Episode 1 "Alone Again"

"I've been from LA during the fall with the riots to Arizona, all the way to Georgia where I met Sarah. That first meeting led to a journey to Willmington where we met some amazing people, from there we fought Ryker and his Raiders in our search for Will. We had a common interest with Hailey and her people, a common enemy but the plan didn't go entirely as planned when we found out we had to manually blow the science building up… That began the darkest hour of our lives, I thought that was it, I thought I was dead when I woke up again, Hailey already a walker impaled by me, I knew the others were in trouble, Ryker would catch up to them and kill them if he was to catch up, I wanted to just continue my journey alone but I had unfinished business, I had to catch up to them.

I spent a while following their trail attempting to catch up to them, attempting to stop Ryker, but on my journey I ran into Mel who I thought I lost a long time before that, her friends were taken by Ryker, she pointed me in the direction of Gate City, but when I finally arrived Sarah and the others with the militia of Captain James H. Monroe were already headed to the new compound, we rushed over and arrived at the end of everything. We got there and ran into them, we thought that we finally did it and the threat was dealt with, we were whole again, we wanted to distance ourselves from it all so a select few of us decided to leave and go to Texas where we would be at for a little while, we dealt with people lik Virginia and her rangers but nothing we couldn't handle, she was too caught up in some random group leaving boxes all over the place. We eventually left, we felt as if it wasn't far enough, we said our final goodbyes to Gate City and left for Seattle.

On our journey we went through a town where we all saw stuff we didn't want to see, we went through Vegas and met a small trade community there who helped us out big time. After a little while we pushed on and continued our journey up until we reached California, I saw LA in ruins, we eventually found a couple nomads who led up to the Golden Gate Bridge where a large group took over much of the city around it. They were nice enough to take us all the way through Oregon, from there we pushed on. We were on the road for a long time and met many people and experienced so much until we reached the end of our journey… We reached the Seattle Militia at their colony, we lived there for about half a year before Ryker's Raiders started again, these remnants were angry and out for revenge.

Overtime we ignored it as they went into hiding but after the group split and some went north, we were left with little numbers and they attacked with the group from Vancouver. They killed many, Marcus said something about going out to sea, he abandoned us. I thought I lost Mel for the longest time as we were back on the road again being tailed by hundreds, maybe thousands of walkers led by the remnants and the Vancouver group. They wanted to kill us and take Gate City, our journey was quick, especially when Mel returned, barely alive with news on my parents being out there, I knew I had to look but I couldn't just leave the others… Not yet at least, we led them to Gate City where we prepared and when the day came all hell broke loose, many died… too many, it didn't go as planned… James, Dom, Jim, Mel, John, Josh, Al, so many good people just gone, Mel saved us at the end, led the herd right to their end, me and Jack went out to look for her and we found her… It hurt to see her in the state she was in, Jack put her out of her misery and we buried her with the rest and headed home to Willmington where we've been rebuilding for a while, hoping to have the fresh start we've longed for a long time… But that's the ending for them… I still have one more big journey ahead and nothing is getting in the way… not this time…"

Past:

Sarah sat with Dex on the hill overlooking the original compound with the smell of death coming from around the science building. "So this is it huh?" Dex smiled and looked at the science building where Hailey's body would still rest, "ya know back at the start I was kind of a lonesome drifter, every group I was with didn't work out in some way until I met you." Sarah threw a rock down the hill and took a second, "do you think you'll be back when you find them?" Dex thought about it for a bit and said, "if I find them… Maybe, I kinda like you guys which is why I stuck around, but part of me still wants to live that drifter life, I've been like that for 3 years. I've been sorta with you all for about 2 now, I'm used to the life on the road, maybe I won't leave but I won't come back, maybe I'll just drift, see where the road takes me, stop by every once in a while."

