~Charlotte~

I let out a small giggle when I analysed the black can in my hands. Tactical bacon? I never heard of the canned food before. Who knew such a thing existed. I put the can into the large blue rucksack that I found in a car a few moments ago. The only thing in this was toiletries, make-up, toothbrushes, toothpaste. A lot more crap could be stuffed in here.

I continued to look through the car I found the tactical bacon in. In the back of the car there were two bottles of water, cans of different types of soup and two more cans of tactical bacon. There was a small red suitcase with white spots in the back of the car. I lost mine back at the CDC. I opened it, in the hopes that I would obtain some new clothes. The first thing in the suitcase was a picture in a sparkly frame. It was a picture of a family of four, standing in a green field, a blanket laid across the grass and food was spread out. A picnic, smiling faces, the sun shining behind them.

I put the picture next to the open suitcase and started to rummage through it. I looked at the sizes of them, all my size. I stared at the picture that I took out. A young blonde, petite girl was standing at the centre. She looked a little bit younger than me. There was a boy with ashy blonde hair standing by her side, he looked like Carl's age.

I then continued my search through the suitcase. I then stopped, realising that I could take the whole suitcase and the contents in it.

I grabbed the handle of the suitcase and pulled it out of the car and begun to drag it to the RV. I had to walk past Glenn and Dale who were sorting out the RV to get it running again. I didn't make eye-contact, I walked straight to the door and got in the RV. I set my new suitcase down by my rucksack and got back out of the RV to continue my search for supplies that would come in handy.

I made my way to a car near Daryl and opened the door on the passengers side. I took the brown, tattered knapsack that was lying on the seat and sat down on the leather seat. I rested the knapsack on my lap and started to go through it. The first thing I see in the bag was a small folding knife. The blades handle looked like wood, but when I grasped onto it, I felt the cold metal cooling down my sweaty palm. I took out the knife that was at my belt, staring it , then back to the new blade. The old knife was a kitchen knife, used for chopping food. I used it for my first walker kill. I then tossed my old knife, making it hit the car opposite the one I was sitting in and pocketed my new folding knife. The next thing in the bag was a silver pistol, that looked exactly like the one holstered at my belt. Next to the gun was a small box of ammo.

I took the rest of the stuff out of the bag and set it on the drivers seat. There was sunscreen, an empty bottle of water, a tin opener, a small sewing kit, scissors, duct tape, half a packet of spearmint chewing gum, a pair of black woollen gloves and lastly a box of matches. I returned all the objects back into the bag, except for the empty bottle of water and swung it around my shoulder. I got out of the car and looked around my fellow survivors.

Carol was admiring a red shirt with Lori close by. Glenn was at the RV, trying to fix it up. Dale was on the top of the RV, looking through his binoculars, to see if any trouble would come. Shane and the rest of the group were searching through cars. The only person I couldn't see was Andrea.

I made my way to a different car and started to look through that. From the car I got a new pair of blue socks and some new trainers that would fit me perfectly. I took off my old trainers that were dirty and giving me blisters and then took off my sweaty socks that were horribly warm and damp. I put on my new footwear and got out of the car.

When I got out, I decided to look around at the group once more, but saw no one. Just as I was about to call out to them, a large hand went over my mouth. When I looked up to see who it was, I saw Daryl. He started shushing me.

"Get under the car." he whispered to me. "Walkers."

I didn't need to ask anymore questions. I got on my tummy and slid under the car. I started to hear the mix of snarls, moans and groans from the walkers approaching. I tried to slow down my breathing as I felt like the walkers would be able to hear it and find me. My heart started to beat like never before, never has it felt this fast. It started to get faster as I watched the walkers feet, stumbling past the car I was hiding under.

I stared at their feet, most wore shoes, but I noticed some only had one shoe one and some had none. On their trousers I could see the stains of blood, a murky brown. I slowly made my hand go to the pocket that my new knife was in, just in case a walker comes crawling by and sees me. I cautiously inched it to the handle that was poking out. When my hand gripped it, I slowly pulled it out.

I flicked the sliver blade out and waited, hoping that I wouldn't have to use it. Tons of feet shuffled past me. I listened to the moans, hoping that soon they would quiet.
And it was just my luck, after a minute of tension, the noises started to drift off and no walkers went past the car I was hiding under. The silence was cut off by the sound of quiet whimpers. They sounded like a girls.

I quickly shuffle out of the car and look in the directions the sound was coming from. I can see Sophia, running down a hill and into the forest, two walkers hot on her tail. Rick then gets out from his hiding spot and makes a run for them.

"Lori. Two walkers are after my baby." Everyone gathers round to where Carol is. Lori is stopping Carol from running out into the woods. I get closer to the group, hearing Carols sobs.

I was next to Glenn, all of us staring into the abyss of the woods. Carol was in tears, that was the only thing that could be heard.

