Out of the Woods (The Walking Dead)
Strangers:
Daryl was up and about at the crack of dawn. Suzy was sure he hadn't slept the entire night. When she tried getting some sleep of her own in between Rosita and Tara, she heard him talking to Rick about how he had a bad feeling while he was on watch. He had an unshakable feeling someone was watching them. Maybe it was paranoia or something else. It didn't stop him from trying to go out and track whatever it was as soon as the sun lit up the woods.
Suzy watched him from afar as he focused on the ground to find any hint of tracks. She thought about how she should approach him. She had to confront him eventually. She rehearsed countless ways to do so. None of them felt good enough. Immediately apologize for leaving? Ask him what his problem is and why is he holding it against her so much? It was crazy to think about how she never thought she would feel like a nervous little girl ever again. Now here she was, exactly that. It was surreal. Unknown to her, Daryl knew full well she was there. She wasn't the quietest at the moment and he already figured she would try following him. His senses were on high alert since he already thought they were being watched. It wasn't hard to figure out she was watching him too.
Of course he thought about saying something to her. He felt so many things seeing her again after all this time. He was never one for many words. He had no idea how to express everything he felt. He was hurt. Angry. He never thought he would see her again after he stopped searching. He only just began to accept that fact and now here she was and he had no idea what to do. He wanted to ask why she left, but more than that, he wanted to know why she never said goodbye.
Neither of them knew who was going to say something first. Suzy prepared herself to come out from the trees. She felt the anxiety banging against her chest like a drum. Daryl stopped tracking so he could turn around and let her know he knew she was there. Just when one of them was about to call out to the other, someone else came from the opposite side of the trees and got Daryl's attention. Of course, it would be Carol.
"Find anything yet? You should get back," She said. The sound of her voice made Suzy hide. Daryl's attention was on Carol now as they walked off together. She lost her chance.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid-" Suzy kept muttering to herself over and over again. She picked at the skin around her fingernails, frustrated she let her chance slip away like that. Why did she hesitate so much? What was there to be so afraid of? It was only Daryl. It was never hard to talk to him before. It's because he hates me now, Suzy thought to herself. Why would she feel confident speaking to someone who hates her? Okay, maybe not hate. He resented her. Then again, was there really much of a difference between the two?
"Hey," Rosita's calm voice sounded in her ear. She was so out of it, she didn't notice Rosita come up beside her.
"Everything okay?" Rosita asked. Suzy looked back at where she had seen Daryl and then back to Rosita.
"Yeah," Suzy nodded. She knew it sounded so unconvincing. Rosita saw right through it.
"We should get back to the others. Let's go," Rosita pulled Suzy along and they began making their way back to the group so they could continue moving.
"You know," Rosita said, adjusting her hat, "When you told me you used to be with another group around here, I didn't think we would actually find them. Maggie, sure. But the rest? That's pretty amazing."
"I guess," Suzy replied, not sounding all too thrilled.
"You should help convince them. You know, to come with."
"I thought Abraham was waiting for his special moment to ask."
"He is," Rosita replied, "And when he does, you should help. You know these people better than we do."
"I wouldn't say that," Suzy frowned. At this point, she might as well be in the same boat and say she didn't know them at all. Suzy took a deep breath through her nose and replied, "Recruiting people is Abraham's job. He can handle it himself."
Rosita and Suzy made it back to the group just when they started moving out. They quietly integrated back in with ease like they were never gone at all. Everyone was on high alert that morning. They didn't know what was out there. Daryl had a bad feeling and they trusted his judgment. They had to be on their guard so they could be ready for anything. A sound in the trees up ahead made everyone stop and lift their guns or knives or whatever they had on them. Suzy instinctively went to grab one of her knives from her belt when she remembered she didn't have them anymore. She felt incomplete without them, less confident, like she was no longer a competent fighter. She only had the knife Daryl gave her when they were fighting their way out of Terminus and a piece of wood she had tied to the back of her right hand. She only wished it was good enough, but nothing could ever replace her father's knives.
