SOME THINGS LAST - CHAPTER SIX - ALL THAT REMAINS
First day(s) of the Post-Apocalypse (Two days after their mother died)
Lizzy had decided to go to the house of Daryl's half-uncle Jess. He had a cabin in the woods. Lizzy knew Daryl's father lived there most of the time. They were hunters and both of them were out a lot, hunting things. Lizzy hoped those infected people wouldn't be up in the hills. Along the way she had seen things, some things she wanted to help, but she knew it was suicide and just a lost cause.
Lizzy stopped the care once they arrived at Jess' place. The last time she went there, things got out of hand with Daryl's dad. She hoped Will wouldn't be there. She just needed to see him. She needs Daryl back in her life. Lizzy and Charlie both got out of the car. Charlie quickly went to the door and already walked in. ''C'mon Liz!'', she said to her sister. Lizzy looked around, grabbing the bag and Uncle Paul's shotgun with her. The area was safe, for now.
When she got inside, no one was there. Everyone was gone, but it didn't seemed like they left. Lizzy couldn't prevent herself from looking around through Jess' stuff. She noticed that some of the things belonged to Daryl. She was sure of that. She could hear Charlie trying to get any signal from the TV. Lizzy sighed as she saw Daryl's stuff. She went to the bedroom and she found more of his stuff. His clothes and a picture of her. Why the hell did he kept this? Her eyes caught something she never thought she would see it again. Her recurve bow. Her own damn bow. She grabbed it and simply holding it. It was still the same as the last time she had used it. The bow was unharmed. She grabbed the bag and walked back to the living room. She could see Charlie trying to get a signal from the radio. ''Anything?'', Lizzy asked her baby sister. ''There's a safe camp at Atlanta. Maybe we should go there?'', Charlie suggested. Lizzy shrugged in response and searched in boxes trying to find some arrows. ''Oh no.'', Charlie said and Lizzy looked up. Charlie was staring out of the window. ''They're close Liz. We should go!'', Charlie panicked. Lizzy got up and walked over to the window. Her sister was right, they were getting closer and closer. They should go, now they had a chance.
They went back to the truck and they left. They didn't looked behind, she didn't even let a note behind. What if Daryl was already dead?
PRESENT DAY
A lot of things had happened in the past few months. Lizzy had gotten closer to the group, they had accepted her. Her relationship with Daryl had gone pretty confusing. They didn't talk much. Things between them had gotten more tense. And the both of them knew why, but they didn't speak up. Neither of them dared to bring up the subject of why Daryl had left her.
Lizzy had overheard Herschel and Lori talking about delivering the baby. She had to speak up. She just had too. She walked over to them and coughed. They looked at her and stopped talking. ''I might be able to help.'', Lizzy said to them. ''I know a few things about babies and pregnancies.'' Lori showed a smile and Hershel looked at her. ''How so?'', Hershel asked in curiosity. Lizzy didn't mind. Sooner or later they would find out what she had been doing before the outbreak. ''I was a kindergarten teacher, but I was fired when they found out I was trailer trash.'', Lizzy answered. She went to college and got a proper job. She wanted to continue study even further, but she needed the money. Once her boss found out where she came from and found out about her past, they had fired her. Lizzy tried to find another kindergarten to work at, but none of them wanted her. Lizzy gave up the search and got her job back at the local bar. ''I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you told us. You can mean a lot to Lori and the baby.'', Hershel said with a small smile. She liked Hershel for the fact he didn't care much about the past, but he was more focused on the future. He just wanted to move on and Lizzy understood.
