Chapter 5

We got up early and fed and dressed ourselves before heading out, where Gregory and Tim were waiting for us. Emily jumped into Tim's arms and they kissed for a while before Gregory cleared his throat. They straightened up and we headed down to the gate where the vehicle that picked me up from the road was waiting, Lucic at my side.

"Well, lookie who's comin' with us." Merle sounded off at his first glance of me. We hadn't spoken since the day he teamed me up with Gregory. Something about him always made me want to snarl. It wasn't his words, or tone, of looks even. But something about him always kept me leashed back.

"You didn't tell me that he was coming with us." I whispered to Gregory beside me.

"I didn't know." He sounded about just as happy as I felt.

"Look here sweetheart. That pooch of yours ain't gonna fit in this here truck. Go on and send him home, would ya."

I looked at Gregory and he nodded. I didn't want my dog anywhere I wasn't. He belonged beside me and he was my best weapon against walkers. I did it anyway and sent him home where he'd lay outside until mom let him in.

"Thank ya, honey. Now, I heard yer good with a real gun not that little piss shooter on yer belt. So I'm gonna take that," he reached forward and took my hand gun that I'd stolen a few days ago. "And maybe you can have one when we get there." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Governor's orders." He said then turned to the bus. "Alright, let's go." He ordered and everyone packed onto the bus.

Emily sat beside me and explained what we were doing.

"Okay, if everything goes according to plan, we will be making it out to LaGrange. There's a college out there that we will search. We've been out this way before but the road was a mess. We've been coming out every few weeks to clear the way a little more, but now we can make it the whole way."

"How long till we get there?" I asked.

"About three four hours. There are still cars everywhere and if we run into another herd, we can't promise time."

"Okay,"

"Just put your head back and close your eyes for a little while." She said while doing just that. I on the other hand needed to look out the window the whole time. I didn't like being gunless or dogless but that was how it worked around here, I guess.

I could see Gregory a few seats up, he didn't look pleased with being here, but I didn't understand why he'd ask me to come if he didn't think it to be safe.

When we got there, we'd seen a fair amount of wrecks and walkers. More than enough, actually. When we got off the truck outside the college it felt different. I didn't feel the same thrill I had yesterday. This didn't feel safe like it had back at Woodbury. I think it was knowing that we had somewhere safe nearby to hide if things got thick. Here wasn't like that at all. We were four hours away and nowhere near safe.

I was looking down the dreary streets around us, covered in old leafs, papers, broken down cars, and just junk. Walkers lingered down the far ends of the road as if most had moved out of the town.

"You okay?" Gregory pulled me back.

"Yeah, I just want to get this over with." I sighed slightly.

"Come on, they're giving the game plan." I followed him back to the front of the truck where Merle was handing out guns.

"We're going in two groups. First group with me clearing the area. Next group with the carts and bags. You'll be grabbing everything. Keep your heads up. We got sounds coming from inside so it ain't empty in there." Martinez said. "We need anything medical. Oxygen too, if you find it." Then he started to divide us. Emily, Tim, Merle, and Gregory with him. Crowley, Shumpert, Robbie, and I were in the next one. I didn't like being separated from Emily and Gregory, but they were known to be skilled with weapons.

The first team went in while we stood out by the trucks waiting for the signal. I could hear guns shots ringing out left and right, making me nervous as to how many were in there waiting for us. But then it grew quiet.

About a half hour later our team was brought in, not given any guns, unfortunately. They expected us to not need them as they had just cleared the area. We split up into different rooms, grabbing first-aid kits, cotton balls, formaldehyde, anything even remotely medical related. I hurried off into another room off a bio lab and found belts. They would be used as tourniquets then a few more chemicals in glass bottles. I dropped a bottle and it shattered on the floor next to me. I jumped at its sound but then the place went silent. I stood up when I heard something rustling in a glass closet. There was a red cross on the door. I had to get in there, never mind what else was roaming about in there. I went towards the door, after taking my knife out, and pulled it back to find three walkers penned up.

"Shit," I muttered, slamming my knife into the eye of the closest drooling monster, then slid it out and banked it right into the next one. The third was tricky. The second one had managed to fall over my foot, tripping me and knocking over a few mettle tables. Pinned under it, the third one crawled over us and snapped at my face until I was able to withdraw my knife and bash it into its eye socket.

