Chapter 3

The new plan was for Rick and Glenn to distract the walkers. Janis didn't even mind being left out of this one as she smeared Walker guts all over Glenns chest.

"Think you could try to keep it away from my face/" Glenn said, the look of disgust making Janis laugh.

"The worse you smell the safer you are. I'm just trying to save your life man." Janis laughed, as Glenn retched.

"Oh, this is bad...this is really bad." Glenn said, holding his breath between words.

"Think about something else...Puppies and kittens?" Rick suggested, looking close to vomiting himself.

"Yeah...Dead puppies and kittens." T-Dog laughs, making Glenn promptly vomit.

They stood in front of the door that lead the alley. Glenn's face was palid, Janis knew not just from being sick.

"You good?" She asked, trying hard not to breathe in the scent.

"Do I look good?"

"Handsome as always. Stay safe."

"Stay safe." Glenn said, before turning to Rick and nodding meekly.

Janis stood, leg shaking uncontrollably on the roof, trying to catch a glimpse of either Glenn or Rick.

"You come up here to uncuff me sunshine?"

"I think I prefer you cuffed Merle."

"Didn't know ya' was into the kinky stuff..why not come over here 'n show me how rough you like it."

"You couldn't handle me Dixon. Shh...I think I see them."

They'd told Merle the plan, he didn't seem impressed at all.

" That asshole is out on the street with the handcuff keys? " he said while pulling on the cuffs.

He was visibly less impressed when T-Dog dangled the keys in front of his face.

Janis was pacing along the rooftop when she felt the first spot of rain.

"Shit."

They all ran to the roof edge, trying to get a glimpse of the two men. Walkers still pounded the store doors, a huge group of them pressing against the glass, undeterred by the rain. Janis' eyes scanned the roads, while Andrea was looking intently through the binoculars.

"There...there near the construction site." Andrea practically screams.

Janis run towards her, getting a better view of where she's pointing. Without binoculars she can barely see them. Two figures backing away from a huge group of Walkers. Suddenly one of them leaps out, attacking a walker with an axe. The walker falls to the floor as everyone standing on the roof cheers.

The whole group are on the edge of the roof now, minus Merle who is pulling on his cuffs hard, swearing as he does so.

"Come on Glenn..come on." Janis whispers under her breath, watching the two men fight for their life. She recognises Glenn now, following him intently as he scales the fence of the construction site. They both manage to make it over, everyone cheers, T-Dog whoops while punching the air and Janis lets go of the breath she didn't know she was holding. They all continue to watch as Rick shoots at the huge crowd of walkers now gathered at the construction site.

Minutes pass as Glenn is out of site, no doubt searching for the keys. He comes running back to Rick, grabbing him by the shoulder as the both head for the van, Janis finally looking away as the van speeds out of her eyesight.

She immediately heads for the door, nothing but ensure that Glenn is alive on her mind as she practically jumps down the stairs, ignoring the group shouting behind her.

Janis is at the back doors, she could still hear Walkers bashing the shutters and doors as she as she struggles to see through the small glass window. Without any idea how they'll escape she waits, knowing Glenn wouldn't leave them.

The group joined her just as she heard the music. She looked around her as the group met them, they were all peering over the crowd of Walkers, trying to get a glimpse of where the music was coming from. The screech of tires was heard, as the music got louder the walkers started to disperse, distracted by whatever was making all the noise.

Through the new thinning group of Walkers Janis can see a white van, she pushes against the door, shooting one of the walkers in the face as she runs towards the van, jumping in the front before even checking to see who was driving.

Rick looked over at her, shouting for the others to get in.

"I'm in!" T-Dog shouts, slamming the van door behind him. Janis looked behind her, counting heads.

"Where's Merle?" She watched T-Dog who looked tremendously guilty.

"I dropped the damn key."

"Shit." Janis heard Andrea from the back of the van. She stuck her head out the van window, looking at the sea of Walkers they'd left behind them. There was no way of turning back now, it would be certain death for all of them. They'd made too much noise getting away. Bringing her head back in the van the whole group struggled to look at each other, guilt written over everyone's faces, their escape overshadowed by leaving Merle behind.

"Glenn?" Janis asked, looking to Rick who just smiled and nodded at the red sports car speeding down the road ahead of them. They continued to drive, Rick following the red car in front of them, periodically checking his mirror, ensuring his passengers were safe.

Now they had time Janis studied the man more closely, his stubble covered a strong jaw. His body looked weak however, he had obviously not fared well in the past weeks.

"Hey...y'all right?" Janis asked, watching Ricks face drop.

"Merle got left behind..." He faltered, unable to finish his sentence.

"Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back. Except maybe Daryl." Morales said from the back of the van.

"Daryl?" Rick looked at Janis.

"His brother...yeah he's gonna be pissed. You locked the door though T?"

"Course I did."

"I'll go tomorrow...he'll be fine. Stop worrying, you saved all our asses."

Rick didn't stop worrying, Janis could tell by his face, but continued to follow Glenn through the winding roads towards camp.