Disclaimer- I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters.
Warning- There is mention of a dead animal in this, nothing is described.
I really hope this doesn't disappoint some of you, Huskygirl13 gave me the idea for this followed by amb520, I really wanted to give it a go after reading their comments so lets hope this works.
Danny's POV
"He brought back a boy who tried to kill him, we find out that his group is dangerous so the Sheriff does the right thing and goes to eliminate the problem. But then he goes and chickens out last minute". I try and keep my voice low as I talk to Merle, I don't want anyone over hearing me. "And now because a Walker got onto the farm and killed Dale he's going to let this kid go. I know he helped find me and refused to give up on me but the good doesn't out way the bad decisions he's making. He's constantly fighting with Shane which is going to tear this group apart. I know you and Daryl never fully believed this farm was safe but we had to stay because I could barely walk but he had everyone else thinking they were a hundred percent safe here. To the point that if you or Daryl weren't on watch then no one would be." He's listening to me because his eyes haven't left my face yet but he has yet to acknowledge anything I've said. "I don't regret choosing to come with them because I may have saved Sophia" debatable whether or not that is true, "but if you were to tell me right now that we were leaving I wouldn't fight it. I don't think Sheriff Roscoe can lead this group".
Okay, I'm nervous. He still isn't talking and now I'm worried that maybe he wasn't the one to talk to about my concerns.
"Ya want to leave?"
Still have no idea what he's thinking, there was nothing in his voice.
"Yes". I hate to say it, I really do because that means abandoning those I've grown to care about. Losing Glenn because there's no way he'd come, not now that he has Maggie. Maybe Merle could talk to Carol but even then I don't know if she'd agree.
I don't think I can be part of a group that claims to have a leader who will listen and take into consideration everyone's thoughts and ideas but when it actually comes down to it just chooses to do whatever he wants. And you can't convince me he hasn't got Shane whispering his ear.
"We're only here because you said to stay".
"I know and like I said I don't regret it but I'm nearly fully healed and I think maybe it's time we try on our own".
"S'good thing we're already packed then". Herschel is moving everyone up into the house so we've already loaded our truck up with our stuff. He gets to his feet, "Ya absolutely sure?" I only nod my head as an answer. "I'll go find Daryl".
I slump down in my chair, I don't know if Merle agrees with me or not as he never actually said anything but at least he didn't argue it. The thought of leaving has never fully left me, it was always there in case this didn't work out but I wanted to stay because I wanted it to work but the three of us have gotten too complacent, we've let our guards down, if leaving is how we fix that then so be it.
The group will still be here, we can always come back and help with food and things like that but I can't stay here any longer knowing they are going to willingly let Randall go.
I really don't have to wait long before I spot Daryl walking towards me. When he gets to the point that he's stood over me he grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. "We gotta talk". Then without loosening the grip on my hand he walks us away from camp. Finally he deems it a safe distance away and comes to a sudden stop. "What changed?".
"Our safety".
"What if we could make it work?"
"This place is too big, none of us would have seen that Walker, even if someone had been on watch. Maybe if it had fencing but even then..." I shrug, "I dunno".
"If this is what you want then okay".
I have to fight the sudden urge to scream. "No, it's not just what I want. You have to want this, Merle has to want this." I swing my arm out in the general direction of the shed Randall is in. "We aren't safe here, his group are rapists and possibly murderers and the Sheriff is just going to let him go. I'm sorry, I know you said he'd done right by us but he's doing wrong as a leader and I think we've ignored that for too long. He's snapping, I mean him and Shane had what looked like a brutal fight yet they've come back and acted like nothing has happened".
Daryl tucks some of my hair behind me ear and rests his palm against my neck. "Don't worry it's okay, I can leave, Merle's wanted to leave since I gave ya the option the first time round. But ya said you wanted to give it ago so he sucked it up. Then we got to the farm and you were too injured to go anywhere. We had to stay but now we don't".