Carol had been asking questions about her and Daryl. Like how they met and how they ended up together. Lizzy had been trying to avoid them like hell. But this one time when she was washing clothes with Lori and Carol, she couldn't just ignore the questions and she decided to answer them. ''How did you and Daryl meet?'', Carol asked as she hang up some clothes. ''We used to be neighbors. We know each other ever since we're kids.'', Lizzy replied. Carol was quite surprised Lizzy answered the question. ''How did you end up together?'', Lori asked. ''I don't know. It just happened.'', Lizzy shrugged. ''Did he actually asked you to marry him? I just don't see him asking that sort of question.'', Carol said. Well, she was right about that. It had been pretty difficult for him. ''I just happened, it was nothing special.'', Lizzy replied while hanging a few more shirts up. ''It doesn't seem like you two are together anymore. What happened?'', Lori asked. ''Life.'', Lizzy sighed. This was the line. She didn't wanted to answer any more questions about her and Daryl. She hang up the last clothing piece and walked away. She went back to the camp and grabbed her recurve bow and her quiver. ''I'm hunting, won't be gone for long.'', she told T-Dog who was on watch. She just needed some time for herself. She was thinking back of the day when Daryl had asked her to marry him. It wasn't like some sort of romantic movie, but it was good enough for her. She had just turned eighteen when he asked her to marry him.
It was a regular summer night for them. They were sitting by the lake, watching the stars and talking about life. ''You shouldn't pay any attention to them. You're just making it worse.'', Daryl told her, giving her advice. ''You're right. I shouldn't.'', Lizzy replied while she looked at him. She showed a smile and he smiled back. She looked back at the sky, watching the stars. She always enjoyed these night with him, just talking and forget about the rest of the world just for a moment. She let out a chuckle and she looked at him again. ''What?'', Daryl asked, quite confused. ''I should marry you y'know.'', she grinned as their eyes met. He didn't reply immediately, but he looked away, looking at the water. He was thinking, Lizzy noticed. Lizzy looked at the sky again. ''So, marry me.'', he replied. Lizzy looked straight back into his eyes and grinned. ''You sure?'', she asked. ''Hell yeah.'', he replied with a grin.
They had found a house to stay for the night. She was getting quite annoyed by the fact they were always on the run. Lizzy knew it wasn't good for Lori's pregnancy. It wasn't good for anyone. Everyone was exhausted. They needed a place to stay for some time. Somewhere safe. They were going around is circles and everyone knew it.
Lizzy helped the others moving their stuff into the house and making sure everyone had a place to sleep. Once they settled down, T-Dog noticed some walkers coming their way. Dammit, she thought. Why did this always keep happening? They always were right on their heels, following them everywhere. They got back to the car and got their stuff and things along with them. It wasn't much, but it was something. She helped everyone get in their cars and when she was sure there was no one left she made her way to the motorcycle where Daryl was starting the engine. She quickly got on the back and they drove away from the place.
After a while the cars stopped at the road. Everyone got out expect for Lori who was just sitting in the car. Daryl stopped the engine and Lizzy got of the bike. Maggie and Glenn walked to the SUV and laid down a map on the car. Beth was on watch.
''We got no place left to go.'', Lizzy could hear someone say. Lizzy looked around, making sure the area was safe. It was, for now. She walked over to the SUV where the most group members stood watching at the map.
''When this herd meets up with this one, we'll be cut off. We'll never make it south.'', Maggie said while pointing at the map. ''What would ya say? That was 'bout 150 head?'', Daryl asked. ''That was last week. It could be twice that by now.'', Glenn replied.
''This river could have delayed them. If we move fast, we might have a shot to tear right through there.'', Herschel suggested while pointing at the map. ''Yeah, but if this group joins with that one, they could spill out this way.'', T-Dog said. ''So we're blocked.'', Maggie concluded.
''Only thing to do is double back at 27 and swing towards Greenville.'', Rick said to the group. ''Yeah, we picked through that already. It's like we spent the winter going in circles.'', T-Dog said. Everyone knew T-Dog was right. They had been going around in circles. ''Yeah, I know. I know.'', Rick replied. ''At Newnan we'll push west. Haven't been through there yet. We can't keep going house to house. Need to find someplace to hole up for a few weeks. '', Rick added. Everyone agreed, well they didn't have another choice.
''All right. It cool if we get to the creek before we head out? Won't take long. We got to fill up on water. We can boil it later.'', T-Dog asked, while the rest of the group packed their stuff again. ''Knock yourself out.'', Rick answered.
T-Dog left with Maggie and Glenn to search for some water. Daryl went back to his motorcycle grabbing his crossbow and making it ready to go and hunt. Lizzy followed him to his motorcycle, grabbing her own recurve bow and the quiver with arrows. She had made her own quiver from a blanket. Together with Daryl she had made some arrows. It seemed like that was the only thing they did together last days.