Sarah looked at the roaming walkers and corpses, "ever wonder how many of them were from Wilmington?" Dex looked at the old science building for a bit, "I do know Hailey is in there still...I had no time to bury her when things happened, but we have time now." Sarah nodded as they stood up and walked into the remains of the old compound and quickly took out the walkers there. After that they went around pulling the Wilmington fighters aside, there were only 8 of them that they could see. Sarah told Dex to go on as she got to digging on the hill where she witnessed the building go up. Dex looked at the science building and entered it, he hesitated to open the door but eventually did. Dex walked though and saw nature taking over slowly as he walked up the stairs with dried blood going down. Dex got to the top of the stairs and entered the floor where it all happened.

Dex looked to his right to see Hailey's decomposed corpse sitting there, she looked just like any other walker out there just dead. Dex walked through and saw the old whiskey bottle, still had whiskey in it. Dex picked it up and sat down next to her where he sat before, looking at their broken radios on the floor. "One last drink before we put you to rest, old friend." Dex took a big drink of it and threw it against the wall and watched the glass shattered. Dex was emotional, he had a lot on his mind. He stood up and got himself together quickly as he pulled Hailey off of the rebar she was impaled on. Dex picked her up and walked down the hall to leave the place full of death and bad memories. He stepped outside to see Sarah finishing up the graves, he walked up the hill and put her body down with the rest. Dex looked at the building with Sarah and said, "don't know how you guys kept it together for so long." Sarah looked up from the graves and said calmly, "I never thought I'd see you again, I thought our final moments together would be on that rooftop on that police station, our final real moments…" Dex grabbed Sarah's hand and smiled, "we found each other eventually, this isn't goodbye forever, just for now." Sarah looked up at him after getting it together and said, "if you die I'm gonna be pissed, so make it back alive please." Dex chuckled and said, "yes ma'am. And tonight you better play that guitar for everyone." Sarah smiled and chuckled, "I'll try to remember."

Present:

Dex burst awake in an old van on the side of the road, he looked around to see that the sun was high in the sky. "Shit was I out that long?" he got out of the van with his belongings and walked down the street wasting no time, he lost enough daylight sleeping, now he's in a bit of a rush to search for the rumored communities. Dex looked down the empty road, amazed but annoyed at the amount of trees surrounding him.

Dex walked alone down the street with his mask on and hat with his handgun and machete, he was alone again on his search for his parents. Dex was in Virginia at the time 1 week after leaving Georgia. He walked while looking at the street, he kicked rocks around with no walkers in sight, he walked by an old sign covered in weeds and vines. Dex walked up to it realizing that it could help him determine where exactly in Virginia he was. Dex pushed vines away as he wiped the mud from the sign, all he could make out of it was something about a place called Alexandria, he didn't think too much of it. Dex noted it though for future reference as he looked ahead, he continued to walk down the street alone.

Dex walked right past an old turtle shell as he pushed faster knowing there was a place nearby. Dex saw a lone walker roaming the street, it seemed to not be doing much. Dex pulled his machete out and approached it, Dex took note of it not reacting to him. Dex didn't swing until the person slowly turned to him, "help…" Dex was spooked by this as he backed away, "the hell?" The person walked closer to him and said, "I've been bitten… I can't die out here, I have a family I won't let myself die out here and worry them, I live in a community not far from here… Alexandria, I'm sure you saw that on the sign over there…" Dex looked at that as an opportunity to find out where exactly his parents are. Dex handed him a bottle of water and the man declined it. "No… save it for someone who needs it more… or for yourself, hard to come by these days."

Dex looked at the man and said, "lead the way I guess…" The man started to slowly walk as he tumbled to the ground, Dex realized he stood so still because he was getting light headed and weak. Dex helped him up and helped him walk, "so… tell me about Alexandria while we walk." The man smiled and said, "we are a part of a network of communities, Oceanside, The Kingdom, Hilltop, Sanctuary, and well Alexandria… Not long ago, maybe almost a year ago I lost track, we were at war with this group called the Saviors… long story but out of it the communities came together and formed an alliance… Michonne will be the woman you are looking for when we get there, if she's back… I was supposed to scout ahead but I got bit, I was expecting to die on the road, I couldn't move, lucky you showed up." Dex smiled and said, "that's enough just save your energy. I'll get you there in one piece just don't worry."

