Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

14

Kit wasn't sure how she got here or when as she lay between Shane and carols graves, dales on the far side. She hadn't moved or talked, only cried, living in her head full of memories. She didn't listen when the others tried to talk to her and shrugged them off when they tried to move her. she couldn't bring herself to care for her surroundings. Consumed with regret, she wished she had just gone with him when he asked to leave. If she had, maybe he would still be alive. It was evening when she finally sat up, her head in her hands, just staring at his grave. The concept of time and the chill on her skin were nonexistent. She didn't even react as arms wrapped around her, a body encasing itself around her curled frame. The boots are what set her off. she knew it was rick; her emotions snapped like a worn rubber band, ugly uncontrollable sobs racking her body as his arms tightened around her like a vice. He waited till she was only left with sniffles before he wordlessly pulled her up, taking her back to the house; all their belongings had already moved indoors with winter coming. He sat her in a chair, her bag and shanes next to her. he gave maggie a small thank you as she handed kit a glass of water. The small sips she took stung her dry, sore throat from hours of crying and screaming, her eyes begging to stay shut. She barely acknowledged rick as he informed her that he, Glenn, and Daryl were going to do a perimeter check. She wordlessly nodded before reaching for one of shanes button-up shirts slipping it on, then grabbed his black coat, burying her face in the fur lining; it still smelled like him. "here, kit," Lori whispered. Kit lifted her head to look at the woman seeing her gun in her hands. Kit swallowed the thick lump forming as she slowly took it, putting it in the holster; she tried her best not to think of the last time she used it as it would only bring more tears she didn't have.

she looked at Daryl and Glenn as they came back in "rick ain't back yet?" Daryl asked, his eyes doing a once over of kit "no."

"We heard a shot."

"maybe he found a walker."

"So did we. but the thing is it was fresh and wasn't even bit." Glenn said slowly; kit furrowed her eyebrows

"he was stabbed," Daryl answered her silent question,

"so he fought back whoever killed him." Patricia guessed as Lori stepped up to Daryl

"would you please get back out there, find rick and find out what on earth is going on?" she pleaded

"you got it," he said, subtly checking kit before slipping back outside. Kit stood slipping on Shane's coat as she walked out, stopping behind Glenn and Daryl. In the distance was a vast horde headed straight for the house. kit sighed as more footsteps approached from behind

"Patricia kill the lights," Hershel whispered

"I'll get the guns," Andrea said, walking back in

"Maybe they're just passing like the herd on the highway. should we just go inside" Glenn asked

"no. that would have worked if they didn't know we were already here." kit croaked, her throat still worn.

"carl's gone. He was upstairs. I can't find him anymore." Lori came out in a screeching panic.

"Maybe he's hiding," Patricia offered

"he's supposed to be upstairs. I'm not leaving without my boy" "we're not," Patricia says, pulling Lori away

kit looked over to Daryl "we find rick. We'll find carl." she sighed, annoyed. She was so done; the past 24 hours had her emotionally spent. The three most important people in her life were MIA, one dead, two missing and now a horde. She was just done. Andrea ran back out with the guns and kits, bow and quiver, and a few new arrows inside handmade with red feathers. she didn't have time to question it now as she put it on and clicked the safety off on her gun. "its no use," Daryl told them