"We surrender," Daryl raised his hands in pretend surrender. He came out from behind a tree and saw everyone pointing guns at him. Everyone lowered their weapons once they saw it was only Daryl with Carol trailing behind him then continued on.
"No tracks. No nothing," Suzy heard Daryl say to Rick. Rick turned to tell everyone to stay close when he noticed they weren't moving fast enough. In no time Abraham was talking to Rick about finding a vehicle or two and start heading up north once again. Rick seemed all for it. After all, what else did anyone have to do? Suzy made an "I told you so" look at Rosita as they walked, making Rosita playfully roll her eyes and nudge Suzy's shoulder.
"Keep moving," Rosita giggled. They moved along through the woods for a while, trying to find out where they were going next. Some bantered while others kept to themselves. Suzy didn't notice Daryl turning his head from the front of the pack to glance back at her. She and Rosita were giggling amongst themselves and Rosita gave her a wet rag for her to wipe some of the dry blood off of her stained skin. He thought again about saying something to her. Nah, not in front of everybody. He would be caught dead doing that. There was no opportunity for any privacy now with everyone packed together in the woods. Talking would simply have to wait.
"Help!" A sudden voice in the distance called, "Anybody! Help!"
"The fu-" Suzy whispered under her breath. Who the hell was out here calling for help? Were they dumb or something else? Thanks to Carl's insistence, Rick made the call for everyone to run toward the unfamiliar voice. It was a lone man climbed up on a boulder with a couple of dead ones reaching up for him. He was screaming bloody murder, in tears calling for help. Most of them didn't even have to do anything. Rick, Daryl, and Carol took out the three that were there and that's all there was. Just three. Son of a bitch couldn't take on three? Suzy thought as she looked him up and down once he got back down from the boulder.
"Keep watch," Rick commanded. Some of them took watch around the perimeter while the rest observed this peculiar man.
"You okay?" Rick asked. The man replied by turning around to vomit all up in the grass. Everyone cringed. Rosita and Suzy grimaced as they looked away, fighting the biggest joint eye roll of their lives.
"I'm sorry. Yes, thank you." He said timidly once he gathered himself. Suzy observed him carefully. He clearly had no weapons. He was dressed in a classic priest getup and wouldn't wipe that terrified look off his face. He could barely make eye contact with any of them, especially Suzy with the way her intense gray eyes locked on him, trying to figure him out.
"I'm Gabriel," He said.
"You asking or telling?" Suzy called out. The way he said it, it was like he wasn't even sure. If she didn't know any better, she would've laughed in his face.
"I-" Gabriel hesitated to think of a reply.
"Do you have any weapons on you?" Rick asked, making Gabriel chuckle awkwardly.
"Do I look like I would have any weapons?" He replied.
"We don't give two short and curlies what it looks like," Abraham said.
"I have no weapons of any kind," Gabriel said, "The word of God is the only protection I need."
"Sure didn't look like it," Daryl said. Suzy wasn't sure if it was what Daryl said or Gabriel, but it made her choke on her water when she took a sip. She felt it catch in her chest, making her cough quietly to herself as Rosita patted her back in amusement.
"I called for help, help came." Gabriel smiled an awkward ass smile and wiped it immediately when no one did it back, "Do you have-have any food? Whatever, I-I had left, it just hit the ground."
Carl offered him some pecans and Suzy cringed at the way they were all saying pecans. "Pea-cans" she mumbled under her breath, making Rosita nudge her elbow into Suzy's side.
"Do you have a camp?" Gabriel asked.
"No, do you?" Rick said sternly.
"I have a church-"
"Hold your hands above your head," Rick commanded and Gabriel obliged. Suzy found Rick's following questions more than interesting. She wondered why no one asked her the same. Was it because they thought they knew her so it wasn't necessary? Or did they simply not get to it yet? How would she answer them? As Gabriel led the way to his church, she thought about it. They've all done something. What had she done?
