The Walking Dead: A New Day Gone Bye
Chapter 12 – Rescue Mission
Life continues.
Ever since the incident, everything has soothed down, or it seems to at least. Even though there are no walkers around; and the person that was on watch was internuncial to warn the settlers of their presence, everybody was more wary and paranoid than ever in their tents amid the dingy night.
Shane was keeping watch, lulling a cold-steeled shotgun on his lap. The sky was crystal clear, showing a panorama of stars and shiny constellations.
"Psst."
Shane jumped on his seat and spat the toothpick he carried on his mouth when he heard that mysterious sizzle. He began hyperventilating and wrapped his big hands around the massive weapon. He turned his head and saw Rick climbing the RV sneakily.
"Jesus, man!" Shane reprehended, trying to keep his voice low as his heart beat faster. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Sorry." Rick apologized with a naughty smile, vaulting next to Shane. "I was just trying to get up here and not wake anyone up."
"Well, next time throw a rock at me or something." Shane advised, his breath turning into a cloud. "You scared me half to death. Especially after what happened earlier today."
"Yeah…that's actually what I came here to talk to you about." Rick confessed.
"Oh?"
"We need to move camp." Rick stated with a more serious and austere expression. His words struck Shane in the face like the latter had been punched. "It's not smart to be close to a city full of those things. It's just too goddamn dangerous."
"Are you crazy?!" Shane sputtered lowly, stiffening his eyebrows. "What happens when the government starts cleaning this mess up? They'll have to start with the cities. They'll find us faster if we stay here."
"When are they coming Shane?" Rick rhetorically asked. "Tomorrow? Next week? It's getting really goddamn cold out here and it's only gonna get worse. Not to mention what happened yesterday. It's too risky to stay so goddamn close to them."
"It's too risky to go anywhere else!" Shane reciprocated. "The fires are keeping us warm. There's plenty of firewood in this area. We'll be fine. This is the best place to wait for rescue."
"What makes you so sure we'll even be rescued?!" Rick demanded, trying to get through Shane's thick skull. "Donna almost died yesterday. What if it was one of the kids? What if it was Carl? Nobody was prepared for this Shane. You think those girls know how to fight?" Rick placed a hand on Shane's shoulder, to get through to his soft side. "If we go someplace safer, maybe we won't need to be rescued so soon. I'd rather have a good night's rest now and then than siting up at night, hoping the government is still intact and searching for us."
"No, dammit!" Shane screamed in a mutter, slapping off Rick's hand. Rick looked quizzically at the man's attitude. "We're staying right here!" He dictated. "We're safe HERE! Yesterday is one of the few isolated incidents. This is the safest place to be. Rick…we can protect these people. We'll be rescued here. If we go hide in the country it could take them months to find us. We've gotta stay here."
"Okay…if you feel certain that it's the best thing for us…fine." Rick coldly assented, merely due to the lack of options. "But if we're going to try and hold out here, we're gonna need more guns. If Donna had been carrying one yesterday she could've just turned around and shot that thing. Everyone here is gonna need to carry a gun at all times."
"How're we gonna find enough guns?" Shane enquired with a worried frown.
"Dunno. I'll figure something out." Rick said, before releasing a long sigh. "Also, it was really hard to keep Daryl calm after earlier. He's saying that he's going out to search for his brother at first light."
"So?"
"I'm going with him." Shane opened his mouth to say something, but Rick cut him off. "No. It was my fault we left T-Dog behind. I should've know that Merle would gain the upper hand on him. I also talked to Lee. He agreed on coming."
"Look, I already know you're not gonna stop." Shane told him. "But be careful. I don't want anyone to die and lower the group's morale as it already is. And look out for Daryl, he almost knifed us yesterday."
After last night's conversation, Daryl kept his promise. As soon as the sun erupted, he had awakened and was ready to go out there, with his sharpened knife and mighty crossbow.
