I don't think many of us slept much that night. I certainly didn't I cried my eyes out the whole night, cried for the loss of Amy, our fellow camp mates, our camp which we thought was so safe and so secure. I cried because I didn't know what we would do next. I slept five minutes here five minutes there, when the sun came up I admitted defeat and crawled out of my tent my eyes red and sore my head pounding. Andrea was sat over Amy still I don't think she had left her side all night. Shane, Jim, Glenn and Daryl were disposing of our people they must have been pretty busy all night because there weren't much walkers left to get rid of. Jacob sat on the picnic bench by the RV staring into space squeezing his baseball cap in his hand. I made my way over and sat opposite him and gently removed the baseball cap and replaced it with my hand, he squeezed it in appreciation but didn't look at me.

"It happened again," He said softly, I knew what he was referring to the day he lost his whole family.

"We all lost people," I replied thinking of Merle and all my friends though I didn't know what had happened to them.

"This is bullshit!" Jacob snapped before pushing himself off the bench and stalking away from me. I pulled my hand back to me and wrapped my arms round myself rubbing my shoulders.

Rick appeared from the woods his thumbs tucked into his belt he bent his head down and stood aside as Glenn and Jim carried another one of our people. He spotted me and walked over, clearing his throat.

"I am sorry about everything that's happened these past few days, I know I'm not exactly thought highly by you but-"

"Rick its ok I mean sure I was mad maybe still am but well we lost a lot of people last night. I know you maybe didn't know them all so I don't expect you to understand but we became like a family and now well we're broken and I don't think we should waste time fighting and hating on each other because at the end of the day we don't know who will be left,"

Rick nodded and held out his hand, I shook it gratefully and he walked away towards the camp fire where Shane was now sat with Dale. I decided to go sit with Andrea and Amy even though I knew the dangers of her turning but she was my friend. Kneeling down next to her Andrea barely noticed she kept her eyes on Amy stroking her blood stained, pale face. Rick came over,

"Hey Andrea-," He began.

Andrea turned her gun on him. "I know how the safety works," She said sternly Rick nodded before backing away slowly as Andrea kept her gun on him. I reached out and lowered her arm and she didn't fight it.

"It's ok," I whispered.

Andrea bit her lip nodding tears streaming down her face. I tried to hold in a sob and suddenly felt really ill breathing slowly I stood up and hurried away from everyone towards the woods before spilling my guts onto the floor. I heaved and shook as I choked up my vomit, I felt a hand on my back rubbing it gently, standing up I wiped my mouth and turned to find Shane stood by me, my lip wobbled before I burst into tears and threw myself into his arms.

He enveloped me stroking my hair. "Shhh," He said taking my face in his hands and wiping my tears away.

"I'm sorry," I said suddenly feeling really embarrassed.

"Don't be daft, come on lets go back to camp,"

We walked back his arm securely round my back keeping me steady on my feet I sat down on the log by the camp fire with Daryl, Lori and Rick.

"Something needs to be done the dead girls a time bomb for god sake," Daryl hissed.

"What do you suggest?" Rick asked.

"Take the shot; clean in the brain from here hell I can hit a Turkey in the eye from this distance,"

It hurt me to hear Daryl talking so coldly about Amy as if she wasn't a human she wasn't the sweet girl who I cared for dearly. I rubbed my eyes and pushed a stray hair behind my ear.

"No, for god sake leave her be," Lori replied sitting down on the log.

Sophia who was sat on Carol's lap came and sat next to me on the log resting her head on my shoulder I put my arm round her and she nestled her. Ed was one of the men who was lost last night many people weren't really bothered about this but he was still her father at the end of the day. I rubbed her arm and planted a kiss on the top her head.

"A walker bit Jim!" I heard Jacqui shout, we all turned our head toward Jim and Jacqui, the others began circling him and Jim picked up a shovel in defence.

"Inside the RV Sophia," I told her she nodded and hurried inside I stood up and hurried towards Jim and the others. T-dog grabbed him from behind and Daryl lifted up his shirt revealing a very red, very nasty bite.

"I'm ok, I'm ok," He kept saying over and over again although it sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than the rest of us. I sat with Jim although Daryl wanted me to stay away from him while the rest of them discussed what they were going to do.

"I'm ok you know Kaylin, I feel fine," He stuttered.

