Mel's POV

I can't help but sigh when I notice that the pink hue of the sky has already faded to a dark grey which is now quickly becoming pitch black. The clouds from earlier must have carried over into tonight because not even the light of the moon or stars are able to penetrate the darkness. It's just out of habit that I find myself squinting my eyes, hoping that it will help me find my way through the night. With my legs shaking I know it won't be long before they are no longer able to hold up my weight. Then as if on cue, I stumbled over a dead log.

Offering up a silent thank you, to whoever might be listening above, that my arms decide to cooperate and catch me before I face plant on the ground.

Of course, the small victory is short lived when my brain starts to register the shooting pain radiating from my palms.

With a groan, I roll over onto my back to look over the damage. Raising my hands so that they are hovering over my face, I'm relieved to see that it is minimal. It's actually one of the lesser injuries on my body, but it still causes a hiss of pain to leave my mouth when I pull out the three thorns embedded deep in my skin.

"Why can't I catch a break?" I say to no one because there is no one else around. It has been that way for a week. Actually, I am not exactly sure of how many days have passed. After a while things like days just started to blur together. All I know is that I have lost the people I love. So, it could have been a week or it could have been months. It doesn't matter. The fact is I am still alone.

Plus, I am almost positive that God has given the big, "You're on your own", to all his creations on earth. I read that message loud and clear after encountering my next-door neighbor, James, stumbling toward me a few weeks back. It would have been fine except he was dragging his insides behind him. If that wasn't concerning enough, when I went to help him he tried to take a bite out of me. That was when I noticed the nice old man I had known since I was a child was in fact a walking corpse.

The news said that it was some kind of outbreak and to stay inside until it was under control. Of course, that was a while ago and the outbreak or whatever it is doesn't seem to be under control yet. Daddy thought it was God's reckoning but daddy thought a lot of things being a southern Baptist preacher and all.

I have no clue what is going on. All I know is that if I want to stay alive I have to keep moving.

Oh, but the cool ground feels nice. Maybe I should just stay here. What is the point anyway? Everything just feels so hopeless.

I feel hopeless. Why am I even trying to keep going? Where am I going? My family is dead and I have already been through more than one person can possibly handle. Why am I still trying to survive? It would be so much easier to just stop. Just lay here, not get up, and see what happens.

"God will look after his flock baby girl." That had been my daddy's favorite saying when we were going through a hard time.

Looking up towards the heavens for some kind of confirmation, I'm not surprised when I find nothing. I am not sure of what I am looking for but I just need something. My eyes find the same night's sky I have seen for the last couple of nights. But then the clouds finally start to part and a few stars are begin to peak through. A hundred pinpricks of light. Even dulled by the clouds the stars are vibrant. It's the only thing that has managed to become more beautiful since the world became hell on earth.

There are too many to even try and count, but I try. What else was I going to do?

My eyes are growing heavy when I feel a large plop of water hit my forehead. Immediately followed by another on my cheek.

I can't stop the rise of laughter as I realize what my life has become. It almost feels like a movie. All I am missing is a wacky cohort that said just seconds before the rain started to fall, "Could be worse. Could be raining."

The bitter laughter stops as I crawl over to a nearby tree, hoping that the leaves will offer some kind of shelter from the rain. Even with the leaves catching some of the water I am still soaking wet in a matter of minutes.

Wrapping my arms around myself to stop trembling from the chill that seems to burrow into my bones. I try to think of a positive thing. It was something my sister and I had always done.

Finally, a thought came to me.

"The bright side?" I said to myself "I needed a bath anyway."


Allowing one eye to open slowly.

Shit.

I was still here in the woods. Every time I wake up a silent prayer is in my head. That it had all been a dream. So far no luck and I am still trapped in this living nightmare.

My hand goes to my stomach; there is one change, this is the first morning that my stomach isn't growling like a savage beast. Since I still hadn't eaten anything to appease the beast I'm not sure it is a good sign. Maybe my stomach is giving up the fight as well.

Acceptance.

Something catches my attention and I lift my head at the familiar sound of feet shuffling, dragging against the forest floor.

I entertain the idea that I can just lay here and see if the thing passes over me. Maybe it will mistake me for one of their own. I 'm not really sure if I am even still alive –maybe I am already dead.

Against my better judgement, I push myself off the ground, cussing at the pain the thorns left behind the night before. Immediately my legs start screaming for me to stop as I push them further than what they wanted. It has been days of just walking and running. I just need them to keep going a little further but the constant burn in my muscles tells me that they aren't going to last much longer.

My pace quickens when the growling finally reaches my ears. They only growl when they find a meal and I know from experience that those monsters won't stop as long as you are still in their sights. There is no way I can out run those things, not with both me and my legs already beyond exhaustion.

On instinct, my hand grazes my right hip to make sure I haven't lost my only weapon. It is a simple knife that daddy has used on hunting trips for as long as I can remember. For the most part I have been lucky, managing to avoid most of the dead and only having to kill two of them since daddy died.

I have seen the monsters grouping together lately. Like some kind of dead parade, they just follow each other. I'm just grateful that so far, I have been able to find a hiding spot that let them walk right past me. Looking around, I find that there is no hollowed-out tree or brush that I can use as cover this time. I know I am dead if a group of those things get near me.

I stop and close my eyes trying to hear if it is a group or just a lone monster coming my way. I might have a chance if it is just one of them.

It is impossible to hear anything over the thundering of my heartbeat. If I don't get my emotions under control quickly, I am going to start panicking. I can already feel the bubble of fear making its way up my throat. Taking a deep breath in and slowly letting it out I hear the shuffling and growling getting louder.

When I open my eyes I only feel marginally better. A new sound keeps me frozen in my tracks and my ears listening. My practiced breathing stops as I try to hear a repeat of what I thought I heard.

Either I am going crazy and hearing voices, or I had actually head someone yelling out here.

Nope. There it is again; someone is definitely shouting up ahead.

Damnit.

I am ashamed to say that after confirmation of another living person I am still frozen. However, this time it is in fear. In my experience of this new world so far, living people are not a good thing. In fact, they are the worse type of monster.

Pressing my thumb into the palm that has recently been attacked by thorns I welcome the pain. It is something that manages to stop the memories that were coming to the forefront of my mind. The pain is friendly -something I can manage and use to my benefit.

With the haze of fear slowly disappearing, I realize where I am and what I need to do.

I have to hide. Now.

After the threat of the dead and the living monsters pass then I can go back to trying to find my way to the highway. Maybe there I can find a car if I'm lucky. Even though lately it seems that luck is a bitch who wants nothing to do with me.

A pine tree is up ahead, there was no way I can climb it but it might be big enough to hide my body behind it.

"Sophia!"

The people or person is getting closer. The man shouting has a gruff voice, one that makes me jump. I try to make myself as small as possible. Knife in hand and my eyes scanning the woods. I still don't see anybody.

Then a twig snaps to my right and my head turns in that direction. My eyes land on the face of a decaying animated corpse and it is coming right at me. I've been so focused on the living threat that I completely forgot about the dead one.

My hand is shaking as it grips the knife. The rough hilt of it still feels foreign in my hand as I raise it in front of me.

Abandoning my hiding spot, I attempt to retreat backwards but I am walking blind and I find myself on my ass after another stick trips me. Crab crawling backwards, I am forced to stop when another tree blocks my path. The hard bark pushing into my back. It is unyielding and now I have nowhere to go. Great.

The monster is clumsy and its feet trip over the brush causing it to land close to my feet. It doesn't stop its advances. In fact, it is just starts to crawl towards me. Growling and chomping its teeth like it can't wait to take a bite out of me.

Its cold hand lands on my leg and I can feel it through the fabric of my jeans like it is burning me. I franticly try to kick it off but its grip is strong and it uses my jeans to pull its mouth closer to my skin.

