Apocalypse Now

Chapter 16: Encounter

Things are starting to get good....a little bit tense too. So bare with me.
As always....Enjoy!!!!!

Next morning we stood around the dining table looking over a map of the area. Rick, Maggie, Hershel and Daryl all spoke up pointing out various locations on the map, as they knew the area better than the rest of us. But where was safe? Going house to house can't be a good plan.

“We should head east” T-dog said only to be cut off by Rick. He had a short fuse today.

“We need to find somewhere to fortify, especially with winter on the way” he said concentrating on the map.

“So what's the next move? This house will only be safe until a herd rolls through.” Rick looked over at me looking pissed off, obviously me having an opinion at the moment wasn't going over well with our leader. I sighed knowing several others from the group were thinking the same thing. In my head I was rattling off places to consider. We weren't safe here. Plain and simple.

Rick finally made a decision, “Daryl, Glenn and Maggie will go clear out the last house for supplies, the rest of us will pack up and be ready to leave when they get back. T-dog you will be on watch, keep track of everyone coming and going.” Everyone nodded at their orders and went on their way.

Rick stopped me, grabbing my arm and pulling me aside away from the others.

“If you're going to stay part of the group, you're going to have to follow my lead, not question everything I say” he spat angrily at me. I was a little taken back by his attitude with me, he almost had a hint of Shane in his voice, it scared me a little.

“I wasn't trying to question your leadership, it was a simple fact. This house isn't safe”

“Don't you think I know that” he said angrily.

“If me having an opinion is a problem, I'll leave!” I huffed.

“Rick?!” Lori angrily said, startling both of us. He glared at her, then stormed off. She looked and me and sighed.

“I'm sorry about Rick, he's very stressed. Don't leave, you're part of the group” she said squeezing my hand.

We packed everything into the vehicles. I stayed out of Rick's way and didn't even look his way. I could still feel the tension from earlier. Killing Shane had hardened him in ways that made me question his leadership abilities. I definitely wasn't going to be riding with him.

Thankfully soon the others returned, with few boxes and loaded them into the vehicles.

“Let's move” Rick barked to the group. He glared my way again and my eyes dropped to the ground.

“C'mon yer' riding with me” a familiar voice said from beside me. “What'd Rick say to ya earlier?” he asked as we walked over to his bike. I could feel his gaze on me as I hesitated to answer.

“He was pissed because I had an opinion, probably didn't help when he yelled, I yelled back. I ain't nobody's bitch! So its best if we stay out of each others way” I sighed angrily. Daryl stayed silent as he got on to the bike, locking his crossbow in place. I slung my bow over my shoulder and climbed on behind Daryl and loosely put my hands on his waist. He didn't stiffen this time. The bike coming to life with a roar.

We had been riding for about two hours, after slowly making our way through a pile of vehicles, which had slowed us down quite a bit. The bike was easy to maneuver through the maze, where as the others were harder.