The man looked at him and said, "you look like someone with a dark past and many stories… You're looking for someone aren't you?" Dex took a second and said, "my parents… They were last spotted up in this region, I've been searching this whole time, this is the big one, the first piece of hard evidence on them and where they are… " The man admired his will to search that long for something even when all hope is gone. They were at it for a while on the road, ignoring the summer heat beating down on them.

Eventually the man was on the verge of passing out as he pointed at a burnt house in the distance. Through the morning fog Dex could see a metal gate in the distance, he kept the man awake as he walked and walked and walked. Dex eventually made a stop at the main gate, he looked around and saw nobody until Siddiq climbed up to the watchtower, "shit!" Siddiq rushed down to open the gate, Dex helped Siddiq get the man through, Alexandria was stable after the war at this point in time, not quite what it will become in the future. Siddiq had them walking down the street to the infirmary where the man was taken, he soon passed out due to dehydration, Dex looked at Siddiq and said, "I found him on the road, he was in bad shape, he said Michonne and the others are going to arrive soon if that helps any."

Siddiq thanked Dex as he got the man stabilized, "he should be able to pull through for just long enough to say his goodbyes, if you are here for any reason you'll need to consult Michonne when she returns, in the meantime you'll need to hang around here until then which should not be a while, they were just scouting an old warehouse nearby." Dex nodded as he saw in the chair nearest to him, he watched Siddiq work on the man fast, he was impressed by the advancements they had in Alexandria. While he waited Dex looked out the window to see people building things and putting things together, he began to remember one of his last moments at Wilmington.

One Week Ago:

Dex walked through Wilmington just a day before leaving with Lamar as they went through the cleaned streets with a small bit of defenses being put together. "You've come a long way Lamar, since the start, I really think you have it in you to lead this place the same way Hailey did." Lamar smiled as he saw people happy for once, "To think that we of all people eventually grew to be pretty good friends surprises me, two totally different people, different lifestyles became friends in the span of a few days… eventually family." Dex looked back on the past for a bit as the memories all came in fast, "shit… 3 years now… We've been here, to Tennessee, to Texas, all the way to Washington and back within a few years… I wish the ones we lost could be here to see this." Lamar noticed the pain in his voice realizing he was still broken up about Mel, "then tonight on the final night we drink for the ones who aren't here… Jim, Dom, Mitch, Hailey… Mel" Dex chuckled, "I wish that for just one second we could just go back and spend at least 10 minutes with all of them again. I remember those early days with the Compound, the police station, hell that town we went on a run to with Sarah and Jack that was swarming, we thought you were gonna die…" Lamar laughed it off for a bit and said, "shit man… I miss that, we've lost too much already… too many good people… I know that Sarah is planning on going back up to Gate City in a couple weeks for another supply trade with Louis and to grab medical supplies from Clara."

Dex was happy to hear that they were all together in this and had all the help they needed, "I don't know if I'll ever return, I mean you guys are all cool, I've spent the last 3 years attached to you all but… I'm not meant for this life, the road is where I belong, traveling as I always have. I always end up getting people killed or hurt, I'm past living with groups. I only ever stuck around because you all needed the help… Sarah needed help finding Will… Ya know I never told anyone this but back at the Compound when I found out I had survived I was tempted to just go, and never come back, I did what I came for, I wasn't about to go searching for people that could have been dead for all I know. But…"

Dex paused for a bit and took a deep breath, "something changed, I felt as if I wasn't done yet since Ryker and his crew were chasing you guys. I had my chance to kill him during the fight, but I hesitated and he got away, I could have ended it but didn't and I didn't want to be responsible for you all dying… I had another chance to leave after we got him and before we left for Texas at first… I had another in Texas when Virginia offered to have me become one of her rangers… Something kept drawing me back to you all, but that feeling is gone, it's like I did what I promised, now it's time to move on…"

