7
I never thought I would be in so many funerals. Before the outbreak, I went only to my grandmother's funeral. It was sad, I can remember my mom crying but I really didn't comprehend what was happening, I was just six years old and I was wondering why she was sad, since then I didn't liked funerals, because for me it only makes you sadder. Is just a moment to remember all the happy moments you spent with that person, you feel good for a second until you remember that the person is forever gone.
Dale was buried next to Otis, Annette and Shawn. Standing there hearing at Rick speech, I felt numb.
- In the end — Rick continued looking at Dale's grave — He was talking about losing our humanity. He said this group was broken and the best way to honor him is to unbreak it. Set aside our differences and pull together, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and take control of our lives, our safety, and our future. We're not broken and we're gonna prove him wrong. From now on we're gonna do it his way. That is how we honor Dale.
I drove my Jeep back, with Effy, Carol and Sophia. The little girl had remained silent since the previous night and her mother was worried about what would be Sophia thinking or feeling. The moment we got in the Jeep, Sophia felt asleep in her mother's lap. It was really difficult for us to explain to her that now being alive was a privilege. No one was safe anymore. Not even in the farm, and that made me shiver. But we needed to be strong, and go forward.
- This car was yours before this? — Carol asked suddenly, breaking the silence inside the jeep.
- Yes, mom gave it to me when I turned eighteen but I never learned how to drive it— I could see Effy almost grinning in the passenger seat.
- You never learned?
- Not until I had no other choice — I replied glaring at her from the rearview mirror.
- You're kidding me right?
- She's serious, she never got a license or had a driver test — Effy mentioned.
- We cannot have you driving without a license, you could be arrested you know? — she joked and grinned back at me.
- Please don't tell Rick — I said with an acted concern.
- Your secret is safe with me; to be honest I don't have a license either.
- Is okay, I won't tell Rick.
We chuckled a little, and I felt less pressured for a moment. Apparently the guy was still staying in the shed; I didn't give a damn about it anymore, honestly. And for what Rick had said I supposed they were going to free him and let him go.
The weather was getting cold; I haven't noticed until I saw myself in the rearview mirror and looked at my own checks blushed and red for staying the morning outside. I always liked autumn, is in fact my favorite season of the year, even more than summer. But the cold breeze is something I couldn't help but adore, and wearing the warm clothes, being able to use coats, gloves and other things. I love it. But right now, I don't know what it would be like to spend a winter with undead things walking around. Would the walkers freeze? Would they become more dangerous? And what if they can hide in the snow?
I needed to stop thinking.
I pulled my jacket tighter to me while I walked to the house, the door was open and I could hear the people talking inside. So it seems like the group were going to settle in the house for winter. Everyone was carrying things inside, and for what I heard the men will be sleeping in the living room. Making my way upstairs I saw Beth dragging a mattress inside Maggie's room.
- Who's moving? — I asked.
- Carol and Sophia — Beth replied, her pretty doe eyes glittering — Maggie wanted to kick you out.
- What?!
- She wanted Glenn to sleep in her room, he refused because dad is in the house. — She giggled a little.
- That's karma for backstabbing me — I mentioned and the little blonde chuckled — Come on, let me help you with that thing.
The rest of the day I kept helping around everyone I could with the things they were putting inside, a couple of sleeping bags, more supplies and food they had. They moved all the cars in front of the house and I felt grateful that I did the same with my Jeep in the morning.
Walking outside I saw Daryl parking his motorcycle, I couldn't help but find myself staring at him. He was wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt and that leather vest I saw on him before, with that always annoyed expression on his face. His blue eyes looking at the things around him when he got off the bike like he was born for ride it.
I shook my head immediately remembering that I was pissed at him for calling me a brat.
Idiot.
So I found Rick, talking with the others about letting Randall out of the shed.
- Little Mary — I turned around and was Glenn there.
- Hey, so they're going to free him?
- Yeah, that's what Rick said.
- You know I almost got myself kicked out of the room because of you? — Glenn looked at me wide eye open, I couldn't help but grin.
- I told Maggie that...
- I'm joking Jackie Chan, I know you're a good guy and won't let a girl sleep on the floor.
- You know I'm Korean – He retorted.
- You know I love to bully you — He snorted and chuckled.
I hate the word almost. Is like something can be good but other things just get in the way and ruin it. That day was almost a normal day.
Almost again.
T-Dog came up to all of us. Randall had escape from the shed.
Hell no.
- Rick! — Shane was coming out of the woods his nose bloodied — He escaped, he's armed.
- That kid unarmed you? — I asked with disbelief, this was unbelievable — Can you track him? - I turned to Daryl, who seemed surprised for a second and then nodded.
- Hey, look, there ain't no use in tracking him, okay? He went that way. We need to pair up. We spread out, we just chase him down. That's it — Shane interrupted pointing at the woods.
- Kid weighs a buck-25 soaking wet. Ya trying to tell us he got the jump on you? - Daryl replied. Shane was about to said another thing but was shut up.
- We're looking for him, he couldn't get that far — Rick said, finishing the questioning.
