NEW WORLD
A WALKING DEAD Fanfiction
Summary: Over ten years have passed since the Global Outbreak. Walking corpses have invaded the planet but it is not the only change that has taken place. Humans evolved drastically to adapt to the new world. Some learned to see in the dark and dwelled underground. Some sprouted wings and inhabit the skies—and Daryl Dixon is one of them. This is a story of how human beings try to reclaim the world from the dead.
Chapter 1: The Flyers
“Will I be able to see the sky?” he asked me excitedly; although it does not show in his face, his eyes gave him away.
Hope was born three years ago, in the dark, just like the other children born in these dark times. He was from a neighbouring settlement, the sole survivor of his group after they were attacked by Walkers. My band is a sworn brother of that group and they had called upon us for aid the night of the assault. But we were too late.
“Yes,” I whispered to his ear. I held Hope close to my chest, sitting on my lap as I lean on the rocky wall. There’s only darkness surrounding us and the other sleeping children. Hope’s pale skin, silver blonde hair and inquisitive grey eyes make the boy shine amidst the sea of shadows.
I remember that night, three years ago, as if it only happened yesterday. Our small army arrived at the settlement only to witness our brothers getting devoured by the rotting corpses. As the realization that we were too late to help them dawned on us, we were consumed by rage and killed the monsters in frenzy: we mutilated each and every Walker, taking our time with the kill; aware that whatever pain we inflict upon them is in vain for they cannot feel a thing.
After the carnage we weren’t satisfied and wanted to kill more. I broke into a room but instead of Walkers, I was shocked to see a woman surrounded by blood. I checked for bites but there was none. She was bleeding from childbirth. I am no healer and did not know what to do. I screamed for help but the hardened soil walls were thick and the woman would not let go of my arm. The woman died giving birth to a shining child—literally: pale skin, silver blonde hair, grey eyes.
The baby looked like a ray of hope.
“And the winged-people? Will I be able to see them?” Hope asks again. The children today have developed significantly faster that before the outbreak. A handful has been able to speak like an adult at the age of three—just like Hope. “Yes,” I told him again. “But you should not be afraid when we walk the earth.”
“I’m not,” the little boy answered looking firmly to my eyes. “Because the Flyers will kill the Walkers. They will save us.”
I nodded. “Yes, and they will create a cure.” I brought Hope’s head back close to my chest. “One day we can all walk on land without fear. Just like before.”
“Just like before I was born?” the child whispered.
“Just like before you were born,” I repeated.
Over ten years have passed since the Global Outbreak, the living has evolved and changed drastically to adapt to the new world. The Flyers—human beings that sprouted wings from their back—have fled from land and inhabited the skies. With intelligence enhanced significantly by the evolution, they were able to find a way to create a habitat above the earth, away from the Walkers. They promised the people who were not part of the blessed change—the ones who remained on land—that they will find a cure.
But the people left behind also needed to change in order to survive. They dug and built communities underground. Physical strength was multiplied and changes in their body allowed them to see clearly in the dark and thrive in a place surrounded by rocks and soil.
Hope stirred. Suddenly, the groans and the moans started.
“Oh please, Emyli,” Hope cried burying his face on my shoulder, “make them stop!”
“Shh…shh, it’s okay,” I tried to calm the boy by hugging him and stroking his back. The last thing we want is for the whole quarters full of children to wake up and panic.
The change, however, was not only limited to the living. We thought before that we were safe underground. But as we have seen the attack on that other settlement three years ago, we realized that the Walkers have become desperate, not getting food anymore as we have moved below earth, they also learned how to dig; to claw the soil with their fingers to reach us. It’s not a threat if they’ll do it singularly, but as a herd…it’s a different story.
And that’s what they’re doing now: making holes on earth using their hands and nails. Fortunately, we are too far below that it would take a herd weeks to reach us. Nevertheless, our sensitive ears can tell that the Walkers are straight above us. I can hear each moan as well as the sound of soil being clawed. And Hope can hear them too.
“Make them stop, Emyli,” the boy pleaded. “Call Daryl! Tell him to kill all of them!”
“Shh…shh,” I patted his back. “Daryl will surely come. You go to sleep now and when you wake up, he has slain them all.”
“Promise?” Hope asked still doubtful.
“I promise.”
It’s only then that the boy relaxed. Hope pulled my long, black hair to my shoulder and closed his eyes using it as his pillow. I wrapped him with my arms as I also tried to sleep.
I closed my eyes and the vision I saw is Daryl descending from the skies with his mighty wings and crossbow. I know he will return. He must return. But in my heart I feel a knot; I have a bad feeling on the approaching Descend.
Next chapter: We learn of the winged-people…
Author’s Notes:
Hi guys! This fic might be a little weird as the idea came from my dream again.
Please do leave me a review so I’ll know what you think of this. I’ll put updates/new chapters depending on the response of the readers. I'd like to know if people will be interested in reading a TWD fanfic like this.
Thank you in advance