Waking up, it took me a moment to gather my surrounds. The steering wheel and pedals on the ground reminded me that I was in a car. The woodsy smell was Daryl's.

Groaning, I sat up and tilted my neck, trying to get the stiff feeling out of it. Looking out the window, I saw that everyone was mulling around the cars, some searching, while others were talking in small groups.

I quickly fixed my hair in the rear view mirror, pulling it into a high pony, then slid out of the car.

"Hungry?" The old man asked, messing around with several cans that must have been found in cars. I shook my head, and turned, trying to find the redneck.

"Here." The Asian called, then tossed me a water bottle. I grabbed it and gave him a small nod. He seemed nice enough.

Taking a sip of water, I finally spotted Daryl. He was making his way out of the RV, and moved over to the truck. I watched as he looked into the cab, noticed I wasn't there, and spun around quickly.

Moving over to him, I tilted my water in the air as a sort of wave. "Hey. He seemed to relax slightly, and nodded in return. "Didn't ya sleep at all?" He asked as I moved closer.

Squinting at him, I tilted my head in question. "Yeah…"

"Ya look like ya got black eyes." He shrugged, and I let out a breath. Moving over to the mirror, I looked at myself. He was right. The bags under my eyes were so black, it looked like I hadn't gotten sleep in days.

Turning back to him, I leaned against the car. "I slept, just not well." He gave me a look, then started to bite on his thumb nail. Nervous tick maybe?

"Nightmare?"

I nodded, then turned towards the woods. "Alright, let's find this girl." I pushed off the car and checked my weapons. Knife still on thigh, and gun in waistband. I realized that it was really dumb that I had fallen asleep with both of them in place, but I hadn't given it a second thought when I fell asleep. Whoops.

He nodded and followed me as we made our way towards a small group. "Where are we gonna start?"

Officer looked me over, giving a slight nod of approval. He pulled out a map and spread it across the hood of a car. "Here." He pointed in the middle of the woods. "We left off about here yesterday. Daryl, you lead us back there, and we'll just follow your lead."

Daryl nodded, and I turned and looked around. Both mother one and two were gathering their own gear. "Should they really be coming?" I muttered, and that earned me a response from Scowl.

"What, do you think we aren't gonna like what we find?"

I stepped forward, my nose nearly touching his. "No, I just don't want to have to watch my back and theirs." I clenched my teeth and my fists. "We're gonna find that little girl. And if you think otherwise, you're a dumb ass and should stay here."

Officer stepped between us, and Daryl pulled me back by my arm. "Calm down." He muttered, and I just shook off his hand.

"Can we go? We're wasting daylight."

Officer nodded, and we were off. Daryl took the lead, followed by Officer and Scowl. Blondie was after him, the Asian behind her, then mother one and two. I took up the rear, simply because I was the only one willing and able to.

As we walked, I kept one ear out for Walkers, and one out for the little girl. The whole time, all I kept thinking about was what she looked like, so that if I even saw a glimpse of her, I could go and save her. I had failed Lucy, and all I wanted to do was to find this little girl.

"What is that?" Someone asked, utterly confused.

"Church bells." I hissed, and took off in the direction of the noise. I had been raised by this noise. I knew what it was.

Everyone followed me, and I maneuvered in between trees, clearing a path. As the bells got louder, I ran faster. Was it the little girl ringing the bells to get our attention? Was she letting us know that she was at a church, a place most people find safe?

As the church came into view, my lip twitched slightly. Yes!

"I don't see any bells." Someone behind me muttered, and I slowed slightly. They were right…there weren't.

I could hear that most people behind me were stopping, but I kept running. Turning the side of the church, I saw a wire, and a little brown box towards the roof.

Daryl walked up and ripped the wires that led to the box, cutting off the bells.

"It was probably set to go off at this time." Someone muttered.

Everyone trickled into the church, and I heard a few thumps, which I just assumed was a few Walkers being put down.

I paced, let out a growl, and punched the side of the church, and sunk down to the ground, running my hands through my hair. "Damn it!" I yelled, covering my face.

"We'll still find 'er." Daryl muttered, but I just shook my head.

"I was so sure she would be here…" Taking a few breaths, I pulled myself together. Getting to my feet, I brushed off my butt and stood up taller. "I'm going to check the perimeter."

