Daryl sat alone atop his house's roof, listening to the commotion inside. His father was angry and drunk as usual, and he could hear Merle yelling, along with quite a bit of crashing. He ran out of the house to get away from all the fighting, but even on the roof he couldn't escape it.
He could hear coyotes howling in the forest nearby, as the moon shone brightly overhead. Eventually things quieted, and he assumed his father had passed out on the couch or something similar. Merle had gotten into trouble with the police again, and Daryl knew it was only a matter of time before he went to Juvenile Hall.
Once that happened, Daryl would be alone. Stuck in the house for the rest of his childhood, without his brother. For the first time in years, Daryl began to cry, silently at first, then in anguished sobbing. He was only eight years old, but even then, he wasn't used to crying. However, this was an exception. He was going to be alone, quite possibly forever.
Carol rubbed her aching knees gently, as she and the others set up their sleeping bags inside the large building which towered over the rest of the city they were staying in. The city was a large metropolis, filled with large towers like the one they'd set camp in. It was likely that the entire city had already been looted, but they needed a place to rest, and this was the first town they'd come across in over two days. Daryl estimated that they had at least two weeks of walking at a fast pace in order to reach Lyndenville, the ity the note Daryl found directed them to. The directions on the note were unspecific and simple, which made things all the more difficult. She was skeptical at best of the idea of some sort of "island utopia", but at least they now had a goal to accomplish; a reason to keep going.
They were camping on the ninth floor, one of fifteen overall, in a large office. The first snow of winter had already begun to fall, and it was getting colder with each day. They had managed to find some thin jackets for each of them, but other than that, they had no protection against the cold. Luckily, in a large city like the one they'd found, jackets would be easy to find, they hoped. Then again, just about everything they did nowadays was based on hope. The question constantly lingered in Carol's head: what happens when hope runs out?
Once everything was set up, the sun had already gone down. It got dark late, yet quickly, leaving Carol, Daryl, Ellie, and Savannah alone in the darkness inside their sleeping bags. There hadn't been much conversation since they reached the tower, and Carol drifted asleep over the course of about an hour.
About three hours later, she woke again. Her sleeping bag had quite a bit of holes in it, and the freezing cold was beginning to slip through. She sat up, and got dressed in a jacket and two pairs of pants. After settling back into her sleeping bag, she found herself unable to fall asleep.
Eventually she decided to take a walk to the top of the tower. Using the rusted steps, she reached the top of the building, and walked to the edge. It was at least seventy feet to the ground, and Carol shuddered at the thought of falling. She leaned on the guard rail, looking up into the sky. Nights like this often were cloudless and full of stars, and this was no exception. The sky was lit up by bright stars as far as the eye could see, and Carol was deep in thought.
It had been a long time since she'd thought of her life before the outbreak, but something about the midnight city skyline put her in a dreamy trance of thought. She began to think about Sophia, about Ed, and about the first days of the outbreak, all those years ago, when she first met Rick.
Everything before the outbreak seemed like a past life to her, like some sort of dream. Some days she'd forget that it ever happened. It felt like she'd been living in the apocalypse her entire life, and her life before was all just a fantasy of her mind.
Looking down, she saw the shadowy figures of walkers wandering in the dark, like ghosts of some sort, reminders of a world long forgotten. The thin patches of snow on the ground glistened in the moonlight.
Carol began to notice one shadowy object in particular, who was running its way into a nearby outlet. A survivor. Carol ran down the building stairs as quickly as she could, entering the room housing the others about three minutes later.
She gently awoke Daryl, signaling him to be quiet(she decided it was best he didn't wake Ellie and Savannah).
"There's somebody else in the city...a survivor." She whispered softly.
"Hm?" Grunted Daryl, opening his eyes suddenly.
"I saw somebody outside, they ran into a building a little down the street."
Daryl grabbed his crossbow, and followed her down to the bottom of the tower.
Daryl's grip on his crossbow was tight and alert, as he and Carol carefully ventured towards the building which the shadowy survivor had gone into. They had encountered bad people in the past. Very bad people. They knew better than to ignore unknown survivors, they were going to meet this survivor on their terms.
Avoiding the nearby walkers stealthily, they crept to the entrance of the clothing outlet, and Daryl looked in cautiously. Suddenly, a soft noise behind them broke the sound of walkers moaning. The distinct sound of a gun being readied to shoot.
