Chapter 5: Distance

I thought that it would have been chaotic trying to get so many people packed and organised, ready to leave by a certain time but my brother made it look easy.
Vincent was in a million places at once; on the roof ordering the snipers and other good shots to take out as many walkers they could, downstairs organising people to offer a distraction by driving out a far while in the opposite direction and let off a few rounds; all of those people returning safely and then he was speaking to all twenty one residents, assuring them that it was in their best interest to leave here.

I felt a little out of place, unsure what to do; I had barely any belongings to pack, everything I had I wore or could fit in my new deep military styled pockets. With nothing to do I found myself tugging at the cargo pants, jumping on the spot to make sure that they wouldn't fall down easily. Gingerly I lifted up my shirt, peeling back the large pad that had been pressed against my wound. There was hardly any pain and I poked around the stitches, making sure I wasn't going to get an infection and die from that but Abigale made sure that I downed enough tablets that I swore I would rattle if I moved too much. It seemed to be working though, I had more colour to my face and I could open my eyes wider, keep them open for longer. My limbs were crying out for a stretch, a proper run and I knew that it would come sooner than later.

Outside the gunshots became fewer and fewer and I leaned closer to the window, peering out at the pre-dawn horizon. Spring couldn't be far away now, these morning weren't as chilly and the snow had all but gone from the ground. A tap at the door spun me around and Hughes opened the door slowly, and I waved my hand for him to come in.
"Vincent sent me to make sure you were ready to go, we're gathering downstairs."
"I'll be done in a minute."
He turned and left and I glanced around the apartment one last time, making sure I had everything that was mine. Vincent had been in earlier, picking up his bag and I spent that time actually looking at the belongings left behind in the room. The DVD collection screamed at me that this wasn't where my brother lived; How to Lose a Guy in Ten Day? The Pride and the Prejudice? No, if it was the Alien series or a collection of western movies maybe.

Turning off the bedside light, I softly closed the door behind me, wondering about the person that would have lived there, no one may ever step foot in there again, no one might ever sleep in that bed again. Not that it mattered, but since my handshake with death it was all I could think about, the pain and fear that each and every one of those walkers had felt when they were still human. Some deserved it, but no one deserved to be such monsters, no one would willingly do this.
The crowd was starting to gather at the stairs and I hurried down to the foyer, trying to find Vincent but instead I found Trisha. She spun around, her leather jacket squeaking as she held the rifle to her chest, giving me a distasteful frown.
"Have you seen Vincent?"
"How about you just make yourself useful hmm? Your brother aint going anywhere, much like you."
I ignored the jab, nodding my head and straightening my back so that we stood at equal height. I didn't seem to have the patience for people like this anymore, if she had a problem with me, fine, but while I didn't have a problem with her it was for the better.
"Do you have something in mind?" I asked, and Trisha flicked her hair from her eyes.
"Yeah, get out of our way."

With a shove she moved past me and I sighed, watching her storm off. I felt like throwing something at her but I stopped imagining scenarios where I could 'accidently' throw that bottle at her when there was a tug at my pants. I had to fight my knee jerk reaction of a walker, my side tingling at the memory of all those corpses grabbing at me when I looked down into the face of a young boy.
"Excuse me miss, my Nan needs help down the stairs."
I looked in the direction he pointed and to the frail lady trying to make her way down and I nodded, quickly at her side and offering my arm. She was thankful, patting my cheek before she took her grandsons hand and joined the others. It felt good to be useful, to be helpful to other people without the need of a weapon and I smiled as other people asked for little things such as a bag, directions or even reassurance.

A bark caught my attention and in the dim light I saw Trix make his way through the people and towards me, Vincent not far behind him.
"Ready to go?"
I nodded and Vincent clapped his hands together, everyone in the room stopping to look at him.
"Alright we still have a few biters wandering around but stick to your groups, stick to the car or bus you have been designated to. Keep tight and follow your designated driver, they will shoot anything that gets too close so please don't panic. Two days and we will be somewhere where there are other people, a proper safe place to be. Stick close, move fast and we will be fine. Let's go! Group one you're up!"
Trisha held up her gun, calling those people over to her and the door was opened, the people calmly funnelling outside. Vincent stepped off the step and gave a smile as I gave a small applaud.
"Look at you, I always knew you would be perfect as a tyrant."
"Not the leader, just a man in charge. The real boss is at Woodbury." His face tightened as though disgusted by some thought but I tried to offer a distraction.
"What car am I in?"
"You're with me little sis," he playfully said, pushing his fingers into my hair and shaking my head slightly. I slapped his hands away and we stood there watching as the people were led towards outside, only a few cracks of a gun being heard the entire time.

