Chapter 4: Trust
RPOV
~12 years ago~
It had been hours since I hung up the phone to Shane, wandering the streets in search of my little girl. Worried for her safety and of her walking around in the cold. Hearing a car pull up, it's horn honking before it came to a stop by the street. It was cold, I was frozen and tense but I kept going. I needed to do, so I could find my daughter and take her home.
"Rick!" a familiar voice called to me, running to me I saw as Shane's brown eyes and muscular structure came towards me. His eyes sad as he stopped me, turning me to look at him but I just stared off into the distance, numb and slightly scared. "Rick...listen to me. You need to get back to the house, to Lori and Carl. You need to be there in case she comes back, I promise...I'll find her," Shane tells me and pats my cheek to make me agree.
Nodding silently, I nod and follow him to the car, getting in and buckling up to wait patiently. We drove silently, pulling up I looked at the house and saw Lori at the door, her tears had stained her face and her hair was messy. She looked like a mess, as though she had been all but pulling her hair out of her head. She's worried about Kat too...Lori needs me, but so does Kat...
KPOV
I was walking for hours, some weird people were following me, so I ran and soon hid behind an abandoned house. Curled up and trying to get warm, rolled up into a ball, my back against the warm as I soon began to freeze. My body shivering, my breathing fogging into mists and disappearing into the dark sky. Tears ran down my cheeks as I let the fall to the cold floor.
The sounds of cars parking and running scared me a little, my eyes shutting tightly as I heard the footsteps slow down and halt. Slowly opening my eyes, I looked up, tears pouring out the corners of my eyes and my heart was pounding. "Katherine," Shane whispered down at me as he slowly raised me to my feet.
His hands gently placed on my arms. His eyes looking into mine as I shivered and froze in his hands. Picking me up, he carried me and used his free hand to reach into his pocket. "Rick?" Shane spoke into the phone as he gently wrapped me in a blanket and placed me in the car. "Yeah...I found her...be there in a few," he says and hangs up. Driving, I stayed silent and cried softly to myself.
When we got there, Shane held my hand and we walked towards the door to my house. Scared and worried that my mommy and daddy would be mad at me for leaving. He knocked on the door and we waited seconds for it to open. Mommy and daddy looking at me with sad, scared, angry and relieved expressions.
They said their thanks to Shane and pulled me into the house. Mommy was giving me kisses on every inch of my face as she crouched to my level. "Why did you leave us baby girl?" mommy asked me sadly as she rubbed at me arms, trying to warm me up.
My bottom lip trembled as I didn't want to speak, knowing it would make them hate me. "You scared us Kitty Kat," Daddy said as he got to his knees in front of me. Tears started to run down my cheek as I looked down at the ground, ashamed of what I did and afraid of what they'd say. "Why did you leave baby?" Daddy asked me as he got a little closer, his eyes searching for mine and I just shut my eyes.
Sighing, I looked up at them and frowned, tears running down my cheeks as I sniffled. "I-...you and mommy don't love me anymore," I tell them and this makes mommy's eyes go wide. Daddy looking at me sadly as he let his gaze drop to the ground.
"Wha-what could possibly make you think that?!" mommy asked me confused, her voice panicked and scared. "Me and daddy love you very much. Forever and always baby...we love you so very much," mommy said as she wiped my tears, her own spilling from her eyes.
"I-...you wouldn't play with me anymore, both of you are so...close to Carl that you forget about me and...I don't feel like you love me anymore," I tell them as my voice cracked and got muffled by my tears which made my daddy sniffle.
Mommy went to speak but daddy cut her off, gently placing a hand on her shoulder and shaking his head. "I-...I'm going to go grab her some fresh and warm clothes," mommy said to daddy as she leaned to me and pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead, leaving me and daddy alone.
"Baby girl...why would you think me and mommy don't love you?" daddy asked me as I got tucked in, a hot cup of cocoa and some chocolate chip cookies placed on a tray on my lap. Daddy sat next to me on the bed as we both pressed our backs on the walls.
"Carl's been getting so much love from the two of you that...I fell invisible and like you guys don't care about me anymore," I tell him honestly as I got a cookie and tried to snap it in half, chuckling Daddy took it from my hands and snapped it for me. Handing me them, I took one and left him with the other, taking the hint he took a bite out of his half as I nibbled on mine.
"Baby girl...I have always loved you, I always will...same thing from mommy. She loves you very much too. She was so worried knowing you left and...baby girl...you need to stop with this kid stuff. I need you to know that we love you...I went out there, looking for you in the cold and worried more about you than myself," daddy said a little sadly, looking at my drink I was sad and took a hard swallow of the cookie I was eating.
"I'm sorry daddy," I tell him quietly and he just places his arm around me, over my shoulders. Grabbing another cookie, I took a sip and strained until I snapped the cookie in half. Giving one slice to daddy and eating the other myself.
"Kat...if there is anything I know in this world is...I love you. Mommy loves you and...the way you can tell is because we look after you, care for you and most of all...always remember this...today...I went out looking for you and...not only because it was the right thing to do but...because I love you...I couldn't just leave you behind," daddy said as he pointed to my cup of hot cocoa.
"Can daddy have some of your drink?" he asked and I just give him a nod. Taking a sip, he gulped and looked down at me. "We never leave the ones we love and care about behind, always remember that because...the time will possibly come when you forget that and...I want you to remember this day...because if I didn't love you...we wouldn't have found you in the first place," daddy says as I nod and frown.
Finishing my cookie, I leaned over and placed my head on his chest. Sighing he hugged me to him tightly, kissing the top of my head and resting his head on top of mine. My arms wrapped around his waist as I held him close to me. Whispering 'I'm sorry' to him again and he sighed. "Just...don't do it again baby girl...please," he whispers.
Present day...(LPOV)
Seeing my baby girl out there with her dad, preparing to go back to Atlanta was...heart-breaking. She's grown up quicker than what I would have liked but...I can't help but feel pride and sorrow. If anything happens to either of them...I don't know what I would do. My daughter...my first born and my husband.
As the truck left us, I had to turn my back to her as she waved me off. I felt like those mothers during the war sending their loved ones off to die. It frightened me, made me proud and sick with worry. Crying into my hand, as the truck drove away, I walked away to sit by the creek and cried to myself.
When I finally calmed down, I washed my face gently and dried my face with my shirt. Walking up to go find Carl who was sat in the tent, looking at our family album and sniffled. "Hey, you know...I bet they'll be just fine," I tell him as I sat beside him and shook him gently.
"I'm not worried. Are you?" Carl asked me as he turned slightly to look at me. His bright blue eyes looking up at me, giving me that same calm look both Kat and Rick give me.
"Yeah, a little," I admit as I think about it. Nodding, I rub at my arms as I replied to him. Thinking of the possibilities with them out there in Atlanta, of what could happen to either Rick or Kat. My heart pounding with slight fear and shock.
"Don't be," he tries to encourage, his eyes looking right up at me, unwavering and confident in his words. He seems...so calm...like Kat and Rick. Just like them.
