June 5th 2012
"Must be good to have your family back." Claire said to Rick, who was getting a fire going.
"Yeah, I don't think I have ever been so happy." Rick replied, looking up toward his family. Rick stood up after the fire had started and turned to Claire.
"I'm sorry your family couldn't be here too." Claire smiled and looked down.
"Its alright, Iv grown used to them being gone." Rick nodded but a question soon popped into his mind.
"Hey, by the way, why did you ask Merle for his wallet?" Claire blinked.
"Oh, I haven't told you about that yet have I? Well you see, when I feel people shouldn't be forgotten, I take there wallet. Not for money or anything obviously, but because most people carry mementos in them, pictures of not only them selves but the people they care about. Kids, spouses, friends. A small piece of who they were. I keep them until I find a spot which I think is a peace full enough place to let them rest. One time it was on the outskirt of a field, this field in particular was beautiful, it almost looked untouched by all the terror, another time was by a pond. It was quiet and isolated, and had these pretty water plants in it like lily pads and stuff. I put them on a piece of wood and pushed them into the pond to float about."
"That's very kind Claire." Rick stated. Claire shrugged.
"People come, people go – they'll drift in and out of our lives, almost like characters in a favorite book. When we finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and we start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then we find ourselves focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past. I would just like to avoid that if possible."
At dinner everyone gathered around for the most part. Claire noticed that Daryl seemed to distance himself from the others. When he and a few of the others got back from looking for Merle, Daryl seemed both aggravated and please. They said that Merle was more than likely alive, however he wasn't on the roof anymore when they got there, only his hand was left.
"So Claire," Dan started. Claire like Dan, he seemed like one of those guys who is always looking on the bright side. His wife Lisa however not so much. She was a nice woman from what Claire could tell from the few times they had spoken, but the woman seemed to always be in her own world.
"You and Rick have been with us a full twenty-four hours now and we don't know much about you. I mean Rick obviously has history with some of us but it appears your the odd one out."
Claire smiled. "Well what is it you would like to know exactly?"
Dan shrugged. " I don't know, where you come from, eh..how old are you..oh how about whats with the camera?"
"Well," Claire began. "I'm twenty-six, and I'm from Ohio."
"Ohio? What are you doin' all the way down here?" Amy asked. Claire itched her neck.
"Well I was visiting with my family for my Grandparents wedding anniversary. Forty-eight years."
"Hell of an anniversary gift." T-dog said with his eyebrows raised. Claire gave a small laugh.
"Your telling me. My grandfather had just finished giving his speech to my grandmother for a wonderful forty-eight years of marriage when some woman comes running into the dinning area screaming at the top of her lungs with blood on her face. My aunt tried to get her to calm down for a second to tell us what the hell was wrong. Of course right as we think she has done enough screaming these two random guys stumble in. They look trashed and bloody and like any reasonable person would more family members went to try and investigate. In the process of trying to be good people they got their throats ripped out."
"Oh god." Lori said covering her mouth, and pulling Carl closer to her.
"I remember my Uncle Paul grabbing my arm, pulling me along with my parents and a few of my cousins to get out. It wasn't of much uses though seeing that the more commotion made, brought more of those things too us. I remember being so scared an confused so me and a few other did the only thing we could think of and hid under the tables."
Claire's eyes watered a little bit as she recalled the events of that day.
"I can still remember the screams of terror as my family was ripped apart and all I could think to do was hide. What kind of person does that make me?"
"A scared one." Rick said quietly. "You cant blame yourself for what happened to them, even if you had a sudden surge of bravery the chance of you really being able to do much of anything are slim to none."
Claire nodded. " I know, but that doesn't mean that I don't wish I could have done something. Anything."
"Did anyone else make it out?" Andrea asked. Claire nodded.
"For a while I was with my parents, my uncle on my dads side and two of my cousins. But they didn't last long. Like with anyone else if it wasn't one thing it was another. Bites, get sick, lose hope, or you get killed by some random asshole of a person who is just trying to survive."
"What the camera about?" Shane asked, trying to switch the subject.
Claire grabbed the camera out of her bag that rested next to her.
"I actually was filming the Anniversary party, have the entire thing on file."
"Why would you keep that?" Lori asked, still holding Carl close.
Claire shrugged. "I just thought that, after this all ends, if it all ends, that, they're going to want to know how it all went down. When I started traveling alone one of the first places I went was a Walmart. It was pretty empty but when your looking for stuff for only one person you don't need much. When I passed the electronics section there was still a lot there, well sorta. Most people took the time of chaos to loot for things they were unaware they wouldn't need, like ipads and computers...TVs. There were however plenty of memory cards and double AA batteries. So I grabbed a bunch and decided from then on I would use it like a video diary of the sorts. I figured it would stop me from going crazy from being alone."