Behind us the sun was beginning to rise, the first rays of the orange light stretching across the smooth ground towards out feet and as the last person stepped outside, Vincent guided me to follow them. After the door was chained behind us, we made a quick quiet run towards the convoy of vehicles shielded by some fallen trees and skip bins. I could hear the walkers behind us getting louder but I didn't dare look over my shoulder as Vincent grabbed my hand, making sure I got into the passenger seat of a service van, taking his spot in the driver's seat. It was a relief that we were in the same vehicle, and I could see he was thinking about it also as he gave me a long look before glancing at the people sitting in the back.
"Sorry there's no seat belts, just sit tight, it'll smooth out eventually." They all mumbled that they would be fine and I relaxed back into the seat, my bow across my legs and Trix sitting at my feet, between both of us being underweight we managed to fit comfortably.
Vincent shuffled, putting his gun on the dash in front of him as he pulled free a small radio, clicking the button.
"We good to go?"
"Let's go, we got some extras trying to join us." Armstrong's voice was unmistakeable and Vincent turned the car on.
"Remember, keep close," someone's voice came over, Vincent handing it over to me as he drove the car forward. Walkers were starting to spill around from the front of the building, curious about the noise and watching as their breakfast escaped on wheels.
"Not as close as last time Pat. We can't go another round of bumper cars." Trishas harsh voice came over the radio and Vincent chuckled slightly, remembering the event.

I just sat back, looking out the window as we circled back around the front of the apartment building. The rising sun lit the top of the roof like a beacon and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a dark skinned old man up there.
"Ashwin!" I cried, alarmed and leant forward to keep my eye on him, but Vincent didn't stop.
"He isn't coming with us. We found him in there, he refused to leave. He'll be alright, he'll be up there singing or chanting about something. Maybe it is a good luck song for us." Vincent said with a smile as he sat back in the seat, draping his arm across the steering wheel as we reached the less bumpy highway.
Why would anyone want to stay there, alone in that big place with so many walkers so close?

"Tell me more about where we are going, what do you do exactly?"
Vincent rubbed his eyes, covering his yawn and I dropped my hands to Trix, patting him as I watched the passing scenery, waiting for Vincent to answer.
"I'm," he had to stop and think about it before he gave a lopsided grin, "A bit like the transporter, a couple of months ago I was asked to be in charge of a group and find people, bring them back to the town. It is a decent place," he cringed slightly, and I may not have been with my brother for a while, and that short amount of time may have changed both of us but I could still tell when my brother was lying. It made me nervous but I didn't push the matter, hopefully he would trust me enough sooner or later.
"The Governor, he is the guy in charge. In no time at all he managed to barricade part of the town and people have found us and we have found them. Everyone is welcomed into Woodbury."
It sounded as though it was rehearsed but to be honest all I focused on was a town barricaded and people. My imagination was running wild, picturing buildings occupied by people rather than corpses, street lights and cars and clean streets.

Time ticked by slowly, Vincent talking to the people in the back as we continued to drive. I just stared out at the land that passed us by, most of the snow melted away even though the days and nights still proved cool, you could feel it though as you stood in the sun, the warmth starting to return and I could wait. Things seemed to be doing alright now; I had lived, I had found my brother and I was on my way to a safe place.
The only down side was that I didn't have Daryl by my side, I didn't know if the group that had helped keep my alive for so long was even alive themselves or still together. I had no idea how far away they were, I didn't know how much distance was now going to be between us, but I knew that it was too much for our paths to ever cross again, no matter how hard I willed for me to be wrong.
It had only been a day but it already felt as though he had been out of my life for a year, it felt wrong to have my heart skip a beat at the thought of him, all I would allow myself to feel was a hope that he had found the group safely.