I don't smile but I am relieved. "Thank you," Now for the million dollar question, "How do we do this?"
"We're already packed, ain't no use in waitin'. I know you'll want to say goodbye to Glenn so whenever ya ready".
"Are you sure?"
He gives me small side smirk, "Ain't no one 'ere that I'm gonna miss."
I'm nervous as we walk back to camp, so nervous that I have Daryl's hand in an extremely tight grip.
Merle winks at me and points to the woman and child stood next to him. "Guess who's comin."
I sort of just stare at Carol as she offers me a shy smile. "You saved my little girl, if you leave then so do we".
Sophia giggles slightly and bounds over to me and wraps her arms around me. "We're best friends remember, we do everything together."
"What about the rest of the group"? I question but Carol just shakes her head softly.
"I agree with you, Rick isn't coping and I have my daughter to think of. She comes first. Rick can't help look after her but you three can. Don't worry, Merle's talked to me about leaving before so I've had plenty of time to think about it".
Now that Glenn has Maggie I barely talk to him but the one person I would have struggled to leave behind is Sophia. We went through something together and it bonded us. I kept her from dying and she kept me alive, we bonded.
Daryl gives my hand a squeeze, "Let's do this".
He leads us over to the people who are unloading their things from their cars to the house. We wait for the Sheriff to come back out and then Daryl just goes for it, there's no beating around the bush, no gathering everyone just...
..."We're leavin'".
The wind is blowing through my hair, pulling it out of the braid I had put it in. I have my arms tucked into the pockets of Daryl's jacket, the wind was already chilly but on the back of this bike it's bone chilling. I definitely won't be riding on the back of here as the weather gets colder. I don't think I would have ridden on the back of here now if it hadn't been for Carol and Sophia in the truck. Even though it was their choice to leave they were still, understandably, upset when we were saying our goodbyes and I've never known how to comfort someone who is upset. So the best I could do was give them their space.
Leaving isn't a relief, in fact my mind is reeling with thoughts that this is a bad idea but I know we shouldn't stay. It wasn't just the leadership and the false security, it was also Shane. Merle and Shane have been butting heads a lot more frequently this week, an actual fight was mere words away, so it was best to leave before the inevitable happened.
Shane wasn't even around when we said our goodbyes but I doubt he would have even cared, he is definitely one person I will not miss in the slightest. Glenn tried to stop me leaving but he doesn't need me, he has Maggie, but I did have tears in my eyes as we hugged each other goodbye. It only has to be a goodbye for now though, maybe the five of us can find somewhere that can actually be safe or be made safe. We needed fences and walls not open fields and treelines. If we can, then maybe the rest of the group can join us.
A hand on my thigh brings me into focus. I lift my head to look over Daryl's shoulder to see what he's now pointing at. Up ahead is tiny little house set back from the road. It would never do as a long term solution but I think he means for it to only be for tonight as we have been driving for hours and the sun is starting to set. I give him a thumbs up before very quickly tucking my hand back in his pocket, I need to find some gloves.
When he finally pulls to a stop on the driveway I don't hesitate in climbing off the bike and I can't tell what hurts more, my butt or my bad leg, I think it's a tie.
Merle steps out of the car and makes his way over to the two of us. "They're gonna wait in the car while we search the place".
I stand staring at the front door, this place is in poor condition, I doubt it was that liveable before the end of the world, but at least the door is still able to close so that should stay off some of the cold wind.
Daryl steps up beside me and loads his crossbow, "Upstairs or down?"
I bounce up on the balls of my feet as I pull out my bat, "Down, stairs are still hard". I've got my knife tucked in the top of my boot as I can't attach it to my trousers but Merle and I have practised me getting it out smoothly in any situation we could think of.
"Quiet and careful". Daryl moves towards the door.
