Sixth Sense

Chapter Seven

Sophia was crying, body-wrenching sobbing, as she stood sandwiched between Andrea and Amy. Dale had one hand cupping Andrea's shoulder, and the other patting the orphan girls back. Glenn was digging the grave, but every now and again Amy's eyes and his would meet and they'd quickly look away again. Daryl had an inkling, a suspicion about the future. Like he was seeing something just barely over the horizon, but still not exactly sure what it was. He just knew it had something to do with that interwoven Atlanta Group.

The Georgian's stood a couple of feet back, Shane and Rick having already put the other's in their graves. Just two more bodies left to lay to rest, and Daryl couldn't believe these people. Merle and Daryl didn't care about these people, only about surviving and keeping what was theirs safe. But Lara was pushed into going, her two cubs stony faced standing with her, and wherever she went Daryl was sure as hell was going to go too.

"This is a mistake, not burning these bodies." Daryl murmured to his brother. "It's what we said we'd do, right? Burn them all? Isn't that the idea?". Rick and Shane turned around to face him while Carl and Lori went to console the still weeping Sophia. But whatever they were going to say was interrupted "don't burry him with her. I don't want him finding her".

Glenn glanced around, but Rick was nodding his head, changing direction to kneel in front of the preteen "if that's what you want, sweetheart. You'll have it". Lori was nodding, clutching Carl to her while everyone else was glancing at each other with knowing looks. If there was any chance at an afterlife, they were all hoping Sophia's mother could finally have some peace.


"Soothsayer's always have the worst luck." Lara stated, staring down at an almost wasted away Jim. She sat beside's him awkwardly, reaching out to touch his hand before pulling it back quickly. "Yeah," Jim coughed, trying to laugh but not having the air to "life knocks us around a little. Only in my dreams do I have the Gift. But your boy, his power bleeds into the real world. He's going to be hard fellow, and he'll need help with all he'll have to see".

"He's already hard. Already seen too much." Lara glanced towards the door like she'd rather be anywhere else "good thing an empaths not too far out of reach". Jim seemed oblivious to her fight-or-flight nervousness "not the most comfortable of talents, either. If you're not careful she'll lose that smile of hers, and you'll all die a little inside if it does"

"I'll shield them" furious words, a pledge. Lara seemed to be making a lot of those recently. "He doesn't always tell me and he doesn't always get it right or even with enough time in advance, but Aidan has told me enough. They'll be safe as long as I'm alive. And as long as I'm alive they'll have protectors".

Knowing eyes looked up at her "those Dixon boys are more then they appear. Just a touch of the Gift in their veins, but it's enough". Lara nodded, folding her hands restlessly in her lap "I know. Same as myself. It's just enough to get by with". Jim smiled up at her, shaking his head "a touch? No, Laraina. You have more power then you give yourself credit for. No one else can do what you do, the way you do it". Lara's eyes immediately looked to her feet, but she said nothing. They both heard Jacqui talking and coming closer to the RV. Standing Lara looked down at Jim emotionlessly, hesitantly touching his forehead "there's a pill besides you. If you take it you'll feel no pain, and when they finally come to a decision and they allow you your request, your transformation or any Walker attack after will be painless".

Jim nodded at as she turned to leave, calling out to her before she stepped out of the RV "Lara! One last thing. Remember this. Do not shoot the dog. It might save your life one day". Jacqui was staring, but Lara didn't comment. Solemn she looked back at him "hey, maybe I'll see you on the other side."

Jim was peaceful, and his eyes fluttered closed "not likely".


Lara lifted herself to sit on the edge of the Dixon truck, where most had gathered to talk about where to go next. "The CDC is out best bet; I heard they were working on a cure. And I trust where I got this information" Rick was kneeling, face sincere, ever the earnest cop. But Shane was shaking his head, still, stubbornly refusing. Daryl was watching Lara as she, as if in a daze, was watching her cubs with Lori and Carl off to one side. An argument had broken out among the adults, and not too many were paying attention when she did, but those that mattered heard everything she muttered as Lara fiddled with a hole in the knee of her jeans "what we need is a private airport. Or a summer camp. Someplace not easily found or accessible by strangers. Something with a chain link fence and acreage. Get the group settled, trained in silent combat. Winter is coming, and we'll need a stable base. Most summer camps have stocked lakes, nice hunting grounds. There's a couple of airport's scattered around the state, close by to the cities. I'll need more books, but I'm pretty sure we could get crops up and running. A lot of airports have large hanger space and pilot quarters. Winter will be hell in tents. Hypothermia is easier to ward off inside a building. Most gated communities have generators, but we need to start becoming more efficient in what we have, not what we used to have…" she trailed off, but by that time everyone else was quiet and staring at her.

"And how do you suggest we find these places?" Shane asked, and his tone causes both Merle and Daryl to whip around and glare at him. Lara looked up from her jeans, sea glass blue eyes blinking up at him as if confused, like she thought she said that all in her head "a map of course", she stated deadpanned, causing a shock to go through the survivors. "It could work" Rick said, surprised. Most were nodding, but there was still some doubts.

Shane roughly shook his head "no! What we need is a plan we're sure will work! Not chasing after some fantasy dream!". Lara faded out of the conversation, but Rick was still looking at her thoughtfully "hey Lara. What did you do before all this?". Unsure she tilted her head at him "I worked as a PA, why?".