New update! Thank you everyone for all the support and reviews! It truly does mean a lot! I'm so excited for the new season and that they finally have Lily on the show! Can't wait to see how this all plans out! And a special surprise... the prison is coming up very, very, very soon!
Life. The meaning seems more valuable than ever today. When you first wake up in the morning, if you are lucky, you forget the world ended for just a second. Than that second passes and you know today will be another fight to just finish the day off. The struggle is real. Nothing can make it seem less threaten. The dead roam the earth now wanting to tear into your flesh and just rip it apart. People become worse too. Some start to lose their minds thinking they rule the world and that the dead are not truly dead. Others form entourages to kill the weak and raid them of their supplies. Then there's the lucky ones. The ones who are in a group and survive together without the worry of being betrayed or slaughtered in their sleep because they have come to trust each other. Those groups are rare, if there really are any. But off in the distance, a light shines through. Weather it's hope or something worse than death is unknowable from here. You will just have to near in on the light.
Glenn pulled the blue pickup truck to a stop just outside an abandoned local grocery store. Maggie nodded sitting in the passenger's seat. Hopefully this place was not raided too badly. A few roamers were in the parking lot. Their attention focused on the engine of the vehicle. The small amount would not be an issue. In the bed of the truck Carl climbed over pulling out his gun.
"Not yet." Jacqui warned. "We don't want more hearing the gunshot." Carl nodded tucking the weapon back into his jeans.
"I'll handle this." Maggie offered walking towards the nearest undead monster. Glenn followed closely behind pulling out his knife as Maggie did the same.
"Come on Carl, lets check the windows. Get a feel for what's inside." Jacqui suggested taking a step closer to the large glass.
"How do we make sure there's none in there?" Carl asked standing beside the dark skinned woman. Jacqui looked around for an object to throw in. The noise would attract any walker inside.
"There." Jacqui pointed off to the side of the pickup truck. A medium sized rock lied upon the ridged gravel.
The noise would be a alert sending the attracted walkers their way.
The wind was a relaxing breeze for Carol. A calm swept over her. She still feared for her life but that didn't matter. T-Dog stood a few feet away watching for walkers or signs of trouble within the trees while Dale kept watch on top of the RV. Daryl and Emma had left in search for shelter while Rick took Amy and Jimmy to check for a creek for any source of water. After the argument Rick felt it was best for him to go instead. Jimmy and Amy volunteered to tag along wanting to help to make up for anything wrong.
"I hope he's alright." Lori panicked pacing back and worth.
"Rick is fine. He's probably found a place and is just inspecting it." Carol assured her best friend.
"And there's Carl too. God, why did I let him go on the supply run?"
"Because you knew he could handle it. Come on Lori, you know he's fine. He has Maggie and Glenn to protect him and Jacqui who is making sure he doesn't get in any danger."
"It just kills me knowing he's not in eyesight. Neither of them. Oh God, Carol, what if he ends up like Sophia?" Lori spat out. She stopped her movements knowing the words hit hard.
"Carol, I-"
"No, you're fine. You're right, I hope he doesn't end up like her either. Don't want your boy to go missing now, right?" Carol mumbled holding back tears. Sophia, even if it hurts to say, Carol hoped she was dead. She could not face the idea of her daughter being a walker or being alone fending for herself.
"I'm such a bitch." Lori huffed.
"Don't say that. You were in the moment." Carol took a seat on the dirt ground brushing off her knees. "I think we need more weapons training. Not just guns, but melee." Lori stared in confusion. How could Carol just blowoff the hurtful statement?
"Uh, yeah. Maybe that would be best for everyone." Lori agreed placing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Think Daryl and Emma are doing good?" Carol asked.
"Sure they are. They're our most experienced with the undead."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they'll survive."
"What are you talking about?"
"I think it's time to face the reality that any one of us could be dead by this time tomorrow. Don't you realize that? I don't think it's the matter of how experienced you are. It's weather you're focused or not. Those two lovers are probably sticking their tongues down each others throats."