"That's a clever idea Claire." Dale said slightly impressed. Claire nodded.
"Yeah, if you guys don't already, you should defiantly keep a diary or journal of some sort, it helps to put the mind at ease to write your thoughts down. Or you know if you ever want to use this, just ask, I can give you your own memory card so its separate and what not...I don't know..I just find it helps."
The others seemed to take this into consideration when Rick spoke up.
"She also collects wallets."
"Why?" Andrea asked.
"For the mementos. I only ask for them if your dying, for the pictures and stuff you know, I know you might be wondering why not just the pictures, its lighter, but the wallet keeps them nice..."
"Well," Dale said getting up. "If I die you can have mine."
Daryl Dixon listened quietly while the others spoke to Claire. He wasn't one for introductions, and wasn't really all that interested in getting to know any of these people anymore than he already had to. He had scoffed to himself when he listened to her say she hid under a table. He shook his head. No wonder the girl survived all this time, seemed to him that when push came to shove, Claire was lookin' out for number one. Daryl had conflicted thought on that. On one hand he kinda admired that attitude, sometimes its gotta be you or them and if you chose them your probably a sucker because the chances they would do the same for you are unlikely. On the other hand If she was goin' to be a part of this group he didn't need her hidden when shit went down to save her own skin.
"You know how to use a gun?" He asked as she made her way to her tent later that evening. Claire looked at him and blinked, then shrugged.
"I guess, I mean I'm no pro shooter, but I have the basic understanding. I try not to use it though. To be honest I really try to avoid conflict with the zombies. Just easier to avoid em'." She stated. Daryl scrunched up his face a little.
"Zombies?" Claire looked at him blankly and nodded.
"That's what they are man, you can call em' whatever you want but at the end of the day those things, those people, are zombies."
Daryl shook his head while saying the word zombies out loud. "Nah, you see sayin' that shit makes me feel like I'm trapped in some stupid ass movie or some god damn video game." Claire shrugged.
"I guess it does sound kinda dumb out loud... I'm just kinda hesitant to call em' walkers I guess because it makes it seem like their are different kinds you know. Like there are walkers..and runners...fuck maybe even jumpers. I don't know."
"Well, whatever you call em', I just gotta know you can kill em' if you need to, and your not goin' to go runnin' off when shit hits the fan." Daryl said a little irritated that they got off subject.
Claire nodded. "I wont, I promise." Daryl did no more than nod before going into his tent to relax.
Lisa lay in her and her husbands tent trying to sleep. She sighed finding it to be very difficult and that was unfortunate because Lisa was so very of everyone looking at her with pity in their eyes. Tired of feeling like her heart is being ripped out of her chest every damned day. Tired of waking up in the morning, and then remembering.
May 3rd 2012
"If we go through the city it should be faster than going around." Shane said looking at the map as a number of people surrounded him.
"Are you sure thats safe Shane?" Lori asked with worry in her eyes.
Shane sighed. "I dont know, I dont know which way is safest, everywhere we go things are bad, I can only tell you what quickest."
"Fuck it, lets go." Ed said loudly. "We're wastin' day light people."
Not everyone was sure this was the best idea, but then again going around would take longer, and could be just as dangerous, there was no right answer, there was no best idea.
"Where are we going mommy?" Sarah asked.
"Somewhere safe sweetheart." Lisa replied softly.
"You guys ready?" Dan asked. The two girls nodded and got into their 2003 Honda.
The group travels slowly through the empty city, trying their best not to attract any unwanted attention. All was going well until POP! Dan and Lisa feel the car lean to the left.
"Shit." Dan said getting out of the car. Lisa gets out as well to see the damage.
"Everything alright back there?" Shane asks noticing their car stop. This causes everyone to stop as well and look back.
Lisa quickly jogs over to Shane's jeep.
"Flat tier, we have a spear but it will take a minute." Shane nods.
"Alright but be quick."
Calmly Lisa headed back to her car. She could see Sarah watching Dan change the tier. A small smile forms on her face. Her smile fades soon though as she notices three walkers on the sidewalk making their way to their car.
"Dan!" Dan looks up at his wife and she points across the street. Dan stands up and puts Sarah in the car. The others look out their windows to see Dan move towards the walkers with his jack in hand.
"I'll get the gun!" Lisa says opening the drivers seat.
