A month has passed since a group of people and their leader Frank took Lacie prisoner. Every escape attempt was thwarted and followed by a beating. The only reason that Lacie had come there was James, a man not too much older than herself had cost her a deer. Deer were rare these days, most had been eaten by walkers. However she didn't think that one deer was worth staying here. Touching her fingers lightly to the dark bruise on her cheek, she waited for Henry and Oscar. Frank would send the two men with Lacie to make sure she didn't run. Being a good hunter and tracker Lacie was valuable to them. There was not a night since she had came to the camp that they didn't have meat. A shadow hovered over her, grabbed her arm and jerked her to a standing position. To her surprise it was James pulling her from her seat. James was the only one she actually liked even if he was a bit of a coward. "Come we are going for a run." This is the first time he had acted this way to her. Henry and Oscar were behind him with lists ready to hit the road. After putting on all her gear they four of them took off toward the near by town in the groups Impala. The tan leather seat stuck to her skin from the heat and not being able to turn on the air conditioner. Lacie didn't know why they took her out on runs, she wouldn't protect their asses. When they pulled up to the deserted pharmacy Henry handed the list to James. "You will be going in alone. There are only four things on that list so make it fast." The door clicked open and just like that James was already in the pharmacy. "So little lady. Have you decided to stop fighting us and become an official member of the group." Oscar put his hand on her exposed thigh. "Fuck you.." Lacie growled hitting his hand away, Oscar responded by putting his hand on her neck, and pushing her toward the seat. "Be careful girl we can always throw you to the walkers and say it was an accident." Lacie didn't claw at his hand or ask for breath, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction. Even when Oscar did let go she wouldn't let her body gasp instead she let out air slowly. James came out a few minuets later with all the medicines on the list. "Hey guys I got everything." He smiled before seeing the new acquired bruises on his friends neck. To him Lacie looked like a victim of domestic violence, which just enforced to him that his plan had to work. Henry started the car and they were off to the Market.
This was always the hard part, the list was longer and the market was pitch black. The four of them got out of the car, then walked up to the door. "Y-you guys. I think two of us need to stay out and keep watch. What if the walkers come and surround the area? We need at least two of us to warn the other two." James made two steps backwards. "You're just a chicken shit." Oscar growled letting go of Lacie's arm. "He's right Oscar you stay her with him, while me and midget girl go get the supplies." This pissed Oscar off further but, he knew better than to question Henry. "Fine me and pansy boy will wait outside for you." With that Henry dragged Lacie into the dark and silent food market. Their foot steps echoed against the linoleum. Henry took out a flashlight to better illuminate their path. There were randomly placed shopping carts and knocked over displays. The ruins of panic and fear where apparent everywhere she looked. Henry started loading up the empty backpack she was holding. "You know those bruises make you even more beautiful." Henry backed her up against the pasta sauces and touched her face lightly. "We are finally alone and I think it's about time I do something about how I feel." When he grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him a gun shot went off outside the market. Distracting him long enough for her to stomp on his foot, hit him in the face with the backpack she was holding, and to drop it and run through the darkness."Get Back here you bitch!" Henry's footsteps loud and clear behind her, she stopped and took out her gun. "Where are you bitch?!" Pushing the shopping carts out of the way with all his might making so much noise, Lacie could pin point him on hearing alone. "I'm over here Jackass!" The cans around her shook as Henry showed his ugly mug at the end of the isle, shining the light straight at his opponent. "You are quite an idiot aren't you girl? Now put the gun down and I may be able to forgive you." His tone and body language were condescending, Henry didn't get very far before Lacie shot him in the head. The flashlight Henry was holding was now on the ground still facing Lacie and illuminating the blood coming from his head. The growls from a hoard coming closer could be heard through the market. Lacie quickly Grabbed the two guns, knife and flashlight Henry had on him then frantically searched for a hiding place. Lacie made her way to the back of the store, into the receiving center. Her heart was pounding, but she didn't let it cloud her mind. Through the spaces of the shelves Lacie noticed the door to an office.
