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Rick walked away from the group, and we started rushing around, trying to get ready.
I looked at Daryl one last time, but he was looking away and trudged off towards his tent. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy, despite everything. I even felt sorry for Merle.
I sighed and started walking back to our tent when I noticed my machete on the floor. I must have dropped it when I held Daryl back off Rick. I stooped down to pick it up and twirled it in my hand.
On my way up to the tent, I vaguely heard Shane still arguing with Rick about 'risking the group', and I shook my head. I don't think Shane understands the concept of guilt - or at least registers it.
I didn't make it to the tent, however, as Alex had stepped in front of me. I reluctantly looked up to his face and winced. He looked angry and extremely hurt.
"Do you want me to die?"
"What-"
"You're going to give me a heart attack. You can't go! What if you all get trapped again? Don't go Sam. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..." He trailed, his eyes pleading.
"I can't back out now Alex." I sighed helplessly.
"You didn't have to go in the first place! This isn't your problem. We owe these people nothing worthy of you risking your life!" He yelled, but I knew it was only because he was feeling hurt.
"I'll be careful Alex. You know I will. But they're all so caught up in the fact that Merle is still out there that they probably won't notice if a walker creeps up on them! They'll look after me, but you know I can look after myself." I cooed. Frankly, I was scared as hell, but it wasn't going to make me reckless.
Alex stared at me long and hard, and I bit my lip at his scrutiny.
"Sam, we're goin'" Daryl barked from behind me and I sighed.
Alex stepped out of the way so I could walk into the tent. I grabbed my rucksack and emptied it of all my extra clothes and provisions, just in case we needed to carry anything. I put on my converse and grabbed a green jumper I stole of my dad a few years back. I smiled at it and pulled it over my head. I pulled the bag in my back and strapped the machete to it.
I pushed the sleeves up the jumper up to my elbow and walked out of the tent.
"Wait..." Alex said, and ducked back in the tent. He walked back out with a handgun and a case of bullets.
"Just in case. It's already loaded." He said with a sad smile, holding them out to me. I pushed the gun into the waistband of my leggins and the shells in the backpack side pocket.
I wrapped my arm around his back and he rested his arm around my shoulder as we walked over to the truck the group arrived in yesterday. This is the goodbyes, then. I gulped hard.
Alex pulled me into a tight hug, despite his injury. I heard him gasp in pain, but he didn't move. I clutched him back, trying to hold in a small sob.
"Be careful Sambo." He said, drawing back and held my gaze, arm still loosely wrapped around my shoulders. I kissed him on the cheek, smiling.
"I promise, Alex."
I let him go and was then jumped on by Helena. She threw her arms around me and wrapped her legs around my waist, nestling into my neck.
"Where are you going Sam?" she asked, her voice high and weak.
"I've got to help look for someone. I'll be back though Helena." I drew back from her and looked in her eyes which were sparkling with tears. The sight was like a kick in the teeth, and I was hit with that sucky guilt feeling in my stomach.
"But you can't go out there! You might get hurt." She sobbed.
"I won't let that happen. But you'll be safe here. You'll be here with Alex. I won't be long." I said, kissing her forehead and my eyes fluttered shut. I set her back on the floor and she ran to Alex, snuggling into his hip.
I said a quick goodbye to everyone else before I climbed into the back of the van.
I smiled weakly as now uniform-clad Rick shut the door, before looking back at Alex and Helena who more vulnerable and fearful than I've ever seen them. The door fully shut with a clutter and I blew my cheeks out.
I heard the van rumble into life and jolted forward. I went and sat near the cab with the others, sitting cross legged against the side. I leant my head back and gulped. The path was uneven and shook us about a lot, which did nothing to help the sick feeling that was growing in my stomach.
I brought my head back down and looked at the motley crew assembled.
My eyes rested on Daryl who was staring at a random part of the van, seething, although there was something about him that made him appear vulnerable. Well even a 'badass' like Daryl probably feels a little lost without his older brother, especially if they're surviving the walking dead together.
T-Dog slid over and sat next to me, resting a hand on mine.
"I've got your back Sambo." He said throatily and I smiled.
"Thanks." I said, leaning my head on his shoulder for a second.
"So the nickname caught on, huh?" I asked after a while.
"Alex told me. Suits you." T-Dog shrugged. I laughed gently, which got a me a glare from Daryl. I stared back until he turned his head away.
We lulled into silence as the van rumbled on, and I chewed my lip until just over the back of Rick's seat I could see the outline of Atlanta.
I started fidgeting and tied my hair up. I could feel adrenaline starting to push through my veins, mingling with total fear which was keeping me on edge.
The van bumped up over something causing more to get thrown in the air slightly, making me yelp. T-Dog laughed so I took my shoe off and threw it at him. He tried to bat it with the wire cutters but he moved too slow. The fairly accurate shot to T-Dog's chest even got a snort from Daryl. We rumbled on for a few more minutes until the engine shut off.
That momentary distraction disappeared, and the smile on my face fell.
"Okay, we walk from here." Glenn said over his shoulder Rick and I took a deep breath. T-Dog threw back my shoe and I pulled it on, lacing it up tightly.
