"On a run? Alone?" My blood started to boil. I could feel my face turning red with anger.
"No. Otis went with him." The girl seemed to be trying to calm me down, but it was hard to tell. All I was seeing was red.
"Who the hell is Otis?" My voice was getting louder and louder with every word. I felt as if I were ten seconds from exploding.
The girl backed away, knowing that I was pissed.
Glenn stood up. "Ariel, It's okay. He'll be-"
"No, Glenn it's not okay." I grabbed my knife as tight as I could and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" T-Dog was still a little wozy, but still managed to express concern.
"To go and get the asshole back before he does somethin' stupid." My hand was on the knob of the door when Glenn's hand was suddenly on me.
"You can't go. What about us?"
"You guys seem perfectly fine right now."
"You can't go," Glenn repeated.
"And why the hell not?" This boy was really testing my paitence.
"'Cause you could get them killed. They're probably on their way back by now. It's Shane. You know as well as I do that he's one tough son of a bitch. And it's not like he's alone out there. He will make it back without your help." Glenn may have been right, he may have been wrong. I couldn't tell the difference. My mind was fuming and I wasn't listening to anyone. I forced the door open.
"What's going on out here?" Rick's weakened voice stopped my body from moving another inch.
"Ariel is planning on going to get Shane," Glenn explained.
I didn't have time for this. I continued to stomp forward and slam the door behind me. I managed to make it to the top of the steps when Rick called out to me. "Ariel, wait."
I turned slowly towards the man. It was difficult to look at him. His body was so pale and his legs trembled under him. His boy was losing blood so he gave all he could give just to keep Carl alive. I tried my hardest not to let that get to me. I huffed and puffed, ignoring Rick's shaking hand reaching for me. "What?" I spat out.
"He's coming back." My breath caught in my throut. "Please, stay. We need ya here."
In that moment, all I wanted was to run, run to Shane. I couldn't even think about what might happen here if I left. This man was here begging infront of me and all I could think about was Shane. I knew he would be back, but it pained me to know he wasn't here. He wasn't here to comfort his best friend. He wasn't here to see if the little boy will survive. He wasn't here standing and waiting for his eyes to open. He wasn't here with me. Shane just wasn't here.
Rick's eyes were fighting tears. His whole world was falling to pieces around him. His son was near death and his best friend might be, too. But the only thing I could think about was me. Shane and me.
The light blue in his eyes pulled me back, however. They managed to calm me down and begin to think clearly. Leaving would be stupid and I knew it. My breathing slowed and I was defeated. "Alright. But I'm just gonna stay out here. I ain't goin' back in there."
He didn't need anything thing else. Rick knew that I meant it when I say I'm staying. He just nodded and returned to his son's side.
The breeze in the night was cool, but perfect. It managed to put a stop to everything around me and make peace. It still bothered me that Shane was not back yet, but I did my best not to think about it. That thought might have made me go crazy.
God knows how long I was sitting out there alone. I refused to go in no matter how cool it got outside. I couldn't bear to see the faces of our group and the farm people. I knew how they would stare at me and make me feel uncomfortable. Sure, they would offer to get me something, but I can see it in their eyes. I caused a scene and now they're going to wait until I cause another.
"What the hell are you doing sittin' out here?" My head forced itself up and my hand instinctively grabbed my knife from my side. I knew I was alone and no one who knew me would dare disturb. "Aw come on lil' sis. No need to get all jumpy."
I knew this voice all too well. It was a voice I had grew up with, a voice I was oh so tired of hearing. But this was impossible. "Merle?" I whispered out. I didn't want anyone to come out here and think my stupid ass brother was here unless I was sure he was.
"Now is that anyway to great your big brother?" This had to be a dream. No, a nightmare.
"You can't be here." I stared out in the distance, searching for his face. Not finding it, I sprinted down the stairs and searched the backyard. The voice didn't respond as I ran through the yard.
Eventually my feet had brought me to the forset line. My knife was up and ready for any surprises.
"You're right. I ain't." Nearly screaming, I jumped around to see my brother Merle. He was wearing the exact same outfit he was when he left with the group for that run. The only problem with this Merle was he had both of his hands. If I remember correctly, that dumbass cut off his right hand to get off that roof.
Terrified, I raised my knife and thrusted it at his stomach. Merle grabbed my arm and threw me down. "Jesus Christ!" I shouted at him.
"Listen, I ain't got time for your bullshit so you better shut the fuck up and listen to ol' Merle." Even in my mind this guy manages to piss me off.
Not moving from the ground, I stared at him. "What the fuck do you want?"
"I want you to stop acting like a pussy."
"What are ya talkin' about?"
"I mean get your ass up and go and get that bastard before he becomes walker food. Why the hell are you listening to them when they tell you to stay? That ain't what us Dixons do. You get the fuck out of the dirt and go do what you want. Don't let them boss you around. Especially that officer in there. That sum bitch cuffed me to a roof and you and Daryl both follow him around like you're his bitch."
"I ain't nobody's bitch."
"Then prove it! Get the fuck up and go get that stupid asshole that you're with. That dumb fuck is probably dead by now because you're so damn slow!"
This was the final straw with Merle. He had pushed Daryl and I for years, but he just crossed the line. I jumped up and shouted, "Don't you fucking call him that you fu-" I stopped. I wasn't in the woods anymore. I was right where I had been. It turns I had just fallen asleep outside on the porch. It was just a nightmare. One that brought me to a sudden realization.
No one had noticed my sudden screaming. They must have been too foccused on Carl to even hear me. It may have only been a dream, but it felt all too real. Merle was right. Why was I listening to them? I shouldn't be just sitting here. I should be out there helping Shane get out of whatever jam he was in.
Earlier, Glenn had thrown me the keys because he didn't have any pockets. He had to leave the gun outside also. The Greenes didn't want it in the house. I snatched that and the keys and took off to the car. All of my senses were off. The only one that was left on was instinct. It was instinct to protect the ones you care about.
I heard the girl tell the others where Shane and the other dude went. She gave vague directions but I could firgure it out. I put the keys in the egnition and started to drive. I looked back in the mirror only once to see Glenn standing at the top of the steps. He couldn't do anything now and he knew it.
I sped down the driveway not thinking twice. Merle was right. This was something that I had to do and no one could stop me. I'm coming for you Shane.
