Chapter 10-Escaping Atlanta
The run group was on top of the roof as Andrea and Jacqui looked down at the streets. Glenn and Dean walk back over. T-dog was sitting down as he used the radio. "God, it's like time square down there," Andrea says.
"How's that signal?" Dean asks T-dog.
"Like Merle's brain weak," T-dog says with a smile.
"I'm telling him you said that," Dean says.
"Go right ahead. Just make sure my grave is dug," T-dog says.
"Keep trying," Glenn says.
"Why? There's nothing they can do," Victor says. "Not a damn thing," Victor says.
"As we said, we got people outside the city. There's no refugee center. That's a pipe dream," Morales says.
"Then she's right. We're on our own. Up to us to find a way out," Rick says.
"We're working on it," Dean says.
"These streets ain't safe. Walkers everywhere getting through them is the hard part," Jacqui says.
"What about under the street? The sewers?" Rick asks.
"Victor, check you see any manhole covers?" Glenn asks. Victor goes over to the side of the roof and looks.
"No, must be all out of the streets where the walkers are," Victor says.
"Maybe not. An old building like this build in the '20s. Big structures often had drain holes tunnels into the sewers in case of flooding down in the sub basements," Jacqui says.
"How do you know that?" Glenn asks.
"It's my job, was my job. I worked in the city zoning office," Jacqui says.
"Okay, Glenn, you stay up here with T-dog. Morales, Rick, Andrea, Jacqui, and I will head down. Try to think of another idea while we're down there," Dean says. Glenn nods as Dean leaves everybody downstairs. They walk through the store and into the basement. They walk to the ladder and look down.
"This is it? Are you sure?" Morales asks.
"Glenn and I really scoped this place out the other times we were here. It's the only thing in the building that goes down. But we have never gone down it. Who'd want to, right," Dean says. "But now I am," Dean says.
"We'll be right behind you," Andrea says.
"No, you won't. Not you," Dean says.
"Why not me? Think I can't?" Andrea asks.
"Look, until now, Glenn and I. We were always by ourselves. In and out, grab a few things, no problem. The first time we bring a group, everything goes to hell. I will go down this hole, but we do it my way. It's tight down there. If I run into walkers, I have to get back quick. I don't want you all jammed up behind me, getting me killed. I'll take one person," Dean says. Rick was about to speak. "Not you, I don't know you, and I don't trust you. You and Andrea will go out to the front and watch those doors. Victor will come with me. Morales head to the roof and try to contact the group or come up with another idea. Jacqui will stay here. If something happens, yell down to us, get us back up here in a hurry. Okay?" Dean asks. Everybody nods. "We have all had training. We know how to kill walkers and how to shoot. Glenn and I have done this before. Just listen to us," Dean says. "Now, let's get to work," Dean says. Dean climbs down the ladder, followed by Victor. They start to walk as the others up top left.
Morales walks past Rick and Andrea to the stairs. Rick pulls out his gun as they near the doors. "Sorry for the gun in your face," Andrea says.
"People do things when they're afraid," Rick says.
"Not that it was entirely unjustified. You did get us into this," Andrea says.
"If I get us out, would that make up for it?" Rick asks.
"No, but it'd be a start," Andrea says.
"Next time, though, take the safety off. I won't shoot otherwise," Rick says.
"I know. I didn't think I would actually shoot you. I was mad. As Dean said, we have had gun training," Andrea says.
"They were trained?" Rick asks.
"One of them was a cop. Dean and his brother Sam helped. Then Daryl and Merle. Both knew how," Andrea says.
"Sounds like they were prepared," Rick says.
"Maybe not, but we were better off with them," Andrea says. Rick nods as he looks at the door. Down in the sewer, Dean and Victor walk through the sewers. They come across metal bars.
"Yeah, we got ourselves a sewer tunnel. Jacqui was right," Dean says.
"Can we cut through it?" Victor asks.
"If we had a blowtorch and half a day, sure. Dale's hacksaw sure as hell won't do it," Dean says. They look down and see a walker eating a rat. Dean pulls out his knife and stabs it in the head. "Let's go back," Dean says.
Upstairs, Andrea was looking at a necklace. Rick walks over. "See something you like?" Rick asks.
"Not, me but I know someone who would. My sister. She's still such a kid in some ways. Unicorns, dragons, she's into all that stuff. But mermaids they rule. She loves mermaids," Andrea says.
"Why not take it?" Rick asks.
"There's a cop staring at me," Andrea says. Rick chuckles as he looks at the blond. "Would it be considered looting?" Andrea asks.