"Why?" I asked him confused as to why he would say such a thing. I'm a mother and a wife...of course I'm going to worry baby boy.
"Think about it, mom. Everything that's happened to him so far...nothing's killed him yet. As for Kat, she's strong and smart. She knows how to handle herself, she'll be fine since she's with dad," Carl told me which made me nod. I hope you're right baby boy...I hope you're right.
KPOV
Letting me go, I wiped at my eyes and walked down to where they all were. Glenn's hand gently rubbed my back and saw as Daryl paced around angered. His body began to tense as he soon raised his crossbow up at T-Dog, mad. "I won't hesitate. I don't care if every walker in the city hears it," Dad said as he quickly as lightning lifted up his gun and pressed it to Daryl's temple.
After Daryl relaxed himself, his bottom lip trembling and he slowly lowered his crossbow. "You ah...you got a do-rag or something?" Daryl asked T-Dog as dad lowered his gun and watched T-Dog reach into one of his pockets, pulling out a blue cloth from it and passing it to Daryl slowly.
Daryl shook the cloth out, placed his crossbow to one side and walked to the hand. Getting on his knees, he picked up the hand and began to inspect it. "I guess the saw blade was too dull for the handcuffs. Ain't that a bitch," he said as he gently laid the hand down and enveloped it with the rag.
Waving to Glenn, he moved to put the hand in the backpack and went to pick up his crossbow. "He must have used a tourniquet maybe his belt. Be much more blood if he didn't," Daryl said as he inspected the amount of blood and the scenery. My dad ushering me to get next to him, gently moving me to follow behind him, I followed dad as we rushed down a pair of stairs that led somewhere else.
"Merle? You in here?" Daryl called down the stairs, Dad checked over the walls to look down and we all ran down the stairs. T-Dog and Glenn following closely behind me as I had my bow ready, in case of any walkers along the way down or for when we got there.
LPOV
"Dale. Have you seen Carl?" I asked up at Dale, I had left Carl to be looked after Dale. That he was to be in Dale's sight at all times and that I was going to go help the camp out by getting wood for the fire. Looking up to the elder man, a hand raised to block the sun and make my vision better than what it was with the sun shinning in my eyes.
"Shane took him down to the quarry. There was some mighty bold talk about catching frogs," Dale told me as I clenched my jaw after a few seconds of it hanging open. Putting the wood down, I wandered towards the two who were by the rocks, catching frogs. Carl looked like he was having fun but I had to stop this before Shane thought he was let off the hook for what happened.
Huffing, I walked towards the two, Carl listening in to what Shane was saying as they spoke hushed. "Hey, Carl...what did I tell you about not leaving Dale's sight?" I questioned Carl as he looked up at me innocently, unsure of what was happening between us all.
"But Shane said we could catch frogs, remember?" Carl told me as he tried to remind me of a conversation we had early that now meant nothing to me. This man has done us a horrible thing. Telling us your father was dead...
"It doesn't matter what Shane says. It matters what I say. Go on back to camp," I said hinting a little at the lie he had given us months ago, lying to us about the whole situation, opening and closing my hand as I had my arm stretched out, telling Carl to come over to where I was.
Sighing, he walked past me and I gently pressed the palm of my hand to Carl's head as he walked up, leaving me and Shane stood there by the rocks. "I'll be right behind you," I tell him as he walked off. When he was out of earshot, I turned to glare at Shane.
"I've got to tell you, I do not think you should be taking this out on him," he said as I walked behind Carl, moving as far away from Shane as I continued to walk and left him there by the rocks.
"You don't tell me what to do. You lost that privilege," I told him as I kept moving, never turning my back to him but I then heard splashing of water, which told me he was getting out of the water and was walking towards me.
"Lori, could you just wait up a second? I think we should talk. We haven't had a chance-," he tried to talk, pressing my lips tightly together, I turned around and looked at him. Waving my hand and repeatedly telling him 'no'.
"No. No no. That's over too. You can tell that to the frogs," I told him as I went to turn my back and walk away from him for good.
"Damn it, Lori. Look, I don't know how it appears to you, or what you think-" he went to continue to speak, but this just made me turn around and walk up to him. Angered that he would want to continue this conversation further.
"How it appears to me? I'm sorry. Is there a gray area here? Let me dispel it. You stay away from me. You stay away from my son and daughter. You don't look at them. You don't talk to them. From now on, my family is off-limits to you," I told as I counted my rules on one hand, his head shaking as he sighed, his hands resting on his hips.
"Lori, I don't think that's fair," he went to defend himself, this just made my anger boil. Rushing to him I got as close as I could and shoved him.
"Shane, shut up. Don't!" I growled at him as I reached him, shoving him forcefully.
"I don't think that-" he went to continue, bumping into his chest, I made sure he would get the point. He wouldn't look me in the eye as he spoke.
"My husband is back. He is alive," I stated, emphasising every word as I spoke. Hoping he would get the point and leave us alone. That what we had once...was gone and would never return.
"He's my best friend. Do you think I'm not happy about that?" he asked me as I walked away, making me turn around at him, surprised he would even ask me this question.
"How dare you? Why would you be? You are the one that told me...told my daughter that he died! You son of a bitch," I spat at him as I sighed the last part, walking away and leaving him there to tell the frogs of his sorrow. Not caring about him for a single second more.
KPOV
Reaching down the stairs we walked through a hall that lead to an office, seeing a walker stood there, it turned to growl at us and Daryl quickly shot it in the head with his bolt. Dad walked beside Daryl as I edged behind them in the middle. When we got into a bigger room, we saw two walkers dead on the ground.
"Had enough in him to take out these two sumbitches. One handed," Daryl commented as he looked down at the two walkers. "Toughest asshole I ever met, my brother," Daryl spoke as he leaned down to pull an arrow back into his crossbow, my eyes glued to his arms and when I saw my dad turn to look at me, I quickly looked away and back down at the walkers.
"Feed him a hammer, he'd crap out nails," Daryl said, the way his arms had flexed and his muscles tensed...made me a little dazed as I looked away and licked my lips. My mouth slightly dry as I walked towards the walkers to investigate them, Dad getting his gun at the ready as he walked in the same direction we believed Merle was heading.
"Any man can pass out from blood loss, no matter how tough he is," Dad commented which made me nod, it was known that was to happen. Only logic. For what it's worth...I hope Daryl finds his brother, or a sign that he is alive and well...
LPOV
During the past few hours, Shane had punched Ed's face in for hitting Carol, Jim had been digging under the sunlight, Kat and Rick hadn't come back, Amy caught some fish with Andrea and Jim was now tied to a tree. Things had been crazy, some good moments but a lot of bad ones too. The only good things were that we now had some fish to the menu and Morales had found some more rocks to go around the fire. Allowing for us to be warmer but that no one could see us from a distance.
