Surviving Hearts

Chapter 2

Numbness. That's all I felt being in a car this long had fried my brain from thinking too much. I didn't know where we were all I was aware of was I was sat in the back of Shanes jeep and we weren't on the high way anymore. I looked around and there were so many people, Carl was playing with three other children, mum was talking to another woman who had grey short hair and Shane was putting tin cans up with a few other men but I only saw the back of them. I didn't want to move all the faces I saw around me I didn't recognise, not one face and that made the numbness even worse if that were possible. I heard somebody approach but I still didn't move. I couldn't. It hurt too much.

''excuse me? Layla?'' a women's soft voice said

I looked up at the voice she was pretty and blonde and looked around my age

''wow you look rough, I'm sorry about your dad your mum explained it to us earlier''

I glared at her ''how long have I been sat up here''

''around three hours, I'm Amy by the way'' she extended her hand

I took it and limply shook it ''oh I'm sorry I haven't been very sociable''

''it's completely understandable you want to come and meet the rest of the group?''

I gave her a blank look but stepped out of the jeep but didn't register where the ground was and fell straight on my ass. My mum saw me fall and rushed straight over questioning Amy.

''what happened is she okay? Why did she fall?'' my mum asked in a panicked voice

''she's okay Lori she just missed where the ground was'' Amy answered

''oh my baby! Come here'' she picked me up and pulled me into a hug

Then the tears came and I crumbled into my mum's body ''I can't believe he's gone'' I said through tears

''I know baby we just have to be strong for him it would be what your dad would of wanted'' she stroked the back of my head ''come on maybe meeting these nice people will take your mind off it a bit thank you Amy for getting her talking''

She nodded and followed my mum as she guided me down the hill towards the camp. Carl saw me and came rushing over taking my other hand and looking up at me with his bright blue eyes and his face dropped we had the same eyes but his were bright where I knew that mine would look dull and lifeless. I knew it hurt Carl seeing his older sister crumble and shut off from the world but he knew how much I loved our dad. People started to gather around as mum sat me down on a log not letting go of my hand, she now took both of them in her hands leaving Carl to link his arm in mine as a way to comfort me and then all the other campers started to sit down.

''now sweetie these people are good, none of them have a bad bone and they want to survive as much as us'' she said reassuringly, I barely registered her words but looked around at the group of people and smiled ''okay this is Carol, Sophia and Ed Peletier'' mum said pointing to the grey haired woman, a scary looking guy and a young girl ''this is Morales, Miranda, Eliza and Louis'' she said gesturing to a Latin American family ''over there are Daryl and Merle Dixon'' she said pointing to a couple of rednecks one of them was very attractive ''and they are Dale, Andrea and you already know Amy'' she said pointing to an old man and two blonde girls ''and that's T-dog, Jacqui, Jim and Glenn'' she pointed to an African-American man and woman, a man in a plumbers uniform and a young Asian boy. She said other people's names but I shut off and didn't hear them I was too busy concentrating on not breaking down again. I wanted to be strong for Carl and my mum and protect them but I couldn't it was too hard the world had gone to shit and I had lost my dad. Everyone started to talk but I couldn't deal with it I let go of my mum's hands and unlinked myself from Carl and began to stand up.

''where are you going?'' mum asked

''to talk to Shane I want a gun'' I surprised myself by my words but it made sense

''baby you don't need a gun!'' she said sternly

''I do, I know how to shoot dad taught me! I need to protect you and Carl'' I said stamping my foot

''baby that's okay Shane has all three of our backs'' mum said trying to reassure me

''but I still want one! Shane isn't always going to be around I need a gun!'' I just about shouted

Her face softened ''fine baby but get another weapon as well Carol said those things are attracted to sound''

I smiled at my mum and walked away towards Shane who was watching the horizon like a hawk ''hey Shane''

He smiled at me ''hey Lay good to see you up, watcha need?''

''a gun and maybe a knife'' I said giving him the puppy eyes

He gave me a shocked look ''what has your mum said about this? I know you can shoot Lay considering I taught ya along with your dad but I'm not comfortable giving you a gun without ya mums permission''

''she said I can'' I looked over at her with a sympathy look and she nodded at Shane

''alright then, let's take a look in the stash we got and you can pick a gun and a knife''

I smiled and looked at the seven guns that lay in front of me ''I think I'll just take the pistol and that hunting knife'' I said point to a knife with a long sharp blade

''fine by me, but where you gonna keep them? I'll give you a box of bullets to go with the pistol but that's it until we find some more'' he told me sternly

''I'll keep the knife in my boot and'' I grabbed a strap ''I'll keep the gun in this'' I put the strap around my right shoulder and put the pistol in the holder so it hung off my left hip

''damn you can tell your Ricks daughter'' he laughed

''I just want to make him proud'' I said ducking my head

He gave me a look but came over to me and put an arm around my shoulder ''you have been making him proud since the day you were born''

I smiled at him ''thank you Shane, I'll see you later and don't worry I'll use the gun and knife in the right way''

He smiled and nodded. I walked back towards the camp when one of the rednecks Daryl? I think looked up and directed his gaze towards me and then towards my mum ''you sure it's wise to give that girl a gun and knife? She's incapable if you ask me'' snapped the good looking redneck

My mum glared at him ''she is more than capable of handling the gun and knife Daryl! Don't you dare patronise my daughter! She may be 18 but she can look after herself!''

''I didn't mean no harm by it calm down woman! She just looks a little young to be handling those kind of weapons'' Daryl snapped again

''baby brother her dad was a cop bet she knows her way around a gun better than you and your 26, ain't that right doll face?'' the other redneck looked at me guessing this was Merle

I smirked ''if ya say so hillbilly''

He chuckled ''feisty one ain't cha doll face?''

''like ya said my dad was a cop'' I smirked and walked away I swear I heard mutter 'damn she has a sweet ass' I laughed to myself at the older hillbilly

I felt myself coming back to myself the numbness was dying out and I could feel again. I was going to make my dad proud and look after my family through this hell and get to know these people around the camp. Maybe one a little bit more even though he did think it was stupid to give me a gun and knife... well Daryl Dixon I will prove you wrong.

To be continued...

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