I realize that I am screaming, but honestly, I don't know how to make myself stop at this point. Its gnawing mouth finds my shoe as I continue to kick it in the face. I just need to dislodge its grip then I can run.

Finally, my foot makes contact with its head. A sickening crack sounds but doesn't deter the dead man. His teeth snapping only becomes more violent. Like all I have managed to do was piss it off.

I can't get away from it and I don't want to risk pulling myself up to my feet to stab it in the head. I don't know how quickly it will advance if I stop kicking, and the last thing I want to risk getting a bite.

My hands are grabbing the ground beneath me. Not sure what I am looking for or what I will find–a long stick maybe?

Letting out another frustrated scream I grab the only thing I can, a handful of the leaves and dirt. Throwing them at the monster that is not relenting in its efforts to make me a snack. I haven't stopped kicking but the grip on my leg hasn't loosened either.

There are no other options. I am already getting tired from my struggles but the monster is showing no sign of fatigue.

"Get. Off. Of. Me." I accent each word with a kick to its head. With no other choice, my hand shoots to the buttons of my jeans and starts to loosen them. Maybe if I take my pants off the monster won't have anything to grip? I'm not sure if my logic is sound or not I just don't want its teeth on me.

Taking another look at the monster at my feet, I start to pull the pants down. With my eyes watching to make sure that the monster doesn't have the chance to get a quick bite, I see the head of the monster shoot backwards.

I am left stunned at what has happened. The grip finally loosens and an arrow is now sticking out of its eye. Then a thud sounds as the dead body becomes dead weight on top of me.

Immediately I pull my legs away while looking around as I pull my pants back up. I am searching for where the arrow came from. Arrows came from people –unless the dead has started using weapons then I am really screwed.

There. To my right, coming out of the woods I notice something moving.

It's a man and he is stalking towards me. His face is set in a scowl but he ignores me and stomps past where I am still on the ground to grab the arrow from the head of the now dead (hopefully for good) thing on the ground. I instinctively pull my knees up to my chest and close my eyes. Blocking out whatever might come next.

"Hey" his voice makes me jump involuntarily and I hate the whimper that escapes pass my lips. I hate feeling so pathetic. "I just saved ya, ain't gonna hurt ya."

My thumb finds my palm again and squeezes. I have to focus on the pain or I am going to freak out even more.

Something touches my arm and I fling myself backwards in a move similar to touching fire. "Please don't hurt me. Not again." I plead with the burn of tears in my eyes. I have to swallow several times to stop the lump in my throat that is threating to become a full-blown sob.

After a few minutes I risk looking up. When I do I see a man with a crossbow. His face is still set in a scowl but he is looking at me with something I can't place –Pity? Worry? Sadness? Anger?

He doesn't try to get any closer. I appreciate that and then I notice that he just kneels there with his hands in the air. I allow myself to relax a little. His face isn't exactly friendly but doesn't have the look that the others did.

"Have ya seen a girl out here?" His voice coming out of nowhere makes me jump again. It is a deep voice and one that I don't think I can ever get used to. It almost sounds like he is angry and yelling at me.

What had he asked me? Something about a girl.

"No- no girls." my voice is quiet and most definitely unsteady. I hate sounding so weak or looking like a caged animal but it is like my body has a mind of its own. I have no control over how I react anymore.

The man I don't know clenches his jaw and nods before standing up, "Ya out here alone?"

Was there a good way to answer that? If I say yes will he hurt me?

Risking a nod because I'm not sure I can talk anymore. My throat is dry from either fright, fatigue, or just lack of water. My hands are also not being cooperative, still shaking on their own.

He runs his hand over his face like he is debating something with himself.

"C'mon."

Does he want me to follow him?

After a few seconds of doing some debating of my own, I still don't know why I do, I get to my feet and follow a few paces behind him. It's not like I trust him, but he did just save me. And to be honest I am tired of being alone and I'm fully aware that it won't be long before I find myself in a position that I can't get out of. Much like the situation this man just found me in. If he hadn't shown up I would probably be dead right about now. Or running through the woods with no pants on.

It is quiet –walking with this man. He doesn't talk and neither do I. I listen as the only sound is our feet crushing the dead leaves beneath us. I can almost pretend like I am just enjoying a walk in the woods with a friend.

Except this man isn't my friend –I don't even know his name. So why am I following him?

It isn't long before we come across an old farmhouse. Someone had long abandoned it. The windows are busted out, probably from some of the local bored teens. Years of graffiti and empty beer cans litter the side of the house. It is a shame. The house looks like it was once a beautiful home. I wonder how many generations of families were raised in this house.

These older houses have a lot more personality than the new cookie cutter ones that are built in a couple of months. I have always dreamed of buying an old house like this and fixing it up to its former glory. I have felt that way ever since the first time I watched my favorite Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life. I wanted a George Baily and I could be Mary.

Those dreams don't matter anymore.

The man I am following like a lost dog turns toward me, "Wait here". I try to cover the flinch as he basically growls the words at me. I don't want to make him mad. Actually, I am not sure he isn't already mad or if that scowl is just his everyday face.

I watch as he walks up the old steps to the home with his crossbow raised. His hand turns the handle to the door and when it opens he disappears inside. I'm left waiting out here in the tall grass. I'm not saying that I am scared when I can't see him anymore but I am definitely nervous.

Which is ridiculous. I have known him a whole hour.

I chose to ignore the sigh of relief I exhale when I watch him exit the house a short time later.

"Sophia!" he yells again and damn my jumpy self for reacting. Sophia must be the girl he was asking me about earlier. It is obvious he is looking for her. I wonder how old Sophia is because it is no place for a little girl out here.

He walks around the back of the house and I decide to follow him. Keeping my distance, I still don't have complete confidence that he isn't going to hurt me. But I know I don't want to lose sight of him again either.

For some reason, he is comforting to me –from a distance of course. Which is insane since he hasn't said much or has even looked at me in a friendly fashion. I think it is because he seems to understand that I need my distance.

I watch as he walks over to a bush and picks a flower. Which seems odd. Why did he decide to start picking flowers? He most certainly doesn't look like the type that would pick flowers. He looks more like the type to step on them and keep walking. Not going out of his way to crush them but if they were in his way then he wouldn't take the time to walk around them.

Holding the flower up to the sun he inspects it before holding the delicate flower in his hand, "Got a name?" he asks me without turning around and I bite my bottom lip. I spend a while debating on if I should answer him or not. "I know ya can talk."

More flinching on my end then I decide that he can't use my name to hurt me.

My voice sounds much too quiet when I finally answer, "M-Melody or Mel".

He nods and starts to move again. I continue to follow him since he hasn't told me I can't. We were back to just walking when he broke the silence again by saying, "Daryl."

I guess that is his name. That's the only thing I can think of. I don't say anything but I stare at his back, he looks like a Daryl. Although I am pretty sure Daryl means 'little darling' and there is nothing darling about this man. He seems too tough and rigid. He looks like he might fight you if you dared to call him 'darling'.

My legs are burning again when we start to walk toward an open field. I can see a farmhouse in the distance up ahead, but unlike the one we just left, this one is in a lot better condition. It is actually pretty serene, seeing this beautiful house that looks completely untouched by what is going on in the world.

The closer we get and the harder I look, the house seems more familiar but I can't quite place it. Does he live here? I don't want to ask any questions and he doesn't seem to be offering up any explanations. So I keep my thoughts to myself.

Once we are closer I notice movement going on in the yard. I stop moving. I can't help it. My feet just stop. There are other people and they seem to notice our arrival.

Daryl turns back to look at me and I am pretty sure he actually growls –probably in frustration.

"Look. No one here is gonna hurt ya. C'mon get movin."

But I can't move. People are coming toward me.

People I don't know.

Men I don't know.

I start to move so that I am now standing behind Daryl. There is no other reasoning for it except that he is the only person I somewhat know.

