Chapter 9
The Case of the Missing Man
...
Two months ago...
It was total chaos. Gunshots could be heard as well as growls and screams. People pushed past them, some of them bitten, some of them shooting behind. Something grabbed Barbara and she elbowed it away, without looking if it was a person or not. Just as they entered another corridor a woman was running to them, but two walkers grabbed her first. Barbara shot one, but the other bit on her neck and ripped her throat. Her screams joined in the cacophony and the girl almost threw up again. She shot the walker before he could eat the woman, but it was too late, she was going to die anyway.
"Come on," Barbara grabbed Stevens elbow and made him move. The woman pressed her neck, crying and walked to them, begging them to help her.
"I'm sorry, we can't. We can't," the man told her as they ran away.
They entered the corridor where the stairs was but it was full of soldiers, people screaming and fighting and walkers.
Barbie couldn't see her dad, her siblings nor Blake, but she saw Michael, carrying Christopher. They were among some soldiers trying to fend off the walkers, but soon they ran out of bullets and the corpses bit into their flesh. Christopher was crying as his dad ran between the crowd and spotted Barbara. He ran to her.
"Shit," Michael said before a walker threw at him, barely stopping him with his free hand. Christopher screamed, as Michael tried to hold the walker away from him and his son. Barbara raised the rifle and shot the walker, but it only attracted some of them.
"Let's the hell out of here!" Barbara told them, dragging the dumbfounded doctor away, followed by Michael and Christopher. They ran to the corridor they had just exited, followed by five walkers, but they seemed to attract more, the group growing.
"Michael, where's my dad, and my siblings and...?" Barbara asked the man as they ran. Michael glanced at her, holding Christopher closer.
"They made it upstairs. All of them. I saw them. We got separated but they told me to find another way up. They are waiting for us in the roof."
Barbara nodded, shooting a walker that entered the hallway in front of them. The corpse fell twice dead, and they passed it, without even flinching.
"We need to find some stairs," the girl told the men and Doctor Stevens nodded.
"I know another way up," Doctor Stevens told her as they ran. They bumped into the woman who had been bitten who again asked them for help.
"Oh my... Come on," Barbara cursed while taking the woman by the arm and dragging her with them across the corridor. But as they entered another hallway full of classrooms, two walkers came out of one, grabbing the woman. She screamed and Stevens shot one of them, but missed, hitting it on the cheek. And the other took the opportunity to bite into the woman's face, tearing up her nose.
The walker shot, however grabbed Michael. The man pushed him away from his son and Barbara shot him. The man, however looked at his arm and then at the girl and the doctor. The walker had not bitten him, but he had some nasty and deep scratches.
"Shit!"
Michael shook his head and flicked his wrist.
"Let's move!"
Barbara barely felt a thing as Doctor Stevens dragged her away. Her ears buzzed as they heard the screams of the woman being torn apart and Christopher cries, but they couldn't look back. Also Michael had been infected. He wouldn't make it. Christopher would be left alone.
They ran across people and soldiers being eaten up, but they didn't stop. They shot the walkers; they found and didn't stop until they reached the stairs that were a bit empty. Not a good sign.
They crossed an empty corridor and when they turned around the corner three walkers jumped on them. They turned around and ran the other way, but a bigger group had followed them, blocking their path. So they ran into the closest room, closing the door behind them. They were in the laboratories and there were more doors in there. Maybe they could leave without being noticed. Michael grabbed Barbie's shoulder and gestured to the doors, probably having the same idea. The girl nodded and she and the doctor walked to the doors.
Meanwhile the door they had come from was shaking and growls could be heard on the other side. Michael noticed there was another door on the other side. So as Barbara and the doctor picked one he approached the other one. This locked on the inside so he unlocked it and opened it just as Doctor Stevens did the same on the other one.
Before Michael could react, the door he had opened was pushed and walkers burst into the room. The man screamed taken by surprise and tried to run back, but he was held by several hands and one of the monsters ripped out his throat.
"No!" Barbara screamed, running to rescue Christopher but three heard her and were coming to her. Just as she put them out, Michael turned to cover his son and put it on the floor. But he dropped him so the walker entering and passing by reached him before Barbara and threw at him.