"I know you are Jim," I told him, "But that's a pretty nasty bit-mark you got yourself there it needs clearing up or it'll get infected,"

Jim laughed at this. "I'm already infected I know I'm going to-," He paused looking at the sky trying to fight back tears. He suddenly grabbed my hand taking me by surprise. "But I'm ok right I'm ok,"

I nodded although he was scaring me and I tried desperately to try and pull myself away but his grip was too strong. "Jim let go of me," I said calmly.

"Tell me I'm ok Kaylin, tell me!" He shouted. His outburst drew in the attention of the rest of the group and Daryl charged over with his pick axe.

"Get off her!" He shouted raising his axe. Rick clicked his gun and held it towards Daryl's head.

Jim instantly let go of my hand and I pulled it away. "We don't kill the living!" Rick warned Daryl.

"That's funny coming from a guy who just put a gun to my head,"

"Just stop it!" I shouted. "Stop with the threats! The weapon showing, the arguments! None of us are the enemy the enemy is out there!" I pointed towards the woods. "The enemy is the one who killed our people and if ya'll don't quit it ya'll are going to destroy what we have left of the group!"

Everyone looked at me and looked towards each other. Rick lowered his gun and Daryl stabbed his axe into the ground.

"Kaylin's right," Dale said.

Rick nodded and picked Jim up by his arm. "Come on buddy,"

We all started departing when Daryl grabbed my arm. "I forgot to tell you what with all this drama going on," He began. "We err we didn't find Merle yesterday well not all of him anyway,"

I stared at him confused. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"When we got to the roof, Merle wasn't there,"

"What do you mean he wasn't there he was handcuffed to it wasn't he,"

Daryl looked at the ground not replying to me.

"Daryl," He looked up.

"He cut his hand off; we found his hand but no Merle,"

I gasped suddenly feeling ill again.

"We think he burnt his ligature to stop the bleeding and took off, our truck was missing,"

"So he's alive then," A rush of relief came over me.

"So I think we should head off on our own soon to go and find him."

I didn't like this idea at all it didn't seem right to go off on our own not right now anyway. "I don't think that's a great idea, we're needed here,"

"Merle is our family Kaylin," He said sternly.

"This is our family as well Daryl we lost a lot of people last night we need to stay together,"

"These people aren't our family,"

"Don't be like that Daryl I know you're upset about what happened last night just as much as me I know you care I can see it in your eye you pretend you don't care but I know you do," He looked over at our destroyed camp and sighed.

"Have you forgotten how Merle ended up on that roof it was you only just yesterday saying that you can't trust these people and you wanted to leave,"

"Well maybe Merle isn't as dependable as I thought he was,"

"What are you talking about?" Daryl asked angrily.

"Where is he Daryl? If he took off why didn't he come back here why didn't he come back to us?"

Daryl didn't reply as he too contemplated why Merle never came back to camp last night.

"We'll find him again but I'm not putting my ass in danger leaving these people behind when he couldn't even be fucked to check back on us let us know he was ok,"

Daryl sighed. "You're right of course you are, we'll stay," He nodded before walking away to dispose of the rest of the dead. I looked over towards Andrea and Amy; Andrea had her head bent down towards Amy's mouth it looked like she was listening for her breathing.

My heart began to speed up and I slowly moved my way over to them both as not to startle Andrea. Amy began twitching her hands moving erratically. Andrea didn't move to do anything I spotted Jacob coming back from the woods and called him over. He hurried over towards me and we stood watching both of them.

Amy's eyes opened and they were glassy and dead Andrea continued stroking her hair telling her she was sorry. Amy's hand reached up and rested on Andrea's hair; grabbing it she pulled herself up and struggled to bite her. Jacob pulled out his gun and was ready to shoot but his hand shook uncontrollably and when I looked at him he was sobbing. It broke my heart; I lowered his arm and took the gun from him.

Lifting up the gun I was about to shoot when I heard Andrea say. "I love you," a gunshot and Amy fell to the ground dead. I lowered the gun as Andrea slipped her gun back into her pocket.

After we watched the rest of the bodies been pulled into the ground, Andrea stepped up pulling Amy's now wrapped up body towards the grave. Jacob stood with his arm round me whilst we mourned the death of our friends. I could see Shane looking at me as Jacob squeezed my arm; I glanced briefly before turning my head away.

