What they thought would be nothing more than a quick jog across the trashed and destroyed streets in the midst of a thunderstorm's dissipating clouds turned out to be more than the small group bargained for. They had only ventured ten minutes away from their last destination when the rain quickened its pace onto flooding streets, slowing down even the most fit. Shane yelled back behind him at the sound of progressively hindering steps. He knew Lori and Carl would be a slight set back, but when he saw how the young blonde trudged behind the mother and son, he wasn't pleased.
"Com'on people let's move it! Ain't got time to look at the damn flowers!"
Beth heard the frustrated growls of the police officer, but her breathing dominated. She wasn't considered fit-more so thin than not, and definitely not used to this type of physical activity. Her body was in overdrive. She looked up to see Daryl trying to stick by her side; he was in much better shape than her and she cursed herself for not accompanying him on jogs early in the morning hours beforehand.
"Blondie, stick with us!" Shane threw back another command, pointing Beth out like a sore thumb.
"She's tryin' man, so you best shut the hell up!" Daryl barked back. He knew Beth's capabilities better than most the people here aside from Merle.
Daryl looked back at Beth one more time before grabbing her arm with his free hand to pull her into his paced footsteps. He heard her uneven breathing and tried to think of anything that would make the journey a little easier, but came up short. They would have to fight their feelings of defeat to make it somewhere better.
"Shane slow down!" Lori yelled as Carl dragged behind his mother. Rick immediately stopped as well, turning around to aid his hurting son. The group stopped in the middle of the street with the rain pounding down continuously.
All their breathing was quickened except for Michonne and Shane's. Shane looked toward her and rubbed his eyes roughly. They couldn't stay out in the middle of the street, practically vulnerable even with weapons on hand.
"Pick your boy up, Rick, we gotta keep movin'," Shane watched Rick's back, "And you," He turned toward Beth, "Keep up," He mumbled under his breath, "Or else you'll end up dead too."
Beth's mouth dropped open as she crouched on the ground by Carl. She was keeping her pace with the rest of the group-maybe a little slower, but she wasn't slowing them down any more than the rest of the unathletic people. Lori snapped her head back as well, staring in disbelief at the man who stood furthest away from everyone, ready to leave them all in second's time.
"You piece of shit!" Daryl lunged toward Shane. Merle followed close behind.
"You're dead you son of'a bitch!" Merle felt rage boiling throughout his body at the reference towards his dead girlfriend. Both Dixon brothers didn't seem to care how reckless they had become in their fit of anger.
"Stop it!" The three men toppled onto the ground only to hear a gunshot fly through the air. Beth held her gun firmly in her fingers as she stared past Michonne and Rick's shaking heads.
"You can't do that," Michonne grabbed the bridge of her nose, "We'll have every damn dead person around looking for us now."
"They should've known what they were doing was dangerous," Beth shrugged, "Consequences, yes. Resolution? Yes."
"Get the hell off of me." Shane scoffed, jerking away from Merle's grasp.
Daryl picked himself off the ground and wiped a patch of blood off of his face, "Bastard better keep his mouth shut-"
"One more word out of you-" Merle spat down at Shane.
"-And you'll be fuckin' dead." Shane watched the Dixon brothers pick up their stuff and storm off back towards the direction they originally headed.
Rick shook his head at Shane disappointedly, "Stop being such an ass and get us to where we need to go."
With Shane's comments shriveled down to nothing more than directions and warnings, the group made their way through crashed cars and a few straggling walkers. Beth gasped at the way Shane knocked through the diseased people's bodies. He was violent with them, but that was better than having a mindless body killing the only living GPS they had to guide them to the refugee center. He moved through the streets quickly, pointing towards the corner of a covered building.
"We take this corner and the next street to the right-we're there," Beth's hope perked up and Shane's head shook, "I don't know if it's even there, but if it is who's to say they won't kill us on the spot."
"Why would you say that?" Michonne stepped closer to Shane.
"They won't know the difference between us and them."
"Fuck they won't," Merle's voice rose, "We ain't dead! They won't be expectin' those mindess bastards to be runnin' up to them in a group screamin' for help now will they?"
"All's I'm sayin' is don't do anything stupid," Shane snapped back, "Keep your weapons out-"
"-But don't shoot." Rick finished. Shane rolled his eyes before pulling his gun out of its holster. He looked at the people behind him before nodding at readied agreement and running back out on the street.
"Move!" His voice seemed so quiet compared to the thunder that rumbled above them. Merle watched his brother and Beth move up towards the front of the group as he kept up the back. Carl moved as fast as his father and mother while Michonne ran next to Rick's side. They made their way to the next street, turning right only to stop short in their tracks. Shane held up his weapon and then dropped his arm to his side.