"They're not stupid. The two have managed to survive long enough to know the rules."
"What exactly are the rules? Because no one gave me a manual on surviving the apocalypse."
"You've been alive as long as they have. You know what I'm talking about."
"You're right, I do. We don't need anyone dying soon." Carol nodded holding her shaking hands together. "I'm going to ask Dale if he needs anything."
T-Dog watched Carol walk away. Damn, when had she become to attractive to him. Maybe it's the whole trying to be independent and not having an abusing husband beside her. The two had grown closer since the group escaped the CDC. Everyone had one person to go to now, romantic or friend wise. Rick has Lori, Emma has Daryl, Maggie had Glenn, Beth has Jimmy, Jacqui has Hershel, Amy has Dale, and Patricia has Carl oddly enough. The two seem to get along just great. Woman probably wanted kids of her own. Poor Otis. No one knows what became of him. Guessing the best solution is that he shot himself.
"T-Dog?" A voice whispered. The dark skinned male turned around seeing Patricia herself.
"Mind if I keep ya company? Everyone else seems busy and I don't like being alone."
"Um, sure." T replied with a small smile.
"Daddy, he can change. You yourself said people go mad every now and then." Beth tried.
"What Emma said stuck with me. He tried murdering her and Daryl. I don't want you around that boy." Hershel continued.
"He was brainwashed by Shane! He didn't know what he was doing!"
"Everything alright here?" Someone asked behind the two. Jimmy stood there with raised eyebrows.
"Just fine Jimmy, where's Rick and Amy?" Beth asked hugging her boyfriend. The embrace felt warm and familiar to her. Yet, so distance and strange. Had the two been falling apart like Maggie mentioned awhile back? No, the two loved each other. At least, Beth thought she loved him.
Thoughts ran through Jimmy's head. Holding Beth made he feel like a protector. Like the old him. Like this world never ended. Only, why did it feel different. He felt like a new being since Rick's group had arrived. It was nice knowing other people had survived. But fucking assholes like Shane and Randall still existed. Shit, he almost killed two people cause of the fuckers.
"Jimmy?" Hershel spoke.
"Huh? Oh, they sent me back to check if Glenn's scavenger hunters had returned. Guess not."
"You guys find anything?" Hershel hoped.
"Nothing yet. Haven't ran into Em-" Jimmy stopped. Just saying the name brought back the memories. That was not who he was. He was a good person. Beth never would have loved him if he were not.
"I'm sorry." Amy said. Dripped of sweat slid down her fair colored cheeks. Even though the weather should be cooling being out for hours without a break made her break a sweat.
"For what?" Rick questioned honestly confused.
"My outburst at the meeting. I shouldn't have lost my temper."
"It's understandable. You're dealing with a lot right now and snapping is what's expected."
"I know. But I still should not have said what I said."
"You meant then though."
"Yeah, I did. But I shouldn't have said them nonetheless."
"Amy, it's really okay. I don't think any differently of you." Amy smiled at the statement. Maybe everything would work out fine with the group. She just wished with the deepest of her heart that Andrea was with her.
"Think Daryl and Emma found shelter yet?" Amy asked looking around for walkers.
"Can only hope. We'll find out once we get back."
"How much further you plan on going? We've been out here for hours. It'll be a long trip back and we don't even know if Jimmy can find his way back."
"You're right. I think it's time to head back."
"Maybe Glenn's group found some water?"
"Yeah...maybe."
Daryl tugged his bolt out of an undead's skull.
"There's nothing in this direction. I say we try somewhere else." Emma suggested using the back of her hand to wipe sweat off her forehead.
"Gotta find somewhere soon. Gonna start getting dark soon." Emma looked down at the walker. She has seen so many before yet the question still wondered within her mind.
"Does it bother you that you don't know how this all started?" Emma asked kneeling down checking for bite marks."Poor bastard. Wasn't bit anywhere. Gun shot wound though, right there his chest."