I unclipped the machete from my bag and rested it in my hands and absently began to twirl it. I had started making a habit out of the action and it was quite comforting to feel the weapon being shifted with confidence in my hands.
I stopped the twirling when I heard a small grunt. Looking up to the owner, I saw Daryl had an eyebrow quirked, and I merely winked at him before I could think about it. The eyebrow dropped and he looked away, shaking his head. His jaw began to clench and he ran a hand through his hair. His face was set with a grin determination and I sighed. This was going to be a hard day.
"Let's go." Rick said, and with that, rolled out of the door. We jumped to our feet and I hoisted the bag higher on my back, edging towards the door. I swallowed back bile hard, and shifted the machete in my hands.
The door was thrown open, and I took a deep breath and jumped out.
I landed on the ground and my knee buckled slightly. We were on what looked like train tracks, and I looked at Glenn, eyebrow raised.
"Let's go." Daryl said curtly.
"Where first?" Rick asked.
"Merle!" Daryl growled.
"Glenn?" Rick asked, ignoring Daryl.
"Merle is a lot closer..." Glenn said confidently.
We started running which I wasn't happy about. I've never liked running. But I know I've never really had a choice. Choking back a heavy sigh I ran to catch up with Glenn.
Eventually we reached the large shop with only having to skirt a walker or two. Daryl was pissed as he probably needed to take his frustration out on something, but Rick kept pushing him on.
We got into the lower part of shop, and I saw that the glass doors had been smashed through, glass scattered everywhere. I felt a shiver run through me.
I saw Rick draw his gun and I followed his lead, holding up my machete in a defensive position.
We rounded a stack of shelves holding a few remaining ugly jumpers and Rick held up his hand as a sign to stop. He pointed out a lone walker bumbling round the shop, tripping over fallen stands and items on the floor. It was obviously a woman once, but that's as far as her resembling something human ended.
Ignoring Rick, Daryl walked out into plain view and I shook my head. He stood head on to it, and it turned round to him and to moan that low, blood-curling sound. Daryl simply made a garbled sound in his throat and brought his crossbow up in a second, sending an arrow it through its head.
It dropped to the floor with a dull thud, by which time Daryl was over it, pulling the arrow back out of it.
I swallowed hard, but pulled myself together as we started towards the stairs, leading up and up until we eventually reached the top floor. We came face to face with a fire escape door, scratches as marks across what used to be the safety instructions written in the door.
T-Dog reached to the chain hanging across the door, and all the links and padlock still seemed to be connected. A small hope felt ignited, a shadow of a chance that this could work out. we could be home soon.
After a slight fumbling, T-Dog had cut the chain and Daryl burst through the door, calling for his brother.
I winced at the volume, but I knew damn well I'd be doing the same if I was in his position. I wouldn't care what had heard me - I would've taken everything on, and I'm sure Daryl would've done the same.
We rounded the corner-
Only to see the roof empty.
"No!" Daryl screamed, his voice reverberating off every surface.
I pushed past Rick to see the scene where Merle had been left, but I wasn't prepared for what I saw.
There on the floor was a hand. A whole, human hand. I felt the blood drain from my face. We encountered a hand before Alex got shot, but it was obviously a walker's. This was living, breathing human's. There was a pool of blood near it and attached to a rusty old pipe was a pair of handcuffs all bloody and still swinging ever so slightly. I frowned at that. Still swinging?
Daryl was still crying out, and I could hear T-Dog sniffing. I lay a hand on his shoulder blade and rubbed slightly, before walking over to Dale's tools and packing them in my bag.
I zipped up the bag and walked back to the guys to see them in a rather sticky situation. Do they have to threaten each other at the worst time possible?
"What the hell? If you all want to kill each other, throw yourselves at the walkers. Right now, we need to get Merle and the guns." I snapped. Daryl was aiming his crossbow at T-Dog while Rick has his gun to Daryl's temple. I was lying if I said I wasn't worried sick, but this was the wrong place, and definitely the wrong time.
Upon hearing either my words or my pissed off tone, Daryl lowered his crossbow and in turn, Rick lowered his gun. there were a few awkward minutes before someone spoke.
"Got a do-rag?" Daryl asked T-Dog, his voice gravelly. T-Dog searched his pockets and handed it over to Daryl rather reluctantly.
Daryl walked over to Merle's hand and placed it in the centre of the rag. He then very delicately folded the edges up around it, and a small smirk picked up on the edge of my lips at the sight.
He stood back and looked at us before he headed over to Glenn, spinning him round and started unzipping his bag. Glenn shut his eyes and swallowed hard. I smirked, despite myself. Daryl walked back to the handcuffs and looked on the ground. Hoisting up his crossbow, he started following something and soon disappeared round a corner.
I didn't wait around and followed, the others hot on my heels. I ran through a fire escape door and down the stairs after Daryl, machete drawn again.
I walked into through a door and saw Daryl's back walking through another room. I walked quick, but slowed when I saw a body of a few walkers on the floor.