The little boys scream filled the room and Barbara stood there, too horrified to do anything. She felt like throwing up, like fainting, but then a strong hand closed on her shoulder. Panic filled her until she realized it was Doctor Stevens, dragging her away from the room and Michael and Christopher.
They entered another room and could escape to the corridor. Most of the workers were gone but a couple followed them. Barbara just ran out of instinct. She still felt sick for what just happened. She couldn't help them. Michael had trusted her and she let him and Christopher died. If she had been faster he could have gotten him.
Their way was cut by more walkers.
"Shit! Okay, they're just three!" Barbara told him and both shot. Two felt down and they ran to the other. Barbara shot it down and they kept running. They dodged more of those things that came out of classrooms alerted by the noise, but the group behind them was just growing. Barbara turned around and shot one down. Stevens did the same.
Another walker exited a classroom and Barbara raised her rifle, but nothing came out. She had run out of ammo. She stepped back as the thing reached out for her.
"No, no...!" Stevens shot the walker down and they kept running.
"Don't you have more ammo?" He asked her. She shook her head. Her dad had taken the ammo.
Another two closed on them. Stevens shot one and the other threw at Barbara. She raised the rifle to stop it, but the weight of the walker pushed her to the wall. Doctor Stevens walked to her, shooting it, but the biggest group behind them had caught up.
"Shit," the man said and then looked down at the girl. He grabbed her by the arm and hid her a bit behind a trophy case and his body. "Go down that corridor! It must be empty. There's a door there that goes to the roof!"
"Wait, where are you going?!" the girl told him breathless, starting to panic. She clutched his wrist. Surely he wasn't going to leave her alone and without ammo. "Doctor Stevens..."
"I'm going to surround the building. Taking them off your back. We'll meet on the roof, just be ready to open the door for me. Oh, and my name is Nate... so you know."
As she shook her head, he ran his fingers down her cheek. Before she could say anything else, he turned and ran to the other corridor, yelling and shooting those down, attracting them away from her.
She watched terrified as those things followed him, disappearing on the corridor, but one lingered behind, spotting her. She ran away quickly. Maybe she could fire her rifle, but at least she could do some damage with it. Reaching the door Stevens had told her she hung the rifle on her back to open the lock. But then a growl made her turn in time to stop a walker from biting into her face. She held it away, but she wasn't strong enough. She wouldn't be able to hold it for much she could reach for the hunting knife in her backpack, or the girl looked right into the decaying face and milky eyes and determination and her survival instinct kicked in. She wouldn't go down like this. Not today anyway. She managed to raise her leg and with a hearty scream kicked the walker away, who stumbled back. She couldn't fire the rifle, but she could use it. Barbara raised it and pushed it against the walker's face. He hit the wall and the barrel went through his eye socket. As soon as the rifle hit the wall, the walker tumbled down, taking the rifle with it.
Barbara looked at it breathless, a bit proud, but then more growls sounded not that far away. She looked up and saw three more by the corner. She didn't have time. She swung open the door to the roof and closed it behind her placing the lock as it shook under the weight of the walkers crashing against it.
The girl then turned around, her heart racing. It was dark, she was practically defenseless. She fumbled with her backpack and pulled out her hunting knife. She had never used one, but it was better than nothing. And she wouldn't risk the crossbow.
Barbara squatted and walked through the practically empty roof. The snipers and soldier were gone and the fence had broken down. Dozens of those things were on the front courtyard. Barbara gulped and turned around. There, she stopped it. Two figures on the door where she had told her dad she would meet them. Her heart started racing and she approached quickly in case it wasn't her father.
"Barbie?"
They had spotted her, but it didn't matter. It was her dad and Blake. She sighed, a sickening wave of relief hitting her.
"Dad!" She threw herself at the man, who clutched her daughter for dear life.
"I was so worried... I thought..."
"I know," the girl sobbed lightly clutching to him.
She then pulled away and then hugged Blake too tightly, then she kissed the pants out of him. But then it hit her who it was missing and she pulled away, feeling her heart racing once again.
"Where are Brett and Ellie?"
Her dad raised a hand.