"Oh shit." All of the men seemed to whisper to themselves as they saw what they were looking for in utter disappointment.
"Get your guns out-" Shane looked back briefly before he felt the air shift.
Hundreds of roaming bodies crowded the refugee's entrance. Their decomposing flesh grouped together, packed tightly between overturned military vehicles surrounding the building along with blocked off windows and doors. Their bodies slammed into the building with purpose; they knew exactly what they wanted. A few outlying bodies stumbled towards the small group, followed by a few extra, and then some more. Before they knew it, dozens staggered towards them, leaving their old mission behind and advancing towards visible, living flesh.
"Hey! Over here!" A woman's whispered voice came from behind. The group stumbled backwards towards a waving hand in the shadow of the nearest building. Daryl pulled Beth backwards, away from the oncoming group she was transfixed on. She tripped, but caught herself and turned away just in time before a Walker fell where she was standing. Its fingers dug into the asphalt, pulling itself mindlessly towards them.
"Hurry!" An elderly man appeared next to the blonde woman, beckoning them with waving hand gestures, "Follow Andrea," The man scrambled for something in his pocket, "Just go! I'll pick up the back."
Beth's heart raced even more than she thought possible. Practically a stranger and a saint, the woman named Andrea raced through the nearest alley way and met an open door. Beth could hear her yelling at someone inside the building; Andrea seemed to be a little less on edge unlike the small group following her. She waved them in, pushing Daryl's back as he was the last one in and pulling the elderly man inside quickly. The door slammed shut and the man along with Andrea pushed a desk in front of it.
Daryl shot a glare at Andrea who paid no mind to him, panting and wiping sweat off her forehead. He looked around, taking in the new surroundings of an abandoned office building. Papers spread everywhere and desks overturned. What was very much out of place was the spread out blankets near the back with three new people huddled together and staring at Daryl's group like they dead people as well.
"So what has you all running about the streets like that?" The elderly man's voice hinted calmness, but concern overridded.
"Refugee center," Rick grunted. He held Carl in his arms, "We all thought it would be safe there."
"Ha, well you saw that wasn't happening," Andrea crossed her arms over her chest. She glanced around, looking at the group. Beth's eyes locked with hers for a brief second before Andrea shook her head, "Place got overrun and we've been stuck in here ever since. Thanks to Bill we don't have a running vehicle anymore."
"I needed cigarettes." Beth looked towards Bill's bowed head. The wrinkles in his face were definitely distinguishable between age and the side effects from smoking, and grey hair confirmed he wasn't too young. She watched him shove a hand into his pocket like he had earlier, only this time he grabbed a pack of cigarettes and shoved one in his mouth.
"Hand one over old man," Merle extended his hand, "Shit's been stressful as hell today."
"So y'all have been stuck here since it started?" Shane leaned on the wall, watching as the three people who were stuck like glue to each other in the back advanced forward.
"Yup. We haven't gone outside up until a little bit ago when Amy heard the things outside getting a little rowdy. Didn't think we'd see any people alive again." Andrea looked towards her sister who slowly made her way next to her side.
"What's your plan?" Daryl gripped his crossbow's tighter. He was anxious to get Beth and his brother away from danger. They were all he had and there was no way he'd let that slip away.
"We don't have one." Bill answered honestly.
"No one knows how to fix the RV stuck in the back so we figured it'd be best to leave when those things stop attacking that building." Andrea shrugged her shoulders. The six new people didn't seem to understand how bad it was out there.
"You're kiddin' right? Give me some damn tools and take me out there," Daryl shook his head, "Let's get this shit goin'. Those things won't give up."
"They're just people..they're sick.." A young girl's voice spoke up. She shoved her face into a woman's chest that held her once Shane looked over towards them.
"They ain't sick little girl, they're dead!"
"Hey, leave her alone," Beth snapped at Shane quietly, "You know just as much as her. They could be dead, they could be just sick. I'd appreciate if you'd stop being such a bully."
Daryl smirked just a little. Shane shook his head and mumbled a few curse words at her before stalking off towards the closest hallway.
"He's an ass, don't worry about him," Rick explained, "Daryl, do you think you could get that RV started? If you can, we could all fit. It'll be a tight squeeze but it's better than staying here and waiting for something that won't happen." Daryl nodded, still fidgeting with his bow's strap.
"Maybe when the rain lets up? We made a hell of a lot of noise. Those people will be coming our way for sure. If we wait a few hours most of them will be gone and hopefully the rain too. The RV's parked in the back behind a gate so they won't get near it. Safety first though, right?" Andrea's plan sounded better than anything else. Rick looked towards Daryl and back at Andrea, nodding and looking down at his son.
"It's settled then. Why don't you all introduce yourselves and we'll get a little comfortable with new company." Bill smashed the remains of his cigarette into ashes underneath his feet and attempted to smile.
