Italics = Speaking German for Alana and Wilhelm
Wilhelm sat in the tent, legs stretched out. Glenn had taken the last watch during the night; he and Wilhelm were the only ones awake so far. When Rick came out from the house, a basket under his arm, the rest of the group started waking up, popping their heads out of their tents. Those awake enough to hear what he had to say were told that breakfast was on Hershel's family. In the basket were eggs, sausage links, a stick of butter, and Rick said biscuits were in the oven inside. Maggie was going to bring them out once they were ready.
One by one they headed into the house to clean up in the bathroom, each carrying their own towel aside from Wilhelm and Alana. As everyone came back from the house they gathered around the fire pit. Except Wilhelm and Alana. He had beckoned her to follow him back to their tent. Alana was brushing her hair out, trying to get it into a ponytail.
"You're going to go with Daryl today. Take the truck and look around some nearby houses for Sophia."
"What about you? What are you going to do?"
"Head back to the house we saw yesterday. See if Sophia went back there. I'll take someone with me. It'll be quick, just take a look then head back."
Alana winched as she pulled her own hair in the ponytail. "I can take my crossbow, maybe Daryl will teach me how to shoot."
Wilhelm shook his head. "No. Take the rifles. I'll get some extra ammo from Hershel. Daryl can teach you later. Here," he said, reaching into the tent and pulling out a small pack. He had filled it with water and small snacks. "And there's enough for both of you, so share."
"Yes, father," Alana replied drearily. Her face fell quickly. She hadn't spoken to their father in so long now. Part of her began to wonder if he could still be alive. If mother and grandmother were still alive.
Carol waved over at them. Maggie had just dropped off the biscuits, Rick trailing behind her back to the house. Lori had come out and was sitting on the log, a plate already in her lap. Glenn was back on the rock, everyone else in their same spots except Shane, who was sitting with Lori on the log. Carol handed Wilhelm and Alana plates.
"Good morning," she said to them. "How did you sleep?"
They both shrugged their shoulders. "Better then sleeping in trees," Wilhelm said.
As they turned round to join the group Alana saw that Daryl had taken the stool. The folding chair he had been sitting in the night before was empty. Seemed that no one wanted to sit so closely to him. Without care Alana took the spot, giving a nod to Daryl and saying good morning to the others. Wilhelm took the other chair next to the log.
Halfway through her breakfast, Alana realized she didn't have anything to drink. Dale had brought out an ice chest filled with bottles of water and the occasional soda or sports drink. All of them hot. Alana considered walking over and digging through it, but on second thought went back to the tent. With a smirk she grabbed two bottles of Big Red. On returning to the group she could feel the others staring at her hands. A pitiful groan from Glenn had her smiling. She turned around to face him and tossed the second bottle at him.
"No way!" he exclaimed. "Are you sure? I-I can't take this," he stuttered.
Alana shrugged, rubbing her head. "Longer I keep them, worse it'll taste."
Glenn couldn't decide if he wanted to chug the bottle right away or cherish it, sip by little sip. He took a gulp and smiled widely at everyone, his lips already turning red. He then began going off, saying how he could ask Hershel and his family if there were any stores nearby, hoping there might still be some sodas left over from scavenging. The others agreed, if only to get him to be quiet. The sugar in that soda was kicking in quickly.
Alana looked down at Daryl and saw his bottle of water was nearly empty. She had about a fourth of her Big Red left. Tapping him on the shoulder with it she offered him the rest. He only took a small sip before handing it back to her.
"So," Lori started, "who's all heading out today?" She looked round the group. She knew most the men would be heading out, just wasn't sure who would stay behind. While Lori understood they wanted to find Sophia—she wanted them to find Sophia—but what left her uncomfortable was that their strongest men would likely be heading out. She wasn't sure enough about Hershel and his family to feel safe if something were to happen on the farm. Not to mention the men would likely take a majority of their firepower with them.
Shane leaned forward on the log, hunching his shoulders and rolling his neck. "Me and Rick are gonna check out the road, see if Sophia went back there. Saw a housing development on that map of Hershel's. Probably check that out too."