"He took down these with only one hand?" I asked, eyebrow raised at Daryl, who spun to face me with a slight smirk on his face.
"Tough son ov'a bitch, my brother." He croaked and walked off again. T-Dog let out a nervous laugh, and Rick put a hand on my shoulder, leading me forward.
We rounded the kitchen where a faint hissing sound met my ears. I gripped my machete and walked in only to see Daryl staring at a hob, flames still blaring from it. Hanging over the edge of the hob were funny pieces of flimsy white stuff, and the smell was putrid.
"What's that burned stuff?" Glenn asked, peering closer. Oh my god, I know what that stuff is - Merle's crazy!
"Skin." Rick stated blandly, confirming my suspicions.
Glenn jumped back and shivered, and T-Dog merely shook his head, although his eyes were still on the flames.
"Told ya he's tough." Daryl boasted, and I rolled my eyes. This was hardly the time.
"Man, he's nuts." T-Dog murmured.
"Well maybe he wouldn'ta had to if ya didn't leave his ass up there to die!" Daryl snapped, getting right into T-Dog's face.
"Daryl-"
"What? You're the one that cuffed him in the first place!" He yelled, whirling back to Rick.
"I know, but we can do this later. I need you to keep a calm head right now." Rick asked, making sure he kept eye contact with Daryl. He seemed to think about Rick's words, and I watched the pulse in his neck throb.
"Whateva." He said slowly.
"Look man, I'm not comfortable running around here without packing something serious." T-Dog said, holding up his small handgun.
"Well, how about we get the guns and use the rest of the daylight to look for Merle." I suggested. I'd never handled a gun before apart from shooting a few cans with my grandad back home, and even then I only got a few lucky shots and we were in the middle of the countryside. But I'd feel safer if we have plenty spare.
"Okay. How are we gonna do this?" Rick asked, looking about the group.
"I know." Glenn said, walking to stand in the middle of us. "The tank is only a few blocks from here. We can split up. I'm quick, so I can run and get them while you cover me." Glenn said, and I have to say, I felt totally proud of him. And insanely worried at his idea of running out there alone.
"Daryl will be a block away from me so I'll get the guns, and you, Sam and T-Dog wait two blocks away. So, whatever way I need to run, I'm covered." He said with a certain confidence, and I lay a hand on his shoulder, smiling down at him.
"Hey kid, what did you do before all this?" Daryl asked.
"Delivered pizzas. Why?"
"Okay, you guys wait round there. This shouldn't take too long." Glenn said, pointing to a small alley.
We nodded and said good luck. I pulled Glenn into a quick hug and flicked his cap. I then turned to Daryl and stared at him.
"If anything happens to him, you're dead." I stated, but merely he rolled his eyes.
They turned and jogged away while Rick, T-Dog and I walked down to the alley and waited.
"God, I'm so not sure about this." I confessed after a few minutes, leaning against the wall. Rick stood next to me and ran a hand through his hair.
"Me neither. I should be the one out there getting the guns, not Glenn." He said sadly and I bit my lip. I looked up at his face and saw the doubt and worry there, and I laid a hand on his arm.
He feels guilty, probably. Glenn shouldn't be doing this. It's not that I don't think he's up to it, it's just that he shouldn't be out there alone.
I snapped my gaze away and focused on steadying my breathing. This felt bad. Glenn was confident, but I don't know. My instinct told me this was wrong. I shut my eyes and forced myself to breath slower before I began to hyperventilate.
"Well we've got his back, right?" T-Dog chirped a few minutes later, and I smiled slightly.
"Let's hope-"
But I was cut off by cries. A guy shouting about something, but I didn't I recognise the voice. I gulped hard, and I could feel goosebumps rising all over my skin.
We all shared a stunned look briefly before launching ourselves down the confusing alleys to get to the source of the sound.
As we drew closer there were other shouts too, which subsided to just Daryl and the unmistakeable groans of the walkers. I wavered at the sound of the moans slightly, but continued running.
I stopped a few feet away from Daryl to see him trying to beat up a kid he had pinned against the wall.
"Daryl!" Rick shouted as he and T-Dog tried to peel him off the kid.
"They took Glenn!" He shouted as they held him back, his face slightly pained but his limbs still kicking out. His words hit me like a kick in the gut.
I knew it. I knew in my gut it was wrong. Fear seized my actions slightly, but then I was angry. Really fucking angry.
The kid tried to run away but I moved to block his exit. He then tried knocking my out of the way - pushing at me with all his strength, but it wouldn't work, and that only angered the guys even more. Not as much as me though, as I whipped my foot out and brought it to the back of his knees, making him fall to the ground.
"You starting on a girl now man, are ya?" Daryl barked, and tried launching for the kid again, but T-Dog and Rick had a good hold of him.
"Let's just get somewhere else, okay?" I asked, only seeing the walkers clawing at the fence for the first time. The sight sent my stomach curling into knots.
I jogged towards the bag of guns and grabbed the hat that was next to it, and I motioned for Daryl to lead on. Rick took Glenn's bag and nodded.
