A/N: I'm not one to ask for reviews, and I'm not, but there was a lack of them for the previous chapter. I think I may or may not have scared people off with the summary of the story (so I changed it), but either way, never be afraid to hit that review button! Even people who don't have accounts you can still review as a guest! Just a friendly little reminder. Also, last chapter I explained that "Ah" is "I", and so "Ahm" (I believe) is for "I'm". If anyone is becoming confused by Marianne's language just look it all up. Anyways, I best let y'all read!

Chapter Genre: Horror, Friendship

Chapter Rating: T

Rating Content: Brief Mild Violence, Brief Coarse Language

"Alright, do ye have any... Jacks?"

"Go fish."

Marianne sighed, picking up a card from the pile. "A part of me believes tha' ye may be cheatin', Clementine."

Clementine giggled. "How can you cheat in 'Go Fish'?"

"I actually dinnae know, but Ah still think yer cheatin'." She replied with a wink.

Marianne had, somehow, managed to find a deck of cards in one of the motel rooms. Granted, a couple of cards were missing, but that wasn't enough to ruin a good game of Go Fish with the younger kids.

"Your turn, Travis!" Clementine said with a smile.

Okay, maybe not just the little kids.

Travis sighed. "Marianne; you got any Two's?"

Marianne groaned. "Aye, tha' Ah do." She handed him the card. "I dinnae get how yer all managing t' get all o' these pairs while Ahm stuck givin' 'em t' ye!"

"Face it, Maria, we're just better than you."

Marianne mocked surprise. "Oh, are ye, now? Ye sure about tha', Travis?"

Travis shrugged. "Pretty sure."

"Look, Ben and Carley are back!" Duck exclaimed, causing Marianne and Travis to stand up. They were back and with a basket, possibly with food.

Marianne dashed over as they came through the gate, wrapping Ben up in a hug then slapping him on his back as she released him. "Good t' see yer not eaten."

Carley chuckled. "What am I, chopped liver?"

She opened her arms again. "Ye want a hug too, then?"

"I'll pass."

Travis gestured to the basket in Carley's hand. "What's in there?"

Carley and Ben shifted uncomfortably and it almost looked like their cheeks were red. "Well, there were more biscuits." Ben said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Lilly approached the two. "Well, since you seem to have eaten your fair share, then you both can stay back. We need people to defend the Motor Inn anyways."

The rest of the group had gathered around them, then, obviously ready to leave. "Before you guys go, we got to warn you that we saw a couple of bandits on the way up to the Dairy." Said Carley.

Lilly rolled her eyes at Carley. "Yeah, thanks."

Marianne could see that there was some tension between the two women, for whatever reason. As they began to leave the Motor Inn she patted Ben on his shoulder. "Ah guess we'll be seein' ye in a bit."

Ben looked almost glum. "Yeah."

/ / /

When they had arrived at the dairy, they were all shocked to see that Mark had an arrow coming out of his shoulder, from the bandits, Marianne realized. When the brothers, Danny and Andy, had left the small group to talk amongst themselves, Lilly immediately expressed her mistrust.

"We should just take our food to go." She had said.

Marianne just shook her head. She just couldn't believe the insecurity of the group. Lilly was trying to act democratically, Kenny was trying to be a dictator, Lee was trying to make both see within reason and the rest of them were just as confused as she, Ben and Travis were. A small part of her wished that they hadn't stumbled upon Lee's group, thinking that insecure groups often ended up breaking or crashing down. She didn't want to be there when that happened.

Travis nudged her arm. "Hey, Maria? You're zoning out again."

She looked blankly at him. "Oh."

"What're you thinking about?"

She shrugged, crossing her arms. "No' much, really. Ahm just wonderin' if it really was a miracle tha' Lee had found us in th' woods..."

"What do you mean by that?"

She opened her mouth to speak but quickly reconsidered, seeing as the people on her mind were standing right next to them. She nodded her head. "Walk with me."

Travis shoved his hands in his pockets, walking alongside Marianne. "So, what's on your mind?"

She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She didn't know if speaking her mind about Lee's group to Travis was the best of ides, seeing that he himself didn't trust them very much. But she needed to voice her worries to someone. "Ahm just thinkin' about how th' group seems t' be in distress." She explained. "At first, Ah thought tha' God had finally shown us a wee bit o' mercy when Lee had found us. But this group..." She shook her head. "This group is fallin' apart, Travis."