"I don't think those rules apply anymore. Do you?" Rick asks. Andrea takes the necklace and puts it in her pocket. They hear glass shatter as the walkers break through the first glass door. "What did you find down there?" Rick asks as Dean, Victor, and Jacqui come back.
"Not a way out," Dean says
"We need to find a way and soon," Andrea says.
"Maybe Glenn or T-dog thought of something," Dean says. They head back upstairs.
Dean was looking at binoculars at a construction site. He hands them to Glenn. "That construction site, those trucks. They always keep keys on hand," Dean says. Victor looks down.
"You'll never make it past the walkers," Morales says.
"You got me out of the tank," Rick says to Glenn.
"Yeah, but they were feeding. They were distracted," Glenn says.
"Can we distract them again?" Rick asks. "They're drawn by sound, right?" Rick asks.
"Right, like dogs. They hear a sound, they come," Glenn says.
"What else?" Rick asks.
"Aside from they hear you? They see you, smell you, and if they catch you, they eat you," Morales says. Dean looks at them.
"They can tell us by smell?" Rick asks.
"Can't you? They smell dead. We don't. It's pretty distinct," Andrea says.
"I have an idea," Dean says. Everybody looks at him. "We cover ourselves in walker guts if we smell like them. We can walk with them," Dean says. Everybody looks at him.
"It's all we got," T-dog says.
"We can use the clothes downstairs. Rick, Glenn, and I can cover ourselves. Rick and Glenn will head for the trucks. I'll go for the guns," Dean says.
"This is a bad idea," Victor says.
"It's all we have. We don't have much time before they break that glass. Now come on," Dean says. Everybody nods as they head downstairs and get dressed. T-dog and Morales run out and grab a walker. They drag it in. Dean puts on a face mask and breaks the glass. He grabs the ax. Everybody stands around the walker. "We will cover me first. I leave as you cover Rick and Glenn. That will give me enough time," Dean says. The group nods. Rick bends down by the walker and searches him. He grabs his wallet and opens it.
"Wayne Dunlap, Georgia license born in 1979. He had $28 in his pocket when he died and a picture of a pretty girl, with love from Rachel. He used to be like us, worrying about bills or the rent or the super bowl. If I ever find my family, I'm gonna tell them about Wayne," Rick says as he stands back up.
"One more thing," Glenn says. They all look at him. "He was an organ donor," Glenn says. Dean drives the ax into the walker as the others groan. He opens his stomach up and cuts off an arm. He takes off the mask and holds the ax out to T-dog.
"Keep chopping," He says to T-dog, who nods as he grabs the ax.
"I am so gonna hurl," Glenn says.
"Later," Rick says as T-dog chops.
"Okay, let's cover Dean," T-dog says. The group reaches down and grabs the guts and blood. They start to wipe it on Dean. It takes them a few minutes, but Dean gets covered. Dean walks to the door.
"See you in a little bit. Get those two covered," Dean says as he opens the door and walks out. They go back to the walker and start to cover Glenn and Rick.
"Oh, jeez. Oh, this is bad. This is really bad," Glenn says.
"Think about something else, puppies and kittens," Rick says.
"Dead puppies and kittens," T-dog says. Glenn bends over and vomits.
"That is just evil. What is wrong with you?" Andrea asks T-dog.
"When we get back. I'm letting Merle beat your ass," Jacqui says.
"I'm sorry, Glenn," T-dog says.
"You suck," Glenn says.
"Do we spell like them?" Rick asks.
"Oh yeah," Andrea says. "Glenn, is your gun loaded?" Andrea asks. Glenn nods as he pulls out his gun and checks the clip. Glenn nods as he tucks his gun back in his holster.
"If we make it back. Be ready," Glenn says. They nod.
"We need more guts," Rick says as he cuts in the walker. They cover themselves, and then they head outside. They walk outside and walk in the alley. Rick had the ax, and Glenn had a crowbar. They walk past the walkers and towards a bus that they climb under. They stand up on the other side of the bus. They continue to walk.
On the roof, the group opens the door and runs out. "Hey T-dog try that C.B," Morales says. T-dog nods. Morales, Victor, Andrea, and Jacqui run to the side and look at the streets with the binoculars.
"Base camp, this is T-dog. Does anybody hear me? Can anybody out there hear me?" T-dog asks as they see Rick and Glenn. They hear thunder
Camp
Daryl sat with Charlie and Alicia. Alicia was having Charlie do work as Daryl watched. Daryl had noticed Shane and Lori who came out of the woods earlier moments after each other. Dale was cleaning the R.V. "Boy, that hose isn't long for this world, is it?" Dale asks.