…
"Gimme a wrench." Beth leaned closer to the vehicle. Daryl's mumbled voice underneath the old beast was hard to hear, but Bill seemed to catch on quicker than her. He grabbed the wrench and placed it in the outstretched greasy hand that belonged to Daryl. Beth watched the way the two men worked in unison; it was like they had known each other for their whole lives.
"How's it look down there?" Bill reached into his pocket and pulled out, yet again, his packet of cigarettes.
"Rusted to shit, but once I tighten a few things it'll be drivable." Daryl's body stayed under the RV. If it wasn't for survival, he wouldn't have minded working on the vehicle. It was as if he was back at work just like before…
"So this is yours?" Beth questioned. Bill chuckled and shook his head; he fixed his gaze on her.
"My ex wife's old thing. Hate to say, but I took it the night this all happened. It was an honest action, really. She took my kids, my house, my everything, so I took my old RV when I figured the police would have bigger problems to deal with. Good thing it'll come in handy soon." Beth smiled at his honesty. She knew all about things that just happened in the right moment. He wasn't a thief, he was simply claiming what was rightfully his in the first place.
"We're glad you guys are letting us leave with you. We're glad you guys saved us too. I don't think I could've done anymore running."
"It's no problem. I found Amy and Andrea in the refugee center and we barely escaped together when the dead people outside started filtering into the building. There were so many. We picked a random building and broke in only to find Lynn, her daughter, and Eugene. They were scared shitless when they saw us break down one of the back doors," He laughed at the thought, "Eugene jumped behind Lynn and Sophia. I would've laughed if we weren't getting our asses chased by a bunch of lunatics."
"Sounds crazy." Beth smiled.
"How'd you two and, Merle was it? How'd you guys end up with the sheriff and his partners?"
Beth looked at half of Daryl's body that stuck out from under the RV, as if he would be the one explaining how they had formed a small group. Instead she sighed and began. Bill listened and reacted quietly, just the same as Beth. He genuinely wanted to know how so many people came together.
"-I lost my sister to those things.." Beth felt a heaviness in her throat when she spoke of Maggie again.
"I'm sorry, hun." Bill placed a heavy palm on her shoulder. She nodded away a few tears and was truly grateful he didn't want to hear the rest.
"All done," Daryl interrupted the two, "It should work now."
Daryl wiped the grease off his face and watched Bill's face light up when the RV's engine started easily.
"You've got the magic touch, young man." Beth smiled at Daryl and wrapped an arm around his waist.
"Lets get the others before the Walkers come full force." Beth saw Daryl nod and pick up the scattered tools.
…
The combination of the two small groups seemed to somehow fit in the small vehicle. Beth sat squished between the window and Carl on her right side next to Lori as she watched Daryl run towards the closed gate. He pulled it open quickly and burst towards the RV's door. He grabbed the seat across from Beth and placed his elbows on the small table between them. She smiled at him and he felt a small curl of his lips.
"Get goin' old man," Merle yelled. He was anxious and somehow found booze in one of the cupboards, "Let's get the hell outta here so I ain't gotta be stuck next to these cops anymore than I gotta be."
"Oh please, you think I want to be wedged between you and him?" Michonne looked towards Shane who seemed just as pleased as her, "Don't flatter yourself." Merle drunkenly chuckled at her before taking another swig of alcohol.
"Where to?" Rick sat across from Bill. With a cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth he shrugged. He nearly missed a body as he swung the vehicle's weight to the left onto a random road.
"I only know one way out of here and that's where I'm heading."
"Please don't kill us in the process." Amy moaned. She already felt the onset of motion sickness.
"Aw hell, I haven't managed that just yet. The shitter in the back is still usable so don't clog it up. We might need it for better things than the remains of your guts." Daryl grunted at the man's dry humor. He had a way of keeping the energy in the room not as tense.
"Hey." Daryl's head jerked up and met Beth's eyes. He felt her small hand stretch out and her fingers wrapped around his free arm; his other hand fidgeted with the scruff on his chin. He was anxious and calm at the same time, which he didn't think was possible, but Beth made it so. Her touch reassured him that she was here and these people were here, alive and well. They were leaving the destruction behind to hopefully find something better. Her fingers found their way to his, locking their hands together loosely across the table. He wasn't much for public affection, but everyone was too damn far into their own thoughts that it didn't matter. Nothing mattered except for keeping anyone alive safe, especially Beth.
"Do you think we'll be okay?" Beth turned to the young boy next to her. She smiled at his question and looked back at Daryl who hadn't left his gaze from where she was. She answered Carl's question, but directed it more towards Daryl who still looked a little uneasy.
"Yes, we'll be okay."