A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying this story. Here's another chapter just for you all. I hope you enjoy!
A few days later…
"I guess I'm losing hope that you can hear me. But there's always that chance that you can, isn't there? I've been trying to do everything right and keep people safe, but everything feels like it's falling apart. I really, really tried, Morgan.. Our group is getting smaller now. We lost two people almost a week ago. The CDC was a dead end. But, I did meet a man there, a scientist, who told me something. He told me.." Santana pauses, searching for the right words, "It doesn't matter. What matters is that we're moving on. We are headed to Boston. We are going to face a long and hard journey, but I'm trying my hardest to not lose my faith. That is the only way we can survive all this. Be careful, Morgan. I hope to see you and your son soon."
"Hey San, it's time to go." Finn interrupts, motioning to Santana, then returns to the RV and starts the engine. Santana switches off the walkie-talkie and walks over to her car, where Quinn, Lucas, Kurt, and Ella were giggling as they patiently waited for her return.
"Hey Tana, we were just talking about some of the trips we all took together. Oh oh, Kurt, do you remember France?" Quinn says excitedly, then turns at Santana, "Do you remember, Tana? It was a few years back with Lucas and Ella. Remember?"
"I don't remember that." Lucas chimes in, as Santana smiles at Quinn, who responds.
"No, you wouldn't, my sweet boy. You were just a baby. Plus, we were there for only a day."
"Yeah! I never knew a baby could throw up so much." Santana laughs as she starts the car and follows Finn in the RV.
"Ick." Lucas says, looking disgusted.
"Yeah, ick." Quinn mimics his expression. "The doctor in Paris said you'd live, but we decided to go back home because we thought a trip with a newborn wasn't a good idea anymore."
"I'm sorry." Lucas says, looking down.
"No, no, don't apologize. It was one of our favorite trips, little man." Santana says, placing a small kiss on Quinn's hand.
"Mami, do you think we can go to Disney World again? That was my favorite trip." Lucas asks hopefully.
"Can we go too?" Ella says excitedly
"We'll see, but we'd never go without you or your dads. That's a promise." Santana reassures them, glancing at Ella through the rearview mirror.
After driving for a few miles, the RV came to an abrupt stop. Ahead of it was a highway full of abandoned cars, with no way of moving forward.
"Oh no-" Finn mutters as the RV begins to rumble, the engine sputtering.
"What's going on Finn?" Glenn asks, confused.
"It's the radiator hose, we can't go any further with this RV. It's done for."
"Maybe we can find one here. There's a whole bunch of stuff we can scavenge from these cars." Glenn suggests optimistically.
"Yeah, you're right. Let me go tell everyone else. Maybe we can also find some food and water." Finn replies, stepping out of the RV and waving his hands to signal the other cars to stop.
"Yoo Finn, what's going on...oh," Santana yells out from the window
"Yeah." Finn confirms with a heavy sigh.
"Would this jacket look nice on me Quinn?"
"Of course, Kurt, I mean it matches your eyes perfectly."
"Right?! That's what I was thinking. I think Blaine will really like it."
"Would really like what?"
"Oh my gosh, Blaine you scared me." Kurt laughs, "What do you think about this?"
"It matches with your eyes." Blaine says lovingly looking at Kurt.
"Hey Blaine, could you help me out?!" Mike yells out as he tries to pick out the lock on one of the cars.
"Okay, be there in a second," Blaine looks back at Kurt, " I love you."
"I love you more."
After Blaine leaves to help Mike, Quinn and Kurt continue searching for more clothes from the abandoned cars, along with Lucas and Ella who looked for more toys. Meanwhile, everyone else began looking for food and water, besides Finn who was on lookout duty.
And there it was, a herd of thirty walkers heading toward them.
"San, look!" Finn yells, pointing toward the walkers.
"Oh, fuck." Santana mutters, seeing the approaching herd. "Quinn! Quinn. Kurt. Get under the cars. EVERYBODY UNDER NOW!"
Quickly, the two drop to the ground and scramble under the truck they had been scavenging in. From below, Quinn and Kurt attempt to signal their kids to get their attention, but Santana beats them to it.
