Italics: OC's thoughts
CHAPTER 21: DANGER
I half turned to face Rick; he was stuck in his place. "'m pretty sure we'd told ya sumthin' like this back in the city remember?" Rick lowered his head. "Good will's worth nothin', the honest are long gone." I bit my lip and waited for him to react. I watched as his chest raised and lowered twice before he looked back up.
Rick shifted in his place and rested his hands in his waists. "But I can't just put 'im down," he reasoned. "He's a kid, a teenager." His fingers rose and squeezed the bridge of his nose.
"He's danger, Rick," I pointed out bluntly. "Ye can' keep 'im here and hope he won' run away. 'n' lettin' 'im go…" I shot a quick glance at camp and then at Rick. "Well ya best pray he don' find us back." I shrugged and walked away from him and the shed, back towards camp. I stopped midway and fully turned at Rick, I caught him staring at my retreating back. He raised his eyes and met mine. "Sorry, bu' I can't back ya up on this one." I gave him a sad nod and continued my walk.
I was growing cold as the sun went down. I stepped inside my tent and pulled out a kangaroo pullover from my bag. My eyes made a quick scan of my surroundings and I let out three quick breaths when I saw and heard nothing. I unbuttoned the shirt as fast as I could, threw it and put on a tight long sleeved T-shirt. I shot a glance at my tent's flap and quickly put on the pullover. I casually left the tent as I accommodated my clothes. I turned to the center of the camp and saw they had all gathered around, I looked to my side and saw Daryl walk towards the group. I frowned slightly and looked past him; he was walking back from the shed. I looked at his bloody hand and raised my brows darkly. I stood beside him and joined the meeting.
While Daryl explained what the kid had told him I stared at Rick and occasionally at Shane. As soon as Daryl was finished I raised a cocky brow at Rick. He looked down and gave an almost imperceptible nod. "It's settled," Rick spoke up and looked at everyone around. "I'll do it today." I bit the inside of my cheek and cracked my neck. Once the meeting had dissipated everyone walked away in their own directions, except for Dale. I watched him as he ran after Rick. I sighed and shook my head.
I gotta go. I bit my lip as I stared at my bag. One quick trip to the highway, no big deal. I looked at the set of weapons lying on one side of the tent. I picked up the axe and grabbed the three throwing knives I had found. Gotta go now 'fore it gets dark. I also grabbed the coiled rope and placed it over my shoulder, across my chest. Once outside the tent I took a look around camp. I watched T-Dog kneel down close to the fire. That's one. Next I saw Dale, with his usual short sleeved Hawaiian shirt a bit farther away talking to Carol. I sighed and at my unavoidable good nature. That's two. I caught Glenn making his way to the house. Meh. That's three. Got Shane, Daryl. Pretty much everyone. I tightened my grip around the rope for a split second and walked towards the woods.
On my way I took a mental note of the path I had taken to get to the highway, I had only been there once by myself so I hoped this time I would get as lucky. I walked determined getting closer to the mass of trees ahead without turning back for one last look at camp, or to my side at Daryl's camp. I raised my head and looked to the right; squinted at the well-known pair of crooked trees I took as reference to enter the woods. I looked straight ahead of me, I could take a shot and start on a different point but it was a risk. I could get lost, and the sun was going down. "Come on wuss. Jus' climb if things ge' ugly." I chastised myself. I breathed in deeply and walked straight.
As I reached the borderline I grabbed one of the knives and carved the closest trees. I'd thought I'd mark my entrance in order to try a different route next time. The jam back at the highway was long, most likely a mile long. We weren't able to check on each and every single car the time we were there. Also, the climate we had had probably influenced our clothing selection back then. I looked up at the sky without stopping. I had to move fast if I wanted to get winter clothes for everyone, especially to those who needed them.
I never had experience in the woods, so I hoped I wouldn't get lost. I believed going in a straight line would get me somewhere. If night fell and I reached nowhere, experience in sleeping on trees was a skill I had gained. I raised my sleeves elbow length and quickened my pace but careful enough to not make much noise. "Damn it!" I hissed and pulled my right arm to my chest and stared at it. A thick scrape, getting redder and thicker from the swell, ran from the back of my wrist up to my elbow. Fuckin' Murphy 'n' his law. I raised my head and shot a vindictive glare at an oversized spine coming from a tree. I pulled a knife and cut the spine off out of pure spite. I wiped the tiny drops of blood on my jeans and paid more attention to my surroundings.
After what I'd thought had been an hour of walk and there were nothing but trees around I stopped and looked around. "Hmm," I frowned as I dropped the axe next to my feet and pulled the throwing knives out. "What if…" I grabbed one knife from my right hand and raised my head to the tree up ahead. I moved my left shoulder to check on the pain. Nothing, so I switched hands. I took one step back and set my right foot firmly on the ground, I stretched my right hand to aim. I scoffed bitterly and dropped my position as I remembered doing the same thing on my volleyball playing days. I took the same stance once again and raised my left arm over my shoulder, behind my back. Figured that if I threw a knife hard enough for it to get nailed on a tree, getting it pierced on a walker's skull couldn't be any different, or harder. Like a coiled spring I threw the knife at the tree. I dropped my head at the sight of the knife barely touching the tree and falling to the ground. "Fuck," I muttered angry. "Ye still throw like a damn princess." I stomped and grabbed the knife; without thinking twice tucked them in my back and resumed my walk. Sum other time.