Daryl had grabbed hold of the kid, and we ran for about twenty minutes until the amount of walkers in the area died down a little.
We stopped to break into a small abandoned office building that seemed in a less-occupied area and began heading upstairs. I wasn't really taking precautions as I just bursting into the room unprepared and uncaring if there was anything on the other side. In the mood I was in, I could've ripped apart a walker with my bare hands.
"Sam!" Rick warned but I ignored him, chucking my bag on the floor.
I threw myself down on a beaten up old chair and put my head in my hands, my hair falling around my face, shrouding my features, broken hairband falling into my lap.
Glenn. He said he'd be fine. He said he knows this place. He said he'd be covered. Guess he didn't expect it'd be the living that got him. I could feel bile rising in my throat, and I swallowed hard, ignoring the sour taste it left. How did Daryl not see the other guys? He had Glenn in his sights.
At that thought my head snapped up and my gaze locked on Daryl.
He was standing over the kid with his arms crossed, his eyes staring at him intensely.
I pushed myself off of the chair and strode towards him, anger flaring in every part of me.
"Sam-" Rick started.
"What's wrong Dixon? Do your eyes not work are you just fucking stupid?" I spat and he whirled round to face me.
"What the-"
"You were supposed to be covering him," I shouted, pushing him slightly. "What the hell stopped you from noticing that he got kidnapped? See something pretty and shiny across the road? See a nice new check shirt? What the hell!" I raged, backing him further and further back until he hit a wall. I was only a few inches from his face.
He stood there stunned slightly, but then came to his senses and his features screwed up.
He was about to reply when there was a snigger. Our heads snapped round in unison to the kid who was sitting on a chair, staring at me and Daryl with an amused look.
"What the fuck you lookin at?" Daryl spat, his voice dangerous. I tried not to shiver at his tone.
"You just got owned by a chika, dude." The kid smirked, and I would've been tempted to smile if I hadn't have been so irrefutably angry.
"Sam, step back from Daryl, right now." Rick ordered, his voice calm yet authoritative.
With one last furious look, I took a slow couple steps back staring him straight in the eye before I turned and headed towards the door, wanting to get as far away from the douchebag redneck as I could.
"Where are you-"
"I'll just be down here dad. God." I spat at Rick, not looking back as I continued out of the room.
I walked out, shutting the door and stomped down the stairs. I looked round at the small office and sat on one of the desks and tried to steady my breathing.
I placed a hand on my chest over my heart, as if that'd help slow down the rapid beating. I was running high on adrenaline and worry.
I don't care that I've been acting like a child. But it doesn't help that Rick keeps treating me like one. I'm twenty-six for God's sake, not six.
If anything happens to Glenn, I swear, walkers will be a picnic to his abductors by the time I've finished with them.
Because that's what happened - he was abducted, kidnapped, stolen. I could feel my blood boiling.
That block-headed idiot should've done something - that was all he was supposed to do. If anything does happen to Glenn, Daryl's going to suffer too. I'll make sure of it. I looked up as if I had x-ray vision, but all I saw was the harsh wooden ceiling above.
As if on cue, murmurs started upstairs, probably questioning the kid.
One thing I will say for Daryl though - he did seem genuinely worried about Glenn. Pretty pissed too. Maybe it was to do with guilt, but I don't know. He seemed to fully forget about the walkers and the guns though.
But I'm still angry with him.
"What the hell?" A high-pitched shriek came from upstairs, snapping me out of my daze.
Worrying about the volume, I dashed upstairs and saw the kid crouched against the wall, Merle's hand laying on the chair he was on. I cringed.
Daryl spun round to face me, and obviously noticed my unease ad he covered the hand back up. Then the kid started blabbing about his group's hideout.
Daryl smirked slightly, blatantly happy that he got the information he needed, and I'd be lying if I said I want impressed at his tactics.
But I was still angry.
Rick hoisted the bag of guns over his shoulder and put the hat on his head, and I smiled sadly at the sight. I guess we're going to this place, then.
Daryl walked over to the kid and dragged him to his feet and started pushing him towards the stairs.
I put my bag back on my shoulders, and T-Dog took Glenn's. We ran down the stairs after Daryl, and after a brief check of the streets, we started following the kid at a jogging pace.
We went for about ten minutes before we were supposedly near our destination.
As I was listening to the kid saying how close we were, I didn't notice the sandbags draped across the floor until I had tripped. My foot caught on it as I fell, and I instinctively put my hands out to stop my fall and let out an ungraceful yelp. I landed awkwardly on my right hand and I winced.
"You alright Sam?" Rick asked as he stopped running and jogged back to me.
"Yeah, peachy." I said though gritted teeth. My wrist felt like it was on fire. I could feel my face as burning too, but more out of embarrassment. I've always been the loser that walks into things and trips over.
I stood and flexed my wrist, my face screwing up at the pain.
"Probably sprained." Daryl said, taking my hand and inspecting it. His warm hands brushed surprisingly gently over my wrist until he applied pressure.
"Ouch, you total dick!" I gasped, snatching my wrist away.
