Everything was silent. Daryl stepped inside the store, making no sound. I followed his lead, being sure to step lightly. Stepping around the broken glass near the counter, I veered off from Daryl and the others, making my way to check out the condition of the place we were in. Maybe, if we were lucky, this supply run wouldn't be for nothing. Maybe there were some goodies still lying around here.
My eyes darted around, keeping a watch on our surroundings. Daryl was behind the counter, grabbing a pack of smokes. I snorted a half laugh, watching him. That's my man. I thought, managing to pry my eyes away from the sight of him enjoying his find. Glancing down at the shelves to my right, I noticed little packets scattered on the middle shelf. Grabbing one, I picked it up and turned it over.
It was seeds. Hmm.. I grabbed every packet left, stuffing them into my bag. Hershel would be happy to have something to add to our already growing garden. Turning on my heels, I saw a can of potatoes and a can of white corn sitting on a low shelf. Not much, but hey... Any little bit helps. I thought, grabbing them up. After shoving them into my bag, I continued walking through the store.
It was pretty empty, obviously ransacked a time or two. Usually people who were still alive missed some stuff, however. Running from the dead and trying to grab up supplies weren't exactly the easiest accomplishments. Sometimes you had to take what you could get and leave what you couldn't behind. It sucked, but it was reality. Your life was a little more important than a can of beans. If it came down to it, I'd eat bark off of a tree before I'd let a walker get me over a can of food.
Reaching the back of the store, I noticed a set of swinging double doors. Stepping toward them, the closer I got, the more I began to notice a commotion coming from inside the back room. Squinting, I crept up to the black doors, peering through the thick plastic windows eye level with me. What I saw made me stumble backward, and I whirled around, walking quickly back to the others.
Daryl saw me coming, his eyes catching mine, and he immediately gave me the "What the hell's wrong?" look. I held my finger to my lips, shaking my head for him to not ask. I pointed to the back room, before looking around for Shay and Sam. Daryl was looking at the doors in the back as I stepped up to him. His eyes darted back to mine, and he kept his voice barely above a whisper. "Walkers."
"A bunch." I nodded, mouthing the words. There had to have been at least thirty or more that I could see, and I did not feel like dealing with that today. Daryl held his hand up, snapping his fingers once. Shay popped up from the back of the store, and Sam stood from behind a shelf on our left, their faces questioning us.
Daryl motioned for them to make their way back to us, and quietly at that. The two eased their way back to where we stood, Sam making it to us first, his voice a hushed whisper. "What?"
"Walkers in the back." I managed to breathe as Shay hurried the last few steps to me.
"How many?" My brother asked, and I frowned.
"Too many." I whispered.
"We need to go." Daryl's whisper was gruff, as he headed for the door. Suddenly, a loud CRASH made me jump, and I whipped my head to see that part of the ceiling in the middle of the store had fallen in. The back doors swung open, walkers pouring into the store. "GO!"
Daryl's voice kick started my adrenaline, and I ran through the doorway, toward the truck. Before I could get to our vehicle, a walker came out from behind it. Then another. And another. What... What the hell... I didn't understand where they were coming from. Pulling my knife, I jumped forward, stabbing the one closest to me in the head. Just as I pushed it away, another was right in front of me.
"Shit!" I muttered, thrusting my knife under its chin. I hit bone, before pulling it out and shoving the dead thing to the side. THWIP! The soft sound hit my ears, and a walker coming up on my right dropped. "Daryl! Where are they comin' from?" I yelped, stabbing another.
"Back of the store! Everyone in through the driver's side!" He instructed, and Sam swung open the back door on that side. Shoving Shay into the truck, he jumped in beside her. Crawling across the driver's seat, I looked up to see Daryl jumping into the truck, slamming the door shut. He started the truck's engine, slamming it into reverse. My mirror slammed into a walker's head that was coming toward my side, and Daryl flung the gear into drive.
"Just our luck.." Shay mumbled, and I sighed.
"Jesus." I mumbled, resting my head against the cool glass window.
"You good?" Daryl asked gruffly, and I reached over, touching his arm.
"I'm good." I pulled my hand away, taking a breath.
We pulled up to the prison, and Daryl didn't even have to honk the horn. Maggie and Glenn opened the gates, and Dixon pulled up into the parking space that we had made. Opening my door, I jumped out, my feet hitting the ground with a THUD. Maggie was walking towards me, and when her eyes met mine, concern spread across her face.
