Chapter Four
Caroline watch as Daryl went back and forth across the roof. She tried o get the man to calm down only to get pushed away. Rick looked down while t-dog had nothing but guilt written on his face. Glenn watches around the group in case any corpse decided to show. Caroline went to try and talk to Daryl but he just waved his hand. After a few minutes Daryl went to put his crossbow at T-dog's face only to have Rick place his gun at Daryl's head. Caroline went to glare at both men knowing that killing the African American man would not bring Merle Dixon back. Caroline went to say something to the redneck only to have Rick cut her off.
"I won't hesitate. I don't care if every walker in the city hears it."
"Now Rick, we don't need anybody getting shot. Put the weapons down." Caroline said as she glared at the sheriff. "Daryl put the bow down. I'm sure Merle is still in the city or somewhere safe. We don't need to lose another." Daryl blinked a few times then put his bow down. "Rick put the gun down." When he locks the gun back Caroline smiles.
Daryl and T-dog stared at each other waiting for the other to make the first move. When she head Daryl calms voice she knew that everything is back to normal. Caroline watches as T-dog handed Daryl the do-rang he asks for. Daryl went to wrap Merle's hand up and motion for Glenn. Knowing what the man is doing Caroline smiles a small smile to the Korean male. The woman picked up her crossbow listening to Daryl as he explains why there isn't a lot of blood. The man started to follow the blood drops down the roof. Caroline started to follow only to motion for the other three makes to do so.
The group came to an open door; Daryl raised his crossbow waiting for any corpse to come through. Caroline did the same when she saw that it's dark the farther you go. Right behind Daryl Caroline looked around seeing that it must be another part of the store they came through. They came to a set of stairs with Daryl and Caroline looking down and over to find anything to kill. Daryl started to yell out to his brother which got Caroline on edge. Doesn't he know that if there is a corpse around his yelling will only attract them? Caroline shook her head and kept her ears open for any sign of growling or a response back from the other Dixon. As they went on down the stairs Caroline started to get a back feeling about this whole trip.
As Daryl kept on going he kept on yelling for his brother. And every time he yelled Caroline could have sworn she heard a growl and the sound of shuffling feet. When they got to the end of the stairs Caroline let out the breath she was holding in when she saw no sign of any corpse. The group searches the whole building while thinking of places that Merle could of gottan to. Caroline notice that Daryl looked at the blood trail one more time knowing that it is brothers and not some stray corpse that decided to have a fest. They followed the redneck to another part of the building that looks to be the business part. Caroline went forward and followed the trail herself just to give the redneck a break so he can keep look out for a while. When she followed the blood to another part of the business Caroline lead the four men to an office. Looking up to see a corpse Caroline raised her crossbow and shot it in the head. She turns to look at the males only to see them look at her with surprise in their eyes. The woman turns back around with a smirk on her face as she lead them the rest of the way.
With everybody behind her Caroline took a turn to what looks to be the front of the business building only to see two corpses on the ground dead. Caroline looked back to the men only to have Daryl go in front of her to look at the dead corpses. "Had enough in him to take out these two sumbi*ches one handed. Toughest a**hole I ever met, my brother. "Caroline watch as Daryl went to pull the string back on his bow. Seeing his biceps flex as he moved them Caroline looked away fighting back a blush.
Not paying attention to what else the Dixon says Caroline looked around to office to see what they can use. She heard Rick start to talk so she took that as the cue that they are leaving. She watches the back of the group for any corpse as Glenn stayed close by her in case she needs any help. Caroline smiled at the Korean male as they made their way closer to the group. Catching back up she sees that Daryl as lead them to the back of the building where a kitchen stands for the once working business people. He begins to yell for his brother once again only to have Rick jump onto him that they are not alone in the building. Caroline rolled her eyes as she got closer to the three males. As the two men started to back talk each other Caroline started to go first but she was cut off as Daryl began to move the group. Smelling kerosene Caroline looked around only to see four high flames. She patted Daryl's shoulder to show him before he passes it up.
When they got closer the two saw the blood trail stop along with what looks to be an ironer and a bloody belt laying beside the tall flames. With blood everywhere. Caroline heard Glenn ask what the burn stuff and about the same time Caroline and Rick both answer: skin. Caroline turn to see Glenn with a look of disgust on his face which only made the woman laugh just a tiny bit and pat him on the shoulder. Hearing Daryl say that the only person that can kill Merle is his self the woman went to stand next to the redneck.
"Told ya that his will be fine. His probably out there somewhere safe. Now let's go." Caroline says as she starts to move towards a door. Only to see Rick and Daryl talking, turning around she saw Daryl walk over to a busted out window as he says that something didn't stop Merle from busting out the window.
"He left the building?" Glenn asks as T-dog and Caroline made their way over to the window that the others are staring at. "Why the he*l would he do that?"
"Why wouldn't he?" Daryl asks as T-dog bent over to get a good look. "He's out there alone as far as he knows, doing what he's gotta do. Surviving." Rick sticks his head out the window and looks down.