We stopped briefly on the side of the road, a safe distance from any towns to stretch everyone's legs. There was no food for a late lunch, not that it was anything new to me, but people were complaining. Hughes had come up to me, informing that they a stack of supplies at the apartment building, the only problem was that they had found more people than what they were expecting, that and between the walkers and the snow it had been hard to leave on time. I asked him about Woodbury and how he had come to be here, Hughes answering in practically the same words as Vincent before he was called away. I leant back on the van, my back in some pain probably from all the sitting and I glanced up at the almost clear sky, bored.
It was nice to have something other than silence to hear, but as I listened to the people talk and complain, listened to the children cry and parents growl I wished I had the strength to just get in the car and shut them out, to seek out that silence. I kind of missed being on my own.
Eyes were now looking at me, watching me cautiously as they walked around and I did my best not to glare back. By now people had heard about my miraculous survival and they seemed split down the middle on how they felt about it. Half of them thought it was a miracle and didn't have a problem with it, but the other half treated me as though I was contagious, that maybe I may be alive but there had to be something wrong with me.

"You alright?"
I smiled as Armstrong looked at me slightly concerned and I nodded, standing up straight next to the tall man. His kind face gave me a disbelieving look and I crossed my arms, shrugging and looked around at all the people.
"Not used to being around so many people." I sighed, chuckling slightly, "debating whether I want to go to Woodbury or run back to my solitude." I said honestly.
Armstrong sighed, relaxing his stance and also gazing at all the people.
"I had been on my own for a while as well, I refused to try and survive this disgusting place." He started and I gazed up at him, wondering why he was telling me this, a stranger but I listened to it regardless.
"I made sure I did everything I could to be killed or bitten, I just wanted to die, but I was a coward to pull the trigger. I was in a pub, I opened all the doors, I made noise, I drank everything that was in those four walls and yet nothing happened. Each day I would wake up and each day I would curse."
His dark eyes flicked down to me and I tried to keep my face calm, tried to show him that I wasn't judging him, and I wasn't.
"I was close to using that last bullet one day; I hadn't seen anyone alive for months and even if I did, they wouldn't want some suicidal drunk. I was no good for anyone, even myself," he looked away from me and I followed his gaze as it watched my brother as he spoke to some of the people.
"Then your brother found me. He talked me out of it, somehow, and he gave me a chance. He sobered me up, reassured me that despite the world we lived in, life itself was still worth it and took me to Woodbury. Since then I have found a woman that I love, I have a roof over my head and a bed beneath me." He fixed his stance and tucked his rifle under his arm more, giving me a smile. "I thank your brother dearly, without him who knows what would have become of me. Solitude is good, but not when other people need you. Just give it a chance."

He lifted an eyebrow and I stared at him, not believing that this big, kind, intelligent man was ever in that situation but I nodded slowly and he left, leaving me staring at the concrete beneath my feet. Maybe I was just being silly, I had come back from the dead and to my knowledge no one else had done that, I needed to use this gift, I needed to get back to some normalcy and this was the best chance I had. I appreciated everything Rick did for his group and for me, but I couldn't keep moving like that, not anymore.
"You look like you're trying to lay an egg."
I took the bottle Vincent held up for me, giving him a laugh as he put his hands on his hips.
"Just bored."
Vincent cracked his knuckles and then pointed in the direction of a few cars down.
"Find Trisha, she might have something for you to do."
I tried to hold onto my sneer, not needing to cause any trouble my first day out with Vincent and his group, but did it have to be her? I nodded and Vincent gave me a smile as though he knew my feelings and I gulped down some of the water before grabbing my bow, keeping it in my grip as I got closer.

Trisha frowned at me as two people she was speaking with left with their orders, licking her lips and putting her hands on her hips.
"Yes?" She asked and I gave her the best smile I could.
"Vincent said you might have something I can do."
She looked me up and down and again I wasn't sure what people saw or were looking for but she seemed disappointed, as though I was wasting her precious time and I felt my patience that had not long ago been unlimited virtually run out.
"What can you do?"
I lifted my bow up, "I'm a good shot, with the bow or a gun. I can track and I can-"
"Alright I didn't want a freaking résumé."
I dropped my bow back down to my side, biting the inside of my lip to stop me from snapping back. She seemed to give it a thought and I was ready to turn and leave; I would rather suffer from boredom than stand in front of her a second longer, Hughes and another man listening in when Trisha spoke.
"I guess we need someone to do rubbish collection." She snickered and I lifted an eyebrow, "You know, go green, save the environment." She turned away with a laugh, Hughes and the other man I heard Trisha call Latham, giggled between each other and I reached out, grabbing her shoulder to stop her.

