and it was him! The guy I left hours ago. How’d he find me so quickly??
“You missed.” the man smirked.
“I won’t be so nice as she was next time.” He threaten. “Now get off of her! This is my last warning.” He said again.
The old creep got off of me pulling me off the ground and pushing me over to the boy, he look contently at the old guy like they knew each other. His dog was going bonkers, he or she was barking at the creep. And there was I still tied up, just waiting there for the kid to make his next move. I was quite sherten he had none but I had to hand it to him, he had balls.
“You sure you want to do this boy. After everything?!”he asked.
I looked at over at him still pointing the gun at his heart and still content.
“We’re leaving now. Don't follow I swear the next bullet is going through your heart.”He pushed me right into the forest and grabbed my stuff still with gun high. We started to walk.
“You’ll pay for this Andy ! There's no coming back from this one kid!” The guy screamed.
We walked in silence for awhile and he was still walking with his gun out and checking our surroundings, sadly I still had zip ties on my hands.
“Okay, we can stop now.”
“Okay so you gonna take these off now or we just going to walk around with me tied up?” I smirked.
“Oh shit, right. Sorry I totally forgot about those.” he cut them off with his knife.
I grabbed my wrist “Andy huh?”
“Ha, yeah that's not how I thought you learn my name.” he picked at the grass.
“How'd he know you anyway?”
“Old friend I guess you can say.” he looked around at the trees.
“Wait I thought you weren’t with him and his group?!.”
“Well no I didn’t say that. I said that if i was i would have sent my dog after you, but I didn’t so.”
“Well how is he an old friend?” I stood confused.
“Yeah we’re old friends that doesnt mean anything.” he told.
“So you lied to me about knowing them!”
“No! Look you asked if I was with them, you didn't ask if I knew them. Jezzs you could show some gratitude I did save your ass.” he shouts.
I cross my arms and walked away. Hours later I walk back over to him.
“Thank you… for saving my ass, even though I left you… you didn't have to do that.” I smile.
“hah yeah that hurt but we can call it even.” He puts his hand out to shake on it.
I was about to when I questioned him. “We’re even?”
“Oh uh… that's a good question.” he brush he hand through his mid-dark brown hair and than scratched the back his head.
I waited for him to either make an excuse up or tell me something he did….
“I sorta, kinda… read your journal..” He bit his lower lip and squinted one eye, like I was going to hit him.
Instead I was embarrassed. Because now he knew I wrote about him, and that I called him attractive… in that moment I then realized that I saw him before. At the store where his friends were packing the car. Now I was really embarrassed, for he probably read all of my journal and the page where I talked about him and his scarf. My face turn red and I'm covered my mouth.
“Uh here, I found it when I woke up to you gone, Sorry.”he handed it to me, I took it without saying a word.
Then we heard something in the brushes. I grabbed my knife and so did Andy. We waited silently, until two zombies came out. We both went around and took them out. I didn’t know what to say now, he had read my journal and he knows me now. I basically opened up to him without saying a word. He sat on the ground and used leaves to clean his knife.
“I’m sor- huuh.” he stopped himself.
I looked over at him. “It’s okay, it is what it is.” I told. I looked down. “I wouldn’t want them in this life anyway, my mom would have hated me killing and watching my brother learn this life would have been terrible.”
“Can I ask you something?” he shifted his weight toward me.
“Sure?” I was nervous because I didn’t know what was gonna come out of his mouth.
“Why don’t you trust easy?”
“So I won’t have to worry about losing someone I grown to care about… I don’t get attached.”
“Why? You trust me right?”
“Because less heartache. Ummm I guess so. I don’t know anything about you honestly. I mean you read my journal you know everything mostly.”
“Yeah make sense. That was my bad, I honestly didn’t know what it was until I was almost down. But lets me be honest you’re a great writer, I was reading and hooked.”
“Thank you i guess.. I didn’t really write it for people to see, so I wasn’t trying.” I looked at the ground.
“Are you okay?” he asked concerned.
“Yes, why?” I struggled to look at him, for fear he’d say something about what I wrote about.
“You seem off? Are you sure you’re good?”
“Yes.” I got up and walked away.