As Caroline follows Daryl out the door she was going about to go out she hears T-dog asks a question after a question. Stopping to watch as Daryl and T-dog throw words at each other Caroline rolled her eyes and lean on the wall behind her. Daryl and Rick went back at it and it only made Caroline hit her head against the wall she is leaning on. Will those two ever stop fighting? When she saw Daryl about to walk off and Rick push him back she knew that once again it will lead to another fight between the two. And this time there is no Shane to put Daryl into a head lock. And once again Rick as a clam voice as he and Daryl stare each other down. Caroline closed her eyes and listen to the two men talk about how they can look around only if they keep a level head. When her ears finally hear Daryl agree she gets off the wall and walks over to them. But before they could leave T-dog goes and brings the guns into to equation she fights back the sound of an aggravated groan. He goes on how he won't go around the city without something to protect him from what's out there. Caroline stood there with her left hip out and all pressure on her right leg.
Caroline sat on a desk as she watches Glenn explain to Rick that he will go get the guns that are on the street. She shook her head agreeing with Rick when he says that Glenn can't do it alone Daryl put his two cense in and agree with Rick all while Glenn said that it will much quicker if he goes by his self. Caroline stood up and places her hand on the Koreans shoulder, Glenn looked up at her.
"That's the tank, five blocks from where we are now." Glenn said as he put a black paper clip between two squares he drew on the floor. "That's the of guns. Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met. That's where Daryl and I will go."
"Why me?" Daryl asks looking at the man.
"If you don't want to go I will." Caroline said as all four men look at her, she shrugged her shoulder. "Or I could get the bags while Daryl and Glenn waits there."
"No, you are not going. All I need is Daryl, his crossbow is quieter then Ricks gun." Glenn says as he looks up at Caroline.
"I have a crossbow as well. Plus, I'm smaller then you are dear Glenn I think I can go faster than ya too." Glenn blush as Caroline looked down at him.
As Glenn explains where Rick and T-dog will be Caroline looked out the window. She thought about how this will go. She gets the gun to Daryl and Glenn she will be safe or she gets them a corpse notices her and she is done for. As long as she gets the gun she really doesn't think the others will care if she dies or not as long as it ain't one of their own. As they move out Glenn explains to Caroline the way she will go if she can't get back to him and Daryl. The woman nodded her head as she checks her crossbow. Heading to the door she hears Daryl asks what Glenn did before the world started to end when she heard that he delivered pizzas she couldn't help but let a scoff come out of her mouth.
Glenn went down a ladder outside of the building with Daryl right behind him. They looked up at Caroline as she started to go down. Once her feet hit the ground they set off very quietly down the alley. Daryl stays behind Glenn and Caroline with his crossbow raised ready for anything, Caroline gives Glenn her own crossbow saying that it will only hold her back if she takes it. Daryl didn't like the idea that the woman is going out there weaponless and he agrees with Glenn saying that she should take it. Caroline smiled at the two men as she pats her knifes that she has strap to her leg and hands Glenn her other knife in case he needs it. Daryl looked down now taking notice that the woman indeed does not weapon on her. She nodded her head as she moves out of the alley and runs down the sidewalk.
Keeping low to the ground Caroline takes out her knife from her strap on her thigh. She looks around to make sure no corpse is following her, stopping at a car she bends down and looks through the somewhat dirty windows. A sound comes from inside the car making Caroline look up to see a corpse moved his head to look at her. Getting up as fast as she got down she moved to the next car watching a stray corpse move in front of her. Caroline only slows down just a tad to keep from getting seen, when she sees that the corpse is gone Caroline takes off once again. Cutting around a corner Caroline sees a wall of sandbags beside the army tank. Diving behind them she holds her breath as she scans for the bag of guns.
With the guns in sight Caroline takes off to them hoping that no corpse will get her. Once her hands are on the bag she picks them up only to see a few corpses in front of her. Cussing under her breath the woman picked the bag up and ran for the block she just came down. Only to stop and pick up the hat that she knows that Rick would want back. She looks up to see some of the corpse closer to her so she starts to back up. Running down the block she came down dodging corpse that went to grab for her Caroline heard somebody yell out in Spanish. Knowing that it can't be Daryl or Glenn 'cause it didn't sound like either male Caroline ran faster thinking they are in trouble. When she got to the alley she sees two big guys beating up Glenn and Daryl. Dropping the bags she yells out to the two new males. Only to regret what she done when one of them looks up at her, they start to come after her when they see the bag in her hands. Caroline went to run away but she didn't get far when one of the men grabbed her from behind and the other punched her in the jaw. She dropped the bag without knowing as she went to kick the guy that hit her in the balls. When she felt her arms free she looks to see that Daryl had shot an arrow at the male holding her. Before she could run over to him the male she kicked grabbed her holding her in front of him knowing that Daryl would not shoot.
Hearing a car come closer Caroline felt the man pull her out of the alley with a baseball bat press against her. The man saw that Caroline went to stab him; he moves a hand and bent her hand backwards to make her drop it. Caroline did and screams out in pain at the sudden physical abuse, she yelled at Daryl to shoot and for the man to let her go. The man that Daryl shot in the butt open the gate and a car door while the one holding Caroline pushed her in. As she looked up she saw the man hit a corpse in the face with the bat. Before she could scream one more time for Daryl or Glenn the car speeds away with Corpse hanging off.