He seems to notice my change and puts his hand up to stop the other people from getting any closer "Give her space."

Thank god, the people listen and stop coming closer, my breath is already coming out in fast bursts and I know that I am on the verge of a panic attack.

This is when I realized that I preferred the dead to the living these days.

Daryl is still in front of me and he reaches his hands out to grab my shoulders but I step away before he can. I don't want to feel anyone's touch. My eyes go back to the crowd in front of me and as I am turning around with every intention to run back into the woods someone calls out my name.

I stop.

"Mel. Mel is that you?" My head is moving rapidly back and forth trying to land on who is saying my name. The voice sounds so familiar but all I see are the unknown faces of strangers.

A young girl steps forward and there is no stopping the tears from falling from my eyes. I think it is because the young face is the first person I actually recognize since being on my own.

"Be-Beth?" my lips are trembling.

"Mel are you okay?" Beth is walking toward me but unlike before I don't mind her advances. Beth was my sister's best friend. I know Beth and she is one of the most caring people on the planet.

Once Beth's arms are around me I allow myself to break down. My knees hit the ground and take Beth with me.

"She's dead. Daddy too. Don't let them hurt me." I sob as I hold Beth closer to me. Grasping her like she is my lifeline. I didn't care that people were watching me openly cry, although normally I would.

Beth is trying her best to soothe me. Her calming voice reassuring me, "No one here will hurt you Mel."

The combination of Beth's hand rubbing my back in slow circles and exhaustion causes my sobbing to slow. Eventually stopping altogether but not before I manage to drain myself of any energy so I close my eyes.


"She okay?" The sound of a man's voice, one I didn't know, woke me up.

"She will be fine. Maggie said that when she changed her clothes there was bruising on her thighs and blood. I won't do an exam unless she says it's alright, but, from what you said about how she was acting my guess is she was assaulted."

My eyes shoot open and panic once again seizes my chest. Where am I? Then another familiar face peeks into the room. I knew Beth's dad, Hershel. He had been close friends with my daddy. Slowly my breathing slowed little by little as he smiled down at me.

"How are you feeling Mel?" He always did have a kind voice.

I nodded in response. The panic had yet to subside but my grip on the sheets lessened a little.

"Listen Mel. It's up to you but I think we should let Patricia do an examination on you. Do you remember Patricia?"

Yeah I remembered the woman, she had sung in the choir with me. "Yes sir"

"Is it okay if I send her in here?"

I don't know what I wanted. I trust Patricia and Hershel for that matter. I'm just not sure how I will react because I know what kind of exam Hershel was talking about. This is all happening too fast.

Ultimately logic won out because I have been having some pain. I am afraid but I also want to make sure it isn't anything serious.

It wasn't too long after I agreed to an exam that someone knocked on the door.

"It's Patricia" I relax a little, the voice is muffled but I knew who it was.

"Come in" I respond but it was so quiet that I'm not sure if Patricia had heard my timid voice or if she just decided that enough time had passed that she could come in.

"Hi Mel. It's good to see you again." Patricia smiled down at me. I am glad that someone else I knew, from the old world has made it but I'm not feeling particularly chatty either. Patricia seems to sense my unease because she starts to talk about what she is going to do in a very clinical manner. "I'm going to do a quick exam, just to make sure that you are not hurt. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

I really don't want to. If I say it out loud it becomes too real, right now I can try and pretend that no one knows. Though I am not stupid and I know that they have figured it out but nothing has been confirmed by me yet.

Shaking my head, at the woman was the only answer to her question that I could give. Patricia smiled and placed her hand on my knee. It was a comforting touch but I still pulled away slightly at the contact. Not because I was afraid of Patricia, I knew she was a friend, but my knee had reacted on its own.

Am I ever going to get back to being normal and regain control over my own body?

There is no way that I am going to make it long in this world if every time someone talked to me, walked toward me, or touched me, I immediately froze up.

Patricia didn't seem to be offended instead she asked me to remove the sheets that were covering my legs.

With shaking hands, I slowly pull the fabric back knowing what the exam would entail.

After Patricia finished, I found myself alone in a room that I didn't know and I couldn't stop crying. Beth had tried to stop by for a visit but I felt so pathetic that I didn't answer the door and pretended to be asleep.

Every part of me wants to get over what has happened but I have no clue how to do that. When I close my eyes my mind drifts back to that night. The night that changed my life forever.

The screaming always makes its way into my mind first, and I am usually able to wake myself up before the images progress further. But there are some nights when I am completely exhausted and my eyes won't stay open that I see everything like it is happening all over again.

Rubbing My hands through my hair, I throw the blanket back and start to walk around the room. Trying to dislodge the thoughts from my mind. I can't go to sleep and I can't let my mind think too much.

I have to get out of this room.

Walking down the steps I remember other people live here. I am just a guest. Not wanting to wake anyone I try to be as quiet as possible which is hard when most of the steps let out a groan under my weight.

I finally make it to the front door and when the cool air reaches my face I inhale deep, bringing the fresh air into my lungs. Out here in the open I don't feel as trapped. There are more ways to escape if I need to.

Taking a seat in one of the rocking chairs I bring my knees up to my chest. Rubbing my hands over my arms I scold myself for not bringing a blanket with me. It is getting chilly. I wonder what month it is. It's not like I have had much of a reason or a way to keep up with the date.

It is peaceful out here, the sounds of the crickets and other animals are relaxing. It reminds me of home.

Daryl's POV

I should have made my presence known when she first came out to the porch. Now I am stuck here unsure of what to do.

She doesn't seem to like surprises but I don't want to seem like a creep neither. Maybe she would go back inside soon. It is a chilly night and she already seems to be feeling the cold.

Yeah. I'll just wait it out. Just me lurking in the shadows –completely normal.

When I hear muffled sobs, I look up and see that the girl is crying. I don't know her story but it sure seems like she deserves a good cry. I just wish I wasn't here for this private moment.

Her face is buried in her hands and her shoulders are shaking as she quietly wept. Her auburn hair is now pulled up into a ponytail, which is a change from the last time. Last I had seen it was down and flowing over her shoulders. I also knew that her eyes were a dark green, I hadn't been able to look into them long. Although they were bloodshot I could still see all the pain she held in her eyes. Even though I didn't know the girl I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Clearing my throat, I decide that she should know that she isn't alone.

Mel's POV

My head whips around at the sound that signals another person. First fear floods my chest, then panic. Hands gripping the handles of the rocking chair I watch as Daryl nods his head but doesn't move from his spot on the other end of the porch.

He isn't going to hurt me. If he was he would have already done it by now. Not taken me to a place where I could get help.

I have to swallow twice before I am able to push the words out of my dry mouth "Da-Daryl right?"

He nods but doesn't speak. I am glad because I don't want to jump or flinch which is a common reaction of mine to the man's voice.

"Thank you."

"Didn't do nothin'" I managed to prepare myself for the gruff voice and my flinch is barely noticeable –hopefully.

"Well you helped me in the woods and you brought me here."

I watch as he shrugs his shoulders like what he did was nothing. Then he turns his head back toward the farm, his eyes scan the grounds. I have a feeling that he doesn't miss much.

"You should be resting."

It is nice of him to think of me but I am out here for a reason, "I can't." is my reply. He nods once like he understands but keeps his eyes on the farm. Shouldn't he be sleeping?

Shrugging I wipe the tears that have fallen off my face and then sit back further in the rocking chair. We spend the rest of the night in silence.


Apparently, I could fall asleep.

Considering that I woke up still sitting on the porch and just in time to see the sun rise over the horizon. Looking at the spot that Daryl had been the night before, it is empty.

