It was two days after we got separated from Merida, but we kept walking. I had to, Flynn wouldn't have it any other way. He says that walking keeps you two steps ahead of the walkers (he called them zombies), but I was tired and so was he.

And we really needed supplies. I had run out of what little food and first aid supplies I packed, and Flynn was almost out of ammunition in that bottomless satchel he carried.

I didn't want to be negative, but Flynn wasn't very talkative today. Not that he was always the one starting conversations but this lack of socializing was killing me. I wanted to connect with him, I didn't want to feel like a burden.

"So... Flynn," I said, starting conversation. "Where are you from?"

"Whoa, Blondie." He used that nickname again. It's cute. "I don't do backstory. But I am a little curious about yours. Now I don't know if it's too personal to ask if you have any family-"

"It is."

"Frankly I'm too scared to ask about Braveheart."

"Merida." I reminded.

"Nuance. But what I should ask is pretty important." He looked in my eyes, turning serious. "Have you ever shot a gun before?"

"Uh... no?"

"Well you should learn how to. It's the best chance against zombies I've found."

"I have my frying pan." I showed him my iron cast weapon. It still had that first brain stain. I HATED that stain.

"You do and quite frankly I'm scared to cross you when you have that." As he should. "But it's something important you need to learn. Soon."

"I learned a lot, you know."

"And that's good. We need someone who knows there way around a first aid kit." He said, looking at me sincerely. I felt my cheeks flush at his stare. "Speaking of, how are we on medicine?"

"Not too good."

"Well when we find a- HALLELUJAH!"

His outburst made me jump, but then I saw what he was cheering about and I yelled too. I never felt so happy to see the mall in my life.

"There's no telling what we can find in there." He said, looking like a kid on Christmas day. It might as well have been. "Maybe we'll find some food."

"Or some new clothes."

"Maybe even running water!" We said at the same time, which made us both laugh. I smiled at him, he smiled back. Looks like having a light of hope does do you good. Just like Mom and Dad used to say.

"Race ya'!" I bolted down the hill before he could spit out a response.

When he finally caught up with me at the door, we got serious again. We went in and I had forced myself to not freak out. It's been too long since I've seen anything that wasn't a tree or grass. Nature was nice, but seeing something that looked a bit like life before felt greater than seeing a few flowers.

We looked around for a long time. Most of the stores were locked up and some that weren't didn't even have anything worth taking. I've never liked stealing, even before all this. There are other people who could use it instead of me. But Flynn always had an argument for why it was okay.

"No one to catch you. And you're only in trouble when you get caught."

"The world is crumbling apart, Goldie. Feel free to follow the rules that aren't there anymore."

"Do you think a zombie would look good in these pumps?"

Hours had to have past until we finally stumbled on a department store. That could mean fresh clothes for the both of us. Or at least, anything better than these grimy things. 3 week old clothing, ugh! He went with me to look for my clothes first. That was kind of sweet of him.

"Finally, Lady Luck is on our side." He rifles around the rows of shirts still untaken.

I was busying myself with a sizable jeans search. "What are we looking for exactly?"

"Something that will last. Or at the very least, something that will fit." He held up a pink graphic tee that was at least 5 sizes too big. "You're so tiny."

"I'm a growing girl." Ooh. These jeans might work.

"Here." He said, tossing a purple tank top into my arms. "You go change, I'm going to check in the back for any… stuff that can help."

"Okay." Then I began a search for a changing room. Any walker tries answer my call to death, they can tell that to my frying pan. I found one by the men's area, and a blue vest that Flynn would probably like.

When I was safe inside the little cubby, I saw my reflection for the first time in a long time.

I was a mess. Twigs and leaves were still stuck in my ponytail, blood that wasn't mine was coagulated on my top, tears in my skirt, and by now my favorite chucks were tattered beyond use. I felt so dirty and icky and I hate it. I hate it! What would Merida tell me? Keep your head up girlie! Getting your hands dirty never hurt one nottin'. I pulled my hair out of its tie and let it fall across my back like a golden cape. I'm in need of a change.

We all are.

I dragged my old, ratty clothes off of my tired body, then slipped the new ones on. I went to pull up my jeans when a rotten hand grabbed at my ankle. A walker grabbed me! In the CHANGING STALL! I whammed my frying pan over its head with a shriek.

