"Come on we have to move!" Kayla said.
"What's the point?" her friend asked.
"Don't say that," she said.
"Sam got bit, my brother died at eight, I can't do this anymore," he said holding a gun to his head.
"Fine, but if you care about me you won't give up on me," she said.
"You're right," he said lowering the gun. "I'll get them away from you, and you get somewhere safe."
"Gabe," Kayla said.
"What?" he asked.
"Goodbye."
He hugged his friend one last time and kissed her blonde hair, "See you on the other side. Now go," he said pushing his best friend towards the back door.
Kayla looked at her dear friend then walked out the door, crying. She ran as fast as she could, her bow in hand and her quiver hitting her back. She kept running for hours until the sun finally rose. She sat down on a stump and cried for a couple minutes. Her best friend had died right in front of her.
"Excuse me," a voice asked.
She looked up and saw a man and she got out her pistol.
"Whoa, whoa I'm not going to hurt you, just wanted to talk," he said.
Kayla noticed the crossbow on his back, and then the radio, "You in a group?" she asked.
"Yeah, we can give you some food and water, just lower the gun," he said.
She turned the safety on and put in back in her holster. Then she put her bow over her shoulder.
"My name's Daryl, you?" he asked.
"Kayla," she replied. "Is the camp close by, I haven't eaten in three days."
"Yeah, just a couple minutes away," he said.
He took a brief moment to examine the girl. She was young, at least twenty. Her skin was tan and her hair sun-kissed blonde. Her eyes were shamrock green with yellow around the edges. She wore a black t-shirt with cameo pants, with a machete belt, and he notice that it was at least six inches long.
She nodded and they trekked towards the camp. When they got there she was approached by a little girl. She hugged her and the girl hugged her back.
"Sophia, I'm glad you're safe. Where's Mom?" Kayla asked.
"This way," Sophia said grabbing her hand.
Daryl watched as Sophia led her into the camp, a smile on his face.
"Mom, Kayla is here!" Sophia yelled.
"Kayla, I'm so glad you're safe, and alive," Carol said getting up and hugging her.
Kayla then flinched as her father came out of the tent.
"Kayla," he said.
Kayla then put her sister and mother behind her back, "You're still alive," Kayla said.
"You too," he said. "You left Kayla."
"You made me, I know what you do to Carol. I won't stand for that, so either you stop or I kill you. No in-betweens," Kayla said.
She walked away, her younger sister on her heels.
"Kayla, what did Daddy do to Mommy?" she asked.
Kayla looked at her younger sister and wiped some dirt off her face, "Nothing," she said. "Now go play. I need to talk to whoever's in charge."
Kayla went to a trailer home, "Hello?" she asked. "I'm looking for whoever's in charge."
"No one's in charge," said a man with a fishing hat.
"Oh, well I just wanted to ask if I could stay here," she said.
"Of course you can," said a woman with brown hair as she came out of the trailer.
"Thank you," Kayla said. "My name is Kayla, Daryl brought me here."
"Well, Kayla, if there's anything you need just tell me," she said. "My name is Lorri."
"It's nice to see that there are other people left," the man said. "My name is Dale."
"I see you three have met," said Daryl as he came up to the them. "I got a few squirrels. Have they come back yet?"
"No," Dale replied.
"If you want a hunting partner I have lots of experience," Kayla said.
"I'll ask next time I go out," Daryl said and then walked away.
"Really?" Carol asked as she snuck up behind Kayla.
"What?" Kayla asked.
"No daughter of mine is going to end up with that red neck," said Kayla's father.
"Well that's a good thing that I'm not your daughter," Kayla replied, and walked away.
Carol was left standing there fearing for her daughter's safety when her father took after her. As soon as he grabbed Kayla's arm, he ended up on the ground.
"Don't touch me you filthy son of a bitch," Kayla said and then walked away.