I had no idea where I was going, just getting away from him, from Joel, for a while.

He was going to leave me just like every one else in my life had, dumping me off on Tommy. His brother seemed nice enough given the fact that he and the other settlers didn't shoot us on sight. At least the situation didn't turn to absolute shit. Not at once though, that happened latter.

Veering off the road and onto a foot path, my mind just whirling. Why did Joel want to get rid of me? Was he afraid I would up like Sam, Tess, or Henry? Infected and/or blowing my brain out? That explanation didn't make sense though, he knew I was immune. He saw the bite months ago and he's seen me breath in spores like it nothing. No that wasn't it.

Then it hit me.

Sarah, the daughter he never told me about. Maria had shown me a picture of them together that Tommy had some how gotten a hold of. I hadn't been listening, just looking at that faded photo.

Sarah looked nothing like him, with her blonde hair and small angular face. She was holding some kind of trophy in hand and making some kind of sign with her other. The real thing my eyes had gone toward was Joel.

God, he looked so different. It was actually kind of alien to me to imagine how he looked before the world went to hell and back again.

He looked so young, no grey in his hair and only a creases near his eyes. The real thing though that threw me for a loop was that he was smiling. I never really had seen like that. Sure, his lips might twitch up if I told an actually funny joke, but not a full out smile.

It didn't matter though, he wanted me gone because he didn't want another little girl to die in front of him. Maria told me how she died. A soldier gunning down two people just because some one told him to. Just goes to show how fucked up the world already was.

My mind snapped back to reality when a bullet whizzed past my head. "Ahh, fuck."

Leaning farther over the horse's back, I kick him so we could get out of there faster so we wouldn't have to fight. Cursing myself, I looked back realized I really was thinking hard because we had jumped a fence.

Sitting up straight, I followed the trail until we reached some ranch. Leading the horse up to the porch I slid off and walked in.

It was surprised at how intact the place was in. None of the windows were even broken, none that I could at least. Stomping up the stairs and walking around led me to find a girl's room.

I found a journal and started flipping through it. God this chick was fucking shallow, I found myself thinking. She was blathering on about whether some boy liked her, or how some movie would turn out or whether her new skirt would match her favorite shirt and whether she would have to get a new one if it didn't.

Was this what Sarah had to worry about too? Those words began to float in my head. Her face again popped up.

I'd stolen the picture when Maria had her back turned, wonder how long it take them to realize that the picture was gone. Probably not until Tommy and I were long gone.

Joel had so much loss, just like me. He lost Sarah like I had lost Riley.

Riley. I miss her so much-

A faint crash floated up from down stairs, interrupting my thoughts, followed by my name being called out. So he had tracked me here. Go figure.

Well let's get this fucking over with then. "I'm up here!" I called out. I heaved out a sigh as heard Joel's heavy boots tromp up the stairs and I prepared myself for the conversation coming up. Either way, this most likely isn't going to go well.

I hoped for the best as the door creaked open in the corner of eye.