Night came quickly. T and the others were already on their way to the farm while Carol, Andrea, Daryl, and me piled into the RV. Dale took watch outside, which made me question if the guy ever slept.

As weariness set in, I closed my eyes in an attempt to sleep. However, Andrea kept fiddling with her gun and Carol kept crying.

I sympathized with her. She'd lost the only good thing left in this world. Her hope of regaining Sophia was waning with each passing hour.

Quietly, I got up off my sofa bed and saw Andrea. She cast me a less than friendly look, but I ignored it and sat in front of her.

"Can't sleep?" I asked in almost a whisper.

She acted like I wasn't there and continued messing with her gun.

I pressed on. "Look, I—I know I was kinda bitchy to you this morning. Just wanted to say I'm sorry. I get it, you're going through some shit and I know you don't know me very well, but if you want, you can talk to me. I'm a pretty good listener."

She gave me a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

I returned the smile, slightly happier that I'd mended things with Andrea.

Just then we heard a loud sigh from the one and only Daryl. He rose up and grabbed his crossbow.

"I need my clip now." He mumbled.

Andrea handed it to him, curious.

"I'm gonna walk the road, look for the girls." He explained, looking at me.

I almost teared up. "Thank you, really, but I can't ask you to. It's dark and anything could be out there."

He grunted. "No one's asking. I'm offering."

I thanked him again and watched as he went out.

Andrea then got up and followed him.

"He'll need someone to have his back." She told me before running after him.

I huffed out a long breath. Guess it was just me and my thoughts now.

After sitting alone for several moments, I grabbed a pack of smokes from my bag and went outside.

I almost cried in relief when the cooler air hit me. The RV was hot as hell. Kala had walked out with me, panting.

"I know girl, I know." I said, rubbing her head.

I climbed up to the roof of the ancient vehicle and joined Dale.

"Want one?" I asked, offering him a cigarette.

He shook his head. "Not much of a smoker."

I lit up and stared off into the night. Everything seemed so different while the sun was hiding.

"Gorgeous night." I commented.

"Considering everything that's happened." He admitted.

I plopped down and stared up at the sky. Sena and Sophia could see the sky too. They'd be able to see the sun tomorrow.

For some reason that gave me comfort.

"Not much of a talker are ya?" Dale asked.

I smirked, blowing some smoke out. "Not really. Never had much to say."

He smiled and looked at me. "Well, why don't we talk; get to know each other."

I sat back up and stole a glance at the woods. "Okay. Ain't like I got anything else to do."

"That's the spirit." He chuckled.

I managed to laugh a bit too.

"Where'd you grow up?"

I flicked off some ash and took another drag. "Small town in Virginia. Ghost town, really. You?"

"Traveled mostly. But my license says Ohio." He responded.

"Man, I don't even think I have my license anymore." I commented.

"Never leave without it." He said, pulling out a small wallet and handing me his ID.

I looked at it, admiring how he was so optimistic about the future, or maybe so nostalgic about the past.

"And that's my wife." He said, handing me a picture.

I smiled at the happy couple. Dale and his wife really looked sweet together.

"What happened?" I asked bluntly.

"Cancer. Pancreatic cancer. Inoperable. Died before all this." He said, not looking at me.

"I lost my nannie to pancreatic cancer when I was five. I know how bad it can be." I said, trying to take the edge off our conversation.

"The only good thing is, she doesn't have to see what the world's become now." Dale mused.

"You have any other family that maybe made it? Any kids, grandkids?" I asked.

The old guy shook his head. "Nah, my wife was all I had. Never had any kids."

I finally stubbed out my cigarette and reached for another. Again, I offered one to him. This time he took it.

"What about you? Any family still around?"

"Really, I don't know. I was with my friend Autumn when everything went to hell. When I went home to get some things, my parents were gone. I grabbed Kala and we booked it to Atlanta." I explained.

Dale then glanced down at Kala. "She's a smart dog. Been helping me keep an eye on T and the RV."

I chuckled. "That's my girl."

Carol then popped her head up as she joined us on the roof of the RV.

I yawned out and decided I'd try and sleep while the RV was less crowded.

Carol gave me a small smile as I passed her. I returned it and touched her shoulder, signifying that we were in this together.

When I got down and went inside, Kala joined me. Together we snuggled up on the sofa bed, attempting to catch a few hours of sleep before sunrise.

I walked home from my Aunt's house. It was after dark. As I checked my phone, I saw that it was after 9.

"Shit. Dad's gonna be pissed." I thought to myself.

Several raised voices could be heard nearby. Quickly, I looked around and saw a few guys walking in my direction.

I hastened my step and turned around, hoping they didn't notice me.

But they followed me.

From what I could tell, they were drunk as fuck…and they belonged to a gang.

Fear gripped my by the throat, threatening to choke me.

Silently, I prayed. I prayed they'd go away, and I prayed they wouldn't notice me.

The men continued their drunken ramblings getting closer and closer to me.

Would I be just another 16 year old rape victim?