OH MY GOODNESS DOES TIME FLY. I can't believe that I've been gone for like 3 months. I am so sorry! Junior year has CONSUMED all of my time. Like a big hungry monster. But never fear, I will do my best to be back around whenever I get a spare moment.
My deepest apologies - Toni
Hershel watched from his parlor window at the joyous laughter of the group camping on his front lawn. Rick had offered him one of the geese that that girl had shot, but Hershel politely declined. He had no need for the goose, that group needed it more than he did. But right now, Hershel was watching the group carefully. Only Lori, Shane, and Andrea still seemed unnerved by the girl's release. Carol smiled weakly, clinging to the hope that her little girl was still alive. Everyone seemed to be having a grand time eating those geese. Hershel's gaze fell on a low-lying branch on the opposite side of the fire. The girl lounged lazily above Daryl and Carl, snacking happily on her hunt. She grinned at the jokes, ignoring the glares from Shane. Her snow white bow was tucked behind her back, there if she need it at a moment's notice. The fire's light danced on her skin, illuminating the bruises to a hellish glow.
Hershel felt someone come up behind him.
"Whatcha you thinkin', daddy?" Maggie inquired.
Hershel glanced at his daughter, her eyes were glued to the group outside. "Well," he started, "I'm thinking about how that girl with her bow and how she's acted so far reminds me of the archangel Uriel."
Maggie looked at her father in wonder. "Uriel? The upholder of justice? I dunno 'bout that..."
"I know it's a stretch and all, but I feel like we've only seen a glimpse of her personality, and only what she's let us see at that. Despite the fact that Shane, Lori and Andrea all think that she is extremely dangerous, she has not intentionally harmed anyone on this farm. Instead, she gave Rick an offering of peace, which therefore reined in Shane's murderous intent, all for the good of the group." He paused. "I think she's got a pure heart, but has been hurt in more ways than she is willing to let on. But only time will tell."
Hershel turned from the window and walked back into the house. Maggie looked at her father's retreating back, and then at the girl. She knew that many people didn't trust the girl, but for Maggie, the girl brought a sense of hope.
Maybe dad's right, Maggie thought as she let her eyes wander back to the Asian boy smiling by the fire. Only time will tell.
Lori sat on the other side of Carl, picking at her food while she nervously eyed the freak in a tree. Lori's mind spun with all of the different possibilities that could come from Daryl letting that monster out. Her head snapped up as she heard Carl squeal.
"C'mon kid!" Daryl grinned.
"Ew! But it's the eye!" Carl protested, wrinkling his nose at the eyeball in the hillbilly's fingers.
"Carl's right. That is disgusting, Daryl," Lori piped in.
Daryl smiled his lopsided smile. "All right. Fine. Y'all missin' out on the good stuff. More for m- 'Ey!" Daryl broke off mid-sentence as the eyeball was snatched out of his fingers. Carl made a face of disgust as the girl popped the sphere into her mouth with a satisfied grin.
Lori crinkled her nose as some of the others at the fire laughed. Add savage to the list of why this girl should not be here. Lori would make sure to discuss this with Rick later. She knew that Shane was against this girl being here, but she doubted that he would back her up on this. After the whole thing at the CDC...
Lori shook her head and returned her attention to the group. She would talk to Rick about this girl, and if that didn't work, then and only then would Lori ask for Shane's help. But only if Rick refused to finally listen to some sense.
"So," Dale began, addressing the girl in the tree after a pause in the conversation, "are we ever going to hear you talk? I mean, I understand when you were in that damn shed and all, but still?"
The girl grinned and shook her head. Nope.
Glenn mumbled, "Yeah, but I'm still wondering why don't you talk..." There were a couple of murmurs of agreement with the question.
The girl bit her lip and looked down, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. There was a long pause in the conversation.
"Don't worry, I bet we'll get you talking in no time," Rick smiled. "It worked with Daryl!" The group laughed. The girl smiled a little and shrugged, still avoiding eye contact with the group. She knew why she held her silence. The group's conversation shifted to the how watches were going to be set up and how to keep an eye on the fences and whatnot.
Carol fidgeted nervously. She wanted to ask the girl the question that had been burning in Carol's mind since Rick and Daryl had brought her back. But that would have to wait for later.
Once everyone had finished their meal and complemented the girl on her catch, the group began packing up for the night. Daryl glanced up at the girl, she was lost to her thoughts again, clearly still bothered by the group's want to hear her voice. "Hey," he whispered. She made a small movement of acknowledgement. "So," he continued, "we still gunna go huntin' t'morrow? Dawn not too early for ya?"
He saw a small smile appear on her face. Yeah, that's fine.
Daryl grinned. "Then ya better get sum shuteye up in that fuckin' tree o' yers, ya damn canary." She smiled a little, looking at him as she stuck up her middle finger. Daryl laughed and sauntered back to his tent. Bitch.
The girl dropped down from the tree and made her way over to the RV to put her dish in the sink. She smiled sweetly at the people she passed by, those who patted her on the back and welcomed her to the group.
Lori stalked past the girl over to Rick, pulling him behind the tents. "Rick!" she hissed. "Why are we encouraging her to stay! She's a danger to the group and to Carl! She-"
"Lori," Rick cut in, "she hasn't done anything to deliberately harm anyone yet, Carl included. In fact, she helped us out a lot with those geese today. We need another hunter in the group, and after tomorrow, we'll see if she's as good as she seems to be. If not, then it can be brought up for discussion. But until then, she's staying."