Lee kneeled near Clementine, who was still sleeping in her bedroll. He had told Rick that he would tag along with them, since he also felt guilty for leaving T-Dog behind and couldn't leave him to the walkers. He wielded his revolver, that was hidden in his belt for protection. He felt like keeping his hands busy could take his mind off the grief over his wife.
He crawled out of the tent, and as he stood up he saw Carley with her arms folded. "Promise to keep an eye on her?" Lee asked her, spotting the van being loaded with some supplies by Rick, Daryl and Glenn. Apparently the Korean kid was also coming along.
"Of course, Lee. Don't sweat it." Carley reassured him, peaking at the tent. "Promise to be back in one piece?"
"Yeah." Lee nodded with a forced smile. "Don't plan on getting mauled today."
Rick put a small bag on the back of the truck, before he turned over to Glenn. The Asian man already had his backpack hanging in case they got the opportunity for supplies and his pizza themed hat. "Hey Glenn. Do you happen to know about any gun stores around here?"
"No, but I never really go that far into the city. Why do you ask?" Glenn inquired with a narrowed eyebrow.
"Well, I was thinking…" Rick elucidated. "If everyone was herded into the cities for protection there wouldn't have been much looting if everything was being organized by the government. And when everything went to shit…no one would've had the time to break into one of those. Them places are barred up, locked up tight. Nobody could've gotten in without being eaten and killed."
"That does make a whole lot of sense." Glenn concurred, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know exactly where we can find a gun store, but I know someone who knows."
Glenn looked around him, twitching his neck, searching for someone. His target was finally acquired, and he started walking towards Jim, who was sitting by a put-out fire while feasting on a can of beans. Rick followed him.
"Hey Jim!" Glenn hollered. "You gotta help us out man! Do you remember any gun stores around in the edge of the city?"
"Gun stores?" Jim mumbled, swallowing another spoon of beans. He remained silent for a few seconds, thinking of a possible answer. "Corner of Pleasant and 38th Street."
"Thanks Jim. I've got a map in my car, be right back." Glenn denounced, before he twirled around and walked over to his car.
Meanwhile, as Rick waited and kicked some dirt, he removed his Colt Python and checked the ammo. He let out a frustrated sigh when he saw an empty revolver.
"Gonna need help with that." Shane spoke out of nowhere, catching Rick's attention. He dug into a duffel bag he carried with his right hand, before he fished out four bullets and gave them to Rick.
"You and that bag…like the bottom of an old lady's purse." Rick joked, loading the bullets onto the Python. "Thanks. Where did you get these?"
"Remember that day we went to the shooting range?" Shane quizzed. Rick answered with an almost imperceptible nod. "Yeah, I accidentally took some of your rounds. Look, Rick, are you sure you wanna go through with this? It's gonna be a hell of a danger. I even think Lori and Carl are coming to shout at you."
"Don't worry Shane. I'll be able to handle Lori." Rick reasserted him with a pat. "I'll be fine. I'm going with Daryl, Lee and Glenn. We'll protect each other."
Shane nodded respectfully, before he spotted Lori arriving with Carl at the scene, and she didn't seem to be in the happiest of moods. Knowing this was his cue to leave, Shane departed without a word.
"What the hell Rick?" Lori demanded, approaching Rick with a furious expression. "You've only just arrived and you're going out again?!"
"Lori, I have to." Rick told her in a smooth manner. "Trust me, if I had the choice I'd stay here. But I'm doing this for all of us. I'm gonna go save T-Dog, and perhaps even get a buncha guns for us. Think about it, Donna almost died yesterday. People will be safer this way."
"But I don't want to have to worry about you again!" Lori complained, now having a more sorrowful face.
"Daddy, please don't go." Carl pleaded.
"Don't worry pal." Rick messed around with Carl's hair, jerking a smile. "I'll be back before you know it. I'm doing this so all of us can be safer. When I came back, I'll even teach you how to shoot a gun! You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"I guess." Carl shrugged.