Jim sat tied to a tree, under the shade and cool breeze as we helped our kids with homework. Carol was sat by Sophia while Carl was sat beside me. Shane had come over to give Jim some water, watering his head, talking about letting Jim loose and about cooling down.
"Sorry if I scared your boy and your little girl," Jim said to me and Carol, looking to him, I smiled and allowed Carol to continue what she was doing with Sophia.
"You had sunstroke. Nobody's blaming you," I tell him kindly, hopeful as to him getting better and not to feel guilty about it. We didn't know what caused this sudden outburst of digging in Jim but, it happened and it was in the past now.
"You're not scared now, are you?" Jim questioned little Sophia as he looked at her.
"No sir," she answered which made Carol lean over and kiss the top of her daughter's head in comfort and slight pride. That was the same look I would give my little Kat...my kitten. My little baby girl...god...I hope she's alright, that they're both alright.
"Your mama's right. Sun just cooked my head is all," Jim said as he looked at Carl, who was looking up at Jim from under his lashes, trying to concentrate on his work but getting distracted by Jim's obvious conversation.
"Jim, do you know why you were digging? Can you say?" I heard Dale ask in the distance at Jim.
"I had a reason. Don't remember. Something I dreamt last night," Jim answered up at Dale. "Your dad and sister were in it," Jim said to Carl, who looked at him interested in what Jim had to say. "You were too. You were worried about them. Can't remember the rest. You worried about your dad and sister?" he questioned Carl as he sat there against the tree.
"They're not back yet," Carl spoke softly, his mind off the homework and drawn to the man against the tree. He seemed so confused, worried but...calm. It made me wonder how he couldn't just tell me what was going through his mind.
"We don't need to talk about that," I quickly ended the conversation between him and my son, rubbing Carl's arm comforting. Trying hard not to think about the possibilities my baby girl and husband are going through is difficult enough. I don't need a man I have pity for asking my boy about his father and sister.
"Your dad's a police officer, son. He helps people. Probably just came across some folks needing help, that's all. That man and girl, they're tough as nails.
I don't know him well but I could see it in him...in her too," Jim said to both me and Carl. More to Carl than me. "Am I right?" Jim asked up at Shane.
"Oh yeah," Shane agreed before he sighed and was stood upright. Looking down at Jim as he answered.
"There ain't nothing gonna stop them from getting back here to you and your mom, I promise you that," Jim said reassuringly, but this made me frown at the thought. He could be giving us false hope, what if they don't get back? What if either of them show up without the other? What would we do?
"All right. Who wants to help me clean some fish, huh?" Shane asked as he went to pick up the bucket he had brought over.
"Sweet. Come on, Sophia!" Carl called out excitedly, following after Shane as he walked off with the bucket and Sophia ran after Carl.
"Stay with Carol, all right?" I told Carl as she got up and followed the kids towards the fish. I walked over to Jim to crouch in front of him. I was going to tell him off about possibly giving my son false hope and to offer my condolences about his family.
"You keep your boy and girl close. You don't ever let him or her out of your sight," Jim warned me the moment I was about to open my mouth. He looked at me straight in the eyes, keeping his stare, I shut my mouth and nod. Getting up, I walked after the kids and watched as they learnt how to clean fish to cook them.
KPOV
"Merle!" Daryl called out dumbly to his brother, possibly alerting us to walkers if there were any around, lurking inside the halls and soon attempting to get a grab of us.
"We're not alone here. Remember?" Dad warned him, getting closer to Daryl as he tried to whisper in his ear, authority in his tone and slight threat to his manner of questioning Daryl.
"Screw that. He could be bleeding out. You said so yourself," Daryl told reasoned as he wandered into the kitchen, following behind them, we saw that the stove was on. The fire still burning as we got closer, dad picked up something, blood and the belt was beside the stove.
"What's that burned stuff?" I asked him, confused as to what was happening, he looked down at the thing in his hand and then back up at the four of us.
"Skin. He cauterized the stump," Dad said slowly, unsure on how to explain to us what he did. Hissing, I covered my mouth and turned away, swallowing hard the information I had just taken in.
"Told you he was tough. Nobody can kill Merle but Merle," Daryl said as he looked my dad up and down, Dad turned to gently caress my back and sighed. Shutting my eyes tightly, I turned back around and smiled at him.
"I'm fine just...how could he do this to himself? Put himself in so much pain just...to not wait. He couldn't be patient?" I asked them, more to myself than anyone else. My gaze only focused on the skin that was now stuck to the piece of metal that he used to heat up.
"Don't take that on faith. He's lost a lot of blood," Dad said to Daryl as he spoke of Merle being immortal to life dangers when it came to blood loss. Especially with a cut like this.
"Yeah? Didn't stop him from busting out of this death trap," Daryl said as he continued to walk, following the blood and seeing the smashed window a few steps away from the kitchen.
"He left the building?" Glenn asked shocked, all of us trying to get a peek out of the window. "Why the hell would he do that?" Glenn asked which was a little stupid to ask. If Merle got this far...he would of pushed even further, just like anyone else would.
"Why wouldn't he? He's out there alone as far as he knows, doing what he's got to do...surviving," Daryl said as he began to walk out towards another exit, Dad poked his head out the window to see if there was anyone out there, any walkers or even Merle.
"You call that surviving? Just wandering out in the streets, maybe passing out?" I questioned him as he turned to looked at me, his eyes looking me up and down as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. "What are his odds out there?" I ask him and he just walks closer to me, glaring at the men behind me.
"No worse than being handcuffed and left to rot by these sorry pricks," he said as he pointed around the three men around me. Making me bite down on my tongue, seeing as he had just insulted my dad and I just glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest angrily.
"You couldn't kill him. Ain't so worried about some dumb dead bastard," Daryl said as he got closer to my dad, getting close to his face as he looked my dad right in the eyes. This made me inhale deeply, biting my tongue as I watched my dad get closer, sizing himself and straightening himself. Puffing up his chest to show who was the alpha male.
"What about 1,000 dead dumb bastards? Different story?" Dad questioned Daryl as he got closer, Daryl's eyes were probably looking my dad up and down distastefully. As he normally would do about anyone else.
"Why don't you take a tally? Do what you want. I'm gonna go get him," Daryl said as he was going to head out, to go and find his brother and this was when my dad moved on instinct.
"Daryl, wait," Dad said as he pushed Daryl back with one rough hand, Daryl stumbling back as he almost bumped into me. My hands going out to block him, steadying him and feeling his muscles, his entire body tense under my fingers. He moved forward to glare at dad.
"Get your hands off me! You can't stop me," he growled at dad, who just stood there, blocking Daryl's passage to finding his brother. Getting close to Daryl's face as he saw Daryl glare at him.
"I don't blame you. He's family...I get that. I went through hell to find mine," Dad said as he looked briefly behind Daryl to look at me. "I know exactly how you feel," he said as his eyes wandered back to Daryl's. "He can't get far with that injury. We could help you check a few blocks around but only if we keep a level head," Dad tried to instruct the redneck as Daryl looked at dad directly in the eyes.
