Thread: the new beginning // randomname & sixlikesgoree

Gear up, men. Youre going back home. Quarter of a year ago, Staff Sergeant Jacob Frazier sat in a room full of other similarly ranked members of the United States Army. His tour was not over in the Middle East, but he was going home. Well, he was not exactly going home. There were troubles back in the States. It was mostly classified and the men inside this room were one of a few that were picked to lead back home. Even though he was twenty-two, Jake had always been on the fast track. From taking Junior ROTC classes in high school and blowing by his training in boot camp, the male was well-respected already. As a Staff Sergeant, he was in control of an entire unit some men were even older than him. Most soldiers inside this room were nearly twice his age. Why him? A handful of phenomenal recommendations helped. Jake had an uncanny ability to become a leader among his peers. He held a respect for rules and authority while not giving ground on his morals. Not every man liked Staff Sergeant Frazier, but every man sure as hell respected him. Wise beyond his years, it paid off because he was returning to the United States. It felt like a dream because he was in charge of the Atlanta, Georgia Safe-Zone. There was a breakout an epidemic of sorts. It was a strain of the flu that killed in large quantities of people. Even worse, it somehow made normal human beings into flesh-eating creatures. This was the literal definition of zombie though that was not the politically correct word used. Anyone infected must be put down immediately. Even those whom die a natural death must have their brain shut off by a blade or bullet. The job Jake had in the Atlanta safe zone involved quarantining miles of the city, overseeing operations at various hospitals, and putting down any infected patients that were needed. He was asked to do things he was not proud of things that kept him awake at night. Even though he was back home, there was nothing welcoming about it. The only thing keeping him going was a necklace around his neck. Maggie Greene, his one and true love, gave it to him before he deployed nearly a year ago. After being deployed for a couple years, he had returned to his family in Georgia for a few months. He even started college but he was recalled back. It was painful to leave Maggie. They had been talking about the possibility of getting married. Countless times, Jake heard a brother in arms of his talk about a woman he left back home and how they were unfaithful. Jake was lucky. As soon as he returned from his deployment, Maggie was not in the bed or the arms of someone else. She was waiting to greet him with that wide smile and gorgeous look on her face. Her eyes were such a deep shade of green that he could see them whenever he closed his own. At night, he would squeeze his eyes shut tight, especially under the sound of gun fire and mortars, and picture himself back on the farm with Maggie when they would sneak around back in high school. Sometimes, it was not even to have sex. There were many times they would sneak around the barn just to hold each other in their arms. Hershel was on their case more than once but it appeared the old man held nothing but respect for him now. There was a real future for Jake and Maggie once Jake finished. It was supposed to be his last deployment. Another year and a half, then he could come home for good. Since he was back in Georgia, the logical thing to do was contact Maggie. He tried. Phone call after phone call was placed with no answer because communications were down. Power was out. She lived so deep in the country that it was impossible to reach her and do his job in Atlanta. Not a day went by without pain. It was more painful than being across the world from her because she was less than a hundred miles from him yet she might as well have been in a different country. Every day, one of the CDC leaders said it would not be long before he could leave. They were right, but it was not like things were that simple. The city was bombed without warning. The same country he lived and nearly died for tried to kill him. They betrayed him. Patients in the hospital were killed. Nurses and doctors were killed. Children. Women. Men. Elderly people. It was a miracle that Jake even survived. The hospital collapsed around him yet he found a way to escape the fiery blaze. From there, it had been nearly two months on his own. The only thing in his possession was the military uniform on his back and an assault rifle with a couple extra magazines he found. It took him a while to reach his Uncles ranch. On that ranch was his last living relatives. His father died when Jake was thirteen. Marcus Frazier was retired from the Army and serving as a police officer. He was killed in combat. Jakes mother died a couple years ago from cancer. His Uncle Troy was the last remaining relative but the ranch was abandoned. It was likely he went to one of the supposed safe zone shelters that were leveled. When things were looking unlucky, Jake hit a stroke of luck. His white pick up truck was still there. It was an older model that his father gave him. Jake learned to drive on this thing and it was probably going to be his until it gave out. Somehow, the damn thing still worked. Jake knew there was a reason he kept that key. It was still not an easy path after that. Dealing with bandits and other groups that did not take kindly to soldiers, he dodged bullets often. In fact, his truck was stolen once and he had been shot in the shoulder. That was last week. Only a few days ago, he recovered the truck and beat the men senseless that took it from him. It was survival of the fittest and nobody was stopping him from returning to Maggie. All odds said that she was not alive. Hardly anyone was still alive but Jake was ever the optimist. Driving up to the Green Family Farm, he saw that the gate was closed. That was a good sign. Next, he saw a figure running towards him. Long, black hair was bouncing and it was almost like he could see those green orbs from here. Maggie. There were many questions like who in the hell were these people but clearly Maggie was fine. She was in his arms and everything felt right. Usually, he