The screaming she heard was neither in her head nor in her heart.
No, not this time.
It was real, the screaming was real and it was coming from the direction of the camp.
Day had broken and the sun was beating down on the land, high above in the sky shinning it's warmth over the ruined world. Shane had taken it upon himself to open the gates and allow the dead to walk amongst the living. She could smell them, the excitement that laced them when they thought they'd be fed with warm blood and fresh flesh. She made it just in time to watch as Shane shot round after round at the walkers that spilled out of the open gates and as the rest of the camp stood behind him, watching in distraught his cruel actions…
And then there was silence, a sickening silence that brought on broken sobs from a mother's worst fears and broken heart. There, amongst the corpse that littered the floor walked a little girl that was once Carol's daughter. "Sophia!" Cried Carol, breaking the silence with her cries, "Sophia, no!" She cried; her broken heart louder than the words she spoke. The little once was girl stood still for a moment, groaning as she sniffed the fresh air and took in the smell of life, of food.
The shot that tore through the air and claimed eyes to watch it all collapse was deafening. On the ground, mother like daughter, tears spilling for the twice dead. "I'm so sorry, Carol." Whispered Andrea as she held the grief crippled woman in her arms.
Jordan watched from the sidelines, listening to the profound silence that reaped the ground around them. "Everyone, back to camp; Glenn, T-Dog, Shane, Daryl… Clean up time." Rick spoke in a trans, unable to feel every emotion he'd been feeling in the last few moments at once.
Daryl was the first to notice the mane of fiery red hair in the sun's glare. "Jordan?" He breathed softly, his eyes going once over the green eyed beauty; her hair was a mane of fiery red and her eyes bursting with emerald green, her skin was blazoned with color and radiated beauty. Her mouth and hands, chest and clothing were all smeared with blood, none of which appeared to be her own. All eyes averted to the female on the edge of the land, she looked like an amazon. Her beauty was fierce and yet there was something dangerous about her, something that demanded to be felt.
"Jordan." Daryl spoke again, claiming the female's attention and somehow allowing an air of calm over the group.
"I'm sorry… About before." She spoke softly when she reached the others.
"Don't be. Never be sorry. You thought you had to protect yourself. I would not respect a woman that would not even try to protect herself." Smiled Daryl, earning a smile from Jordan in return and although the irony of the situation was lost on the rest of the crowd, they began to show their happiness for the female's return.
"Jordan, I want to apologize. Daryl filled us in on what's happened to you, or at least to the most of your knowledge. I'm sorry you don't remember and I'm sorry that you had to be in the place, but I am glad that we met you and on behalf of the group, I'd like to officially ask you to join us." Rick spoke, his voice nothing but genuine.
"Even after you had a glimpse of what I might be, of what I'm capable of?" Jordan asked softly, hesitant.
"Jordan, no one here is perfect. We've a group of people who under different circumstances probably would've never come together. No one here has the right to judge, neither in this lifetime nor from the lifetime before. You may be different, but you are an ally. You have done nothing but shown us respect and cared for us and protected us. You have brought us game and did not hesitate to take look out when asked. You are as much as a part of this group as any of us; so please, join us." Rick smiled softly, reaching out his hand to Jordan.
Jordan thought for a moment, her eyes watching everyone, each nodding their approval, including Daryl. "Thank you." Jordan smiled and took Rick's hand. "I accept, and I'd like to help you guys clean up this mess… Carol, I am sorry for your loss.."
Carol looked up at the red head and bit her lip, "Did you know she was in there?"
"Dammit woman, what kinda' question is that?" Growled Daryl.
"She knew those people were in there. She knew the dead were in there… So, did you know my daughter was in there as well?" Carol asked, finding her strength to stand.
