8
Effy was the first one who ran forward crushing me into a hug. She was sobbing in my neck and I had to contain my own tears. Following her, Maggie and Beth hugged me too and cried a little, Sophia was the next wrapping her little arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest. And then Carol, she squeezed my shoulder lightly and muttered a "Thank you" with a meaningful look. I felt joy, I had found them, and I knew I will but seeing them again was something totally different. In that moment of relief I felt the pulsing pain in my legs and some itching in my cheek. Breathing normally again I reached touching my skin; I had a scratch it was little but it was bloodied too.
- Were you attacked? — Daryl had turned to me, handing me a rag he drew off his pocket.
- No, those things didn't got too close — I took the piece of rag and pressed it to my bloodied cheek.
- How did you get out of there? — Glenn approached me, his face with a small grin and some of doubt.
- Well, I'm a crazy bitch and...
- Language Mary — Hershel warned me, stepping forward.
I realize in that exactly moment that I had been blessed, getting away with my life and finding my family again.
Because they are.
- Sorry stepdad — The old man grinned and then motioned to me.
- Come dear, let's check that cut.
I knew that we had lost people, but I didn't want to ask about them. They were gone and we couldn't do anything about it. Just move forward. That was what we did, we stood for a while in the road but immediately Rick was telling we need to leave and find a safe place for the night, because you know there was a herd of walkers that we just escaped with our lives.
So we moved. Rick, Lori, Carl and Hershel drove in the truck, Maggie, Glenn, T-Dog and Beth in the Hyundai and as a day before I drove with Carol, Sophia and Effy in my Jeep. And obviously, Daryl went in his motorcycle. It was fun at first, they were reluctant at me driving, but hey, is my car. I've just ran like Forrest Gump in those woods, running off from some undead monsters that wanted to made me their lunch, I won't be sitting in the passenger seat, I'll drive my fancy car. That's it.
We all drove for the whole day; I was feeling pretty nervous to be honest. What would we do? The farm was gone and we couldn't stay in the roads forever, soon or late we'd find another herd or other people that could be just as dangerous. Effy and Sophia fell asleep at the moment the car started moving, Carol was awake but she remained silent. Something was happening or maybe had happened in my absence, I didn't know but I had a feeling about it.
They stopped on the road. I turned off the engine of the Jeep and walked out, the others did the same. The cold breeze made me shiver. It was going to be sunset soon; I needed to check if I had another jacket or sweater to wear. We were all out of the cars; Hershel carried his shotgun looking at the surroundings, I had mine too just in case. I saw Lori; she was holding Carl close to her.
- We'll make camp tonight — Rick said, turning around and pointing at some spot over the edge of the road — Over there. Get on the road on the breaking day.
- What if walkers come? — Beth asked walking to Rick. I was just behind her, I really wanted to talk and give my opinion but I felt extremely exhausted to even think.
- You know I found Randall, he turned but wasn't bit — Daryl mentioned suddenly.
- How's that possible? — Asked Effy with her girly small voice.
- Like what the hell happened? — I heard Lori said.
- Shane killed Randall, just like he always wanted to — Daryl replied.
Okay I didn't know that.
- And the herd got him? — I said looking at them; Daryl glanced at me for a little second and quickly looked away.
Rick hesitated. He averted his eyes from all of us, looked at the pavement, and then looked at the road. The cold air blowed all around us, the leaves of trees sounding and branches cracking, everything was still for a moment. And I breathed.
- We're all infected.
Rick's voice felt in my ears like it was something unknown, like I've never heard the sound before. I thought I misunderstood. What did he say? Infected? Hold on, I needed to catch my breath. I did not realize that I gasped loudly, but I did.
- What? — My blurred vision hardly saw Daryl asking.
- At the CDC, Jenner told me — Rick continued — whatever it is, we all carry it. — A knot grew in my stomach like a piercing pain; this had to be a bad joke.
- Wait, you mean that if we don't die by a bullet in the head, we'll turn into one of those? — The sheriff looked at me; he still had blood on his face and neck. And he nodded.
- And you never said anything? — Carol had Sophia in her arms, the little girl looked even more scared than I felt.
- Would it have made a difference?
