Leaving the house was painful. It had been the first secure thing we'd found since the farm had been overrun. Even though Rick had bombed the idea of making it permanent from the get go, I was still sad that we had to leave. I understood that we could never be too careful, but having a house... It was just hard to turn that down and go back out into the cold with no sure destination.
Daryl and I were helping the others pack supplies into the vehicles. It was dawn, and freezing outside. Trying to keep as quiet as possible, just for safety precaution, we kept running back and forth from the house to the vehicles. We had finally gotten the last couple of blankets packed, when Carol announced that breakfast was ready.
Sitting down long enough to eat, my mind began to wander. I knew that we didn't have much food left. As far as keeping ourselves warm, we were... Okay. But food was something we could never get enough of. Unfortunately, Daryl was going to have to hunt soon. Between his hunting, and scavenging canned goods, maybe we'd be okay for the winter.
There was so much to think about. Where to find enough food. Where we would find a place to stay the night, if we found a place at all. How long would we be safe? What about Lori? Now that the farm was lost, we had lost everything. There were no medical supplies, no place for Lori to safely have the baby. Rick had fought so hard to keep the group at the farm and it was lost anyway.
Shoveling the last bit of beans in my mouth, I mentally sighed. I caught Daryl's eye, he was watching my face closely from where he sat. This time, I couldn't attempt a smile. He saw the worry and fear on my face. I couldn't hide it, and it seemed like no one else in the group could either. Rick and Daryl were the exception.
Rick was still closed off, he and Lori weren't speaking at all. Lori had her small soft moments, then went back to keeping to herself and staying quiet. Cheyenne and Carl were attached at the hip. Wherever Carl went, Cheyenne wanted to go. Carl had taken up with Rick and it seemed as if he were shying away from Lori. Not that anyone could blame him. The situation seemed bad. From all sides. Except Lori's.
I still felt that Lori was mad at Rick for killing Shane. Rick had no choice, and she didn't help the problem. She made it worse. Unintentionally, intentionally, it was one or the other. I remembered the day Daryl was working on the barn loft lookout area, and I was sitting up there with him. Seeing Lori walk out to Shane and engage in conversation had confused me at first. I thought that maybe she was fussing again, but their faces and actions didn't show anger.
Really, it wasn't my business. Things were done and over with. Nothing left to do, and whatever was left to say needed to be between Rick and Lori. Any of us verbally attacking a pregnant woman didn't seem like a thing to do. Even if she was a bitch at times. I always had to remind myself that we're all human.
We're all human. I mumbled in my head, standing up with my paper plate. Walking over to the piles of paper plates, I dropped mine on top of the rest. Paper plates had been easy to find and easy to dispose of. Turning away from the pile of dirty plates, I stalked toward the front door. I knew it was about time to go. On the road again.
On the road again. I sang in my head, but I wasn't feeling the mood. Hearing footsteps, I saw Rick walk out of the house followed by Carl and Chy. The rest of the group bumbled out behind them, seemingly at their own pace. Daryl was the last one out of the house, something resembling a scowl on his face.
"We have to keep moving around, find places like this. Places that don't hold many walkers. But they are still a threat no matter what. That's why we're leavin' here. Can't stay in one place too long. We'll make stops when it's safe, gather supplies, whatever we can find. On the way out of town there's a gas station. We're gonna stop there and scrounge up some gas. Never can have enough... Let's get going." Rick gave us all a final glance and turned away, walking to his vehicle. The people that rode with him followed.
I watched as Cheyenne ran off to the car with Carl. Everyone else trailed off to the vehicles they had rode in before. Looking over, I saw Katherine watching me, her face looked as if she had something to say. Not in the mood for bullshit, I took off for the motorcycle. Daryl was swinging his leg over, and I waited for him to sit before climbing on behind him.
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I felt him turn to look back at Rick who must have waved the 'go ahead', because the motorcycle came to life and after a few moments, we were riding down the street of the neighborhood. I kept my head on Daryl's shoulder, forcing myself not to look back at what we had to leave behind.
We passed by another smaller neighborhood, cars everywhere. One house had a swing set in the backyard. It seemed as if no one had escaped, by the looks of the cars littered throughout the neighborhood. Suddenly, the thought of children came to my mind and I shuddered. Don't think 'bout it. I mentally shook my head, trying to shoo the thoughts away.