"Gee, you think?"

"Shut yer geggy a minute, would ye?" She snapped. "Aye, 'tis a miracle tha' we managed t' even find anyone friendly in the state tha' we were in, but Lilly seems on edge. That older man, Kenny, he dinnae seem t' enjoy Lilly callin' the shots. Lee seems t' be the only one tha' isna talkin' mince."

"'Mince'?"

"Talkin' crazy or nonsense."

"Oh."

"In short, lad, Ah dinnae think tha' staying with th' group is th' best o' ideas."

"My thoughts exactly."

For the remainder of the evening, Travis and Marianne had kept to themselves as much as possible. Of course, Andy had come around and asked them a few questions, mainly about the group. This immediately made Marianne suspicious of him and she answered both honestly but defensively. She thought that he would've asked Lee more questions but she could've easily been wrong.

"How did you two end up in this little group?" Andy asked.

"They found us," said Travis, "when our teacher got caught in some sort of bear trap."

Andy shook his head, obviously displeased. "Probably those damn bandits, again."

Marianne crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Andy. "Ye seem t' be placing th' blame on th' bandits quite a wee bit."

"Well, who else do you think could've done that?" Andy asked, seeming to be more defensive. "They've been getting a lot more aggressive, lately, so I wouldn't put it past them."

She nodded. Understandable, I suppose... "Aye, tha' they have."

"Well, I best be helping out Doc with the cow; thank God she took a look at her." Andy said, smiling. "I thought that she might've been sick or something."

Andy left the two teenagers alone and they both looked at each other. "Ye see?" Marianne pointed at the retreating form of Andy. "They seem t' be putting a lot o' th' blame on th' bandits. Some part o' me thinks tha' they may be hidin' something..."

"Yeah." Travis agreed.

Marianne noticed Lee and Danny walking up the lane, Lee looking somewhat displeased with Danny. He tossed the gun back to Danny, shaking his head at him. "You're back!" Brenda exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Handled it, mama."

Lee went up the stairs to where Brenda was sitting, briefly speaking with her. "What do you think happened?" Travis asked Marianne.

Lee left Brenda on the stairs. "Ask Lee, he'll probably tell ye." She pushed herself away from the picket fence that she was leaning on. "Meanwhile, Ahm going t' talk t' Brenda."

Marianne pushed open the gate and walked up the set of stairs, sitting herself beside Brenda. "Ah dinnae believe we properly met." She held out her hand, which Brenda shook. "Marianne Elizabeth Grace."

"Such a beautiful name you got, Marianne! I'm Brenda St. John."

"Pleased t' meet ye, Brenda."

Brenda pointed to the necklace Marianne was wearing. "That's quite the piece of jewelry you got, there."

She took it off, showing it to Brenda. "My maw gave it t' me as a gift for my Baptism, around five years ago."

"Oh," Brenda exclaimed, handing the necklace back to her. "It's good to see that there's at least someone who still stays strong in their faith."

"Yer a follower of Christ, as well?"

"You betcha, sweetheart." Brenda said, smiling. "It's how I was raised and that's how my boys were raised. We need to keep strong in times like these!"

"Aye, tha' we do."

It was easy to keep Brenda talking, Marianne figured out. In the short time that they had been talking she had figured out many things about the St. Johns and their dairy farm; how Brenda met Terry, about how the farm had started up and what had happened when the whole outbreak started. Brenda had said that a Walker had gotten into the house through the back, catching Terry by surprise. They had the time to give him a proper burial, she said, and she had been most grateful for that.

Brenda stood up. "Well, dinner should be ready right about now." She said, grabbing a small metal stick from the ledge of the porch. She used it to hit a metal triangle, ringing loudly across the farm.

The group started coming from the barn and Gazebo, all of them eager to finally get food in their bellies. Where's Lee? Marianne wondered, noting that he was missing from the group.

Once Brenda saw that they were all (mostly) accounted for, she set the metal stick down. "C'mon in, Marianne. You get to pick where you sit, first."

Marianne smiled at the older woman, standing from her seat on the stairs. "Thank ye, Brenda."

"Oh, don't mention it, honey."

Marianne, having been raised on a farm, knew that washing her hands first was a must. No telling what kind of dirt or germs she could've touched. Drying them on the towel, she took a seat on the far end of the table.