Lamar nodded his head and said, "we're all happy you could stick around even for a little bit, we're happy you were there, you saved us… We'll be fine, we want you to go and find your parents and do what's best for you all. Just know that the gates are always open to you whenever you want… I guess I'll see you tonight at the fire in Monroe, I gotta help with wall reconstruction today" Dex nodded and shook Lamar's hand as they concluded their final conversation together… For now

Present:

Dex wakes up to Siddiq standing over him, "come on they're here." Dex got up and looked over at the man who was already dead with a knife wound to the skull. Dex was a bit saddened by it but shrugged it off fast. Dex left the house and followed Siddiq to the front gate where Michonne was just arriving with a few people from Alexandria. Siddiq approached her and said, "This is Dex, he comes from Georgia, he is up here looking for his parents, he has a lead on them but doesn't know where around here they are." She looked at Dex and tried to figure out if he was trust worthy, "what were their names?" Dex looked down in sadness since he hasn't used their names in 5 years. "Sherry, and Mark...." she thought for a second looked at Dex and said, "I don't know of any Sherry but I knew a Mark who was with a caravan that rolled through here a few weeks ago, they mentioned camping out near DC for a week, maybe you'll find something there. I'd hurry if I were you because they seemed to move fast. They seemed to be with a bigger group, said something about being on a cruise ship out in the Atlantic, originally from the Pacific near LA." Dex lightened up and was hopeful, more than before, "that is the most helpful thing I've heard in a while…"

She looked at him and looked back on the from Georgia part of the conversation and said, "about the Georgia thing… Where at? We came from there a long time ago." Dex looked at him and said, "Around… I came from a community in the backroads, a small colony called Wilmington, very secretive, we fought a group called the Raiders, came from this town called Woodbury… I guess some from Wilmington also, talked a lot about some prison fight, things got bad and they left and created the communities… There was a military compound called Monroe, they were very secretive and held close to the belief that as long as outsiders never know of their existence then they are truly safe…" Michonne noticed the prison fight comment and took a deep breath, it brought back bad memories for him, Michonne noted this and said, "we were at the prison, we were attacked by the Governor and his crew, those Woodbury people were from the prison, they must have survived…" Dex looked at the sun above him and was getting anxious to get going, Michonne offered to give him supplies and a horse for his travels.

Dex loved the idea and thanked them, Michonne noted that the sun was going down and offered to let Dex sleep there for the night to rest up with a real meal and head out in the morning. Dex accepted the offer knowing his parents would have stopped for the night as well, he put his search on pause for one night of safety. Dex would go on to enjoy his stay, he mingled a bit with people but remained fairly distant, he was a bit homesick and missed Wilmington but at the same time he liked being away, worry free. Dex walked down the street to the infirmary where Siddiq was letting him crash for the night as the sun set fast, he was tired, exhausted and wanted a nice, warm bed. Dex jumped on the bed, he was staring at the ceiling when he noticed the bathroom had a shower in it, he got down and walked up to it to see if they had running water. Dex turned the water on and felt the hot water run through, with a smile Dex went in to enjoy a hot shower, he cleaned up good, and went clean shaven, he fixed his hair up a bit to look less messy, he stared at his reflection in the mirror and saw his non apocalyptic self. Dex thought about what life would be like if the apocalypse had never happened in the first place.

Dex looked at his bed and slowly walked up to it, he climbed in and stared at the ceiling once more, he liked this place, he wanted to just stay but knew he couldn't. Dex took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes, he zoned everything out to think back on his final moments with Jack at the old police station they were in before attacking the Compound just a day before leaving.