Once out of the neighborhood, there was a stretch of road. No houses, no stores. Just fields and emptiness. Land seemed to stretch on for miles, even though I knew we hadn't gotten that far yet. Holding onto Daryl tightly, I gasped when I looked around his shoulder. The motorcycle began slowing down and I held on even tighter.
Up ahead, was a herd of walkers. Not many, but enough to be a threat. I skimmed over the stumbling corpses, trying to make a quick head count. Thirteen? I was pretty sure that was it. Daryl began firing his crossbow from his position on the bike. I pulled out my gun, only to have Daryl grab my arm.
"Don't." He whispered. "Might be more of 'em." Looking back up at the small group of walkers, I was relieved to see that Daryl had dropped four of them. Swinging my leg over the bike, I hopped off of it and grabbed the big hunting knife from my belt. "Where the hell you think you're goin'?"
"Somebody's gotta do it, God dammit." I growled, and Rick was already out of his car on my heels. Before I knew it, Maggie, Glenn, Rick, Sam, Daryl and I were taking the walkers. Head on. I dodged around the side of one, whirling around directly behind it. In one quick motion, I grabbed its shoulder and thrust my knife into the back of its head. Kicking it away, yanking my knife from its skull, I turned to face the next one.
The walker was obviously male. The remains of a suit and tie were tattered and worn on its body. Those orange-ish eyes burned into mine, the cloudy film casting an eerily terrifying quality to its face. It stumbled toward me quite quickly, jaws snapping. The cheek bone was showing from a huge gash on the side of its face, and I could see most of its torso was eaten away. Grunting, I lunged forward, side stepping its outstretched arms.
I shoved my knife through the front of its head, the sickening crack escaping into my ears as my knife met the skull, penetrating through. Yanking the knife back, I stumbled a bit. It slid out much easier than usual. Maybe they were wasting away from lack of food. My eyes darted around for signs of others, but there were none, only dead walkers scattered on the road.
Sighing, I wiped the blood off of my knife and grabbed the walker I had just killed. My tiny hands curled around the fabric of its clothing as I pulled it toward the side of the road. Pulling and grunting, I finally got it out of the path of our vehicles and walked over to the next one.
As I was pulling it away from the road, I felt someone beside me. Glenn grabbed the other side of the walker's shirt, and together we finished pulling it over to the side of the road. Dropping the body in the grass, I looked up at Glenn and offered a thankful smile. He returned it, and looked down at the walker.
"That was a big one." Glenn mumbled, glancing back up at me.
"Yea, had to dodge around it to kill the damn thing." I fussed, shaking my head. Glenn gave a huffed laugh, before walking over to Maggie and checking on her. Stepping over the walker, I began walking back toward the motorcycle. I heard footsteps joining me, then felt a hand on my lower back.
"You good?" Daryl's husky voice seeped into my ears. Closing my eyes for a moment, I took in his words, just wanting to hear his voice over and over.
"Good." I whispered quietly, leaning into his hand. He snaked his arm around my waist as we walked, and I leaned my head against his shoulder. "I hate this."
"Know you do." Daryl spoke as softly as Daryl could. Taking a deep breath, I imagined my life like this forever. I don't want this. I don't want walkers and terror. I want Daryl and normal. But that was wishful thinking and I knew that was certainly true.
"Just want my life back. But I want you in it... I had so many dreams growin' up. Gone in a cloud of smoke." I bit my cheek to hold back the tears. Daryl stopped us as we reached the motorcycle, and he looked at me, studying my face.
"Ain't gonna let nothin' happen to you. Or Cheyenne. Imma do whatever it takes, Spence. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Daryl said surely, his hand sliding toward my cheek. Pulling me forward, he kissed my forehead. Leaning into his lips pressed against my skin, I trembled slightly. Daryl stepped back, tilting his head. "You're my girl."
"As long as the world allows it." I agreed.
"Well, the world can jus' hand you over or we might have a problem." Daryl teased, and I felt a smile creeping over my lips.
"I'm all yours." I mumbled softly, wanting him to kiss me. But instead, Rick gave us a beep and we climbed back onto the motorcycle. Starting the engine, we drove away from the brutal scene of dead walkers. The winter wind stung my face as we rode along, but I didn't care. I was just happy to be alive, to have Cheyenne, and to have the man in front of me.