We all waited for Rick to come out, hopefully caring Sophia like a hero. I looked up at Glenn and he looked at me, an anxious look played across his face.

"My baby." Carol cried.

"It's alright, Carol. Rick, he's gonna come out there with your daughter. Don't you worry." Lori reassured her.

He didn't.

When he came out, he told us what had happened in there. He managed to get the two walkers away, hiding Sophia, but when he got back, she wasn't there. Rick, Daryl, Shane and Glenn headed off into the woods to track her down and all Carol could do was cry.

Later, Glenn and Shane returned saying that Daryl and Rick are going to look. Daryl is the best tracker, if anyone can find Sophia it has to be him.

After half an hour, we all decided it was best to get the cars moving to clear a path. The engine of a car next to the RV revved up, Shane started driving it and used it to push the red car that was blocking the RV away making it collide with another car. All Carol could do was stand, looking out into the woods, waiting for her daughter to return by her side. I sat on the hood of a car, watching her worry. I want to talk to her, say everything will be fine, that she'll come back, but I don't want to raise her hopes. And I don't want to raise mine. The odds are not in Sophia's favour. She is most likely dead, but I obviously can't say that to her weeping mother.

T-Dog is hurt and he is hurt really badly. A long and deep gash runs along his forearm, blood constantly escaping the wound.

I watch as Carol turns and walks up to Dale with her arms crossed.

"Why aren't we all out there looking? Why are we moving cars?" she asks him.

"We have to clear enough room so I can get the RV turned around as soon as it's running. Now that we have fuel we can double back to a bypass that Glenn flagged on the map." Dale explained.

Shane got closer to the two of them and said, "Going back's going to be easier than trying to get through this mess."

"But we're not going anywhere till my daughter gets back."

"Hey, that goes without saying." Lori tells her. I slide off the hood of the car and start walking around.

"Look, Rick and Daryl, they're on it, okay? Just a matter of time." Shane tells Carol. I make my way up to Glenn who now stands by Carols side.

"Can't be soon enough for me." Andrea states, tossing a full water bottle to Glenn. "I'm still freaked out from that herd that passed by, or whatever you'd call it."

"Yeah, what was that?" Glenn asks in a quiet mumble. "All of them just marching along like that."

"Beats me." I say, shrugging my shoulders.

"A herd? That sounds about right." Shane says. "We've seen it. It's like the night our camp got attacked." When he said that my fists clenched. Horrible memories of death and suffering. "Just some wandering pack, only fewer."

Shane cleared his throat. "Come on people. We still got a lot to do. Let's stay on it. Let's go, come on."

Glenn and I followed Shane. Glenn handed me the water bottle. "Want some?" he asks me quietly.

I give a small nod and take the bottle out of his hand. I take a small sip of the cool water, my throat was so dry and hot that the cool liquid hurt. I handed it back to him and started to cough.

He then gulps some water. "Why?" he asks. I stop in my tracks and look up at him. He stops to, looking down at me, waiting for my response. But I don't know how to respond.

"'Why' what?"

"Why were you going to stay in the CDC? Why did you want to give up?"

I swallow hard, thinking of my answer. "Because…because I didn't think I was brave enough to face the cruel world anymore. I truly believed that it was best for me to…to end it all there. Do you really think that the people who are still alive, can die from old age? No, that won't happen to anyone. No one is going to make it. Look at everyone here. Do you sincerely believe that all of us can make it to the end? Do you think we can all survive? I don't think so. So, what I believe is that, end it all, quick and painlessly. Because in this world we are going to die painfully, no matter what the situation is. No one will die in peace. That is why I wanted to give up."

Glenn can't form words. I stare at him, waiting for him to reply. "There's also another reason. All my family are most likely dead. All my relatives. I don't know what happened to my parents and that is what hurts. They went on holiday when everything happened and are probably walkers in that country. I'll never know what happened to them. And if they are dead, I could have been with them." I didn't notice that tears were falling from my eyes. I only noticed when Glenn held me in a tight hug. I felt a kiss being placed on the top of my head.

I tried not to cry to loudly and I felt embarrassed that my tears were being soaked by Glenn's shirt, but he didn't care. We stayed in the hug for a while. I let go of him and quickly wiped my eyes. I stared at him for a while and he smiled. I smile back, knowing that I would no longer be hated.

"I agree with you. Yeah, we are gonna die. I'm sorry about your family. But look around at the people surrounding you. It's a new family. And when we die, we die fighting with our family"

I smile some more at what Glenn has just told me.

I clear my throat, "I'm gonna look for more supplies." I tell him and walk off to search though some more cars.

The main thing that I was looking for was books. Mine were all in my suitcase that got blown up. I'd be so lucky to find Chamber of Secrets as I still needed to find that for Carl. Thinking about the book made me think of the night I was reading a chapter to Carl and Sophia. I got into a driver seat of the car I was standing next to.

