Merbella

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke returned the hug happily. He was glad to feel like he had a true friend he could trust; that someone would have his back if shit went down. He gave Sophia an apologetic look as she told him she hadn’t told him her name because he’d run off. “Yeah… sorry about that. But I had somewhere important to be, and not much time to get there.” He looked down to Ash for a moment and then back to the girls. “Sophia and Katelyn. Got it.” He said as he shook the girl’s hands before they started moving on.

Ashley smiled shyly at Sophia and waved slightly. When Katelyn offered her hand the girl smiled again and looked up at Luke, who nodded encouragingly and she took her hand shaking it gently. “I’m Ashley.” She replied, even though she had already been introduced.

After introductions were out of the way Luke began leading them back to the house. “It’s not very far.” He assured them as they walked around the corner and a walker came into view and he automatically looked to check that Ash was close. She had a knife and a screw driver to defend herself, but she had never had to take down one of these things and he was worried she’d freeze. “A few minutes.” He told them as Marshal moved to take care of it for them. As they turned down the street he led them quickly to the house, back down the side.

“We’ve been staying in the garage, there aren’t any windows and the doors are heavy and lined with metal.” He opened up the door and held it open for the group. Inside there wasn’t much, a mattress on the floor with some pillows and blankets where the pair had been sleeping and a heavy tool chest in the corner, anything that had been on the shelves against the wall had been moved into the house. “It’s not much, but it will keep us safe for the night.” Once everyone was inside he closed the door behind them and locked it.

“There are another few mattresses and blankets in the house upstairs, another double and a single. We didn’t need them before, but it would be an easy matter now. If anyone needs the bathroom there is still a bit of running water from what I’ve seen. But don’t go alone. I can’t guarantee how secure the house it. Marshal wanna give me a hand with getting some bedding down here for everyone?”

“Can I help?” Ash asked as she looked around at the others and then back to Luke.

However he simply shook his head and knelt down to her. “Not this time Ash, why don’t you stay here and keep an eye on our new friend’s hu? Oh, that reminds me, there’s a few tools in that cabinet over there, some of them could make decent weapons if anyone doesn’t have anything yet. Or else there’s some knives still in the kitchen.” He tossed his bag into the corner near the door, Ash putting her bag in the same spot. He’d have to make sure she took some warm clothes before they left and maybe offer some to the others.

He felt a little bad, seeing as this was Ash’s home and they’d effectively be stealing from her parents but right now he had to think about the group and when it started to get cold they’d need warmer clothes.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

I am waiting for wintergrey to post. Unless he wants me to post first?

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Yeah I wouldn't take too kind to people trying to stab me either. As far as Luke's concerned Autumn is unstable and impulsive, too rash to be someone he could rely on, especially whilst he's trying to keep a kid safe. Not saying any of that's true, but it's just his experience with him.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Needless to say, Luke is not overly fond of Autumn haha.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke was keeping up a quick pace, however noticed Ash starting to lag behind and slowed down until she was able to keep up. It wasn’t as fast as he’d like to go, considering how late it was starting to get. But he couldn’t tell her she needed to hurry up either, he was painfully aware of the last time the girl had eaten, not to mention that she was smaller than a lot of them. However five minutes out from the house he stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw ahead of them. Ash, who had her eyes cast down bumped into the back of him, looking up before she followed his gaze to the group in front of them.

Not walkers, but people. People he recognised. Luke’s heart sank. The camp had been breached. How close had he been to bringing Ash back to that place? All for what? Pretty girls? No. A group. He reminded himself quickly. I need a group. It’s that simple. However he also recognised the new addition to the group and could not say he was impressed. “Come on Ash, stay close.” He encouraged as he made his way swiftly over to the small group, softly announcing his presence before they arrived to make sure no more ‘misunderstandings’ occurred.

“Hey! We’re friendlies okay! It’s me, Luke, from the camp? Don’t shoot!” Instantly he went to the brunette’s side, since they still hadn't been properly introduced he wasn’t sure of her name and looked at her with a slight amount of concern. She didn’t look in the best shape; he could see her breathing was a little laboured. He also very intentionally put his body between her and the new boy, turning her slightly away from him so he had those he trusted at his face and those he didn’t just in the corner of his eye.