"Take it easy, they're back there. We were just waiting for you..." His dad voice broke and he pulled her to him again. "Jesus, why the hell did you have to go like that? I've been worried sick... When the stairs were ran over... But you did it, you did it."
Despite the horror, she heard the pride in her dad's voice. He rocked her back and forth and then let her go.
"Let's get the hell out of here."
"Wait, we need to wait for Doctor Stevens." She stopped them.
Both looked at the girl exasperated.
"Barbie, there's no time."
"We cannot leave him behind!" The girl protested, looking at both men, indignantly. "He saved my life. I wouldn't have made it without him!"
"Barbie..."
She shook her head at Blake and looked up at her dad.
"Dad, please..."
He stared at her and her determinate face. She had blood on her face and arms. She had made it. And he could see it in her face.
"Fine."
She explained where he had run to and they determined that the door they'd been guarding it was the only escape he was going to get. Will pushed himself to the door ready to open it and close it as quickly as possible. Barbara took the extra rifle her father had and she and Blake positioned themselves in front of it, ready to shoot anything that came through it.
Barbara was just reloading her rifle when they heard thumps on the other side. They turned to look at each other and then they heard screams.
"HELP! HELP! PLEASE!"
"It's Doctor Stevens!" Barbara cried, stopping her recharging and reading the rifle. Will opened the door lightly and the Doctor's face popped out. He had his cheek ripped out and it was clear he was being eaten from behind.
Barbara screamed and Blake caught her before she could run to him. William tried to close it, but the doctor's body was in the doorway and the walkers were trying to push past it. They were too many and they still had to get downstairs. Not even Brett and Ellie were downstairs.
"Go! I'll catch up!" Will yelled after them.
"No! We're not leaving you!" Barbara pushed Blake away and walked to her father who glared at her, stopping her.
"If I leave now, no of us will make it!" He yelled exasperated.
"You won't make it alone!" Barbara cried. Will smiled sadly at her despite their situation.
"Here," he reached back and pulled a gun. It wasn't big, maybe a revolver she wasn't sure. He put it in her daughter's hand and when he did, he slipped his ring out and let it fall on her palm.
She looked up to him, her eyes watering and he felt his heart crushing.
"Go! Tell them I'll be right behind!"
Blake went to her, grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
"Count five minutes!" William yelled after them. "If I'm not there by then, or there's too many of those things you leave!"
Barbara looked up at him and she understood this was it. She was not going to see him again. She knew that, and he knew that.
"I love you Daddy," she told him crying harder and let herself being dragged away from Blake.
They crossed the roof quickly and saw Brett and Ellie waiting by the fire stairs for them.
"Go! Go!" Blake yelled at them and Brett nodded dragging Ellie down.
"Wait, where's Dad?" she said scared as they ran down.
"He'll catch up. He's right behind," Blake said.
Brett looked up to Barbara and her expression told him everything. He swallowed and nodded, running faster. A window burst opened while they were going down and two walkers reached out to Brett and Ellie. The girl screamed, but before Brett could do anything, Barbara quickly shot them down.
"Keep going!" she yelled.
When they finally reached the floor the yard wasn't so empty anymore. Barbara shot another two and Brett the one that Blake missed. They ran into a random van and Brett tried all the buttons in all the cars until one opened it. They climbed in quickly. Barbara sat on the copilot seat and Blake pulled Ellie, on the back with him, closing the door quickly.
Brett put the keys on the engine and was about to start it but Barbara stopped him.
"Dad said five minutes."
Brett turned to her and then looked out of the window. Both knew he only had said that so they would leave, but still they could wait for him a bit more.
"What?" Ellie asked, confused.
"Alright, then I'm going to open the gates," Brett said, leaving the car and Barbara followed him quickly.
"I'm going to clear his path, if anything comes get us," she told Blake and Ellie before leaving the minivan.
As his brother opened the gate, she shot two more walkers that appeared on the corner. She recharged quickly just as two more approached Brett from the outside. She barely shot them before they could reach her brother's hand.
He opened the gate finally and they pushed the doors open just as more walkers came in from the woods and a considerable amount surrounded the building from the inside.
"We have to go now!" He yelled at her and she nodded.
They ran to the van and Barbara had barely closed the door when her brother stepped on the gas, rolling over a couple of walkers.