"Lucy," Gregory was in the doorway just as the last one stilled on top of me.

"Can I get some help?" I asked, angrily, pissed that I didn't have my gun. He helped me out from under the bodies and got me to my feet. I was already covered in guts and blood, so early into the mission.

"Are you alright?" he asked, quickly checking me over for bites.

"Fine," I snapped and gathered what was in the closet then zipped the bag closed. "Where is Merle?" I growled.

"I don't know, why?"

"I'm getting my gun back!" He followed me down the hall there I found him. I dropped the bag of supplies at his feet with a huff.

"Well, look what you found."

"Give me my gun," I demanded.

"Got no need for it, sweet cheeks. We already cleared the hall."

"The fuck you did," I sneered. "I just took out three of them with my knife."

"Well, good to know Greg here wasn't lying 'bout you knowin' yer stuff."

"She needs a gun," Gregory stepped up.

"Who you talkin' to like that? Back up," He said slowly to Gregory with his arms up. "Back up, and I'll be damned if I start takin' orders from a Niger." He snarled with his chest out and knifed hand up. "If anything you can give her yours." He laughed darkly and wandered back to Martinez. "Round up what ya got kiddies!" he yelled to everyone down the long hall.

"Come on," I grabbed at Gregory's sleeve and pulled him towards the exit. He was still eyeing Merle, understandably. "Gregory," He finally turned towards me. "Let's go." He followed me down to the truck where we dropped off our bags and I started down the street we came down.

"Luce, where are you going?" Gregory was at my side the moment he noticed me leaving.

"He won't give me a gun, I'll get my own." Down the street from the college was a small brick building full of hunting and sporting goods. The front gate was locked but there was a busted window on the side of the building.

"Luce, you don't have to do this. We'll be going back soon." He tried to change my mind.

"No, I need my own piece. Not one I stole." I admitted with a smile then hopped in through the window. Gregory stood guard outside for a few minutes while I took out two walkers inside and grabbed some gear. They still had a good few hunting rifles left and more than enough ammo. I gathered everything I could fit in my pockets and got a rifle was a nice sight on top. This one was mine, as well as a hand gun that was hidden behind the desk. Beside the register was a display of jerky that I grabbed a few then unlocked the front gate and met Gregory out front. I thought I'd seen someone go down the street. I could see their back with a weapon slung across them, a crossbow.

"Find it?" I ignored him and chased the figure down the street a little further until I found an empty dead end. "Luce," he followed me down to the alley.

"Yup," I turned and faced him, trying to clear my head. I must have been going crazy.

"Is that fresh blood?" he looked down at my sleeve that had more walker goo on it.

"Yeah, there were two in there. No problem."

"Don't go putting yourself in danger for the fun of it." He warned.

"Okay, one; don't tell me what to do." I corrected him right away. He may have been my trainer but not my mother. His eyebrows got closer at my tone, almost in an amused way. "Two; if I need something I go get it. I need to be able to provide for myself if others can't. Three; you want some jerky?" I held the open bag to him. He smirked and grabbed a slice. He got me a little better now, I think. "Okay?"

"Yeah, sorry." He said through the jerky.

"I've been out here long enough to know when something is safe enough or not. You don't have to worry about me going and getting myself killed. And if I do, it was my fault for being stupid." We went back to the truck just in time to go back, but as we climbed in, a large group of thirty or forty smelly bodies wandered out of the college coming towards the truck. So much for the clearing group.

We pulled away and headed back to Woodbury where we were home in time for dinner. The supplies were delivered to the med station near the town hall in a three story building, rigged with lighting and fresh water.

"I'm glad to see you taking part in the town." I turned to find the Governor behind me. The hair on the back of my neck rose.

"It's time to start helping out." I said simply.

"I hear you were able to take out three biters all by yourself." He seemed to be applauding me.

"Without my gun." I added.

"That's quite a useful skill. Would you be interested in working in a different department for a few days?" he asked in a lower tone. I wasn't sure what he meant.

"You mean not on the wall or a run?"

"Yes, I have a group going out tomorrow to check up on something we've set up off site."

"That depends on if I'm allowed a gun or not."

