Daryl's POV

The Hell are those idiots doin'? Drivin' to Las Vegas?

I looked at the road again, stabbing my fire with a long branch.

How long's it take to drag one old fart back to his precious farm?

"We can't find Lori."

I glanced to my side as Carol came runnin' up, outta breath.

Hmph, figures. I resisted the urge to scoff and turned back at my fire.

"And the others aren't back yet either."

"Yeah" I jabbed the stick farther under a log, trying to shift it deeper into the fire. "Dumb bitch must've gone off lookin' for 'em."

"What?" Carol panted.

"Yeah, she asked me to go. Told 'er I was done bein' an errand boy." I shifted my knee higher under my elbow.

"And you didn't say anything?" Carol's voice rose an octave.

I stabbed the fire again, waiting for her to say more, to see how she chews me out for it, but the silence dragged on.

My eyes dropped to my lap after a solid minute and she hadn't said a word, but I can feel 'er starin' at me.

She started walking away but stopped and came back. "Don't do this. Please."

Do what?

"I've already lost my girl."

I stood, gettin' right in her face. "Yeah, that wasn't my problem neither."

I threw the stick to the ground, stomping to my tent. Apparently movin' my campsite a quarter of a mile away from theirs ain't far enough to get these people off my back.

They're more troublesome than the swamp monster 'erself.

Just cause she's always gotta help when someone so's much as needs a hand wipin' their ass, doesn't mean I gotta.

I ducked inside the fabric hut.

Why they all so worried, anyway? Eve went with those assholes. They'll be fine.

That women may be the biggest trouble magnet I ever met, but she'll make sure they get back. Even if she's gotta drag 'em.

It's amazin' she's even made it this far in one piece, she'd take a bullet for anyone.

I froze. My fingers lingered on the inside zipper of my tent.

"The others aren't back yet either."

...

"She can take care of 'erself. I ain't 'er babysitter." I growled under my breath, yanking the zipper down to close.

I laid down, putting my arm behind my head and closed my eyes.

'My hold on Eve's forearm slid to her wrist and her foot slipped. Her chest slammed against the root my foot was braced against, and she gasped; all of the air being forced from her lungs.

Hoarse coughs erupted from her throat at the impact, and she began to slide down.

Her arm started slipping out of my grip, and her hand gripped my arm live a vice but she was still sliding.'

I groaned, turning on my side. It ain't my job to get her outta trouble.

"Thought I said I wouldn't come save ur ass" I panted, glancing over the muddy raised root, into the 20 foot sinkhole.

The Hell does that have to do with anything now? She got 'erself into that mess, I had to drag her out.

Doesn't mean I'mma do it again. If they're stupid enough to get themselves killed, so be it.

I turned back over, pulling my knee up and laid my arm over my eyes.

'I watched Eve look around from the branches above, and point in the direction we need to go.

I looked, finding a landmark to follow before nodding. I motioned for her to come down and jerked my head for the other's to follow me.

A gunshot rang out and I whipped around.

The tree shook and my attention shot to the black shape. Every muscle in my body tensed as the branch broke.

"Eve!" I was running before I knew it; eyes fixed on her dropping like a stone in water.

The sound when her back hit the ground, pulled my gut into my throat and sucked the air straight outta my chest.'

I sighed, letting my arm slide from my eyes. I ain't gettin' any sleep, if this keeps up.

Eve's POV

"Glenn! Eve!" Rick's voice came from the main floor up the stairs behind us.

"W—We're alright. We're alright." Glenn called back to the other room.

I moved at an angle towards the door, gun raised. We didn't hit anyone, which means they could be waiting for us out there now.

I got close enough to the door to see into the alleyway. That is not a lot of space to work with. It's maybe 20 feet wide. There are some dumpsters not too far off the right.

I don't see anyone out there, not even any blood. So I was right, we didn't hit them. They could be behind those dumpsters, or they could've run back down the alley.

I exhaled through my nose, gritting my teeth.

We've gotta risk it. We don't have a choice, unless we'd rather stay here, trapped like rats until all this gunfire attracts every walker for miles right to the doorstep.

We're already pushing it, and look what happened last time we overstayed our welcome.

I saw Hershel coming up behind me in a reflection and turned but as soon as I did, he stepped on a creaky floorboard and Glenn whirled around gun first.

My heart lurched in my chest for a moment I was afraid Glenn was gonna pull the trigger; as Hershel put his hands up but Glenn relaxed. Thank goodness he doesn't shoot first, ask questions later.

Hershel carefully pushed the barrel away from him, aiming it at the floor to his left, away from all of us.

"Rick wants you to try for the car."

Glenn & I exchanged looks before looking at Hershel.

"Try?" Glenn's incredulous tone speaks well enough for the both of us.

"You'll try, and succeed." Hershel nodded pointedly. "I'll cover you."

A old drunk man with a loaded weapon watchin' our backs. Oh this is gonna end well. Lovely.

"That's a great plan" Glenn's sarcasm was undercut by his shook tone.

I sighed, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose, and tapped Glenn's arm.

On a better day, I'd argue for a more sound strategy but we don't have the time, the resources, or another choice right now.

I gave Ace a look we both know all too well at this point, the look of, 'Let's just get this over with'.

He exhaled, puffing out his cheeks and nodded.

Someday, me & him won't be the only ones sticking our necks out anytime somethin' ridiculously dangerous needs gettin' done.

We'll be pulled back to the last line of defense, to be whipped out for only really important moves that require speed, fast reflexes, stealth, an instinct to run, and a quick clever mind.

I'm just holding out for that day.

Alright, enough whining. It's go time.

I went to the doors and as soon as Glenn pushed them open, I peeked out, scanning both directions.

This alley isn't big but it ain't small. It's maybe 40-50 feet to either end. 10-12 feet across, and the opposite side to the building is protected by a high sheet metal fencing of some sort.

Nothin' jumps out at me right off the bat, aside from some possible cover about 20-25 feet to the right.

Whoever was back here could be hiding behind those dumpsters.

I nudged Glenn on my right and nodded to the bins. He looked, and took as steady a breath as he'll manage right now, raising his shotgun.

One slow step at a time, he crept into the alleyway. I stepped out just after, gun raised and watching the left end behind us. While Hershel covered us from the doors.

I followed down the filthy paved alley, keeping my step light, and glancing over my shoulder every so often so I don't walk into Glenn, or get left behind.

It's too quiet. I don't hear any gunfire, not even from the front of the bar where Rick should be.

My eyes scanned the trees and bushes, and various hiding places at the end of the alley, watching for the slightest peak of a gunbarrel, person acquiring their targets, or the most concerning: walkers.

Dealing with walkers on top of these assholes would not go down well; other than using them as meat shields against a hail of gunfire, and possibly scaring the enemy into fleeing.

This reminds me of Atlanta; tryna get that damn bag a guns. Only we don't have a safety net waitin' in some alley with a crossbow ready, this time.

If only Daryl were here.

We could really use his eyes, and another stealth killer right about now.

We neared the dumpsters and I glanced away for half a second; Half a second too soon.

Pain exploded in my shoulder as the shot rang out, and I was spinning towards the ground before my brain even caught up to what was happening.