After introductions, dinner provided by the Dixon brothers (which Mary Lou had seconds and thirds, but nobody dared object and in fact many encouraged) and the children were sent off to bed. The adults all gathered around the problem they had been brought today. It seemed like no secret that the women were banding together (save a poor women and her daughter who had a controlling husband) by sitting very closely near Mary Lou and all the men seemed to be outcast by sitting at the opposite end of the fire.

"I understand that we all have a mutual trust and we all have formed a bond, but this worries me," a blonde woman started the debate. "What happens when we encounter other survivors? Male survivors?"

"We don't take 'em," Shane answered as if it was the most obvious solution.

"That can't be right," the blonde woman's sister, Amy, said shaking her head. "We can't just leave them? What if they're trying to survive like us?"

"An' what if they're psycho?" a large, bald black man piped up. Jacqui, the gracious woman who was letting Mary Lou borrow her clothes, nodded in agreement.

"We can't take that chance," she agreed.

"So we're turning away people now? When was the final call to join this group?" Dale, the elderly man whom Mary Lou had taken a liking to, asked. It was obvious that he was trying to hold onto as much humanity as possible.

"It would'a been different if we met someone who needed help earlier on in this problem. But now," Shane said. "We're far too into the game. We need to protect our own."

"So this is a game now?" a man whose name Mary Lou couldn't remember asked. "Somebody's life shouldn't been a chess piece in a battle of domination."

"Now ya' twistin' my words," Shane said putting one hand up. Everyone suddenly started talking at once trying to voice their opinions causing uproar in noise.

"Hey! HEY!" Daryl Dixon shouted from the outside of the group, as he skirted with his crossbow on duty. "Y'all need'a shut the hell up before some walkers hear!" and with that he retreated to his tent casting Mary Lou a last glance. She yawned and felt her eyes getting heavy.

"You can take my tent," Lori said placing a hand on her knee almost making her twitch.

"No, no. She'll sleep in the R.V," Dale said standing up with finality.

"I'll sleep up front and Dale can take the bunk. She can have the bedroom," the anonymous man spoke again.

"How does that sound Mary Lou?" Dale asked.

"Louie," she rasped after much difficulty. Lori immediately handed her a canteen.

"What?" Dale asked, tilting his head watching the poor girl finish the water desperately.

"You can call me Louie," she said in an almost inaudible voice. Everyone around the camp began to smile, even Shane.

"Well then, it's settled. C'mon Louie," Lori said with a bright smile. She led the small girl to the moving home and up the steps. Louie looked around, observing how worn down it was and messy. But it was heaven, especially when she saw where she would be sleeping. She was so shocked that she looked at Lori for approval. "Yeah this is all yours!" Lori laughed. Louie reached out and touched her arm in gratitude to which she responded with a hug and in return Louie was taken aback.

"Good night, then," Lori said with a smile and left. Louie, by herself, tested out whether she was dreaming or not. She pinched herself and frowned. She was awake and her arm hurt. She slowly lowered herself onto the mattress and pressed her palm into the soft bedding. This time she couldn't help but smile the biggest smile she'd ever given and felt moisture collect from the corner of her eyes. She fell into a deep sleep not a second later.

"What's he doing out there?"

"Does it matter? Look at his biceps!"

Louie frowned when she heard her classmates giggle about the man standing guard outside with his crossbow looking around suspiciously. Though he was leaning against the shade of the tree in the beautiful sunny, breezy day, his grip on his weapon looked anything but nonchalant. When class was dismissed, Louie rushed outside as to pass by him attempting to make herself unnoticeable.

"You have to stop doing that," she hissed as he immediately fell into step with her hurried little shuffles.

"Doin' what?" he asked, his crossbow erect on his arm.

"Stop guarding everything like that," she flapped one arm around, clutching her books closer to her chest with the other. She narrowly dodged a zombie that was idly moving forward.

"I can feel somethin's not right," he muttered as he almost bumped into a zombie dragging along in the opposite direction.

"You have to stop being so paranoid," Louie rolled her eyes. "Nothing's wrong with anything." He didn't reply. "Daryl," she stopped. He met her stare.

"Yer the one with the problem!" he said half-hysterically waving his bow with one muscled arm. "Jus' let me deal with mine!"

"I can't if all the girls in my psych class keep ogling you every other second!" she folded her arms across her chest. "At least find a tree that's not so close to a window," she muttered.

