The weeks passed by slowly as Rick made his recovery. Nadine had bonded with Carl quickly, they'd spent a lot of time scavenging for supplies together and she'd even begun to teach him how to play poker. If they ever happened to pass another group of survivors he would no doubt be able to hustle them out of their last can of peas now.
Yet despite the budding relationships with the two that she had begun developing, Nadine couldn't help but feel sorrowful whenever she let her mind wander. This decrepit house held too many cruel memories, she couldn't stay here. She'd have to bring it up with Rick soon, the longer she remained here the more the grief consumed her.
"Read them and weep." Carl cried out in victory, a large grin covering his face. "I might let you win next time."
"The student has become the master." Nadine laughed heartily, something she found herself doing more often lately. "Well done, young grasshopper."
"What's my prize?" He enquired curiously. She couldn't give him fifty million dollars but when they'd scoured the neighbourhood a week or so back she had found an old chocolate bar. It wasn't much but she'd saved it for him, he was still a child at heart after all.
"Are you ready for the big reveal? Maestro, drum roll please." She gestured flamboyantly over to Rick who was sat on the couch and chuckling at them both. He shook his head and repeatedly tapped the cushions, so not to make a sound too loud that it attracted walkers.
"Ta da!" She exclaimed, pulling the chocolate bar from the duffel bag and placing it in front of Carl.
"Cool find. Thanks, Nadine." He smiled up at her happily, the two of them bumping fists.
"You're welcome." She smiled back, ruffling his hair. "But since you won, you get to tidy up."
"Fine."
Making her way over to the couch that Rick occupied she let herself drop down with a light sigh.
"He's never that eager to clean up for me." Rick chuckled, glancing at Carl and shaking his head before continuing. "I wonder when he'll realise you've been letting him win."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She looked at Rick and gave him a knowing smile, one that actually met her eyes.
"In all seriousness, there is something I've been meaning to talk to you about." Rick announced, his earlier smile now returning to a serious line.
"I've been wanting to talk to you too." Nadine told him, now was a good a time as any to tell him how she felt about this place. "You go first."
"Alright. I think it's time we moved on." Rick started, an ominous look washing over his handsome face as he looked at her. "This place was only ever temporary and with more walkers appearing everyday the only thing we can do is leave."
She hadn't expected that. She was glad that they wouldn't have to argue about it though, that was probably the last thing the atmosphere needed. It would be incredibly hard saying goodbye to Sarah's grave but this was for the best. She'd finally be able to leave the past behind and start moving on with what was left of her life.
"Nadine?" Rick questioned, she hadn't realised how long she had been silent for.
"Oh, sorry. I think that sounds like a plan." She agreed, giving him a reassuring look. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Resting his hand upon hers lightly, he had a concerned expression as he looked at her. "It's for the best, Nadine."
"I know." She sighed loudly, laying her head in her hands. "Is it bad if I say that I'm glad?"
"It's understandable. You've been through a lot here."
"I suppose so. I just can't help but feel like I'm betraying Sarah by leaving." She confessed. She'd never been very good at opening up to people but Nadine felt as though she and Rick shared a common ground, like she could tell him these things and it wouldn't face the man. "I know that if we leave then I'll never come back here and then she'll just rot away, forgotten."
"You won't let that happen." Rick assured her. She hoped he didn't feel sorry for her, she couldn't think of anything worse than being pitied. Even if he did she was still grateful for his support.
It was nice to be able to have adult conversations again. She had gotten on well with Sarah but the conversations between them left much to be desired.
"I'll be okay. I can do this." A sudden boost of confidence lifted her spirits, even though she'd never be able to visit Sarah again it didn't mean that she wasn't with her.
"Let's start packing."
—
The past five days of travelling had been particularly gruelling. They didn't have a specific destination in mind, they'd just been wandering aimlessly. Whilst it was there only option at this very moment, it couldn't last forever.
"On your right." Rick whispered to her, alerting Nadine of the shambling corpse that was dragging its feet towards her. It was sad to think it was once a person with a family and friends but she couldn't let that linger at the forefront of her mind, if she humanised it then it would be much harder to put it down.