"I'm going back to the house Daryl and I found yesterday. Left a sign for Sophia to stay there if she came back to hide." Wilhelm looked over at Alana. "Alana and Daryl are going to take a look at some other nearby houses. Take the truck. If they find anything in the houses we could use they can toss it in the back."
Everyone's forks moved slower to their mouths as Wilhelm said this. It was obvious Shane wanted to say something, but from the look Lori was giving him, looked like he decided against opening his mouth.
"You're going alone?" The question was from Carol. She was still back over at the picnic table. "No one's going with you?" A couple of the group shuffled their feet under her accusing stare.
"I'll go with you. I'm quick."
It was Glenn. T-Dog had been about to speak up, but Glenn knew with that wound still healing on his right arm he wouldn't be at his best.
"Alright then. Will you need a weapon?"
"…I have a really big knife," Glenn offered. Wilhelm laughed, shaking his head.
"Sounds good then. "We'll be going on foot. Won't be too hard to get there. Just take a look in the house then come back."
The group began to clean up, Carol taking care of the dishes. Before everyone could head off to do their own things Lori asked everyone to wait around. She walked quickly to the house, sticking her head inside. Everyone had begun taking steps towards the house.
There was a small eruption of applause and cheers as Rick helped Carl walk out onto the porch. He had one of Rick's undershirts on, to keep air circulating around the wound. Lori smiled proudly, clapping for her son.
Carl looked round at everyone. When he didn't see Sophia he asked, "Are you all going out to look for Sophia? I want to help too, I can help look for her."
Everyone remained silent as Rick and Lori stepped in to do some parenting. "No," Lori said repeatedly, shaking her head. "Hershel worked hard to fix you up, going out there and tearing up those stitches will be no way to thank him."
"Your mother's right. Once Hershel says you're all better we'll talk about you coming along with us," Rick added. Everyone knew Rick would make sure Hershel waited as long as possible before telling Carl he was in the clear.
"Don't worry buddy," Shane said, stepping up on to the porch and ruffling Carl's hair. "You'll get a chance to come out with us. Promise."
Lori pulled Carl away, leading him down the steps. "Come on, Patricia said we can help feed the chickens. You haven't seen the chickens yet. And Maggie said she's going to show you how to milk a cow."
Carl was upset about not being allowed to go with the others to search for Sophia, but he couldn't help being just a tiny bit excited about the chickens and cows.
"Right then," Rick said as he stepped down from the porch, "let's get our gear together and head out. Everyone is to be back before nightfall. And I want everyone to have a gun only as a secondary option. If we don't need to fire them let's keep it that way."
"I'll get some of ours," Wilhelm offered. He left the group and headed into the house, looking for Hershel.
He found him as he was coming down the stairs. He said good morning.
"Good morning Wilhelm, what can I do for you?" Hershel asked, making his way to the kitchen where he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"I'm going to need those packs of mine. Need to get some bats and such for the others. Also, I'd like to get some extra ammo and a gun for Alana. She's going out with Daryl to search the other nearby houses. I'd feel more comfortable knowing she has more than enough ammo to defend herself if something happens. Now of course, once they get back we'll bring it all back to you."
Hershel thought it over as he took a couple sips from his cup, looking out the back window. "I understand your concern. I'd want Maggie armed with everything possible if I sent her out with a stranger. Alright then, I'll bring them out and you can take what you need."
Wilhelm smiled. "Thank you. Soon as she gets back we'll bring everything back in here."
Hershel grabbed the packs and brought them out into the dining room, setting them on the table. Wilhelm began going through them, pulling something out here and there. A machete, two baseball bats, another sniper rifle and gun. He was looking over the boxes of ammo when Lori walked in. When she stopped and looked at them Wilhelm explained why Hershel was holding onto the packs.
"I thought after what happened with Carl that it would be better, the less available guns laying around the lesser the chance of accidents happening." Lori agreed. She excused herself as she went into the room Carl was staying in and came back out with Rick's hat for Carl.
"They don't trust you," Hershel said once she left the house.
Wilhelm smirked. "They don't have to trust me to need or want me in the group. Another person in the group just means their chance of getting bitten decreases. I'm just another person that could get attacked instead of them. Alana too. Doesn't matter much to me, at least not at the moment." He looked out the front door. "I'd be more comfortable if you kept these somewhere else from now on," he said, zipping the packs back up. "Upstairs somewhere." Hershel understood what he meant and nodded.