How many walkers have you killed?
Too many to count. Why would I keep track of something like that?
How many people have you killed?
...Five...Wow. It was really five now? She wasn't sure if what she felt in that moment was shame or simple indifference.
Why?
First it was mercy. End their suffering. The last was nothing more than pure vengeance. For kidnapping me. To somehow avenge Danielle's sacrifice. She knew she wouldn't be standing here now if it wasn't for her. She realized she still believes she's perfectly capable of killing out of anger; out of self defense; the want for them to suffer instead of receiving her mercy. What kind of person did this make her now? She didn't know anymore. Rick was right. They've all done something, and she was no better because she would do it again if she had to.
St. Sarah's Church Episcopal. It was smaller than she thought it would be. It was about the size of a small chapel. It was plane white with two wooden brown double doors. There were no windows at the front, only a couple on either side. Suzy remembered her mother at one point being Episcopal when she was young. She had dropped it for a while then decided to try picking it up again when Suzy's dad died. Suzy never desired to pick up the habit.
"Can we take a look around first?" Rick asked before Gabriel could open the door. Gabriel handed him the keys to the door, allowing him and some others to run inside and check the entire interior. Suzy stayed outside with Rosita and the others. Daryl had gone in to search and she didn't want to risk them bumping into each other. She was still flashing back to the embarrassment she felt from earlier that morning. She had no idea how to talk to him anymore.
"Hey-" Abraham nudged her shoulder to get her attention, "Help me take a look around."
Suzy nodded and followed him to take a lap around the perimeter of the building. They moved slowly so they could carefully look through the trees to see if anything was lurking through, alive or dead. Once they made it to the back, Abraham broke the silence.
"Just so you know little one," He said, "Imma do what I can to have your friends come with us to D.C."
"You don't have to," Suzy quietly replied. She almost said they weren't really her friends. She hardly knew some of them and she wasn't on speaking terms with Daryl at the moment. She didn't even get a chance to properly talk to Rick. It was like she was a stranger to them and she had no idea how to go about it.
"You know I do," Abraham said, "The more the better. We need people and they're strong. I think we've all proven that. Besides, I'm willin' to do what it takes to make sure you stay with us. If that means taking them along, then that's what we'll do."
"Thanks, I guess," Suzy shrugged. She had no idea how to take that. Was that some sort of compliment? He wanted her to stick around? She continued, "I thought I annoyed you more than anything."
Abraham chuckled in amusement, "That you do, little one. That you do. All the more reason to keep ya around. You'll keep the journey interestin'."
Suzy felt a smile creep up on her lips. She nudged her elbow into his side, making them both laugh harder. She appreciated the sentiment though she didn't know how to thank him for it. It was nice to feel appreciated by at least one person.
"Ho-ly crap," Abraham paused in his tracks. She was about question it until she saw what surprised him. Right in front of them was a bus. It wasn't a huge one, it was one of those shorter gray ones, probably used for small community transportation. It meant enough space for every single one of them to fit.
"You see what I see?" Abraham said as they both stared at the bus just sitting there in the grass.
"Yeah," Suzy nodded, both their mouths agape.
"Looks like our luck is finally kickin' in," Abraham said. The two immediately looped back around to ask Gabriel about the bus. Abraham did the talking, of course. Luckily, Gabriel shyly said he had no need for it. Not only that, it needed mechanic work, something he had no idea how to do anyway.
"Perfect, then it's ours," Abraham grinned beneath his mustache. Once the group inside decided it was clear, Rick came back to return the keys to Gabriel and let everyone know it was safe to come inside.
"I spent months here without stepping out the front door," Gabriel said, "If you found someone inside-well-it would've been surprising."
"Thanks for this," Carl smiled as he held his baby sister in his arms. Abraham wasted no time telling Rick about the bus. Since Rosita knew mechanics pretty well, he predicted they could get it up and running by tomorrow or the next day.
"You understand what's at stake here, right?" Abraham asked him.