Never thought it'd come to this... Daryl Dixon... The man I met at the road, in camp outside Atlanta... Never expected this. Not him, not me... Not us. How'd we get here? I dunno, but I'm sure as hell glad we did. Nothin' in my life's ever been stable. Even now, while the world's unstable and crazy, I got one sure thing. I got Daryl Dixon.
The relaxation that flooded through me was rare. Empty road, roar of the motorcycle in my ears, and holding onto to Daryl was like a relief. Knowing that Cheyenne was safe, and somewhat warm, in the vehicle behind us was all I needed to know. Not to have to worry. But then again, we always had to worry.
No matter what we do, they'll always be there. I pushed the thought around in my head, trying to forget it. Before I knew it, there was the gas station that Rick wanted us to stop at. Daryl pulled into the car cluttered parking lot, the others right behind us. I let go of Daryl as he turned the motorcycle off.
Hopping off the bike, Rick and Hershel walked over to us. Both men looked worn and tired. Hershel had no time to deal with the loss of his farm. He had lost everything, his family's safe haven, Patricia and Jimmy. Forced to flee without even grieving over the loss. Survive, survive, survive. That was his only focus now, not only for himself, but for Beth and Maggie.
And Rick... His eyes held deep circles, his face full of concern. Everything was weighing on him, the group depended on him. The sheriff had to worry about keeping everyone safe, fed, and warm. He had a pregnant wife to protect. And like Hershel, he had lost the only safe haven he knew. For his pregnant wife, for his young son, for the group, for himself. Rick had to kill his best friend. Where was his time to grieve?
"We need to move quickly, siphon what we can from these cars and then see if we can get into the pumps somehow." Rick instructed, looking at the gas station.
"I'll go in." Daryl offered, grabbing his crossbow.
"Spencer, maybe go along and grab supplies?" Rick asked me, looking from me to the gas station.
"Yea. Yea, I'll do that." I nodded, and as I started toward the gas station, I heard a snicker. Glancing back, I saw T-Dog waggling his eyebrows at Daryl and I. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and kept walking toward the gas station. Daryl was beside me, his eyes darting around us. "What?"
"Jus' lookin' around, girl. Don't wanna get trapped in here." Daryl growled.
"Me? Trapped with you? Oh, Jesus." I teased playfully. "The horror."
"Hn." Daryl snorted. Grinning, I opened the door to the gas station. Daryl walked in, looking around for any signs of walkers. Not hearing or seeing anything, I went on my way, searching the store high and low for anything that we could eat.
The gas station didn't offer much. More fuel than we thought, but not much food. Not saying we didn't find any food, but it wasn't exactly the treasure chest in the pirate ship. Still, any food was better than no food at all. Luckily, we had food left over from our two nights stay at the neighborhood house. For now, we had enough food for three days.
Three days that we might not even make it to. Three days that could go by quickly. Three days that we might not find anything else to eat for a while. Three days was a lot of pressure to put on fourteen people. Fifteen if you count Lori's unborn baby, who also had to eat. Which meant Lori needed extra rations.
Daryl's gonna have to hunt. I thought to myself as we left the gas station. I handed over what I had found to Rick, while T-Dog and Daryl finished filling up the tanks with gas. Once they were done, they scrapped up what gas we could carry, and loaded it into one of the less crowded vehicles.
"We're headin' into the next town. Same rules apply. No more than two or three nights, dependin' on the safety. Daryl, we're gonna keep straight about a mile and a half. Turn left onto the first highway we see. Then we're gonna pass two roads, turn left on the third one. Keep straight about a quarter of a mile, then turn right." Rick gave directions and Daryl nodded.
Everything was quiet as we all walked back to our vehicles and prepared to leave. As soon as the others were loaded up and ready to go, Daryl started the motorcycle and we pulled away from the gas station. On our way to a new place. What if this was our safe haven? I could only hope, as I grabbed onto Daryl, burying my head into his back.
Sooooo sorry for the long update wait ! I been killing myself with work ! Up until I can snag the third season most of my story will be filler and just the group's struggle of running around the Georgia area before finally finding the prison. But I'm thinking bout throwing in a curve ball that no one will see coming... I am loving this story and the READERS and REVIEWERS are amazinnnnnng as always ! I love writing Fanfic, it is something that keeps me inspired because of all the awesome people that read my stories !
~Kaila