I shouldn't care but for some reason he made me feel safe. For the first time since my daddy and sister I was able to sleep with no nightmares. Now I am back to being alone. Stretching out my arms I feel an unfamiliar weight on top of me. When I look down I find a black vest covering me like a blanket. Running my hands over the embroidery on the back of the leather vest I fall in love with the design. It is simple enough, just a set of wings but the ruggedness of it is what makes it beautiful. Even though it has spots where the string is coming loose and it is dirty it is still very pretty.

I hear shouting and my hand shields my eyes from the sun so that I can see what is going on. When I look up it is to the scene of two men arguing not too far from the front of the house. One of them has a shaved head and seems very twitchy, he keeps rubbing his hand over the top of his head. The other seems a lot calmer and is having to catch up to the other guy as he tries to get him to stop walking. I am able to make out a few words the two exchange but most of what they said is lost.

"We've gotta find out what she knows man. What happened to her and where." I can't be sure but I think they are talking about me.

The one with the shaved head is wanting to talk to me and find out what happened to me. Nope. Not happening.

"You know how it is brother. We've worked enough cases. You can't force the victim to talk, it might traumatize them more."

"We ain't cops no more Rick." Okay so the calm one is named Rick and the shaved head one is someone to stay away from.

I've heard enough, standing up I walk back inside the house. Beth and Hershel are eating breakfast and both look up at me with a smile. I'm not sure if I manage one back or if it is more of a grimace. Then my feet take me up the stairs and into the room that Hershel was kind enough to let me use. I have no clue how I am going to repay him for his kindness.

No one really bothered me the rest of the day. Which is fine by me, I just laid in bed and ran my fingers over the vest that had been left with me the night before. I know that I would have to give it back but right now it is comforting. Plus, he hasn't asked for it back yet but I also haven't seen him all day either.

I watch out the window from my spot on the bed as the sun starts to lower and it isn't long before Beth knocks on the door to bring me another change of clothes. Apparently, there is a shower that I am able to use and I don't have to give it a second thought. I practically run into the bathroom and make sure the water is as hot as I can get it. Stepping under the fall of the water my skin instantly burns but I don't care. I welcome it.

Everything that has happened to me is being burned away and I need to feel it as it is. I ignore the blood that mixes with the water as it swirls down the drain. Patricia told me that I had some tearing and that blood was common. I just don't want to see it. Sitting on the floor of the tub my head rests on my knees and my tears add to the mixture of water as they roll down my face.

After the shower, I go back to my room. I can hear a commotion outside my door but I have no clue what is going on. Luckily, my curiosity is cured when Beth comes in shortly after everything calms down.

"What was going on?" I ask.

"Daryl was hurt; he will be fine though." My hand covers my mouth as she tells me the news.

What has happened? I should go make sure he is okay. Although I don't really know the man and it is probably not appropriate. Plus, that would mean there is a chance of running into more people. So I stay put and listen as Beth tells me how they found Daryl.

According to her he was out trying to find that little girl, Sophia, again. He was on horseback and the horse threw him off which was how he fell down a ravine. He was injured with his own arrow, then he was accidentally shot when he returned to the farm. Everything about what he went through sounded awful and completely unreal. I know for a fact I wouldn't have made it back to the farm. I'd still be in that ravine or dead.

"I'm going to get us some dessert, I made a few cookies", she winked at me and I had to smile at the childish gesture, "I'll be right back."

When Beth returned, she was kind enough to eat with me on the floor. Our backs up against the wall. I listened as she told me all about what has been happening on the farm. This group that Daryl belonged to has only been here for a couple of weeks. They came from Atlanta and Hershel let them set up camp temporarily while Rick's little boy healed from a gunshot wound.

Then we just talked about nothing for a few hours, I know that she wants me to talk about what happened to my sister but I'm not ready for that conversation. I'm just thankful that she is too polite to push the subject. Beth has always been a genuinely good person. Not a thing about her is corrupt.

It wasn't long before Beth left for the night and I was just lying in bed with Daryl's vest held to my chest. I gave up a while ago trying to figure out why I do the things I do anymore. The vest just comforted me as I ran my fingers along the outline of the wings until I finally fell asleep.


I woke up to a strong hand over my mouth.

This was a just a dream, right? My panic quickly starts to take over. I start to hit and scratch at the hand that felt much too real to be another nightmare. My feet start to kick the wall as I fought against whatever force was above me.

I barely registered what the man's voice above me was saying "Shh –Shh I'm not gonna hurt you".

Yeah and that is why he decided to wake me up with a hand stopping me from calling for help? I am not buying it.

My struggles are pointless. All it managed to do was make him mad. Causing his hand to push harder on my mouth, and making my head sink lower into my pillow. The now familiar pressure is around my lungs as the panic once again took over as I couldn't breathe.

Daryl's POV

The damn pain in my side is killing me. I still can't believe I impaled myself on my own damn bolt. I'm just glad Merle isn't here to see me propped up in bed with both a bullet and an arrow wound. It is pathetic.

In a last-ditch effort to get comfortable I turn over on my side but I hear a thud. Is that noise coming from the room next door?

Shrugging as I get out of the bed I make my way toward the door. It ain't like I got anything better to do so I might as well investigate.

The door next to my room is closed but this is definitely where the noises were coming from. I put my ear up to the door when I hear what also sounds like a muffled scream? What the hell is going on in there?

Without knocking I open the door. I'm not sure what I am looking at. It's dark but and takes a few seconds for my brain to figure it out. When I do, a growl escapes my mouth. It is directed at the back of the man who is holding down a struggling girl. The fear is obvious on her face and in her movements.

"Get the hell off her." I spit and start to make my way forward. Forgetting about the pain in my side.

"Hey man –calm down. I'm not gonna hurt her. I just need to know where this happened to her. We got to know if we are safe here.", is that Shane's voice?

"You're hurtin' her. Get your hand off her now." I'm not sure how convincing I sound considering I am holding my side and have a bandage wrapped around my head but I don't like seeing the girl in this state of panic.

"What are ya going to do man?" Yeah, it was certainly Shane, the cocky asshole.

Before I can think about it I lunge at Shane and the pain in my side is quickly forgotten when anger replaces it. All I feel in this moment is rage and Shane is the cause of that rage. We land on the floor with me on top but Shane is a big son of a bitch. I can still hear the girl screaming but I am too busy trying to stop Shane from punching me to tell her to stop. I can check on her after Shane is taken care of.

Then someone is trying to separate us. Of course it is Rick, always helpful Rick.

"It's just a misunderstanding man" Shane is saying to Rick. I am glad to see the guy sporting a bloody nose and lip.

"Ain't no misunderstandin. You were in here with your hand over that girl's mouth." Hershel is in the doorway and the man glares at Shane.

"You get him out of my house. He isn't welcome in here." Rick nods at the owner of the farm then pushes Shane in front of him. Pushing him towards the door and stopping him from trying to explain himself.

I give a quick glance to where the girl is. She's huddled in the corner of the bed, her knees to her chest and she's breathing faster than is probably healthy. Hershel kneels in front of her but she scoots away from him.

I could kill Shane for making her so afraid again.

"Mel sweetie, you have to calm down, you'll work yourself up and you'll pass out." Hershel is trying to reach the girl but she is just staring at him with fear in her wide eyes.

I stay in the corner trying my best not to bring attention to myself. I should leave but for some reason I want to make sure she is okay before I do.

"V-ve-vest" she points with shaky hands at the vest that has fallen to the floor. I slowly walk over to it and pick it up then I reach my hand out to her. She grabs it and starts to rub her fingers along the wings.

Slowly her breathing becomes more even and less rapid then she seems to visibly relax. Neither Hershel or myself has moved since she asked for the vest. I was afraid to make any sudden movements, not knowing how she would react.

"I think we should let her rest." Hershel says to me when her breathing is finally at a normal rate. He starts to stand up from his spot on the ground next to the bed. I nod and make my way to the door when a frantic shout stops me.

