Scars

05 Deer

While we were scavenging the cars, Rick and Daryl were out trying to find Sophia. Daryl was a better tracker than me, he'd be more likely to find something. Dale said that the RV needed a new radiator hose. We started to try and steer the abandoned cars out of the way, so we would be able to get the RV through. The group decided that we could try Fort Bennington. It was gonna be a long journey, but we'd try our best.

When Rick and Daryl came back, they didn't find anything, besides some footprints. "We can go out and look for her more tomorrow. Everybody needs to rest for now." Carol started crying again. "You can't just leave my baby out there. She's twelve. She doesn't know what to do out there." Rick sighed. "We will find your daughter, I promise. But we shouldn't be out there at night." Everybody walked off to our vehicles to find a place to sleep. I got ready to sleep in the truck bed again. Dale decided he was gonna sit on top of the RV and keep watch for Sophia or any more walkers. 

Carl crept up behind me and tried to scare me. "Boo!" I just smiled at him. "Aww come on. How did I not get you?" I ruffled his hair. "I just have good hearing, buddy." He swatted my hand away and his face got a little sadder. "Mom said I had to sleep with her in the RV tonight." I pressed my lips in a line. "Would it make you feel better if I took watch on top of the RV tonight?" He nodded his head. I hopped out of the truck bed and walked with him over to the RV. "Night, buddy. Sweet dreams." I kissed his forehead and he hugged my waist. "I love you." I smiled slightly. "Love you too, munchkin." He giggled and walked into the RV. 

I climbed up the ladder that leads to the roof. "Hey, kid." 

"Ya know I'm not a kid, Dale. I'm 24." I smiled.

"Anyone who is younger than me is a kid in my eyes." He looked out towards the woods.

"You think we're gonna find Sophia?" 

He sighed."I don't know. She could have protected herself. Hid. I can only hope she's okay."

I sat in the chair next to him. "You mind if I keep watch tonight?" He shook his head.

" I should probably get some rest anyway. Night, kid." He climbed down the ladder.

I pulled out my pack of smokes and lit one. It was so dark out, I could only listen to see if there was danger. Or Sophia. I looked up at the stars. I could see Orion and the little dipper I think. 

Everything was mostly quiet through the night. I got to watch the sunrise, which was pretty cool. I've never watched it like that. Daryl climbed up the ladder. "You been up here all night?" He sat down in the chair next to me and watched the sun come up too. I nodded. "I don't know if I would have been able to sleep anyway. With what happened to Sophia." Neither of us said anything for a few minutes after that.

"I'm gonna go with you guys when you go lookin for Sophia." He opened his mouth to protest but I shushed him. "I'm the one that lost track of her out there. I need to be there today." He put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "This was not your fault. Okay? She got scared and ran. You're doing the most you can. Don't beat yourself up."

"I know. I just...." A single tear slid down my cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb.

He cradled my face in his hands. "Hey, hey. I'm here. Okay? It's all gonna work out. I promise." He can't say something like that. He doesn't know that. He doesn't even look like he believes it. I pulled his hands down and stood up. "I'm gonna go scavenge through the cars." He said something else, but I wasn't listening. As I walked down past the RV, Dale came up to me. "You done bein on watch, kid?" I nodded and kept walking.