He grunted out a small laugh, which annoyed me even more. I tend get mouthy when I'm in pain, and even more when people find it funny - especially jerk rednecks.
"Stick an arrow up your arse, Dixon." I mumbled, and he laughed louder - actually laughed. Small lines appeared around his eyes and his Adams apple bobbed gently, his voice was husky and genuine.
I stated at him while he laughed, feeling totally weird. He was actually rather attractive-
Wait, what?
"... Though Sam?"
"Huh?" I asked, spinning to face T-Dog. I blinked hard, as if that would help get rid of that insane thought. I must be bipolar or something. My emotions are fluctuating so frequently it's quite worrying.
"I said will you be able to fight though, with one hand?"
"Yeah - I'm left-handed anyway." I smiled, dragging my gaze off of Daryl. He seemed intrigued for some reason. Had he never met a lefty before or something?
"You're something else, Sam." T-Dog smiled. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"Yeah, uh, can we get going? I'm not in the mood to be walker bait right now." I said, looking around our area. We were down some back street, and the only walker I could see was facing the opposite direction about thirty yards away.
Sure enough, we all started running again, and not much later we stumbled into an older part of the city, the buildings a lot more run-down and crumbling.
"Okay, let's think this through - to show them we mean business..." Rick smiled.
I was feeling way too exposed.
Rick Daryl and I were walking behind the kid, weapons raised. I held my hand gun in two hands and my machete close by on my bag, willing my hands not to shake. My wrist hurt like a bitch, but I made sure I looked like I wasn't suffering.
We walked through a crumbled and wired-off gap in a wall, and we're in some courtyard. There were tall red-bricked buildings in front and to the left of us, rubble littering the ground with a few weeds trying to break through its cracked surface.
The kid was shouting something, and the doors in front of us started to open. We stopped about ten yards away from the door, and I was worried. This whole scenario made me nervous - a hostage situation while the walkers are still roaming about around here.
When the doors were fully open, a Latino-looking dude swaggered out, another larger guy following behind him.
The guy checked us all out and I shifted uncomfortably, but kept my aim steady on the kid.
"You okay Miguel?" The guy said, and I but my lip. He sounded gangsta. The gutting-your-cat kind of gangsta.
"Yeah G-"
"We're here to have a calm discussion about what's going to happen." Rick said stoically.
"Calm discussion? I'm not so sure as you've got Miguel in your sights and I just had to pull a arrows out of Felipe's ass here." He mused, tossing his head towards the beefcake next to him. The guy was quite big, and he looked rather imposing, despite his shiny bald head and handlebar-style moustache.
I raised an eyebrow and choked on a laugh, sending a humoured look towards Daryl. He was frowning at the man, but his eyes were dancing with mirth.
"Something funny lady?" The guy shot at me, thoroughly looking me up and down and I blushed slightly. I bit my lip, considering my next words.
"Just imagining you pulling it out of his arse for him. That's going to keep me awake at night." I said, giving him the most dazzling smile I could conjure. I thought it would look horrific, but apparently not as the guy smiled to himself, raising an eyebrow as he took in my appearance again. Well, that could've been worse.
Daryl cleared his throat loudly and changed the aim of his crossbow from the kid to the gangsta.
"Where is my bag of guns?" He said, dragging his eyes away from me, to the crossbow and to Rick.
"No, I'm afraid you're mistaken. It's my bag. I left it."
"You didn't take it. All I saw was a bag of guns." He said, obviously getting impatient.
"I believe you may recognise this guy." The guy said before Rick could respond.
He turned around to look up at the building and I followed his gaze. At the top, three figures emerged. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw a bag being ripped off the middle guy's head. I gasped when I saw it was Glenn still tied up, hovering dangerously close to the edge. I lowered my gun but caught myself, raising it so this time it was pointed at the gangsta, along with the filthiest look.
"Hey now," Rick chided, bringing a hand up, "don't do something stupid." He said calmly, gesturing to his left.
I watched as the guy spun to face the adjacent building. I followed his gaze up to the top of the building briefly to see the top of T-Dog's head, rifle directed straight at him. I held back a smirk. He's not the only one who can make threats here.
"Either you give my guns and everyone walks, or you come back locked and loaded. We'll see who wins." He sneered.
He walked backwards slowly, and blew an exaggerated kiss at me. I bit my lip out of frustration and was the first to start retreating.
I grabbed the kid by his vest and started pulling him back the way we came, my head rocketing a thousand miles an hour.
We met T-Dog and ran for a few minutes to a nearby shop.
I was the first to enter and headed to the back. I put the gun in my waistband and drew my machete.
I walked into the back room and was met by a walker of huge proportions. The guy was giant, and looked like he could barely walk. I stepped forward before it registered me and swung the machete downward with both hands, grunting through the pain. I felt the machete buckle slightly with the contact and breaking of its skull, and the body slumped to the floor.
I then walked up the stairs and entered the apartment above. After storming through the place, I found it was empty.
I pushed the kid on the sofa and dropped my bag on the floor next to him. The room was was flooded with light, and I rounded to face the others - who were just staring at me.
"What? What have I done now?" I snapped, putting a hand on my hip.
