Chapter Twenty Nine: Drifter
Six months after Spencer's death, the large group had moved on from D.C., splitting off into smaller groups, led by those who volunteered to become a leader.
Those who stayed together found themselves led once more by Rick. It seemed that the original group didn't want to part ways, not now.
Beth walked next to Tara and Ken, tiredly holding Daryl's old crossbow across her shoulders. Her feet ached and her back was sore, but she pushed through the aches and pains.
They had been moving nonstop, making their way cross country towards the West coast. Rick had figured they should try their luck in other states, like California. Beth mentioned it might be better to move into a less populated state, like Idaho or Utah.
They had time to go through each state, to see what was it. The people they ran into were nearly feral at this point, uninterested in joining the group or helping others.
By the time they crossed into Arizona, the group was worn out. Their supplies were low, since any store they found was already ransacked. They began hunting and gathering more, using plants as remedies for wounds or pain, and they made their own filters to use for water they gathered from rivers and ponds they came across.
They adapted, as the rest of the world did in the time of great upheaval.
Ken scratched irritably at a bug bite on her shoulder. "The weather better be great in California because I'm going to lose my shit if this heat keeps up."
Tara and Beth exchanged tired smiles.
"Let's make sure the walkers haven't overcrowded the beaches," Beth said.
Ken snorted. "Anyone else getting a visual of a rotting zombie in a Speedo?"
Carl, who was walking a few feet to Beth's right, gagged. "Thanks, Ken. I haven't puked in my mouth in a while."
"Choke it down, kid. That might not be the craziest thing we came across."
"I'm going to guess celebrity zombies," Tara said, yanking her hair away from her sweaty face.
That got a laugh from a few of them. Beth glanced over at Daryl, who was walking near the front with Rick and Carol. His shirt was stuck to his back and his bare arms glistened. They were all hot and sweaty, and Beth noted they were also low on water.
Beth sighed, fixing her hair as well. It was on top of her head to keep it off her neck and back. She scrubbed at her eyes, blinking against the brightness of the sun.
Ooo0ooO
Zombies in Speedos were the least of the group's worries when they finally crossed over into California. Thanks to the dry heat, the group was moving slower than ever, trying to find shade where they could to avoid the sun and hot wind.
"Survived this long only to die from dehydration," Abraham griped, wiping sweat off of his brow. "Son of a bitch."
Beth couldn't blame him for complaining. This heat was sweltering, but unlike the southern states, the drought that plagued the west coast made finding fresh water more difficult.
She couldn't help but notice how different the land was after the start to this apocalypse. Everything was dead, all across the country, and even the climate seemed worse than usual, more harsh and brutal.
Dying from dehydration didn't seem like an unlikely scenario. Although walkers were a threat, she knew that they all could easily die from a fever as much as a bite.
When the group finally found their way to the coastline after days of moving across the state, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief when they felt the kiss of cool, salty breeze against their skin. The beaches were littered with garbage and pieces of ships that must have run a ground. Piles of bodies, both human and sea life, stunk up the air in the distance.
Beth stared out towards the Pacific, having never seen it before in her life. She wished it was under better circumstances that she was there now.
Daryl stood next to her, taking her hand as if he sensed her sadness.
She sighed, leaning against him slightly, trying to replace the images of dead corpses stacked on the beach with images of sandcastles and laughing children. But that only seemed to depress her more, so she shook her head and looked to Rick.
"Now what? Hole up in a beach bungalow?"
The smile that curved Rick's mouth almost reached his eyes. "I'm thinking something more along the lines of that," he said, pointing.
Beth and the group followed the direction his finger was pointing. Down the coast, maybe half mile from where they were, was an old, rusted power plant.
"That'll work," Glenn surmised.
Ooo0ooO
Being inside the power plant was not unlike being back at the prison. Although there wasn't any cells, the smell of rust and iron was familiar. They found some rooms in the back they decided to use to sleep in, while the others saw what they could rig up for water.
With the thick, iron doors keeping everything out, along with a barbed fence surrounding the property, Beth felt somewhat safe for the first time in months. They hadn't spot any walkers yet, but she knew that didn't mean they weren't close. Her and Daryl had already done a sweep of the place, and had found it completely empty.
That much, she figured, was a smell blessing.
So she found a small stairway that lead up into the tower, and sat down to look out a narrow window that faced the ocean. She watched as the sun began to set, turning the sky and water a bright shade of gold, smudged with pink and purple.
"Beth?"
Beth turned at the sound of her sister's voice. "Up here, Maggie."
Maggie climbed up the stairs and sat down on the step below where Beth was perched. She leaned back against her younger sister's legs. "Anything out there?"
"Just clear skies and sunshine," Beth said, half-amused. "I guess this is why people like living here."
Maggie smiled. "How are you holding up?"
Beth began playing with Maggie's hair. It was cropped shorter now, which made it easier to keep it from her eyes. Beth tried to picture herself with hair that short, but shook her head. "I'm okay. I'm tired. I wish we could just find a place and..."
"Stay," Maggie finished.
Beth nodded. "Yeah.I know why we keep moving. But I miss home."
Maggie reached back, covering Beth's hand with her own. "I know. So do I."
Beth looked back outside. "How long do you think we will stay here?"
"As long as needed," Maggie said. "I can't say."
Beth sighed at that. "How are you, Mags?"
Maggie turned a little to eye Beth. "I just want to make sure you're okay."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"With everything that happened with Spencer..."
"Maggie, that was months ago."
"That doesn't mean you don't think about it. Don't you think of Dad still?"
"Of course," Beth said softly. Her gaze drifted away. "I just try not to think about it. His screams..." Beth trembled. "I can still hear them."
Maggie moved to sit next to Beth, pulling her against her side. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm here for you."
Beth clenched her fists. She was so tired of crying over people they lost. Wearily, she rested her head on Maggie's shoulder, and together, the sisters beared each other's weight and tried to remember the good and the simpler times before the world turned to chaos.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own TWD.
Author's Note: One chapter to go!
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