The door to the office was unlocked. The office was small with a desk, computer and papers all over it and the floor. A growling sound came from the corner of the room. A walker dressed in a button up shirt, tie and dress pants lunged at her. Dropping Henry's guns Lacie took her knife, put all her force into stabbing the walker through the skull. As the walker fell to the ground the growling from the herd became louder. Lacie knew her best chance was to turn off the flashlight, lay down and pull the walker she had just killed on top of her. Lacie stared into the blackness, quiet and left to her own thoughts. Who shot the gun earlier. I hope James is okay. Did he plan this out? Did he try to save me from living in that hell? The sound of walkers could be heard right outside the office door now. Closing her eyes all she could do was wait until the sound was gone. Time went by slowly until the anguished sound of the walking dead dissipated. Slowly she lifted the corpse off her body then let it roll to a position beside her. Sitting up she adjusted her equipment then put the newly acquired shotgun and AK-47 in her backpack allowing them to stick out the zipper. Lacie decided to exit the room with a flashlight in one hand and a knife in the other. The exit door was across the room which seemed like a short distance until she heard stragglers. Walkers never seemed to have a real system. Some of the walking corpses followed each other, then just hung back after the group left. Holding her breath and following the wall she made it to the door and back out to the sunshine.
The sun was high in the sky blinding Lacie for a moment until her eyes adjusted. The back of the market was just an empty parking lot with two dumpsters. Walking down the concrete steps she decided to find out what happened to James. Careful not to make much noise incase more walkers were present Lacie took the alley way on the left hand side of the market. Peeking around the corner she saw four walkers feasting on the bodies of Oscar and James. Pushing her back against the brick wall of the market, Lacie felt a slight pain in her chest. James wasn't a close friend but he was a good man who gave his life to get her out of that camp. "I won't forget you." She whispered then started toward the cars, Lacie had to get out of there. Cars were parked all over the street this was common though. Earlier Henry had to maneuver through this mess. The cars were good to hide behind though. One man's pain in the ass is another's saving grace. I need to get back to the forest. Lacie looked for the forest but there was just a wall of shops. Almost there! Lacie had made it a mile, she was almost to a clearing, when her excitement clouded her judgment long enough for her to break a glass bottle under her foot. This alerted all the walkers that she had been using the cars to hide from. Sprinting she tried to open any car door or trunk, there was no way she could take on six walkers by herself. Finally the eleventh cars trunk was open allowing her to jump in. The trunk was crowded, the previous owners had actually left quite a few items back there. She could feel a few bags, a tire iron and a car lift against her back. The floor felt like cheap carpet that had been 15 or more years old, and smelled of different chemicals used to keep a car going like motor oil and anti-freeze. They must have ran out of gas and got attacked. She frowned to herself considering all the possibilities. Listening to the groans of the walkers outside, trying to determine when they would leave, Lacie heard a quick silence that came over the street then a knocking sound.
The trunk opened revealing a rugged older man with a crossbow pointed at her. A twinge of fear set in, Lacie had just obtained her freedom, if she died now or became a prisoner again James death was for nothing. "Who are ya and what the fuck are ya doin' out here by yaself?" The man hissed at her knowing the same thing she did, not to trust the living. Calming herself, she realized that this man just saved her and deserved to know what ever he asked. "My name is Lacie. I didn't come here alone. I'm not an idiot...I am just alone now." She looked at her knees. Glaring in at Lacie, the man took her arm and hauled her out of the trunk, he let her regain her composure and footing before letting go. Another man was with him she noticed when she surveyed the area. The second man looked younger, Asian, and kept by the light faded blue truck. "I'm sorry to hear about yer friends." The man with the bow calmly said, feeling bad for her. The stranger looked for signs of hostility, but didn't finding. "There's a few questions I want to ask ya." His face regained it's sternness . "Ya best be tellin' the truth, too. Ain't no dangerous fools comin' back with us." Growling a bit to show his guard was up he asked. "How many walkers have ya killed? How many people have ya killed? Why?" he asked all in rapid succession, waiting for the black haired girl to answer. Lacie could understand why the man was asking her these questions, the world had gone to hell. "I've killed quite a few walkers actually...It has to be a hundred or so by now." She didn't know the specific number. "As for people I've killed four. My old friend I used to travel with, we had found a group of people who tried to kill us when we tried to leave. Then the same friend and I found sanctuary in a psych-ward. Apparently 7 male orderlies and a patient woman did the same. They thought my friend and I would make good toys. We obviously didn't have the same beliefs. Lastly about an hour ago a man from this group that was keeping me hostage. My friend gave me a chance to get away by getting one of the thugs to stay out side. He believed I could handle myself if I wasn't teamed up on. He was right. Am I allowed to ask