Red River Blue
Chapter 87
Ron climbed the wall, taking the rungs one at a time until he was high enough to sling his leg over the top. He hesitated there, feeling for the small knife he clipped to his belt. This was the furthest he had gone since the walls went up. Ron never killed a walker. He had never even seen one up close before. He was afraid of the dead. But he was also determined not to let his father's body get tossed on the roadside like garbage. His dad was an asshole. But he was still his dad. He still deserved as respectful a burial as possible. Ron felt like he was the one being punished for the man's indiscretions. And he didn't do anything wrong. He didn't kill Reg. He wasn't even at the stupid meeting.
Ron sucked in one more deep breath before he sling his other leg over and started down the other side of the wall. His feet hit the ground and he spun around, placing his hand over his knife. He expected the dead to rush at him the moment he stepped outside town. That's what his mother warned him would happen. But there didn't seem to even be any dead around. Ron studied the large map that was hanging up in the store room before he left. There was a small creek that led directly through the woods and to the road where Deanna suggested his father's body be left. Ron didn't have a very good sense of direction. But he was confident that he could follow a creek to a road and then follow it back to town.
The first walker Ron saw was missing the bottom half of its body. The pathetic creature was dragging itself along by its arms, groaning as it reached for him. Ron stopped for a moment, getting his first up close look at one of the mindless beasts. It was creepy. But it didn't look as intimidating as he expected. Ron pulled his knife out. He adjusted his grip on it before leaning forward and stabbing the creature in the head. The knife slid in with less resistance than he expected. Ron stumbled a little, almost falling forward on top of the monster. He caught himself with his hand on a nearby tree. Ron stood back up. His knife was still buried in the head of the walker. But it was not groaning or reaching for him anymore. He fumbled a little. But he still managed to kill the thing. Ron leaned down and pulled his knife back out, wiping it off before he stuck it back in his sheath and continued on his way.
The next walker he saw wasn't as incapacitated as the first. It was shuffling along near the creek. Ron stayed quiet and tried to sneak past the thing. But either he was being louder than he thought, or the thing could smell him. Because it turned and started shuffling in his direction. Ron's hand hovered over his knife for a moment. But his bravery left him quickly. He turned and started to run, trying to put some distance between himself and the hungry undead cannibal. Since he was focused on the monster behind him, Ron didn't see the one coming at him from the other direction until it was too late. He plowed directly into the walker, knocking it to the ground under him. Ron screamed as he tried to scramble away. But the creature had a firm grip on his shirt. He slapped and shoved, trying everything to escape. Another groan came from behind him. The walker he was running away from was almost on him. Ron knew he had to do something quick or he was going to be eaten alive by these monsters. But nothing was coming to mind. He was starting to panic, his feet scraping uselessly into the leaves and dirt. Ron heard a body fall behind him. And then the monster that was half on top of him was suddenly flopping down into the leaves to the side of him.
"Are you okay?," Beth asked, offering him her hand. Ron grabbed for her hand and let the girl help him to his feet. But he didn't answer her question yet. Because he wasn't sure if he was okay. The only thing he was sure of was that he was glad he peed before he climbed that wall. Or he would need a change of pants right about now.
"Did you get bit?," Beth asked, pulling at his shirt and trying to peek inside the collar to see if he sustained any injuries. Ron shook his head. He wasn't bit. Which he guessed meant he was alright.
"I'm alright," he said, trying to convince himself more than Beth. Beth nodded. Then she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. Ron was quick to hug her back. Beth was slightly older than him. But he was still taller. It felt good to hold her close and let her rest her head on his shoulder. She smelled like soap and campfire smoke. When she let go and stepped back, Ron flicked his eyes over her. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. A few curls had escaped and were hanging loose around her face. There were a few nasty looking scars on her face but they didn't detract from her appearance. The story Ron heard was that she was in a car accident. But he doubted that was true. Beth's eyes were big and blue and crinkling up in the corners as she smiled at him. Ron noticed her the moment she arrived in Alexandria. Shouldered up next to her much taller and fiercer friend. He didn't think he had a ghost chance in hell with her. Especially after Aiden started sniffing around her. But that didn't stop Ron from thinking that Beth was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Sometimes he thought about what it might be like to touch her face. Or what it might be like to kiss her.
"I'm sorry I followed you," Beth told him. "I was worried and I thought you might be upset about what happened to your dad."
"It's okay," Ron assured her. She could follow him wherever she wanted. "Thanks for saving my ass." Beth smiled. "If we follow this creek, it should pop us out right near the road where Deanna sent them to get rid of my dad," Ron explained. Beth nodded and gestured for him to lead the way. He made it around the first small bend in the creek when he felt her hand slip into his. He squeezed gently, surprised how good it felt to have her hand in his. Ron held on to her. And he didn't let go until they spotted Rick's car ahead of them on the side of the road.
"What are you two doing out here?," Rick asked. He looked over the two young people that just unexpectedly emerged from the woods. It wasn't unusual to see Beth outside the walls. But it was strange to see her without Harley. And Rick wasn't sure what to think about Jessie's boy being out here. Ron would die quickly if he had to put up any sort of a fight. Against the dead or the living.
"I wanted to know where my dad was buried," Ron said. Rick thought about demanding that the boy go wait in the car until they were done digging. He didn't have any business outside the walls. But Beth's presence stopped him. Seeing her brought memories of her father to the forefront of Rick's mind. Hershel would have wanted Pete to be buried in town. Giving him a proper burial would have been the christian thing to do. The right thing.
"There's another shovel in the trunk," Tobin said. Beth nodded and headed over to the car to retrieve it. She moved like she was going to start digging but Ron stopped her with his hand on her shoulder, reaching in with the other hand to take the shovel from her hands. Beth released her grip on the shovel. She moved away and started picking up rocks, moving them over into a small pile near the partially dug grave.
"When we're done," She explained to Ron, gesturing to the rocks, "...we can use these to mark the spot in case you want to come and visit again."
"Thanks," Ron told her, taking a break from shoveling to wipe at his eyes. "I'd like that."