"What? What happened?" She asked, reaching me.
"Close call." I said, squinting in the sunlight. "But everyone's all right."
"You're sure you're okay?" Maggie pressed, her eyes watching mine.
"Yea, yea, I'm good." I nodded. "Just didn't imagine I'd be spendin' my day bein' ambushed by walkers." I forced a half smile, and she put her arm around my shoulders as we started back inside.
"That doesn't sound like the best of times." Maggie agreed.
"Definitely not." I leaned my head on her shoulder. "But, hey! Guess what?" I pulled away from her, opening my bag excitedly. "Look what I found!" I pulled a packet of seeds from my bag, holding them up for her to see.
"Daddy's gonna have a fit." She smiled, and I grinned.
"Honestly, he's the first person I thought about when I saw them." I pulled the few other packets I had found from the side of my bag. "I don't know if they're any good or not..."
"Maybe they are." Maggie took one, examining the paper.
"Hopefully. I don't wanna get his hopes up for nothin'." I muttered, and she looked over at me.
"It won't be for nothin'. Thank you, it will mean a lot to him." She gave me a thankful expression. "It means a lot to me."
"Well, you're family." I shrugged. "Just wanna see everyone in good spirits."
"I think everyone is." She nodded. "Or at least gettin' there."
"We'll get there." I agreed.
"We're goin' out for a few days." Daryl informed the others.
"Just you two?" Sam asked, and he nodded.
"Everything's been clear. Feel better if we double checked the area." Daryl explained.
"You gonna be all right out there?" My brother asked, his face lined with worry.
"You really gotta ask that?" I glanced over at Daryl and Sam smirked.
"Guess not." He chuckled. "Just... Be careful out there, Spencer."
"I will." I gave him a hug, before grabbing up my bag. "We'll be back in a few days."
"Watch your backs out there." Glenn warned, and I nodded.
"Got everything you need?" Daryl walked over to me, as I slung my bag over my shoulder.
"Yea, I'm ready when you are." I replied, and he gave me a smirk.
"Always ready, girl." His lips tugged upward and I huffed out a laugh.
"Okay, then, Dixon. Let's go."
We took the truck, throwing our bags in the back seat. I said a quick goodbye to Carl, worrying about the kid. He had been through a lot, and it was evident every time I saw his face. He had pain and baggage in his eyes. The kid was strong, but how strong do you have to be before you eventually break? Hershel had been concerned about him after the incident in the woods, and to be honest, I was a little worried myself.
"You think Carl's gonna be all right?" I asked, as we drove away from the prison.
"Think he's gonna be fine." Daryl assured, and I looked out of my window at the trees flying by. "Mama, take this badge from me. I can't use it anymore.. It's gettin' dark, too dark to see. Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door."
"Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door." Daryl mumbled under his breath as I sang.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, yea." I grinned. "Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door.. Ooo, knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door. Oooo, yea. Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door."
"Mama, put my guns in the ground." Daryl's voice was gruff, and I was loving every minute of this. "I can't shoot them anymore."
"That cold, black cloud is comin' down. Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door." I laughed. "I'm impressed."
"Yea, well, tell anyone and I'll deny it 'til the day I die." He growled.
"Finger's crossed." I smiled.
"What else ya got? This ride's too quiet." He pressed, and I felt my heart skip a beat as I started singing again.
What's in store for Daryl and Spencer on their ride out to check the area ? I am back in the game, guys ! So excited to be working on my Walking Dead again ! Ahhhh !
Don't forget to follow me on twitter. If you don't have twitter, it will be worth it to sign up. I am doing promo pics (about to post one of Daryl and Spencer after I post this) and also video shout outs. I am wanting to do a Q&A soon, as well ! It's just something I am trying to do to communicate with my readers more !
My twitter handle is kailabrittFF and you can also look up Kaila Murphy. So follow me and tweet me your questions/comments !
As always, you guys are absolutely amazing. I made a couple of videos the other day for my readers. I cannot believe how patient you guys are. You all make my life so much easier by being so awesome. Every FAVORITE/FOLLOW/REVIEW/READ is SO GREATLY APPRECIATED ! I literally tell everyone I have the BEST FF readers. I love you guys. Thank you !
~Kaila