"I appreciate the precaution you're taking," Hershel said before heading towards the stairs.
Outside everyone had gathered around Wilhelm and Alana's truck. The maps were spread out and Rick talking.
"Daryl and Alana are going to check out this whole section. They're going to stick to the roads, check the houses, then head back. Shane and I will head back to the highway, see if Sophia is there. If not, then we'll head up here to that housing development. Now there's no telling how many, if any, walkers could be in there, but we'll try to be as thorough as possible. Wilhelm and Glenn will head back to the house Daryl found yesterday." Rick looked over his back as Wilhelm joined them, his arms full. "I want you two in and out. That goes for all of us. I don't want anyone out there longer than needed."
"So what, jus' want us to peek in the windows then hightail it outta there?" Daryl asked with a huff. "Not much of a search party."
"Be as thorough as you can, but don't waste anytime just standing around. Get in and get out. If Sophia's holed up somewhere she'll hear us and come out right away. Now Tommy gave me some cans of spray paint." Rick tossed one to Daryl and the second can he held on to. "We'll leave messages for her." He stood back and Wilhelm stepped forward, dropping the load in his arms on the truck's hood.
He handed out the machete and baseball bats. Shane and Rick took the baseball bats. When no one took the machete Wilhelm picked it up. Alana came walking up to the men. Wilhelm pushed the rifle and gun towards her. Rick showed her on the map where they would be heading.
"Everyone ready then? Alright, make sure you get back before nightfall. Remember, you get in and get out."
Rick and Shane started heading off towards Shane's recently acquired car. Shane looked back, a brow raised towards the guns on the truck. "He brings us bats while she gets the guns? Don't make no sense to me."
"She's his sister. He's just making sure she's protected. That's all."
"Yeah, then why he sending her off with him? I don't trust them Rick. Maybe there's a reason they weren't part of no group when they found us. In case you forgot, they found us. We didn't find them." Shane opened the door and slid into the car.
"None of that matters," Rick told him as they drove off. "If something happens, we'll deal with it. Hershel has all their weapons anyways."
Wilhelm and Glenn started off rather quickly. With a wave of his hand Wilhelm walked off from Alana and Daryl. "You listen to him, do what he says," he called back to Alana.
"You…you aren't worried?" Glenn asked quietly.
"What should I be worried about?"
"Well, you know, with Alana going off with Daryl and all. He wouldn't hurt her I mean, he wouldn't purposely hurt anyone, well not anyone who didn't deserve it in his opinion." Glenn stopped his rambling, swinging his really big knife around. "Sorry. Daryl doesn't make it easy to be friends with him. Guess everyone is shocked and kinda freaked out, worried, that you guys are, close to him."
"Alana and I have been on our own for quite a bit. Any group we were a part of, we were the outsiders."
"You come across many others? Survivors?"
Wilhelm nodded. "Plenty, at the start." He left it at that. There was no need to tell him about those they had come across. Or what had happened to them. "Once we get down into the clearing we'll have to be quiet."
Glenn nodded.
Alana had grabbed the extra guns and ammo and placed them in the truck. Rick had left the map for them to take so they would know which roads to take. Alana brought her own rifle and machete with her, along with the bag Wilhelm had packed for her and Daryl.
Squinting against the sun Daryl looked over at her. "You ready yet?"
"You driving?" she asked as she got in on the passenger's side.
"Like you'd know how to drive, wheel's on the wrong side for ya, ain't it?" Daryl started the engine and began driving round to the front of the house. He slowed down as Carol came out from the house, waving at them. She walked up to Alana's side.
"I made ya'll some sandwiches. It's just peanut butter and jelly," she said as she held a small brown bag out to Alana.
They both mumbled their thanks, Alana taking the bag and setting it between them in the truck. Carol grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"You both be safe out there." She walked away before either could say anything.
As they were nearing the end of Hershel's driveway Alana spoke.
"I guess now I shouldn't mention that I don't like peanut butter."
A couple minutes later Daryl looked over her like she had grown a second head. "What kind of person doesn't like peanut butter?"
Alana shrugged. "I don't like it. It's…it's like they are chewed already."