"I could do that," Daryl agreed, being cooperative and understanding, making the corner of my lips play a small smile. Slowly showing as I saw dad look behind Daryl and at me. My eyes showing dad that I was proud that they were working together, as a team.
"Only if we get those guns first. I'm not strolling the streets of Atlanta with just my good intentions, okay?" T-Dog spoke up as Dad's eyes drifted to the others, T-Dog trying to reason as we all walked towards a room we knew was safe. Closing it up and all of us sat on the ground. Hearing Glenn's idea and processing the ways the situation could go. Where things could go wrong.
DPOV
"You're not doing this alone," Rick said as he stood over Glenn, his hands on his hips as Glenn began to explain what we were to do. As to how his plan was going to work.
"Even I think it's a bad idea and I don't even like you much," I admit to the Chinaman as I looked at the four of them. Kat was sat on the ground, on her knees as she looked at Glenn's drawn out plan.
"It's a good idea, okay, if you just hear me out," Glenn tried to reason, making a drawing of the area and using random objects in the room to make routes. Rick crouching down to get a better listen and eye contact with Glenn. "If we go out there in a group, we're slow, drawing attention. If I'm alone, I can move fast. Look. That's the tank, five blocks from where we are now," Glenn said as he placed another object on the board we were using.
"That's the bag of guns," he said as he placed a piece of scrunched up paper next to the object. "Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met. That's where Daryl, Kat and I will go," he said pointing to a place on the map he had made for himself more than me. Kat nodding, she briefly glanced up at her dad. She looks so...fuck! Looking back at Glenn, she had moved her eyes to look at me. Staring at her will just make you look like a creep.
"Why us?" I ask Glenn, trying to engage with the conversation again. He looked between me, Kat and Rick, as though he wanted to have agreement. Especially from Rick, who was putting his daughter at risk, just by separating them from each other.
"Your crossbow and her compound bow are quieter than his gun," he said as he looked between us. Giving Rick a small smile as he then looked back down at the plan. "While Daryl and Kat wait here in the alley, I run up the street, grab the bag," he said as he placed another thing. How many things is he going to use for one fucking thing?!
"You got us elsewhere?" Rick asked him, unsure of what was happening and Glenn just smiled as he gulped and got back to explaining. Seeing that Rick was in no mood to be friendly right now, considering his daughter was going to be left alone with me.
"You and T-Dog, right. You'll be in this alley here," Glenn said as he placed an eraser on the map, pointing it as them.
"Two blocks away? Why?" Rick asked questioningly, his voice shaking a little as he spoke. His eyes drifting back up at his daughter who was watching Rick curiously. Her own eyes filled with wonder. Those blue eyes...that soft, pale face...and those gentle reddish pink lips...
"I may not be able to come back the same way. Walkers might cut me off," Glenn tried to explain further. "If that happens, I won't go back to Daryl and Kat. I'll go forward instead, all the way around to that alley where you guys are. Whichever direction I go, I got you in both places to cover me. Afterwards, we'll all meet back here," he explained, Kat, Rick and T-Dog nodding in agreement, all seeming to understand exactly what was happening.
"Hey, kid, what'd you do before all this?" I asked him, curious as to how well he knew this and how he was so 'fast'. Glenn looked up at me shyly, his eyes looking at me just as curiously as I spoke.
"Delivered pizzas. Why?" Glenn asked me as I give him a nod, approving of the fact he was a delivery boy. It's normal for pizza boys to be fast, considering some crazy fuckers that would order and are possibly still alive. We were getting ready to leave, as I went to pick up my crossbow, I felt a hand drag me to one side. It was Rick.
"Can I trust you with my daughter's life?" he asked me, looking me directly in the eyes, his looked like they would kill me if anything happened to her. If I said no...I didn't want to know what he would do or say.
"I'll try...but...I don' need ta' promise ya nothin'," I tell him and he just clenches his jaw, possibly unhappy by my words but...it had to count as something. They didn't look out for my brother, why should I look out for some...girl?
KPOV
We had got ready, dad took Daryl to talk to him privately, doing up my shoe lace I walked up to dad and he wrapped his arms around me tightly. "Be careful baby girl. I love you," he whispered to me, placing a delicate kiss on my cheek before I told him I loved him back. That he was to look after himself too. When we were ready, Glenn climbed down first, Daryl following after and then I was the last to go down the ladder.
Daryl and I ran towards the alley, Glenn following close behind. "You got some balls for a Chinaman," Daryl said as he readied his crossbow, pulling out an arrow from my quiver as I aimed to check if it was in place, Glenn sighed and threw a cloth behind himself.
"I'm Korean," Glenn told us, as he threw the cloth, I caught it and dropped it behind me. He began to run, Daryl further fixed up his crossbow and Glenn began to run towards the bags quietly but quickly.
"Whatever," Daryl said as he placed the bolt in position, he pointed to the trashcan as I slowly lowered myself beside him, waiting for Glenn's return as I silently sat. Both of us trying not to get spotted by any walkers.
Suddenly, we heard quiet footsteps, Daryl nudged me with his elbow and readied his crossbow, my arrow in place as we jumped out on the thing that we thought was a walker. "Whoa, don't shoot me! What do you want?" a boy in a wife beater, silver chain, short hair cut and very scrawny structure said.
"I'm looking for my brother. He's hurt real bad. You seen him?" Daryl questioned the boy, the boy looked startled but didn't seem to stop moving, instead he got closer and stood up straighter. Daryl's crossbow raised, aiming at his head, my bow up lazily as I aimed, unsure if this boy was a threat or not.
"Ayúdame!" the boy screamed for help in Spanish. Making Daryl thrust his crossbow a little, my grip tightening on my bow and arrow as I got a little further behind.
"Shut up! You're gonna bring the geeks down on us. Answer me!" Daryl commanded but the boy didn't answer Daryl, instead we both stood there, his crossbow up and my bow up, aiming directly at the boy's head. "Answer me," Daryl demanded.
"Daryl...this boy is calling for help," I tell him. Daryl looked at me from the corner of his eye, then the boy decided to scream again a couple more times. Annoying Daryl further.
"Ayúdame! Ayúdame!" the boy screamed again, behind us and this was when Daryl hit the boy down, the boy falling onto his back as Daryl went to cover his mouth with his hand. The boy struggling underneath him as he wriggled around, trying to pry Daryl's hands off.
"Shut up," Daryl growled, but this was when I heard running, my bow up in a flash, turning to them but then getting punched square in the jaw. Groaning in pain, I looked up to see Daryl getting hit with a bat, the other guy picked me up by my hair as he dragged me backwards.
"That's it! That's the bag, Vato! Take it! Take it!" the one who was hitting Daryl constantly said to the one who was hitting me. As the man pulled me, he gripped my hair tightly and threw me against the trash, metal hitting my side as I held in my scream of pain.
"Get off me!" Glenn screamed as the attacked him, one of them was going to pick up the gun but instead, I felt a sudden grip around my waist and around my chest. Dragging me along with them, I kept punching the one who held me and wriggled as much as I could.