Past:

"Alright so let me get this straight… you survived the hellstorm in LA alone and got miraculously saved by Mia and her small group… That's some lucky shit right there." Dex chuckled and said, "I thought it was over that day, kind of glad it wasn't… I miss those old days, especially on the road with Mel and her parents, we all had this fun bond, we'd go places, fish, hunt, we were living normal lives somehow on the road." Jack took a drink of his old vodka he found in the ruins, "so I heard you two were a thing thing then… Didn't know that was going on…" Dex looked at the walkers roaming the streets for a bit, "yeah we were for a while until the day when Mel left to be on her own out there… She was afraid she would get me killed because of her grief and the fact that she wasn't focused." Jack took in the fresh air for a second and said, "she was a good kid, always a fighter, always smart and logistical… Here's to Mel who can't be here to celebrate our rebuilding." Dex took the vodka and took a big drink of it.

Jack took the bottle and threw it at the walkers down below, he watched as is shattered over one's head and went everywhere. Dex and Jack looked at the walkers for a bit in the street, "remember that time when you and Sarah first arrived and I took you out to go scouting to show you what we were up against? Ya know I only opened up a lot then because I saw some potential in you, the kind that would lead us to victory, the kind that would keep up going." Dex took a deep breath and said, "I don't consider the ones who died a victory, it was simply helping Sarah because I got tangled up in the business with the Raiders more than I was before, but…" Jack looked at him and said out loud, "those lives died fighting for something, they went in knowing what would happen, it wasn't you, it was them, always remember to keep fighting for what's right, without you we would have died, I never thought all of us would come to depend on each other in this god damn world…" Dex smiled and looked at the sun rising and said calmly, "I'm gonna miss you people, all of you but my work here is done, the raiders are done for, it's time for me to continue what I set out to do at the start… Alone…"

Jack looked at him with a smile and said, "well good luck out there, I hope you find them, I hope you find the happy ending you've been looking for." Dex looked at him and paused for a bit, "I feel like I'm abandoning you all, I mean we spent the better part of 3 years together, surviving… Depending on each other, but at the same time I feel like I need to do this, it's difficult." Jack sighed and chuckled, "I was like that once a long long time ago, you gotta do what's best for you… Sure you and Sarah are pretty close, like super obviously together close but I think I speak for all of them when I say you should go and do this, you should never leave loose ends and unfinished business. You did what you came here to do, now finish this thing, find them… Maybe you can bring them back here who knows." Dex nodded his head and said, "guess we'll cross that road when we get there." Jack and Dex went on to enjoy the nice day back home, they enjoyed the joy in the air for the first time in 3 years.

Present:

Dex was walking to the gate of Alexandria ready to leave to continue his search into DC, he was stocked up, well rested and ready to continue the journey with high hopes now. Siddiq made sure he got a map of the city before leaving with markings on where the caravan has been to and where they could be next. He was oddly happy, it seemed like his search was finally coming to an end. Dex walked through the gate as Michonne stopped him, she approached him slowly and said, "when you get there be careful, there are usually a lot of walkers there, some you can't see right away, keep your eyes open. You're a good person with a dark past, I can see it in you, don't let the darkness take over… Don't die…" Dex smiled and remembered when Sarah told him the same thing as he nodded to her, and walked away to resume his long journey once again.

Dex was once more alone, he was bothered by what happened to the man he found but he pushed through it and continued. He held the straps on his bag as he felt energized, ready for anything at that moment. He walked for a little bit until he finally made it to the outskirts of DC, he looked down the road and smiled as he saw the district, he had never been there before, he always wanted to go there. Dex looked around and saw the nature overgrowth in the city. Dex walked forward and took in the sight for a minute before heading into more uncharted territory

"The date is August of 2015… Damn to think 5 years ago around this time I'd be getting ready to start school, now I'm doing this shit… Well I guess in a way there were some good things about the world ending… It's been a week and one day since leaving Willmington behind to travel in search for my parents who I know are out here. I know they are near, if I don't find them here I hope to find them on this cruise ship out in Boston. I hope this journey is going to be worth it in the end… I hope the others are doing great down south… I miss them already…"

