Keep The Faith ▹ TWD

 six.

PART ONE.
six, TS-19.

FAITH PARKER NEVER DID have a sensitive stomach, but the sight and stench of rotting corpses was enough to make her want to choke. It was a terrible sight that welcomed the group when they finally arrived in Atlanta, at the CDC. They formed a tight knit group as they traveled towards the large building, and Faith remained close to Shane's side. She pulled the material of her shirt over her nose, as many others did, to prevent from gagging from the stench that grew worse as they got closer to the building. Shane and Rick shushed the large group constantly, but sweet relief was so close when they finally reached the building. Maybe God really did hear Faith's prayers.

But the doors never opened.

Faith was so sure that something good had finally happened, and like that, her heart shattered. She wanted something good to happen, she wanted it so badly, so desperately. Daryl shouted about walkers, and everyone began to freak out, began to worry for their lives once again. Other adults argued with Rick, and as they argued, Faith slowly walked to the doors. She placed her palms flat on the cool metal and laid her forehead against the door- she fought to take in a steady breath as her emotions threatened to drag her down.

"If you're there, we're begging you. I'm begging you," she whispered, her voice just hardly audible over the argument that took place behind her. "We need help, please. I'm just like you, I'm a doctor and I want what's best for those I love too, please."

Shane gripped her upper arm, his fingers curled around her bicep and began to tug her away from the doors, away from the place that was supposed to be a safe haven for them. She allowed him to drag her away, and silent tears began to flood her eyes, and disappointment filled her heart.

This wasn't fair!

"The camera-" Rick stopped, and Faith turned to face him. All she wanted was a piece of hope, and she fought against Shane as she paused to follow Rick's attention to the little, white camera on the wall above the doors. "It moved. It moved!"

Rick rushed forward and pounded his fists against the metal. Shane let go of Faith's bicep, and argued with his best friend, fought against him. He was desperate, and as was everyone else, but they seemed to have accepted that the CDC was not the safe haven they had thought it was. Faith felt her heart shatter a bit more as Rick was dragged back, but it took less than a moment for a bright, white light had flooded their vision, blinding them temporarily. Everyone froze for a second.

Maybe it was stupid of her, but she took the first step forward beside Rick. After that, they entered as a group; Daryl covered the back of the group as Shane and Rick covered the front. Rick called out, and a weak voice answered back in echos, and ordered for the doors to be shut.

Their heads snapped when a gun cocked, and everyone who held a weapon, raised their guns toward the strange man that approached them. He held a semi-automatic fire arm at the group- he had the power to them all in seconds without a second thought. It was something that truly terrified Faith.