The houses were far off from the road, just like Hershel's. Some were set up similar to Hershel's but most of them were surrounded by woods. The roads were narrow and turned every which way. For the first house they had parked the truck close to the main road, turning it around so they'd be ready to get out quickly if need be.
Alana slung her rifle on her back and walked behind Daryl with her machete in hand. The handgun Wilhelm gave her was tucked away behind her back. Daryl only had his crossbow. That and the can of spray paint. Seeing that Alana had large pockets on her pants, he tossed the can to her.
The house was empty. Didn't look like anyone had been in it. No bodies were found either. The place had been packed away. The kitchen was bare aside from a can of beans and few cans of tomato soup. Alana grabbed them all and put them in the bag Wilhelm had given her. She had slung it over her shoulder along with the rifle. If something happened and they couldn't get back to the truck they would at least need some food and water to hold them over.
While Daryl kept lookout Alana spray painted a message on the house for Sophia. She didn't mention where they were staying. Only for her to stay put and wait for them.
Daryl rarely spoke to her unless telling her to get behind him or to stay behind. She wasn't enjoying the sexist treatment, but she said nothing. At least he knew what he was doing and she wouldn't have to worry about him getting them both killed by rashly acting out. She was glad she had been sent off with him and not Glenn. Though Wilhelm could take care of himself, she wasn't sure she'd be all that comfortable with being paired with Glenn. He was a good guy, but in a world like this she'd rather take her chances with Daryl.
At the second house Alana again grabbed what she could from the kitchen. With some hesitance from Daryl she went through the bedrooms, grabbing pillows and sheets and blankets. She had wanted to check the closets, look for winter clothing, but Daryl said they had been inside too long and needed to get back to the truck. He grabbed the can of spray paint from her side-leg pocket and left another message for Sophia. He led the way back; Alana's arms were full with the sheets and pillows.
Before reaching the third house they had to stop the truck. The small dirt road was blocked by an old, beat up red truck. It was flipped over. Alana got out and looked through the rifle's scope. She could see someone inside the truck.
They were dead.
Question was, were they dead dead, or just dead?
She took a look around the edge of the woods nearby. There was no movement. Walking to the back of the truck and getting into the bed she looked above and past the flipped truck. She could see the house up ahead.
"No movement," she told Daryl. "Someone in the truck though, can't tell if they'll try to bite us when we walk by."
"Only one way to find out," Daryl said, walking ahead. Alana jumped out from the truck bed and caught up with him.
If the man inside the truck was a walker Alana never knew, soon as Daryl was close enough he shot an bolt in the man's head. Walking by he yanked it out, wiping the bits of brain and skull off on his pants before reloading it.
There was one walker in the house. Downstairs, sitting in the living room on the couch. Its face was half eaten away. Neither of them could tell if it had once been a man or woman. Alana stepped forward, slicing down on its head with her machete. She held its head down as she pulled the machete free.
"I don't like being useless," she told Daryl when he looked at her with a blank face. "My brother sent me with you for a reason. To help."
Daryl shrugged. "Never said I needed help."
"Would you prefer I go sit and wait in the truck then?" She fought the urge to shift all her weight all onto one foot, sticking a hip out. She stood with her knees locked. Daryl didn't say anything. "We're outsiders just as much as you are. Now come on, in and out, remember?"
Alana headed into the kitchen. The cupboards were more fully stocked than the other houses. She grabbed as many cans as she could and stuffed them in her bag. Daryl waited at the doorway for her. The house was only one story and so they moved quickly through the rest of it. There were two bedrooms. Only one looked like it had been used regularly. Daryl and Alana guessed that the man in the truck had lived here alone. Alana grabbed more pillows and a few long sleeve button-up shirts.
Back in the truck Alana opened up the bag of sandwiches. She handed one to Daryl who ate it as he drove. He watched Alana from the corner of his eye to see if she would take a bite of hers.
"Wanna be useful? Eat that whole sandwich and I'll make ya useful."
Alana stared at him uncertainly. "Doing what? Cleaning your arrows for you? Tearing the sleeves off your shirts for you? What? I haven't seen you wearing one shirt with sleeves on it."
"Why don't you like peanut butter?"