"No. Please stay Daryl. I don't want to be alone. He-he could come back." Her breathing is starting to pick back up and I know that it won't be long before all the progress that's been made is lost.

"Okay. I'm not goin 'nywhere" I pull the only chair in the room over against the furthest wall and I sit down in it. I'm pretty sure I opened up a few stitches but it is nothing that can't be fixed later.

She nods at me and I don't know what I am doing. Daryl Dixon doesn't do stuff like this. I don't care about others, it is always just Merle and I.

Hershel stops in front of me before he leaves the room. His glare an obvious warning before he walks out of the room, leaving the door open.

I can't say that I blame the guy for the look he threw my way. Hell, I know what I look like and believe me when I say that what I am doing right now is completely out of character. Looking for a lost little girl was one thing but babysitting a grown person is ridiculous. Merle would have a field day with this.

"You should have the bed. I'll sleep in the chair" I look up and see her looking at me. She actually looks concerned about me. Which is something I have never seen, at least not directed toward me.

"I'm fine. Get some sleep" I am suddenly very tired and the chair is not the worse place I had ever slept.

I hear the floorboard squeak then something is being handed to me "Here." I reached out and take the blanket that she is offering me. "Thank you. For staying. I'm sorry I asked you to."

I have no clue what to say to her so I cover myself up and watch as she goes back to her corner on the bed. Her fingers lightly playing over the wing pattern on my vest.

Mel's POV

I had asked him to stay in the room but I knew I wasn't going to get any sleep –not after what just happened. Rick had called that man Shane. Shane is someone I am going to stay away from.

When his hands were on my mouth all I could see were flashbacks of when those men had found us. My sister crying and reaching out for me. My daddy screaming and fighting against the man who held him.

My hands become more enthusiastic in tracing the wings on the vest. In an attempt to dislodge any more images that are stuck in my head. When I look up at the man that is asleep in the corner, hate that I asked him to stay with me. He is hurt and I should have thought of that before I freaked out and begged him to babysit me.

Now he is probably in more pain because of me. I feel safe with him. This is now the second time he has saved me and you don't save someone just to hurt them, do you?

No. Daryl is good person.

Not only has he saved me twice but he was also searching the woods on his own looking for a missing little girl. I hope they find her and that she is unharmed. Beth told me that they were looking for a girl who was maybe twelve years old.

It makes me sick to think about what might be happening to her right now. She has to be found and hopefully she is fine.


Sleep never did come. I spent the rest of the night watching Daryl sleep and then watching the sun rise. I jumped when a deep groan sounded from the seat that Daryl was in. He was stretching and it was obvious that he was in pain. Now I felt even more terrible for asking him to stay.

"Morning." my voice was quiet and he seemed shocked to be in the room. I watch as he winces before his hand shoots over to his side.

I want to help him but I have no clue how to do that.

"Can I get you anything? I can make you some breakfast or something" I am not the best cook but I know how to scramble eggs.

"Nah." He tries to stand up but instead he falls forward a little. My hand comes forward to help him but once my skin touches his, I immediately pull it back.

Jesus, I couldn't be any more pathetic.

I look down at the sheet of the bed partly because I am ashamed and embarrassed. My fingers are still touching his vest when he looks down at it.

I still can't meet his eyes when I hold it out to him, "Here. I'm sorry I didn't mean to take it"

He just stands there for a while. His eyes on the vest before he looks back up at me, "Keep it for now." Then he walks out of the room.

I stay in my spot on the bed as I wait to make sure everyone else is awake. I need to get out of this room.

Once I am downstairs I see Hershel. He's sitting at the table and is reading from the bible. I don't know what to say after last night so I just stand in the doorway.

"You can come in Mel. Get something to eat, you are welcome here." His voice soft and said while his face is still in the book.

I slowly make my way further into the room, keeping my distance from the man. He isn't going to hurt me but distance kept me calm.

"I-I'm sorry, for everything. I'll leave today, I don't think I can be around people right now."

Hershel lifts his head up and looks at me. I see a sadness in his eyes and I'm not sure if it is directed at me or for himself.

"Mel. Nothing has been your fault and I know it is tough right now but you will get used to people again. It will take time but it will happen." He folds his hands together and I watch the action with a weird fascination. His hands are worn. They are the hands of someone who does honest work, "I'm no expert but I think talking is recommended. It doesn't have to be me. It can be Beth, Patricia, or anyone else you feel comfortable with but I think it will help."

I can only nod and watch as he pushes his plate of eggs and bacon toward me. Smiling, I take what he offers and start to eat. "Can you read out loud?" I ask him. "If it's not too much trouble."

His voice and the words he starts to read are comforting. I pretend like it is my daddy reading. He would read from the bible aloud every day and it's something familiar.

After breakfast Beth and I spend the rest of the day cleaning the house. I think Beth only asked me to help so that I was able to keep busy and keep my mind off of things. It worked and I even found myself smiling as Beth splashed some water on me while she was doing dishes.


I decide to take over lunch duty solo. Hershel is eating his sandwich that I had made, and I was enjoying cleaning up the kitchen.

I can hear Hershel talking to someone and I stop what I am doing when the other voice grows louder. It was that guy from last night, Rick.

The words were loud enough for me to hear their entire conversation. Rick is begging Hershel to let his group stay on the farm. It was getting heated but I was stuck standing in the corner with nowhere to retreat, luckily neither of them seemed to see me. Apparently, Rick has a wife and she is pregnant.

Pregnant? In this world? Seems like one of the worse decisions you can make these days.

Once Hershel and Rick left the dining room, I slump down to the floor. Something Rick said had me starting to think. My hands are shaking and I needed to keep them busy. Pushing myself off of the wall I was leaning against I ran up the stairs and into the room I have been occupying.

My hands found Daryl's vest and I started to rub it. Trying to keep my hands and mind busy with tracing the pattern but it isn'tworking. Why hadn't I thought of this before?

My palms pushed into my eyes as things I didn't want to think about or see were at the edge of my mind.

My hand found my knife that was on the bed stand. I laid it there last night after the Shane incident. Then I ran out of the room, down the stairs, and out the door. Standing on the porch my breathing was coming too fast for the minimal effort it took me to get to this spot.

I start to walk in a direction that looks like no one else was in. Then my feet picked up and once again I was running. When I found myself in the woods I stopped and dropped to my knees. The tears were flowing freely and I let them.

Daryl's POV

I was still not able to look for Sophia so I figured I could hunt a bit. So far, I've bagged three squirrels. Not much but it was something.

Hearing something big coming through the trees, I raised my crossbow up. Once I saw who it was I lowered it and watched what her next move was going to be.

What the hell was she doin out here? Doesn't she know it isn't safe out here by herself?

Then the girl fell to her knees and started to cry. It wasn't a quiet or silent cry neither, this was a pain filled cry. This was the second time I found myself watching her cry. It was a habit I wanted to break.

She was saying something but I can't make it out. It sounds like she is saying, "Why didn't I think of it before? I can't be, I'll die first."

Then my eyes caught a flash of silver in her hand. She is staring down at it and I don't not like the look she has on her face. It's the face of someone who has given up.

She stands up, still unaware that I am here, and grips her knife tight, she has it raised over her stomach and it looks like she has every intention of pushing it into her belly.

"Wait." I call out before she can do anything, I have no clue what else to do. I'm sure as hell not going to sit back and watch this girl kill herself.

She seems shocked that I'm there and stumbles back.

"I can't" she says again between her hiccupping.

"It's okay if you can't." At first I think she is referring to not being unable to kill herself but she keeps shaking her head no.

I take a risk and move a step toward her. When she doesn't move, or try to get away I take that as a sign to keep going. Making sure my movements are slow and still keeping my distance I get about three feet away from her, before I stop. She is still gripping the knife.

