Chapter 26 "Wait"

Days 90 & 91; Group B

Robert drove the RV around through Bunker and back to the house they originally settled in when they came to the national forest. The metal fence surrounding the property was now very rusted, brown and red. The crops in the back had wilted, and the house seemed cold and empty.

"So this is where you guys stayed?" Greyson asked, an eyebrow raised at how bad the place looked.

"Used to look better," Shawn told the teen. "Looked more homely. Felt less empty."

"Not by much, though," Daniel said, recalling when he, Ryan, and Patti brought took them from this place.

Shawn scoffed, annoyed. "I'm gonna go outside for a bit," he said as if he were going to urinate. Everyone knew what he really was going to do, though, as he slipped out the sliding glass doors.

He stood over the graves of Maggie and Hershel. "I miss you guys. More than you know. I really wish you were here now. You weren't supposed to die. You didn't have to. If it wasn't for that Spanish bitch, you'd both still be here. I'm sorry I didn't do more. That I didn't hunt her down and avenge you, Dad. That I didn't do more to let you know how much I loved you, Maggie. And now, Beth might be dead, too. If she is, I don't think I can take it. I don't think I can bear to know that I'm that last standing Greene. I wouldn't kill myself, but I just," Shawn began crying, thinking about being alone. About losing everyone he's loved before this. "I don't know if I could function without you all. And Patricia and Otis. I know I wanted to be leader, but I don't think I can do it. Not alone. Not like this. I'm sorry, Daddy, but I don't think I can be the man you wanted me to be. Not anymore."

Hours later, Daniel, Selenis, Seth, and Greyson were in the dining room, waiting on Shawn and Robert to finish preparing their meal for the day. They only had enough food for two days if they had a single meal per day.

"I hope my friends are okay," Greyson said.

"Aren't we your friends?" Seth asked, trying to make light of the situation.

"You know what I mean. I'm talking about my group."

"Ryan, Patti, and Allan," Daniel listed off. "If any of them are alive, it's those three."

Seth shrugged. Greyson was obviously distraught mostly about his own people, and Seth couldn't blame him for that. Their two groups had been a bit hostile since they had united, and Greyson didn't socialize very much with anyone in their group other than Robert, and that wasn't what Seth would call 'socializing,' on Greyson's part at least. Daniel didn't seem to like anybody. He and Allan were very distant people.

"I don't know about that," Selenis replied to the Daniel. "But I understand. I feel the same way about my people. Gabriel's the only one I really expect to have made it, and even he's probably not that likely. He's the strongest and smartest, but he's definitely the slowest."

Seth half-frowned. "The only person left from 'my group' is Amanda, and she and I kind of hate each other. I'm sure if some of them made it, she's with them. Stronger than she looks. And acts." As everyone seemed to do these days, they grew quiet, but not for long. "Actually," Seth corrected, "I don't think that's fair to say. About 'my group,' I mean. I met Hershel and his people pretty much at the start of this whole mess, and they mean as much to me as anybody else. I'm not sure who would be strong enough to make it though. I mean, fuck, I thought Robert was pretty weak, but did you hear the way he talked to Shawn? Boy's got some guts hidden away. So who knows who made it. Beth and Lyrik, who I thought were goners from day one, are likely still standing."

They both nodded their heads, and Greyson once again found himself thinking about Robert. Seth had a point about how strong he was, and it both concerned him and made him feel better. Flattered, even. It made him realize how weak he was by comparison. All this time, he had never really done much of anything besides take orders. First from Daniel, and then from Ryan. The most brave thing he ever did was kill the five walkers that devoured Amber, and that was only because he was blind with rage and depression. But it comforted him knowing that he was with such strong people. That he would be so safe with such capable friends. He was flattered that a person like Robert wanted him, on top of it. That Robert could lead and protect people, and yet he still wanted to be with someone as weak as he was. Was it just for his appearance? Did Robert only flirt with him because he thought he was cute? Or did Robert truly like him? His reverie was halted as Daniel and Robert walked out carrying plates of candy from the run and stale beef jerky and vegetables they had loaded up in the RV for the mission, with sodas on the side. "Sort of like a child's dream feast," Robert said, laying plates in front of Selenis and Greyson. "Kinda. A little bit."

"Not at all," Seth jokingly finished, bringing a smile to a few faces.

The next night, on Day 91, everyone was sitting in the living room by the fireplace. They were silent, having just eaten what little food they had left. Their focus was on the fire, clinging to the warmth in the cold autumn evening.

Seth walked in shivering, letting in a chill as the door opened, and he quickly closed it behind him and settled in next to the fire, wrapping himself deeper into his grey hoodie he had brought for the scavenging trip. "I think we're gonna have to stay here a while longer. That herd's too big. It's starting to thin out now, but I'm not gonna go back there in the middle of the night. We have to wait. It's still headed south, so first thing tomorrow morning, we head to the house. Check for survivors. Get any supplies left behind at the least."

Some of them nodded and they all understood. If anyone was still in there, they might leave before they got there, but it was too cold and too much of a risk to go out there now. They all snuggled up together under some thin blankets they found upstairs to get some sleep, their stomachs growling and their minds filled with worry; wind blowing heavily against the house, which was blowing in lightly through cracks in the house, causing a high-pitch whistling sound. Shawn sadly rose from his spot on the couch for his shift of lookout duty. It was going to be a long, cold night.