"Get off me! Let me go!" I screamed as they turned around, opening the gates as they pulled me out where a car and walkers were waiting. Wriggling, the guy moved his hand away from my chest and over my mouth. Finding my strength, I bit down hard, hearing a scream come from him, he dropped me and limped to the car. An arrow in his ass as he limped, walkers began to surround me.
"Kat!" I could hear two pairs of voices call for me, grabbing my machete, I started to slice walkers, seeing gun shots begin to fire as I saw my dad rush to me, grabbing my waist, he pulled me in and grabbed my face.
"Kat...are you okay?" he asked me, worried as he checked me for scratches and bites. Holding back my tears, I nod my head and wiped at my mouth and teeth. Dad then looked to Daryl who first pushed the boy but then stopped, Daryl looked to me and then back at the boy angered.
"Whoa whoa whoa. Stop it!" Dad screamed at Daryl as he grabbed him and pushed him back, trying to keep him away from the boy as the boy was held against the wall by T-Dog.
"I'm gonna kick your nuts up in your throat!" Daryl screamed at the boy threateningly.
"Let me go," the boy screamed at T-Dog, the boy struggling under T-Dog's restrain.
"Chill out!" T-Dog demanded of the boy, his eyes wide as he watched Daryl struggle and try and push past my dad.
"They took Glenn and almost took Kat! That little bastard and his little bastard homie friends. I'm gonna stomp your ass!" Daryl screamed at the boy angered, dad fighting for control of Daryl as neither of them stopped moving.
"Guys! Guys! We're cut off!" I screamed, trying to get their attention as the gates began to slam behind me. They all began to follow me as I lead them to the ladders, the boy following me up, T-Dog after the boy, then Daryl and dad last.
"Nice ass bonita," the boy said which earned him a glare as I looked down at him, T-Dog grabbing the boy's foot, making him scream and my dad question what was going on 'up there'.
"Don't look up at the sheriff's daughter's ass, or you might just have a tough time from all of us," T-Dog threatened and I hadn't heard a word from the boy since we got into the lab as dad had instructed, planning our next move as the boy sat on a chair. Daryl pacing around as we saw that Glenn had left his backpack in the room.
DPOV
"Those men you were with, we need to know where they went," Rick asked as he leaned against a desk, looking at the boy as he asked him kindly where Glenn was.
"I ain't telling you nothing," the boy said as he sat there lazily, T-Dog was hunched over, bending over a table as he watched the boy and Rick talk.
"Jesus, man. What the hell happened back there?" T-Dog asked me, unsure and curious as to how it got to this shit hole of a situation.
"I told you, this little turd and his douche bag friends came out of nowhere and jumped us," I tell him, pointing to both me and Kat, who was sitting on top of the desk beside her father.
"You're the one who jumped me, puto, screaming about trying to find his brother like it's my damn fault," the boy said which made me look at him angered, I couldn't stop pacing, worrying as to where Glenn was.
"There is no need to call him a bastard in Spanish, the insult is just stupid because he doesn't know what you mean and I do," Kat said as she tilted her head at him. During the fight, her hair had fallen out a little, her once in a neat bun hair was now in a slight mess. Her curls were now up in a pony tail, her curls long and luxuriously thick but silky soft.
"Whatever you say baby," the boy said with a wink and Kat just slipped off the table, bent down to his level, glared at him and bared her teeth. She didn't look pleased with what the boy said to her. I had stopped my pacing, to see what would happen between them and kept my eyes on them.
"I am not your baby...next time you call me that...I'll knock your teeth out. Got it?" she asked him and he just kissed his teeth. Turning his face away and looking her up and down from the corner of his eye. "Also...officer friendly here is my father," she states as she pointed to Rick who was behind her. Rick's jaw had clenched at the boy's flirtation but he shrugged it off, unamused at how the boy spoke to his daughter.
He's trying to be the good man and keep a level head. He's not punching this guy's face in for being such a dick to his daughter. She is strong though...and very independent, she can also get herself out of trouble...barely even needed me back there. All I did was shoot the guy in the ass for trying to escape with her..
"They took Glenn. Could have taken Merle too," I say as I continued to pace around, looking at the boy as I kept turning and walking back and forth.
"Merle? What kind of hick name is that? I wouldn't name my dog Merle," he insulted and this made my blood boil, rushing towards him, I went to go kick the boy in the face but Rick pushed me back and Kat got to her feet, following her dad's actions.
"Damn it, Daryl," Rick growled at me, trying to push me as far away from the boy. Kat got in the way and pushed my foot down, what she did next made me move away from her as quickly as you could say 'hello'.
"Back off," Kat told me kindly as she placed her hand on my chest and pushed me back a few meters. Her body facing me as she looked up at me with those blue eyes of hers. She has her father and brother's eyes. So bright and...pretty.
"Want to see what happened to the last guy that pissed me off?" I asked the boy as I went to Glenn's bag, pulling out the cloth, Kat's eyes watching my every move and walked to the boy. Throwing Merle's hand on the boy's lap as he screamed, jumped back and out of the chair, his back hitting the wall. "Start with the feet this time," I said as I grabbed him by the clothing of his wife beater.
Rick pulled me back, making me stand next to Kat as she quickly moved in front of me and blocked me from the boy's view. "The men you were with took our friend. All we want to do is talk to them, see if we can work something out," Rick tried to negotiate, crouching down to the boy's level, trying to friendly without losing his patience.
The boy finally told us all we needed to know and led us to where they were safe. Where they would keep Glenn. Rick shook something, earning a noise in return. "You sure you're up for this?" Rick asked Kat and T-Dog.
"Yeah," Kat answered softly at her dad, a sniper rifle in both her hands and T-Dog's. T-Dog gave Rick a quick nod of his head as he picked up the bag of guns.
"Okay," Rick nodded as he looked up at his daughter, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek, he reached up and gripped her hair, kissing her cheek in return before he let her go and climb up to the other side, opposite T-Dog.
"One wrong move, you get an arrow in the ass...just so you know," I growled at him, making sure he wouldn't try and pull any wise ass moves on either of us.
"G's gonna take that arrow out of my ass and shove it up yours. Just so you know," the boy threatened me back. Rick looking at the boy confused.
"G?" Rick asked curiously, unsure as to what that was meant to mean.
"Guillermo. He's the man here," the boy said as he looked down at the ground and then back up at us.
"Okay then. Let's go see Guillermo," Rick said as he locked and loaded his gun, getting ready for anything that could go down and walked through an opened window that lead into a small clearing, the walls were up but there was no ceiling.
We walked the boy and I gently pushed him through the window, climbing in and checking to see if anyone was around, about to jump us or kill us. When we stopped, the doors slowly opened to reveal a...small man.
KPOV
"You sure you're up for this?" dad asked me after he shook something which made a noise in return, some sort of signal I didn't know about and this was when I looked at dad.