''C'mon.'', Daryl said to her as he walked toward Rick. She didn't said anything, she just followed. ''Hey, while the others wash their panties, let's go hunt. That owl didn't exactly hit the spot.'', Daryl suggested to Rick. Rick nodded in reply and they went into the woods.
They walked into the woods and soon something caught their eye. It was a prison, secure and safe. But it was already overrun by walkers. ''That's a shame.'', Daryl said while watching the prison.
Soon they decided to break in. Rick took the rest of the group to the prison, to show them. Rick starts to cut the fence so the group can get within the prison exterior.
''Watch the backside.'', Rick told the group. ''Got it.'', Lori replied, holding a tighter grip on her gun. Once the fence was cut open. Everyone got in. Lizzy took down a walker with her knife before she got in. Everyone was in expect for T-Dog. ''Hurry. Hurry!'', Rick told T-Dog as walkers came closer. T-Dog quickly got in. Glenn and Daryl then tie back the fence so no walkers can enter behind them.
They start to run, stopping at the prison gates. They had already caught the attention from the walkers. They ran to the gates of the yard. ''It's perfect.'', Rick said. ''If we can shut that gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight.'', he added. ''So how do we shut the gate?'', Hershel asked. ''I'll do it. You guys cover me.'', Glenn offered himself. ''No. It's a suicide run.'', Maggie protested. ''I'm the fastest.'', Glenn replied. ''No, you, Maggie, and Beth draw as many as you can over there. Pop 'em through the fence.'', Rick ordered them. ''Daryl, go back to the other tower with Lizzy'', Lizzy nodded in agreement before she shared a look with Daryl. They grabbed some guns and ammo and gave them to T-Dog, Beth, Maggie and Glenn. ''Carol, you've become a pretty good shot. Take your time. We don't have a lot of ammo to waste. You, Hershel and Carl take this tower.'', Rick ordered the others. ''Alright.'', Carl replied. ''I'll run for the gate.'', Rick said.
''Come on! Hey, come here!'', Lizzy could hear them scream by the fence. She could see Rick getting in while Beth, T-Dog, Maggie and Glenn kept trying to get the walker's attention and pop them through the fence. Herschel, Carl and Carol were at the other tower, shooting walkers in the yard. Lizzy was with Daryl at the other tower. Daryl fired some arrows with his crossbow, clearing the way for Rick. Lizzy was shooting them with her recurve bow and made sure there were no walkers coming too close to him.
Carol fired another shot, but right in front of Rick's feet. She must have been glad she missed him by an inch. ''Sorry.'', Carol yelled to him. Lizzy noticed the walkers by the fence had also noticed Rick in the yard. Their attention went back to Rick and not to the fence. ''Hey, come on, over here!'', Beth yelled while slamming on the fence.
Rick was at the gate. He closed it and went inside the tower by the gate. Just in right in time, before the walkers could get their hands on him. ''He did it.'', Lizzy said with a smile, while Daryl was refilling his crossbow. ''Light it up!'', Daryl yelled to the rest of the group. Everyone started to shooting the walkers in the yard and soon every walker was down.
''Fantastic.'', Carol said once they were back at the gate. ''Nice shooting.'', Daryl complimented Carol. Lizzy immediately was giving him a 'not amused' look. He noticed and quickly looked down. ''Yeah.'', Carol replied. ''You okay?'', Lizzy asked Lori as they walked over to her. ''I haven't felt this good in weeks.'', Lori replied with a smile. ''Good.'', Lizzy replied while smiling back to her. Daryl tapped Lori's shoulder as they went into the yard.
''We haven't had this much space since we left the farm.'', Carol said as she walked around the yard. Glenn killed off a walker whom was still alive. Everyone smiled and laughed. They are all glad they had finally a safe place to stay. Including Lizzy herself. ''Whoooo!'', T-Dog yelled with a large smile on his face.