I picked up a small trail and followed it. I chuckled sarcastically when I noticed the highway up ahead. "He– Heeey," I smiled cocky at the sight of different cars and strolled around them. "Bitchy Daryl Dixon has met 'is match." Don't play on yer luck bud. I bit the inside of my cheek and turned serious. I looked at the cars and decided to walk towards a grayish blue sedan, which actually reminded me of my cousin's– probably the reason it caught my attention–, and broke its back window with the axe's butt. I got myself inside and looted. Found magazines, empty cans, mostly garbage. I jumped outside and pulled a knife out. I walked to the trunk and carefully opened it. "Jackpot." I grinned at the sight of 3 travel bags. I opened the first bag and saw kid's clothes. It was then that I noticed there were no bodies in the car, or around. I frowned in confusion but shrugged it away. Been a long time since the herd. Must've passed 'ere already. I neatly folded the clothes I thought they'd be Carl's size and wrapped the rope to make a package. I squinted bitterly at the sight of a pink sweater and shook my head. I pushed the bag away and opened the second suitcase. I pulled out a pretty elegant women's coat and stretched it over me. I sighed nostalgic. Man there was a time ya used ta wear this shi'. "Didn' we all…" I muttered to myself.
I head some rustling and quickly dropped the coat. I grabbed the axe and froze in place to get acquainted with the noises. I abruptly turned around and looked at the man lying on a truck's door. "The hell ye doin' 'ere?!" I accused and he shrugged nonchalantly, his arms crossed over his chest. My shoulders tensed and my eyes rolled towards the coat lying on the asphalt and back at him. "How long've ya been standin' there?" I asked warily.
He shrugged again and bit his thumb.
"Fuck off," I tilted my head to the woods. "Don' need no babysitter." He made no movement. I paid no mind to him and moved on. Shoving the clothes in the second suitcase I found a leather jacket and set it aside with more girly sweaters I believed the women would find who they'd fit. I finally opened the last bag and turned it upside down. Men's clothes. I pulled out a pair of jeans and from the corner of my eyes I noticed he was still standing there. I tightened my grip on the pants and forcefully threw it at him. "Y'are 'ere, ya take yer clothes back ta camp." I looked at the bag again. I found a light blue jacket and figured it could fit Glenn since it was a little big for me, I also found a large beige kangaroo pullover that could probably fit T-Dog. I looked up to the sky and realized it was not blue anymore; it was all sorts of pink and orange. Gotta get goin'. I neatly folded the men's clothing over the women's stuff I had piled and tied with Carl's. I made a tight knot on the rope and lifted the package I made with it and the clothes. I nodded pleased and started towards the woods; forgetting about the presence on my right.
I could feel his eyes on my back. I felt like he could see me, the real me. I felt the bandage exposed around him. I tried to quicken my pace; walk back to the farm like I knew the path like the back of my hand. I died to know the reason why he went there. But would never dare to ask. I wanted to know if he had followed me, if so, why he had followed. He don' trust me, eh? I flicked my tongue in spite. But if he did, then there was no reasoning. I was a man after all– in his eyes, not that it would have been any different if I weren't disguised. "I can make it on my own." I said to myself more than to him as I walked over fallen logs.
I let out a breath I didn't realized I held when a clearing was visible. I prayed for it to be Hershel's farm. I jogged until I reached it. A large house stood in the middle of the land, white walls and green roof. I looked over my shoulder as he made it back to his camp, his dropped the crossbow from his shoulder and kept his head low. It made me feel a little bit guilty, but figured if he wanted to talk or do whatever he'd start the conversation and look for me, just like I did. Damn… Sum years ago ya'd been followin' 'til he gave ye notice, huh? I chuckled. How things've changed. As I made my way towards the rest of camp I took a look around and found Dale with Shane. I frowned confused but continued towards the center.
"Hey! Y'all!" I called loudly. "Got sum stuff fer ya." I dropped the rope package on the ground and untied it. Slowly they gathered around, all except Dale and Shane, who were still far away talking. I raised my eyes and nodded at everyone. I knelt on the ground and started with the men's clothes. I handed Glenn and T-Dog the jackets I picked up for them, I set aside the one for Dale. And the rest I gave Rick. "Ya can go and fight it off with Shane fer these ones…" Rick approached and stretched his arm. "I also got sum fer the kid, Jimmy." He nodded and stepped back again. I untied the knot on the women's layer. "Carol, Lori…" I grabbed the pile. "Maybe ya can help with these… I brought everything I found appropriate," I shrugged. "Dunno if they're gon' fit."
"Thank you." Lori said in a very thankful and relieved tone. Carol smiled warm.
"These are fer Carl." I looked at Lori and she looked shocked. Then her eyes warmed.
A/N: Oh, if you have any doubts or want to know some tips I can't reveal here (you know the reason) please review and I'll make sure to reply asap.