"Apart from not even blinking at a walker, getting hit on by Glenn's kidnapper and being a dominating bitch, nothing much." T-Dog smirked. I rolled my eyes, but what he said felt true. Well, the walker bit was true. I didn't flinch, and I didn't feel my stomach churn or anything. I was just immune to it. Becoming used to it. I shivered. No - I'm just angry. Yeah, that's it.
"Well, whatever. What are we going to do though? Do we trust them or do we make the bet and hand everything over?" I asked, trying to get off me and onto the important stuff.
"We have to get Glenn back. He saved my life when he didn't know me. But he did, and I owe him my life." Rick said, staying calm as ever.
"Well great. We're definitely going to save Glenn's arse." I smiled, but Rick shook his head.
"No, you guys should go back. There's nothing to keep you here, risking yourselves." Rick said as he started walking over to the bag of guns on the table, and began to load them.
"And tell your family what, Rick?" T-Dog said, draped over a sofa.
"Yeah, he's right. We risk ourselves everyday anyway. And besides, I wanna kick the butts of those bitches who laid a finger on Glenn." I growled.
I looked around the group, my eyes eventually locking with Daryl. In addition to how I was feeling earlier I could probably breath fire. I was raring to fight someone. But with the way he looked at me, I fell short. Why was he looking at me so oddly?
Daryl watched me for a few more seconds before silently walked over beside Rick and helped start loading guns. Soon enough, we were all helping. Well, I tried, but I knew nothing about guns. What a great time to learn, eh?
"Ah god, you guys are crazy." The kid on the sofa said, his voice slightly high.
"What's your name kid?" I asked, turning to him.
"Miguel." He said puffing his chest out. Daryl snorted.
"Well Miguel," I said, exaggerating his name, "how many people are in your base? And what's the name of that leader dude?"
"Guillermo. And too many for you guys to handle. You're in way over your heads. They'll eat you for breakfast." He said pointedly, not breaking eye contact with me. I thought for a moment, weighing up his words.
"Whatever." I eventually said, and turned back to the guns. After a small while, I had worked out how to load most of the guns - there were plenty to practise on and Rick gave me a few pointers.
Pretty soon, we were ready for the suicide mission.
I packet a few of the guns in my bag, but we carried as many as we could. We left the place and walking past the body of the walker, I checked to see if the coast was clear. There was only a few about, but I thought we could slip past unnoticed. Eventually, we found ourselves running back to the groups hideout. When we took cover behind a crumbling wall, the boy was getting ready to scram, but Daryl had a firm grip on him.
"Showtime." I whispered.
We all stood up and held up her weapons in a ready position and began walking towards the place in a line. I held up the rifle at a constant aim and walked at the back of the group.
The doors opened, and I gripped the rifle tighter as we were indicated to walk through. I swallowed back a yelp as we entered the building in silence, passing through a big group of guys. They all were towering over me and had looks of pure malice on their faces, but I wasn't intimidated. I've met meaner cats than these guys.
I got a few looks and leers off a couple of the guys, although I wasn't surprised - I don't think they've seen a woman in a long time. And I was a woman, attractive or not - and I was not attractive, that much I know.
We were led to what looked like a workshop, but instead of tools, the walls were lined with men. Angry men. I gritted my teeth as I looked over every one, squaring my shoulders off and holding my head up high.
The main guy - Guillermo - walked out of the crowd, stopping in front of Rick.
"I see you brought my guns. Just not in the way I want." He drawled, looking us all over. Rick pushed Miguel forward, and he stumbled away.
"You said locked and loaded, so we're here." Rick said, his gaze steady.
"You're in way over your head, friend." he spat.
"We want to see our friend. Where is he?"
"If you don't give me the guns, I'm going to chop him up and feed him to my dogs." Guillermo barked, his patience disappearing.
"If you touch him, I swear I'll ram your head right up your own backside." I spat, stepping forwards. Daryl's arm shot out to stop me marching over and beating the guy up.
All the guys around the room raised their weapons at my actions, most of which, were aimed right at me.
"I'd like to see you try chicka. I'm sure my men would enjoy devouring you before you even got close." He snapped, his eyes trailing over me. Daryl tried pushing me behind him, but I threw his arm off me but stayed where I stood. He sighed shortly, and I glanced quickly at him. He frowned at me, but nodded slightly.
I raised my gun again, aiming it straight at Guillermo head. All his men started shouting, and Rick tried calling over them. I don't care about this being a volatile situation - this guy is pushing it.
However, they all stopped dead, and at first I didn't understand why until I saw walking out behind a group of them towards Felipe was an old woman. Her hair was a bright white and she was wrapped in a huge cardigan. She began speaking quickly to the Felipe, but I didn't catch all of what she said.
"Mr Gilbert ... Medication.. Right now." Was all I heard. When she finished, she turned to us.
Upon seeing us - especially Rick - she started waking over as fast as her legs would allow. I lowered my gun, letting it hang by my side. I looked at Daryl, who began lowering his too.
"Please, don't arrest my grandson, officer. He's a good boy." she asked, laying a frail hand on his chest.
