Dark Meat [Walking Dead]

Chapter Four

-- I felt so stupid writing this chapter because I remembered American's drive on the opposite side of the road to Australian's -face palm- and that not many people are reading this :( ah well. I like writing it anyway XD --

As the Ute speeds along the highway and I look through the back window, past the large motorycle tied to the bed, realising that the sun is beginning to set once more. The bobbing and frothing heads of the Walker horde behind us fades into simple blurs as we make our departure.

I'm still breathing heavily by the time we pass a sign that tell us Atlanta's no more than twenty-five kilometres up the road. Beside me, the large duffel bag jingles loudly from all the supplies, which ultimately becomes the only noise aside from the humming of the engine. I bring my own pack onto my lap and hug it tightly. My once clean, yellow shirt is now wet and dyed a sickly burgundy colour, and I'm sure my face isn't too much better.

It's sticky and smells putrid, but I have nothing to wipe it off with, since my hands are hardly clean either. Tucking the screwdriver into a small loop of fabric on my pack, Small tears dribble down my face and I try to stop them. I then look to the front and at the road. Once we get out of the car, maybe I'll find some rags or something and wipe my face. I want to get this tainted blood on as little as possible.

Through the rearview mirror, I know both Dixon brothers are stealing glances at me. I must look an awful mess with all the blood, dirt and tears mixed in with my puffy red face.

Up ahead, and when the Walker blood seems to have finally lost its warm, sticky texture, I see the tops of tall high-rise buildings and a long line of cars, at least three wide, stretching up and around the bend. The light has faded to a dull glow spreading from the west, which is behind us, and snakes up through the road. Long shadows are cast by the cars, trees and frightened people walking around their vehicles.

Merle stops the car quickly, just behind a large jeep and sits higher in his seat, as if hoping to see further down the road. Wordlessly he leaves the car, with Daryl not far behind. I, not keen on being left alone, jump out also and step behind Daryl.

"I'm gonna scou' ahead, s'if I c'n find ou' what's goin' on." He says evenly with a thick southern accent. Without waiting for a reply from either of us, Merle stuffs his hand gun in to the belt of his pants, covers it with his shirt and trots up through the cars and rudely pushes people out of his way.

I sigh deeply and bow my head. Already we've attracted unwanted attention from the civilians around us who are also headed for Atlanta. Daryl too, has splatterings of blood on his face and clothes, as well as a hard look in his eyes. Yet to some I would seem worse off. I am coated in it, rather than having splatterings, and some of it is still wet.

-Lori-

Shane's currently trying to get a signal on the car radio, to no luck so far. I look over at all the frightened and anxious, but when I see two completely detatched from the situation, I cannot help but stare,

The first is man, probably in his late twenties, with light brown hair and blue eyes. Blood, darker than any normally shade dapples his already dirty face and ripped clothes. In one hand he's holding an impressive, and loaded, crossbow while using the other to lean against the bonnet of his Ute. The expression on his face is a mixture of boredom over the situation, and concern for the other person with him.

She's a small girl, with long, pale blonde hair and large indigo eyes. The girl looks to be maybe twelve years of age and not very strong. My jaw nearly drops and I gawk at her blood soaked face, hair and clothes. She doesn't seem as bothered by it all as I would be by all that gore. Without batting an eyelash, she stares up at the man as he begins talking.