"Don't move," Whispered a feminine voice behind them sternly. "Guns on the ground."
Daryl and Carol slowly turned around, setting their weapons down reluctantly. They stood face-to-face with a young woman around Ellie's age, with prominent cheekbones and a petite, skinny body. Her long pigtail-styled hair appeared to be blonde, but in the darkness it was hard to distinguish. The woman moved closer, stepping out of the shadow of a nearby building, revealing her dark brown eyes.
"The fuck are you following me for?!" Questioned the woman in a harsh whisper.
Daryl was ready to explain, but Carol cut him off.
"I saw you running in the streets," Explained Carol, warily eyeing the woman's hunting rifle, "We went to investigate...we havent seen any survivors in quite a while."
"That so?" Questioned the woman, "You got anyone else in your group?"
"Does it matter?" Retorted Daryl gruffly.
"Does to me." Answered the woman, shifting her gun away from Carol's chest, and instead at Daryl's.
Before Daryl could respond, Carol cut him off, a habit of hers.
"You'll find out how many others we have the hard way if you don't lower that rifle." Threatened Carol.
"Mhm..." Dismissed the woman, now starting to be noticed by the walkers in the street, "We don't have much time, so quit bullshitting me, and tell me how many others are out there."
"None." Answered Daryl. One of the few times he didn't do a good job at telling a lie.
"Bullshit." The woman raised her gun to Daryl's head.
"Two." Corrected Carol.
"This true?" Asked the woman to Daryl.
"Yeah."
"Prove it. Show me your group."
"Hell no."
The woman tightened her grip on her rifle.
"I'm not asking."
Carol and Daryl led the woman into a nearby house, pretending it was their group's camp. They led the woman into the living room with deceptive confidence, Daryl slowly getting closer to her. The woman entered the room, seeing nothing but furniture.
"The fuck?" She exclaimed, "There's nobody here! I'm not playing fucking games!"
Daryl suddenly lunged into the woman, slamming her against the wall. The hunting rifle fell to the ground, Carol retrieving it quickly, and aiming it at the woman's face. Daryl released the woman, who now stood glaring at Carol.
"So what now?" Asked the woman angrily, "You gonna kill me?"
"Depends." Replied Carol coldly, "Either way, we're asking the questions now."
"Fine by me, I got nothing to hide."
"Who are you?" Asked Daryl.
"Name's Phyllis...not that you actually care anyways." The woman glared at Daryl.
TWO DAYS LATER.
Daryl walked through the forest, two dead squirrels strapped to his vest. He was used to finding more than two squirrels on his hunts, but it would have to do for now. He and the others had decided to stay in the city a little while longer, before pushing straight through to the supposed community waiting for them down the road.
Shortly after entering the outskirts of the city, Daryl arrived back at the tower, and made his way to the ninth floor. Meeting the others inside, he set his loot on the ground in front of them.
"I heard you we're a good hunter...but damn." Commented Phyllis.
"You ain't seen nothin' yet." Remarked Daryl, setting his crossbow down on a desk.
It had been two days since he and Carol first met Phyllis, and he still had trouble trusting her. After everything other people had put him and Carol through, he thought it too big a risk to allow Phyllis to stay. Carol disagreed. He had to admit, Phyllis was a great asset. She was proficient with a gun, and knew the area well.
"Ew," Said Savannah, sticking her tongue out at the sight of the dead squirrels, "Gross."
"It's getting colder out, harder to hunt nowadays." Noted Daryl, relaxing on an office chair.
"Snow's already beginning to fall," Said Ellie, "We'll be in a bad situation if we don't find somewhere safe quick."
"I say we start moving tomorrow," Suggested Phyllis, "Walk 'till sunset, find somewhere to stay the night, then keep moving the next day."
"Sounds like a plan." Agreed Ellie.
"We might be able to boil some of this snow into water," Said Carol, looking out the window, "That'll come in handy."
"I'll get some firewood," Announced Ellie, "We're gonna need some later tonight."
"I'll come with you." Said Daryl, rising from a office desk.
Ellie nodded, and led Daryl out of the building, leaving Carol, Phyllis, and Savannah alone.
Carol, Savannah, and Phyllis sat awkwardly in office chairs, Savannah spinning around in hers playfully. Carol mistrusted Phyllis, but she was willing to give her a chance. Daryl certainly wouldn't. She did her best to keep Phyllis away from Savannah in case she tried to harm anyone, but things seemed to be settling down.