As they left the school in the middle of the night, Barbara couldn't see a thing on the roof nor hear anything. Not a single sign their father was alright and was on his way. He was gone.
The girl looked down and pulled her father's ring out of her jean's pocket. She slid it on her finger as Ellie started to cry on the back seat, because their father hadn't made it. Elliot winced when he heard her, but kept his blank face on, concentrated on the road, and on evading those who could make it out of the school as well.
They reached Hershel's farm the next morning.
Barbara hung her head, her fingers fidgeting with the ring on her finger. Despite his father always wearing it on his pinky, it was too big for her slender fingers, and she had to use it on her index.
"He gave me his ring and his gun and then..." She took a deep breath. "I turned around. Went down the stairs as I heard him still trying to keep those things out."
When Barbara finished, she just stared down at the water and Daryl didn't know what to say. One, because he hadn't expected her to tell him that, but also because he had never had a loving family. His folks were quite the opposite and hadn't resent their deaths much. So instead of saying something stupid he would regret he reached and awkwardly took her hand that was resting on the dock. She turned to him so quickly that he felt the urge to let it go but he didn't. He stared back and gave a gentle squeeze to her hand. Barbara slowly smiled.
"He would be proud, I think," Daryl told her softly and a bit awkwardly. "He would be proud of you taking care of your sister and being as strong as you are."
The girl looked at him, surprised once again with him. For being this big, arrogant and cursing man, he was really something else deep down. It was just a cover, a shield to protect himself from the world. But when he let his guard down, like when he brought that flower to Carol, or like right now, she had discovered he was one of the sweetest guys she had ever met. She didn't tell him, though. She would never have. So she just grinned up at him and scooted over closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Daryl stiffened a bit startled at first, but then he slowly relaxed. He looked at the lake and pressed his cheek to her head.
"And your dad?" Barbara asked softly. She almost did it without thinking. And for a moment wished she could take it back. Daryl had stiffened next to her and she could almost see him standing up and leaving. She knew he wasn't the type person who shared personal details about his life. But he didn't move. And she decided that if he wanted to ignore her question, she wouldn't push him.
"He died before all this," he said almost quietly, after a long pause, surprising her. "He had a heart attack for all the booze and the shit he took. And nobody was there with him."
Barbara didn't look up. She had the feeling that if she stared at him, he would shut down. She hadn't expected for him to open like he just had, and didn't want to ruin it. She squeezed his hand that was still holding hers.
"He hurt you," she said quietly. His shoulders once again stiffened and she didn't look up.
At that moment Daryl knew she had seen the scars. And he felt ashamed. For a moment, he just sat there frozen. He felt the urge to just stand up and leaving. He didn't need her, from all people, pitying him. Feeling sorry for him. Hell, she didn't even look at him, but she didn't pull away. She was giving him his space so to speak. He felt she wouldn't mind if he didn't answer. He didn't want to so he was beyond surprise when he did.
"He hurt everybody," his answer came in a bit aggressive though he tried to sound nonchalant. "He was a good-for-nothing drunk. Never counted on him," he shrugged as if his abuse and rejection had caused no impact on him.
Barbie finally straightened up and looked up to him. He stood still, wary of her reaction, but her eyes weren't sad but shiny. She smiled softly.
"His loss. You're a good man, Daryl."
Her reaction did take him by surprise. There wasn't pity in her eyes; actually, she looked more like proud. Proud for what, he would never know.
"Nah, I ain't," he said and pulled his hand out of hers but he didn't leave.
Barbara watched him closely. He's hung up head, his hunched shoulders and she felt the urge to hug him. But she didn't. She reached for his hand again instead.
"You're an ass, that's different," she teased him with a light smirk. "But you are a good man," she emphasize the last words but, Daryl shook his head.
"I hurt Carol earlier. I called her things I shouldn't have. I yelled at you... I'm sorry."
The honesty in his voice made something in her rib cage move, like a fluttering movement. Her smile grew wider and she placed her free hand under his chin so he would turn to her. He looked up to her a bit surprised and the girl smirked.
"Apology accepted. But next time Dixon; I'm kicking your butt."
He buffed but couldn't help but smile. The odd feeling in his stomach made him impossible to stop smiling.