We watched as she struggled to drag Amy across the ground.

"I can do it I can do it," She assured Dale who had come over to help.

She knelt there for a few seconds breathing deeply, before allowing herself to be pulled up by Dale. We all walked back to camp in silence. I noticed Daryl walking on his own so hurried to catch up with him. He draped one arm around my shoulder and held me close.

"We're going to be ok Kayl, god kill me if I ever let anything happen to you,"

Back in camp there was talks about moving on, packing up and heading to the CDC and there was some mention about Fort Benning, I didn't really care where we went as long as it was safe and secure. Rick had decided to go and talk to Jim about our plans and Shane was stood outside the RV talking to Lori and something about it all made me feel kinda uneasy.

I decided to go for a wander on my own considering I'd not really been alone much recently. I was walking through the woods when I felt someone grab my back. I jumped before spinning around with the knife in my hand.

"Hey easy!" It was Shane.

"You idiot, I could have killed you," I snapped tucking my knife back in my belt.

"I'm the idiot? Who's the one wandering the woods on her own hours after we just suffered from an attack?"

"I can take care of myself,"

Shane shrugged before folding his arms and leaning against a tree. "How are you anyway?" He asked.

"Feeling pretty shitty,"

"Yeah me too,"

"Why because you got rejected by Lori again?" I asked cruelly.

Shane stepped towards me, and firmly grabbed my face. "Now you listen hear and you listen good, I don't want to hear any snide remarks from you about us two you hear me it's over,"

I tried to push him away but he was too strong.

"I said you hear me?" He asked.

I nodded and he let go of my face my heart was beating but it wasn't out of fear it was out of excitement and thrill. I'd really pissed him off, I never realised he could be so bad.

He leant over and smoothed my cheek with his thumb. "I didn't mean to hurt you I just...,"

"You didn't," I interrupted. "I'll stay quiet I promise," He dropped his hand from my face and cupped my hand.

"We should head back,"

I nodded but neither of us moved. I could feel him leaning towards me when the sound of a branch snapped.

"Come on let's go," He said and we returned to camp.

Later on we sat round the camp fire. Andre was fast asleep having been emotionally drained, we were deciding on what we would do next. I sat down next to Jacob and couldn't help but notice he was been quite standoffish with me but I didn't question it, it had been a rough couple of days.

"I've err, I've been thinking about Rick's plan and look there are no guarantees, I'll be the first one to admit that. I've known this man for a long time I trust his instincts. I say the most important thing here is we need to stay together. So those of you that agree we leave first thing in the morning ok?"

We all nodded before preparing ourselves for the journey ahead.

Shane was briefing us all the following morning about the journey and precautions everyone needed to take. It was very surprising when Morales decided to step in and tell us that him and his family wouldn't be joining us on this journey.

"If you go on your own you won't have anyone to watch your back," Shane warned.

"We'll take the chance we want to do what's best for our family."

"Are you sure?" Rick asked.

"We talked about it, we're sure," Morales told.

I bit the sides of my thumb I wished they would come with us it didn't seem right or safe them deciding to make a break for it on their own.

We all said goodbye and I kissed the children's head knowing this will probably be the last time I ever saw them again.

I travelled in the RV with Dale, Glenn, Jacob, Jacqui and Jim. I helped Jacqui mop Jim's brow and tried my best to keep him calm but I could feel him slipping away every single second. We hadn't even travelled far when the engine blew on the RV.

"Shit," I heard Dale mutter and him signal to everyone to pull over. Everyone jumped out of the RV except me I stayed with Jim. I mopped his brow while I looked out of the window to see what the others were doing.

"Kaylin," He groaned.

"Hmm?" I asked still looking out of the window.

"It's time," He said. I stopped looking and turned my full attention to Jim he was breathing heavily and the sweat was pouring off him.

"You sure?" I asked.

He nodded. "I'm sure,"

I put my hand on his. "Ok," I said before leaving the RV to tell the others.

"Guys Jim's bad, he can't take anymore he said he's ready,"

"Ready?" Lori questioned.

Rick sighed taking his hat off. "Ready to be left behind,"

"Rick you want to hold down the fort while I head on up see what's going on there," Shane said.