"Allow me to take that small hatchet of yours, Marianne." Said Brenda.

Marianne removed her hatchet from her belt, handing it over to Brenda. She placed it on the small coffee table at the end of the dining room. "Now you can sit more comfortably."

Everyone slowly filed in. Travis sat beside Marianne and Andy on the opposite side of her. "Yer mother is a real sweetheart, Andrew."

"Yeah, she's the best!" Andy agreed. "She can be stern but she's got a real soft spot for people."

Danny sat at the end of the table, leaning the gun against it. Marianne immediately became suspicious. Why would they need a gun at the dinner table?

"Everyone sit down, now, and I'll go get the meal." Brenda said. "Ooh, this is a delight!"

"I could eat a horse!" Kenny exclaimed.

"Where's Mark?" Lee asked, looking around the dinner table.

Brenda placed a hand on her hip. "Oh, don't you worry about Mark, I already brought some food up for him. You just let him rest. Now c'mon and sit down."

Marianne couldn't help but notice the small bit of suspicion in Lee's face. "Mind if I wash my hands first?"

"Bathroom is right outside in the hall." She moved to go into the kitchen, but then stopped. "Oh, and be sure to get under your nails; you've been mucking around in the dirt all day."

Lee left and Brenda went and got the food from the kitchen; fresh greens and potatoes and barbecued meat. Marianne's stomach churned as the meat was passed around and she was quick to pass it on to Travis. "Aren't you taking any meat, Marianne?" Brenda asked.

She realized she must've appeared rude. "Oh, Ahm sorry, it's not tha' Ah dinnae like it, it's just..." She sighed, waving her hands. "Ahm a vegetarian. Ah know tha' it isnae the best t' be picky, given our circumstances, but Ah just..."

"Oh, I understand, sweetheart. Just be sure to eat plenty of your greens, alright? Keep you good and healthy."

Marianne smiled and nodded, gratefully taking the potatoes and salad. "Thank ye." She then bowed her head, grabbing at the pendant around her neck, praying to herself silently. When she was finished she looked up and saw a few people giving her funny or confused looks, which she just shrugged off.

Brenda sat down and realized that they were missing a guest. "Lee?" She called out. "Did ya' fall in? Everyone's having at!"

Marianne took a bite of the buttered potatoes, her mouth salivating at the burst of sweet flavour. She took care in eating slowly, seeing that she hadn't had a proper meal in months.

She heard rapid thuds and then she heard Lee shout, "Clementine, don't eat that!"

She looked over past Andy and saw Clementine put a fork, filled with meat, down on her plate. Everyone talked among themselves. "Lee," Kenny said, " Jesus, man, what's wrong? Did you find something?"

Larry wasn't pleased with Lee. "Aw, sit your ass down, Lee! This lady has made you a meal!"

"Yeah, Lee. What's gotten into you?"

"Mark is upstairs with his fucking legs hacked off! You're eating him!"

Everyone started to become panicked, some pushing their plates away from them. Travis gagged, pushing his as far as he could. "Oh god..."

"You're scaring the kids, Lee."

Katjaa quickly took Duck's plate away from him and he protested, sharply. Lilly glared at Lee. "What the hell is going on?" She demanded.

"Go upstairs and look for yourself." He replied, pointing to the stairs. "Think about it! This is a Dairy, not a Ranch!"

Marianne looked around, slowly beginning to believe what Lee was saying. It did make sense, once she really thought about it. She grew up on a small farm but she was taught the same thing her parents were taught; 'Waste not, Want not'.

Brenda, who had all eyes on her, sighed heavily. "It's true..."

Marianne's blood ran cold at the confirmation and she began to shiver, not from the cold, however. She looked up to Travis for some form of reassurance and he patted her hand in a calming gesture. Please, Lord, let this all be nothing but a bad dream...

"He woulda' died, anyways!" Andy exclaimed. "We gotta think about living!"

"Settle down, honey..." Brenda chided her son. "Growing up in rural Georgia, you're taught not to waste. It's how I was raised and that's how I raised my boys! Now, you got monsters roaming around that do nothing but eat people, and for what? To rot away until they eat some more!"

Andy and Danny both looked very displeased as Brenda explained this and several other people started pushing away their plates. "I think I'm gonna puke..." Lilly muttered.

Marianne couldn't help sidle closer to Travis, feeling very unsafe beside Andy.