"Wanna tell me what's wrong?", it is a stupid thing to ask but I am trying to distract her. Anyone with eyes can see that she has been through hell.

"I didn't think about it before" I keep nodding my head even though I have no clue what she was talking about "What if I'm pregnant?"

Shit. This is not a conversation for me, Carol or Lori should be here doing this. Not me.

I rub my hands over my face, trying to bide my time before I look back at the girl in front of me. What do I say? I am far from a motivational speaker.

"Ya might not be", smooth Daryl, "Just hand me the knife. We can figure it out."

She stares at my hand but still seems hesitant. I watch the debate on her face as she decides if she should hand over her weapon or not. Then she finally nods before I feel the weight of the blade in my hand and I let out my own sigh of relief. Suddenly I feel a pair of arms around my neck and my first reaction is to stiffen up –go on defense. But the soft cries that are being muffled into my chest make me bring my hand around and pat her on the back. I know if anyone was seeing this it would look awkward but comforting was not my forte.

I could kill, hunt, track, and fight but comforting? Nope.

Mel's POV

My arms are around Daryl and for the first time I don't flinch or pull away at the human contact. I have no clue what it is about him but he makes me feel a little normal. He has an angry face, a voice that sounds like he is always yelling, and nothing about him screams 'Please hug me'.

Like I said before, I have given up trying to figure out why I do the things I do anymore.

For once Daryl seems to be more awkward than I am, I noticed the way he stiffened up when I hugged him but then he relaxed -marginally anyway. He even went as far to give me two quick pats on my back.

"Sorry" I wipe the tears from my eyes and pull away from the man. I am back to being embarrassed. "I'm usually not so much of a wreck." for some reason I feel like I needed to justify my actions. I was once a strong person maybe not physically but I wouldn't just cry at a drop of the hat. Not like I do now.

He shrugs and looks at the ground. He starts to bite his fingernail.

"We can go find Beth." he offers.

I know what he is doing but I don't want to talk to Beth.

"No. she is too good, I don't want to ruin anything for her." I wasn't sure if that made sense to Daryl but he nods again like he understands. I don't want Beth to fear what is out there, she has to know already but I don't want to make it all too real for her. I like the glimmer of hope that she still has –it reminded me of my sister.

"Do you have any family?" I ask. Once again, no clue why but I am curious and I want to keep my mind busy.

His face shows that he isn't expecting the question but he nods, "Got a brother, Merle", but his face shows sadness. I don't want to push so I leave it at that.

"You?"

I expected the return question so it didn't bother me when he asked, "I did but not anymore. Our farm caught fire so we left and daddy had us staying in a tent in the woods. My sister always hated camping and would complain about having to sleep on the ground every day." I had to stop talking as the familiar lump started to resurface in my throat. This was the first time I've really spoken of them out loud since I lost them.

"You didn't?" I look at him, unsure of what his question is "You didn't hate camping?" he reiterated.

"Oh no –I loved it. Always have, I love the smell of the ground and being away from people. When I was little my daddy set a tent up in the field next to the house for my sister and I to camp out in one weekend. My sister stayed about three hours into the night before she bailed on me. I spent every night that I could that summer in the tent." I smiled at the memory "I pretended it was my own little house."

It was back to being silent between the two but I didn't mind it. It was relaxing out here and I felt safe with Daryl near.

"We should head back." He said as he started to stand, his hand reached out for me to take so that he could help me up. I was hesitant for a second but my fingers touched his palm and then he closed his hand around mine and pulled. Then I was on my feet.

Walking back to the house I tried to forget the reason I was out in the woods in the first place. Daryl was a great distraction –just talking to him for that short time. But now the fear was like a blackness settling at the edge of my vision.

We were walking side by side and when we were closer to the house I started to hear people talking. My ears perked up and then I heard Shane's voice over the others, my feet hesitated for a second. Then Daryl was standing in front of me Blocking my view of the man and hopefully Shane's view of me.

"Go on." Daryl lightly pushes me toward the door that was behind me "I'll check on ya in a bit." I found myself relaxing at his last statement. Honestly, I wasn't ready to leave his side. I really needed to stop feeling so clingy but the man made me feel safe.

I left my human safety net and walked into Hershel's house, trying to ignore the loud voices that I left behind outside.

Daryl's POV

Shane was glaring at me but I managed to ignore it. The asshole is asking for an arrow to the head, and I had an itchy trigger finger.

"What the hell are you doing with her man?" I really didn't want to deal with this shit right now, especially not from Shane of all people "You into jail bait or something? Or is the damaged goods…make it easier for you to get laid?"

I have no clue what happened next, I just know that I was now on top of Shane and my fists were once again connecting with his face. Then the asshole grabbed my side, the one I recently had an arrow sticking out of, and shoved his thumb into the tender area.

I felt arms around me trying to pull me up but I shoved them off. They were persistent whoever it was, then I realized it was Glen. Rick was trying to get Shane to calm down and pull him away. I wasn't done though. I wanted the guy dead.

It wasn't even what he said about me I've heard worse. It was what he was implying about the girl, she has been through enough and the last thing she needs was shit from this guy. For some reason, I wanted to protect her where I could. I barely even knew her but it is clear that she is a survivor and I can respect that. Most people would have opted-out. Sure, I just found her in the woods about to plunge a knife into her stomach all Shakespearean like, but I don't think she would have actually done it.

I don't know the extent of what she went through but I know people would kill themselves for a lot less than what she has been through. I'm going to do what I can for her, it might not be much but something about her seemed pure. Like she would make everyone's life better just by being near them.

That smile she gave back in the woods when she was talking about her past, it was the smile of someone close to an angel. In that moment, I saw what she was like before everything happened to her. Her eyes lit up and they were full of life, not the pain and sorrow she held when I first met her.

I think the main reason I want to help her is because we are both alone.

Pushing myself away from Glen I decide that I need to cool off before I talked to Hershel.


It took a couple of laps around the farm before I started to feel my anger dull. I preferred being alone and the silence of the farm was all that I needed. I found Hershel as he was finishing up feeding the cows. I grabbed what he was reaching for and did what I could to help the older man.

"Mel seems to have taken a liking to you. Do you know why?"

I honestly have no clue. I shrug my shoulders and dump the bucket into a trough. I didn't have an answer so I couldn't voice one.

"I think she feels safe with you. Sees you as a protector." Hershel stops what he is doing and turns toward me, "I can see you are a good man Daryl, I just don't want her getting hurt any more than she already has. She is a sweet girl, used to be so trusting of people. Always volunteered at the church and when she was home from college she spent it working on the farm with her daddy. He was a good friend of mine and helped me when I needed somewhere to turn to. I feel responsible for her now. I just want to make sure you understand that."

I did. I wouldn't like it if someone like me was hanging around my daughter. "Found her in the woods. She's worried 'bout bein pregnant." I left out the part about the knife.

"She told you this?" I nodded in response "Well at least she is talking to someone. I'll get Maggie to go into town see if they have any pregnancy tests. I pray that she isn't, no one should go through that. She is strong though, she'll pull through"

I turn to walk away but Hershel calls me over his shoulder "Thank you. For looking after her."

"It's nothin"

Mel's POV

I thought it was weird when Maggie stopped by the room. She is talking to me which is strange, Maggie and I have known each other for a while. She is only two years older than me but we never really talked or hung out. I would see her in school but we never bothered to exchange pleasantries. Her friends were a different crowd, not terrible people but I was an honor student and prided myself on being a good girl. Now that I look back on it I realize a lot of good that has done me. Here I am at what is quite possibly the end of the world and I've never lived, I was always too scared of not being the perfect person everyone expected me to be.

Maggie was more of the wild child, daddy used to say that she was acting out after her mother died.

My mother also died when I was young, shortly after my sister was born. I don't really have a lot of memories of her other than she used to make me pancakes every Sunday morning. Everything else is mostly memories my daddy hammered into my mind from his stories –they weren't truly my memories.