"I don't think you'll have need of one," he laughed lightly but stopped when he saw how unamused I was. "But of course you are entitled to one from now on. Your training has been phenomenal." I half smiled at this. I didn't have to hide it anymore.

"So I can expect you tomorrow?"

"Yes,"

"Great," he put his hands together in front of him with a fake expression of pleasure on his face. "Now, this job isn't just for anyone good with a gun. Keep that in mind when you head out. And try to not tell anyone. It's best for the common folk that you don't say anything." I nodded. "Martinez will be outside waiting for you at eight. Don't keep him waiting." I nodded again and made my exit.

The moment I got out onto the streets I headed home, half expecting the Governor to be watching me.

I changed and found Lucic and mom. She didn't ask about the run. I expected to tell her about it when we locked away in the room, away from ears that might do harm. When I was done eating I went to find Gregory. He was with a few other guys.

"No we need more glasses. The elderly can't see the books." One of them said as I came closer.

"Hey, Lucy."

"I need to talk to you." He said goodbye to the other guys and followed me to the front room of the empty building I'd found.

"What's up?" he asked the moment I closed the door.

"The Governor, he asked me to help out tomorrow."

"We don't have a run tomorrow."

"I know. He wants me to help him with a special job."

"Special?"

"He didn't give me details but there will only be a few of us. Said it's off site somewhere."

"Gathering for the area," he mumbled to himself.

"Huh?"

"Nothing, when you go, do whatever they say."

"Wait I should go?"

"Yes, don't question what's going on, just do it. Act like a good soldier, no matter how weird it gets."

"Gregory, tell me what's going on." I demanded.

"I can't I've never been there. But you will be collecting. That's what they want. Tomorrow will determine who you are here."

"Gregory, you're scaring me. I don't understand."

"Do what they say tomorrow and you'll be in the inner ring. Only a few can get in. You can get close to him."

"Why aren't you 'in' then?"

"Because I asked too many questions." He hung his head. "You can do this." He assured me in a different tone, a softer one.

"I'm not sure if I want to."

"Don't tell your sister about it."

"I'm not sure I should have told you." I backed up slightly. He saw my defensive movement and breathed in heavily.

"Lucy, I don't mean to frighten you, but you were right when you said something was wrong. Not many pick up on it," His hands were on my arms. "Not right away at least. But something isn't right about this place, and I've been trying to figure it out since I got here."

"Why did you stay, then?"

"I wasn't sure I could be out there again, facing the endless cycle of killing or be killed. It is safe here, that I'm sure of."

"No," I eyed him. "You miss it. You need to stay here because you miss the killing." He looked at me with wide eyes, like I was insane. Like I'd just accused him of witchcraft. Then in an instant his hands were on my hips and his lips on mine. I wanted to resist at first but then I couldn't. He was exactly like me. He might not have been sneaking off the kill them outside the walls, but he was just as mad as I was.

I was the first one to pull back, but I wasn't harsh about it. "Gregory, I can't."

His head was down and he was breathing heavily. "You saw him today, didn't you? At the alley." I looked at him.

"Yes," I answered.

He nodded, "I did too, for a while I saw James, my son. In the shadows and in the corner of my eye, I could see him running." He sat on a small table by the wall.

"And it stopped eventually?"

"For a while it did, when I was sure this was home and these people were my new family. But then things changed. I knew something was wrong and then he'd start to show up in dark. I could hear his voice sometimes. But he never left my dreams." He paused, looking off into the air. "I don't feel him. I haven't in a long time."

I stood in front of him and put my arms around him. He was exactly like me, what I was going to become if I stayed withdrawn. He, I assumed, had no one when he came here. No one to assimilate him back to society. He had the same lonely pains I did. I touched his head with mine and cupped his cheek. He held my arm so I'd stay close to him.

I pulled away soon and went for the door. "Will you be alright?" I asked him as he stood behind me.

"I'll be fine." I squeezed his hand.

"Goodnight,"

"Be careful tomorrow."

"I will," I kissed his cheek and headed out into the darkness.

I told mom about the run but nothing of what I was to do tomorrow. That was almost unknown to her as it was me. I couldn't get much out of Gregory, but he can't help what he didn't know.