Chapter 19

They ran until they were both too exhausted to even stand and collapsed, gasping for breath. They could hear the walkers that had followed them since they fled the battle. They were distant but gaining on them. Without speaking they forced themselves to their feet and carried on. It was dark by the time they stopped again, this time they knew they could go no further. They had no food or water and only the clothes on their backs and the weapons in their hands. Eleanor had four rounds left in her rifle and her knife, Daryl had his knife and crossbow but only a few bolts. They sank down, sitting back to back so they could cover each other.

"Rest here a while, then see if we can find somewhere to stay the night" Daryl spoke for the first time since they had left the prison, his voice was tired and raspy.

"OK" she whispered, all she wanted was to curl into a ball and sleep, but now wasn't the time. They rested for an hour or so, until they had just about got their breath back then forced themselves onwards. It was hard to see in the darkness of the forest and they both stumbled over roots and fallen branches. Just when they were about to give up and try climbing a tree, they came across a small cabin, hidden away amongst the trees.

Cautiously they approached it, knives ready. Eleanor kicked at the door and they waited to see if anything responded to the noise. Finally Daryl tried the door. It wasn't locked and opened easily, revealing a single room, hunting lodge. It was filthy and smelt damp but it was walker free. They slipped inside and closed the door, drawing a large bolt across to secure it. There was an open fireplace and a small tatty sofa on one side. Against another wall was a small sink, with a cupboard above it. A small table with two chairs was next to a small window and the rest of the space was taken up with a single bed. The covers and pillows were dirty and stained and looked damp but to Eleanor it was the best sight she'd seen in a long time. Checking the cupboard they found nothing of any use other than a lighter and a small half empty first aid kit. Both went into Daryl's pockets. Eleanor tried the tap and a stream of brown, stinking water spluttered out. She left the tap running on the off chance the water would run cleaner.

"Must be a well" Daryl muttered as he searched the small space. The water was running a bit clearer so Eleanor cupped some in her hands and took a sip. It was cold and tasted earthy but it helped ease her thirst. Daryl pushed the sofa across the door and closed the ragged curtains across the window. He pointed at the bed.

"Try and get some sleep, I'll take first watch" She wanted to argue with him but she was just too exhausted and half fell onto the bed. She was asleep in seconds. When she awoke it was daylight and Daryl was still keeping watch, sitting on the grubby sofa.

"Why didn't you wake me?" she scrambled off the bed "I'll take over, you get some sleep now" He started to shake his head but she pulled him to his feet and pushed him over to the bed.

"You'll be no use to either of us if you don't get some rest." She insisted. He sank down onto the damp mattress and closed his eyes. He awoke a few hours later to see Eleanor pacing the small cabin.

She saw he was awake and came over to him, sitting on the bed next to him.

"We need to go back" she stated "We have to go back, see if anyone else made it. We can't be the only survivors. I saw the bus get out. Michonne found Rick and they were heading back to the prison, then I lost them in the smoke. I think Tyreese got out with Mikka and Lizzie, I don't know about the others." She went quiet, then lowered her eyes and said in a small voice "I saw Judith's carrier, it was empty and blood stained" Her voice cracked a little and she got up and went to the window, peering out the gap in the curtains.

Daryl got up from the bed, he didn't reply just moved the sofa away from the door and picked up his crossbow.

"We need to find water and hunt for something to eat. Then we decide what to do" He opened the door, checking to see if it was safe before striding off into the forest, leaving her to scurry after him.

"We can do that on the way back" she insisted, catching up with him and putting her hand on his arm. He pulled away from her.

"Didn't see any water last night, so we need to go the other way" he started to walk away from her again.

Eleanor hesitated for a while then caught up with him again. They walked in silence until they came to a paved road. The followed it for a few miles before coming to a small town. They broke into the first house they came too and found a couple of bottles of water at the back of a cupboard as well as some tins of soup. Once they had eaten and drank they checked the rest of the house, taking anything they thought would be useful. They worked their way through several more houses, not really finding much. By then it was starting to get dark again so they barricaded themselves into one of the houses, setting up alarms made of empty cans and other metal items, strung together across the front door. They blocked the doors downstairs with furniture and then went upstairs. They decided it was safer to share one room than to separate, so they chose the room overlooking the road out the front. Daryl insisted on first watch again.