Sophia and I grabbed our stuff and set out for the road the very next morning. Sophia was in the lead attempting to remember which direction she had originally came from. I followed close behind clutching my knife tightly in case any walkers were leaking near by. In order to pass the time Sophia started to describe the people in her group to me figuring it might help us locate them considering the only person she had described to me so far was that hunting guy but Sophia wasn't sure of the odds of us running into him. She told me how Rick was the leader and husband of Lori and father of Carl who just so happened to be one of Sophia's greatest friends. She also told me about how Glenn was really funny, how T dog reminded her of a gigantic teddy bear and that Dale told some really cool stories. She admits she never really talked much with some of the people in her group but she thought of them all to be apart of her family. Although I did notice the excited gleam in her eye once she started talking about her mother.
" My mom's the best mom in the world!" she told me " she's gentle and kind and gives really good hugs." Watching Sophia excitedly babble about her mother made my heart ache. I had never met my mom. She had passed away shortly after childbirth leaving both my brother and me all alone with out a single person to care for us. Luckily my brother was eighteen at the time of my birth so we weren't forced into foster care or an orphanage. Although my brother had to work very hard and me being an asthmatic only put more stress on him. Sophia seemed to notice because she stopped walking and gave me a hug. I was shocked by the sudden affection and was about to speak but Sophia beat me to it. "You don't have to be sad my mom loves kids! I'm sure there will be enough warm hugs for the both of us." I tried to look tough but on the inside I really liked the idea.
I looked over Sophia's shoulder and practically beamed at the sight. It was the edge of the road. I turned Sophia around and motioned towards it causing her to smile gleefully. I smirked mischievously "race you to the road!" I yelled before running towards it. I heard Sophia let out a laugh before she followed me running as fast as she could. "Slow down wait for me!" she shouted after me but I was too far ahead to listen. It had been so long since I had felt like this. Like a kid and it was all thanks to Sophia. Although I had to be careful I didn't push myself to hard and have an asthma attack. I soon made it to the edge of the road with a huffing Sophia following shortly behind. "You cheated," she stated crossing her arms and giving me a playful glare. I stuck my tongue at her before pulling out my knife and scanning around all the cars for any sign of walkers.
Sophia and cautiously weaved around the abandoned cars looking for any sign that her group had been here. I looked behind an old truck and spotted a lone walker limping towards us. Sophia let out a whimper but I quickly shushed her before stealthily sneaking towards it raising my knife. Once I had gotten behind it I brought the knife down into the back of its skull causing it to fall limp and fall on top of me. Just great. Luckily Sophia managed to push it off and quickly helped me up but her eyes soon fell on one of the abandoned cars that had some supplies on it as well as note which said, "Sophia stay here we will come every day," Sophia read it out before smiling brightly. "They didn't leave me behind," she said happily. I was about to say something when I heard a number of faint groans. I froze before turning but didn't have to because I could see them. Walkers and lots of them by the looks of it.
Sophia let out another whimper before clutching my hand tightly. I held my knife up again but knew I couldn't protect Sophia as well as myself against that many walkers after all I was still a little girl myself. I looked around franticly before I found the very thing that would save us. It was the walker I had killed before. I immediately rushed towards it dragging Sophia with me and knelt beside it. I held my knife above its stomach and messily cut it open. I reached my hand inside and started to smear myself with its inside trying to cover myself up as much as possibly. Sophia looked at me in horror " what are you doing!" she screamed before I quickly shushed her once more. "Sophia walkers can't tell the difference between you and them when your covered in muck," I told her "its how I've survived for so long covering yourself in there smell they can't tell you from one of them now if you want to live I need you to be quiet and do exactly as I say," she gave me one final look before slowly nodding. I quickly got some more blood on me before motioning for Sophia to get closer. "This is so gross," she muttered causing me to flinch "After a while you get used to it," I told her before smearing it on her body. Once we were both completely covered I picked up an old pip and handed it to her. "Only hit the ones that too close over wise leave them be," I told her "you have to be quiet and you have to walk remember act like you belong and you will belong." She quickly nodded and we walked towards the walkers.