"Never really gave it much thought." Daryl replied wiping the bolt clean with his jeans. "Got any theories?"
"None." Emma sighed standing back up. Her brown eyes connected with his.
"I wish I had studied to be an actor. Then I could have came up with all these conclusions and hopefully be happy with one."
"What did you go to college for?"
"For options. I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life."
"Sounds familiar." Daryl joked.
"You're hair has gotten longer." Emma pointed out running a hand through it.
"Yours too." Daryl mocked her movement with the long dark brown hair. "You're beautiful." He mumbled feeling heat overcome his cheeks.
"You're handsome." Emma smiled leaning closer to him. Daryl smirked wrapping his arms around her waist. Even with this little distraction he was in full alert. Nothing would harm Emma, he would make sure of it. Their lips met for the first time in what seemed years.
"You're good at this." Emma teased, her breath hitting his lips.
"You're not too bad yourself." Daryl laughed.
"Do you think we'll make it through the winter?" Emma honestly asked pressing her head against his chest. Her hands kept him close.
"We'll be fine. We're survivors. It's what we do." Daryl assured placing his chin upon her head.
"Dammit! There's too many now!" Glenn yelled shoving the axe he found into a walker's skull.
"We have everything we need for now. Lets get out!" Maggie hollered kicking away another undead as it tried reaching out for her.
"They're blocking us in! How do you expect to get out?" Jacqui yelled back knocking over a shelf to cut off some walkers. A scream ripped through the air ending the life of a living.
"Not a walker in sight." Dale informed Carol.
"Good. Maybe today will actually be easy." Carol sighed leaning back in the lawn chair. She looked over to her the group huddled in together.
"Glenn's group ought to be back soon." Dale worriedly spoke taking off his hat and rubbing his head.
"You okay? I mean, with Andrea-" Carol stopped squeezing her hands together. Maybe not was not the time.
"I'm fine. I-I'm fine. Just worried about Amy. She hasn't been herself."
"Who is these days?"
"Guess you gotta point there." Dale laughed. "Hope Emma and Daryl found a place for the night."
"Doubt it. Doesn't seem like there's a place within miles of here."
"It's getting dark out. I don't know how many more days we can spend constantly on the road. This RV takes up a lot of gas."
"Maybe if-" Carol cut herself off seeing movement in the trees. "Never mind." She said disappointed. Out of the woods emerged Rick, Amy, Daryl, and Emma.
"Anything?" T-Dog asked feeling hopeful.
"Nothing." Rick and Emma both replied.
"Great. No water or shelter. How are we going to survive?" Lori questioned grabbing her husband's arm.
"We can try again tomorrow. No use on searching with no sunlight. And it'd be safer if we all cram into the RV."
"There's too many of us for that." Patricia protested.
"We'll make it work okay?" Rick ended what he knew would become an argument."
"Everyone can stay in cars with someone keeping watch in every vehicle. Got it?" Everyone nodded in reply. If Rick said it, it would happen. Unfortunately, no one would be getting sleep packed up close together in vehicles.
"Decide where you're sleeping and we'll discuss tomorrow's plans once Maggie's scavenger group comes back." With that people dismissed hoping to find the most comfortable arrangement for the night.
Another hour passed stirring fear within Hershel and Beth.
"They ought to be here already. It's been a full day!" Beth cried shaking her head.
"Just give them until morning. You know things don't always go according to plan."
"Then should we go out and find them?" Beth suggested looking out the window of the RV.
"We don't know where they are. For all we know we'd be heading in the wrong direction."
A flicker of light shined brightly through the window then.
"Headlights! Daddy they're back!" Beth cheered running out of the RV.
Outside everyone gathered near the back of Dale's large vehicle.
"About time." Jimmy snorted. Beth nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. Now was not the time for jokes. Any one of the four could be dead right now. The car pulled to a stop just before the herd of people. The headlights faded with all four doors opening. The only light came from the RV interior lightning. Faces were unrecognizable in the dark. A figure exited the driver's seat clearly Glenn based on the build. Next came a female figure no doubt Maggie followed by a smaller outline belonging to Carl. Jacqui came out as well. Only, a fifth being came out as well.