"Louie, Ella, get under the cars right now and be quiet!" Santana's voice rose with urgency. The kids swiftly complied, taking cover under separate cars that were close enough for Quinn and Kurt to watch them. Santana then followed, hiding under a car that was near the kids.
Footsteps echoed from various directions, followed by a rancid smell. Slowly, walkers began to shuffle past the silent group. Santana cautiously raised her hand, signaling to Lucas to stay quiet and still.
Quinn and Kurt, their eyes brimming with tears, glanced nervously at Lucas and Ella. Quinn's heart raced with worry for the young boy's safety, hoping that he would listen to Santana's instructions and understand that this isn't a game.
So far, so good.
As the footsteps gradually faded, silence filled the area. Santana cautiously surveyed their surroundings and checked for any lingering walkers without revealing her hiding spot. The rest of the group attempted to do the same, including the children.
Ella, unable to resist the urge to peek, edged closer to the edge of her hiding spot. As she scanned for more walkers, her heart sank as she realized that two had already spotted her.
The two walkers drew nearer to the car where Ella hid, crouching down in an attempt to reach her. Ella's cries and screams pierced the air as she started shuffling toward the other side of the car to avoid the walkers trying to reach her.
Kurt, overwhelmed with fear for his daughter, attempted to emerge from under the car, only to be restrained by Quinn's firm grip. Despite Kurt's pleas, Quinn knew they couldn't risk exposing themselves to the herd of walkers nearby.
Ella was out from under the car and started running toward the forest. The walkers, now alerted to her presence, sprinted, prompting Santana to do the same and reach Ella before they did.
"Quinn! There are two walkers after my baby. M-my baby girl." Kurt's voice cracked with pain as he attempted to break free and rush to Ella's aid, but once again, Quinn held him back.
"Kurt, Santana will bring her back. She's going to be okay." Quinn whispered reassuringly as she hugged a crying Kurt tightly.
As Ella continued to sprint as fast as her legs would carry her, Santana closed the gap, finally catching up and grabbing her, causing Ella to scream in fear.
"Ella… El, it's me. Shh... Are you alright? Are you okay?" Santana's voice was gentle, soothing the panicked girl.
"Aunt Sanny! Shoot them! Shoot them!" Ella pleaded, trying to reach for Santana's pistol.
"No, no, sweetheart. If I shoot, those walkers on the road will hear it. Then it wouldn't be just two, it would be hundreds." Santana explained as she hoisted Ella into her arms, scanning the area for a safe place to hide. Santana then spotted a creek with a small cave inside and hurried toward it. "Okay, Ella, you have to do exactly as I say, sweetheart."
Ella looked up at Santana and nodded quickly, her eyes wide with fear.
"Hide in there. I'll draw them away from you." Santana instructed firmly.
"No. No, don't leave me, Aunt Sanny." Ella's voice cracks, "Please, Aunt Sanny."
"Listen, sweetheart. I can only deal with them one at a time. This is how we both survive. You understand?" Santana's tone was gentle yet firm. Ella nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Okay, go in, sweet girl." Santana said, planting a kiss on Ella's head to reassure her.
"If I don't make it back, run back to the highway. Go back to the others. It's straight the way we came, okay? Remember to keep the sun on your left shoulder, and you'll be back with the others."
As the two walkers drew nearer to Santana, she focused on leading them as far away from Ella. Slowly, but surely. This gave Ella the chance to emerge from her hiding spot and run back to the others.
"Come on! I'm right here you sons of bitches." Santana yelled at the walkers, taunting them. "You two look more like Rachel Berry than Rachel Berry herself." And offending.
"Are you sure this is the spot?" Daryl questions, scanning the surroundings.
"I left her right there, and I drew the walkers way off in that direction," Santana points, indicating the path she had taken. "She was gone by the time I got back. I figured she just took off and ran back to the group."
"Dude, get off the trail, you're messing it up." Daryl warns Puck, who was accidently stepping on the tracks.
"Now I don't think she knew her left from her right." Puck scoffs
"She understood me fine, Puck." Santana retorts.
"She was tired and scared. I'm sure not much stuck in her head." Daryl acknowledges, "She was on the right track though, not sure why she veered off. Should we just pair off and look in different areas?"
"No, it's better if Puck and Glenn return back to the group. People are going to start panicking. Just let them know we're on her trail doing the best we can." Santana decides, "Maybe keep them scavenging cars."