It was already night and they hadn't came back. Rick, Shane, Glenn and Daryl had been gone for hours and the tension in the house could be cut with one of my knives. And I was getting even more nervous with every passing minute. When Lori said that Carl wasn't in the house I didn't have a good feeling about it. We looked for him but he was nowhere to be found. Lori was freaking out, and we couldn't blame her. I took my shotgun and checked my knives, I was about to go out and find the boy even though some of them were telling me to wait, when Daryl and Glenn came back. I felt relieved for a moment but Carl wasn't with them.
- He was a walker? – I asked when they explained what had happened.
- Yeah, but got no bites – Glenn explained, we all were in shock.
- That's not possible.
The sound of a gunshot made me jump out of my skin. That was when I knew that something bad was happening. We all stepped outside, and we saw it. A herd of walkers was coming towards the house. Everyone started getting ready, Maggie was loading a gun, while Andrea handed another weapons, and I had my own already in my back, I gave a pistol to Effy while I walked out with her. Beth was with Patricia, and Lori was screaming for Carl.
- Eff, if this gets bad you just get them in the Jeep and ride out of here - I said almost automatically. She looked at me with doubt but finally nodded.
- We can't stay here! – Carol shouted with Sophia on her side, the little girl was practically wrapped around her mother.
- That's my boy! – I heard Lori yell.
- You're gonna have to trust. If we find him, he's gonna need his mother. We've gotta go.
- Get the others – I said to Effy – Now!
Hershel was already in the porch, shooting at the walkers nearby. Suddenly the barn was on fire, what the heck was going on? I saw Maggie carrying a gun and getting in another car with Glenn. I walked down shooting at those things as fast as I could. I saw Daryl in his motorcycle shooting at the deads too and suddenly he stopped near us.
- You have to go! — Hershel shouted to me motioning at Daryl.
- What?! I'm not leaving you.
- You gonna take 'em all on? — Daryl asked at the old man.
- This is my farm. I'll die here — He said shooting again.
- All right, are ya staying too?
I looked at him and walked getting on the bike. When the bike rode off, I got to see the Jeep riding out of the farm. Daryl was taking another path, I kept myself steady on the moving bike and I kept shooting at the walkers even though he was going too fast and I wasn't able to see straight anymore. I got to see the RV filled with walkers in front of the barn on fire. I got to heard someone screaming but I could not look back. That was when I saw her.
Carol was near the fences the walkers approaching her. What she was doing there?. I patted Daryl in the shoulder and yelled at him that he needed to stop; he yelled back at me that I was crazy but I wasn't, this was Carol and I could not live with myself if we leave her behind. We were near the woman when he stopped and I got off the bike and started running towards her. I drew out one of my knives and stabbed every walker that got into my way. I heard the buzzing of arrows flying and some walkers fell to the grass.
- Get in the bike! - I shouted to Carol, she started getting away but looked back at me.
- What about you!?
- Just get the hell out of here!
She looked with shock but ran to the motorcycle and glared back another couple of times. It was after a moment that I heard the sound of the engine getting back to life. Over the dark of the night I saw the monsters were surrounding me, but I kept stabbing them in the head while making my way out of the field, I could felt the putrid smell around me. When I started running towards the woods I could swear that I heard someone calling my name.
I didn't look back; there was nothing for me behind. I just kept running and running until my lungs were burning inside my chest and I could not see, hear or even smell another monster close. My legs were screaming, but who cares about that when you're running for your life? No one, right? When I stopped for a moment to check where the hell I was, heavily breathing I took a knife out and walked with a cautious pace, the only sound I could sense was the one make with my boots over the cracking grass and rocks. I know I wasn't lost I had walked this woods before. And I needed to find the others soon.
It was almost sunrise when I found the dirt road; I did not cross with many walkers inside the woods so I just kept moving. Getting myself in the road I saw the marks of wheels. I chuckled slightly; I had found the right way. Walking my way down the path, I knew I had to be fast if I wanted to find them all. I know it was stupid to believe in miracles in this kind of situation, but I've always been a faithful person, I knew I'll find them if they didn't found me first. So when I started running to get faster to the highway I felt that my heart stopped when I heard it.
Voices.
I had to walk a little on the woods again but it was a short walk till I get to the edge that was leading me to the main road. Now I could hear the voices closer.
- We can't split now – That was Rick.
- We ain't splitting; I'll go there and get her back here – Daryl sounded angry, I never thought I felt happy to hear his voice.
- I'll go with you – Effy?
- Daryl man, you said she was surrounded – T-Dog mentioned.
- She sure escaped, I'm gonna find her.
There was a car between me and the group, so I stepped aside the car and I found them. They were there, at least most of them that I could see, the cars parked close and my own white jeep shinning in the sunlight. Daryl was still speaking, his back to me and I knew the others have already noticed my presence when they looked at me in shock. When he turned around and saw me, I thought for a moment that I must be looking really awful. The astonishment was all over his face, his mouth open like he was catching his breath or trying to say something.
I snorted and nibbled at my lips.
- What? You thought you seen the last of me?
So I just had this chapter finished and wanted to post it.
Hope you like it :D