"Yes, I do," Rick replied. Michonne intervened.
"Now that we can take a breath-"
"We take a breath, we slow down, shit inevitably goes down," Abraham interrupted.
"Gee, what happened to 'slow is dead'?" Suzy asked in more of a teasing way than a serious one.
"That was before people tried to kill us," Abraham replied.
"We need supplies no matter what we do next," Michonne insisted. Rick nodded in agreement. They needed water, food, ammunition for their guns. Once Rick said that, everyone started piling into the church one by one.
"Short bus ain't goin' nowhere," Daryl said. Suzy knew he was talking to Abraham and not her so she ducked her head away to step back towards Rosita.
"One way or another, we're doing what Rick does," Glenn said before going inside, "We're not splitting up again."
"What he said," Said Tara before following Glenn inside.
"We wanna roll with you, but-" Said Bob, "What she said."
Abraham pursed his lips in both amusement and frustration. Rosita and Suzy were the only ones left outside with him at this point. In the end, Suzy shook her head and sighed, pulling Rosita along with her.
"Fuck it. Whatever they said too," Said Suzy as she went up the steps with Rosita behind her. That was when Abraham found himself straight up laughing before going inside himself.
"Well shit."
Once everyone was inside, they made a plan on who was to go out and get what supplies they needed. Glenn, Maggie, and Tara decided on ammunition. Rick, Michonne, Bob, Sasha, and (unfortunately) Gabriel went to go to a food bank. That left Daryl and Carol to go out and find water. Suzy thought about volunteering to go on either of these missions, but she kept her mouth shut. There was no way in hell she was going with Daryl right now, not that he would let her anyway. He wouldn't even glance her way now.
Abraham and Rosita went out to the bus to start working on getting it running. Suzy looked out the window on the side to watch them. Everyone who had a task had left. The only ones left to sit around in the church was her, Eugene, Tyreese, and Carl. What if Abraham and Rosita did get that bus running and Rick decided not to go? It was like Glenn said, they go where Rick goes. There would be no more splitting up. Abraham wanted her to stick around. He saw her as part of his group now; a friend, someone he respected. If it came down to it, could she leave Daryl and the others again? She just found them. Was it worth it? Maybe I should go off by myself again. The thought crossed her mind before she could stop it, only because it would be easier than choosing a side.
"Hey-" Carl's voice made her flinch, like he knew what she was thinking and caught her red handed. She turned around to see if it was really her he was trying to catch the attention of. Sure enough, she was. He gestured for her to come to sit next to him in one of the middle pews. He was still holding Judith and had an optimistic smile on his face. She awkwardly came over to sit next to him. He was taller now so he could look her in the at the perfect level. It was crazy how much could change in a short amount of time.
"I know none of us got the chance to say it, but we're happy you're here," He said. His voice was deeper now too. It was like talking to a completely different person versus when she last saw him.
"Not everybody," She replied, awkwardly looking away from him. Was he aware of how Daryl was avoiding her? Did he even know about how Daryl looked for her?
"He'll come around," Carl said, answering the question she didn't even ask out loud yet. So he did know. She guessed it would be hard not to.
"Anyway," Carl continued, "I just thought you should know. With everything that happened, we didn't get a chance to ask where you've been. Some of us thought you were dead. Others thought you fled the state. Daryl lost the trail pretty early on."
"Does it matter where I've been?" Suzy asked as she picked at her fingernails and bobbed her knee up and down. She hunched forward in an attempt to hide herself away.
"Not if you say it doesn't," Carl replied, "I, on the other hand, was curious. So, here we are."
Suzy couldn't hide the smile of amusement she had for a brief second when he said that.
"I've just been-" Suzy realized she couldn't tell the truth. She didn't want him or anyone to know what happened. How she wandered around Georgia slowly dying from starvation and lack of sleep. How she ran into Martinez who saved her life just for her to run away. She had no doubt in her mind he was dead or would end up that way at some point. How she was kidnapped and taken to Mississippi by the Raiders who traded people for lack of bloodshed. What they did to them before trading them off...What she went through to escape to end up back here and almost ended it all. She never even told Abraham and Rosita about any of it. No one needed to know. She just wanted to forget it ever happened.