Dale shined his newly found flashlight at the car noticing the fifth person. A male with short black hair and cut up cheeks.
"Who the hell is this?" Daryl demanded.
"Calm down, he's friendly." Glenn defended. "This is Derek. He saved Carl from a walker attack."
"Carl was almost killed?" Lori cried grabbing her son and pulling him close.
"Not exactly." Derek spoke up. His voice had a warmth to it. "While your friends were fighting your boy here was shooting the dead and missing way too many head shots. I stepped up helping him kill those motherfuckers, excuse my language. Unfortunately, some girl ended up getting torn into finger sized food but she was an idiot for screaming at the sight of cannibals."
"That's what you call them?" Beth asked.
"It's what they are, right? Eating the meat off of humans."
"So we're just supposed to trust him because he saved Carl?" Carol protested.
"Don't you think he would have killed us if he wasn't good?" Jacqui argued back.
"Could be waiting to get here so his group can overrun us." Jimmy fought.
"He's right." Rick stepped in. "Where's your group."
"Dead. Last one was the girl at the store. Now it's just me."
"You seriously expect us to believe you survived with only a girl that you didn't know?"
"Her name was Kate." Derek softly spoke. "She was my sister's best friend. After my sister died I promised to at least keep Kate with me. She wasn't smart when it came to the dead. Never even killed one. Now, she's one of them." Everyone grew silent then.
"Oh please, don't tell me you're all buying this bullshit!" Emma exclaimed. "You called her an idiot and now she's suddenly your sister's best friend?"
"Kate was an idiot! You gotta believe me."
"Emma, calm down." Rick ordered.
"Rick are you-"
"He stays with us. He protected my son." Rick hissed. "If anyone has a problem with that take it up with me. Come on Derek, let me show you around." The group dispersed in their own directions not wanting to fight. There was enough of that lately and it was late. No use in fighting an battle knowing the only outcome was keeping Derek.
"I don't trust him." Daryl mumbled.
"Neither do I. We should keep an eye on him." Emma whispered.
"You read my mind."
Sleeping inside a car was something Emma had become accustomed to. That habit died awhile back. Now she could remember why it sucked so badly. You're not comfortable, your legs start hurting, your neck cramps up, and now she had to share the backseat with Daryl. She curled up into his chest leaving him room to stretch but not much.
"Did you see where Derek is sleeping?" Emma asked with closed eyes.
"The RV. Amy's taking watch for it."
"Good, hopefully she'll shoot on sight." Emma yawned digging her face into his chest. His hand played with her hair leaving a calm and leave within him.
"Don't like him at all huh?"
"Something isn't right about him. I just-" Daryl placed his index finger to her mouth shushing her.
"I won't let anything happen to you." Daryl informed kissing her forehead.
"I know. It's everyone else I'm worried about." She admitted leaning up and kissing his lips. The kiss was soft and gentle. As time passed it grew stronger and more passionate, deepening and causing a loss of air. A thought slipped through Daryl's mind. 'I love you.' It took every once of control not to say the words.
Dale rubbed his eyelids fighting against the urge to close them again. He fell asleep at the drivers seat awaking to sunlight pouring into his eyesight. Derek and Jacqui were passed out still on the floor. The Grimes had taken the bed. His first instinct was to check on Amy. She spent the entire night on watch. No one else was up yet. It seemed like Amy was the only one who had taken watch for at least stayed up for it. He climbed the ladder up reaching the top within a few seconds. On top of the vehicle was only a lawn chair. A paper rested on the seat. Dale's heart flipped as he grabbed the sheet and read its message.
'I'm sorry. But this needed to be done. I have to find Andrea. I only took a tank of gas and a handgun. I hope you understand. Leave a note behind for me so when I come back I know which way to look for you. Again, I'm so sorry and I hope you understand.
Love, Amy"
Amy was gone.