It'd been a week of scouting the area. There was no sign of the two she had seen. It was like the disappeared completely with no sign. Unsure what to think about the offer because was it even really an offer. He barely said two words about it. There was still the niggling feeling that something...anything other than the constant alone was better than this. She had to figure out though if it was real.
He said go to Appalachia and they'd see her. Okay but that was just creepy in a way. Obviously he's either a good guy or a creep. They can fight she would give them that but did that mean she had to give them her trust? No, she would wait. Maybe she would get lucky and they'd run into her again.
Anyways the area was ripe for picking from what she could see. Plenty of stores in the area and even a super walmart. She just hoped that most of the walkers were dead or moved on. She was tired of the constant fight and just needed to find some supplies and a place to bed down. What she wanted was to rest for once. To be able to relax and not feel like she was sleeping with a gun to her head.
If anything this Norton Virginia was plentiful in shops and clusters of houses but also having some on outskirts. It'd just barely started to really grow into it's potential when the world went down the crap shoot. Half finished buildings were in a few places and she even picked around them. There was evidence that someone had been through. Not a walker, the steps were to straight to have been some shambling corpse walking.
By the time she made it to the walmart she knew that it was a bad idea. It set atop a hill with a shopping center sprawling around it. There was restaurants all around and it'd be a gold mine if it wasn't for the dead. Some bodies didn't move at all and it gave her hope. But the real problem was the closed doors on the walmart. How was she supposed to get past all these dead or did they call them walkers...without getting killed or overwhelmed just to fight with the doors to open. No, she couldn't tackle this one even if it was a gold mine.
"So..."
Carol nearly shrieked at the voice. Growling she rolled over and looked up at the teen she'd met earlier in the week. Now that she was more clear headed and not scared from running for her life she could take a clear look at him. He was clean. That stood out. He wasn't covered in dirt or even in the same clothes from before. He had fresh water where ever he was that was clear and supplies. He looked healthy and fit so he was definitely eating.
"You okay down there Georgia?" He smiled and squatted.
"I'm good, why do you insist on sneaking up on people?"
"You're not people. I know you."
"No you don't." Two voice rang out together with hers.
Carol turned and seen the man Daryl and another person she didn't know. Both were looking at her expectantly and she realized she was still laying on the ground. Her stomach growled when she rolled over and Logan sighed.
"Is this the woman?" The other male questioned.
"Yes, this is Georgia." Daryl nodded along.
The other man eyed her before snorting and looking out over the parking lot from the top of the Asia Cafe restaurant. He seemed to be just as annoyed as her at the walkers around them. Daryl's face never changed from being neutral but he was eyeing her and Logan. When Logan looked at him he jerked his head and his son went to stand with him.
"My name is Carol." She finally muttered.
"Nah, too late you're Georgia now." Logan bantered.
"Well sugartits don't look like ole wallyworld is gonna work out today." The other man said to her.
"Excuse me."
"You're excused." He remarked. His smile turning sharp and taunting. "I'm Merle. You're already met my baby brother and nephew."
"Merle." Daryl sighed. "I'm sorry about him."
"Don't apologize for me like i'm not standing right here." Merle snapped. "She's still alive so she's got some balls in there somewhere to stand up for herself. We don't want to offer every weak thin skinned pussy out there a place in our spot."
"The weak will weed themselves out." Logan parroted.
"Anyways, we're headed back now and seen you skulking about out here and figured you were either gonna die or draw them off. Which is it?" Merle questioned.
"Neither." Carol snapped.
Daryl gave her a small smile and nodded. "Have you thought about what i said?"
Carol pursed her lips and looked him over the same way she did his son. He was healthy, fit and clean. Blessedly clean and well fed. Something she missed the feeling of. This Merle looked the same if not a bit uncouth. With a sigh she nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. Winter was coming, she needed a place to bed down. These men might just be her saving grace at the moment.