I scurried to the other side of the cramped space, trying to put as much distance from it as I could. Was it dead? Like dead dead? I think it is. I pulled my pants up and checked, tapping it with the pan. It's dead.

It twitched. I whammed it again! That did the trick, the pan was coated with walker brains and blood. Gross.

I walked out, scraping the remains of the undead person off the wall.

"BLONDIE!"

I ran outside and Flynn was standing there out of breath and looking very worried.

"What?"

"I thought I heard you scream." He said panting.

Oh he was worried. Aww. No, no, just play it off. Play it cool. "Oh. I did. A walker just surprised me."

"A zombie?!"

"Walker. Yeah it was in the stall next to me. It tried to grab me, but I got it."

"... You got it?"

"Yeah."

He looked so perplexed and at the same time impressed. "Wow. That's pretty impressive, Blondie."

"I know!" Uh-oh, I broke the cool. I can still save it. "I know."

He smiles again as he looks me over, top to bottom. "They fit okay?"

"Yeah, they do." I noticed he was wearing the vest I found. Don't look at the opened buttons, don't look at the open buttons. Just compliment him. And stop blushing! "You look good too."

"Thanks. I found some first aid stuff."

It wasn't much, but it was enough for two. He also found a sturdy pair of shoes my size. I had assumed we had found everything we could find, but Flynn didn't want to leave the mall without finding more ammunition. The safest of safeties I suppose.

We looked and searched and plundered until at last we hit the jackpot: a pawnshop. A pawnshop in a mall. This place really did have everything. We took different sides of the shop and searched for anything we could use. I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find a single bullet for Flynn. So I took what I did find and met him halfway to take inventory.

"So what did you find Blondie?"

"Not much." I said, feeling disappointed. "I found a holster strap, an empty cartridge, and an old backpack with a big hole."

"I found a combat belt, some gloves, and this." He held up a pistol right in my face, it looked almost new. "9mm Beretta."

"Any, uh... any bullets?" I ask, not sure how to.

He took out the magazine to show me. "About 7 or 8 shots. Which means you get 2 to practice on." He fixed the gun up and shoved it into the holster before putting it in my hands. It felt heavy and bulky. No, this wasn't me.

"Flynn. No, I can't. I-"

Flynn put his hand on my shoulder and he looked me in the eyes. He was serious again, but concerned too. "I know it's scary and it's obviously a big deal for you, but you can not freak out. We have to keep ourselves alive, by any and every means we can. And I am not going to let you die because you got scared at the wrong time. Okay?"

He was right. He wanted to live and he wanted to make sure I lived too. I would tell him I was so grateful for him caring about me that much if I wasn't on the verge of crying. I didn't want to shoot anybody, I didn't even want to smash them with my pan but I did and I hate it! I wish I was strong like Flynn or Merida, she would know what to do. But she would do the same thing Flynn is doing now. So I forced myself to not cry and nodded.

"Did you find anything else?" I asked, my throat hot with a choked sob.

"I did." He smiled that sweet smile to cheer me up. "A monthly subscription to Guns and Ammo. Perfect for your gun-activists and kindle for fire everywhere."

I couldn't stop my laugh. It was nice to have someone with a sense of humor. We gathered our findings together, the gun felt weird at my side. That's when we heard something crash to the ground. He pulled me behind an empty rack, his pistol was at the ready. Bravely, but carefully, Flynn stepped out. And was tackled by a big white barking monster.

"No! No! Stop it! Let me go!" Flynn kicked the beast off of him with his rugged boot and I saw that it was a big white dog. And Flynn was gonna shoot him!

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" I urged, trying to control the dog and stop Flynn. He looked scared out of his wits. "Easy boy, easy. Stop it. No, settle down. It's okay."

The dog stopped, almost like it's been trained. Its eyes were locked on Flynn like homing missles. "That's it. Now sit. Sit." And it sat.

"What?" Flynn couldn't believe it.

"Aww. You're such a good boy aren't you?" I gave him sweet pets and scratches under his chin and ears, and it panted happily from it. "You're just a big sweetheart aren't you? Are you lost?" There was a collar on its neck. "Are you lost Maximus?"

"Max?" Flynn gasped. "I can't believe it. The damn mutt actually found me."

"You know this dog?"

"Yeah. And I want it gone."

"Oh come on. It's just a dog, Flynn. He's probably lost. Are ya'? Are ya' lost Max?"

Max barked and scurried out of the store and stopped. He barked at us again.