"Why aren't we all out looking for her?!" Kurt yells out, "Why are we moving cars?!"
"We have to clear enough room so we can get the RV turned around once we find a radiator hose. There's no way we can go through this highway, so we need to go back." Finn explains, trying to maintain composure among the group's growing anxiety.
"We're not going anywhere till my daughter gets back." Blaine interjects angrily
"Santana and Daryl are on it, okay? They'll find her." Quinn reassures Blaine, attempting to calm him down.
"I'm still freaked out from that herd that passed us by, or whatever you'd call it." Tina voices in.
"Yeah, what was that? All of them, just marching along like that." Glenn responds.
"A herd. That sounds about right. It was like the night camp got attacked. But come on people, we still have a lot to do." Finn says, trying to redirect their focus.
"Uncle Puck!"
"Louie, what happened?" Quinn's concern immediately rises as she turns to her son.
"Momma, look at what I found. Uncle Puck, look at this." Lucas says, showing the new hatchets he found.
"That's cool, bud. Go give them to Finn."
"Aww, can I keep one, Momma?"
"What? No, Lucas. Stop playing with them and go give it to Finn, okay?" Quinn says, noticing the disappointment in her son's eyes as he complies with her instruction, "And you. What did I say about speaking to my son?"
"I'm sorry Quinn. He was just really excited to show me what he found."
"Puck. I mean it. Do Not Talk To My Kid." Quinn asserts firmly, leaving Puck stranded with her words..
Once Quinn returned to the group, Santana and Daryl had finally returned.
"You didn't find her?" Kurt's voice cracks with desperation.
"Her trail went cold, but we'll pick it up again at first light." Santana replies
"No, no you can't leave my daughter out there on her own to spend the night alone in the woods." Blaine pleads, showing his pain as Kurt buries his face in Blaine's chest, quietly crying.
"We can't go out in the dark. More people could get lost." Daryl explains, his voice trying to convey empathy.
"But she's 10, she can't be out there on her own. You didn't find anything?" Blaine's voice trembles with fear.
"I know this is hard, but I'm asking you not to panic. We know she is out there." Santana reassures Kurt, "Daryl knows the woods better than anybody, so he's taking the lead on this."
"How could you just leave her out there to begin with, San?!" Blaine's voice rises, "How could you just leave her?!"
"Those two walkers were on us. I had to quietly draw them off. If I hadn't, that herd would have come back."
"Sounds like she didn't have a choice, Blaine. It was a tough situation to be in." Finn adds.
"How was she supposed to find her way back on her own? She's just a child." Blaine breaks down in tears.
The next morning…
"Okay everybody take a weapon."
"These aren't the kind of weapons we need. What about the guns?" Rachel questions.
"Listen, only Finn, Puck, Daryl, and I have guns. We can't afford reckless shooting out of fear. If someone fired at the wrong moment while a herd is passing by, we'd all be fucked." Santana remarks, momentarily forgetting that Lucas was within earshot. "I mean, we'd be in trouble," she corrects herself, while shooting an apologetic glance at Quinn.
"So the idea is to take the side by the creek. Most likely she'll be by the creek. So everybody stays quiet and stays sharp." Daryl explains the game plan.
"Okay who will be staying to find the radiator hose and other supplies we need. I need at least two." Santana says, looking around for volunteers.
Glenn and T-Dog raise their hands as Santana whispers a 'Thank you.'
"Hey you guys, mind if you keep an eye on Lucas while we're gone?" Quinn asks, as she looks at her young boy.
"No momma, I'm going with you and mami. I want to find Ella." Lucas says firmly, causing Santana and Quinn to exchange concerned looks.
"Well, he has all of us to look after him. I think he'll be in good hands." Finn says, smiling at the young boy.
The group began their journey through the forest in search of Ella. Finna proposed dividing into two groups to cover more ground efficiently. Santana opted to lead one group, consisting of Brittany, Daryl, and her family. Daryl remained behind the group to ensure the safety of Lucas and Quinn at all times.
"Hey Daryl, do you think we will find Ella?" Lucas asks with a tremor in his voice.
"I know we will, little man. She's going to be okay." Daryl assures him, patting the young boy on the back.