"I brought you this" When I look down to see what is in her hand, I'm shocked. Was that what I thought it was? "I had an extra one lying around."

I think I started to panic, mainly at the fact that someone else now knew because she quickly tried to calm me down. "It's no big deal –we can pretend like I know nothing if you want." I nodded. I liked the idea but it didn't really change the fact that Maggie knew.

My hands were shaking but I took what she was handing me, quickly hiding it under my leg. I didn't want to look or think about it right now. A huge part of me wanted to run to the bathroom that moment but the other part didn't want to know.

"Last time we will talk about it if you want but Beth and me –we're here for you. No matter what. Daddy too."

"Thank you", the Greene family were definitely some of the best people I knew. I am beyond lucky that Daryl had found me and brought me here.

Daryl's POV

I was tired by the time I made it to the front door to the old farmhouse. I really just wanted to just turn around and lay down in my tent but I told the girl I would check on her. Cursing myself for the promise I made I took the steps up to her room. The door was opened and I could see her sitting on the bed looking at something in her hand.

I entertained the idea of just turning around –technically I have checked on her. She is fine. But my damn hand came up and knocked lightly on her door. I expected her to jump, and she did, but I didn't expect the smile when she saw it was me in the doorway.

This wasn't the smile I had seen out in the woods earlier, no this was a smile that seemed forced. Like she didn't want me to see the pain she was in.

"You can come in" she said.

Once again, I should just turn around but my feet took me to the chair I had occupied last night. The damn thing was not comfortable. It was too pretty to be comfy.

As I walked across the room I noticed that she shoved something under her pillow. I was curious what she was trying to hide but didn't want to ask. Not my business.

"Brought your knife" palming her blade in my hand. I didn't want to leave her defenseless but I also had concerns about how she might use the knife. "You good?"

She chewed on her bottom lip and started to play with her hands. I still haven't received an answer to my question, the words were on my tongue when she finally spoke up, "You should keep it for now."

I nodded and put the knife back into my holster, it didn't quite fit but it would work for now. The thought of her possibly still thinking of taking her own life put an unfamiliar feeling in his stomach. No clue why but I didn't want to see this girl die. It was clear that she was a fighter, she was still here.

I know what it was like to keep going even if you don't want to. Hell, it had been my entire childhood.

We spent a long time just sitting in the room. The silence was nice, it's rare to find someone else who is okay with not talking. Most people tried to force conversation when a hush would fill a room but not her.

She covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her yawn. I knew she didn't sleep last night and she only had a few hours the night before. There is no telling when the last time she had a good rest was.

"Get some rest. I'll stay here if ya want" Why did I say that?

It looked like she was going to protest but the bags under her eyes won out and she nodded her head. She scooted to the furthest side of the bed and curled under the blankets. I couldn't help but notice how small she looked in the bed. Her skin was pale and her dark hair was a stark contrast. She stayed facing me but her eyes stayed on the door, probably worried about that asshole Shane.

"Ain't nothing gonna happen. While I'm here."

"I know. I just wish I wasn't so weak."

She thought she was weak? If anything, she is one of the toughest people on the farm. There is no way that the older Carol or Lori would be doing half as well as she is doing. I didn't even know the full extent of it but I knew enough.

Anger suddenly found its way into my veins and I had to clinch my fists. There were some sick people out there but they had always been out there. People who wanted to destroy the last few good things in this earth.

Mel's POV

Stretching out I realized that I was in a very comfy bed. Wiping my face of the drool, I grimaced at the dark wet spot left behind on my pillow. Then I remembered that Daryl had stayed in the chair, looking over I was actually relieved that he wasn't there anymore. Drool does not equal cute.

There was a tray with a sandwich on it. How long had I been asleep? Was it lunch time already? I felt like a bum but I did notice that I had slept through the night with no nightmares and I was feeling a lot better. I would have to thank Daryl later. I actually have a lot to thank him for. Every time I turn around he is doing something to help me.

I started to eat my sandwich that I'm sure Beth left for me. I am almost done when I start to hear people shouting from below my window. I walk over and pull the curtain back. I'm not surprised to see that it's Shane doing most of the yelling. An involuntary flinch happens each time he raises his voice.

"Look, it was one thing sitting around here picking daisies when we thought this place was supposed to be safe. But now we know it ain't."

It's hard to miss the bag of guns he is handing out to people and I immediately start to worry. How were we not safe? Was the dead coming? Or were people coming?

Shane is still passing out guns to people and I have to admit he is great at playing the crowd. I'm terrified and I still have no clue what is going on.

Looking out the window my eyes land on Daryl standing away from the others, he is holding a shot gun over his shoulder. He looks up and meets my eyes. He gives a quick nod and I have no clue how to interpret it. Stay there? Everything is all right?

Not knowing what is going on is starting to take its toll. My mind is coming up with all types of scenarios. What if Daryl, Beth, Maggie, or Hershel get hurt and here I am just hiding in this room. I need to try and do what I can. Whatever that is.

Shane and Daryl run off and the rest of the group follow. Making my way downstairs I kick myself for not taking my knife back last night. What if I need it?

Beth is standing on the steps of the porch watching as the group runs toward Rick and Hershel. I'm not sure what I am currently witnessing but it looks like they are leading some of the dead around by a catch pole. That can't be right. You need to kill them because they have zero issues with killing you.

I keep my arm around Beth as she starts to walk toward her father and the rest of the group. Briefly ignoring the fact that I am surrounded by strangers I try to focus on what Shane is screaming about. Then the mad man starts to fire his gun. I bring Beth down toward the ground and I try my best to cover her with my own body. I'm not sure what he is firing at but I don't want Beth to be in the crossfire.

Beth is screaming, "No! Stop it!", but I am trying to hold her and listen to what Shane is saying.

"That's three rounds in the chest. Could someone who's alive, could they just take that?! Why is it still coming? That's its heart, its lungs. Why is it still coming?" He is shooting the dead woman Hershel is holding.

"Shane, that's enough!" Rick is screaming and it looks like he is struggling to keep his own dead man under control.

"Yeah, you're right, man. That is enough." Then Shane starts to walk toward the woman he was just shooting. I watched in horror as he points the gun point blank at the dead woman's forehead and fires his gun. The back of her head falling backwards.

Beth is crying and I can only rub her back in an attempt to calm her but Shane keeps yelling, "Enough risking our lives for a little girl who's gone! Enough living next to a barn full of things that are trying to kill us. Enough. Rick, it ain't like it was before! Now if y'all want to live, if you want to survive, you got to fight for it! I'm talking about fighting right here, right now."

The man is scary and it's not just how intense he is but there is a look in his eyes that I have come to know well. He might have been a good guy before everything happened but I have no doubt that this man is ruthless and he will do anything he feels justified in doing.

Shane starts to run toward the barn they are standing in front of and starts to bang on the locks that keep the doors closed. Over the screaming and banging I can hear the sound of the dead getting worked up by the noise. They know that their next meal lays on the other side. I am so confused and can't figure out why they are locked in the barn in the first place.

I hold Beth closer to my chest when the dead start to emerge from the barn. She wraps her arms around me and I bury my face into her hair. Then the deafening sound of gunfire and the growls of the dead are the only thing filling my head.

"It's okay. Don't look. Close your eyes.", I try to soothe Beth and it reminds me of when I said the same thing to my sister. I physically shake my head. Now isn't the time for my own freak out. Beth needs me and I am not going to let her down. Not I like did with Harmony.

Lifting my head up I watched as the last of the dead fell to the ground. Then the quiet was almost as bad as the gunfire. Beth is crying while still holding on to me and there is a buzzing in my head I can't get rid of.

No one moved, everyone was either in shock or had been just as surprised as I was.