"I think he wants us to follow him."

"Nope. Nu-uh. Not happening." He insisted.

"Flynn, he could lead us to a better place. It might have people there. Real living people!"

"I'm not following anywhere that hellhound takes me! Might wind up in a ditch somewhere."

"He's just a dog."

"That belongs to someone else."

"Flynn. Please, just... can you please trust me on this one?" I asked. "I've trusted you since we meet-"

"Still a bad idea if you ask me." I heard him mutter.

I grab his hand. "But I have a really good feeling about this. I really think that Max can help us. Who knows where or who he might lead us to. So can you trust me? Please?"

Flynn didn't answer. His eyebrows crossed in contemplation. He needed more convincing, so I stuck my lip out in a pout. Please don't say no to the pouty lip Flynn.

He sighed, aggravated. "Fine. Just keep that fleabag away from me."

Thank the sun for pouting!

We followed Max way out of the mall and through a grassy field. And we kept following long after the mall left our sight. Flynn stayed behind me, he says Max likes me and that makes him feel safe. Max sniffed the ground as he led us to wherever he was taking us. He stuck it in the air and dashed to the right.

"We've been following him for 2 hours. I'm still waiting for that hope you were building up."

"Just be patient, Flynn. Max knows where he's going." Max barked for attention. I saw where he was leading us, it was a barn not too much farther away. "Look! We're here."

We made it to the barn just as Max slipped through the cracked door. I stepped in and I lost my breath. Max was licking the face of a man covered and blood and looked surely dead. I rushed to his side and shook him.

"Sir! Sir! Are you okay? Are you... an undead?"

A loud, gurgling cough signaled his wake. "No. I'm not. Who are you?"

His speaking was slow and he struggled to breath with slow rasps of air. He had big scratches all along his body. The blood looked fresh when it wasn't caked over dried blood. He even had a lot in his big squirrely mustache.

"My name is Rapunzel. Is Max your dog?"

"Yeah. I- Rider?"

Flynn stood shock still at the door, his eyes were bugging out of his head. He came and knelt down to look at the fallen man. "Hey Cap. How you feeling?"

"Fucking bullshit is how I feel."

Wait, Flynn knows this man? "You two know each other?"

"Yeah I know him. I've been looking for Rider for a long time now." He gives his loyal pet a grateful scratch with his limp hand. "I send for help and you bring me Rider. Good boy, Maximus"

He was looking for Flynn? Why would somebody be looking for Flynn? Did he do something wrong? I can't focus on that now, there's a man that needs healing.

"No. No." He stops me from taking my medicine out. "Don't bother."

"What?"

"I was attacked by a fleet of walkers a day ago. Took a few chunks out of me."

Flynn seethed at the site of his wounds. "You get them back?"

"Yeah I beat their heads to hell with my club." He started to chuckle but broke out in a coughing fit.

It got silent, neither me nor Flynn wanted to point out the obvious bleeding elephant in the room. So "the Captain" did.

"Rider." He said in between heavy breaths. "Do me in."

"What?"

"Do me in." He said a bit louder.

"No. No way Captain. You gotta get up, you want to bring me in dontchya? Take me back? I'm right here. Come on, you just got to get up."

"I'm dying, you imbecile!" He roared, he coughed up blood this time. "I can't go. I can't. But don't let me turn. I don't want to become like them. I won't become one of those monsters. That's worse than dying. Don't put me through that… please."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I never heard anybody wanting to die before. Seeing his wounds it wasn't hard to see why. I couldn't fix this, even with all my know-how I couldn't even hope to save him. Now I feel really useless. Max whined and cuddled into the Captain's hand.

"It's alright Max." He said, petting his friend's ear. "I'm gonna be fine. I'm gonna be just-"

Brains flew from his head. Smoke leaked out of Flynn's gun. I had to remember to breathe.

Flynn put his gun away and started rifling the recently deceased man's pockets, robbing him of the ammunition and anything else out of his pockets.

"What are you doing?!" I try smacking him away but he shoved me hard onto my butt.

"He doesn't need them anyway!" He snapped. He glared at me with angry, scary eyes. "It's what we have to do!"

He stomped out the door, grabbing a discarded Ranger backpack that must have been the Captains. Flynn was never like this. He would be frustrated or annoyed with my hesitance or Merida, but never angry. Never this angry. He wouldn't just kill to kill, but should he have? Did asking for death make it any different? Max licked my fingers. His lush white coat was stained.