“Are you guys alright?” Luke asked in concern, looking to the others in worry. “I’d ask what happened, but I can already guess. Look, it’s not much but if you want a secure place to stay… I can show y’all where I’ve been hunkered down for the past couple of weeks, even if it's just for the night. Not much space but no windows, steel lined doors with heavy locks. Aint no dead gonna get in there. But if everyone’s set on moving on I’m more than down for that plan.” He felt a small tugging at his side and looked down to see Ash standing pretty much on top of him, gripping his pants and hiding behind his legs, looking at him nervously.

“It’s alright, kid, there are good guys.” He then looked up to the group again. “Guys, this is my friend Ashley. Ash, this is um… well that’s Marshal. I remember that.” He added with a friendly smile. “But I don’t think I never caught these lovely lady’s names?” He continued, looking to the two girls. He hadn't really acknowledged the other guy since arriving except for an accusing glare that translated to ‘I know what you almost did back at the camp and I don’t trust you’.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke looked at the man in shock at his words, and instantly began shaking his head. "Fuck man, it's only been a few hours, four, five tops. Look she'll be fine alright, we've been hold up in her garage since this thing went down and we've never had a problem. She'll be fine." He repeated, just as much for himself as for the man he was walking with. Ash was a tough kid. Despite everything she was handling this well, better than a lot of adults anyway. She may be getting a little worried but Luke had no doubt she was alive. It was an issue if he never returned that had him worried.

The silence seemed to drag on before the man suddenly started talking again, though it barely felt like he was speaking to Luke, rather simply reliving a personal nightmare. The younger man listened in horror, unable to fathom what he was being told. He had been at an airport when things had taken a turn for the worst too, but the situation had simply panned out differently where he had been. They hadn't had to worry about the dead until most of the living had left the building. He couldn't imagine a parent doing that to a kid, one even younger than Ash. It just... Didn't seem possible.

When asked where the house was he shook his head to snap out of the shock he felt. "Umm... Just down here." He didn't sound certain as he moved down the street, but it was just it's dazed feeling he had from being in so much shock. That story had been eerily close to home wit how similar the circumstances had been. It was hard to think that it could have easily been Ash. They walked most of the way down the street, which he still hadn't bothered to check the name of, before Luke turned towards a house, but instead entered a side gate and began making his was down the side.

Near the entrance to the backyard he stopped at the door and knocked as quietly as he could whilst still trying to ensure Ash heard him. "You might wanna hang back for a tick okay? You might scare her." He said to the man as he waited for a response. However after a minute of noting Luke began to worry. "Ash? It's me, Luke. Can you open the door? Ash!" He turned the handle and was surprised to find it unlocked, he'd told her to keep the place secure while he was gone. Quickly, without caution he opened the door only to find the garage empty. All their stuff was still there, where he had left it, but Ash was gone.

"Fuck. Ash!" Luke called out, forgetting caution in his worry as he barged into the room. "Ash!" The door to the house began opening and he stepped back, drawing out the machete he had taken from her house. However quickly dropped it when he saw a familiar mop of brown hair peek around the corner.

"Luke!" Ash said excitedly as she closed the door behind her and hurried over to him, smiling.

Luke let out an internal sigh of relief and sank to a crouch to look at her. She seemed fine, exactly as he had left her. "What did I tell you about keeping the door locked?" He said eventually. "And not going into the house without me?"

"I had to go to the bathroom." The young girl defended quickly. "And you were gone for so long I couldn't hold it. I unlocked the door in case you came back."

Luke simply sighed softly and smiled at her. "I'm sorry I was gone for a long time. I'm okay, but we have to go now alright?"

Ash looked at him curiously, but eventually nodded her head. Luke had talked to her about moving before, and although she had wanted to stay close to her home he had told her that her dad would more likely end up in a place where there were a lot of people. She could only assume he had found a place like that. Luke got up and grabbed his bag, Ash following in suit. However she gasped and stopped once they were out of the garage, hiding behind Luke at the sight of the large man.

