Chapter 6

As a group, we continue to move forward, weaving in and out of the cars, eager to pass through unseen and praying that we get out of the city unharmed. Rick leads us, his hands grip the gun he is holding, his eyes forward and focused. Glenn stands beside me, his cap pulled low, resting just above his brows, his concentration is also on the road ahead.

We have been moving ahead for hours and the day is starting to creep towards evening, the sky taking on a purple-orange hue as the sun starts to set. Soon we will have to find cover for the night, somewhere where we will be safe until the morning. My head is spinning, I feel the painful pull of sleep, but I shake it off. My body is way past exhausted, but I can't risk slowing down or stopping, not yet. Rick will tell us when it is safe to stop, he will know where to take us. My trust in him is immense, I know he has all our best interests at heart. His goal is to get us all out of the city unharmed.

It has been only 3 days since we first saw him in the convenience store. So much has happened in that time. Our return to group was eventful. We knew that Merle wouldn't be happy with us bringing someone else back, but nobody could have foreseen how he badly he would react. Merle felt threatened by Rick, that much was clear, and he didn't keep his opinions of this new guy to himself. He flew in a tirade of insults which Rick reflected quite brilliantly. As I imagined, Rick remained calm and refused to respond. He simply spoke of his plan to leave the city the following day, and that he would welcome anyone who wanted to join him. Merle had called Rick a few choice words, before launching a few punches at him. He hadn't expected the sheriff to defend himself so effectively, and he had deflected the attack, leaving Merle lying on his back on the floor. All at once, the atmosphere changed, people in the room saw a new leader, someone who could lead us out and away from the city.

Myself and Glenn had climbed up onto the roof of the building we were on to get some fresh air. We were talking about what our lives were like previously, with me feeling more and more relaxed in his company. We were so engrossed in what we were talking about, we didn't realise that Merle had joined us up on the roof. We only realised he was there when he grabbed Glenn suddenly and launched him quickly and roughly towards the edge of the roof. I screamed and pulled at Merles arms before he brought his elbow back sharply, connecting it with my nose which exploded painfully. I fell backwards, hands cupping my face, as blood gushed down my face. I was on the floor, watching on in horror as Glenn was hung dangerously over the edge, his legs kicking at the ground. His hands were grasped around Merles arms, which were strained as they held onto Glenn. I scrambled forward on my hands and knees and I pulled at Glenn's legs, hoping that I could hold onto him. Merle looked down at me, and booted me swiftly in the face, pushing me down into a familiar area of black…

'You can't fucking do this to me!'

My eyes open, a feeling of deja-vu washing over me. The familiar feelings of being knocked out take over. I am light headed, my eyes are struggling to adjust to the bright lifts and my body is screaming in pain, especially my nose which I am guessing is a bloody mess.

'Hey, do you think you can stand up?'

Rick is looking down at me, a look of concern on his face. I try to smile but the pain from my nose makes it almost impossible. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to recall what happened. I remember Merle….I remember my nose breaking and I remember Glenn…

'Oh my god! Glenn! Where is he?'

A shuffle-sound from beside me gets closer and I see Glenn's face hover above me.

'Hey.'

'Oh My God, Glenn…I thought he had killed you.'

'Rick here made sure he didn't.'

I look up into their faces and I try again to smile. Pain rushes through my face and I feel like crying. Gently, I raise myself up off the floor and I feel Ricks hand on my back, as he helps to support me. My eyes take in the scene around me; Rick next to me with Glenn who both look at me with concern, Andrea talking to a few other members of the group talking animatedly, not looking impressed at all. T-Dog is looking off the rooftop, possibly assessing our next move. And Merle is sitting upright, his head lolling as though he is asleep. It dawns on me that he is unconscious.

'What happened?'

My head screams as I ask the question; pain is shooting across and I feel sick.

'I appeared just as that arsehole tried to throw Glenn of the roof and just in time I think.'

Glenn smiles at me and winks.

'Invincible aren't I, babe?'

I laugh uncontrollably, probably more than I should. I feel almost hysterical. I start lifting myself up off the floor and sway slightly, my head feeling just as heavy and dizzy as it did when Merle smacked me one a few days ago. Ricks hand remains on my elbow as I stand there, concern evident on his face. I smile reassuringly.

'I am okay, Rick.'

He smiles back, the light from the sun bouncing on his blue eyes and I feel the slight stirrings of attraction. I swallow it down as soon as it appears. This is a man who is on a mission to find his wife and son, he would never be interested in me. I steal myself away from him, releasing his grip from my arm and I notice for the first time that a pair of handcuffs are keeping Merle attached to the piping behind him. Rick follows my eye and signs heavily.

'We will have to leave him here,' he says.

I look back up sharply, hoping to see an expression of jest on the sheriff's face. But there is none.

'But…that would be like a death sentence. The guy is an absolute tosser, but does he deserve this?'

Rick looks back at me, his expression darkening.

'Jenni, he's a danger to all of the group. A man like him is never going to listen to reason. The best thing for us is so move on and leave him. Uncuffing him would be too dangerous. I can't risk any of us for him.'

I look back at the man who almost raped me a few days ago and I try to understand what Rick is saying. I know that as a group we have to keep moving forward, and we need to eliminate any potential threats, but can I really be willing to sacrifice this man for that?

'Rick is right, Jen.'

I turn and see Glenn who looks at me reassuringly before he continues.

'We need to get a move on, we have waited around here far too long as it is. Maybe we should put it to a vote though?' Glenn looks up at Rick as he says this.

Rick ponders this idea before nodding, indicating that Glenn should take the lead with this task.

Glenn gulps, knowing that some, like me, may object to leaving a man to almost certain death.

'Right Guys, gather round please…'

The group of 8 move closer and Glenn looks from myself and Rick before continuing.

'We are heading off shortly, hoping to reach the edge of the city by nightfall. We need to move quickly and without any further drama…We all know that Merle, here, has been holding us all back so we are going to be leaving him before.'

A motion of gasps and whispering is heard, but nobody has any objections to this proposal, even Andrea seems quite keen to leave him behind, as she voices.

'We can't afford to waste time on someone who can damage the group any further. Correct call to make Glenn.'

Glenn smiles briefly, before answering, 'Well, actually, it was Rick who made the decision, but it is for the best.

'And do I not get a say in this?'

None of us had noticed that the man in question had woken. We look over at him, as he tugs violently on the handcuffs that holds him in place.

'You fucking arseholes will die without me! I have kept you alive! A fucking slut and a pig copper come along and you guys turn your backs on me? Are you fucking kidding me? You lot would be DEAD already if it wasn't for me….'

Rick moves towards the exit off the roof, obviously not wanting to get into a conversation about this.

'You fucking wankers need to uncuff me right now…or I swear I will meet up with you guys again and I will kill you all!'

I make eye contact with Merle and I shudder at the look he gives me.

'And you….one day I will meet you again…and when I do, I will wipe that pretty smug smile off of your face.'

I want to answer him, I want to tell him how much I hate him, but before I get the words out I feel a hand on my arm pushing me forward.

'He's not worth it,' whispers Glenn into my ear.

And with that we walk away, the sound of Merle shouting obscenities ringing loudly in my ear. I know it is wrong to leave him before, especially when he has no way to defend himself but I also know that I need to find my family, if there is a family left to find.