They had taken the cars and the rest of their stuff back to the prison. They had set out a camp in the yard. Everyone was sitting around the campfire, expect for Rick and Daryl. Daryl was on guard and Rick was checking the fences. Making sure it was safe.
''Tomorrow we'll put all the bodies together. Want to keep them away from that water. Now, if we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water.'', T-Dog said as everyone continued eating. ''The soil is good. We could plant some seed. Grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soybeans.'', Hershel suggested. It was a pretty good idea. Lizzy agreed on him. ''That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now.'', Hershel said, noticing Rick walking past the fence.
''This'll be a good place to have the baby.'', Beth said to Lori, trying to change the subject. ''It's safe.'', Lizzy added. Maggie handed a plate with some food out to her. ''Why don't you bring this to Daryl?'', Maggie asked, but it didn't sound much like a question. Lizzy knew she was doing this on purpose. Maggie knew things weren't good between her and Daryl. Everyone knew. They must have noticed it over the past eight months. Lizzy let out a sigh and she grabbed the plate and stood up. She walked her way to the turned over bus.
Lizzy put the plate down on the bus before she climbed on the bus along with Daryl's help. ''Here. You should eat something.'', she said while handing him the plate of food. He didn't refuse. He took it and ate. ''I guess Little Shane over there has got quite the appetite.'', he said while eating. ''I feel sorry for her.'', she said. ''You do?'', he asked while raising one eyebrow. ''Yeah, pretty hard situation she's in.'', she said and their eyes met. ''Mm-hmm.'', he replied while she looked away from him as he licked his fingers.
Suddenly she realized things must have been hard for him too. He must have thought a lot about it lately too. Before shit hit the van, they could have been a family, they had been. But everything was ruined and he left her. She rushed a hand though her blonde hair and let out a sigh. ''Better get back.'', she said, trying to avoid his look on her. ''What's wrong Liz?'', he asked. She wished he just hadn't asked that. ''Everything.'', she replied on a cold tone. ''Things will get better.'', he said, hoping to comfort her. Their eyes met again.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, she broke the silence again. ''Why did you leave me?'', she asked while she kept her eyes on his. ''I didn't.'', he replied softly and looked away from her. ''Merle was in trouble again. He needed me Liz. '', he tried to explain himself. ''That's not what your father told me.'', she spat back at him, her temper rising. He looked at her again, with a confusing look on his face. ''What did he say?'', he asked. ''He told me you left me for another woman. At first I didn't want to believe him, but you never returned. S-so I gave up.'', she said, looking away from him. She could feel her eyes become watery, so she bit down her lower lip to prevent herself from crying. ''Fuckin' hell. Liz, I'd never leave you.'', he said looking at her. He took a step closer to her and cupped her cheek in his hands. Their eyes met again as they were standing right in front of each other. ''He told me you were sick of me, that you never wanted to see me again. That's why I never returned.'', he softly said. ''I love you, I always will.'', she replied on the same soft tone. He pressed his lips of hers for just a split second before he let go of her. ''I'll go down first.'', she said as he let go of her.
As they walked back over to the campfire, Lizzy could hear Beth and Maggie sing. They stood as they heard them singing. To Lizzy it was an unknown song, but it sounded good. Rick joined them and he also ate something. Lizzy just couldn't keep her thoughts away from what just had happened. They kissed? She was pulled back from her thoughts when Beth and Maggie finished singing.''Beautiful!'', Hershel said when his daughters were done singing.
''Better all turn in. I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow.'', Rick said as everyone looked at him. ''What do you mean?'', someone asked. ''Look, I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win. But we've got to push just a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early. It could mean the supplies may be intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary.'', Rick said. ''An armory?'', Daryl asked. ''That would be outside the prison itself, but not too far away. Warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine.'', Rick replied. ''We're dangerously low on ammo. We'd run out before we make a dent.'', Hershel said. ''That's why we have to go in there... Hand to hand. After all we've been through, we can handle it, I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance.'', Rick said. No one replied. They agreed in silence.
Lizzy sat down on the ground and Daryl followed her moves. She watched Lori stand up and walking over to Rick. Lizzy decided not to put any more attention to it. She could use some sleep, tomorrow would be a big day.