"It's okay, it's okay." Luke quickly assured her. "He's a good guy, he helped me get back to you. This is Ash," he introduced, the girl waving slightly as she smiled shyly at him. "Ash this is... I um... Don't think you ever introduced yourself. That guy at the base called you Leonardo? Was it?" Either way there was no time to delay. They were starting to lose daylight and Luke wanted to get back before it got dark.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke looked to the man as he seemed to come to a block of the guards and he simply stood back and let the situation unfold. If this guy couldn't get him out, no point trying to be a hero, if he could then he could also handle himself. The later was quickly proved right as he easily took down the soldier and was defended by some higher ranked military guy. Nodding slightly to the guards as he passed, no one daring to stop him after what had just happened between his escort and the young soldier. Once he was outside he looked around worriedly. The difference was almost startling.

It was so quiet out here, no movement, and everything seemed to look pale and dull. When the offer was given to him Luke took a few moments to think it through before shaking his head. "I still think you're my best best at getting my friend safely. I don't think this camp thing is a good idea, seems like a cattle farm to me. But I have also begun to realise that I'm just one guy. If anything happened to me, like today or if I got injured or died, then there will be no one to look after her. My best chance of finding a group is, logically, with the biggest group of people. So I do plan on going back once she's safe, I just have to hope I get things sorted out before things go to hell."

The next question was one he thought was reasonable, after all who wouldn't want to know more about where they were going or who they were trying to help. "Her name is Ashley, she's just a little kid, ten she told me anyway. God I can't imagine being ten... In a world like thins? Christ! She's not even related to me for pity's same! Never met her before in my life, I don't know how to look after a kid. I just found her at the bloody airport! Poor kid was sitting next to her mum, crying. The woman had her split open, blood everywhere. It was horrible." He took a few moments to breathe, realising he'd just vented a little, all the frustrations he'd built up over the days.

"But... She grew on me, I suppose. Kept me sane, let me stay in her house with her. As for where that is... Look you're gonna laugh but I don't know. Not an address or anything anyway, I just know how to get there. I only really know the area by sight, no street names or suburbs or anything. Sorry if I'm a bit useless in that respect. It's about a half hour walk from here, maybe twenty if we don't run into, you know, dead guys." He stopped talking but kept up a swift pace, at least for a while. "Thank you," he said softly to the man. "You didn't have to help me, but you did."

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke stopped and turned as he heard a girl call out to him, and he couldn’t help but smile shyly as she caught up. However when she started taking out food for him he quickly shook his head. “Thank you, but I can’t. Not right now, I um...” He’d been thinking it over quite a bit on his way over here, even more since he’d gotten here. He was just one guy, and if anything ever happened to him, then Ash would be on her own. If he had ever died or been injured when he had gone for supply runs she never would have been able to take care of herself.

He had quickly come to the conclusion that he needed a group to ensure both of their safety. And right here, in this camp, while it held, that would be where he would form the connections to ensure survival. So he was going to have to be able to trust these people and he was going to have to be honest with them. “Look, you’re probably going to think I’m crazy when I tell you this, but I didn’t come here by choice. I was dragged here by some military guys ‘for my own safety’, which is all well and good but my friend is still out there.”

He took a small breath and shook his head. “She’s waiting for me to come back. She won’t leave her spot until I do, someone takes her or if her life is threatened. So I need to get back to her before either of the other two happen. Which means I’m going back out there, some old marine guy said he’d take me. I can’t tell you all the details right now, because he said he’d be leaving soon and if I’m not there he’ll leave without me. But save this food okay? No point sending it out there where it can get lost. When I come back, we can sort everything out.”

He smiled slightly and gave her a small nod. “But... thank you, again. Not many people would do what you just did in a time like this.” It gave him a nice feeling of hope, knowing there were still good people in the world. And with that he turned and quickly headed off towards the fence. She seemed like a really nice girl, but no way he was letting anyone else come with him. No one else had to risk their lives to help him.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

Luke looked up to the man gratefully and smiled as he took the offered hand. “Yeah, thanks.” He said, taking it and hauling himself to his feet. “I’m sorry about that, he said, addressing everyone in the tent. “I’m kind of new around here and I was just looking for some food for my friend. I’m not really...” He finally took a moment to look at the people he had intruded on properly and he realised he was in the presence of a celebrity. Her name escaped him at the moment, but she looked very familiar and he was sure he’d seen her in a few hit movies.