"You're all just sick..." Lee said, still not moving from his spot.

"Now, that's not a very nice thing to imply, Lee..." Brenda chided. She then calmed herself down. "Andy is right; we go after the ones who were gonna die anyways, one way or another..."

Danny swallowed his food. "Like y'all."

Everyone looked between one another, wondering what to do. "Kenny, grab your gun!"

Kenny stood, despite his wife telling him not to, but Andy and Danny were quick. Andy pulled out his gun, pointing it at Marianne's head. "Nobody's going anywhere!"

Danny had his gun in his hand. "We got nice use for y'all right here."

Marianne stared down the barrel of the gun, waiting for Andy to fire it. She never was really fazed by the concept of death, as she knew where she would be going, but right in this moment she was mortified. Despite her faith, she wasn't quite ready to leave the physical world.

Larry started spouting curses as Lilly shouted at the St. Johns. "Put your guns down! We are walking out of here!"

Travis sneered at Andy. "Fucking get that gun away from her face!"

"Travis, yer no' helping!"

"I don't wanna die..." Duck whimpered. "Mommy, what did I eat?!"

"Everyone!" Lee shouted among the clamor. "Everything will be okay!"

"Lee..." Clementine whimpered.

Marianne looked up at Andy, who's attention suddenly wasn't on her. Before she could take action, he grabbed Clementine's hair, pulling her off of her seat while pointing the gun at Lee.

"LET HER GO, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Lee lunged forward but was stopped by Danny, who put his gun right at Lee's neck. "I wouldn't do that, if I was you..." He threatened.

All was quiet as a loud thud was heard and everyone's attention flew to the hallway, looking to see what had fell down. Everyone stayed still, looking uncertainly at one another. Marianne looked at Travis, who seemed just as scared as the rest of the group. It then sounded like someone was dragging themselves along the ground.

"Please..."

MARK!

"Someone..."

His full body came into view, well, the part of his body that was still there and Marianne gasped along with everyone else. She tried her best to stop the tears from flowing at the sight of the legless man. My Lord, why...?

"Clemen-"

Danny hit Lee with the butt of his gun, knocking him out cold. Marianne quickly took the initiative and jumped from her seat, trying to take Andy's gun. She didn't know what she would do with it if she got it, but it would be better than having it in his hand. "Ahm gonna skelp yer erse, ye bloody jessie!" She shouted.

A gunshot rang out and Marianne dropped, holding her one hand over her ear. Someone knelt beside her, yelling and shouting. She couldn't hardly tell because of the loud ringing in her ears. She turned onto her back, still holding her ear, and saw Clementine now struggling to get out of Andy's grasp and Travis kneeling over her.

"Get up..."

"You fucking shot her!"

"I said get up or she'll end up worse!"

Travis, most reluctantly, stood up and raised his hands. Marianne released her ear and looked at her hand, recognizing the familiar crimson colour of blood. The bloody jessie just shot me!

"Don't you fucking go near my family!" She heard Kenny shout.

"Back off, or the boy gets it!"

"Mama, keep an eye on that girl! She'll be a handful!"

Marianne put her hand back over her ear and stood up, using the wall for support. "Don't you move, Marianne!"

"Ahm just standing, ye hackit!" She snapped, gritting her teeth.

Andy and Danny were leading Lilly, Larry, Clementine and Kenny out of the house. Lee just lied on the floor, blood dripping from an open wound on his head. He was still breathing, which was good, but slowly.

"Andy, I'll need ya back in the house to help keep watch on these people."

"Yeah, mama."

Marianne hissed at the pain in her ear, now gaining a major headache. "Lee is right, ye know; there isnae anything right about eatin' other-"

"Now, you just be quiet, Marianne." Brenda snapped at her. She pointed the gun at her head. "Now, I want you to move nice and slow and sit right back down. All of you!"

Marianne leaned against the wall and released her ear, grabbing the Cross around her neck, not caring if she got blood on it. Compared to what was going on, a little bit of blood on some silver won't do no harm.

"I said sit down."

Marianne ignored Brenda, continuing to silently pray as she slid down the wall.

"Maria-"

"Boy, if you don't down-"

"Bitch, just shut up! Maria is scared, she needs to-"

Brenda shot a bullet, which hit the wall beside Travis. It was meant as a warning, he thought. He looked as Marianne continued to sit on the ground with her Cross in hand. If there is a God... Please, just help us...