"Yeah," I answered him, my nerves were driving me crazy but I knew I had to do this...if I wanted to get Glenn back and we would. Glenn is a nice guy. He is a good member of the group back at camp and here.
"Okay," he told me, leaning down I gave dad a kiss on the cheek, he gently gripped my hair and kissed my cheek in return. Holding on tightly to my rifle, I placed it over my body and to rest on my back as I ran to the opposite side T-Dog went to. Climbing as quietly and agile as I could.
Hiding by a small wall, I perched my arm up to be able to aim my rifle perfectly. Seeing my dad climb over a window, all of them slowly making their way to a door and watching it open. "You okay, little man?" the man asked as he walked towards my father and Daryl with the boy in front of them.
"They're gonna cut off my feet, carnal," the boy said to the man in front of him, he still seemed shocked and surprised that he was threatened by Daryl. That he got to see Merle's hand.
"Cops do that?" the man asked my dad, tilting his head to one side to look at dad.
"Not him. This redneck puto here. He cut off some dude's hand, man. He showed it to me," the boy said which made me roll my eyes. Daryl shouldn't have done that but...it did make us get some answers.
"Shut up," Daryl growled but then another man...one of them that tried to take me walked forward. It was the one who grabbed me. He had a limp in his walk as he moved.
"Hey, that's that Vato right there, homes. He shot me in the ass with an arrow. What's up, homes, huh?" the one said as he walked out, grabbing his pistol to point and ready it at Daryl.
"Chill, ese, chill. Chill," the man said as he calmed the guy with the gun. Slowly he lowered the guy's gun and looked at my dad and Daryl seriously. "This true? He wants Miguelito's feet? That's pretty sick, man," he asked them, disgusted by the whole fake threat Daryl did to make the boy speak.
"We were hoping more for a calm discussion," my dad tries to reason, hoping it could calm the man more and allow for there to be a discussion. Not a gun war.
"That hillbilly jumps Felipe's little cousin, beats on him, threatens to cut off his feet, Felipe gets an arrow in the ass and you want a calm discussion?" he asked my dad. All dad could do was look around a little, unsure how to carry on this conversation. "You fascinate me," the man said slightly teasingly.
"Heat of the moment. Mistakes were made on both sides," dad tried to reason again, always coming up with excuses and reasons for actions that take place.
"Who's that dude to you anyway? You don't look related," the man asked as he looked at Daryl. Daryl was moving around a little, crossbow in hand and dad with a shotgun in his hands.
"He's one of our group, more or less. I'm sure you have a few like him," dad tried to explain, trying to make an excuse for Daryl's behaviour. As though we had to put up with him, rather than allow him to provide meat for us and silent safety.
"You got my brother in there?" Daryl asked as he tried to get a peek inside through th doors.
"Sorry, we're fresh out of white boys. But I've got Asian. You interested?" he asked as he would tilt his head from side to side. Looking at both Daryl and dad in the eye.
"I have one of yours, you have one of mine. Sounds like an even trade," dad tried to negotiate, trying to make things as equal as possible for both sides.
"Don't sound even to me," the man said as he looked at my dad.
"G. Come on, man," Miguel said as he looked at the man pleadingly.
"My people got attacked. Where's the compensation for their pain and suffering? More to the point, where's my bag of guns?" 'G' said as he tried to get more than he bargained for. Our guns? They're not his! Also...guns aren't part of the deal. Glenn is. Boy for boy.
"Guns?" dad asked 'G' confused, his face not changing, just his tone of voice as he tilted his head a fraction to question the man.
"The bag Miguel saw in the street. The bag Felipe and Jorge were going back to get. That bag of guns," the man tried to jog dad's memory, but dad knew exactly what they meant.
"You're mistaken," dad tells them bluntly.
"I don't think so," the man replied quickly.
"About it being yours. It's my bag of guns," dad states, his voice dark and possessive. 'G' took a few steps back.
"The bag was in the street. Anybody could come around and say it was theirs. I'm supposed to take your word? What's to stop my people from unloading on you right here and now and I take what's mine?" the man threatened as they all raised their weapons.
"You could do that. Or not," dad said as both he and Daryl shuffled on the spot, their grips on their weapons were equally tight.
"Please...let Glenn go. Let us go," I whisper begged as they looked up and round, noticing both me and T-Dog on the roof, getting a good and clear shot on their heads.
"Oye," the man called which made us see Glenn on the roof, a bag was over his head until they took it off to reveal his scared face. Glenn was gagged, dad looked up and then down a little stunned. "I see two options," G started. "You come back with Miguel and my bag of guns, everybody walks...or you come back locked and loaded, we'll see which side spills more blood," he gave us the options, slowly they backed away and the others went back inside.
Dad looked up at me as he backed up, our eyes meeting for a second before I went towards the edge of the wall, slowly sliding down and moving the gun to rest on my back. I began to climb down, careful and cautious, that was until I felt firm hands around my waist as I was almost to the floor. Looking over my shoulder, I saw it was T-Dog and relaxed a little. "Don't want you hurt," he tells me and as I got down, I smiled kindly at him.
"Them guns are worth more than gold. Gold won't protect your family or put food on the table. You're gonna give that up for that kid?" Daryl questioned my father as we all gathered around the table, dad was putting all the ammo in the guns, as much as he could and made sure each and ever gun was stocked. I helped him load the guns silently.
"If I knew we'd get Glenn back, I might agree...but you think that Vato across the way is just gonna hand him over?" T-Dog asked dad as I didn't bother to look up at them and watched as dad stopped to witness T-Dog's doubt.
"You calling G a liar?" the boy Miguel claimed as we all stopped to look at the boy who was slumped, sitting on the ground lazily.
"Are you a part of this? You want to hold onto your teeth?" Daryl growled at the boy as he got closer and slapped him upside the head.
"Question is, do you trust that man's word?" T-Dog asked dad but this made me sigh, not focusing on them and just on filling the guns with every bullet we could.
"No, question is what are you willing to bet on it? Could be more than them guns. Could be your life. Glenn worth that to you?" Daryl questioned my dad's motives, dad slipped his python in his holster and looked up at Daryl who was leaning against the wall behind me.
"What life I have I owe to him. I was nobody to Glenn, just some idiot stuck in a tank. He could have walked away, but he didn't," Dad said as he looked at me from under his lashes, it made me look down and nod. "Neither will I," he tells all of us, his eyes glancing around the other men and stopping on me.
"So you're gonna hand the guns over?" Daryl questioned my dad, I didn't want to say anything but Daryl and T-Dog were starting to push my buttons. Pursing my lips dad looked at me and shook his head.
"I didn't say that. There's nothing keeping you three here," he said as he looked down at the bag of guns, fiddling around and checking them. This made me slam down the gun I was fixing, looking at dad right in the eye as I leaned into him to do so.
"No way dad! I'm not going anywhere, I'm not going back without you! I told you...I'm going to keep you safe...and if you're going back for Glenn...then...so will I. It's the right thing to do," I tell him and he just looks up at me, listening to my words but ignoring me all the same.