"No way!" Lori contradicted, going back to her angry attitude and moving her hand in a negative motion. "He's too young to shoot a gun."
"We'll argue about that when I get back." Rick concluded their dispute. "You won't even notice I'm gone. How many times do you think Glenn has come and gone safely?"
"I just don't understand why you gotta go. Why can't he just go with Dixon and Lee?" Lori questioned with an arm fold like an angry child.
"There're gonna be a lotta guns to carry." Rick smirked at her obvious question, before he closed in and kissed her on the neck. "Plus, what if T-Dog needs to be hauled back? He came across a guy who isn't lifted so easy."
"Got it!" Glenn exclaimed, raising the map in the air like a triumphant flag.
"Be careful." Lori adverted, letting go of her man.
"Of course, hon'. I'll be fine. I love you."
"I love you too." She said in a rather flat way.
"C'mon you buncha slowpokes!" Daryl shouted at the top of his lungs, almost awaking half the camp that was still asleep. "I ain't here to babysit a buncha old ladies!"
"Geez, man, would you keep it down?!" Lee berated, while Daryl just seemed to be astir. "Just let Rick say goodbye to his family."
"Hey Lee." Lee spun around when he saw Mark standing there, with a Glock 17 hidden in his belt. "Mind if I tag along?"
"I, uh…you wanna come with us?" Lee repeated in amazement, to make sure Mark wasn't delusional.
"Yeah. T-Dog was a nice guy, he was my friend." Mark admitted. "And I just gotta go back for him. Plus, an extra pair of eyes is gonna be useful for y'all, especially in a city like Atlanta."
"If you wanna come along, I won't stop you." Lee said. "But be warned: I saw first-hand how Atlanta is. If it weren't for Glenn, I would've died inside this huge horde of walkers I saw. It's risky. And I can't promise all of us coming back alive."
"I'm sure Lee." Mark convinced.
"Alright. Hop on." Lee told him, as Mark dived onto the back of the box van, while Daryl was impatiently waiting in the driver's seat. Lee headed for the passenger seat, while Rick and Glenn were joining them on the back.
"Mark, you're coming too?" Rick enquired as he shut the doors of the van from the inside.
"Yeah."
"Alright, folks, buckle up." Daryl warned, as he turned the keys on the engine, causing it to bark as loudly as an explosion.
"Okay, but remember Daryl. Our first priority is T-Dog. We're coming back if we can't find Merle." Lee warned him with a severe expression.
A few minutes after the rescue team was gone, the sky had become cloudier and greyer. Due to the bad weather, most people were staying inside their tents, the activity on the community died down.
Lori was isolated amid the trees, the humidity soaking the back of her neck and her silky hair. She cried into her arm, whilst leaning against a tree. Her thoughts ran a mile an hour, and the only thing that popped into her mind was 'Why did I cheat on Rick?! Why did I think he was dead?!'. Shane. Rick. Shane. Rick. Shane. Rick.
"Lori." Shane called out from behind the woman with an emotionless voice. Lori didn't respond, so Shane took a step further. "Lori, you shouldn't be out here…it's freezing and some biter might sneak up on you."
"Shane…just leave me alone…" Lori beseeched, muffled by her sleeve.
Shane could predict why she was like this. Seeing the person he most cared about like that made him both saddened and angry at himself. He approximated himself and posited his hand on her shoulder.
"Lori…" He whispered, but Lori pushed his hand away.
"No…Shane, let go of me…" She mumbled, her breath gasifying in the wet and frigorific air.
"Lori…what's wrong?" Shane enquired with pity and concern in his voice, like a hurt puppy.
"We can't…we can't do this anymore…" Lori affirmed, sniffling and wiping her nose. "Rick's back…I thought he was dead, you told me he was dead! What happened between us…can't go on…"
"But Lori…" Shane insisted, driven by an insane passion and a voice that became hoarse. "We had something unique…we had something special…don't you remember? That night at the side of the road? It was magical. The best day of our lives…"
"That night…" Lori said, before being interrupted by a lump in her throat that she gulped down. "That night, Shane…that night…was a mistake."