All eyes averted back to the red head, the question now asking for an answer. Jordan sighed deeply, "No. I did not know she was in there. Had I met her beforehand, had I gotten close enough to feel her essence or get enough energy from her I may have been able to sense her body in there, but that was not the case. I apologize." Jordan answered honestly, by this time Carol had already crossed to her and was now standing before the red head, blue hues searching emerald. When Carol could only see the whole hearted truth, she collapsed once more in tears and heartbreak. Before the elder woman could hit the ground, Jordan caught her and spoke softly, "What I can tell you is she did not suffer. Whatever caught her and broke her rib cage, puncturing her heart and lungs simultaneously. She died painlessly."
"How do you know all of that?" Carol asked between sobs.
"…. I saw it inside my heart. I don't know how to explain it, but I saw it inside my heart." Jordan said softly, and this in some weird way calmed the elder woman. "Thank you." Carol answered, slowly gathering herself and stealing herself back to camp. Andrea followed behind not too long after.
"I'm glad you're back." Came Daryl's voice, snapping Jordan from her daze.
"I'm glad to be back… How long had I been gone?" Asked Jordan softly.
"A couple of days…" Answered Daryl shamefully, "We went out looking for you, but wherever you went off to, not even I could track you."
"Thank you for looking anyway." Smiled Jordan, "Come on, let's start cleanin' up." Everyone began stacking the bodies to set them aflame as Glenn tried to console the family of the deceased.
&.&.&.&.
Night had fallen and the camp had wound down from the day's events, Hershel and his clan were tucked away in their home and all but Daryl, Jordan, Rick, and Dale stood awake. Around the small fire that'd been set they sat, talking on about who'd be next to take watch and their next move as to if they should stay where they were or if it'd be best to head out. Either way, one thing was becoming clear, there'd have to be another run into town to get food and things for both sets of groups. "I'm starting to remember some things about my past." Jordan spoke up above the mild clamor. All attention was set on the red head as she spoke, "I must've passed out in the woods after I fed… I fell asleep. Real sleep, nothing like the daze I've been experiencing since I've gotten out of that lab… Anyway, I keep having flashes of memories or something…
"I keep seeing who I think is my sister and then a crash, or some thing… Then I hear these voices from a distance telling other people that I'm dead, but I'm screaming from inside. I'm screaming and screaming, telling them I'm still alive that I'm still here…. But I'm just so damn tired and weak and something keeps tugging at me to go under…. Then there's this burst of light and I feel this intense pain everywhere.
"The pain is always the same and it just feels like I'm being set on fire…. And then that's all I remember. All I ever hear is the screaming, the smell of blood and gasoline… And feeling tired…" Jordan pinched the bridge of her nose, "I feel and see all this and something tells me I don't really wanna know what happened in that lab to be or anything before it. Something tells me nothing before this will bring me anything but heartache and pain."
Daryl's heart ached for Jordan, he may not have had a great up bringing, but something about Jordan made him believe that she did not deserve whatever hell those bastards in that lab had put her through any of the heart ache he was sure she'd eventually remember.
"I think I'll take watch now… I could use a walk." Jordan said softly, getting up abruptly. "Wait, I'll come with." Said Daryl, following Jordan as she walked away from the other men.
"I'm here for you." Said Daryl, "No matter what you remember or what it is you find out about yourself, I'm here." Usually, Daryl would never say something like that. In this day and age, it was every man for himself and hunt or be hunted… But they were good together. They worked well together and understood each other, and truth be told, since Merle had gone M.I.A, he'd felt like even more of an out cast and had contemplated leaving out on his own. Jordan was now his only reason to stay, and for some reason, he did not mind at all.
"Thank you." Jordan answered, her eyes cast downward. A smirk crossed those lips of hers as she looked at him for a moment and raised a blade at him.
"Danni?" Daryl's eyebrows shot up, only for Jordan to swing around him and throw the blade in between the eyes of a walker.
"Walker." Jordan smiled.
&.&.&.&.
WHAT? Chapter 10 up already? Hellllll yeahhhh. :D Enjoy and feedback is very much appreciated! Thank you to those who have been sharing their thoughts! And although Shane has yet to be dealt with in this chapter, don't worry, he'll get him ;D Much love!