"You should get out, head back to camp. All of you," he said but this made me step away from him, tears were forming in my eyes and he just looked at me saddened.
"And tell mom and Carl what? I told you dad...and I'm serious. I'm with you. No matter what," I tell him, keeping my voice and posture straight. Strong. I was proving a point and I wasn't going to back down.
"Come on, this is nuts. Just do like G says," the boy said as T-Dog and Daryl reached into the bag of guns and grabbed a shotgun each. Taking my own, dad leaned over the table and kissed my forehead. His fingers slipping into my hair so I couldn't escape.
"How did you become a woman so fast?" he asked me and I laughed, shaking my head and preparing some other guns, all of us helping out and getting ready for what was to happen.
We made it back to the same place we first met them. Having the boy walk ahead, gagged, dad and Daryl were at the front, me and T-Dog followed behind. The doors opened and we got into position as we slowly stepped inside to find at least more than a dozen men. "I see my guns but they're not all in the bag," G said as Daryl and T-Dog walked to the right, while I stood to my dad's left.
"That's because they're not yours. I thought I mentioned that," dad tried to remind them as he held his gun up, all of us were at the ready, my finger on the trigger and my mind bouncing around as I shuffled away from some men who were looking at me in a way I didn't like.
"Let's just shoot these fools right now, ese. All right? Unload on their asses, ese," one of the men, the one who had grabbed me and got shot in the ass with Daryl's bow said. He got close to G to try and convince him, almost whispering in his ear but making it obvious.
"I don't think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation," the man said as he looked at each of us, as though we were crazy and that we were going to possibly die.
"No, I'm pretty clear. You have your man. I want mine," dad said as he lowered his gun and pulled out his knife, cutting off the rope that held the boy's hands together behind his back. Dad pushed the boy towards the group the boy belonged to and then placed his knife back to where he had it.
"I'm gonna chop up your boy. I'm gonna feed him to my dogs. They're the evilest, nastiest man-eating bitches you ever saw. I picked them up from Satan at a yard sale," G said as he edged closer to my dad. This made me grip the gun a little tighter, Daryl's eyes looking at me from the corners as I glared directly at G.
"I told you how it has to be. Are you woefully deaf?" G asked dad after a few seconds, he was too close to be able to call any of it comforting. I stepped up closer to dad, my aiming was directly to G's head.
"No, my hearing's fine. You said come locked and loaded. Okay then, we're here," dad said as he raised his gun, a bunch of clicking sounds meaning there was about to be a gun war, all of us aiming at any possible threat.
"Felipe! Felipe!" we all stood there for a few minutes silence, as we all stared each other down, wondering who would shoot first and I was surprised to see an elder lady walk towards us.
"Abuela, go back with the others now," the man who had grabbed me before as he looked over his shoulder at the elder lady, she was looking up at him with desperation and a gentle...kindness.
"Get that old lady out of the line of fire!" Daryl screamed which made me glare at him from the corner of my eyes. It's rude to call her an old lady. She's an older adult for Christ's sake!
"Abuela, listen to your mijo, okay? This is the not the place for you right now," G said as he looked over his shoulder at the elder lady and she just ignored G, looking up at Felipe with gentle worry.
"Mr. Gilbert is having trouble breathing. He needs his asthma stuff. Carlitos didn't find it. He needs his medicine," the woman said as he spoke with a thick accent, it was hard to tell what she was saying as she stuttered, unsure of what to say but then noticed us with our guns. Her eyes landing on my dad.
"Felipe, go take care of it, okay? And take your grandmother with you," G demanded to the man, Felipe lowered his gun slowly and looked to the woman. He tried to move her towards the exit but her eyes looked at each of us.
"Abuela! Ven conmigo por favor" Felipe pleaded gently as he saw the old woman resist the need to be pulled by her grandson.
"Who are those men and that young lady?" the woman said as she scanned each of our faces, her eyes glued to my dad as she possibly noticed his uniform.
"Por favor, ven conmigo," Felipe asked again as his grandmother walked towards us, stopping in front of my dad as he lowered the gun slowly.
"Don't you take him," the elder woman demanded of my dad, as though he was going to steal him away from her. Well...we almost did kill her grandson...we would have taken his life if she hadn't walked into the room.
"Ma'am?" dad asked her confused, I slowly lowered my gun and watched as she got closer, carefully I stepped closer to stand by my dad's side.
"Felipe's a good boy. He have his trouble but he pull himself together. We need him here," the woman said gently, kindly and rolled her 'r's which made me smile. I find her accent...endearing.
"Ma'am, I'm not here to arrest your grandson," dad tried to clear up the issue and she looked up at my dad unsure of what our purpose of us being here was for.
"Then what do you want him for?" the woman asked us as her eyes looked at my dad with pure curiosity.
"He's..." dad spoke but he didn't find the words to say. This was when I got an idea...
"Helping us find a missing person. Guy named Glenn," I tell her kindly, keeping my voice as soft as her and sweet. She smiled at me brightly, the wrinkles in her eyes creasing as she looked at me.
"The Asian boy? He's with Mr. Gilbert. Come. Come, I show you. He needs his medicine," she said as she took both me and dad by the hand, placing the gun in one hand as I gently held onto the elder woman's hand carefully.
"Let 'em pass," G told his men as they slowly made a walk way for us and the others. Allowing us to pass through, into a small yard and then into a caring facility. This is a care home...for the elderly.
"Abuela, por favor. Take me to him," the elder woman continued to walk as her grandson followed her, limping as he walked. Dad stopped by some doors, looking into it and seeing patients being taken care of. This warmed my heart as I looked into the rooms.
"Porfavor...enseña el camino. Estarmos allí pronto. Te lo prometo," I spoke to the lady, my American accent made it difficult for me to pronounce it like the did but it made the lady smile and giggle.
"I like her," she said as she continued to walk, we followed and looked into the rooms. Seeing the patients being fed, medicated and looked after. It was sweet to see these people move out of their way for those who were...vulnerable to this new and vicious world.
"All right. All right. Nice and easy. Just breathe. Just breathe. Just let it out. Just breathe. Just relax," Felipe spoke, we enter into what looked like a hall and saw Glenn surrounding a man. As were some others from their small community, Glenn looked at us and gave us a small smile. His eyes glancing back down at the elder man, smiling at how Felipe took care of him and gently placed my hand on my dad's back.
"What the hell is this?" my dad asked confused as to what was happening, but...the look in his eyes showed me differently. He knows that we almost destroyed this community. This...family. It wouldn't have sat right with him...or me.
"An asthma attack. Couldn't get his breath all of a sudden," Glenn told us, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked up at my dad and then back down at Mr. Gilbert.
"I thought you were being eaten by dogs, man," T-Dog commented, this was when we heard the small barking of three Chihuahuas in the corner. They were sat in their beds, a white one that was in the middle was barking up at us and the other two looked more relaxed.