"As if you could."
Barbara chuckled.
"I totally can. Blindfolded," she said, wanting to have the last word and learned quickly to place a light kiss on his cheek. He jerked his head at her, watching her, dumbstruck but she let go of his hand and pulled her feet out of the water as if nothing had happened.
She turned around and stood up, taking her gun, placing it on the back of her shorts and then grabbing her crossbow and boots. Daryl did the same, putting on his boots and tying them as Barbara walked back to the shore barefoot.
She then noticed something on the edge of the lake and smiled, turning to the man.
"Daryl, look! Your flower!" The guy looked up as he stood up and following the direction of her finger he saw the white Cherokee rose on a small bush next to the water.
She walked to it and he followed her. She raised a hand and softly rubbed the petals as he stood behind her.
"I gave it to Carol," he told her, his eyes now fixed on her. Even form that distance he could still smell the lavender in her head.
"Why?" She asked curiously, but she quickly added. "I know it's not my business, but..." "There's this Indian legend about some tribe mothers that lost their children," he said before she could finish and she turned to him, listening attentively. He felt a little coy under her stare, but he kept going. He told her almost exactly what he had told Carol and she smiled at him softly.
"That was real nice of you," she said and he just shrugged, hanging the crossbow on his back.
"Is nothing."
"Yes, it is," Barbara replied, her eyes fixed on him. "Like I said, you have your heart on the right place...," she said, tapping lightly his chest, "but you're a jackass, sometimes."
She teased him lightly, scrunching up her nose and he chuckled, shaking his head.
"Shut up."
She put on her boots and before leaving they turned and watched the flowers one last time.
"We're going to find Sophia."
She told Daryl and he looked at her and her confident smile. He smirked back and nodded.
"Yeah. We will."
As they were leaving, Daryl more confident this time reached and took her hand once again. The girl looked up surprised, but smiled softly, blushing lightly. She knew this was different. This wasn't just comfortable and that she shouldn't, but she couldn't help herself and didn't let go of his hand.
Daryl hated to admit that his heart was beating way too fast, but it was. This girl was messing with his mind big time. But he didn't mind it one bit. He wanted her, he finally admitted it to himself. He wanted her badly. And maybe he didn't deserved her. She was way too good for a redneck like him, even if the world had ended but he would be damned if he didn't try.
"You see it?"
Daryl asked, walking ahead of them.
"See what?" Carol asked confused. She followed him to an overgrown bush next to a lake and she saw what she was pointing at. There were Cherokee's roses. They walked until they were in front of them.
"We'll find her," he assured her.
Barbara stayed a bit behind them. She had the feeling Carol didn't like her very much, but Daryl had asked her to come with them.
"Hey, I'm sorry about what happened this morning," he told her softly.
"You wanted to look for her," Carol smiled lightly, looking at him and then at the flowers. She made a pause and then turned to him. "Why? This whole time I've wanted to ask you."
Daryl turned to her.
"'Cause I think she's still out there," he said firmly and then looked away at Barbara. She was standing a bit back but smiled at him encouragingly.
"Truth is, what else I got to do?" He added and Carol turned to him, really touched by his consideration. He really looked convinced, hopeful, even and the woman couldn't help but notice the glances he was giving Barbara.
Carol had to admit she didn't like Barbara very much because she thought she didn't care for Daryl. That she just was trying to get whatever she wanted out of him and screw him if he got hurt or something. But, she had started to notice a change in him. She could see that Daryl cared for Barbara, and she cared for him. Maybe more than they realized. And also, the girl had been looking for her daughter. Without asking anything in return, putting herself in danger. Still, she had to ask.
Carol turned to Barbara acknowledging her.
"And why are you helping? You don't even know her," if it came a bit aggressive, it wasn't Carol's intention. Daryl raised his eyebrows, but Barbara didn't take it personally. She walked to them before answering.
"Well... I lost my mother when all this started. My brother was in trouble and she went to help him, without thinking, she just went and got herself a bit. And just like that, I lost her. My sister and my brother did too. I don't want that for Sophia... or you. And you have to believe Carol," the girl smiled, hope shining in her eyes. "We will find her. I know it's hard with all this bad stuff happening but I do believe so."
