The girl awoke to muffled voices. None of which she recognised. She felt the solid tar under her and knew she was back on the road. The searing pain in her thigh helped her piece together what had happened. She sat bolt upright, and reached for her pistol, planning to point it whoever was nearest. It had been taken from her while she was unconscious. As had the large knife she kept down her boot.

"Rick!" someone shouted. "She's awake." The girl looked at the voices' owner. A young asian man. She looked around and saw perhaps a dozen other people. And cars. She was surrounded.

Another man walked over and crouched infront of the girl, but refrained from coming too close. He had a rough beard and curly brown hair. A revolver was clearly visible in his holster. He was in charge. "Hi. I'm Rick. The man you just helped, Daryl? He's from our group." The girl did not reply. "We will give your weapons back as soon as we know you aren't a threat." The girl said nothing. "What's your name?" Asked Rick. Silence.

The girl felt very uneasy being near this many people. Especially men. Her skin crawled to think she had been unconscious around them, and the feeling intensified as she instantly realised the man that shot her must have carried her here. She was angry at herself for passing out. She had been through a lot worse than this, she thought. And she had never passed out before. She remembered that she hadn't actually eaten for two days. Stupid, she thought. She made a mental note to never save someones life again, especially on an empty stomach.

"Please just leave me alone." She muttered. "We aren't going to hurt you." The man called Rick said. An older man stepped forward, with white hair and am unkempt white beard. "I can take a look at your leg if you'd like." Said Hershel. The girl would not like. She wanted out.

"Guys, give her some space." A womans voice, with a strong rural accent. A pretty brunette stepped forward and introduced herself to the girl. "My name is Maggie. We just want to help you." The girl looked up but said nothing. "You saved our man Daryl. Why?" The girl shrugged. She gestured vaguely around her and mumbled: "This is my forest. I didn't want him screaming and attracting any unwanted visitors." Maggie smiled at the girl, pleased she had been able to get a sentence out of her. "Want to tell me your name?" She asked. The girl was silent for a minute, clearly contemplating the possible outcome of revealing her name. "Steph." She said. "Stephanie." She continued. She realised this was the first time she had spoken her own name for many months. This was the first time she had spoken to another person for many months. It felt strange in her mouth. "Well, Steph. Thank you for helping Daryl out. You staying around here?" Steph was not going to answer that. She did not want these people knowing any more about her.

Rick stepped forward once more. "Please." He said "Please, we need a place to stay. My wife..." He trailed off. Steph noticed a woman in one of the cars. She was the only one who hadn't got out to stare at Steph. Steph couldn't see more than her face, but she looked thin, and pale. "You must be staying around here" Rick went on. "We wouldn't be any trouble." Steph looked at the man she had warned of the bear. Daryl. He was leaning on a car in the back, the furtherest away. He had messy hair partially covering his eyes, and was wearing a leather vest. He was holding the crossbow he had been hunting with by his side. He had nothing to say, it seemed.

"That's not going to happen." Said Steph. "Please." Rick repeated, desperation in his voice. He stepped closer to Steph. Too close. Steph leapt to her feet, surprising Rick. She grabbed the person to her right. A young girl, probably a teenager, with white-blonde hair and clear blue eyes. She had not spoken to Steph. Steph pulled out the pocket knife she kept under the strap of her bra, and before anyone could react, held it to Beths neck. "I'm sorry." She said quietly to Beth. Almost every person that was surrounding Steph pulled a weapon out, and pointed them all directly at Steph. "Stop!" This came from Maggie. "Please don't hurt her." She said. "Just put the knife down. Nobody will come near you, I promise." From Rick.

"I'm sorry." Steph said to Beth once more, Before pulling her backwards towards a motorbike near the edge of the road. She got on the bike and started it, before letting Beth go and speeding off. Away from the group, who was left dumbfounded.