Broken Bars

The Decaying Ceiling

Six Months Later

~

"Did we run out of shampoo?"

I looked up from the floor as Josie's head popped around the corner of my room. It was my fault for not covering the door with the curtain. Usually, nobody bothered me at this time of day. The afternoon was my time to work out, preferably in peace.

"There was some in the bottle when I last used it," I answered her, scowling. If she didn't use so much shampoo when she washed her hair, we wouldn't be having this problem.

Josie threw her hands on her hips. Her hair was loose, reaching just past her shoulders in thick, reddish waves that glinted like gold in the waning sunlight. "Well, someone used it, and it wasn't me."

Her stance was so outwardly adult that I had to blink and look again. The puppy fat of her childhood was melting away before my eyes, revealing a growing young girl. She was getting tall. Where had my tiny little sister gone?

"Go ask Carol or Sophia if you can borrow theirs then, and stop bugging me," I threw a jumper at her head. She dodged it, sticking out her tongue before disappearing to annoy somebody else.

I tried getting back into my sit-ups, but it was useless. My concentration was gone.

I left the cell and strode downstairs, passing several people in the cell block. They greeted me as I went by.

"Hey Liz!" One girl, Hannah, called out. "You going on that supply run today?"

"Not this one," I answered. "I trust Merle and Daryl to handle this one."

The brothers were in charge of most supply runs, when they weren't hunting for food. Merle had went from a group pariah to an integral part of the reason we hadn't starved to death. It was difficult, feeding a population of almost fifty people.

I couldn't recall how the prison had become so full. One minute it was just us, and then Woodbury had joined. Now? We weren't separate groups. We were a mockery of a town, a growing proof that the human race would not die out without a fight.

Some nights I wished the group was smaller. Josie might have been an annoying bunk mate, but at least she didn't snore.

There were more people milling around outside. Some were doing chores, whilst others were making use of their free time. Yes, I said it. Free time. I had actually been able to finish a whole book without worrying over walkers jumping out of nowhere.

In the yard, a dining area had been set up. Tyreese and Merle had put a lot of work into handling the construction.

I walked to the woman behind the counter. Her grey hair had grown out, still and spiky, but her smile never failed to make me feel better.

"You hungry?" Carol asked, waving a slab of deer meat in my face. Beside Carol was a young girl with long strawberry blonde hair tied in a side plait. Her daughter, Sophia.

I took the meat from her tongs and shoved it into my mouth in one bite. Sophia made a face. "What? I skipped breakfast."

Carol poked me in the side. "Explains why you're so skinny. Need to keep your strength up if you want to be able to handle that bow of yours."

I frowned. I wasn't that skinny. My arms were still muscular, my thighs still jiggled when I walked. And I had a 'perfectly fine ass' as Merle liked to joke.

Okay. Maybe the ass comment didn't count. Merle said that about a lot of women.

"How you doing, kid?" I flicked Sophia's plait from her shoulder.