I let the tears fall. This world kills the innocent. A young girl who had so much to live for, lost in the woods. Most likely never to be found. I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound of my cries.

I repeat the words that Glenn said to me, those words about my new family. Well, we just lost a member of the family. And the numbers are going to slowly decrease. What if in the end, I am the only member of this family living? I'm afraid to walk this Earth on my own. I'm afraid to keep on living.

I wiped my nose with my hand and take a shaky gasp of air to fill my weak lungs. I got rid of all the evidence of me crying. I stayed in the car looking at my faint reflection in the windshield. I rub my elbows, feeling the scabs from when I once fell over. I can see my knees as I wear denim shorts, some scabs on my legs too, but the ones on my elbows seem to hurt more, but my wounds are nothing compared to what T-Dog has right now.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and step out of the small vehicle I was sitting in.

I manage to get some ammo and other bits and pieces that could come handy later. I got some more chewing gum and stuck a piece in my mouth and bit into the mint. I haven't had gum in a while, so to taste it was a joy, but it kind of hurt my tongue. I also found some aspirin and tampons. I shoved all the feminine products that I found into my knapsack. I decided that I will put them into my suitcase in the RV when I next go in there.

I now have a knapsack and a large rucksack full of things that could be needed.

I got into the next car, having to yank a dead body out of the car. I held my breath as I done so, not wanting to inhale the bad smell of corpse. When the body flops onto the road, I stare at it. Rotting, bones clearly visible under the grey skin, dead eyes staring at the sun.

I may need to kill walkers to survive, but I will never kill a human.

That is what I promise to myself, no matter what the circumstances are, I will never kill a living human. The walkers are okay, as they are already dead, but never a human. I can't kill a living breathing person. I will live with all the guilt and that is something I am incapable of doing.

I take everything from that car, most of the stuff in their were the same in the rest of the cars. When I exit the car I can see Carl by Lori and Shane who is doing something to a car. Carl has a hatchet in his hands, smiling at the weapon. Lori has an angry look on her face, the short that makes my hair stick up.

"Hey, man, go give them all to Dale now. Go." Shane commands him. Carl look disappointed and upset that his role model said such a thing to him. Lori hands him the arsenal of weapons that Carl had found and makes his way to Dale.

As he walks to him, I run up to him and cut him off.

"You alright?" I ask him, knowing I need to brighten his spirits.

"Yeah." he mumbles, obviously not the truth as he says it with sadness, staring at the ground.

"I know it isn't much, but…" I go into my knapsack, knowing that I found a small pack of sweets in one of the cars. I hand it to him and he accepts it gratefully.

"Thank you." he says, a smile on his face.

"Don't eat them with people around." I think of what else I could give the boy. "I have something else, but first I need to find it." He nods his head excitedly. "Go and give them to Dale and I'll find you when I get the surprise."

He then joyfully walks off with the arsenal of weapons to hand them to Dale. I do know what to get him, I found a pocket knife in one of the cars, but didn't want to take it as I already had one. It looked exactly like mine too, guess Carl can have it now. I remember the car, so I start jogging to the car at a slow pace. I find it in the car almost immediately and hide it in my back pocket, not wanting Lori to see it.

I run over to Carl and he looks up at me with a cheeky grin. I reach down to my back pocket and take out the knife. He then takes it out of my hands. I then take out mine.

"Look, we're twins." I say. He gives a short burst of laughter at what I said. I continue to smile at him.

Then, I hear something. A sound of a radio. I turn around and see that the noise is coming from a car that Lori and Shane stand by. I start to jog to the car to hear what it it saying, with Carl behind me.

"Is that a local signal?" Glenn asks.

"It's gotta be within fifty miles of here." Dale states. Everyone has gathered around, except T-Dog as he is resting.

Avoid anyone infected at all costs. Remain calm. Help is on the way.

I scoff. Help is on the way? Not likely.

The emergency alert system has been activated. The Office of Civil Defence-

The radio is then abruptly turned off by Shane. "Asshole." he mutters. "Okay, let's get back to work." he says, gently hitting the car that he was leaning on.

We all the depart, but I follow Glenn. I want to speak to him some more as I have had enough of searching through cars. I think of words to say, maybe something funny? Maybe a question? Ask him how he is doing?

"You alright?" I ask him.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Guess I am worried."

"About Sophia? Me too."

"I'm worried about Sophia. And I am worried about you."

"Glenn…I am not going to try to commit suicide again. Pinky promise."

He chuckles. I hold out my pinky finger and he looks at it. "Promise?"

"I promise."

He takes his pinky finger out and hooks it to mine. "Good.

Thank you so much to those who are reading. It makes me so happy to wake up and see that I got a follower and/or review.

Hope you are enjoying my story.

What do you think about my story? What do you think about Charlie's relationship with Glenn?