Carol smiled at her.
"Thank you," she said wholeheartedly.
Barbara nodded and smiled back. Then Carol stepped up until she was in front of the flower and held onto one of his petals gently.
"We'll find her. We will," then she looked at Daryl and then at Barbara.
"I see it."
Barbara looked at Daryl and he smiled softly at her. They would do it. After all, they were just that. Lost children, trying to avoid Sophia would end up as lost as they were.
They walked back to the farm, all in a better mood. This time Daryl didn't reach for Barbara's hand because of Carol, but he kept glancing at her, smirking at her when she met his eyes, and she smirked back. And if her daughter weren't still be missing, Carol would have found funny that Daryl, from all people, was acting like a love struck teenager.
They approached the house and saw Maggie and Glenn sitting on the front steps and Patricia, Ellie and Carl were playing checkers on the porch. Andrea and T-Dog were also walking to the house.
"You haven't seen Rick?" T-Dog asked Glenn.
"He went off with Hershel," Glenn replied, looking at them.
"We were supposed to leave a couple hours ago," Andrea said.
"Yeah, you were," Daryl yelled at them as they rejoined the group. Maggie and Glenn stood up. "What the hell?"
"Rick told us he was going out," Carol replied and Daryl looked at her before turning to the group.
"Damn it! Isn't anybody taking this seriously?!" He snapped exasperated. "We got us a damn trail!"
He turned around and saw Shane coming to them, carrying a bag.
"Oh, here we go," he said, walking with the man. They all turned to Shane and Barbara crossed her arms. There was something in Shane that she just didn't like. Something in him, gave her the creeps.
As Shane got closer Daryl noticed he was carrying their guns that were supposed to be kept away.
"What's all this?" Daryl demanded.
"You with me, man?" Shane asked him, handing him a rifle.
"Yeah," Daryl quickly replied, taking the rifle and taking off the safety.
"Time to grow up," Shane told the group, walking to the house.
"You already got yours?" Shane asked Andrea as she T-Dog and Daryl followed him.
"Yeah. Where's Dale?" Andrea asked him, not sure about his idea.
"He's on his way," Shane replied, not very happy about it. Then he handed a gun to T-Dog.
"Thought we couldn't carry them," T-Dog said, watching Shane confused.
"We can and we have to," Shane replied firmly. "Look, it was one thing sitting around here picking daisies when we thought this place was supposed to be safe. But now we know it ain't." He told everyone there, even Ellie and Patricia who looked just confused. Then Shane walked to Glenn.
"How about you, man? You gonna protect yours?" She asked him handing him a gun and he looked at Maggie before taking it.
"That's it," Shane said smiling. Then he turned to Maggie. "Can you shoot?"
"Can you stop?" She snapped back. "You do this, you hand out these guns, my dad will make you leave tonight."
"We have to stay, Shane," Carl told him, walking to him.
"What is this?" The Lori walked in, watching all the guns surprised and upset.
"We ain't going anywhere, okay?" Shane assured Carl putting the bag of guns on the ground and then stood up, facing the group. "Now look, Hershel, he's just gotta understand. Okay? He- Well, he's gonna have to. Now we need to find Sophia. Am I right? Huh?" The he went Carl and knelt in front of him, handing him a gun. "Now I want you to take this."
Daryl felt Barbara's glare and he turned to her. The girl was furious.
"He's right," Daryl told her and she just deepened her glare.
"No, he's not," she snapped.
"You take it, Carl, and you keep your mother safe. You do whatever it takes. You know how. Go on, take the gun and do it."
Lori stepped up, pushing Carl back.
"Rick said no guns," she said angrily to him. "This is not your call. This is not your decision to make." "Oh shit!" T-Dog suddenly exclaimed, and they all turned to him and what he was seeing.
There were Rick, Hershel and Bret, walking out of the woods, each pushing a walker in a snare pole. Blake was walking in front of them as bait, guiding them to the barn.
"What is that?" Shane mumbled and then ran to whole group quickly followed him.
"What the hell are you doing?" Shane shouted as they reached them.
"Shane, just back off," Rick shouted back.
"Why do your people have guns?" Hershel demanded angrily.