I walked away collectly my thought and controlling my blushing face. When I felt that I was good, i went back over and pulled a small hand towel and began to clean my knife.
“So North Carolina huh?” he looked up at him with a smile while cleaning his gun.
“Ha yeah, I’ve always wanted to go when the world was alive and now that it’s not it’s the best time, why?”
“Just asking, just that’s not the place I thought you’d be going.”
“Oh and where did you think I was going?” I laid my elbow on my knees.
“See I don’t know? I mean I get that you like it there, and that well you’re named after it. It’s just not yelling your name.”
“Haha okay, well where are you heading?” I asked.
“Uh…”He scratched his head.
I was puzzled for a moment, waiting for him to tell me where he was going. I didn’t think it would have taken this long, then it hit me, he's not going anywhere he lives here, this is his home. Then wheres his family or did he lose them like I but just can’t leave as easy as me. We sat in silences for what felt like forever.
“Uh I really haven’t thought about it honestly, kinda just traveling. Wherever the wind takes me kind of thing you know.”
“Yeah I can understand that, ha you don’t have to lie Andy. If your not going anywhere and you're just kinda coming with me than ‘fine, I’d appreciate the help to get out of here.” I smiled.
“Ha yeah sorry about that.”
“Yeah, so what's your dog's name?? I never really asked?”
“Lucy. she been my pup sense I was was 16.”
“Wow she a loyal dog. Has she had a military training?”
“Haha yeah she a trooper. She has had a little bit, my father had trained her a little.”
“What happened to them, your family. If I may ask?”
“That’s not something I’m ready to tell you” he looked at the ground.
“Fair enough.” I said understanding.
“We should go, they will be looking for us.” he started packing.
We packed up everything and headed toward a back road that he knew of. I had an uneasy feeling about him, ever sense he hesitated about where he was going. I wanted to ask again and not let him move until he did. But I couldn’t get myself to do it, I didn’t understand why either, maybe I cared to much or the fact that I’ve been alone for so long it was nice to have an actual person to talk too. I haven’t even really wrote sense we meet, well until he saved me from that creep. We traveled for ever but made more progress than I would’ve by myself. It was black outside, had to be maybe 1 or 2 in the morning. I wasn’t tired really but he did look tired and I knew the whole guy being strong and stuff like that, so I smiled and said what he wanted to say.
“Hey, I’m tired. Could we rest for a bit?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, sorry. So use to just walking.” He said sitting on a rock.
I laughed at his cockieness, I know he was just saying that but I let him have it, “Makes sense, I guess.”
“Well yeah of course.” he smiled.
As we slept, lucy laid between us, I watched the stars slowly move with moon. Lucy came and laid on my legs, like she was only still awake because I was. She was a nice dog well mannered and just plain beautiful. I remember when I was a little girl, and I had asked for a dog like lucy but my parents didn’t think I could take care of a german shepherd. So they got me a goldfish and told me to keep it alive for as long as I could, and I did. I felt a tear roll down the side of my face, and I quickly wiped it away and turned away from andy and the stars. Lucy came and started to lick my face, I giggled out loud and then covered my mouth. I turned to check on andy, but he was out cold.
The next morning I woke up with lucy still there on my lap, I was glad because she was keeping me warm. I looked over at andy and she wasn’t there. I sat up and looked around.
“Andy?!” I shouted.
No one answered. I looked at Lucy and she looked lost and confused just as much as me. I stood and so did Lucy. I looked in the trees, no one. His stuff was gone.
Chapter Four
The ugly truth
Lucy and I walked for miles, looking for Andy. I was scared he was hurt or dead. I felt bad for Lucy, she's his dog and he just left her with me? There's no way he trusts me that much. She whined for him, and I petted her head to comfort her a bit. But In my mind I whined for him too, I grown to love his company and having someone to talk to then just pen and paper. After a couple hours we took a break, I needed some water and had none. I looked around, nothing but trees still. I knew he walked fast but not this fast to disappear this easy. “Maybe he went to get something.” I told Lucy. She sat in front of me, with her tongue out with what looked like a smile.
I smiled at her, “yeah maybe he just being silly huh.”
Though In the back of my mind I feared the worst. Could he be dead and roaming like the others? Maybe the creep got to him and took him back, then again why wouldn't they take me too?
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