PART TWO
9
Feeling the cold air of winter while you're having a walk with your family is something nice. Just hanging out dressed with the warm clothes and all covered in scarfs and leather. Feeling the cold air when you barely open the window in the early morning and drink hot chocolate is another nice thing to do in winter. I missed those kinds of feelings. But now, feeling the cold air filling my lungs, burning every time I breathe when I'm running for my life in the middle of an unknown town while the cold snowflakes are falling all around me. Well, that's not too cool. My nose and chest were aching, and the weight of my backpack was making my pace slower. I didn't know how much we've been running, maybe minutes or an hour, but my legs were already numb. My feet must be bleeding inside my boots and I'd have to bandage them when we stop. I was running like a desperate soul, ice cold breeze blowing and hitting my face as frozen daggers.
- Come on!
The man running beside me grabbed my gloved hand with a strong grip and pushed me forward making me run even faster. I glanced behind for a brief second; the monsters were nowhere to be seen. The street was empty. We needed to stop. I needed to breathe. Just stop.
- Stop now! — I yelled at him, the blue-eyed man glared at me, the same annoyed expression on his face I got use to see every single day for the past months.
- Hell nah is not safe! — He said, tightening his grip on my small hand.
I couldn't take it anymore; I couldn't keep running like this.
- Stop! Daryl, just stop!
He slowed his pace, getting slower with every next step until we were not running anymore but walking. I gasped, catching my breath and falling on my knees. I looked up to the Grey sky, it was gonna be noon at any moment and the sun was still hiding behind dark clouds. Daryl put his crossbow on his back; he looked down to me with a little concern in his eyes. I never thought I'd hate so much the cold weather but in that moment I did.
- Yer bleeding — He crouched in front on me and suddenly lightly pressed a rough thumb beneath my nose, he showed it to me painted in velvet red over his finger.
- Is because the cold — I said still breathless — Are you okay? — He nodded still staring at me.
Then he looked back us making himself sure that there was nothing undead coming near us. He stood up holding out his hand to me, I had took off one of my gloves so I'd cleaned my bleeding nose. The instant my warm hand felt his cold one; I had to take back the shiver running down my spine. He helped me up to my feet and glanced around another time. The oxygen was again filling my lungs normally and I noticed the snowing had stopped. Daryl motioned to me, and we started walking again on the street.
We've been on the run for months, from house to house and place to place. Never lasting more than a week in one specific place, the walkers seemed to be increasing and every time we were feeling settled we needed to leave. Lori's been pregnant for almost six months and we were craving for a good place to stay more than a week.
Daryl and Glenn had found a safe house in a small neighborhood, it was clean of walkers and today we had to check the place one more time and tell the group to move here. In our way to the houses while looking for supplies Daryl and I got surprised by some undead and we just ran out of there heading to I don't know where because Daryl hasn't told me yet.
- What you got? — He asked suddenly pointing to my backpack.
- A box of candy bars, lots of can beans and vegetables, pain killers and three pots of vitamins pills.
- Vitamins? — Daryl stopped abruptly making me almost stumbled against him.
- Yeah, Lori needs those things to keep herself healthy till the baby is born — I looked over at him wondering why he stopped like that.
- That's the house.
I stared at the place.
A big house with two levels, a double garage and an enormous porch. I hoped this will last. We needed it. We all did.
We walked to the front door, but I could not wait, I passed him and opened the white wooden door by myself walking inside the house. I felt a knot in my stomach almost immediately; the marble floor was covered in dust and could notice the footprints of the ones who checked out the place yesterday. The curtains were ivory color not too dirty even though the time I supposed this place remained closed. The living room had good place and whoever that owned this house before should had be good with decorations. I felt stupid for a brief second, this place reminded me too much to my life before the outbreak.
- Are ya nuts? — Daryl pushed me when he walked inside closing the door behind him.
- Why? You said this place was cleared — I replied walking around the room, I heard he grunted — My house was just like this, we even had this kind of black furniture — I found myself smiling. Daryl just grunted again. — We need to tell the others, the streets are most cleared and we lost those walkers.
- I'm on it, fancy girl — Daryl replied, looking out the window with the walkie in his hand.
