What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

5 • Into the night

Stealthily Alexa snuck down the steps of the camper, careful not to wake the others. The girl, whom she learned was named Andrea, still sat cradling the body of her dead sister. She only spared Alexa a glance as she passed. Her eyes were red and puffy and Alexa debated stopping to say something, but she opted out, trying to focus on her next mission. Retrieving her brother.

The girl began to walk between the scattered tents and folding chairs, navigating her way through the pitch black before she slipped into the woods. Luckily the owner of the RV, Dale, had let her borrow a map, and quickly scanning over it she memorized the way to her house. And from her house back to the quarry camp. If she decided to return that was.

The night was silent, with the occasional chirp of crickets and the leaves and twigs that crunched under the girl's feet. Her clothes were still stained with blood, but she didn't care. The girl just yearned to get to her brother. She had left him for too long and she couldn't wait until morning to go get him. She just couldn't.

Her feet carried her at a light jog, the leaves that blanketed the ground cracking beneath her. She Stopped to dig out her flashlight, but then she heard someone approaching at a distance. Alexa knew it wasn't a walker because their footsteps would drag, but whoever was following her stopped when she stopped.

She curiously looked around, but it was so dark that she could barely see anything. Her hand finally snatched up her light and she quickly shined it into the trees. "Come out. I know you're following me." Alexa's voice carried out into the air and further into the trees. A small rustling noise was followed by the snap of a twig, and the figure of a man appeared from behind a tree.

He shielded his eyes from the bright light as he approached the girl, her heart slowed as she recognized him.
"Go back to camp." Alexa directed before she continued her way into the woods. She knew the man was still following her. She could still hear his heavy footsteps behind, she sighed and turned around, "what do you want?"

"Why are you out here alone?" Daryl responded.
"Why are you?" Alexa shot back. The girl was beginning to get pissed. Why didn't the universe not want her to get back to her brother? Why did people keep getting in her way? Why did she have to willingly follow this group?

"Why do you not wanna be followed, you hidin' somethin'?" Daryl questioned, adjusting his crossbow on his back. Alexa rolled her eyes, she didn't feel like dealing with this man right now. Not when she had to get back to her brother. So instead of responding, she turned on her heel and continued her way through the timbers.

Alexa kept her pace at a light jog, keeping an eye out for flesh eaters and straining her ears to listen to the man that was still lurking behind her. She wanted to get home quickly, she knew she was gonna have to talk with her brother about whether she was going to stay with him or take him to the quarry camp. After all, Rick did say she and her brother could stay.

Thoughts ran through the girl's mind. She knew they didn't have much food left where they were. She knew it wasn't going to be safe for much longer. And by the looks of it, the group she had just met seemed to be better off anyways. Maybe this group could protect Chase and Alexa... keep them safe. And maybe Alexa could protect them as well.

But somehow, in the midst of all Alexa's thoughts, her mind continued to replay what Merle had said to her. "Nah. My baby brother might, but ain't the rest of 'em. Left me here to rot." The words stung The back of her mind. Could this group be the group he was referring to? And if so, who was his baby brother?

The utmost craziest thought suddenly occurred to Alexa. She turned her head as she continue to walk, spying the redneck that was lagging behind her. Could he possibly be Merle Dixon's little brother? Alexa didn't know. They didn't look related, but they both had a fighting spirit. And they were both definitely rednecks.