"I'm not ma'am. He's helping us look for someone - our friend Glenn." Rick said, holstering his gun. He looked up at Guillermo briefly who looked rather frustrated.
"The Asian boy? Come, I know where he is." She gestured, and began to walk away slowly.
I shared a strained glance with Rick and the guys in front of me as I followed behind T-Dog.
We began walking through the group of guys, and they all sneered at me. Guess they don't like their leader being threatened by a girl. They all stepped closer, making me have to brush past each of them. Some of them laughed at the contact, but I merely gritted my teeth as I tried to stare down each of them.
I felt a small warm sensation on my lower back and looked round to see Daryl. He didn't look at me - he kept glaring at the guys around us, so I turned back, totally aware of his fingers pressing into the small of my back. When we eventually made it outside, his hand guiding me. His hand then promptly slipped off my back, across my hip.
I shivered slightly as I walked, not really paying attention to where we were walking. The area his hand was on was fast cooling after his touch disappeared, making me even more conscious of it.
I was so lost. The guy wouldn't even talk to me civilly, but he'd touch me in a delicate place with no plausible reason. Well, none that I could see.
I vaguely noticed a courtyard and steps, but the murmur of chatter snapped me out of my funk.
We entered a small building with plush white walls into a long corridor. Looking through the doors either sides, I saw rooms with old men and women sitting or walking about with what looked like younger generations too. Whole families seemed to be gathered.
Felipe and Guillermo brushed past us, running into a more open area at the end of the corridor - a huge sitting room.
We're we in a retirement home?
There was a small crowd of people at the far end of the room and as the two guys ran towards it, they parted. We jogged over to see Felipe helping 'Mr Gilbert' with an inhaler. The old man wrapped his hands around the inhaler and Felipe's arm weakly, and I felt my heart melt.
I ran a hand through my hairs and blew out my cheeks. What the hell is happening here?
Rick was watching everyone, taking in their situation. His face was troubled.
"What happened?" T-Dog gasped, watching an old man reaching out to Felipe for breath.
"Asthma attack." A familiar voice said, sending my head spinning in search. It wasn't long before I saw that familiar red cap.
"Glenn!" I yelped, running to him and wrapping my arms around him. He sighed and hugged me back.
"You absolute idiot! You gave me a heart attack." I said, drawing back and slapping his arm. He blushed, but he smiled.
I looked up at the faces assembled, taking in each of their features. They're alive and well, and they're all together. I blushed a little as I saw women about, making what I said about those guys staring at me earlier a little redundant. Bur they were staring at me, there's no doubt.
A small woman moved next to me and was coughing. I looked down at her as she stared at me and I smiled politely. She had stopped coughing but I saw she was struggling to put her cardigan on. I put the rifle between my legs and held it there as I helped put the sleeve the right way out and held it out for her to put her arm through.
"Thank you." She said, placing a gentle hand on my arm before she walked away.
I felt my eyes well up slightly. God, why am I crying all the time? Stupid emotions.
Daryl laughed - well, grunted - next to me as he watched the woman walk away, and I punched his arm. Confusing man.
"We've got to talk." Rick whispered harshly, grabbing Guillermo's arm and pulling away from the group.
We followed his towards a small office at the back of the room, walking past a couple barking chihuahuas. I smirked, relief rushing through me.
Throwing my bag on the floor, I sat down on one of the desks, staring expectantly at Guillermo.
"You're a stupid son of a bitch." Rick said, his voice quaking slightly.
"I had to do what I had to do. I had to protect everything we got. the staff here all left when this all happened. Leaving me and Felipe, a nurse." He said deflate sly. I smiled sadly at the thought of Felipe being a nurse, but the idea of just leaving all of these people to defend themselves made me heart heavy and my blood boil.
"The guys want to get everyone out, but they can't make it. So we keep watch, and scavenge for what we need. We blocked off all the entrances apart from one..." He explained, hanging his head it was the weight of the world. I guess it was.
"But you stood up for them." Rick said, putting the guns from the bag on the table. He grabbed some out of my bag on the floor too.
He started handing a couple over to him.
The guys faces dropped. Their eyes bulged and their mouths dropped as Rick handed over more and more guns. Daryl began his usual grunting, but I sighed. Rick was being a considerate human being. It was for the best, I suppose. It'd at least give the people there a chance.
Eventually when the guns were halved, we were led back out of the nursing home and back towards the entrance.
"Hey lady, no hard feelings?" Guillermo said to me, smiling as we fell into step. I smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"None at all."
We parted at the door and wished them luck. He retreated back into the building. With a nod from Rick, we left.
After a few minutes to gather ourselves, we started jogging back to the van - well, Glenn led and we all followed. I doubled back after a while to T-Dog and smiled.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you say I'm 'something else'?" I panted. He laughed.
"Because you're not the average girl that I'm used to. You're British, tall, left-handed, a redhead, pretty damn cute, you've got killer karate skills and you have some serious balls. But that's all a good thing." He wheezed, and I felt my heart flutter slightly.