"I've just been...around," Suzy said. Of course, Carl knew there was something she wasn't saying and he knew not to pry further. He nodded in understanding and decided to drop the subject.
"Remember when we were at the prison?" He said, "When I told you you were one of us?"
"Yeah," Suzy muttered in reply.
"It's still true," He said, "Maybe that's why we kinda avoided the subject of you leaving. It doesn't matter you left because you're back now. As long as you're here to stay, there's nothing to talk about."
Great, now I'm getting a fucking guilt trip from this kid, she gritted her teeth. Yes, he didn't mean it that way but it didn't matter. She didn't deserve his kindness.
"You're a good kid," She said before getting up to get some air outside. It suddenly felt so stuffy being in there. It was so hot and humid and not to mention, awkward. She stood out on the steps with her hands on her hips and took a deep breath through her nose. She decided a lap around the church was a good idea. Moving around would help her clear her head.
"Wait up," Carl's voice sounded behind her once she got down the steps.
"Where's Judith?" Suzy asked.
"Oh, Tyreese said he'd watch her," Carl gestured to the door behind him and went down the steps, "I wanted to take a look around. Is that what you're doing?"
"It is now, I guess." Suzy muttered, "You know, I was trying to be alo-"
"Sounds great," Carl nodded with a friendly grin and patted her shoulder, "Let's go."
Before she could retaliate, she found herself on a walk with this kid around the church. He looked around thoroughly while she did her best to sink into her own skin. It wasn't Carl that was bothering her per say, it was his kindness. He couldn't be more welcoming if he tried. He noticed how out of place she felt now. He was the only one of the group so far to try making her feel part of them again. She wanted that person to be Daryl. He was her friend once. She guessed that bridge burned when she left. That was on her.
"Hey," Carl got her attention once they got to the back of the church, "Do you see this?"
"See what?" She asked. She looked closer at what his hand was touching. All around the windows, there looked to be deep cuts into the wood, like someone was trying to get inside, "Looks like knife carvings."
"Yeah," Carl said. Just then, almost simultaneously, they looped around further back and took notice of something else on one of the wooden panels. Carl touched it, confirming the lettering was also carved with a knife, "Who do you think did this?"
"I don't know," Said Suzy. "You'll burn for this" What did that mean? Who would have it out for Gabriel like that?
"I mean," Carl looked at Suzy then back at the message, "It means something. I don't know if it's a sign he's a bad guy or if it's for him at all, but-"
"He's hiding something," Suzy finished Carl's sentence for him and they nodded to each other in understanding, "You should tell your dad when he gets back."
"I'll try to keep looking around for more first," Carl replied, "What about you?"
As soon as Suzy opened her mouth to respond, she felt something, making her coil back in silence. It wasn't anxiety. For once it had nothing to do with her mind, at least she thought. It was pain; a dull-achy stab into her lower abdomen. She wasn't even sure she felt it since it was gone as quickly as it came.
"You okay?" Carl asked, noticing how her face twitched from trying not to verbally wince.
"Yeah," Suzy nodded though she wasn't even sure that was true, "I think I'll go sit down inside. I think my body just needs a rest after everything."
"Okay," Carl replied.
Suzy immediately circled around to go back inside the church. She felt the pain again when she went up the steps. Just like before, it was gone as quickly as it came like it was never there at all. It wasn't even like it was that painful. She had felt much worse. If she was distracted by something more important, she probably wouldn't have noticed it at all. Her body had been through so much lately. It was probably stress. They only did just escape from a community that planned on slaughtering and eating them. That was enough to put stress on anyone's body. All she needed was some rest for once. It was time she stopped depriving herself of that. She decided to lie down in one of the pews on her back with one hand on her stomach and her forearm crossed over her eyes to shut out any sunlight shining through the windows. She was fine.
