Chapter 2.

And so Maggie and Michonne sat in my car with me, Michonne watching me very closely, while Daryl drove their car. When we arrived at the gates Maggie stepped out before I could move to open it for us. Daryl pulled up seconds later, stepped out the car and slung his crossbow over his shoulder.

"So this is my digs. We set up a system for warm water if you'd like a shower but I need to fix it first." We walked inside. Daryl checked every room first just to make sure that I really was alone. He returned satisfied.

I gathered some food for them, which they ate sparingly but gratefully. Michonne kept sneaking glances at me. She didn't trust me, which was fair enough in this new world. I left them to eat while I worked on the tubing. Harold had shown me how to repair it.

"Need a hand?" Said Daryl as he leaned against the wall, munching on a biscuit and looking down on me.

"Nah, I've done this enough times now."

"You're from England. Did you move here before shit kicked off?"

"I was visiting friends as a graduation celebration. They're dead now, obviously. I have no one left in the world. I don't even know where I am in America." I laughed as I finished fixing the tube. I rose to my feet and returned to the main room.

"Would any of you like a shower?"

"Why not." Michonne spoke first, which surprised me. I led her to the room we had delegated as the shower room.

I showed her how to work it then left her.

Maggie and Daryl were talking together in hushed tones when I returned to the main room. They stopped when I entered. I smiled nervously and excused myself to check the perimeters.

Only a few walkers had been speared on the barriers so I took care of them. But soon I found myself standing over the makeshift graveyard. My friends were here. These people had saved me when they could have let me be torn to pieces or turned into a walking corpse. They had become my family and now I was the only one still alive. I had thought about joining them once but I couldn't bring myself to do it. This life was a living hell but something in me wouldn't give up.

I lost track of how long I had been sat there when someone sat on the ground next to me.

"We've been talking. We can't leave you here on your own. But we gotta leave before sundown."

"You're... Taking me with you?" He nodded and smirked slightly. "Are you sure? You can't be sure that I'm not some crazy bitch who'll go all Jack Torrance on your ass."

"You're trying to convince me not to take you? I think you'd fit right in with our little family. I can't in good conscience leave you to fight off walkers and live alone in this world. It ain't right." He stood and held a hand out for me. I grabbed it and he hauled me to me feet. "Get packing."

A half hour later all my possessions were stuffed into a bag and slung in my car. We had decided to take my car along with all the food and weapons I had gathered.

Daryl drove my car while Michonne and Maggie drove ahead of us. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. Without the dirt on his face he wasn't too bad to look at. Not the typically handsome guy but he was rugged and tough. And he was lethal with that crossbow. The kind of guy I'd love on my side in the apocalypse. He smirked as he turned to look at me.

"Like what you see?"

"I'm sorry. It's been so long since I've seen a living person. I can't help it." I laughed.

"There'll be lots of others you can stare at when we get back. Rick's the one you wanna get on the good side of. He's head honcho."

"What if he says that I can't join you?" I stared right ahead and prepared for some bad news. Now that I had some human company I craved more.

"He won't. But if on the off chance he does then we'd take you back to your place. I'll make sure he doesn't say no. I won't let him turn you away."

"Why are you doing this for me?" curiosity was evident in my voice.

"To survive you need people. I thought I could go it alone but I couldn't. You're away from home with no one to watch your back. It's not right or fair for this to be happening but being alone is complete bullshit. I won't leave you." he spoke gruffly.

"Thank you." was all I said.

We chatted most of the way back. We talked about what we did when the apocalypse started and how we met our crews.

It was turning dark when we pulled up to the gates of a prison. Walkers shambled about the place but it looked secure.

"Sweet." I exclaimed. "I can finally sleep right."

As soon as we pulled up Daryl jumped out and met me at my door. A few people were stood around, each of them eying me up. I tried to keep the hope welling up in my stomach squashed as a guy in a plaid shirt paced up to us. Daryl stood a little in front of me like a human shield.

"Care to explain?" This must be Rick.

"This is Sarah. I found her almost getting her face chewed off by a walker. She's been surviving on her own for five months. She helped us escape a herd and gave us what little food she had. I won't leave her to the walkers." I remained quiet. Rick turned on me and held his hand out.

"Weapons." I handed over the gun that Daryl had given me along with my empty one and my knives. "Now tell me this. Give me one good reason I should let you stay."

"I'm not a flesh eater for starters." Daryl chuckled. Rick stared at him.

"Come on. You took her weapons. She's gunna be pissed. She won't cause trouble. I know she won't."

"Sarah. Don't make this an easy decision for me." Rick looked slightly concerned for me.

"I understand your need to watch your peoples backs. And I understand why you took my weapons. I won't cause any trouble and you can keep my weapons until I prove myself to you. I just want the chance to do that if you'll let me." He seemed to like that answer.

"Then I have three questions for you."