When I thought, it was all over a soft growling started again from inside the barn. My heart broke when the body of a small girl slowly stumbled out of the barn. This is the first time I have seen a child turned. A woman screamed to my left and tried to run to her. She was screaming one word over and over.

"Sophia!" and I knew that they had finally found the girl Daryl had been searching for.

Daryl stopped the woman from getting closer and he held her as she cried. My eyes were closed at this point. I have seen enough to last me a lifetime. I just stayed on my knees and whispered to Beth. I could try to comfort her as much as I can.

I give a final jump as one last gunshot rang out.

I can hear the now familiar gruff voice trying to tell the mother of the girl not to look but I kept my eyes closed. I only looked up when Beth broke free from my grasp, when I did it was to see her walking toward the bodies of the dead laying on the ground.

I quickly followed after her I had an idea of why she wanted to go over there. I knew Hershel had a wife and a step-son but they were not in the house. I had assumed they were dead so I never asked but now I guess they have been in the barn the whole time.

Shane tried to stop Beth from getting closer but I pushed his hands away from her. This was the guy who did this to her. He had no right to touch her or try to comfort her.

I stood behind Beth as she found the body of a woman with bright red hair. I knew it was her mother. I watched as she tried to roll the lifeless body over. Then the growls started and it became clear that Beth's mother was not dead after all. She had her hands around Beth's arms and was trying to bring her mouth up to meet Beth's skin.

My hand immediately went to where my knife was supposed to be but nothing was there. I looked around as everyone was trying to get Beth free and I saw a garden hoe laying against the barn. I grabbed it and once Beth was pulled free from her dead mother's grip I slammed it down into her skull. It took me two tries before the woman finally stopped moving.

Without looking at the face of the woman I once knew, I let my weapon drop and went back to Beth's side. Hershel was on her other side. We were close to the house when that jerk decided to follow after us.

"You knew." He kept yelling while he chased after Hershel.

"Leave us alone." Maggie called back and I felt like turning around and hitting the man. I was scared of him but right now anger was winning out over fear.

"You knew and you kept it from us." He just kept on talking. Didn't he see that they had just lost their family a second time?

"I didn't know." Hershel kept pulling Beth along toward the porch he looked so lost. Then Maggie took over my side. This was a family matter and I understood the need to be close to each other.

"That's bullshit. I think y'all knew."

"We didn't know!" Maggie screamed at Shane.

"Why was she there?!"

"Your- Otis put those people in the barn. Maybe he found her and put her in there before he was killed."

"You expect me to believe that? - Do I look like an idiot?"

I wanted to say yes but I am not a complete idiot and I value my life.

"I don't care what you believe!"

"Everybody just calm down." Rick is trying to control the situation but it is Shane that's causing the issues.

"Get him off my land!" Maggie and Patricia have taken Beth up to the door and I still stood beside Hershel. He doesn't look like he is doing so well, the least I can do is stand by him as Shane yells at him.

"Let me tell you something." I watch as Shane starts to get close to Hershel. His hand is raised like he is going to grab the older man.

Something in me snapped and I stood in front of Shane, "Don't touch him!" I yell and I even surprise myself with how strong it sounds.

"Well look who isn't afraid of her own shadow after all." He steps closer to me and any fierceness I just held is quickly dissolving. This is a man who is twice my size and can easily hurt me. I'm stubborn though, so I decide to glare at him until the panic inevitably starts to rise. He is so close and he keeps his eyes on me with each step he takes. Only by the grace of God my feet stay planted in place.

His chest is almost touching mine and I know that once any part of him touches me I am going to crack. He knew it to and he was already wearing a satisfied smile on his face.

"Shane BACK OFF!" Rick yells from beside me and put his hand in-between us managing to push Shane back. I 'm not sure but I think his eyes held nothing but hatred and it was all directed right at me.


I sit in the living room as Maggie puts Beth to bed. Rick and Shane continued to argue outside on the front porch for a while but I stopped listening. Everything I just saw and what Beth has just been through starts to come back to me.

I guess the farm isn't as serene as I thought. I can hear Beth crying from her room and I have to cover my ears. I can't hear anymore crying. Everything is too much; this day has brought back too much for me.

I look up when I see a woman standing in the doorway.

"Hi.", she gives me a small smile, "I'm Lori. Rick's wife."

I nod but don't offer up my own name. I don't want to care about any more people.

"Can you let Hershel and his family know that we are ready for a service?"

I get up and leave the woman downstairs. Absent mindedly I walk to Hershel's room then I knock on Hershel's open door. He is sitting on the bed and has boxes surrounding him. It looks like he is packing up his wife's things.

"They said they are ready." My voice is quiet because I understand the pain he is in right now.

"Thank you." he puts something down on his dresser but I don't want to watch people in pain anymore so I walk down the hall to tell Beth and Maggie about the funeral.


I decide to go to the service but only for Beth. I stand beside her and make sure that Shane is as far away from us as possible. He shouldn't even be here but I have lost all of my bravado from earlier.

It is a beautiful spot for them to be buried. Under the shade of an oak tree.

Someone stands beside me and I stiffen up until I realized that it is Daryl. I don't mind him being on my other side. In fact, now that he is near me I find myself taking less glances at Shane.

When the service is over I walk back with the Greene family and Daryl goes in another direction. I walk Beth into the kitchen and we start to make something to eat. I have been cutting some tomatoes and I hand her a plate to put them on. She takes it but something happens because I watch as her fingers relax and the plate falls to the ground, shattering. Beth follows after and I hardly have time to catch her before she hits the ground.

Maggie and the man who introduced himself as Glen, are in the room a few seconds after.

Beth is now lying in a bed and isn't moving. I'm scared but Maggie keeps saying that it is probably just shock. Which makes sense, Beth has just seen her family killed again and was attacked by her dead mother. That is a lot to process. Especially when you are so young.

The most concerning thing is that no one knows where Hershel is. I know that Rick and Glen are going into town to look for him. I just sit next to Beth's bed. Holding her hand. She is so cold and her skin is clammy. I hate what this world has done to her and I can only hope that she pulls through.

I start to sing the song that my sister and her sang at their last school talent show. I didn't have the voice that either of them did but I don't think Beth really cared about that.

"Song sung blue. Everybody knows one. Song sung blue. Every garden grows one."

I brush Beth's hair away from her face. Harmony had always had a beautiful voice.

"Me and you are subject to the blues now and then. But when you take the blues and make a song. You sing them out again."

I start to choke on the words as I remember laughing at my sister when she called me up one day to ask me if I could try and make it to her talent show. I laughed because she told me she was going to be singing a Neil Diamond song. Only she would come up with the idea to sing a song that dated at a high school talent show.

I skipped my last class of the day, psychology, so that I could make the drive back home in time to see her and Beth sing. Both of them were beautiful, their voices angelic. Of course, they placed second. After some weird dance crew placed first. It was to be expected, if they had chosen a newer pop song there was no doubt they would have won. But both daddy and I were so proud of her.

Daddy always told us music was in our veins. Our momma was a singer and she even had a record. He used to play it for Harmony and me every night. That was where we got our names Melody and Harmony from.

I stayed with Beth until Maggie came into the room. Hershel and the others still weren't back yet and it was obvious that several people were on edge.

I'm back to feeling useless so I go into the kitchen and try see if I can start anything for dinner. Thinking that no one will want scrambled eggs for dinner I search the freezer.

Jackpot. A roast is sitting in the back although it might be a little freezer burnt. But I know that potatoes and onions are handy, so roast it is.

I keep my mind busy and focused on this task. If it starts to wonder I don't think I would know how to cope. Too much has been going on and I just want to block it all out, mindlessly work on something.

The roast is in the oven so I start to snap some green beans.

Snap

Throw into the bowl

Snap

Throw into the bowl

This is about as mindless as you can get, and I love it.