"No!" Dan shouts. "It will only attract more of them!"
Lisa nods and then reached for a baseball bat in the back seat. She head toward Dan quickly.
"Go finish the tier." She stated swinging at the walkers. "We cant get out of here until you do, I got these!" Dan hesitantly listens to his wife and runs over to car and continues to change the tier.
"Um guys, it looks like we have more friends stopping by." Glenn states pointing. Another group of walkers began to make its way over.
"Shit." Shane says getting out of the car. This causes Andrea, Glenn and T-dog to attempt to help. Daryl rolls his eyes and Merle smirks watching the scene.
"You think we should help?" Daryl asks Merle. Merle shook his head.
"Nah, they got this, we'll step in if anymore show up I reckon."
Lisa swung the bat at the second walker knocking it down. The third one however took her by surprise from behind causing her to trip and fall over.
"Mommy!" Sarah shouted running out the car in attempt to aid her mother.
"Sarah no! Dan!" Lisa called out as she tried to pry the third walker.
Dan shot up finally done changing the tier and went to grab his daughter.
"Sarah go back into the car!" Dan said grabbing her arm.
"But Mommy!"
"I'll get mommy now go to the car!" Dan said and then dashed for his wife, kicking off the walkers attacking her.
By this point in time everyone was fighting off the walkers that seemed to keep coming from all directions.
"We need to get the fuck out of here!" Andrea shouted. No one disagreed.
"AHHH!" Sarah's high pitched voice screamed as a walker dug its fingers into her arm and bent over to take a bite.
"Sarah!" Lisa and Dan screamed running to get to her. Dan beat the walker in the head with the jack killing it.
"We gotta move now!" Shane shouted. Everyone ran to their cars no longer able to hold off the walkers. Lisa picked up her daughter and jumped into the car, Dan quickly got into the drivers seat and followed the others.
Lisa cried as she held her bleeding child.
"Its okay baby, your gonna be okay." She said through her tears.
Sarah cried in pain and fear as her mother held her.
When the group reached a point of safety they made loss of a child is the worst pain anyone can endure. After all, what do parents live for? With thee best years of their youth gone by, they don't have any yearnings for comfort or money or fame; all they want is to see their child grow up as a happy, healthy human being with all the luxuries that they couldn't afford or need. To see years of love,care and upbringing reduce to dust, burnt or burried, takes away everything from a parent. Lisa did not let go of her daughter. She dressed her wounds, tried to feed her, but Sarah only got worse. everyone knew what was going to happen, but no one wanted to say it. The night went by very slowly for everyone but especially Dan and Lisa. After much work, Dan convinced Lisa to rest while he watched over their daughter. When morning came Sarah was even more pale and sickly than before. Merle shook his head.
"We need to put her down."
"Merle." Dale said harshly. Merle glared.
"What? You know it, I know it, everyone fuckin' knows it. Its sucks but god damn it it needs to happen."
"She isnt a dog Merle, you dont just put her down." Dale said. Lori and Carol held their children tight against them. Knowing whatever Dan and Lisa must be feeling right now is pure anguish and sorrow.
"We are going to have to though." Glenn said sadly with a soft voice. Shane sighed and walked over to Dan and Lisa who were hunched over their daughter.
"Guys..."
"Don't Shane...just don't. Dan said coldly. Shane frowned
"You know what going to have to be done, not now, but..soon."
Lisa sobbed at his words, although she knew he was trying to be gentle. However there was no real way to be gentle about something like this.
Sarah's breathing became short gasps, her body trying desperatly to stay alive.
"I cant look at her like this." Lisa said standing up and quickly walking to their car. Getting inside the back seat Lisa grabbed one of Sarah's stuffed toys and held it against her chest while squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn't do it, she wasnt strong enough to watch her daughter die and then die again. A few minutes later Lisa jumped to the sound of a gun shot, a gun shot that she knew had just hit her daughter. For the thousandth time since yesterday evening Lisa cried.
June 5th 2012
Lisa awoke with a small startle as her husband laid next to her. Since that day Lisa and Dan had been on rocky she loved him the death of their child had been hard on her. This caused an unfortunate coldness to her husband, one that almost seemed to make it feel like she was blaming him. Lisa squeezed the stuffed toy bear that was once her daughters and scooted away from Dan as he attempted to touch her. Dan frowned behind his wife's back.
"You know... I lost her too." He said quietly before laying down and turning his back to her as well. Lisa said nothing as she silently cried into the stuffed toy.
Alright there is chapter 4 please comment to and favorite and tell me what you think!