Carol had asked Phyllis if she'd seen or heard of a community in the area, but Phyllis said she hadn't gone much farther in the direction of the supposed community, so she wouldn't know. After a few moments of silence, Phyllis spoke up.
"So, Carol, where'd you work before the outbreak?" She asked. She'd become much friendly since they first met, and seemed to be more comfortable around them now.
"Well, I didn't work, my husband took care of that for me." Replied Carol, arousing Savannah's interest.
"Did you have any kids?" Asked Savannah curiously.
Carol paused. Nobody, not even Daryl, had mentioned Sophia in years. Sophia was only alive in her thoughts, and it made her uncomfortable to talk about her.
"Um, yes, I did." Answered Carol, doing her best to be nonchalant.
"How many?" Asked Savannah, "Did you have any girls? What were their names? Wh-"
Carol was overloaded with questions. She didn't want to talk at the moment, but especially about Sophia.
"I'd prefer not to talk about that." Said Carol, cutting Savannah off.
"Why?" Asked Savannah, pushing her a bit too far.
"Stop." Snapped Carol coldly, rising up out of her seat, "I said I don't want to talk about it."
Carol walked out of the room, leaving Savannah confused and embarrassed.
Daryl and Ellie searched the nearest warehouse, finding shelves of wood and other flammable items. He was mostly silent, stuffing small planks of wood into his vest and arms.
"So, what's your story?" Asked Ellie, reached up to grab a plank about the size of her arm off one of the shelves.
"Hm?" Grunted Daryl.
"Everyone has a story," Explained Ellie, "What's yours?"
Ellie turned to face him.
"Same as anyone else."
"Come on Daryl. I've been with you for a while, and I barely know anything about you."
He didn't respond.
"Fine, I'll go first." Said Ellie with a sigh, "I was a junkie before the outbreak, met a group a little while after, they helped me go clean. I met Savannah there, me and her traveled alone after the others died, you already know that. Your turn."
Finally, Daryl spoke up.
"I was a typical redneck before shit hit the fan, same as now. Dad was an asshole, brother wasn't much different. After shit went down me and my brother were alone for a while, we met a group. 's where I met Carol. We stayed with them for a while...but it didn't work out."
"Oh...Im sorry. Your brother- what happened to him?"
"Same thing that happens to everyone else."
Ellie was silent. They both knew what he meant, that was how the world was nowadays. If someone isn't with you, they're dead.
Carol sat by herself by a broken water fountain in the hallway of the building, thinking to herself. She didn't mean to snap at Savannah, it just happened. She knew feeling guilty wouldn't do her any good, but that certainly didn't make her feel better.
"Hey." Greeted Phyllis, approaching Carol, and sitting down beside her.
Carol didn't know what to say, so she said nothing.
"I know you didn't mean to snap at Anna," Said Phyllis, "I get it. Something bad happened in the past, we're all the same boat."
Carol nodded.
"You want to talk about it?" Asked Phyllis. Carol didn't respond at first, but eventually spoke up.
"Her name was Sophia...my daughter. She died earlier after the outbreak. Daryl did more for her than my husband ever did. If I had taught her to be strong...if I had protected her-"
Carol lingered, and cut herself off.
"Trust me, I get it." Said Phyllis, "I've made mistake too...to say the least. When the outbreak first hit, I was scared. I was ruthless. I hurt others to survive, and that haunts me to this day. It took time, and a lot of pain, but I changed. I adapted, and you did too. Don't beat yourself up about it. I'm sure Sophia in the sky somewhere, smiling down at you."
"Maybe." Said Carol, "...thanks."
"No problem."
Author's Note:
Hey guys, a few things to tell you:
1) I am so sorry for posting this chapter so late, I've been busy with a lot of other things lately, and I went on a 10-day trip to Navajo.
2) In case you're wondering, the Phyllis in the chapter is the same Phyllis from chapters 5 & 6 of Survivor, my other series. Phyllis 'hurting others to survive' was a reference to her actions in Survivor. This series takes place long after the current timeline in Survivor, and there may be future crossovers.
3) Review whenever you can, or at least rate the chapter on a scale of 1-10, it really helps!
4) This series is temporary, and will probably run for about 5-7 Chapters. However, I have a sequel planned, which will be ongoing.