- You knew this whole time? — I heard Glenn asked with anger.
That was one of those moments when you just want to disappear from earth. Just being like dust and get lost in the air, blowed by a breeze. I did not listened the rest of the arguing or the questions they all did to Rick. What would I care? No matter what they said or argue about it, we were already screwed. I saw Daryl pacing like a caged lion; he crouched in the pavement and loaded his crossbow, like we weren't just told that we all carry a crazy disease that turns you into a monster whenever you die.
- Well, I thought it was best that people didn't know — After Rick said that, he walked off getting away from us.
Everyone was freaking out. But I didn't felt in the mood of comforting the girls or giving a hope word. I ran out of hope words for that day. Walking to the car again I sit myself in the cold pavement, this was ridiculous. So we were all sick? Infected? Like some kind of HIV that will comes to life when you die? I refused to believe that. I refused to believe that there was no hope or another chance.
The sun was setting. I didn't listen to more talking, and when I came back to the group they had already set a little camp. Daryl was near his bike, with his crossbow and doing guard. I'd saw Rick on the other side doing guard too. I sighed. Once again I could feel the tension floating around us. The rest of them were sitting and remained silent, this was so awkward and uncomfortable, like some kind of bizarre movie. But it wasn't a movie.
- You okay? — I turned around, finding Carol.
- Yes, my legs hurt like hell but I'll be fine. You?
- What you did in the farm... — she muttered.
- It was the right thing to do.
- What if you didn't escaped?
- I did, that's all that matters.
I walked off. I got in the camp and sat next to Effy and Beth. It was a really cold night, the breeze cutting the air like an ice knife and I could felt myself containing every shiver that passed through me.
Something sounded in the distance.
Maggie was panicking, telling that we needed to move. That wasn't a good idea In my opinion we have to stay together, don't split, don't do anything stupid or too risky. It was the best, at least that's what I was thinking, even though the tension.
- I'm not... I'm not sitting here, waiting for another herd to blow through.
- Don't panic, Maggs — I whispered to her in an attempt to calm her down.
- No, Mary! — she replied — we need to move, now.
- No one is going anywhere — said Rick, his voice firm.
- Then do something! — I tilted my face, glaring at Carol, she had yelled at the sheriff like he was responsible for this bad moment.
- I am doing something! — Rick replied in a small yell — I'm keeping this group together, alive. I've been doing that all along, no matter what. I didn't ask for this. I killed my best friend for you people, for Christ's sake!
I glared at him. Neither with shock or astonishment nor even with fear like some in the group looked at him, not even having a bad feeling or judging him. He killed Shane; he confessed a murder and all I could felt was relief. Am I a bad person for feeling that way? I know he was a human being and all that, but he was completely out of control. Killing is not the answer but maybe Rick didn't get another choice, and in this new world your only choice is living.
- You killed him? – Hershel gave me a warning look, I didn't care, right now we needed answers, and if they were too scared to ask well I will.
- You saw what he was like, how he compromised us, how he threatened us. He staged the whole Randall thing, led me out to put a bullet in my back. He gave me no choice. He was my friend, but he came after me. My hands are clean – Rick stood there for a moment, but I wouldn't ask anything else that was all I needed to known. – Maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead. I say there's a place for us, but maybe it's just another pipe dream. Maybe I'm fooling myself again. Why don't you go and find out yourself? Send me a postcard. Go on, there's the door. You can do better? Let's see how far you get.
Everyone remained silent. I was looking at the small fire, hearing the wood burning and cracking. The night was cold, the sky black and the fire shinning in yellow and orange.
- No takers? Fine. But get one thing straight – Rick glared at all of us, one by one. – If you're staying, this isn't a democracy anymore.
I saw everyone tensing up at those words, they remained quiet and silent, not even making a single move, but none of them said a thing. Why no one was telling a thing? I tell you why, they were scared. And as I said before; the fear is only in your mind. And now I knew.
I looked over my shoulder finding Daryl staring at me; my heart skipped a beat in my chest. I could saw his blue eyes glittering like he was trying to telling me something. I tilted my brows in a questioning way, and then the archer nodded. He didn't have to use words, I just understood.
We'll be safe.
End of Season 2.