Chapter 42 – Lauren

I ran through the store trying to find another way to get out. Walkers were making their way further and further inside. I saw a set of double doors that I thought may lead to a back store room. All stores had areas like that and there had to be a delivery entrance back there. "Get out of the store!" my brain was screaming to me. I didn't want to run out of ammo, so I holstered my gun and drew my knife. I knew it was razor sharp as Daryl kept both of our knives in top condition. I threw open the door with my knife ready for action in my right hand. Two walkers pushed through and I took them down.

I carefully made my way into the back. Another walker came at me from my left. I wrestled with it for a moment, before I could slam my knife into it's head. It went down like a rock. I evaded another that was crawling on the floor and ran towards a door I saw on the back wall. I burst through it and found myself in a loading zone off of a back parking lot. There were plenty of walkers back here, but they weren't tight together like with a herd.

I fought my way out of the parking lot, with too many close calls. All the while I am franticly searching for someplace to hide out in. As long as I can find a place to wait this out, I know Daryl will come find me. I don't doubt that for a second.

At the far end of the parking lot I see a small building that may have possibilities. I'm able to finally race over to it and try the back door. It's unlocked and I send a thank you prayer out to whatever god may be still around. It's dark so I turn on my flashlight to look around. I don't see any walkers, which is a huge relief. I turn the deadbolt on the back door and slowly make my way through the building, clearing every single room. The last thing I want is to be surprised by a walker or anything else.

I'm finally confident that I've searched every room, every closet and every dark corner. The front and back doors are now locked. I'm safe. Once that thought penetrates, my adrenalin rush bottoms out and I start to shake. I drop to the floor and curl up into a fetal position. I can't stop crying or shaking. The enormity of what I just went through …alone sinks in. This was the closest to death I had ever been.

I sit up hugging my knees, wiping the tears away. The silence inside is unnerving. I can still hear shuffling and the moans of the walkers outside. The herd still hasn't made its way through yet. I need to hear a voice even if it's my own. "You're safe…you're safe…you're safe," I whisper to myself. "I'm not ready to die. I've got too much to live for now. Daryl will come…I know he will….I know he will."

As much as I want to close my eyes and go to sleep, I can't. I need a plan. I need to help Daryl know where I am. He's an awesome tracker, but he can't see through walls. I have to let him know I'm here, but not anyone else. I can't chance anyone else finding me.

"Think, Lauren think!" I get up off the floor and slide my knife back into its sheath. I look around with flashlight lighting the way. This is some sort of office, so I start to rummage through the desks looking for something...anything. Opening a bottom drawer in one of them I see it, one of those thick markers you can write on glass with. Perfect!

I walk to the front door and take a peek through the blinds. "Damn, still too many walkers out there for me to show myself, but it is thinning out. Patience, Lauren …patience" I tell myself. "Daryl can't ride through the herd so you have time."

I don't blame Glenn and Tara for what happened. I blame myself. The rule is we don't split up, and I did. I broke the rule and I paid the consequence. Simple as that, but I doubt Daryl will see it that way. "I'll deal with that if…I mean when I get back. It was my fault, no one else's."

The next time I looked outside the sun was down and the walkers were gone. I raised the shade the covered one of the large front windows. I debated what to write. I didn't want to say 'Hey, I'm here' in case anyone else came by. I needed a message that he would understand. In a flash of school girl brilliance it came to me. I drew a large heart with an arrow going through it. Then I added the initials 'DD'. It made me smile. ..finally. It was silly and childish, but I knew he'd see it.

Now I just had to sit and wait for my black knight to ride in on his motorized horse and rescue me.