Chapter 1
Liv ran to Maggie and dropped to her knees.
"No…no no no…". She stroked Maggie's face and held her close, dark blood streaming from her neck.
She was bitten, and she wouldn't last long. Liv rocked her back and forth and sobbed. "I love you. I love you. Maggie. I'm sorry. Please…"
A weak hand reached up and touched Liv's cheek. She spoke but her words were garbled as blood ran down her throat. "…best friend…tell Glenn…love him". Her hand dropped and her eyes glazed. Liv screamed and pounded at her chest as she wept.
In the distance, Rick yelled to her. "Get away from her! Liv!". He was running as fast as he could, but his legs were weak and his voice cracked when he spoke.
Not another one of their own. Not this soon. Not ever again.
Liv looked up and saw him coming towards them. Behind him, a little ways back, she saw Glenn.
Something awoke in her, a fierce determination to protect someone she loves, the way she had failed to protect Maggie, and she forced herself to stand up. Forced her legs to move. Willed herself to stop shaking.
She ran past Rick, wild eyed. She was running so quickly she couldn't slow herself down, body flushed with adrenalin. She crashed into Glenn and wrapped her arms around him tight. He tried to push forward, tears running down his face. He knew the worst had occurred.
"Let me GO! Let me see her!". His slight frame made it possible for Liv to keep him away. "I need to see her…", he whimpered, and his knees bucked. Liv got down on the ground with him and held him to her chest. She didn't know what to do, he was in almost as bad of shape as he was. She stroked his hair and rocked him. His body shook with sobs. He felt so fragile, so small.
They remain there together, weeping, clutching each other like frightened children.
In the distance, a single gun shot was fired.