Chapter 7-Beside the Dying Fire
As we were almost to the house there was the sound of a gunshot from the distance causing us to pause and look at each other. After a few minutes there was another, so we all turn and head in the house. Once inside we join the group in the living room with Daryl asking, "Rick and Shane ain't back?" "No." Lori answers causing Jimmy to say, "We heard a shot." "Maybe they found Randall." Lori offers so Merle states "We found him." Putting an emphasis on the "we."
"Is he back in the shed?" Maggie questions then, so I respond, "No. Was a deadhead." "Did you find the walker that bit him?" Hershel questions so Glenn explains "No, the weird thing is he wasn't bit." "His neck was broke." Daryl adds causing Patricia to say, "So he fought back." "The thing is Shane and Randall's tracks were right on top of each other. And Shane ain't no tracker, so he didn't come up behind him. They were together." Daryl explains then causing Lori to question, "Would you please get back out there and find Rick and Shane and find out what on earth is going on?" coming up to Daryl. "You got it." He responds earning a "Thank you." From her.
Our group of four heads back out the door then with an added member of Andrea. But what we see once back out the door is a large horde of deadheads approaching. Glenn quickly heads inside to tell the others as I release a "God damnit." While we step up to the porch railing. Tonight was going to freaking suck too. Why the hell is shit going sideways here so soon? Can't I catch a freaking break? I lasted sixty-one days on my own in a dead city and ten days with Merle with things that were, relatively, easily handled causing us issues. But day one with this whole group I get shot at and shot, day eleven I'm almost suffocated, and now day twelve we're in the path of a large horde? What the hell?
"Patricia kill the lights." Hershel tells her as soon as the group is with us and Andrea says, "I'll get the guns." Turning and heading back inside. "Maybe they'll just pass, like the herd on the highway. Should we just go inside?" Glenn questions earning a "Not unless there's a tunnel downstairs I don't know about. A herd that size will rip the house down." From Daryl. That's when Lori comes out and says, "Carl's gone." "What?" I question so she says, "He-he was upstairs. I can't find him anymore." "Maybe he's hiding." Glenn offers causing Lori to say, "He's supposed to be upstairs. I'm not leaving without my boy." "We're not. We're gonna look again. We're gonna find him." Carol tells her and they run off as Glenn breathes out "So many."
That's when Andrea brings out the bag of guns and almost everyone who didn't have a weapon took one. When Maggie hands Glenn one he says a "Maggie." Causing her to respond, "You grow up country, you pick up a thing or two." "They got the numbers. It's no use." Daryl says causing Hershel to tell him "You can go if you want." "You gonna take 'em all on?" Daryl questions so Hershel says, "We have guns. We have cars." "Kill as many as we can, then we use the cars to lead the rest of them off the farm." Andrea says causing Merle to question "Are ya serious?" "This is my farm. I'll die here." Hershel responds causing Daryl and Merle to look at each other before they shrug, and Daryl says "All right. It's as good a night as any."
They start to head to the cars, but Merle stops noticing I wasn't joining and looks at me saying, "Nai." Motioning for me to go with him. I give him a smile and tell him, "Gotta make sure Beth is safe then look for the kid." "Yer fuckin' dead jars." He sighs out causing me to nod saying "Ya' got it. Keep an eye out for the kid too and don't shoot his dad." "Fine." He huffs so I add "Officer Douchebag's fair game."
This causes him to smirk and say "Got it. See ya later Peepers." So, I return it saying, "I'd better. Nothin' can kill a Dixon but a Dixon right?" He practically howls in laughter as he nods and heads out towards the cars. Laughing a little myself I then rush inside, to my room, grab my bag, and back down the stairs. Scanning for Beth I spot her over at one of the boarded-up windows and go over. She looks at me, a scared look in her eyes, so I simply but my bag on her saying "Don't ya dare take this off. Those deadheads won't be able to sniff ya out with it on. If they make it up here leave but don't run, walk. Ya hear me?" She just nods quickly as I tighten the straps on it, so even if she fell it'd stay on, before we both whip our heads to the window, a light coming from the yard.
"The barns on fire." Beth voices our thoughts causing Patricia to come over and look saying "They're headed for it. Maybe Rick set it to draw 'em in." noting that the deadheads were heading towards the fire. "Might've been the kid. I'm gonna go look for him out there." I tell them already making my way out the door, which shuts behind me just as Lori's voice cries "I can't find him anywhere." Meaning he had to have gone out either to search for Randall himself, follow his dad, or maybe he saw the horde approaching and left to warn his dad.
No deadheads have made it past the yard fence yet, so I take off towards the R.V. I get there and spot it was Jimmy inside shooting out the window at the deadheads. "Jimmy." I say, so he wouldn't shoot me when I went to climb up on it, causing him to stop and look at me as there is the rumble of the motorcycle moving. I quickly scramble up the ladder and onto the top of the R.V. before hearing Daryl's voice call "Yo!" Looking over I see he's come over to us on his, well more accurately Merle's, motorcycle as he tells Jimmy, somewhat what I was planning to, "Must've been Rick or Shane who started that fire. Maybe they're trying to get out back. Why don't you circle around?" "Got it!" Jimmy answers before calling "Nai?" "I'm good! Go!" I shout crouching and grabbing onto the small railing on the R.V..
