A/N: Hello again everyone! I am on a roll here lately, but things might slow down again here in a couple of days. I don't want to burn myself out, but there will definitely be at least one update a week, and that is a promise unless unforeseen events occur. This is another relatively short chapter but I like where things are heading. Be patient please. And read and review!
The Wal-Mart proved to be less helpful than the gas station. The shelves had already been picked over and there was nothing useful save for some blankets that no one had thought to take in the heat of summer. We loaded up our find and hit the road again, until we had to find more fuel. This was getting old very fast. We were in the middle of nowhere, back roads being deemed safer by Rick. That proved a wise choice when it concerned gas, however, because the next station we came across actually had some. We filled up the cars and an extra can, all ecstatic by the sudden change of luck.
We were resting now, drinking hot bottled water from the store and eating old crackers and beef jerky. I was sitting on the hood of one of the cars with Daryl leaning against it next to me. I hopped down once I finished the food and drained the bottle to stretch before we started our journey again. Hours on that bike made my muscles complain. I started walking down the road to stretch my legs and saw a sign that brought a smile to my face.
Mercy, Georgia-30 miles
My hometown! Mercy was where Shane and I grew up, where my mother was born too.
"Rick!" I called and ran back to the station where everyone was on their feet with weapons in hand. "No! No walkers, sorry," I called out of breath and they all relaxed but Rick still fixed me with a strange look. I hadn't even spoken to him since the other night. "Rick, we're near Mercy! It's only thirty miles away!" I was yelling but I couldn't help it. I was excited.
"Really? I didn't even realize…." He trailed off.
"We could go there," I interrupted with excitement. "Hunker down for winter."
"I don't know. It could be overrun," he said, scratching at his beard and a flash of annoyance sparked inside of me.
"Or it could be the refuge we've been looking for," I groaned with a pleading note.
"It couldn't hurt to at least check it out," Daryl said gruffly and I nodded eagerly in agreement.
"We're this close."
"Okay. We'll go see. But at the first sign of trouble we're getting out. Take five more minutes before we go," Rick finally agreed and I smiled, looking forward to going back to the last place where my life made sense.
…
Daryl and I led the group since I was the most familiar with the area. I nearly bounced in anticipation as we hit the town limit and the familiar sights put me more at ease than I had been in weeks. All that was missing was Shane next to me but I pushed those thoughts away. I told Daryl to stop next to the gas station that marked where the town began. I hopped off the bike and everyone was filing out of the cars carefully, on the alert for walkers.
"Maggie, Lori, T-Dog, and Carol go check out the store. The rest of us will run a quick sweep to see if there are any immediate threats and meet you back here," Rick ordered and they went into the store with weapons raised.
"Daryl, Adeline, and Beth go right and work around and the rest of us will go left," he continued and I saw Daryl string a bolt and I checked my gun. Not much ammo, we would need to find some, and fast. There was a gun store here, maybe they had something. I understood Rick's division of groups, and for once, agreed with him. This way, both teams had someone who knew the town and plenty of muscle if something should arise.
"I'll lead the way," I told Daryl, glad that Rick had given us this side of town, wow two good calls in one day. Had to be a record for him. The redneck nodded and gestured for me to start walking.
The streets were eerily quiet and empty, not a sound except for our footsteps crunching the dead leaves on the sidewalk. Rick had ordered us to only check perimeter, not to dig into the town yet, just to assess danger levels. Since Beth was with us, I decided to listen and we made our way around the town quickly and without seeing one walker. It was too good to be true, but I was elated to be home again. Once we were satisfied that all was well, we circled back to where we'd left the others and discovered Rick's group was already back with similar news. No signs of the dead. On top of that, the scavenge group had found the holy grail of supplies, lots of food and water and there was even gas in the pumps. Maybe our luck was changing after all.
"Now if we can find a place to hole up, we'll be okay," Hershel said with a smile, a real one that was mirrored on all of our faces at the thought of an actual sanctuary.
"The town must have fallen early for it to be so empty. A lot of the supplies may still be intact, we need to search all of the stores we can. Maybe we'll get luck," he said and looked at us all meaningfully. This was our chance.