Past:

Dex, Will, Sarah, Jack, Lamar, Coco, Izzy, Mia, Rachel, Luis, and Knox sat around a big fire in Monroe with everyone from the Colony, Wilmington There to celebrate a new life for them. This small group was around a big fire they made for themselves to have one last night before Dex leaves. Sarah was in the process of replacing her guitar strings as the others talked. "Okay okay, so I have an idea, lets go around this circle and give off our first impressions of each other when we first met…" Sarah smiled and looked up, I always thought you all were alright, you reminded me of Monroe before it was attacked… you all remind me of what I've lost, it's nice… Dex though… I wanted to shoot him badly when we first met, I wanted to pull that trigger but didn't, I was sad, lost, and angry, I had nothing to take my anger out on after Monroe… I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger… That one tiny decision led to an adventure one could only dream of… I'm glad we could all be together through this, through all we have lost along the way. I'm happy we could be together today, wishing people like Hailey, Mel, Mitch, Dom, Jim, John, and everyone else we lost could be here physically with us…"

Jack nodded and took a drink to what she said briefly, "when I got to Willmington shortly after it was established Lamar and Hailey took me in, I was lonely, my wife and kid were just murdered… They became family fast, gave me the second chance I needed… They showed me that there is good in this shitty world… Dex… Damn what a character, I saw some potential in him, I saw the leadership, the willingness to take leadership and to make the sacrifices required to make it… Sarah, and Will are just two people with dark pasts, they've seen enough to change someone for the worse and they didn't we need people strong like that, people who don't let the past impact them, they move forward, that's a trait we all need,I liked all of you crazy people from the start and it won't change."

Lamar threw a stick in the fire and looked around, "At first I was hoping Dex and Sarah would be gone as quick as they came but damn they grew on me fast. Hailey saw something I didn't and in a way you guys are the reason we aren't dead now. I like the way each and everyone of us have our own unique way of things that allows us to work so damn well together… We're all so different and that kept us alive…" Lamar looked at Mia and noticed she wanted to say something to Dex, he was too drunk to speak much so he let her take over, Mia looked over and said, "when we found you we thought you'd be dead soon, we were prepared the whole time for that to eventually happen… Eventually you didn't and you became family and we all travelled around together… I didn't think we would be where we are today ever, I always thought we would die on the road somewhere…" Rachel butted in and said, "this is getting too depressing, we're supposed to be having a good time, not a bad time, laughing, not crying." Luis looked at Sarah and said, "you ready?" Sarah pulled her guitar out and played a few strings before pausing before playing. "Some of you will remember this from our last night at Gate City before going to Texas."

"I feel so extraordinary, something's got a hold on me, I've got this feeling I'm in motion, a sudden sense of liberty… I don't care cause I'm not there, and I don't care if I'm here tomorrow, Again and again I've taken too much of the things that costs you too much Iused to think that the day would never come, I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun, my morning sun is the drug that brings me near to the childhood I lost replaced by fear I used to think that the day would never come that my life would depend on the morning sun that the day would never come, when I was a very small girl, very small girls talked to me, now that we've grown up together, they're afraid of what they see, that's the price that we all pay, our valued destiny comes to nothing I can't tell you where we're going, I guess there's just no way of knowing, I used to think that the day would never come, I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun, my morning sun is the drug that brings me near to the childhood I lost replaced by fear I used to think that the day would never come that my life would depend on the morning sun that the day would never come, I feel so extraordinary, something's got a hold on me, I've got this feeling I'm in motion, a sudden kiss of liberty, the chances are we've gone too far, you took my time and you took my money, and now I fear you've left me standing, in a world that's so demanding…"

Dex looked at her and said calmly, "True Faith… that was a good night." Jack stared at the fire as they all sat there enjoying the peaceful night before Dex leaves.

END