you any questions?" Lacie attempted to hold a poker face as she spoke flatly. The man seemed to have to take a breath before responding to her. To him she didn't seem much of a threat 5"2, pigtails and a fake Japanese dark blue school girl outfit, was definitely not threatening towards him. However something about the way Lacie held herself had him pausing. "Look, little girl," he snarled menacingly, not letting her see his reluctance. "There's reasons we ask ya these questions. We have our own to ya want to be safe and fed, all that good shit, then come with us." The man still alert started heading toward his truck. Turning back towards her, his gaze softened, not wanting to scare her, but frustrating himself. "Ya can ask yer questions once we get to our home. Our main leader is there. I'm second in command." When the stranger stopped talking he walked back to his truck where his friend waited. Lacie decided to follow him, it couldn't be worse then being alone. She was also interested in seeing this prison. If he was going to kill me he would have done it already right? She found herself getting lost in her imagination. A prison is a genius idea! Why didn't I think of that? Lacie made her way to the stranger's truck. Speaking at all didn't feel wise. In fact the way she gave up all that information probably wasn't the best either. Glad to be leaving the other group behind though she smiled a bit to herself. Maybe this means things are going to get better. This is the first time she was optimistic in a while. When Lacie got separated from Bella, her best friend she had turned cold to the world and her circumstances. Meeting James' group didn't help that opinion either. However there was something about this guy that made that loner aggression lessen. Maybe it's a belief that he will lead her to good people and she won't feel so alone. To the redneck however Lacie made him a bit uneasy and he knew that he would be keeping an eye on her. The redneck seemed to think for a moment before gesturing for Lacie to get into the bed of the truck, with the deer he killed earlier. "Yer gonna have to sit back 'ere." She saw an apologetic look in his eyes. "I'd have ya up there with us, but my crossbow goes in the middle. Ain't wantin' to leave it in the back where I can't reach it." His friend got into the front. "Will ya be alright back 'ere or what?" Lacie nodded and climbed in to the back of the truck. "Thank you for saving my life." She said once the redneck started to drive the truck. After he gave her a silent nodded the rest of the drive was without communication. The drive was about an hour long, Lacie felt the truck stop for a chain link gates to the prison were being opened by a preteen boy. The stranger slowly brought the truck to a stop again. Grabbing his crossbow, he threw it over his shoulder and climbed out, motioning for his friend to follow him. Looking back at Lacie motioned for her to get out. "Follow me, I'm gonna take ya up to the commons and lead the introductions. We'll give ya a couple days to adjust 'fore the council hands ya a job to do." Softening his expression into a timid smile, the stranger started to walk up the hill. "Welcome home."
Inside the gates of the prison there was a field with a hill that lead up to another gate. Lacie followed the stranger until they got to an area with the gazebo. Where a young woman came to greet them. "Who is this Glenn?" The Asian kissed the woman. "This is Lacie. Daryl saved her from walkers when she hid in a trunk. It only took a few minuets before Lacie was surrounded by the residents asking questions, making Lacie very uncomfortable, claustrophobia started to set in. "Is she okay?" A man revealed to her as Rick asked noticing her unsettled expression. A silence came over the group along with a stare aimed at her which made things worse. Even before the apocalypse she wasn't good with crowds that she was trying to impress. "I-I'm sorry." Lacie ran back to the truck and hid in the back. She sat in the truck bed that was still covered in deer blood. Trying to calm herself, she bit her thumb. I can't believe I lost control up there. I haven't lost control in a long time. They will never take me seriously now."Hey little girl." Daryl said standing outside the truck. "I am not a little girl!" Lacie snapped back at the redneck, who rolled his eyes at her. "Are ya gunna be okay?" She nodded then pulled her knees to her chest. "I felt surrounded that's all...Now none of you are going to take me seriously." Daryl leaned his back against his truck."If you wanted th'm to take ya seriously then ya shouldn't dress like a stripper." Lacie looked over to him. " I am not dressed as a stripper! This is Japanese cosplay! I packed whatever I could get my hands on!" Daryl shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Looks like a stripper to me." He knew he was pissing her off, but to him aggression was better than fear. "I'm sure you've seen plenty of strippers." By now Lacie had turned around and was leaning on the side of the truck bed, her arms folded near Daryl's head. His response was just to flip her off. Once Lacie finally got out of the truck bed Daryl brought her back to Rick. "I hope your feeling better." The ex-officer was sitting at the metal table inside the prison along with the boy named Carl. "Yes. I didn't mean to be rude earlier." Rick stood up and walked over to the new member of their group. "We shouldn't have swarmed you like that. Let me show you to your cell so you can put your stuff down." Lacie nodded then followed Rick up to a cell on the second floor with a single bed in it. She wished Daryl had come with them, but this Rick guy wasn't half bad. "If you need something just let me or Daryl know. I'll leave you alone now." Lacie sat on the mattress and let out a sigh. Home.