Chapter Nine
Lady Marmalade, Moulin Rouge edition, blasted over the speakers. I sipped my white lightning slowly, knowing how alcohol had an effect on me. And, trust me; I did not need a repeat of Grimes Christmas Party, 2007. Thank God the kid was away at his grandparents' for the night. I was a drunken fool.
"What're you doing over here by yourself?" A voice next to me asked. I looked over. A clean shaven Rick, that actually was not wearing his uniform for once, leaned on the bar next to me. "It's a nightclub, Meg. People usually dance."
I smiled softly. "I ain't the dancin' type."
"Who says?"
"I do, Grimes. Come on. You honestly don't want me dancing. I look terrible. Besides, I think you should keep more of an eye on Shane. He's pretty hammered tonight."
"Last time I checked he was following Tori around like a love-sick puppy dog."
I laughed. Tori Smalls was new to the force. Long brown hair, deep blue eyes, with full lips and high cheekbones. She had an hourglass figure to die for, and she at least at had DD's. Now I know what God did with the rest of my body, the bastard. I mean, I wasn't flat chested but I would love for at least a DD. But no I have a fucking 34D. So, you know, bump it up a bit. Not a lot, but a little bit. I had a bit of a figure, but it wasn't a 'killer figure' that all men lusted after.
It was frustrating.
"What about your wife?" I raised my eyebrows.
"She's at our table."
I nodded. "She knows you're over here?"
"Yeah. She wanted a margarita."
I nodded again, stirring my drink with my straw. "Still not dancing."
Rick chuckled to himself. "I didn't expect you to." He smiled a bit. "Just loosen up a bit. You'll have more fun that way."
I smiled softly and he clapped me on the back lightly, before ordering Lori's drink.
We slowly made our way into the city, and it looked like one of those ghost towns. It was eerie. The buildings were empty, looking almost ominous. Windows were broken; trash was all over the roads. Cars were still parked, as if the owners were going to suddenly come out, hop in them and drive off, minding their own business. Though, the logical side of me knew that the majority, if not all, of those people that parked there were walkers now.
"It's so quiet..." Glenn muttered.
"This is freaking me out a bit." T-Dog spoke quietly. At this remark, I saw my father roll his eyes. I did my best to not go over to him and smack him then and there.
"So." I looked at everyone else. "Where do you think we should go first?"
"We need food, so I would say a grocery store. That's just logical." Andrea piped up.
"You also have to think about if those were raided or not, already." Jacqui reminded her.
"This place is overrun. I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to raid a city that's full of walkers." Morales said.
"Nobody except us." Glenn said.
Well shit. He had a point.
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I walked over to a department store. We had been in Atlanta for a while, and Glenn was carrying some supplies. I peeked inside, cupping my hands around my face to see better. Inside, a pretty, frilly light blue top caught my eye. It was low cut, and seemed to enhance the figure a bit. You know, how sometimes when you see a shirt and it has a curve in it, it always enhances your figure? Yeah, that's what I meant. And I really, really wanted it.
There was groaning behind me, and I spun on my heel, drawing my gun, and pistol whipping a walker in the face. It stumbled once before I shot it in the head. It fell to the ground like a sack of shit and just sat there. I wiped my gun on my shirt and put it back in its holster.
"Are you crazy?" Morales snapped. I stared at him. "Do you know how many walkers are in this city?"
"It was my first thought, okay? Calm the fuck down!"
"You didn't think to grab the knife?"
"No!"
"Guys..." Glenn's voice piped up.
"I'm a cop. My first instinct is to go for the gun." I ignored him. Morales rolled his eyes. "It was part of my training. I'm used to it. So sorry I pissed you off."
"Guys!"
I looked over at Glenn, who pointed-almost frantically-at an oncoming herd of walkers. I stared at it.
"Shit."
Andrea made a beeline for the doors, rattling them for only a moment before yanking them open.