"Look, I'm happy to do that but I can help with scouting and patrols as well, you look as though you need all the help you can get."
Trisha spun around, eyes ablaze with anger and she shoved my shoulders, forcing me backwards towards the vehicle.
"Look, princess, you just do as we say. I don't care who your brother is, what you think you can do or what you've been through. We don't need you and your little toothpicks," she said, gesturing to my arrows and I felt my face hardened. She frowned at me, as if waiting for me to answer back, Latham and Hughes now on the ground and watching from a safe distance. My fingers itched and I was ready to fight her, something that surprised me but I seemed to have less control of my anger today.
From the corner of my eye I could see something move in the surrounding forest and I heard Trix growl.

I pulled out an arrow, Trisha stepping back from me, alarmed but I paid her no attention as I lifted my bow, ignoring the sting in my side as I pull my arm back, taking aim on the forest. Trisha started to demand what I was doing when a woman screamed, followed by the alarmed cry of a man as a walker stumbled out of the trees and onto the road.
Releasing the arrow, I was satisfied as it hit its target before it managed to take another step on the tarmac, readying another arrow and I took aim on the other. People were running, making it difficult and the distance didn't help but as soon as it was clear, I again successfully dropped the walker and I took in a deep breath, watching as Armstrong and Vincent hacked at the last walker.
Squaring my shoulders, I looked around to Trisha who had not even upholstered her gun, eyes wide and face slack as she looked slowly from the walkers and to me.
"I think she is more useful than even you Trisha."
I wish Hughes hadn't said that, but I knew it was probably true and with a huff Trisha walked away, getting into the car as Vincent called for everyone to get into their seats, ready to move on.

With a bit more of a spring in my step I made my way towards the walkers I had killed, Vincent already there cleaning the arrow heads on the rags of the walkers. He handed them to me with a smile and I put them back in the holster as Vincent walked back with me to the car.
"I see you are fitting in alright."
"Thought I'd give them a taste of what I can do." I said, frowning at Vincent as I got into the passenger seat, Trix jumping up and nestling at my feet again. Vincent leant over the back making sure people were secure enough for him to drive off before giving Trix a pat.
"They are good people, Sierra. Sorry, Jasmine." He quickly corrected, giving a smile and I returned it, happy that he was trying to get use to the name. "Try not to show off too much of anything else you can do, it might hurt their feelings."
I tried to laugh with him but it came out as more of a breath. I needed to make friends, he had a point, but already as we continued our way towards Woodbury, I could feel the space growing between myself and everyone else, and as I sat there, my emotions pumped from the walkers, I wondered if I really was still myself.

We made camp that night, and as I had expected, I was asked to be on watch for a while if I was up to it, which I definitely was. I spent the other half of the night watching and talking with Vincent; it was just so wonderful to be in the company of someone who was family, someone who I treasured and he made sure I knew he felt the same way.
"Making me put things into perspective." He had said to me, and although I was confused, he reminded me of some things I had forgotten about, memories that seemed like from another life time.
"Remember when," Vincent couldn't hold onto his laugh, "when the power went out when we had those floods a few years ago?" I did laugh, something hard as I remembered those nights, huddled in our little house, surrounded by water and no power, it felt good to laugh and it seemed as though I was remembering this for the first time.
"Mum boiled potatoes over the fire place for like three nights in a row. We might be half Irish but God I was sick of them, and then the entertainment!" That was what reduced us to giggles.
"Sean was the best at charades. What movie was it again?"
"The Little Mermaid."
"That's right, the way he wiggled on the floor, he looked like he had been hit by a Taser!"
We laughed, but slowly I looked down at my thumb where his ring sat. Next thing, all I could think about was his cries for help, his hand slipping from mine and I felt my face contort as I tried to keep it from becoming sad. Vincent saw and he cleared his throat, poking the fire with a stick before dropping it in.

"I might just go back to the old me with you around now." He laughed and I wiggled closer to the fire, watching as the flames danced in front of us before I looked at him. He still seemed the same; still the same mop of hair, powerful eyes and gentle features, he was still the leader and still brave, what was different about him? The only thing I could put it down to was the fact that he had more than a sibling to boss around now, had more responsibility.
"Maybe we can finally make some new, good memories."
I gave him a smile as I laid down, Vincent getting to his feet to speak with Armstrong and I felt my eyes droop as I watched the fire. As I did, I tried to think of any memories that I had since this all started that were good, and besides finding Vincent and surviving; all I could think of was Daryl.
Feeling a cold creep down my spine, I tried to keep my eyes from crying as Trix stretched beside me, doing my best to not miss having his presence next to me.

Thanks for reading, please read and review. I hope it is going alright so far :)
What do you think is in store for her at Woodbury?

Silver Kirin
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