"No," Jim says
"Where the hell are we going to find a replacement?" Dale asks.
"It's late. They should've been back by now," Amy says.
"Worrying won't make it better," Madison says.
"Glenn and Dean know what they are doing, Amy," Lori says to the blond, who nods. Daryl looks at Shane, who was with Carl. They hear the radio.
"Hello, base camp. Can anybody out there hear me?" T-dog asks. Daryl and Shane stand up and walk towards the radio. Dale climbs to the top and grabs the radio.
"Hello? Hello? Reception bad on this end," Dale says. Merle and Nick walk back up the hill.
"Is that them?" Travis asks.
"We're in deep shit. We're trapped in the department store," T-dog says.
"He says they're trapped?" John asks.
"There are walkers all over the place. Hundreds of 'em we're surrounded," T-dog says.
"T-dog repeat that last part. Repeat," Dale says. They hear static.
"He said the department store," Lori says. Dale nods.
"Now what?" Amy asks. Daryl and Shane look at each other and nod.
"We go after them. Only a few of us. We're not using too many. Shane, Sam, John, and I will go," Daryl says. The group nods.
"That is my son. We leave now," John says.
"No, he said they were surrounded if we go in guns blazing. We all die. Get the guns and anything we have that makes noise, as much as I hate to say. We have to wait. We don't know what is happening. For all, we know if we go, we could get them all killed. We give them a few hours. Dean and Glenn are smart. They will figure this out. We just need to be here and ready," Daryl says. The group sighs but nods.
"3 hours. We give them that long, and we go," Daryl says. The group nods. John lets out a huff.
"If my son dies. I will kill you," John says before he walks away. Daryl and Shane share a look.
Atlanta
Rick and Glenn walk through the streets past walkers that look at them. "It's gonna work. I can't believe it," Glenn whispers.
"Don't draw attention," Rick replies back. On the roof, the door opens as Dean walks over to them with the gun back. They look at him.
"You did it," Andrea says. Dean nods as he sets the bag down. It starts to rain.
"Oh man," Morales says. On the street, the rain starts to fall on Rick and Glenn. The blood starts to come off. They both had weapons in hand. One of the walkers comes towards Glenn.
"The smell's washing off. Isn't it?" Glenn asks.
"No, it's not," Rick says. "Well, maybe," Rick says. A walker comes towards Rick. Rick drives the ax in its head. "Run!" Rick yells. They run through the streets. Killing walkers with their weapons. They get to the gate and throw their weapons over. They climb up the gate; They take off the coats. Glenn goes for the keys as Rick shoots some of the walkers. Glenn breaks the lock and grabs the keys.
"Rick!" Glenn yells as he throws the keys to Rick. Rick grabs the keys as they head for the van. They get in and start the car as Rick drives backward and out another gate.
On the roof, Andrea watches them. "They're leaving us," Andrea says.
"No, they are not. If they came now, they would be overrun. They are going to cause a distraction," Dean says. They all look at him. "We need to be ready to leave. Grab the guns, our bags, and Dale's tools. Now," Dean says. The others nod as they grab those things. They wait.
"Those roll-up doors at the front of the store facing the street. Meet us there and be ready," Glenn says from the radio.
"Do we have everything?" Dean asks. Everybody nods. "Let's go then," Dean says as they run to the door of the roof and enter the building. They run through the building past the door and into the loading area. They grab the chains. They hear a car alarm. "Told you. Car alarm," Dean says with a smile. They hear a bang on the door and pull it open. They throw their bags in and get in. They close the doors just as the walkers get close. They drive out of Atlanta. Dean sat in the front.
"You got the guns?" Rick asks.
"Yeah, we have everything. No need to go back to that damn city," Dean says. Rick looks at everybody. "Rick, I need you to understand something. The two men who lead our group. They have been in that position since the beginning. They know what they are doing and have made us who we are. Made sure we were prepared for all this. We all trust them with our lives and will follow them no matter what. When we get there, you either follow them or leave," Dean says. "I think everybody here agrees," Dean says. Rick looks at the others, who nodded. On the highway, a long red car goes down the highway, its alarm blaring.
Thanks for reading. So I just realized that I have two people named John. I may go back and change my John's name. Tell me what you think about that? So Rick is being put in his place, and we will get some tension next chapter. I'm excited about it. I'm thinking about bringing in Troy and Jake Otto. But I don't know yet. If you guys see any mistakes at all in this chapter or others before and after this one please let me know so I can go back and fix them. As always, suggestions and feedback is welcomed. Until next time.