Hey guys! This is my first post EVER! I could really use some advice, and input on what you think I should do. I'm not exactly positive as to how I feel about this story, but it was requested by one of my friends. So, hope you enjoy!
She needed a blanket, and so did I. I couldn't help but beat myself up by thinking, "How the hell could I forget blankets?" That was what made me leave the basement, dragging her along with me, only to find the main levels of the department store in utter chaos. I heard someone screaming, but couldn't place which side of the building it was coming from. At first, I thought it was her, and my heart had stopped.. Even with all of the... zombies- for lack of a better term- walking around in Atlanta, my main concern was taking care of Shelby. She was all I had left, and I would be damned if I lost her because we didn't have blankets.
"Aunty?" she whispered to me, tugging on my arm softly. I glanced ahead, only seeing of few zombies in front of us.
I figured that as long as we were quiet, we could manage this. But first, I had to make sure she was okay. "Yes, Shelbs?" I replied gently, crouching down and putting on my best smile. However when she glanced behind me and pointed, a horrified expression crossing her angelic face, my smile faded quickly. I turned and looked, not shocked at all by who it was. "Shit!" I hissed when I heard the first gunshot. "Shelby!" I yelled and put her behind me, trying to shield her from the hundreds of zombies now attracted to us. "Remember what I told you!" I screamed and stepped back toward the door we had come from.
Quickly and quietly, I shoved her back into the department store, only to find that the zombies were just beginning to break through the heavy doors. Shelby had tears of fear streaming down her red cheeks, causing her bright blue eyes to become dull and lifeless. Sighing, I scooped her up and headed to the back alley, avoiding the zombies now running at us.
"Was that mommy?" Shelby sobbed into my neck, broken-hearted.
"Oh. No, Shelbs," I lied, trying to comfort her even while I was in the middle of this screwed-up situation. I kicked the door to the alley open and widened my eyes with surprise. So this was the retard who attracted them all? Luckily for me, he seemed surprised to see me, and even more surprised to see Shelby. "What the-"
"You been bit?" the asian boy asked me and I shook my head quickly in response, surprised at how familiar he looked. "I'm Glenn," he continued, "Hate to stop there, but we've got to go. We're in a bit of trouble. Where the hell is Rick?"
I glanced at the bag of guns slung on his shoulder. "I... I..."
"You don't have much of a choice if you want to live!" he screamed frightfully, causing Shelby to cry even harder.
A truck pulled up at the end of the alley, followed by the sounds of the dead closing in. "Glenn!" a man in the front screamed, "Hurry the hell up!"
The asian boy, Glenn, glanced at us again, frantic. He grabbed my hand, making a split-second decision, and started to run for it. I followed and ended up running faster than him, even with Shelby in my arms. The door opened and I jumped into the seat without a second thought about who these people could be. Shelby was clinging to me, sobbing loudly.
Glenn slid in next to us furiously, screaming, "Rick! Go!" before turning to Shelby and I, "What the hell is wrong with you!" he screamed directly at me as Rick sped away, "Why the hell were you in Atlanta?"
"We were living there when the outbreak hit," I replied, growing irritated, "We've been trying to find a way out for awhile now and we were pretty close to getting there. We were doing just fine in there until you dumbasses decided to shoot your guns!"
The cab of the truck grew absolutely silent other than Shelby's cries. I broke my steely gaze away from Glenn's face and looked at the man sitting on the other side of us.
He was staring at Shelby and I with disgust, his blue eyes piercing through us. "Eithera y'all been bit?" his voice had a harsh georgian drawl as he glared at us, running his hand through his medium length, shaggy brown hair.
I shook my head no, and noticed him relax a little bit. Trying to ignore Shelby's shaking and weeping, I spoke softly, "My name is Demeter, and this is my niece, Shelby."
"I'm Rick," the man driving said, nodding his head at me.
"T-dog, babydoll," the black man up front winked and I smiled at him.
"We met briefly," Glenn said, "but how 'bout a proper introduction?" he held out his hand, "Glenn."
"Demeter," I shook his hand hesitantly, watching how his eyes softened when he looked at Shelby. I raised my eyebrow at him and he shook his head, holding up a finger to say "hang on a second."
"That rude ass redneck back there is Daryl Dixon, babydoll," T-dog laughed harshly.
A moment of silence followed between all of the adults. Shelby's raspy breathing was beginning to worry me. She had never been this upset and I was afraid she would start to hyperventilate if I didn't get her to stop soon.
"Shelbs," I said soothingly, "You've got to calm down, baby. Breathe."
She sat up slightly at the sound of my voice, her eyes revealing fresh tears. "My mommy," she cries, "M-m-my mm-ooo-mmy!" she collapsed in a heap on me.
"How old is she?" Rick asked me quietly.
"Four," I reply softly, my heart breaking a little more each time she whimpers.
"I never thought I'd see anyone under the age of nine again," T-dog tries to make a joke and falls flat.
"How the hell did ya get along for that long in Atlanta?" Daryl demanded, "World's fulla walkers and crazy fuckin' people nah." He sulked as far away from me as possible in the truck, staring hotly at Rick.
"We've talked 'bout this Dixon," Rick hissed, straightening his hat upon his head, "I said I was sorry."
Rick's badge flashed as the setting sun hit it, just as I was about to speak. "And what did Mr. Good Cop do to you?" I asked, curious as to what his answer was going to be.
"Here we go again," Glenn groaned, banging his head up against the car door, "For the twelfth time since we've left camp."
"He handcuffed my brother Merle to the roofa that department store," Daryl spat angrily.
"Ouch," I let out a breath, "That sucks man. Sorry."
"'S cool," he replied, turning to look out the window just as we passed a walker.
We were headed to the quarry- a place I knew well thanks to many family trips there. It was growing dark and as I held a trembling Shelby in my arms, I realized for the first time that maybe I was wrong and being with people was a good idea for us. Just maybe not these guys.
Then it hit me. Glenn had said camp. There were more survivors. Would there be children? Women? Pets? Most importantly, was it safe?