Unsheathing her hunting knife, Nadine moved in closer towards the rabid walker. Jumping back just in time to avoid its vice-like grip, she gave a bone-crushing kick to its weakened knee, causing the walkers body to crumble to the ground. It grasped at the air trying to grab her ankles but Nadine was faster, in her defensive stance she plunged the knife into its skull, killing it instantly.
"You alright?" Rick asked as he and Carl approached her. Wiping her bloody hands on her jeans she turned around to face them.
"Yeah, thankfully it didn't scratch or bite me."
"We should keep moving." Carl advised, eyeing a small hand full of walkers that were stumbling out of the tree line.
"I think I saw a sign saying that there is a housing estate a few miles from here." Nadine informed them, as long as it wasn't overrun then it would be a good place to bunker down. "We could clear one of the houses out and stay there for the night whilst we plan our next move."
"That's our best bet. Let's move out quickly, we'll want to make it there before nightfall." Rick ordered them. He was commanding when he needed to be, like a true leader.
—
"It doesn't look too overrun." Rick announced as they scoured the area for threats. There were various walkers lingering in the neighbourhood but apart from them it seemed eerily quiet, perhaps too quiet.
Choosing the house that had the most tactical advantages, they slowly made their way inside. The house itself was grand and it looked as though wealthy people had lived here before the apocalypse.
"I'll check upstairs." Nadine informed her companions who nodded whilst telling her to be careful. It was good advice, you never know who or what could be lurking around in a dark corner.
Making her way upstairs she cringed slightly as she moved, her heavy boots were making too much noise when they connected with the rotting wood of the staircase.
After checking four out of the five bedrooms and luckily finding nothing, Nadine made her way towards the last door. The once pristine white door was now tarnished and the butterfly stickers that had adorned it had now worn away, just like everything else.
"Clear?" She heard Rick ask as he and Carl made their way up to her location. She hadn't even heard them ascend the stairs, she needed to focus. An absent mind could easily get you killed.
"The other rooms were clear but I haven't checked this one yet." She answered honestly. She wouldn't tell him this but her reasons were selfish, she didn't want to have to break down a child's bedroom door. It was likely that there wasn't anything behind the door but there was always that terrifying chance that there was.
"Do you want me to go first?" Rick offered politely. Whilst that may have been the easier option, ignoring the inevitable never helped anyone.
"I've got it." She assured with a firm nod, although the frown that appeared on her face gave away her true feelings.
"We're right here. Don't worry."
Bracing herself she launched her body towards the door, it took a few goes before the splintering wood cracked and the door swung open.
The first thing that hit her was the undeniable stench of death. Although the pungent smell was not out of the ordinary, it wasn't something that you got used to. Her mouth grew warm and watery with saliva and she could feel her body wretch at the smell. The gruesome sight before them didn't help either.
The remains of a family were strewn across the room, the image of dead children was something that was burned within your memories forever.
"Oh my god." Nadine gasped as Rick and Carl immediately became defensive. "These bodies are only days old, this was recent"
They'd been treated no better than cattle heading for slaughter, they'd been tied up and executed. The cruelty that some people possessed knew no bounds.
"Whoever did this can't be far. We can't stay here." Rick spoke sternly, his body language was tense and he was becoming more so as the seconds passed.
"I agree but where else would we go? We can't just wander aimlessly." Nadine stressed, she didn't want to sleep in a graveyard with one eye open all night but what choice did the have.
"I don't know." Rick yelled shocking both Nadine and Carl. His frustration at the situation clearly getting the better of him.
"All I'm saying is we don't have a lot of options, if we stay out there we might die and if we stay here we might die. It's a lose-lose situation, Rick."
"We just need to plan our-" He started only to be interrupted by a worried Carl.
"Dad, you guys should come take a look at this."
Making her way over to the window, she was quickly pulled down to her knees by Rick.
"Stay low." He advised her, his hand lingering around her wrist a second longer than was needed.
"Those aren't walkers, are they?" She asked meekly as they observed in horror, a small group of seemingly heavily armed men emerge out of the tree line.
"We need to leave. Now."