Andy, Nessa and I help the guys load our dead onto Daryl's pickup truck and then he drives them up to the gravesite. The rest of us follow on foot.
"I still think it's a mistake, not burnin' these bodies." Daryl states "That's what we said we'd do. Burn them all, isn't that the idea? Then people start gettin' all emotional saying its not the thing to do and we just follow them along? These people need to know who the hells in charge here. What the rules are"
"There are no rules" Rick states.
"That's the problem" voices Lori "we haven't had one minute to hold on to our old selves. We need time to mourn and we need to bury our dead, it's what people do"
I nod in agreement. "She's right we're human not wild animals, we still have to hold onto our traditions or we will end up losing our humanity"
Lori looks at me and smiles appreciatively then we start moving the bodies out of the truck and into graves. Andrea insists of putting Amy in herself. Dale walks with her cautiously, letting her do it herself but making sure she doesn't accidentally drop her sister and feel even worse. Andrea gets Amy in with a little help from Dale and I watch teary eyed but not letting said tears pour out. I really liked Amy. She was so sweet and helpful. I don't know what I would have done if that was Nessa. Dale helps Andrea out of the grave, and then we bury them, all of them.
We go back to camp and I try and think of our next move, we can't stay here not after this. It was naïve of me to think we could. I'm edging more towards the CDC than Fort Benning. I don't hear Shane come up behind me till he touches my back. I jump and turn on the guy.
"Hi, Shane" I say, surprised.
"Gwen, I need you on my side with this Fort Benning thing" He states
I sigh audibly "I'm sorry Shane but I agree more with Rick. It's a stronghold and we might get some answers. I'm not saying its entirely full proof and things will be perfect because it probably won't be, it'll probably be a dead end. But Fort Benning is an even bigger risk, its a hundred miles away and most likely overrun."
"So could the CDC" Shane argues.
"I didn't say it wouldn't be but if it is, we're not getting in there and they can't get to us from inside that building" I turn to walk away but Shane grabs my wrist and pushes me into the side of Daryl's truck away from the prying eyes of any onlookers.
"Get off me Shane!" I snap.
"Would you just listen to me? Fort Benning is our best shot!" He says desperately pressing his body into mine.
"I mean it Shane, your hurting me! Get off!" I say louder pushing at his iron grip on my wrists.
"She said get off" A rough voice says from behind Shane.
Shane lets go of my wrists as if burnt and steps back. He glares at Daryl before saying "Mind your own business" then stalks off.
I rub my wrists from where Shane pressed too hard and shake my head at the guy. "The guy's a dick" Daryl mutters holding his hand out lazily. I hold my sore arm out to him and he takes it in his with surprising gentleness. His calloused fingers brush over the red marks on my wrist and a shiver runs down my spine "It looks like it'll bruise"
I sigh "Joy, another one"
Daryl walks away "Hey Daryl" I call after him.
He turns back to me quietly "Thank you"
He shrugs then walks away again. I smile after him before going back around to the main part of the camp. I sit in one of the chairs around the campfire and slump into it feeling exhausted and dizzy all of a sudden.
I start to doze off when Shane and Rick come back and Shane speaks "I've been thinking about Rick's plan and look, there is no guarantees either way, I'll be the first to admit that. I've known this man a long time, I trust his instincts" I shoot Shane a dirty look, that's not what he was thinking when he had me pressed into that truck. He continues "I think what the most important thing here is that we need to stick together" That I agree with "So those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning" he looks straight at me when he says that. I nod back curtly.
I stand up and stretch slightly "Well I suggest we all get some sleep, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
Everyone nods and mutters amongst themselves as they get up. Andrea stands up beside me then begins to fall back down again. I catch her and pull her up straight, keeping my hands on her shoulders to keep her steady.
"Have you eaten anything today?" I ask looking into her eyes. She shakes her head. I dig into my pocket and pull out a breakfast bar and push it into her hand "Eat this"
I let go of her and go back to the tent I share with Nessa and I suppose Andy now.