"Well," I said, deciding to take some initiative, Rick had done pretty well today and I couldn't expect that to last much longer. "Daryl and I could scout for a place to stay while you guys look for supplies." Rick looked speculative for a moment but then nodded.
"Okay. But be careful, and meet us back here in an hour," he ordered, still holding onto that authority. I was still angry and raw but knew I had to work with Rick, at least for the time being. I nodded and started walking with Daryl right behind me. I was insanely distracted by memories of the town but was trying to focus and make sure all was well.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Daryl asked and a smirk formed on my lips.
"Home," I said easily and walked calmly down the deserted street that led to the only place I had ever really belonged. "Two blocks up and a right will lead to the residential area of town," I told him, pointing ahead.
"So this is where you grew up?" Daryl asked and I nodded, nostalgic as I imagined the neighborhood like it had been when I was a kid. Children running up and down the streets, laughing and playing games, parents watching from the porch and the smell of someone grilling almost every night in the summer.
"Yeah. That is where I went to school," I told him, pointing to the two story brick building on our left marked Mercy Elementary and Middle School. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad as the familiar houses and building surrounded me and filled me with memories.
We turned and I saw the group of houses that marked the residential area of town where I had lived. I smiled at the white house on the corner, looking out into the street. It was rundown but I would recognize it anywhere. I started running, my feet pounding on the concrete.
"Whoa! Hang on girl!" Daryl called and started running after me, but I made it to the door a good ten seconds before him. I stared at the door with wide eyes, hands lingering on the knob, debating whether or not open it. I took a deep breath and turned it, the door swinging open with a squeak at the slightest pressure. Instead of being blasted with the smell of cinnamon and something baking in the oven like when I was a child, hot air wafted over me from the closed door during the long summer months.
I stepped inside and the boards complained under my feet. It was dark but light from the opened door and a few windows revealed a thick layer of dust covering every surface. Obviously new furniture filled the rooms since another family had moved in after my parents died.
"This looks as safe as any other place," I said quickly as Daryl pushed his way into the house.
"Quick to say so. Let's at least do a sweep first," he said and I agreed.
"I'll take upstairs," I said and headed that way immediately. The steps creaked even more loudly than the floor but I kept going at a steady pace, on guard just in case something was awry.
The first door I came to was the bathroom. I opened it and did a quick assessment, noting that it was empty but still had some things in it, looks like whoever was living here was left in a hurry. The next door was Shane's old bedroom and I took a deep, shuddering breath before opening it. It swung in and I looked around it as well. Empty just like everywhere else but there was signs of things being packed quickly. Before I turned to leave, I walked over to the closet and pulled it open too. Some clothes hung precariously from hangers and I shoved them aside to look at the back wall. There was where Shane had carved his name into the wall. My dad had been furious but Shane never once apologized for it, saying he wanted to leave his mark here. I ran my fingers over the crude carving, feeling the grief I had managed to swallow come back in full force.
Before I could give into it completely, I left the closet and then the room altogether, shutting the door softly behind me. My room was next and it was remarkably similar to the way it had been. The color of the walls was the same and similar bedding covered the small bed. This must have served as a guest room since it showed no signs of being lived in. I touched the walls lovingly but walked out and went to the final room, my parents' room. This one had been completely remodeled, but was once again empty as was their bathroom. I even took the liberty of checking all the closets before heading back downstairs to meet Daryl.
"This place is completely empty. Just like the rest of the town. It's strange," I said, feeling uneasy for the first time since passing the sign that said Welcome to Mercy. I found the name ironic and comforting at the same time.
"Well, that makes it a good place to stay," he said and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. I smiled at him, looking into those beautiful blue eyes. This felt right in so many ways. I should be in this house with Daryl, it should be that way. But there was a lot wrong too. There shouldn't be walkers crawling all over the place. Shane should be upstairs in his room, avoiding the rest of us and my parents should be sitting on the couch across from us. My mom would be talking and laughing with something cooking in the kitchen while my dad interrogated Daryl. I could almost picture it.
"Yeah. Let's go get the others," I said, shattering the perfect dream and returning to the nightmare that was my life.