"…it feels weird."
"Thought you were a army girl, taste don't matter when you're trying to survive."
Alana laughed. "Did my brother tell you that? That sounds like something he would say."
"Eat the stupid sandwich…and I'll let you drive the truck back."
It would be nice to drive, to do something normal. With the windows rolled down. If only the radio worked. It was silly, that such a small thing like driving would make her happy, but it did. Just the thought of it made her happy.
Without a word she took a small, tiny bite. She wiggled her feet as she chewed, slamming her hand on the side of the door as she took another bite and then another. She could feel the peanut butter on the roof of her mouth. She suddenly felt like a helpless dog. Daryl must have had the same thought for he was doing his best to not look at her, an evil smirk on his face. She muffled to him to stop it. She was at least thankful that he wasn't laughing at her. Didn't seem that he laughed out loud much.
Shoving the other half of the sandwich in her mouth Alana scrambled to open a bottle of water. She chugged half of it, trying to get the rest of the sandwich down. Daryl started chewing on his thumbnail, trying to cover the smirk.
"Agh! There, I ate it," Alana said out of breath. She kept smacking her lips, the taste and feel of the peanut butter still in her mouth.
The next two houses they checked were empty. Daryl helped Alana carry back more pillows and this time clothing as well. Jackets and sweaters. The bed of the truck was filling up nicely. Daryl looked out to the woods more than once, wishing he could head in, try to catch them a deer or at least some rabbits. He wouldn't be doing any of that with Alana tagging along. Though he caught sight of a squirrel here and there he didn't do anything. Wandering off for just a moment, anything could happen. And he didn't want to give anyone in the group reason to blame him if something went wrong.
Back in the truck Daryl looked over the map, mentally checking off the houses they had already been to. There were just a couple more nearby that Hershel had marked for them.
Alana took a look at her watch. It was a little past 2 in the afternoon.
"Three more houses. Then we'll head back," Daryl told her.
"Then I get to drive back," Alana added.
Daryl slowed down as they came down the next dirt road. The road was wider than the others. Enough room to turn around. He looked down the road and into the rearview mirror. According to the map the road to the house was a long one. He wasn't at east with leaving the truck so far back or leaving it even halfway. Would be better to just drive all the way up. If there were walkers they'd just swing around and head back.
The road was bumpy and the suspension on the truck wasn't the best. Alana reached over to grab her bottle of water that had fallen on the floor, reaching behind her to grab onto the seat. Daryl hit a nasty dip in the road and she lost her grip, sliding right into him, her head hitting his elbow and an arm reaching out to grab his leg for support.
Daryl flinched away like a child afraid of getting cooties.
"What is wrong with you!"
Daryl only looked at her with a blank, if only slightly startled, face. Alana shook her head, this time kicking her bottle over towards her before bending over to pick it up.
" No wonder you're an outsider. Anytime someone is nice to you, you freak out, see?" she said, poking him. "This is why no one trusts you." She poked him again. He slapped her hand away.
Daryl became defensive. "Why don't you try speaking English and stop that! Fucking nazi. Bet you and your brother killed everyone in that hotel for their supplies. That's how you really got that ugly ass scar, isn't it? Did he kill them all or did you get your bit in too?"
Alana's eyes became wide for a second. She turned back ahead and didn't look over at Daryl until they reached the house. Opening the door and stepping out she looked at him with a hard face.
"We did what we had to do. Just like you. You've joined a group that wouldn't care if you never made it back today. Just as they wouldn't care if I didn't make it back."
Alana began heading towards the house, circling round the back. Once out of sight of Daryl she rubbed the back of her neck, holding in a sob. It was ugly. She could feel it. Went nearly all the way down to the base of her spine. It was deep; Wilhelm couldn't believe that nothing had been damaged.
Coming back round to the front Alana met Daryl at the front door of the house. Daryl opened his mouth, but Alana cut him off.
"Don't bother. Let's just get this over with."
The bottom floor was clear. Daryl led them up the stairs. The house was rather large with four rooms upstairs, along with a bathroom. Alana stayed on the stairs while Daryl checked the rooms. He started from the far left and was making his way back. He looked through the closets, grabbing some clothing and tossing them over his shoulder. As he passed the stairs he looked down to Alana. She had her back to the wall, her machete down at her side. She was rubbing the back of her neck, tracing the scar. Her eyes glistened.