Which, it was a good thing I did since he floored it and I would've toppled off. Getting closer to the barn I spot two figures, one small and one larger, in the opening of the roof of the barn so I call out "They're there! Get close!" It must have been Carl and one Officer Friendly or one Officer Douchbag. If it was Officer Douchbag I was gonna feed him to the freaking deadheads the second I got a hand on the boy. "All right!" Jimmy calls back as Rick starts calling "Hey! Here!" "We see you!" I shout back so he starts motioning in front of them calling "Put it right there!"
Jimmy stops the R.V. close-ish to the roof's edge so I tell them "Come on!" getting up and over to help them cross the gap. Rick jumps to the roof and helps Carl over before they both rush over to where I was. I reach out and help Carl over as Rick just jumps over. "Oh, no. No!" Jimmy screams then causing us to look over and see the side of the R.V. swarmed by deadheads and even some in it. Jimmy is just screaming in pain as Rick orders us "Come on." While heading to the ladder. I keep a tight hold on Carl's hand and pull him with me as I go towards it while Rick heads down, shooting at deadheads.
"Come on! Now!" Rick shouts as I send Carl down first. Rick turns and helps him down, no deadheads coming from in front of us and those next to us were currently stopped by the fence. Too bad Jimmy didn't stop with the door blocked by it too, rotten luck that boy had. I quickly head down myself, Rick also helping me before pushing us forward saying "All right, go." So, I grab hold of Carl's hand again as we take off in a clear path from the deadheads.
Nearing the woods, I say "There. Head for the woods." Heading for them myself, almost dragging poor Carl with me. There were even more deadheads in the horde than we originally saw. They were everywhere but we'd lose the few following us in the trees. Well, more like, they'd lose us in the trees. Sure enough, we're soon alone but we still don't stop running as we make our way back to the house. Rick probably thinking the same as me. The others are sure to have realized the farm was gone and leave. We had to make it to one of the cars and leave ourselves.
When we get to the house we only see a lone Hershel shooting at deadheads and backing up shouting at them "Come on!" When he stops to reload we notice one coming for him from behind, so Rick rushes up and shoots it in the head. Luckily, before it could get Hershel. This causes Hershel to turn around so Rick questions "Where's Lori? Did you see Lori?" "Merle, Maggie, Beth?" I add but Hershel just says, "I don't know what happened. They just keep coming. It's like a plague. They're everywhere." "Did ya see them?!" I shout causing Hershel to shake his head shouting "No!" "We have to go. Find the others." Rick says then causing Hershel to call "It's my farm!" "Not anymore!" Rick yells grabbing Hershel and dragging him with us to one of the cars.
We take a few out on the way but all climb into the car once we get to it. Rick and Hershel in the front with Carl and I in the back. We start driving away and Hershel looks back sadly at our home, so I do the same. It wasn't always my home, but it was the best one I've had. Merle can handle himself and Beth smelled like the dead so they wouldn't go after her. Maggie was probably with Glenn. But if they were okay? I had no idea.
****Time Skip****
It was already morning when Rick stops the car on the highway, in front of us the car with some supplies and a half washed off message for Sophia Rick said Lori would probably be. But it didn't look like anyone else was around as we all got out. Rick, Carl, and Hershel all approach the car, while I stay near ours, looking around at the graveyard of cars.
Suddenly, Carl says "Wait, where's Mom? You said she'd be here." Causing us to look at him as he continues "We've got to go back for her." "Carl-" Rick starts but Carl cuts him off shouting "No. Why are we running? What are you doing? It's-It's mom. We need to get her and not be safe a mile away." "Shh. We need to be quiet, all right? Please." Rick tells him quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder causing Carl to repeat "Please…It's mom." In a matter-of-fact tone. Instead, Rick starts "Look, Carl, listen-" kneeling down in front of him but is cut off by Carl saying "No." and pulling away from him.
What I didn't expect was for Carl to come towards me and grab one of my hands. I blink down at him in surprise before giving it a comforting squeeze. I look up and give Rick a look and a shrug. Since it wasn't my place to decide for the boy now that we were out of immediate danger. Rick then goes to come towards us but stops when Hershel says "Rick." We both look at Hershel then as he turns continuing "You've got to get your boy and Nai to safety. I'll wait here for my youngest girls and the others. I know a few places. We'll meet up at one of them later."
"Where? Where is safe?" Rick questions but Hershel is quiet, so Rick continues "We're not splitting up." "Please, keep them safe. I'll hide in one of the cars. If a walker gets me, so be it. I've lost my farm. I've lost my wife and maybe my other daughters." Hershel tells him then causing Rick to say "You don't know that. They'll be here." "And you don't know that." Hershel counters earning a "You're a man of God. Have some faith." From Rick.
"I can't profess to understand God's plan, but Christ promised the resurrection of the dead. I just thought he had something a little different in mind." Hershel responds and after Rick looks at me and Carl a minute he looks back at Hershel saying, "We stick together."