He gave me a look and nodded. "Stay close."

I walked off, checking everywhere I could think of that she might be. I came up empty.

Feeling defeated, I went back to the church. When I didn't see anyone on the outside, I walked towards the door. Mom one was just finishing up her prayer, and mom two was leading her outside. I didn't see anyone else, so I guessed that they were on the other side of the church.

The church brought back so many memories of my childhood. I spent more time in church listening to my father than I spent hanging with friends, or at a park, or even at school. Moving towards the front, I ran my hand over the pews on the way up towards the pulpit.

Making my way up to the cross, I looked at the figure of Jesus. Looking around one last time to make sure I was alone, I turned and looked him over. "So, looks like I'm back here again. Of course, my life starts in church, ends in church." I laughed humorlessly, resting my hands on the railing in front of the wooden cross.

I just looked at the figure, trying to find a way to express all of my anger. For some reason, I got choked up. "How could you do this to us? We were good. We went to church, we learned about God, we did everything right. We repented our sins. I was baptized. My fathers was a preacher for God's sake!" I slammed my hand onto the railing and hung my head. "And you let him die. You let them all die." Lifting my head, I glared at the figure, my vision blurred with tears. "You let us down. You led us into hell, and now you just leave us.

"They're all dead. You didn't save us, you just let it happen." Standing up straight, I sniffled and wiped at my eyes, stopping any tears before they fell. "Everything I learned about you was a lie."

Shaking my head, I turned around. Of course, there was Daryl in the doorway. My shadow.

"What do you want, Crossbow?"

"Yer a preacher's daughter?"

Walking past him, I didn't pause as I brushed past him through the door jam. "I used to be."

Sitting on the guardrail, I began to twirl hair between my fingers. I had said that my goal was to keep the kids safe. Yes, especially the girl, but also the boy. Kids in the new world were going to have such a hard time, but we needed them.

Now the girls lost, and the little boys shot. Shot! Just when I thought Walkers were all we had to fear, turns out people are just as bad. Hell, we're worse!

"Come get some food, Red." Lifting my head, I looked at the old man, fighting back a smile.

"Red?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Gotta have something to call you." He smiled brightly at me, and tilted his head towards the RV. I got up and walked over.

"Thanks." I muttered, taking a can that he offered to me. Looking in, I saw that it was what looked like canned chicken. Usually something I would opt out of eating, but right now, it smelled like heaven.

Giving him a look, he nodded. "Eat up! We've got plenty." Smiling, I took off the lid, folded it, and used it as a spoon to shovel the food in my mouth.

Leaning against the RV, I looked at him. "So…" I swallowed another scoop of chicken. "What's up with him?" I tilted my head towards the black man.

"I think he's got blood poisoning. Good thing the Dixon's had some antibiotics with them." He shrugged and looked him over. "He's okay for now, but we'll need to get him help."

"Wait…Dixon's?" I hadn't heard that name yet.

"Yeah…Daryl and Merle." He gave me a look.

"Who the hell is Merle?" I finished off my chicken and put the can on the ground, under the RV to make sure no one tripped on it or anything.

"Daryl's brother. He got locked on the roof in Atlanta. They were looking for him when they found you."

I nodded, and scanned camp, trying to find him. "Did he die?"

"We don't know. All they found was his hand."

Looking at him, I shuddered slightly. Just a hand? That was terrible.

"Poor Crossbow…" I sighed, and spotted him. He was sitting in the kitchen of the RV, cleaning his arrows. "I'll be right back."

Walking into the RV, I looked at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell ya what?" He peeked at me, then turned his attention back to the arrows.

"About your brother."

"None of yer damn business."

"You know about my sister." Seemed fair. An eye for an eye.

"No, I saw ya put 'er down."

I don't know why, but I got mad. This was the only person I talked to in camp, and he didn't tell me shit. "Why can't you just tell me what the hell happened? Or just something about you!" I growled out.

"'Cause you don't need to know." He looked at me, and I was done.

"Fine." I huffed, turned on my heels, and stormed out. "I'll be in the truck." I called out, either to Daryl, or to the old man.

Getting to the truck, I slammed the door, put my gun and knife on the dashboard of the car, and laid down. Pulling the blanket up to my chin, I slammed my eyes close and waited for sleep to take me.