"Are you kidding me? You see? You see what they're holding onto?" Shane yelled at Hershel, surrounding them, as a rabid dog, pointing at the growling walkers.
"I see who I'm holding onto," Hershel yelled back.
"No, man, you don't," Shane yelled back still surrounded them to walk in front of the barn. "They're not people. They're dead!" He kept yelling at the group. "Ain't gonna feel nothing for them 'cause all they do, they kill! These things right here, they're the things that killed Amy. They killed Otis. They're gonna kill all of us if we don't...!"
"Shane, stop!" Rick yelled, while trying to keep a hold on the walker who was getting excited because of all the people there.
But Barbara was done with him. She saw Hershel, Rick and Bret could barely hold onto the walkers and this asshole had already upset her uncle too much. She stomped past Daryl and walked to him, pushing back Shane. The man stumbled a little, not expecting her to step up.
"Stop it, you hear me! Stop it!" She yelled at him, furiously. "Who the hell do you think you are? This isn't your damn business! It's his farm!" She pointed Hershel furiously. "Not yours!"
Shane looked over at the girl a bit impressed and would find the situation a bit funny if he wasn't tired of all.
"Yeah. But we're all in here! These things are going to kill all of us!" He yelled, stepping up to her, trying to intimidate her but she held his stare defiantly. If he tried anything, she would tear his head off.
Instinctively both Blake and Daryl got closer, ready to jump at Shane if he tried to hurt Barbara.
Shane just couldn't help but smile a bit at her defiance. She stepped back without looking away from her and took his gun from behind his pants.
"You're a doctor, right?" He asked, taking off the safety. "Let me ask you something. Could a living, breathing person, could they walk away from this?" He turned a fist and fired three shots right in the walker's chest that Hershel was holding.
Everything back off a bit and Barbara couldn't help but jump out of surprise, her hand going to the back of her jeans.
"No! Stop it!" Rick yelled at Shane, angrily.
"That's three rounds in the chest!" Shane yelled at Barbara and then at Hershel. "Could someone who's alive, could they just take that?! Why is it still coming?"
He raised his gun again and fired two times more again on the walker's chest.
"That's its heart, its lungs. Why is it still coming, Doc, huh?" Shane yelled, looking at Barbara who was a bit lost. She knew those things weren't alive, but Hershel thought they were. It hadn't bothered her that much because she had seen the barn was safe, but what could she say no. This jackass had very good points.
"Shane, enough!" Rick yelled, beyond angry but unable to do anything because the walker he was holding too was a bit too strong.
"Yeah, you're right, man," Shane replied walking past Barbara and to the walker Hershel was holding. "That is enough."
And then he just shot it right in the head, the body falling to the ground and pulling Hershel a little bit with him.
Everyone just stared in that moment a bit horrified. Even the ones knowing that that thing was dead. But Shane brutality seemed a little bit too much. Hershel just looked broken and he fell to his knees.
"Enough risking our lives for a little girl who's gone!" Shane walked around yelling and looking everybody. "Enough living next to a barn full of things that are trying to kill us! Rick it isn't as it was before!"
Then Shane turned around and ran to the barn. He took a pick and started hitting the lock's keeping the barn shut.
"Take the snare pole!" Rick shouted at the man so he could stop Shane. "Hershel, take the snare pole. Hershel, listen to me, man, please. Take it now. Hershel! Take it! No, Shane. Do not do this, brother!"
But neither Hershel or Shane seemed to listen.
"Wait!" Andrea yelled at Shane.
"Don't do it!" Glenn yelled too.
"Rick!" Lori cried, looking at him, but he couldn't do anything without letting the walker go.
Barbara watched the lost look on Hershel's face and felt her blood boiling. Enough was enough.
The girl turned, walking to Shane and pulled out her gun from behind her jeans. She shot a warning shot just three feet away from his head. Lori, Andrea, Patricia and Ellie screamed and Daryl just stepped closer. Even Rick looked startled not expecting that.
Shane immediately stopped, surprised and turned around.
"I said STOP IT!" Barbara shouted at him angrily, and pointing her gun firmly to him. "NOW STEP AWAY FROM THE BARN!"
Shane half smiled very impressed with the girl.