"Could I have a word with you?" dad asked Guillermo as we moved away from other people's hearing. "You're the dumbest son of a bitch I ever met. We walked in there ready to kill every last one of you. Possibly even dying and putting my own daughter at risk!" he said as he pointed at me, standing beside them as we followed them. Daryl and T-Dog staying by Glenn.
"Well, I'm glad it didn't go down that way," Guillermo said as he looked between both me and my dad.
"If it had, that blood would be on both hands," I tell Guillermo, which made my dad look at me slightly saddened.
"I agree. We'd have fought back. Wouldn't be the first time we've had to. Protect the food, the medicine what's left of it. These people, the old ones...the staff took off, just left 'em here to die. Me and Felipe were the only ones who stayed," Guillermo told us which made both me and dad look around us at the groups of patients. That is sad...so sad. How could they give up on them like that?
"What are you, doctors?" dad asked him slightly confused as to why and how they were still here.
"Felipe's a nurse, a special care provider. Me, I'm the custodian," Guillermo answered us truthfully and this made my eyes widen for a second. Quickly I looked away, back at the elder people and at Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl. When I glanced up at Daryl, I saw him look back at me but then quickly looked away and continued to watch the elderly people surrounding him.
"What about the rest of your crew?" dad asked as we took in the bags, leading us to his office, Guillermo sat down and watched as we slowly walked into the room. Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl following behind us.
"The Vatos trickle in to check on their parents, their grandparents. They see how things are and most decide to stay. It's a good thing too. We need the muscle. The people we've encountered since things fell apart, the worst kind...plunderers, the kind that take by force," Guillermo explained to us. So that was why he was so threatening...well...next time he should remember...not all people are the same.
"That's not who we are," dad stated, nodding I got beside him and began to open the bag.
"How was I to know? My people got attacked and you show up with Miguel hostage...appearances," Guillermo tried to explain, stating the obvious. Seeing it that way...it does prove a point. Witnessing that could make anyone believe we were bad people.
"Guess the world changed," T-Dog said as he sat down, dad got closer to Guillermo and both T-Dog and Glenn were behind me somewhere, Daryl stood in a corner, watching us as we spoke to one another.
"No. It's the same as it ever was. The weak get taken. So we do what we can here. The Vatos work on those cars, talk about getting the old people out of the city. But most can't even get to the bathroom by themselves, still, it keeps the crew busy, and that's worth something," Guillermo told us and I had to nod in agreement, not everything changed...people still think the same way about some things. Not all but...enough to keep this world mean and cruel.
"So we barred all the windows, welded all the doors shut except for one entrance. The Vatos, they go out, scavenge what they can to keep us going.
We watch the perimeter night and day and we wait. The people here, they all look to me now," Guillermo said as every word made me either sad, worried for their patients and smile at their sense of hope. Hope can keep people going, no matter what form it is.
"I don't even know why," Guillermo said more to himself and to my dad. This made my dad stare at him, my own eyes turning sad with slight joy. Moving a little closer, I gave Guillermo a kind smile.
"Because they can," I tell him and this was when both me and dad started handing out guns, placing them on the table and walking out as they gave us some food, taking it kindly and thanking them for it. We told them we had others to look after and to get back to. Understanding our situation, we left as quietly as we could and speed walked to the van.
"Admit it Dad, you only came back to Atlanta for the hat," I teased him, walking closer and getting to his side. This made him chuckle, shake his head and smirk at me.
"Don't tell anybody," he joked back and this made me giggle at him. He had his hat on, his uniform hat on that I would see him wear on occasion. This made me smile and look down, our walk to the van was getting nearer.
"You've given away half our guns and ammo," Daryl spat, possibly angry that we had given our guns and ammunition to the men who were protecting the older adults back at the residential home.
"Not nearly half," Dad told him truthfully, which made me smile at him and grip his arm lightly. Giving it a squeeze which made him look at me.
"For what? Bunch of old farts who are gonna die off momentarily anyhow? Seriously, how long you think they got?" Daryl questioned us, venom in his tone of voice as he spoke. Why is he being so mean and...rude?
"How long do any of us?" I question him in return which made my dad frown but place his hand over mine, cupping it and giving my hand a small squeeze.
"Oh my God," Glenn mumbled as we reached where we parked the van, our eyes widening as we stopped and saw...that the van had disappeared.
"Where the hell's our van?" Daryl asked as he looked around, holding onto the strap of his crossbow and examining the pace. It was as though he was expecting it to pop up out of nowhere.
"We left it right there. Who would take it?" Glenn asked, panic clear in his voice as he spoke and this made me look at my dad who was staring directly at the space where we left the van.
"Merle," Dad growled as he made a conclusion that we couldn't prove.
"He's gonna be taking some vengeance back to camp," Daryl tells us, looking slightly sad and concerned as he said so. This was when I thought of something...Carl...Mom...
"Fuck," I growled before I began to run towards camp and the others followed. Dad and Daryl following me the closest as I ran the direction we came. I need to get to them, I need to protect them and save them before anything bad happens. God help me. Protect them...please.
LPOV
Everything seemed more peaceful, we were worried about those that had left for Atlanta, pushing those thoughts away for a minute, I looked at Carl and smiled. We were eating the fish, enjoying the night and chatting amongst ourselves. What surprised me was, we were soon attacked. Amy getting bit by a walker multiple times, while others began to appear from behind the trees.
Grabbing Carl, we stayed close to Shane who was backing us up to the RV. Carl screaming in fear, clutching at me as I did what I could to protect him and myself. Shane kept putting walkers down but that was getting close to an end, just when I see a walker close to grabbing me and Carl, I saw a familiar arrow hit it from the side of the head, knocking it down onto the ground and looked up to see Kat pull out a shotgun.
KPOV
We were running for what felt like hours, reaching the camp we could hear screaming. Pausing for a minute, I began to run again as fast as I could and pushed further, the others following close behind. Adrenaline rushing through my veins, my only goal was to get to mom and Carl. To protect them.
When we got there, shots were being fired, people getting eaten, others fighting and most were scurrying to the RV. Mom and Carl close to Shane as I saw a walker begin to try and grab them, getting closer to them and quickly I grabbed my bow and arrow. Shooting the walker in the head, it fell and I looked towards mom and Carl. Their eyes looking up at me relieved, pulling out my shotgun I shot and killed as many as I could.
Slowly they fell to the ground, all of us in panting messes as we tried to gather our thoughts. Our strength and assess the situation. Jim mumbled something but I just walked over to a running Carl, dropping to my knees as he screamed my name, tears in his eyes as we hugged each other tightly. Dad coming over to us, mom edging closer as we all got to our knees. Holding each other as we cried silently...
What did you think? Want more? What would you like to see? Please tell me in a review. It would help. If I can get 5 reviews by this Friday...I'll post on the Friday. So please...get reviewing! P.S lately FanFic has been a little...mean. Can't edit as well as I would like these days!
Much love
HeroJustInTime90 x