I walked finding the kitchen and took off my backpack taking the supplies I had found. The cabinets had some food too, canned mostly, but we use everything we found. I heard the small exchange of words between Daryl and the group through the walkie, I knew soon they'll be here. Walking out to the living room again, Daryl was still in the window looking outside in his always cautious manner. I sat in one of the couches and took off my boots, like I thought, my foots were a little bloodied and bruised.
I realized I ran out of band aids.
We've been in the house for a week. The weather seems to be changing since we hadn't seen another snowfall for the past days. I hoped it remain that way. Rick had being bossy since he told us this wasn't a democracy anymore, I knew he wanted to keep us all safe, and I was one of the some people in the group who supported him no matter what he asked me to do. Want me to find supplies? I'll find them. Want me to do watch while everyone sleeps? I'll do watch. I never thought about nothing else that what the best was for all of us. And I was sure Rick knew exactly how to keep us safe. And otherwise, Daryl and Hershel supported him nevertheless too, so why would I say no? Effy felt reluctant at first when she found out my point of view about Rick being in charge of the group, but she didn't told me anything. I knew what the best was for her.
The neighborhood house had five bedrooms, so we were more comfortable than other times before. I was making my duty watch of the night. Looking out the upstairs hallway window. I heard someone approached with firm footsteps, I turned my head finding the sheriff walking to me.
- Hey, how's the watch going? — He asked, sitting beside me.
- I haven't seen any Walker in three hours, I'm getting bored to be honest — I replied looking out the window again.
- Then I can talk to you for a moment — I turned my eyes from the window, glanced at Rick and I nodded. — I've seen you Mary, all the things you do for the group, and it amazes me.
- You do more than me, you're the boss — He chuckled a little seeing at the floor.
- We all do our part, to keep ourselves safe, to stick together through this mess we're living — He said — But you seems to be the one who pass the limits, you're reckless Mary — My brown eyes looked straight at him with surprise — Is not bad 'cause it shows how selfless and brave you are, but you're putting yourself in danger, and we need you alive.
- I'm alive Rick — I hesitated in what to say next for a moment. — Why are you telling me this?
- Carol told me what you did for her in the farm, how you saved her even though you could die.
- I knew I wouldn't die, and that was six months ago. And by the way, I'm doing what's right; I know how to keep myself alive while I take care of the others.
- Yeah, you've proved that, Mary, but there's people here who needs you, who cares about you.
- Hershel send you, am I right? — I grinned, Maggie had told me days before how worried the old man was for us going on runs.
- Hershel trust you, knows that you won't do anything stupid, that you'd do anything for your sisters — Rick mentioned — But you gotta listen, if I say that you need to stop those heroics actions, you'll have to.
I wanted to protest, but he was right. I knew I've been doing lots of risky things to find supplies or to clean places of walkers, so I sighed, and I nodded reluctant.
- Okay, I promise I won't do anything too risky, officer Grimes — Rick grinned and stroked my cheek playfully before standing up. He turned around to leave, but he stopped on his tracks.
- And Mary — He muttered without looking at me. — It wasn't Hershel who sent me.
I was about to ask him but the doubt and questioning flying through my mind didn't let me, he had already gone downstairs and I came back to watch.
I woke up with the sunlight shining in my face. A little reflection of light made its way through the curtains. I tilted my head, taking away the covers; I fell asleep in the living room couch. But I didn't remember taking any blankets with me. I stood up, hearing the talking from the kitchen. Beth, Carol and Sophia were there, cooking something and having a small talk.
- You're awake! – Sophia greeted me with a big smile and her hazel eyes shinning. Sometimes I felt relieved about her good attitude in the middle of this disaster, even though the horrid things she had seen.
- Unusual but I am, honey – I saw Beth chuckled at my response – Where's Effy? — I asked still feeling sleepy.
- She's outside helping Maggie and T-Dog with some supplies they found. — Beth responded while opening a can of green beans.
I nodded and walked out heading to the front door. Looking over my shoulder I saw the revolted covers in the couch, I stopped and wrapped them properly before going outside. I was completely sure she was the reason Rick had talked to me the night before. So I walked to her, she was carrying some bags from the car.
- Hey fancy girl, got you this — Daryl's husky voice sounded behind me. And when I turned around he threw me something.
I catched the little box in a quick movement. Looking at it, a smile grew in my face almost inevitable.
He brought me band aids.
Season 3 is here.
;)