"Yer jealous," he stated as if it were the simplest thing. She made a disgusted face and muttered an 'excuse me' before skittering around a stand-still zombie.

Louie slowly opened her eyes and stared at the dull yellow ceiling of the RV. She started to have an overwhelming feeling arise in her chest as she remembered where she was. She escaped. She was free. She started laughing again silently so damn happy to be where she was.

"Louie? Are you okay?" Dale asked as he witnessed the woman sobbing but when she looked up to meet his eyes, he saw joy and relief. Dale could've started weeping right then and there himself. Poor girl. He sat down at the edge of the bed and gave her a weak smile.

"I'm sorry we couldn't have found you earlier," he said sincerely and ashamedly. Louie reached out and placed her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze.

"Thank you," she whispered, tears still streaming down her cheeks. He smiled wider and patted her hand beckoning her to come eat some breakfast.

She sat up in her bed with a groan and arched her back feeling a pop that was a little painful. She whimpered slightly. When she was healthier, cracking one's back felt like a mini orgasm but now that she was all skin and bones, it didn't feel as rejuvenating. She climbed down from the RV and shielded her eyes from the harsh sun. Her eyes caught sight of her wrist and lowered it to inspect the damage. Harsh red lines encompassed her wrists from where the ropes were digging into her skin.

"It's gonna scar," she heard an apologetic voice. She looked up to see the anonymous man sitting on the roof of the RV where she first saw Dale when coming into camp.

"Thank you," she mouthed and he gave her a hesitant nod wondering why she was thanking him. She felt obligated however after he gave up his space to let her sleep in the mobile van.

"Louie!" the voice belonged to Lori. She was stirring something in a pot over the fire they were sitting around last night. As she approached the woman, she noticed that the Dixon brothers were emerging from their tent at the same time.

"Well lookit who's flappin' 'round Daryl. It's a lil' jailbird," Merle clamored, also walking towards the fire site. However Louie made a bee-line straight to him instead. He stopped confidently in front of her noticing she was approaching him, his younger brother still right behind him.

"Thank you," she tried to speak up, but her voice only came out a loud whisper. "You saved my life," she stared at him with strong, grateful eyes.

"You's a pretty one, now that'a look at'chu," Merle grinned, putting his hands on his hips. "At least not when you's kept as a whore," he scanned her body in a dirty, lustful manner.

She felt as if she was slapped in the face. She took a step back with a look of horror. This was her savior? She let out a sharp breath of disbelief.

"Merle," Daryl murmured behind him guardedly.

"I'm grateful," she uttered her last words to Merle before retreating over to Lori who was holding out a plate to her.

"Don't waste your time," Lori muttered to the girl before serving the Dixon brothers some beans.

"Ain't sayin' that it was any of our business to get involved in anyhow," Merle proclaimed strutting adamantly. "Shoot, if they hadn't got you's all tied up on a leash like bitch like that, I would'a taken up the offer,"

The statement struck a nerve with anybody who was overhearing. Especially Dale who glided over but before he could get a word in, Shane spoke up.

"Watch it Dixon," he shouted.

"I like a fight in my women," he smirked at her. Louie clenched her teeth and reminded herself that he saved her life.

"Wan' me to find you a walker?" Daryl mocked him. Merle snorted and punched his brother's arm.

"Shit, even a walker looked better'n you," Merle laughed and Daryl snorted. Louie looked away in embarrassment.

"Rape victims don't usually have time to worry about appearances Merle," a sharp voice joined the group. Amy's older sister, the blonde woman stalked into the scene, thanking Lori for the food.

But she had said it. She acknowledged the elephant in the room. By saying it out loud almost made it real, made it official. It struck something in Louie and she lowered her eyes sadly. She was a victim. She was something that she never thought she would be. Plastered over the news, frightening women all over the world, letting them know that they were the weaker species. She had become that.

"Can't be a victim if ya' liked it," Merle grinned. The last straw was drawn as Dale charged forward causing Shane to interfere and stop the old man. Merle, amused as hell, stood up and egged on the man for a fight. "C'mon! Watcha' gon' do ya' ole' turd!"

Daryl struggled to keep his brother from bashing in the enraged, but smaller Dale.

"Merle! Stop bein' such a dick!" he grumbled shoving his older sibling back. Louie silenced everyone by standing up and giving Dale a kiss on the cheek to calm him down before retreating towards the RV.