****Time skip****
We'd been alone awhile scanning the distance for any sign of, well, anyone from the group. Occasionally we'd see a deadhead in the distance and watch if it decided to come our way, which so far none had. Carl was still practically glued to me but did let Rick comfort him a little bit ago too. Guess the boy decided I was now one of his family. Well, it's not like I'd just let the kid get eaten. I couldn't and, well, that's what got me in this situation.
"Get down." Rick whispers suddenly motioning towards a lone deadhead when I look at him. We all huddle at the side of our car as it slowly shambles towards us, but luckily still not noticing us. Rick holds a hand up as it gets even closer but puts it down when it doesn't seem to sense us and doesn't even pause.
"Okay. Come, come, come, come." Rick whispers while motioning for us as it disappears on the other side of our car. We slowly move to the back of the car while it just continues on wherever it was going, paying us no mind. "I don't know how much longer we can stay here." Hershel whispers then causing Carl to whisper "I'm not leaving without Mom." "So, we're just gonna walk away? Not knowing if my wife, your other girls are still out there? How do we live with that?" Rick whispers at Hershel who comes back with a whispered "You've one got one concern now, just one. Keeping him alive. Same with me and Nai. Nature may be throwing us a curveball, but that law is still true." We couldn't wait around forever for them. If they were alive we'd probably end up meeting again just like how I did before.
"Nai?" Rick questions after the deadhead was no longer in sight so I say, "If one wonders one way it usually means more will. It's not safe here." This causes him to nod before kneeling down in front of Carl and telling him "Carl. Like she said it's not safe here. I'm sorry." Causing the boy to start tearing up. That's when we hear the unmistakable rumble of a motorcycle approaching causing us all to look in its direction.
There was Daryl and Carol on the bike followed by a car and the truck causing us to look at each other relieved. Our family was back with us. We go to the front as they all pull up and stop. Rick and Daryl share a handshake as the others start getting out. "Oh, thank god!" Lori calls running over, and hugging Carl as Maggie runs over and hugs me, Hershel joining us. We're soon joined by a crying Beth.
"Where'd you find everyone?" Rick questions then so Daryl answers "Well, this guys' taillights zigzagging all over the road-figured he had to be Asian, driving like that." "Good one." Glenn says chuckling before Daryl asks, "Where's the rest of us?" causing me to look away from Maggie and Beth and scan the group. Merle would have opened his big mouth at the Asian comment. Maybe he just didn't hear it?
"We're the only ones who made it so far." Rick says while I go rigid not seeing Merle with us. He could handle himself so why wasn't he with them damnit?! "Shane?" Lori questions to which Rick shook his head, meaning he was dead. "Andrea? Merle?" Glenn asks then to which Carol says, "They saved me, then I lost them." Causing me to look at her. Merle and Andrea saved her? Andrea sure but Merle? Did he do it for Daryl?
"We saw them go down." T-dog says causing me to look at Daryl as Hershel asks, "Patricia?" I find him already looking at me but not in anger like I expected him to direct at me for not having been with Merle or just me being here and not Merle, but in something between sadness, concern, and resolve. It pissed me off. I still didn't and would never need his concern. Besides he was probably the reason Merle wasn't here right now.
"They got her, too. Took her right from me. I was-I was holdin' onto her, Daddy. She just-" Beth says quietly, stopping to cry a bit before adding "What about Jimmy? Did you see Jimmy?" "He was in the R.V. It got overrun." Rick answers before Daryl asks, "Ya sure ya saw Merle?" his eyes never leaving me or his face changing despite my anger directed at him.
"There were walkers everywhere." Lori answers causing me to direct my anger at her and snap "Did ya see him?!" No one answers causing both Daryl and I to say, "I'm gonna go back." "No." Rick says stopping Daryl as Hershel grabs my arm before I could me causing me to rage at him "Can't just leave 'em!" ripping out of his hold.
"We don't even know if he's there." Lori says causing Rick to quickly say "He's not there." At Daryl before looking at me continuing "He's not. He's somewhere else or he's dead. There's no way to find him." "Damnit!" I shout putting my hands, clenched hard into fists, on my head before releasing them with a shout of frustration and then placing my head in my hands. Rick was right. Merle's probably okay and somewhere far away. He didn't know this spot like this group did and wouldn't show up here. Besides I couldn't leave the rest of my family to look for him when there was the chance he was dead and like he told me before better to keep going than go back. We'll meet again if he survived.
"So, we're not even gonna look for him?" Glenn questions after a minute of silence only for Rick to say "We've got to keep moving. There have been walkers crawling all over here." "I say head east." T-dog says then, so Daryl says "Stay off the main roads. The bigger the road, the more walkers, more assholes like this one." before they're another minute of silence and he adds "I got him." Followed by the sound of his crossbow firing. The sound of a body hitting the ground soon follows.
"Nai." Maggie says then in a gentle tone placing an arm around me, so I sigh out "I'm fine." As I look up and let her lead me to a car. But I wasn't, not really. I shouldn't have let Merle get so close. I was better not knowing if anyone else made it. Knowing he was separated from the group and could be dead? Feelings really freaking sucked.