I limped through the forest, subtly glancing over my shoulder as more and more walkers began to pile behind us; following.
A couple wouldn't have been so bad. A couple dozen almost can't be worse.
They haven't noticed us yet. They're just following along, but some of them are faster with longer strides and they're starting to drive a wedge between me and the kid.
They're pouring in from the front as well.
I have no idea how that will affect our ability to move away from them but that's not our biggest issue now.
If the others are at the highway, we can't lead a herd this size straight to them.
I need to turn it away while they're still somewhat following our lead.
I subtly nudged the Randall and he jumped but not too noticeably thank goodness.
In the lowest voice possible with the least amount of mouth movement, I muttered, "Stay close."
He subtly nodded and I started in a slightly different direction.
Some of the walkers began to alter course but not enough.
I need to attract them somehow without drawing attention to us.
I can't use my gun, obviously; that's out of the question. I can't cut my finger with all this walker blood on me — can't risk it getting into the open wound. I've already got a head injury.
I can't run so it can't be anything involving movement, but it can't be too subtle. I need to turn a herd this size carefu— my fingers brushed against each other as I stepped down, snapping a twig with my boots.
Ohhh snickerdoodles, I hope this works.
I carefully brought my eyes up to subtly look around as I pressed the pads of my fingers together before a resounding snap echoed just loud enough a number of walkers turned my direction.
I pretended to turn as well, and started shuffling again, completely missing Randall's wildly panicked look at my plan.
Instead of turning around to see if they were following, I used my ears and subtle glances at my sides, walking at an even slower pace but it's still not enough.
Most of them are not interested enough to follow yet.
I glanced at Randall subtly, feeling the sweat collecting on my neck and the knot beginning to form in my gut as another riskier move came to mind.
If this doesn't work, it could get us both killed.
After everything he's been through, he doesn't deserve that.
I shuffled closer to him, almost bumping shoulders and as quiet as I can possibly manage while still having him hear me, "Don't speak."
"The highway isn't far from here. About a half mile in that direction." I subtly pointed, using my eyes mostly to indicate the direction.
"Head that way, keep the sun over your left shoulder."
His confusion is evident but I chose to ignore it.
"Why are you—"
"No questions." I gripped his elbow, starting to steer him that direction.
"Look for a car jam and a yellow vehicle with a white spray painted message on the windshield. It's possible there's even some supplies on the hood still. Go." I let go of him but not before pushing something into his hand.
"What about you?" he muttered lowly, flinching as a big walker walked past us and barely glancing at what I'd given him. I waited until it completely passed us to answer.
"If I'm not there within an hour. Leave."
"Wha—"
I split off from him before he can ask another question like I told him not to.
I started back towards the front-center of the herd, subtly glancing to make sure he's doing as told.
I'm concerned about leaving him by himself but he's smarter than he looks; provided he can keep his mouth shut.
He'll be alright.
I forced my mind back to the task at hand and swallowed the extra moisture in my mouth, taking small deep breaths to get my blood pumping, just in case this goes very wrong.
3rd Person POV
Randall watched her disappear into the dark masses, his anxiety skyrocketing the second she was moving away from him. Like a kid being left by their parent in a grocery store.
But as soon as a whistle pierced the air, all of the walkers in a 100 foot radius turned like bloodhounds, and began to shamble at a slightly faster pace in that direction.
He couldn't move.
She told him to go but he couldn't move more than half a step at a time in the direction she told him, without looking back and squinting through the dark-light of the early morning hours; to try and catch the slightest glimpse of possibly the only person he's got left in the world.
Right up until the moment he saw it.
A familiar glint of steel, from a familiar figure leading the dead's march up the far hill; diagonally away from the highway.
Randall couldn't tear his eyes away until she was at the top and glanced back over her shoulder. Not at him, but making sure the dead were in fact following her.
Before she disappeared over the other side.
Randall must've stood there for a solid minute, part of him hoping she'd come back and isn't actually leaving him on his own, before he finally followed directions.
Randall looked down at the blade she'd shoved into his hand. 'Keep the sun over your left shoulder.'
So that's exactly what he did.
One hour. If she doesn't come find him in one hour…
She will.
He doesn't know 'er very well but she don't seem like the type a person to say somethin' and not do it.
His gut twisted so hard he thought he was gonna puke, but his feet carried him in the direction his eyes fixed on. Glancing up at the sun every few seconds to make sure it stays exactly where she told him to keep it.
Every step, every minute that passed and every walker he saw that ignored him, made him so nauseous he's no longer stumbling because of his leg.
Right up until he reached a slight hill with a guard rail at the top.
Excitement struck through his spine like lightning as he raced up the hill (almost face planting into the dirt twice).
As soon as he reached the top, he broke into the biggest grin of his life. Hope spiralled out of control in his chest as he climbed over the railing.
He stumbled into the middle of the road and frantically swung in both directions, looking for any sign of a carjam and relief flooded his stomach.
Maybe a mile farther up, is the back ends of more than a few cars.
Randall was almost running — at least what passes for a run with this leg — towards the cars. Not a thought given to what could await him there. Only that she told him to go, and that's where he's going. Without question.
Daryl's POV
I leaned to the side as I drove my bike around a dirt corner. The early morning fog barely being pierced by my headlight.
Every time Carol shifts behind me there's a half a second when I think it's Eve but my gut twisting is a reminder I could do without that it ain't her.
She made it out. She's probably with the others who were up by the house.
I looked at every walker with dark hair that we passed and every single time, my grip tightened and released. Relieved it ain't her, and put even more on edge cause it ain't.
The loud hum of the engine helps a little, hopin' maybe if she's nearby she might be able to hear it.
If she got out, she'll be with the others. They'd have to follow the road from the house — the driveway.
That heads back towards the highway. Which is exactly where we're headed now but we gotta take the back roads to avoid the herd.
I couldn't see if anybody else got out but if anyone did, they'll—
Two little red glows through the fog up ahead caught my attention.
"Do you see that?" I flinched at Carol's voice behind me, glancing at 'er. I wasn't expectin' that.
I ain't used to the person behind me speakin'.
The closer we got to the taillights drifting on the road, the back of a green car began to come into view.
That's Glenn & Maggie's car.
I revved the engine as we got closer and the brake lights came on.
I rolled up next to them as the driver side window rolled down and sure enough. It's Glenn & Maggie.
"Thank god." Glenn muttered under his breath. "It's good to see you two."
"You two." Carol sighed in relief behind me.
"Did you guys see anyone else get out?" Maggie asked immediately. Her eyes are red, looks like she's been cryin'.
I shook my head. "Did either a you see Eve?"
"No" Glenn looked down, shaking his head. I forgot he's Eve's best friend.
"What do we do?" Carol asked, her hands shaking where they grip the sides of my jacket.
"Head back to the highway." Glenn answered almost immediately.
I nodded. "That's where Rick'll go, Eve knows that."
"The others too." Glenn added, taking Maggie's hand and squeezing it.
"Then that's where we go." I looked ahead and around, to make sure we ain't about to get grabbed or nothin'. "You know where to go?"
"Yeah." Glenn nodded.
"This road'll take us straight to the highway." Maggie added, nodding straight ahead.
I nodded, glancing ahead. "I can't see shit in this, you go first. Bump any walkers ya see off the road."
Glenn nodded before carefully pulling out in front and I followed behind; keeping a good follow distance in case they hit somethin'.
Eve's smart. She knows what to do. She and Glenn think a lot alike. She's gotta know the rest of us will go back to the same place.
As long as she got out with Lori and them, she's fine.
She's fine. She's gotta be.