There was nothing more to worry about, at least for now.
Suzy didn't wake up until everyone was back in the church. They had found so much food, even wine. They treated it like it was the weekly potluck. Everyone made themselves a plate and poured some wine to douse down their throats. There was laughter, smiles, playful banter throughout. There was vegetables, beans, pasta, chicken, pork, those mashed potatoes you can make from adding water. None of them could remember the last time they ate this good. It was like a family gathering for Thanksgiving dinner.
Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, not everyone was up for a good time. Suzy was quiet, as per usual. Tara kept sitting there with guilt written all over her face every time she looked at Maggie, and Daryl was being his usual quiet and grumpy self. Suzy all but died when he glanced back to see her staring at him while they ate. She thought about saying something, but he looked away and back down at his plate. She guessed now wasn't a good time. It would only ruin the moment for everyone else.
"I'd like to propose a toast," Abraham announced so everyone would sit down, "I look around this room and I see survivors. Each and every one of you has earned that title."
Abraham looked right at Suzy when he said that last part. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes when they locked with his. They smiled at each other, solidifying a mutual respect. He was proud of her. It wasn't something she was quite used to yet, but she would have to learn. He raised his wine glass to her then to everyone else.
"To the survivors!" He cheered and everyone who wanted to followed suit and took a drink.
"Is that all you wanna be?" Abraham asked, "Wake up in the morning, fight the undead pricks, forage for food, go to sleep at night with two eyes open, rinse and repeat? 'Cause you can do that. I mean, you got the strength, you got the skill. Thing is, for you people, for what you can do, that's just surrender. Now, we get Eugene to Washington and he will make the dead die and living will have this world again and that is not a bad takeaway for a little road trip. Eugene, what's in D.C.?"
Suzy couldn't help but take another drink when Eugene started talking. She saw his hesitation before responding and it seemed like drinking was the only way to comprehend anything he said.
"Infrastructure constructed to withstand pandemics even of this fubar magnitude," Eugene said, "That means food, fuel, refuge. Restart."
"However this plays out," Abraham continued, "However long it takes for the reset button to kick in, you can be safe there. Safer than you've been since the whole thing started."
Suzy took another drink. Safety was a hard thing to come by nowadays.
"Come with us," Abraham said directly to Rick, "Save the world for that little one. Save it for yourselves. Save it for the people out there who got nothin' left to do except survive."
Suzy thought about it as she looked over at Daryl again. Who would she be saving the world for? Definitely not herself. It would be more for those she cared about. Who did she care about now? Her friends like Rosita and Abraham? Carl? Maggie? No matter what, Daryl was the main person she could think of. He didn't turn around this time to confirm if he was thinking the same thing.
"We're in," Rick said, breaking her away from her thoughts. Everyone else joined in to say they were also in, soothing a part of Suzy's heart. They were going with them, that meant they weren't splitting up. She didn't have to choose a side. Rosita was right after all.
"Hey," Suzy heard Tara's voice whisper in her ear. Suzy glanced at her in her peripheral vision then back down at the wine in her hands.
"What?" Suzy said, trying not to sound annoyed.
"There's been something I wanted to ask you," Tara said quietly, "What was Brian-I mean-the Governor. What was he like when you knew him?"
Suzy looked at Tara then down at Maggie who was sitting on the floor across from them then back to Tara again. Tara couldn't read the usual deadpan expression Suzy had, but she figured she was quickly figuring out why she was asking such a question in the first place. Suzy pressed her lips together before putting her glass down beside her.
"Can't imagine he was any different from when you knew him," Suzy finally said, "A manipulative-creepy-lying prick who cared about nobody else but himself. If you weren't with him, you were against him."
Tara frowned into her lap like she was greatly ashamed. Suzy decided to continue anyway.