"Hey Brit?" Santana says quietly.
"Yeah Sanny?"
"Do you think I made the right choice? You know, leading the walkers away but leaving her."
"Sanny, don't be so hard on yourself. It was a difficult situation to be in. You did what was best." Brittany consoles Santana, placing a hand on her shoulder as Santana hangs her head down in defeat.
"It's just…I looked into her scared eyes…she trusted me so much, Brit. And I let her down-"
Church Bells start to ring in the distance
Santana holds a hand up to signal to her group to be quiet and alert. She pulls out her pistol and slowly follows the sound. From a distance, Santana sees Finn heading toward the sound too. She tries to signal to him too, but he is too far to notice.
"Hey Santana, I don't think that's the one. There's no bells." Daryl says as he catches up to Santana, looking at the church in question.
"She might have heard it. She could be in there." Santana says, waiting for Finn and his group to join them. "Look, she could have heard the bells, she has to be close. Please. Just help me look." Daryl nods.
After searching inside the church and exploring its many rooms, there had been no evidence or traces of Ella, leaving the group feeling hopeless.
"Let's go back, man. We are all exhausted. There's only so many hours of daylight left, and we still have a long way back to the RV." Puck says to a defeated Santana.
"I can't stop yet."
"Santana, look, we still got a lot of ground to cover. We can start searching on the other side of the creek as we head back." Daryl suggests, pointing to the other side of the church.
"She has to have heard the church bells. She has to be nearby." Santana pleads. "I can't go back. Her being out here is my fault."
"I agree, San, uh-that she has to be nearby, not that it's your fault. Look, I'll help Santana search this area a bit more and you guys can start heading back to the RV and rest up. We'll be back in an hour or so." Finn says, trying to lift up Santana's spirits.
"Are you sure you want to split us up?" Daryl chimes in.
"Yeah, we'll catch up to you in a bit."
"I want to stay too. I'm her family!" Lucas says sternly.
"Lucas, sweetheart, it's too dangerous for you. Let Mami and Uncle Finn handle this, okay?" Quinn says, kneeling down to the young boy.
"No Momma! I want to help find her."
"Tana, a little help here?"
"Louie, I'll be back with her. We will find her, okay? Just head to the RV with Momma, please."
"No, No! Mami, please."
"Quinn?" Santana says, signaling the blonde to talk to her privately. "What do you want to do? I mean Finn and I will watch him 1000%. But it's up to you."
"Tana," Quinn sighs, "Please, just be careful with him. And you too."
"I will, my love. I promise." Santana says, gently kisses the blonde, and the two return back to Lucas.
"Louie, I want you to listen to everything your Mami and Uncle Finn say, okay?"
"I will! Thank you momma."
"When did you start growing up?" Quinn says, ruffling his hair and kissing his cheek. "Be careful, okay."
"I will momma."
It had been around 40 minutes since the two best friends and the young boy had been roaming the forest together, yet they hadn't found any evidence of the missing child.
Santana hears some rustling from a distance and lifts her hand up to alert Lucas and Finn to be quiet. She then points to the direction of the noise and quietly follows it. Santana sees a figure lurking behind the trees and begins to lift her pistol. Finn soon copies.
Santana continued approaching the figure, until she saw something odd.
Antlers?
The figure began to move more into the open, now visible to Lucas and Finn. The three remained frozen in place as they watched the deer stand right in front of them.
"Wow. This could feed us for weeks." Santana thought.
Finn has the same idea and approaches closer to the animal, his gun now aiming at it. But Lucas had other plans. He was in awe and started walking closer to the deer.
"Finn." Santana whispers
Finn turned around and looked back at Santana who signaled to Lucas. Finn lowers his gun and smiles back at Santana.
Lucas walks closer and closer to the deer. He looks back at his mami and uncle, who both encouraged him to get closer. Lucas then steps on a branch, which alerts the deer, now looking at the young boy.
Santana continues watching her courageous son and thinks to herself, "Maybe he can really have a childhood in this new world. He still sees the beauty in things and not just the dark and ugly-."
BANG!
In an instant, a bullet pierces right through the deer and unfortunately, through Lucas too. Simultaneously, both Lucas and the deer fall to the ground.
"no..no..No..NO!" Santana screams.