"Shit!" Daryl said, tossing the clothing from his shoulder and taking aim at the walker that had just turned the corner at the base of the stairs. Alana quickly snapped to, taking a few steps up.
Daryl came down to her side, another bolt already loaded. "Get behind me," he told her, pulling her by the arm. He took the steps slowly, heading down the stairs. Another walker stumbled and lurched forward at him once he reached the base, turning the corner. Alana jumped out from behind him, bringing her machete down on its head quickly.
That's when they heard it.
There was no way out, the house was becoming surrounded by walkers. Up was their only option. Daryl pulled Alana in front of him and pushed her up the stairs. Once at the top he turned around. He shot off another bolt as Alana stepped to his side, grabbing her rifle from her back. She took two walkers down before telling Daryl to check out the windows. There had to be a way out.
Daryl began punching the walls as he ran from room to room. The place was surrounded. There had to be at least thirty walkers outside, no telling how many had gotten in the house. They must have been following them from each house; truck must have caught their attention. Running to the last room Daryl could see part of the roof that hung over below the window. The truck was close.
Rushing out he saw Alana had stepped further back into the hallway. The bodies below were piling up, but that didn't stop the walkers from trying to get to them. "Come on!" he yelled at her, pulling her away. Once in the room they pushed a dresser up against the door, along with the bed. The walkers hadn't made it to the hallway yet, but they were getting closer.
Daryl ran to the window, tearing the curtains off. "Pick some of those bastards off, make our way down, then over to the truck. We'll come back later with the others and take care of the rest. Now come on!"
Alana and Daryl began picking off walkers. Alana cursed. "There's too many! We just need to get out of here, now!"
Daryl went out first, testing the overhang. He held his out to Alana. The walkers were at the door now, banging, clawing. Without a second thought she grabbed his hand and crawled out of the window. With the rifle slung on her back again she pulled her gun and started shooting.
Daryl was inching towards the edge, ready to swing down when Alana swallowed a scream. The overhang roof was giving way, swaying side to side. She jumped back, reaching for the window as the roof gave way under her feet.
Grunting Alana swung her legs side to side, trying to find her footing. Without the roofing the drop was too far. She looked down to the pile of wood and tiles. As she got a leg hooked on the window she turned back to see Daryl standing up from the debris.
"Run!" she screamed at him. He was looking around him, trying to find Alana. "Run!" she screamed again. He looked up and for the first time she saw him terrified. "Get the truck!"
The walkers were piling up against the door. It wouldn't hold for much longer. She grabbed her rifle and began picking off walkers as Daryl ran for the truck. He slammed on the gas, tires squealing and kicking up dirt as it fishtailed.
Daryl punched the dashboard.
The collapsed roof was in the way. There was no way for him to get under the window. He drove in circles, running walkers over, but the bodies were getting in the way, if he kept at it the truck would get stuck. He had to try and get over the debris, to get to Alana. As he was lining the truck up a shot was fired at him, going through the window shield.
Alana was straddling the window, rifle in hand. She shook her head. She shot again at him before turning around and disappearing into the room.
Over the coughing of the engine Daryl could hear as the door was broken down.
Alana took the walkers out as they came in with her rifle. The machete and gun she was saving for last. She laughed ironically when she realized she was stuck. Every other time Wilhelm had had a plan. He always had a plan.
But Wilhelm wasn't there with her now. It was just her.
She could hear the truck as it made its way down the road and away from the house. Away from her. And yet she was oddly comfortable with her situation. Doubtless that some of the walkers would follow the truck. If she was lucky they'd keep following it instead of giving up and coming back to the house.
In thirty minutes she had used up nearly all her ammo. The rifle was out. She had a total of 17 bullets left for her handgun, but she only counted 16.
"Always count your ammo," Wilhelm had told her once. "Always count it, but never count the last bullet. The last one is for you. Never lose count. You remember how I showed you? How to hold it?" He had asked her. She had nodded, sticking the barrel in her mouth, pointing upwards.
Looking down at the gun now she could remember, she could taste the cold metal on her tongue.