"Yes sir". I follow after him with Merle behind. Daryl tries the door handle and I know for a fact that if Merle had been in front he'd have kicked the door down no matter whether it was locked or not. He lets the door swing open as he raises his bow but nothing is stood in the hallway. The whistle he lets out is expected but still startling against the silence around us.
We strain our ears but nothing growls and nothing makes an appearance, but that doesn't mean there's nothing in there. He steps in and instantly steps to the side. When I come in after him he nods down the hall so that's where I go. I'm not sure who goes upstairs because I refuse to turn my head away from the room I'm heading towards.
I've gotten too used to lights because I'm finding this hallway eerily dark and I do not like it. The only source of light is coming from the open front door behind me. I push open the door before me with my foot, I make it swing all the way back until it bangs against the wall before stepping into the room that way nothing can sneak out from behind there. I think this was the dining room but I can now definitely say this house hasn't been lived in for years. The table in the room is missing some legs and is covered in a very thick layer of dust, more than what could happen over the last few months. The windows are carboarded up which isn't ideal but this place is only for the night. There is literally nothing else in this room so I move onto the door that's on the other end of the room.
I put my ear up against it but try not to make any noise as I don't want to open the door and have something come at me, especially because this door opens towards me. I hate doors that do that.
I hesitate to take in a deep breath that I slowly let back out and then I pull open the door and ready my bat but nothing comes out at me. My hearts still beats like something did though.
I've found the kitchen but I can tell without even fully moving into the room that there is nothing here we can salvage because half the cupboards have fallen off the walls and most of the doors on the bottom ones aren't even there. Something does smell though.
I do a lap of the kitchen before I end up standing in front of what I think is the pantry. I yank open the door and instantly let out a muffled screech.
Damn it, stupid rats.
A laugh from behind me tells me I wasn't as silent as I should have been. I spin on Merle and glare at him.
"Why are you always around when something like this happens?".
"Cause I wouldn't miss it, it's fuckin' hilarious to watch". He chuckles. The rat runs around the room before disappearing past Merle with a squeak.
I look back into the pantry to find the source of the smell, there's a dead cat lying on the floor, and by the looks of it it's been here a while. I instantly shut the door on it, I do not want to have to see it anymore as dead pets always hit me differently. Back in the old world I was a sap when it came to animals. I couldn't watch movies where they died, I always had to google it before hand, I couldn't watch anything sad that involved an animal. My mum always laughed at me but my dad got it. Once, we were watching a documentary on lions and one died and all of a sudden my dad leaves the room while I sit there with tears in my eyes. Later on I found out that he was getting emotional watching it, that's why he left. Right now is no different, I don't have tears but my throat is feeling a little tight.
I clear my throat before turning back to Merle, he's moved over to the back door and is peering out of it. After a beat he shuts it. "Ain't nothin' out there".
He leads the way back through the house, back to Daryl who has gotten Carol and Sophia out of the car. The three of them are stood out on the porch.
Daryl loses some of the tension in his shoulders when he spots us. "I heard ya let out a cry, you okay?"
"No you didn't, nothing happened. You imagined it." Daryl raises an eyebrow at my defensive reply. Embarrassing.
"She shrieked", Merle chuckles, "Got attacked by another rat".
"Screw you Merle, I'm never sticking up for you for anything ever again".
He just shrugs. As I come up beside Daryl he lays a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
Carol has Sophia stood in front of her and has her arms wrapped around her shoulders, trying to keep her warm against the night air. "What's the plan?"
"We all take shifts keeping watch, as I want everyone to get a decent amount of sleep", Daryl takes charge, "We hole up in the living room and the lookout sits there", He points to the stairs, "as ya can see through that window from there. We need to block the back door and that door there". He's pointing at the one at the end of the hallway. That way we can't be snuck up on from behind. "We have enough food for a couple of days, but tomorrow we look for food. That's the priority." He looks at everyone in turn, even Sophia. "Everyone okay with that"?
Everybody nods, nobody has any problems with it.