"Yeah, yeah!" He yelled almost laughing. "You got it! I like that! And I know you see it! You know these things aren't sick! And if you want to live, it y'all want to survive, you got to fight for it! I'm talking about fighting right here, right now!"
"Wait!"
Shane hit the lock one more time breaking it, and then, with the other side of the pick he took out the plank. Then he hit the barn door a couple of times and pulling his gun, he stepped back.
"No!"
"Please!"
"Get behind me," Lori told Carl, putting herself in front of him.
Shane turned around to Barbara who was glaring at him, her gun still up.
"Now you use that thing right!" He told her with a smirk before turning to the barn.
At that moment the barn doors opened a bit and dozens of walkers walked out of it, going straight to them.
Andrea quickly walked ahead, next to Shane and raised her gun, both starting to shoot. T- Dog also joined and Daryl walked to where Barbara was, shooting the ones going after her.
"Go! I have this!" Daryl told her glancing quickly and kept shooting. Barbara turned to him and then sighed cursing.
"Shit!"
She raised her gun one more time, took aim and shot down a walker.
"Maggie," Glenn told her apologetically and she nodded, crying when Andrea shot down her brother Shane. Or what Shane had been.
Shane turned around and shot the walker Rick was holding and the Bret's. Rick then let go of the snare pole and glared at Shane.
Barbara shot two more, but then she stopped almost dropping her gun. That caught Daryl's attention that lower the rifle lightly and turned to her. The girl looked like she just had seen a ghost. She was pale and shaky and started crying.
"Dad?" She said and then he looked at the barn. Two walkers came out of it one shielded by the other. The second walker had been a tall man with gray hair and had a soldier uniform on. Oh shit.
"DAD!" Barbara screamed and Daryl caught her barely in time, his arm holding her by the waist tightly, and she tries to squirm free and screaming.
"DAD! DAD!"
Isabelle saw the walker too, and just as her sister ran to him, but Brett stopped her too. The sister's cries and the shots were the only thing that could be heard.
"No, is not him!" Daryl told her trying to hold her with his other arm, but afraid he could fire the rifle by accident. The girl closed her eyes tightly and then went stiff in his arms.
"Let me go," she said coldly and Daryl quickly released her. She moved out of the way and tucked her gun away, covering her face with her hands. Daryl saw her before lifting the rifle and kept shooting. The two walkers had been shot down already.
The shooting stopped just as suddenly it started. Glenn, Andrea, T-Dog, Shane and Daryl stood there, breathing heavily, dozens of walkers at their feet. Isabelle's cries were now the only thing that could be heard.
Daryl looked now to Barbara and saw the girl standing there, watching the bodies with her eyes red-rimmed but her jaw set. She felt his eyes on her and met his stare. On the other side of the bodies, Blake was watching her too.
Dale finally showed up, walking horrified to the scene. He turned to Rick who was in front of Carl and Lori, completely agitated.
But then, they heard growls again and they all raised their guns, prepared. Slowly a small walker walked out of the barn and it hit Barbara.
"She was wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants. She's tall for her age, and thin. She has blonde hair,"
that was Daryl's description of...
Even before Carol ran to her screaming, just to be stopped by Daryl, Barbara knew. They finally had found Sophia.
"Sophia! Sophia. Sophia. Oh no. Sophia."
Carol's cries chilled Barbara's blood. She turned to the woman and saw Daryl holding her in the ground. His face just as surprised.
The little walker growled and walked to them slowly but nobody could even raise their guns. They all just stared horrified to the girl.
"Sophia. No. Sophia," Carol sobbed and Daryl stopped holding her back and just hugged her.
Carl and Lori were crying too. She hugged her son tighter.
"Don't watch," she told him.
Rick had been standing there frozen, felt like he had been punched. Like he had been hit. But still he found himself moving forward.
He moved past a dumbstruck Shane and raised his gun, watching the little girl advancing on him. And he took everything about her. Her dirty clothes. Her grayish skin. Her skull like face features and the bloody enormous bite on her neck. The one that had ended with her life.
Rick stared right into her milky eyes, remembering when she had looked into his, trusting his judgement. Trusting him. She had been wrong.
She was now barely a yard away and then he shot her.