I got a lot of odd looks from people the next morning, as we quickly ate breakfast before heading out to clean up the mess we had made in the streets.
''You're not going anywhere today! You heard what James said, you gotta take it easy'', Daryl told me sternly as I attempted to arm myself with the others.
''But I feel fine'', I whined childishly as I loaded a small pistol.
''You can't come with us today. Go and give merle a hand '', he suggested, slinging his bow over his shoulder and clipping a gun to his belt.
''But Merle is just moving cars. Thats boring '', I rolled my eyes. He laughed at my expression before sighing.
''We'll be back soon. Stick with him if you don't want to talk to people'', he told me. So i hadn't been imagining things, people had been acting strange with me. Truth be told, my head was aching from exhaustion, and my leg was throbbing terribly. I hadn't been able to fall back to sleep after that horrid nightmare, so I had spent the rest of the night staring up at the cream ceiling. Admitting that he was right, I stood back to let him pass. Saying our goodbyes, I watched Daryl slip out after the group and hesitantly shut the door behind me. The crisp morning air had filled the hallway, and I shivered involuntarily.
''So! Baby brother has assigned me to babysitting duties!'', Merle clapped his hands as he came strolling down the stairs.
''I'm fine'', I snapped, walking past him into the kitchen.
''Sure, whatever you say'', he grinned as he stretched.
''Didn't get any sleep last night. Some crazy woman was yelling, and woke everyone up! Know anything about that ?'', he asked sarcastically as he took a sip of water.
''Don't '', I sighed tiredly rubbing my neck. My body had really taken a beating this week, I was stiff all over. My mind felt as if it had been smacked around a bit too, my head felt all foggy and muddled. Maybe I still had a slight concussion.
''Well alright then. You're coming with me right? '', he asked placing his cup down on the decorative counter top.
''Yeah', I sure as hell wasn't going to be cooped in the damn house all day.
''Let's get to it! The plan is to bring two more cars up on the lawn so we have enough room for everyone, should we need to leave. Then, we're gonna pack some more cars and trucks together down by the end of the street, so no creepers get in'', he explained using his hands to demonstrate cars being pushed together.
''yeah, I get it'', I mumbled, going in search of some painkillers before we set off.
The fresh air helped to clear my sluggish mind as we strolled down the road. It was a very short walk until we reached the end of the road, which we had blocked with three cars. Slipping into a small convertible, I tried to start it, only to discover that there were no keys. Checking the glove compartment and the sunglasses holder, I whacked my hands off the steering wheel in frustration, accidentally honking the horn for a brief moment. Merles head popped out of a nearby car.
''What?'', he asked annoyed, glancing around to make sure I hand't drawn much attention to us.
''It was an accident'', I said swatting my hand in his general direction. Fumbling around for a key that could be hidden, I gave up and slammed the door as I got out. I could hear an old engine spluttering to life from the minivan that Merle was in.
''Take mine, I'll take yours'', he said hopping out and heading for my car.
''There's no keys'', I informed him.
''Oh, whatever will we do', he rolled his eyes as he slid into the convertible, ducking his head down. A few seconds later, the car roared to life, purring gently. His head appeared behind the wheel, and he sped off to the car barrier at the end of the street.
Climbing into the spacious minivan, I discovered there was no key in the keyhole. He had hot-wired this one too. Why hadn't I thought of that? I decided to bring the minivan to the lawn of our house, it had more space than a regular car would.
We repeated that system for a while, until we had four rows of cars going across the zebra crossing, blocking the entrance to our street. No walker was getting past them. Sitting up on the bonnet of a car, Merle pulled out a green packet of cigarettes and place it between his lips as he fumbled around in his pocket for matches.
''Where did you get those ?'', I asked wide eyed. Glancing up at me, he shook the box questioningly and I nodded.
''Found em. Want one?'', he asked offering me the box. I didn't need to be asked twice. Hopping up on bonnet beside him, I thanked him as I placed it between my lips and waited for him to pass me a match. Taking a long drag off of the cigarette, I forgot how much I had missed them since this all started. Taking a drag and holding the smoke in my mouth, I slackened my jaw, made an 'O' shape with my lips and produced a perfectly round smoke ring that floated away.
''Impressive'', Merle commented, as he tried to match it. He produced a sloppy one that quickly evaporated.
''i'm more interested in smoking it than playing with it'', he said twisting the cigarette in his fingers.
Blowing another bigger ring, I quickly took another drag and blew a tiny little one into the middle of it.
''Show off', he said lazily.
''Jealous ?'', I teased, quite proud of myself. He glanced sideways at me and chuckled.
''Didn't strike me as the kinda gal who'd be blowing smoke rings'', he said lightly.
''Think you got everyone figured out, don't you?'', I asked airily.
''Can't seem to figure anyone out anymore '', he said as the smile faded from his cheeks.
''Hows the head?', he asked suddenly.
''S'ok . Bit sore'', I admitted. He nodded taking another drag.
''You got stitches in your head girl. I'd be worried if it wasn't sore'', he grinned blowing the smoke out his nose.
He began fumbling with his back pocket, an annoyed expression on his face. I looked at him questioningly and he winced.
''Got a damn… windshield wiper sticking into my ass'', he said as grey smoke escaped his lips. Twisting around, he ripped the wiper off the car. Flinging it away he sighed contently.
'' Thought you were a goner that night'', he said carelessly as if he were commenting on the weather.
''Me too'', I agreed. ''Couldn't believe you stood up for me'', I added incredulously.
''What was I supposed to do, Leave my idiot brother to fight your case alone?'', He shrugged nonchalantly.
''You should both be nicer to each other'', I suggested, cringing at how the two men treated one another.
''We're brothers. We fight sometimes, say shit we don't mean, but that's life. He knows I love him behind it all. There's a lot of water under the bridge you don't know about'', he added mysteriously, but in a tone that suggested that I'd better not pry.
''And that bastard trying to leave you behind! Where's he run off to anyway?'', he asked about Frank.
''He died'', I told him, remembering his face as the life left his body.
''Oh. Well, that's what you get. Karma, and all that shit'', he said waving a hand in the air.
''You didn't strike me as the kinda guy who'd believe in karma'', I laughed, taken aback.
''See? There's a lot we don't know about each other'', he winked, and I rolled my eyes.
I was just about to make a sarcastic comment, when the wind swirled around us, carrying a noise along with it. A single gunshot echoed through the air, making both of us fall silent instantly. Staring intently down the street, we both knew where it had come from.
''Should we-'', I began when another gunshot interrupted me. Dropping our cigarettes, we slid off the car and began to run towards the noise. Limping, I struggled to keep up with him, and i was surprised he could move that fast. His legs were almost a blur as his feet pounded the concrete.