Rick slowed the car.. "There it is" pointing through the trees. You could almost make out the giant K through the leaves and branches.
"Walk from here?" Michonne questioned Rick
"Walk from here" Rick nodded with a slight smile. Michonne had become like family to him and a powerful asset to the group.
The two exited the now parked car and looked around checking for walkers.
"We go through the woods and see what their defenses look like." Rick stated. He removed two m16's from the back seat. Handing one to Michonne and started his way to the treeline,Michonne followed closely behind.
When they could clearly see the entire parking area they stooped behind a large tree. "I don't see anyone" Michonne said in a hushed voice. "Me either" Rick replied coldly. Something didn't set right with the former deputy.
They moved almost reflexively around the parked cars, keeping low and hopefully out of sight. Rick thought Michonne moved like a cat. Rick thought. When they got close enough to make a sprint for the doors they stopped behind a van.
"Should we go through the back?" She asked, not sure herself.
"I always thought it safer to go through the unguarded door. Whichever door it may be." He smiled slightly. " I'll go first. Take a peek and if you see me go in that's your cue. " and with that Rick gave one final glance at the roof then entrance and took off in a sprint.
When he made it to the doors he gave a quick look inside and saw nothing to stop him so he tried the door. The first set was locked but the middle door wasn't so he made is way inside. Inside the second set of doors he crouched behind the claw machine and waited for his partner.
"Think they are still here?" She asked. Hoping they hadn't already moved on the prison
"We need to find out in a hurry" Rick replied knowing what his friend was thinking.
They moved quickly through the store,clearing every aisle until they made there way to the offices. Kicking in the door Rick checked the first door on his right to clear it. Two walkers fell on top of Rick both biting mindlessly at anything they thought was flesh. Before either could find a weakness in Ricks panicked defenses Michonne stuck both in the head with one stab and turned to cut the third approaching walkers head in two as soon as it came through the doorway. Michonne shook the blood off her blade with one small swipe and helped Rick up.
Inside the room a chair in the middle was covered in blood with a small blood puddle on the floor. Ropes were discarded and a little distance away from the chair was one large puddle of red liquid.
"Looks like they were tortured here." Rick said blankly. "Not a ton of blood here around the chair. Looks like Darryl was able to loosen his ties and escape." he assumed. "Ty said there weren't to many of them. Maybe those three were it?" Michonne replied. "Nah look at that trail. At least one left.."
Making their way towards the last door in the area they both walked up and front kicked it, blasting the door from it's hinges and frame. A man was sitting in a chair holding a towel to his neck. Rick raised his python and tilted his head at an angle, stepping into the room to get a closer look.
"What did you do to our friends?!" Rick asked with a look that said I just need one reason to paint your brains on that back wall.
The scarred man tried to laugh but only managed to choke.
"I'll only ask you one more time." Rick stated simply. He stepped forward, obstructed by the chair on his side of the desk he switched his gun hand so he had more reach to place the gun to the mans forehead while placing the other hand on the desk.
"You must be the husband.." The man successfully spit out. His eyes were fixed on the gold band Rick was wearing.
"What?" Rick started to ask what the man was talking about but was interrupted when he sprayed the back wall with the scarred mans brains. The dead man dropped the gun he was pulling to the ground.
Darryl wouldn't say it but Beth knew he couldn't keep going. They had been travelling now for over two hours and they had made half the progress she had expected. She stopped in her tracks and helped Darryl sit on a fallen tree.
"We are gonna make camp here." she told him
"To hell we are." Darryl scolded her and did his best to stand up. After a small struggle he decided to sit back down. "We are to exposed" he said quietly. He didn't have any better suggestion but he knew camping in the open like this was a last resort. He hated feeling helpless more than anything.
"I know it sucks Darryl" She looked into his eyes. He stilled some with the connection. "But we are gonna be ok." Beth smiled. For some reason Darryl decided to believe her. He was zen after all.
Beth spent the next couple hours of sunlight listening to Darryl alternate between complaining about her lack of camping skills or offering a helpful tip. He was a mystery for sure Beth thought to herself. Since she had first met him at the farm he had been quiet,reclusive. Spending all his time looking for that little girl that wasn't even kin to him had just exhausted him she had first thought. After a few encounters she began to think he was an asshole.. That was until she saw the look on his face that day Shane opened the barn door. She had thought maybe in some time he would open up to the group. Not that she spent that much time thinking about the dirty redneck or anything. She was kinda right though. He had come around in little ways. A few more jokes around the campfire was how it started,she had noticed. Until one day he was bringing in survivors from the road and much needed supplies for people he had no responsibility to. He was more like Rick than he would ever admit but Beth knew the two had rubbed off on each other. Darryl grounded Rick while Rick inspired Darryl. At least that's what she had written in her notebook.
She helped Darryl over the small distance to the makeshift leanto she had built against a large tree. "Only one way in and we can keep our backs to the tree." She said pleased with herself. Today had been an insane day but she had made it! She smiled a little to herself.
Darryl couldn't help but smile as he watched the busy blonde move about their tiny camp with an infectious grin. Placing leaves and vines to camouflage them as best she could.
"Don't be to proud of yourself Blondie" Darryl teased from the tree. It was night now and Beth moved in and pressed slightly into her companion. "Why not?" She asked looking up at Darryl slightly. "Because if a strong wind comes I think we are gonna have us a pile of sticks" He laughed a little nudging her with his shoulder.
"Asshole" Beth snickered and closed her eyes. "You have first watch." and allowed herself to put away the days insanity confident that Darryl would keep a watchful eye.