"I'll come to,"

"I don't think so kiddo," Daryl said holding me back.

"But I want to help," I argued pulling myself off.

"Hop up in my truck and stay there what did I say? I wasn't going to lose you; you can ride with me the rest of the way,"

"But-," I began but Daryl gave me the look the same look Merle used to give me which meant discussion over. I huffed and stormed over to the truck climbing inside and slamming the door. I couldn't help but feel like he'd proved to everyone just how much of a kid I was.

I watched them as they all discussed what they should do about Jim, all the 'adults' not me I wasn't allowed an opinion and god be damned if I ever would be allowed one again. I watched as they hauled Jim from the RV and left him by a tree. I opened the door and ran over to them as quickly as I could. They were not going to stop me saying goodbye.

"Hey another damn tree," He joked.

"Hey Jim you know it doesn't have to be like this," Shane said kneeling down.

"No the breeze feels nice I like this,"

Shane hung his head in despair, "Ok, alright," He said standing back up and wiping his face.

"Why don't you go comfort him?" Jacob asked.

"What?" I said confused to what he was talking about.

"You know what I mean, Shane, I saw you guys in the woods,"

"Well there's clearly something wrong with your eyesight then, because nothing happened in the woods,"

"Right," He said sarcastically.

"You know what Jacob this isn't anything about anyone or anything else right now apart from Jim so stick your bottom lip in and grow up," I snapped before going to say my goodbyes.

I sat down in front of Jim and took his hand in mine. "I'm going to miss you ya know, you kept me sane here most of the time,"

"You're a good kid Kaylin and don't forget anything I ever told you ok,"

I nodded struggling to contain my tears but I'd cried enough these past few days I leant over and kissed his cheek before standing back up again.

Once we'd all said goodbye I jumped back into the truck with Daryl and we all headed off on our way. I watched Jim out of the window craning my neck to see him until he became a small spot in the distance before he disappeared all together. I leant back in my seat and picked the skin at the side of my nails.

Daryl reached his hand over and patted my knee. I turned to look at him and smiled.

We eventually arrived outside the CDC and the scene was much worse than any horror move I'd ever seen. Decaying bodies littered the street and it was so deserted. I gulped as I prepared myself for the walk up to the CDC gun firmly in my hand. We all regrouped and began the walk but the stench was unbearable. I put my hand over my mouth as my eyes watered in an attempt to stop myself throwing up.

We tried our best to move quietly through the streets keeping our eyes out for any sudden movement from the bodies on the floor but they remained still. It seemed like an eternity before we reached the doors of the CDC.

We rattled and banged the shutters but they remained locked.

"There's nobody here," Shane said.

"Then why are the shutters down?" Rick asked in frustration.

"Walkers!" Daryl called and I shot my head round to see one of them making their way towards us.

Sophia and Carl began to cry. Daryl quick as a flash turned around and shot it.

"Shhhh shush it's ok," I tried to tell the children to calm them down they were making too much noise and this was not good.

"This is a dead end Rick!" Shane shouted.

"Where are we going to go?" Carol asked in hysterics.

"Guys be quiet! This is not helping our situation at all," I hissed trying to remain calm.

"Fort Benning is still an option," Shane suggested.

"On what we have no fuel, no supplies it's about 100 miles from here," Andrea argued. I noticed another walker making its way towards us and shot it with my bow and arrow.

"We need to be making some decisions it's not safe!" I ordered keeping my eyes peeled for others.

"We'll think of something!" Rick tried to calm us down.

"We need to go," Lori said grabbing Rick's arm.

"The camera it moved!"

"You imagined it," Dale said rationally.

"It moved, it moved!"

Rick exploded, and started banging loudly on the shutters causing everyone to panic more and create more noise. "I know you're in there please help us,"

Shane grabbed my arm. "We need to go, everybody back to the vehicles move!" He shouted.

I stumbled backwards as I noticed tens of dozens of walkers making their way towards us blocking our exits. Sophia and Carl continued to cry, everyone was shouting, Rick was hysterical, Shane was fighting with him and then the shutters opened and a bright white light appeared.

And then everything went black.

Hope you liked it let me know what you think about my potential pairings. Shane/Kailyn or Jacob/Kailyn? Or Kailyn a strong independent woman? Drop me a review tell me what you thought of this chapter!