"Get in, now!" She yelled. All of us scurried to the door, Glenn dropping the supplies in the process. He started to go back for them, but T-Dog pushed him inside.
"Leave them!" he yelled, following him inside. Andrea ran in next, and I held the door open for Morales and Jacqui. I started to go inside but stopped when I heard a gunshot. I turned, and Merle was standing there, shooting at the walkers. Some fell to the ground, others staggered a bit. That part didn't matter. What mattered was that the herd was getting closer, and my father was standing out in the middle of the road shooting at them. Now he may piss me off to no end, but Merle Dixon was still my father. My heart began to pound as the walkers sped up a bit.
"Dad!" I screamed. He looked over at me, and I waved him in. I'm sure the panic and worry was etched across my face. "Stop shooting!"
"One more!"
"No!" Gunshot. "Goddammit!" I ran from the door.
"Megan!" Glenn yelled my name. I didn't turn. I grabbed my father's arm and tried to yank him back.
"Please, go inside!" He looked at me, and I didn't say anything. I think the look on my face was enough because he nodded once.
"Fine, alright." He said. I pushed him lightly towards the door before sprinting towards it. The walkers were getting closer, and the groaning noises they were making were starting to become unbearable.
We made it in, and Glenn locked the door right as the walkers reached the doors and began pounding on them. I collapsed, my legs and hands shaking uncontrollably.
"That was so stupid!" Andrea screamed. "Why the fuck would you think about doing something so stupid!"
"I got a few of them, didn't I?" My father snapped back.
"That doesn't do anything about the rest of that herd! Who knows how many of those things heard that shot! This city is overrun! I bet you anything there's more than one herd here!"
"Shut up!" I screamed at them. Both Andrea and Merle looked at me. "Listen, if you're so Goddamn curious about how many herds there are or whatever the hell, how about you go to the damn rooftop or some shit?"
"I'm staying down here." Andrea crossed her arms.
"Well that's just fuckin' dandy. I'm going to the rooftop." I got up, and started to look for stairs, my limbs no longer shaking. "And this blue shirt is mine." I snatched it off the rack and found the stairs at the end of the room. I started up them when I heard Andrea remark "Now I see how you two are related."
It took all in my power to not smack her.
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I was lying on top of the roof for a while, I honestly don't know how long. I kept my arm over my face, and was actually about to drift off when I heard the big metal door close, not paying any attention to the helicopter soon after. I removed my arm, and the first thing that hit me was the sun right in my face. I groaned, and looked away and towards the door to see Glenn walk over to me.
"You okay?"
"Mhm. Peachy keen." I told him. He looked at my blue shirt.
"Nice shirt."
I smiled softly. "Thanks. It's brand new."
He chuckled quietly. We sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "That was brave, what you did."
"You mean, saving Merle's ass?" I shrugged. "It's what any other decent person would've done."
"Yeah, but you two have a history. And it isn't exactly a great one."
"True..." I nodded.
A horse neighing caught our attention. Glenn and I looked at each other. We've been in the city for hours and there was no sign of a horse.
"What the hell..?" I muttered and got up. I walked to the side of the rooftop as everyone else hurried up onto the rooftop.
"We thought we heard a horse." T-Dog said.
"You did." I answered. I heard my father open his shotgun, but didn't look back. We watched as the walkers took the horse down. The man who was on it dropped his bag and scrambled underneath the tank. I put a hand over my mouth as I saw the horse being torn apart. I loved animals, and to see that broke my heart. A group of walkers made their way to the tank, and some underneath it.
"Think he's dead?" Andrea asked.
"Unless he can get into that tank, he's done." Morales spoke up. After a while, I saw the man come up out of the top hatch before he quickly shut it.
"He's alive." I said.
"But is he bit?" My father raised his gun, aiming. Glenn yanked the walkie-talkie off his belt, turning it on soon after.
"Hey you." His voice was practically dripping with sarcasm. "Dumbass. Yeah, you in the tank. Cozy in there?"