"It's okay, Max." I tell him. I'm still shaking, I can't look at the body. I just can't. "I'm gonna take care of you now. Okay?"

Max whined sadly.

"Okay, let's go."

And so I took my new friend to catch up with Flynn. These just might be the only friends I have left in the world.

We walked on in silence. Flynn was quiet for hours, he didn't say one word to me. I won't tell him but I think I heard him crying a bit. As the sun went down it started getting cold. We built a fire, still not talking. We had a "dinner" of canned fruit cocktail and beef jerky. I can't stand the quiet. I needed him to talk, make him if I have to.

"Flynn?"

He didn't look up from the fire, but he wasn't really looking at the fire.

"You okay?"

He sighed. "No. No I'm not."

...

Quiet again.

"Who was that man?" I ask as gently as I can.

Flynn glances at Max, who's been just as quiet since we made camp. Flynn tossed his slice of jerky his way. "There ya go, mutt."

Max took the offered meat, we watched him chew before Flynn spoke again. "He was a guard captain at a prison upstate."

"Oh. Was he like a family friend?"

"Not really." Another sigh. "I... I did time there."

What? Flynn was a criminal?

"I got a few months for robbing a jewelry store. I guess you could say he took a shine to me. By that, I mean, he gave me a shiner whenever I stepped out of line. Which was often, but I don't blame him. Max was his dog. I think he hated me more than the Captain." He inched away from Max. "Still do."

Max came to cuddle with me. "But why was he after you?"

"Well... me and my 'bunk buddies' broke out. Which, just so happened, to be about the same time as..." He gestured around him. "Ya' know."

I did know. I knew all too well. "Did you know much about him?"

"Other than he hated me as much as he loved his job? No. He was a good man though. Just trying to keep bad people like me away from better people like you."

He smiled shyly at me. I guess opening up to someone is new to him. He actually trusted me enough to tell me something that serious about himself. He shouldn't be the only one.

"Ya know... I, uh... have a secret of my own."

He looked blankly at me. "Really?"

"Mmhmm."

His left eyebrow raised in a manner so disbelieving.

"I'm..." I can't believe I'm saying this. Just get it over with. "I'm not a real blonde."

"Is that it?" He said like he was expecting more.

"Uh... I guess? I used to have short brown hair like my mom. Hers was almost as long as mine is now. But when I met Merida," I start to choke up at the thought of my BFF. Is she as safe as she was? I was twisting my hair again. "When I met Merida and we became best friends, she told me one day that I would look good as a blonde. So I dyed it when I was twelve and I've... been a blonde ever since."

Flynn still held that expectant look. "That true?"

I pulled my cape of hair past my neck and showed him the few strands of brown under my blonde mop that still had the brown pixie cut of my tween years.

"Huh. I wouldn't have taken you for a brunette."

"Really?"

"Yeah. To be honest, I've got kind of a thing for brunettes."

I'm blushing again, I know it. And Merida would be laughing at me. "I just didn't want you to be the only one to tell a secret."

"Well, we all have our secrets." He said, staring into my eyes. "Don't we, Rapunzel?"

And I'm staring back. That was the first time he called me by my name since we met. It's always been "Blondie" or "Goldie" or "Short Spunky Girl" that one time. Never Rapunzel. Did I really make that much of an impression on him? Is he blushing too?

"Well," He said, laying back against his rock. "Unless we want to swap ghost stories next, I think we should hit the sack don't you?"

"I guess so."

I laid down on the grass, Max was still cuddled against my arm. I watched the fire turn into cinders as I felt the weight of the day crash my body into sleep.

"Flynn?"

"I'm sleeping." He groaned.

"Do you think things will get better?"

He didn't answer for a while.

"Flynn?"

"I don't know." He finally said, looking at me over his shoulder. "I guess we'll find out. Sweet dreams Rapunzel."

Sweet dreams. I don't think I've had a sweet dream since before all this. What would tomorrow bring? Would Merida be doing this good? Was this even good? I miss her. I miss my home. I miss Mom. And Dad. I wonder if Flynn missed anything from before. Or anyone.

"G'night, Flynn." I said, already asleep. When I dreamed, I dreamed of what tomorrow would bring. Any... zombies to see. Any real person I could meet. Anything Flynn might say to me. I just didn't know.

Guess I'll find out.