"But-"
"No Lori! She's as much of a danger to Carl as me or Shane or Daryl is. Right now she's staying. She's good for the group. End of discussion."
Lori wrinkled her nose as Rick walked back to the fire pit. Lori didn't have any idea why Rick was so intent on keeping a monster in the group, but then again, Shane was still here and Lori would need his help on this. But she would save that for later.
Back at the camp, the girl handed her plate to Carol at the washbin by the RV. She began to turn away when Carol reached out a hand to tap the girl's shoulder. The girl turned back to face Carol, a blank look on her face. Carol looked sheepish as she fidgeted for the right words to say. The girl waited patiently for the older woman to speak.
"I know we haven't really met, but I've heard a lot from Rick and Daryl about you. How you were all by yourself out there, in this nightmare and all." Carol ducked her head, fighting for words, biting back the tears. "My little girl, Sophia, she uh, she's out there all by herself. She ran away from some walkers when we were out on that highway, she's only twelve and she got really scared, and I uh, I was wondering if..." The girl had fully turned to face Carol, an expression of confusion and worry written across her face. "I was wondering if you had, perhaps, maybe, seen my little Sophia out there? While you were wandering around and all, I doubt it, but I had hoped... that maybe you had seen something, anything..." Carol had silent tears rolling down her cheeks now.
The girl ducked her head and turned slightly away from Carol. She slowly shook her head, and when she lifted her head again, Carol saw tears in her eyes as well. She reached out for Carol's shoulder and squeezed it. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Carol bowed her head. "Oh." Carol felt the girls posture change, and glanced up again. The girl was fully facing her, eyes burning with determination and passion. I will promise you this: I will do everything in my power to find her. To bring her back. I swear it. Carol smiled weakly. "Thank you."
An expression of sorrow crossed over the girl's face again as she squeezed Carol's shoulder again before turning to walk away. Carol bowed her head again. "Thank you."
The girl's long strides carried her across the campsite as she prepared her run like she did earlier in the day. Except, mid-stride a bear paw of a hand wrapped around her forearm and yanked her into the shadows.
Her back was slammed into one of the trees as he breathed his hot, musty breath in her face. She did not want to be here. Not with him. Not ever.
"Listen ya little bitch," Shane spat, "I'm 'ere ta give ya a warning. Some o' da people in this group think that yer good for this group. That yer gonna help them out. But I ain't that dumb. I know yer type." The girl stopped her squirming and stared at him with malice. "Yer one o' those sluts that think they can just waltz into anyone's life and make everyone believe that they're the best thing that ever happened. Well I got news fer ya. Ya ain't gunna do this here. You fuck up once, you take one step outta line, and I will shout you out of that motherfucking tree. Ya here me, ya tramp!" He pushed her away, not waiting for an answer. She stumbled for a few steps, before glaring at where he had been a moment before. What an asshole.
She made her way back to her tree. She nimbly climbed up the trunk and onto a high, thick branch. She unrolled her sleeping bag and tied it to the branch with a short length of rope. As she snuggled down into the downy warmth, the pain from that morning's beating finally caught up with her. She winced as she slid herself in past the ropes that fastened her to the branch. So much had happened that day: she had earned Shane's undying hate, gained Daryl's friendship, secured her freedom, pledged to find Sophia, earned Rick's trust, and so on and so forth. But there was one thing that still bothered her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget that Asian boy's question: Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
Why don't you talk?
The question ricocheted in her head, spun around her mind, haunted her consciousness. The girl rolled over onto her side, clutching her hands desperately to her ears. She knew her reason. It was all her fault. The girl flipped over onto her other side, frantically trying to suppress the memory. What he to her that day in Atlanta, what she last screamed at her family that day in Atlanta, what she last whispered to her sister-oh god her sister. Almost the same age as Sophia. Just as much lost. The girl shook her head. It was all her fault. She would never wish the pain she felt that day in Atlanta on her worst enemy. The pain she felt when she last saw her family. When she last spoke to him. When she last spoke. Their voices ran circles around her mind, mocking her. Blaming her. It was all her fault. The girl whimpered as she curled into a ball, the memories flooding her mind. That last day. The horrid things she said. The things she saw. The things she did.
Things were finally going right for her. Things were good for her here. She was being human again. She had finally found a safe place. Away from it all.
But it was still all her fault.
Daryl heard the barely audible whimper when was walking back to his tent after talking with Rick about his plans for the next day. He paused, listening for any other noises to come from that branch, before continuing back to his tent. If he had been asked, Daryl would not have been able to say why he had taken that girl under his wing. He guessed that it was because he was so curious how such a little girl could turn into a vicious animal in a matter of months. It didn't make sense. Daryl had to find out why. The best way he figured was to get her away from Shane for a couple of days, then maybe she would relax enough to talk. Daryl at least wanted to know her name, but Rick wanted to find out why she was out there all alone. Daryl knew that if he didn't return with this information, she may be forced to leave from the group - which meant something way different than simply walking off that property in one piece.
Deep down, Daryl knew that no matter how far she got from Shane and Lori, that girl was not going to speak. As much as he hoped she would, Daryl knew she wouldn't. She was guarding something, and she intended to carry it to the grave. He knew that she would never trust him with such a secret.
But only time would tell.