"That's the most random and nicest - albeit most backward - thing anyone had ever said to me." I gushed.
"You're welcome. You've just to remember that when you think all is lost." He laughed and sighed.
"But just remember, I'm not perfect. Quite the opposite, actually." I mused. We slipped into silence for what felt like miles.
Eventually we got to familiar territory with only a few walkers for opposition, but they were swiftly taken care of by Rick and Daryl.
We ran under the flyover and towards the train tracks and eventually the van, my body screaming out in relief at not having to run any more.
"Where is the bloody van?" I yelped as we got to the now empty spot where the van was supposed to be parked.
"Merle." Daryl sighed, shouldering his crossbow. We stood about, staring at each other. Personally, I wanted to scream.
"Looks like we're doing it on foot." Rick said, sighing.
No. No no no no no no no. No.
"What? It'll start getting dark soon." I whined, not caring about how immature I sounded.
"What's the matter Sam, can't keep up?" Daryl teased, smirking. Since when has he been friendly to me? Well, in the teasing sense. Was he high or something today?
"Fine. Bring it on sunshine." I said after a brief hesitation, stowing my machete and gun in my bag and rubbed my hands together. With some quick readjustments, we started jogging back.
I didn't realise how long it took us to get here in the van, but returning was going to take forever.
I could feel my legs turning to jelly and my lungs felt like they were burning from what we had already run today, but I knew that I had to keep running while we still had sunlight, or else it could be catastrophic.
The sun had disappeared and yes, we were still running. Fatigued had past, and my body had started to get used to the amount -or lack - of oxygen going through it. I didn't feel anything, apart from the reverberation of my feet on the floor, numbly pushing myself forward.
We had been going for two or more hours, and I will be the first to admit that I was the weakest runner. I can swim like you wouldn't believe and I could fight like a warrior, but running wasn't my thing. Bad time to not be a runner though, especially if it's for your life.
"I think we're getting close." Glenn panted over his shoulder. I felt like rejoicing, but I wasn't going to give Daryl the satisfaction of defeating me-
Gunshots interrupted that thought.
We faltered in our running, hearing multiple shots going off, reverberating the around the trees along the old worn road we were on. I heard Rick mumble and T-Dog swearing. There were faint shouts too.
Camp? Helena and Alex - oh fuck.
I got out my machete and with all my might, started running as fast as I humanly could, ignoring the ache and burn that threatened to consume me. The guys had started sprinting too, Glenn reaching my side, leading the way.
I saw the glow of the fire and turned towards it, my feet carrying me faster than I had ever moved.
We stumbled onto chaos.
Walkers were everywhere. The group had all gathered in front of the RV while Shane and a few of the others had guns or something to swing. I was numbly aware of our surroundings as I ran towards them, taking down as many walkers in my way as I could.
"Sam!" Helena cried, her voice filled with tears. She started running towards me, and my heart started flipping.
"No Helena! Stay with Carol!" I screamed, searching her immediate area.
She didn't listen or she didn't hear me, as she started running towards me. I turned on my heels and headed for her, slashing at anything that crossed my path.
Then I saw it. A walker heading towards her, arms outstretched and moving at a speed.
"Helena, run!" I screamed. It was getting closer to her, but I wasn't running fast enough.
I jumped over the fire and raced towards her, but I was still not fast enough.
I watched her spin and face the walker in slow motion, her face contorting with fear. I screamed her name, but I didn't hear myself. It lunged at her, landing on top of her, crushing her into the ground. I thought I was going to be sick.
She can't die! She can't die!
I ran as fast as I could, and when I reached her I dropped to get side, her crying ringing loudly in my ears.
It was only then that I realised the walker wasn't moving. Sticking out of the side of its head was an arrow. At the site of it, I thought my heart was going to stop. I wanted to laugh and cry. I rolled it of her and pulled her up.
"Were- were you bitten?" I asked, my lower lip wobbling.
"No." she whispered, sitting up and sobbing into my shoulder.
I dragged her to Carol and searched the area. There were still a few walkers left. I spotted Alex with three surrounding him, and I ran after him without thought.
He was groaning with pain at every swing of the large stick in his hands. I ran up beside him and swung my machete hard against a walker's neck and sending it to the floor, my wrist screaming in pain. I then ran at another, stabbing the machete through its skull. When that had landed too, I made sure to keep ramming the machete through both the walkers' skulls.
"Sam." He breathed, finishing off the walker in front of him.
We looked about, and there appeared to be no more walkers. We jogged back to the rest of the group of the RV, and I fell to my knees in front of Helena. She threw her arms around my neck and I stood up, cradling her in my arms.
I kissed her forehead and cooed to her, and Alex walked over, wrapping his arms around us.
I leant my head against his shoulder and shut my eyes tight.
I looked over to the rest of their group to check on them all when I noticed that all their eyes fixed just in front of the RV.
I looked down and saw Andrea hovering over-
Amy.
I bit my lip hard, trying not to sob, but it escaped and I stood there, crying in Alex's arms.
Every part of me ached, but my heart hurt more as Andrea's crying and hopeless pleas to her sister began echoing through the woods.