was not an emotional man. Now, however, tears were spilling from his eyes. Other figures were running from the house as well but they stopped when it was obvious Maggie knew him. Maggie. Oh, my God. Maggie. Youre okay. My sweet, sweet Princess. Ive missed you. I love you. It was all he could do to croak out those words. After finishing, her lips contacted his in a sweet kiss. She pressed against the bullet wound in his shoulder but that was the least of his concerns right now. Jake kissed her as passionately as he could, to the point where she was practically pushed up against his truck. His tongue slipped deep into her mouth and his fingers started stroking through her hair while the other hand cupped her face. Jake lost track of time. In reality, this lasted for at least five minutes before they pulled back with swollen lips and ragged breathing. By this time, Hershel and Beth were also around to see it. Beth was grinning from ear to ear and Hershel was explaining who this man was to the rest of the group. Beth always saw him like a big brother. Sure, there was Shawn but she always had a special connection with her sisters boyfriend. Hershel always did like him even though he chased him away from physical contact often. Now was not a time to discourage this kissing. Hershel only smiled. Even though fathers should never think a man is good enough for his daughter, Jake made it pretty damn difficult to keep that trend going. Now, Jake could only focus on Maggie, though. He had always been a part of their family and now he was back. Maggie. He breathed out again. Im alright. Are you? Have you been safe? The young man asked quietly. His uniform was practically torn to pieces. Other than bruises and cuts on his face and the self-wrapped bandage around the bullet wound, Jake was in one piece. There was much to tell Maggie but now he only wanted to hold her and hug her. I love you. He already told her that but it felt like it was never said enough. His lips found hers again and this kiss was much sweeter and quicker. He needed to get his truck inside the gates but he was too frozen. Who are all these people, Maggie? Is everything alright here at the farm? He whispered quietly, noticing the two missing people of the Greene family. There was much to be filled in but Hershel saw the wound on his shoulder so he decided to speak up. Approaching Jake, he went in for a hug and Jake returned it though he kept holding Maggies hand. Jake. You look like a mess. Why dont you come on inside so I can get a look at you? --------------------------------- It was stupid. A clear-minded, level-headed Shane Walsh would have never let this happen. Feeling a mixture of regret and sadness about leaving his friends behind, Shane stopped when he saw a man and a woman beside a broken down car. They looked harmless enough. It changed after the hood was popped and a violence force was thrown against his skull. Almost immediately, Shane was knocked out. Before fading, he heard more than two voices and realized he had walked into an ambush. Usually, this was not something that would happen to Shane. Unfortunately, his mind was not in the right place. This happened because of it. The secret about the walkers in the barn had just gotten out but nobody wanted to do anything about it except him. Lori was pregnant, it was his, but she refused to accept it. It felt like everyone hated him and looked at him like a villain. In short, he wanted to kill Rick but he knew doing that would accomplish nothing. Lori would never be his. Neither would the baby. It bottled up for so long and he just took off from the group. It was not like they would miss him, right? Even as he stormed out of the house and into his car, nobody tried to stop him. Even when he gathered the supplies that he had collected, nobody tried to stop him. Dazed and confused, the 37-year-old man opened his eyes. With a large gash in the back of his head, Shane felt the blood dripping out. It seemed that someone stopped the bleeding long enough to help him survive, however. The next thing he noticed was the sound of another voice. It was a female but it was too dark to see. At first, it took Shane a few minutes to piece together what exactly happened. His last few minutes of consciousness were blurry but it was slowly becoming clearer. It was difficult to recall anything, though. This splitting headache was driving him crazy. Ignoring the sound of a strangers voice, Shane tried to raise his hands towards his head. It was only a natural reaction to such a pain. He was more attentive once he tried to move his hand upwards but it would no longer move. His hands were bound behind his back and his ankles were bound together as well. Shit. This was worse than he thought. Since he was in a dark room and restrained while there were many others outside talking and laughing, one could only assume that the woman here was also a captive. On the other hand, they used deception to screw him over the first time. Not again. Shut the fuck up. Im not falling for one of these damn tricks again. Im going to get the fuck out of here. There was a fiery edge to his voice, but also a thickness of a southern accent to represent his true roots. Shane was a country boy down to every last fiber and it showed. Not knowing that the other woman had a plan, Shane was losing his mind and his temper collectively. He banged his combat boots on the floor, the wall, and wherever else he could reach. Then, he started shouting as he tried to sit up. Hey! Get your fucking coward asses in here right now! Untie me and fight me like a man. Well see how you do when you fight me from in front this time. Fuck you. Fuck all of you! His day went from bad to worse and Shane was not exactly having a good time coping with his situation. He was practically in the denial stage, not wanting to believe that he was fucked over. His nostrils flared and he was practically snarling. Nobody answered him so he started to kick harder and shout louder. Come on, you cowards! Fight me right now. Let me out of this fucking place! I will kill all you sons of bitches! Shane continued struggling, the rope on his wrists rubbing the skin raw and making him bleed. It might not be that easy to get him to be quiet.