You guys are amazing! Thanks so much for the ongoing support! I hope to keep you on your toes!

.::.

It had been months since I watched Molly's face disappear from the rear-view mirror and I reminded myself of my mistake every single day. I worried about her constantly and found myself prayin' for the first time in years- prayin' that she's alright. Wherever she is.

I had recently met up with a large group of other survivors after Merle and I got split up when he was high off his ass. Motherfucker basically left me for dead in a cluster of walkers. I swore if I seen him again I'd kick his ass from here to Tennessee.

I had been with this new group now for the last month. We had set us up a nice little camp but were invaded by a big group of walkers and we had to relocate. Lost alotta people. Made our way to the CDC, which was Rick's idea, and went through hell and high water to get outta there alive when it turned out to be a dead end.

.::.

"You sure this is the spot?" I asked Rick as we waded through the murky water.

"I left her right here. I took the walkers way off in that direction up the creek." He pointed forward as he hunched over to catch his breath.

Rick was a familiar face that I had never expected to see again after my first run-in with a walker at the beach with Molly several months before. He was now part of my group and we found ourselves scanning the woods, looking for a lost little girl named Sophia for the past twenty minutes.

"She was gone by the time I got back here." He breathed. I could see the concern written all over his dirty face. "I figured she just took off and ran back to the group. I told her" he pointed far off into the woods enthusiastically, "go that way, and keep the sun on her left shoulder."

"Go around." I waved at Glenn, or China Man as I like to call him. "Step off to the side. Yer markin' up the trail."

"Assumin' she knows her left from her right." Shane, a tall man with curly dark hair interrupted. I had come to learn that Shane and Rick used to be partners before the world went all to hell. I hadn't spoken to him much, but I, along with everyone else except for Rick, knew his dirty little secret he had been keepin' with Rick's wife. I didn't like him fer that, but hell, I guess I ain't much of a man myself.

.::.

We continued searching throughout the immediate area, following a trail of small footprints to a clearing in the brush. I crouched down to get a better look. "Doin' just fine 'till right here. All she had to do was keep goin'...She veered off that way." I pointed.

"Why would she do that?" Glenn wondered aloud.

"Maybe she saw somethin'." Shane continued to look around. " Spooked her. Made her run off."

"Walker?"

"I'ont see any other footprints. Just hers." I shook my head.

"So what do we do?" Shane asked, furrowing his sweaty brow. "All of us press on?"

"No." Rick answered. "Better if you and Glenn get back up to the highway. People are gonna start panicking. Let 'em know we're onto the trail, doin' everything we can. But most of all, keep everybody calm."

A minute or two later, Shane and Glenn headed off towards the highway to do as they were told and Rick and I stayed behind, followin' her trail as far as it would lead us.

"Tracks are gone." Rick noted after a few minutes.

"They're faint, but they ain't gone." I bent over to get a closer look. "She came through here."

"How can ya tell?" Rick questioned. "I don't see anything but dirt and grass-"

"Ya wanna lesson on trackin' or ya wanna find that girl?"

Suddenly, I heard a loud scream. We lifted our heads up, staring wide eyed and alert in the direction it came from.

"That sound like her to you?" Rick whispered. From the look on his face, it seemed like he had his own doubts.

I shook my head and we walked forward, slowly and quietly, focusing on the noise.

We heard footsteps fast approaching, the heavy crunch of leaves on the ground, followed by another scream. "Whoever it is is runnin' scared. Get behind that tree. Need ta make sure we ain't bitin' off more than we can chew."

Rick did as I said and disappeared behind a nearby tree, and I crouched down behind a bush making myself invisible as well. The footsteps were getting louder. I peeked from behind the brush to see the faint image of a girl runnin' in my direction as fast as she could. Following closely behind were two walkers gearin' to tear her apart.

When she got close enough, Rick grabbed her and pulled her behind the tree, covering her mouth with his hand. I heard him "shh" her when she screamed, and after a quick moment she got quiet. I looked ahead, making sure my timing was perfect before I stood to my feet and aimed, delivering arrow after arrow into the walking corpses until they fell to the ground dead...er.

I didn't waste any time collecting my arrows, especially because I had no idea if there were any more followin' behind. It was dark enough now that I could only see a couple feet in front of me, and as much as I hated leavin' little Sophia out here alone, I knew it was time to be getting' back. Nothin' good came from the dark. Especially these days.

"Psst. Girl." I whispered, careful not to be too loud. "Just the two or was there more?"

"That's it."

"You bit?" I heard Rick ask her.

"No. But my friends..."

Wait. That voice.

"Where they at?" He asked. I walked closer, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight up.

"Further back." She answered. "They didn't make it. I ran." She started to whimper. "I should go back. They're all alone-"

"Molly?" I asked.

She stopped talking and turned to face me.

"D-Daryl?"