"Becca?"

We have been stuck in the SUV for the past four hours. Brian was driving randomly, and the others in the back had stopped crying. "Yeah?"

"Sorry I didn't tell you."

I just nodded and sighed. After a minute or two of silence, I figured out what I wanted to say. "I know you didn't want to freak them out." I jerked my thumb towards the back. "But why didn't you tell me? I can handle it." My shoulders slump. "I could at least have prepared for this a little."

"I know." He kept his gaze on the road ahead. After a few more miles, all the cars in front of us started to slow, to a stop. "Shit."

My eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Brian! You know better than to curse."

He gave me a look and put the car in park. "It's a little past the time to be worrying about that stuff." He turned the car off and left the keys in the ignition. "We should see what's going on."

Getting out of the car, I looked back at the people in the back. "Stay here."

"You're leaving us?" My mother whimpered out.

"Your fine. Just keep the car locked." I checked the knife on my leg one last time before following Brian past all of the cars.

It seemed like many of the other travelers had the same idea. We passed many people. Mothers with their babies, teens with their girlfriends or boyfriends, and fathers going alone. I stayed close to Brian.

"Get back in your cars!" Men dressed in uniforms yelled, waving guns at us. I stopped, and moved into Brian's side.

"We should go back." I whispered, as many of the other travelers ran to their cars. But Brian held his spot.

"Where should we go?" He called out over the worried cries of others.

"Back in your cars!" A man with pistol drawn yelled.

"No, where do we drive to."

"You will be notified once everyone are in their cars."

Then, the shots started to ring out. Everyone screamed, and Brian forced me to the ground. "What is going on?"

"I don't know! It sounds like they're shooting at some thing." The shooting slowed, but the screaming filled its place. Brian moved to his knees, peeking over the cars to see what was going. "Oh God." He muttered, and started to force me to my feet. "Run!"

Looking back, I saw them. Dozens of creatures were limping their way towards us. They looked like the Smith's had. Some were missing limbs, some half of their faces, others had skin the color of stone. As I watched, they started to feast on the officers, being hit by bullets without flinching.

"I'm gonna be sick." I groaned out, but Brian forced me forward.

"Just run!"

I stumbled, trying to run back to the SUV, but there were too many cars, too many people fleeing as we were. We slowed to a near stop.

The moaning grew, and my heart stopped. Brian's hand on my back dropped, and I knew something was wrong.

Turning around, I saw that those…things had grabbed him. He was punching them, trying to fend them off. One bit into his leg, and another his hand. He kept fighting, trying to break free from their grasps.

"No!" I fumbled with my knife, trying to pull it out of its holster to help him.

He looked at me, blood dripping from his mouth, eyes full of fear. "Save…them…" Then he fell to the ground, and the creatures swarmed him. He let out a scream, and I turned and ran towards the SUV.

Getting to the car, I threw myself behind the wheel and turned on the car. I could do this. I could do this.

"Where is Brian?" My mother wailed, and I realized that I'm now the only one able to keep us safe.

Throwing the car into reverse, I locked the doors and started to back up, thankful that there were so few people behind us. "Keep the kids down."

"Where is my son?" She yelled, but she did help the kids onto the ground of the car. They were clutching each other, Lucy with a doll in her arms.

"Later." I growled through clenched teeth, struggling to not hit any of the other cars.

"Rebecca!" She screamed, and I slammed on the brakes and glared at her.

"Those freaks ate him! Okay? He's dead and he told me to save you! Now stop it and suck it up, we need to get out of here!" I yelled, then looked forward, threw the car into drive, and pulled a u turn. Flooring it, I started to drive, making each turn we passed, and tried to stay off the main roads.

There was silence, and I bit the inside of my cheek. I've never yelled at my mother before. I've never actually raised my voice at anyone, but never my parents. Guess I was a changed woman. Hell, I just watched my brother being eaten by what I could only explain as creatures from hell. There was no turning back.

A/N: Okay, kind of short, but I still liked it. Trying to find out where this story is going. It just kind of lives on it's own, and I just follow it and jot down notes. I know the next two big things that are going to happen, so keep an eye out for the next few chapters!

Question of the day:

You were bit. What would your death note say? (Kind of dark, but there is a reason for it, I promise!)