"Yeah, I know you didn't know and all that," Suzy said, "Whatever. It's not like I really knew either until he showed me who he really was. I know you wanna tell Maggie the truth. You're thinking about it. It's in your face every time you're around her. I think it's stupid, but you do whatever you think is right. Anything to make you stop acting like a timid little puppy because good lord knows I can take it anymore."
Tara couldn't help but smile when Suzy said that. Suzy was still trying so hard to keep this wall between them. She understood why from day one.
"Hey," Tara said to get her attention again. As soon as she saw the opportunity, she threw her arms around her into a tight hug. Suzy didn't hug back. She clenched her fists as tightly as she could and felt every muscle in her being tense from how uncomfortable this interaction was.
"If you don't let me go right now, you won't like what happens to you," Suzy said, making Tara release the hug and giggle awkwardly.
"Thank you," Tara said, giving her a nod of respect. She then grabbed one of Suzy's wrists since her hands were still balled up into tight fists and touched Suzy's knuckles with her own in an awkward fist bump. Suzy cringed from the effort Tara was putting in. Tara then quickly went over to talk to Maggie, leaving Suzy to take another big gulp of wine.
Once she swallowed, she looked around and noticed someone was missing. Carol was gone. She didn't see her leave. Daryl seemed to notice as well, considering how fast he was putting on his jacket and throwing his crossbow over his shoulder. As soon as he started walking towards the door, Suzy put her glass down again, picked up one of the guns, and followed him.
"Daryl-" Suzy said as she caught the door in her hand. He had walked out and was going to let the door shut, not realizing she was behind him. He acted like he didn't hear her and kept walking. She quietly shut the door behind her and ran down the steps to catch up to him. It was dark at this point. It wasn't safe to be going off alone. They didn't know what was out there.
"Daryl, wait-" Suzy called out again. Her hand almost reached his shoulder to stop him, but he turned around and smacked her hand away.
"Don't follow me!" He said sternly with that raspy voice of his. Suzy stopped in her tracks, completely stunned by the way he just spoke to her. He kept going until she could no longer see him in the darkness. Suzy grunted to herself and kicked the nearest object she could find. It was a fallen tree branch in a pile of leaves. She kicked it across the church lawn until it hit the nearest tree. She strutted angrily back to the front door to go back inside and act like she didn't see anything.
A sudden twig snap made Suzy sharply turn around to see what made the noise. She looked around, but it was impossible to see from how dark it was. The moonlight didn't add much.
"Daryl?" She called out, "Carol?"
There was no response. The silence gave Suzy a terrible feeling in her gut. She remembered when Daryl said he thought something or someone was following them. He couldn't stop thinking about it. He looked everywhere in their vicinity and didn't find anything. Was he right or was it them just being paranoid after what they've endured up to now? She had to be sure. She put the gun's scope up to her eye and looked around the trees with the night vision. She scanned around the entire front of the church. There was no sign of anything there, not even a walker. It had to be an animal. If it were a person, alive or dead, she should've been able to see it. Besides, Daryl could take care of himself. He didn't want her out here. Suzy sighed and went back inside to get her mind of anything to do with Daryl Dixon. He wasn't her friend anymore. He was nothing but a fellow survivor in their group of survivors and that was all.
"Hey you," Rosita greeted her with a smile once she put the gun down, "Come on, let's try to have a good night for once."
Rosita grabbed Suzy's hand to bring her back over to the pews so they could sit down and drink together. Rosita teased her about how she's always so uptight and needed to let loose for once. They drank together, helping Suzy feel a little more relaxed. She couldn't remember the last time she had any alcohol. Her tolerance was down to zero, only a couple of glasses of wine made her mind a foggy mess. It was the first time in what felt like a hundred years where she felt semi-normal again. Despite the drinks and laughs she shared with Rosita, she still caught herself glancing back at the front doors of the church. Was she waiting for Daryl to come back? Or was it something else? Was something really out there like he said? It didn't matter either way. She had to learn how to accept none of it was her problem. It was like she said to herself before.
Daryl was her friend no more.
