"AHHHHHHHHHHH" A shrill scream startled me awake. My heart pounded as the adrenaline kicked in. I bolted up, grabbing my knife that lay beside my sleeping bag. Ace was barking insistently scratching at the tent's entrance. I unzipped it, running out to see about ten dead ones, as well as Ace ripping one of the dead ones off of Amy. Glenn was right on my tail, running to Amy. Everyone else came rushing out of their tents, with Lori and Carol keeping Carl and Sofia back. The new family also stayed back with them.
The men and Ace took out almost all of them, but one charged towards me. I side-stepped and stabbed my knife into its head. Its body went limp and slumped to the ground with a light thud. I turned my gaze to Amy who had blood splattered on her. She looked terrified, at the lifeless carcasses sprawled out on the ground. Andrea was holding her distressed sister, seeming just as scared as her little sister.
"Amy, what happened?" Andrea asked. Amy looked up at her, shaking her head, not knowing what to say. She shook as her sister comforted her. The entire group was shaken up, especially my friends. I walked over and huddled with Sofia and Carl. Lois and Eliza slowly made their way to us, hesitant to intrude on the huddle. Sofia gently wrapped an arm around Eliza and brought her into our little group. Eliza's little brother joined soon after, standing in front of me. He barely reached my head in height. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, as he hid his face in my chest.
I sighed, watching as Shane, Glenn, and Morales dragged the bodies away. Dale stayed near Andrea and Amy, trying to comfort Amy in any way he could. He seemed just as distraught as her though. His face held an anxious expression, and his posture was tense. Shane seemed stressed beyond belief, Lori, Carol, and Miranda (Morales Wife) stuck close with the children. Asking if everyone was alright. I handed Lois off to his mother when she checked on us and to go over to Glenn and Shane who were conversing. I walked up from behind Glenn, staying quiet enough that neither of them noticed me.
"I don't understand what's drawing them here?" Shane asked, clearly exasperated with the situation.
"They may just be spreading out from the city," Glenn suggested. Dale walked over, leaving Amy to Andrea, and chimed in.
"We may just need to keep better watch. This is safer than the city, but we clearly overestimated how safe this place is," Dale spoke, grabbing Glenn and Shane's attention.
"Well, then we'll set up a watch for the night. We'll rotate every few hours," Shane said.
"I'd like to take first watch. I don't think I'll be able to sleep anyways," Dale volunteered. Shane nodded, walking off to inform the rest of the group of the new arrangements.
"Are you sure you want first watch?" Glenn asked Dale.
"I'm sure," Dale reassured, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Alright, I'll take watch after you. Wake me up if you get tired, okay?" Glenn said as he began shooing me to our tent.
"Back to bed alright?" Glenn told me, walking over to the tent with me.
"I want to keep watch with Dale," I argued.
"No June," He yawned. "It's time for bed. You and I both need sleep."
"But-" I began, but was cut off.
"Please don't argue," Glenn spoke, gazing down at me with tired eyes. I sighed loudly and went into the tent with Ace by my side. I slipped into my sleeping bag silently while Glenn zipped up the tent's entrance. He sunk into his sleeping bag, falling asleep within a minute of laying down. I turned away from him, staring at the wall of the tent.
I wasn't tired in the slightest. I felt antsy and on edge about tonight's earlier events. I felt Ace's warm body against my back, felt his breathing, and closed my eyes. I did my best to relax, but I couldn't seem to rid myself of the adrenaline rush from before. I sat up, looking over at Glenn. I carefully put on my boots and slipped out of the tent with Ace as quietly as I could. I walked out, setting my feet on the gravel, spotting Dale by the campfire staring right back at me.
"Can't sleep?" Dale asked with a kind smile.
"No," I answered as I approached him.
"Sit with me," he said, patting the spot next to him on the log. I sat with him, staring into the fire, admiring the embers flying around.
"Aren't you cold?" he inquired. I shook my head no, feeling quite comfortable near the fire. Especially in my long-sleeved shirt and boots.
"Not really, I replied, gazing back to the fire. I heard him shuffle a bit and then felt a light tap on my shoulder. I looked over, seeing Dale offering me a Hershey's chocolate bar. I couldn't help a small smile and accepted the candy.
"Thank you," I snapped a piece of the bar, handing it back to Dale.
"Why don't you share that with the rest of the kiddos tomorrow?" Dale suggested, refusing the bar. I nodded, setting the bar on my leg, and ate the bit that I had broken off.
"When do you think Merle and Daryl will be back?" I asked,
"I'm not sure, maybe a week?" Dale guessed. "They'll be alright."
"They might, but we won't. We're almost out of food and we brought in four more people," I stated.
"We'll work it out," Dale reassured.
"We could just go into the city and find all we could ever need," I claimed, frustratedly.
"The city is dangerous for anyone, let alone a little girl," He started. I gave him an annoyed look.
"I know it's dangerous. I lived in it by myself with only Ace," I retorted. "It's not too dangerous for it to not be an option."
"It is an option. It's plan B only for emergencies. Like medical supplies, food, tools, and essential items, but we shouldn't risk lives until we have to," Dale explained. I still didn't like it, but I understood what he meant.
"I know they won't let me go when it is time to risk going into the city, even though I'm the one who knows the city best," I spoke.
"Well, you are quite young. You're what nine?" He began, I nodded in response and he continued.
"We want the best for you. We want you to be in the safest place possible, but I can see why you're frustrated. You lived all on your own, you took care of yourself and Ace. Now, you feel like you need to take care of this group, even though all we're trying to do is take care of you," Dale explained. I nodded.
"I have to pull my weight and they won't let me," I said.
"You are though. You helped a lot today. You brought back food for the group. That's already pulling more weight than anyone is expecting of you." Dale said.
"It doesn't feel like it's enough," I stated.
"What will be enough?" Dale inquired with a kind look.
"... I… I don't know, but I know that what I'm doing now isn't enough," I affirmed.
"Will anything be enough?" Dale asked clearly concerned now. I sat silently, looking down at my feet.
"...I don't know," I spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, not looking up. I heard Dale sigh and place a hand on my back.
"You're putting so much pressure on yourself," Dale began and I nodded in response.
"Shane and Glenn are doing a pretty good job leading so far. Don't you think?" Dale asked.
"Yeah," I admitted.
"Then leave some of that pressure on them. They will take care of the group, you need to take care of yourself," Dale suggested.
"That doesn't feel right," I confessed.
"Nothing in this world is right at the moment," Dale said. "This world is getting more dangerous by the second. It's better safe than sorry." I looked at him sorrowfully, looking back down at my feet.
"I'll make you a deal, alright? I'll vouch to let you go to the city when they go, okay? But you have to promise me to stay with the group and to listen to whoever is in charge." Dale spoke sternly. I nodded with a small smile.
"Thank you," I said, feeling slightly better. I heard a zipping noise and turned my gaze to where Glenn was getting out of the tent frantically. His posture relaxed as he saw me.
"June, I told you to go to bed," Glenn said seeming annoyed. I opened my mouth to answer, but Dale spoke before me.
"Sorry, that's my fault. She got up to use the bathroom and we started talking," Dale made a quick excuse for me.
"Oh, alright. June, you should really get back to bed," Glenn said walking over, and Dale nodded in agreement, shooing me off to bed. I walked over to the tent, getting inside with Ace. I put the chocolate bar in my bag for later and slipped off my boots. I snuggled into my sleeping bag with a big yawn. I was finally tired, and my eyelids slowly shut. I was in a deep sleep for the rest of the night.