“Used to being... around people... um...” All thoughts seemed to just escape him and he stood there for a few seconds looking half shocked half embarrassed. “I um... I’m Luke.” He eventually managed to spit out, offering his hand to the man that had helped him up. With his eyes off the two girls words seemed to come a bit more easily to him. “I um... I’m sorry again, for intruding. I’m trying to get used to this place. It’s so strange after being alone for so long... even if it was just a couple of weeks.”

As more and more sense returned to him he suddenly became aware of the time. “Crap! I um... I have to go. I’m sorry. But um... I’ll hopefully see you guys around later?” He gave them a small, shy and embarrassed smile before stumbling backwards out of the tent, making sure not to trip over the rope again as he made his way to the front gate, curing himself for saying that. Why did his mind always seem to fail him when he was in the presence of pretty girls? However that didn’t matter right now. His window of opportunity to help Ash was small, and it was closing quickly. Still, he thought to himself. Coming back here might not be so bad. Maybe I could get used to it, for a little while at least.

The Walking Dead: Los Angeles

The way the soldier spoke, made it sound more like a threat than like he was trying to help him. Luke initially felt suspicious, wondering why this guy would lie and go out of his way to help a complete stranger. But he chose to think it was because there may be some good people still left in this place, like this woman who had at least taken an interest in him when everyone else had avoided him. At this point this seemed like the easiest way to get what he wanted. An armed escort, being let out of this place willingly with no questions asked?

He really couldn’t have asked for a better escape plan. Once out in the streets he didn’t imagine it would be overly hard to lose the two. Then again maybe simply asking to be left to take his own chances would be enough, if this guy was willing to break rules to get him out who knew what he’d be willing to do? However before he could respond to anything the woman walked right up to him and began telling him off. Luke’s mouth practically fell open and he looked at the pair in shock.

What was she doing? Who in their right mind would be willing to help him after this? Still, he was not going to get in the way. She had… this strange air of importance about her that made him not want to draw attention to himself. Once everything was done he looked up to the woman and gave her a small, hesitant smile. “Um… thanks?” He said uncertainly as he stood. “I’m going to go and um… try and get some supplies together I guess.” He wasn’t really sure how this place worked with things like that, but if he could get some food back to Ash he’d feel better.

“Come find me before you leave? I just want to get back to my friend, out of this place. It’s a bloody death sentence waiting to happen.” With that he gave her a small grateful nod and turned to go before stopping. “My name’s Luke, by the way.” He gave her another nod and quickly hurried off, catching up to the soldier. He still thought it was his best chance of getting out, if the offer still stood, he wanted to keep options open just in case there was a chance that woman couldn’t get him out or if this man had plans to bring him back here after he found Ash.

“Hey, look, right now that little girl is the only thing that matters to me, okay? I don’t care how right now. I don’t know exactly what happened back there… but I’ll still take that escort if you’re offering? I don’t want to come back here, but I understand if you kind of have to make me or something. I don’t care as long I know she’s safe.” He still didn’t want to stay here, but getting to Ash was the most important thing right now. Everything after that could be dealt with as it happens.

Giving the soldier a small nod as well Luke quickly walked away, trying to get used to the crowds. It was so strange having people around after so much time alone. It was even stranger not having Ash by his side. Looking around he made his way towards a tent, not really paying much attention to his environment until he was face to face with a couple of pretty girls, one brunette and one blonde, each could have been a few years either side his age and a guy who looked a few years older than him. A dumbstruck look covered his face and he took a few steps back uncertainly.

“Shit! I um… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude-” He took a few steps back before his foot made contact with a tent rope and he was sent tumbling to his ass. The boy groaned in pain and looked down in embarrassment. That was another thing he wasn't used to; tent ropes.