They alternated between listening and talking to each other while they tried to make a plan. One that could actually work. Because here they were, stuck in a fuckin traffic jam; thanks to that they had lost a lot of time. They were supposed to be at their camping spot by now, though the Dixon brothers doubed if they would actually be the only one there; the fact that they thought everyone would be gone by now was a stupid and naive thought, after all.

Merle and Daryl looked up when they heard screaming. When they had found the person who was screaming, a woman in her 40's, their mouths dropped open. A walker had gotten her and had bitten her neck; people started panicking immediately.

It took them both a moment to realize that more walkers were following her. Merle realised that his daughter had gone off into the woods a while ago now, and he felt the panic wash over him. But luckily he knew how to handle panic; one of the things he'd learned during his shitty childhood.

The walker staggered forward, and quickened their pace when they realised the highway was practically an open buffet to them. More victims followed when the walkers had managed to spread out. Some people started to fight back; though it was already a lost battle for most of them, as more people got bitten and families started to fall apart. They saw a husband crying next to the bleeding body of a woman. A different walker got the man from behind and bit his head. Merle grew cold at the sight.

"Lizzy's still there." he stated quietly, while he watched how people got eaten a few meters away. He felt Daryl tugging the sleeve of his jacket. "Bro, we need ta do somethin'." Daryl urged, while he followed Merle's glance. Merle suddenly turned around to go to the car. He opened the door and searched for a knife. When he found one, he closed the door and turned around. Daryl blocked his way when he wanted to walk to the woods. "Get outta tha way Darylina." Merle growled in his lower voice. Daryl put a hand on his chest. "She can handle 'erself. We need ta get in tha car 'n cover tha windows 'till this shit's over." "Ya be fuckin' wi' me?! I ain' leavin' my daughter out there ta die on 'er own!" He shouted angrily while he raised his finger accusingly at his brother. "I ain't leavin' again," Merle added, while he lowered his voice, "—I promised 'er."

Daryl met his eyes and nodded once. "Get tha car ready." Merle commanded while he walked away, but Daryl ran next to him. "Ya kiddin'? Comin' with ya."

They stopped talking and ran towards the woods. None of the walkers had noticed them yet, since they were too busy focussing on their meal on the highway. Merle sprinted further into the woods and Daryl followed him. They both looked down at the fallen leaves on the ground. "She wen' tha' way." Daryl said, while nodding to their right. Merle said nothing and continued to run towards the that direction.

"Liz?!" Merle screamed, while he raised his knife. Daryl had his gun ready, since he had left his crossbow in the car. They both waited for what seemed to be an eternity, until they realised she wasn't anywhere nearby. The both of them continued to jog further into the woods. Daryl halted when he heard the groaning and he laid a hand on his brothers shoulder. When Merle looked to him in question, Daryl laid a finger on his lips, telling him to shut up.

When Merle heard the groaning, he didn't hesitate and ran towards the sound. Daryl rolled his eyes at his brothers stubborness and followed him.

"Lizzy, baby girl, where ya at?!" Merle tried again. He stopped in his tracks and listened.

"Daddy?!"

When he heard the voice, his heart skipped a beat; the way she had shouted his name made it sound like she was in big trouble. Daryl followed him, keeping an eye on their surrounding to avoid a surprise attack from one of those dead fucks. Meanwhile, Merle's heart was pounding loudly in his chest while he followed the noise. "Holler, girl, we here!" Daryl yelled while he followed his brother. But they both stopped and turned to the left when they heard the groaning nearby.

"Good fuckin' Lord."

Her brown hair was all messed up and tangled with leaves while she spun around and moved backwards, away from the 5 walkers. Lizzy's arms were covered with blood and what seemed to be guts, and even her cheeks had dried blood on it. She gasped and shove the knife into his forehead, while another one tried to grab her hair. Daryl walked forward. "Not so fast, ya sumbitch."

He pulled the trigger and the walker fell down. Merle shoved his back. "Put tha gun 'way idiot! Ya dumb 'r wha'?! Could've hit her!" Merle shouted while he ran towards the walkers. He followed his daughters example and started to stab the dead fuckers in the heads. Daryl cursed at himself before he did the same.

Merle wanted to grab the last walker, when her daugter pushed him away. "Don't. I'm doin' it." she growled dangerously in her lower voice. Merle was shocked at the sudden change of his daughter's sweet personality, but he let her anyway. Instead of just stabbing the walker, Lizzy tackled the walker and continued to break both its arms by using a log of wood. She then let the log rest on the walkers upperbody, while it clapped its teeth as it tried to reach out for her. Daryl and Merle stood next to eachother and watched. "Ya fuckin' crazy, girl?! Ya wann' get yaself killed?!" Merle grunted in frustration. Lizzy turned around to look at him and Merle froze. The guilt, anxiety and tension could be easily seen in her eyes. Lizzy walked over to the walker and kneeled down next to him, leaving enough space as she did so. "Jack—I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Lizzy wailed while she tried to fight the tears like she always did. Lizzy shook her head and clutched the knife in her lap. "I should've bin there for ya, but I wasn'. I'm so sorry. Thank you for everythin'."

Lizzy raised the knife—

"I love you."

—And shoved it with full force into its skull. The groaning stopped and Lizzy panted from exhaustion. Meanwhile, Daryl and Merle were exchanging confused looks.

Merle hesitated, but lowered himself onto his knees next to her. Lizzy didn't turn around. "Ya okay?" he asked, which was quite a stupid question since she obviously wasn't.

"I knew 'im, daddy." she whispered softly. Lizzy bit her lower lip for a while, so the pain would distract her from the stinging tears behind her light blue eyes.

"It was him. My bes' friend. Tha one tha' took me ta prom. My only true friend."