Shane was dumbstruck, those words breaking his heart at the same moment. He opened his tremble jaw to say something, but he choked on phrases, his thoughts too jumbled up. He shuttered his eyes for a second, before his expression became cold and blank. He lowered his head; the shadow of his hat covering his face; and he exited the scene.
After some time of driving the van into the city, the survivors inside it were a bit anxious, about whether or not T-Dog would be alive. Daryl was driving the truck recklessly, with Lee on the passenger and the rest of the crew behind, preparing themselves for a fight if necessary.
"So, guys." Glenn communicated loudly, to be heard past the noises of the rough road. "What's our first stop?"
"T-Dog, obviously." Lee expressed, glancing at Glenn from the rearview mirror. "The longer we wait, the slimmer his chances are."
"Yeah, actually agree with that." Daryl nodded in consent. "It's gotta be our main lead to him." Daryl said, before he began stepping on the brakes. "We oughta go on foot from here. Attracts less attention."
Mark got up, using the wall for balance, and rose the sliding door to the van, letting inside a wave of gloomy light. He hoped off the vehicle, with Rick and Glenn following, and the group of five men didn't waste no time to start jogging towards Everett's Prescriptions, where they had left their comrade.
While Shane was a bulky and strong man; having the physique of a bear; he also had a heart. And what Lori had told him had been enough to take a toll on him. Inside, he felt a sensation of fire, a latent weight that just made him resentful and enraged.
Just to think that a few days ago his life was at its best. He spent days laughing and playing with Carl, and the night interlaced with Lori. But then Rick showed up…
When he passed by a tree, that irate weight became too much for him to hold. He spun around in a quick and sloppy move and launched a punch at the tree along with a war cry. The contact made between the bark and his knuckles was painful enough for Shane to bent in two, clutching his hand and blowing on it.
"Fuck! Bitch, motherfucking cunt!" He sputtered angrily like the growl of a coyote, looking at his hand. The zone around his fingers and knuckles had quickly become red and he could sense some heat around the damaged area.
His head jerked when he heard a pitched scream, followed of a dry sound. He glimpsed at the camp, and saw Ed standing over Carol, who was crying and latching onto her hurt cheek.
Now it was an opportunity to release the beast within him.
Shane recomposed himself and marched towards Ed Peletier, with heavy and hulking steps like the ones of a colossus that made the Earth tremble. His breathing was out of control, becoming more regular and furious.
"ED! LET GO OF HER!" Shane yelled, so loud it could echo for miles.
Ed turned his head around. He didn't even had time to assimilate the silhouette of Shane, because the latter sent a fist raining on him.
The first impact collided with Ed's left cheek, itching Shane's hand due to his blotchy stubble. The unexpected blow made Ed fall onto the ground like a grown sapling cut down by a lumberjack.
Carol, who was still on the floor, cried even more upon seeing her husband being hurt. Shane kneeled down on top of Ed, sitting down on his filled gut. He threw another punch at his right jaw; for a brief moment hearing the rattle of broken teeth inside his mouth. Blood spewed out of his pie hole. Another jab clashed against his nose, cracking the bridge and twisting the edge of the nose in a macabre angle. By this time, Ed had received so much damage that he was probably lights-out.
Shane stopped for a brief moment, panting, as all of the fury had been release. He looked up, and saw Lori, viewing the brawl in shock. There was an oppressing silence, the only sound being Carol sobbing near her husband's body. Shane stood up, mopping some loose saliva from his chin, before he walked away from the survivors that were watching that he didn't even notice.
A/N: I really liked enjoyed writing this chapter. I loved writing about Shane's insanity, along with that wicked fight scene. I think it turned out okay. This arc is gonna end soon, the next chapter being the penultimate and the one afterwards the final. Thanks for reading, peace!
