What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

27 • Silver bullet

"Walker," Andrea called, from her place on top of the RV. "Walker!"
"Just the one?" Rick asked, having heard the alert of danger.
"Two," Andrea corrected, looking through her binoculars at the two walkers who had just emerged from the forest. "I bet I can nail them from here."

The woman said excitedly, trading her binoculars for a rifle.
"No no, Andrea," Rick said sternly as he watched the men grab at any weapons they could find. "Put the gun down."
Andrea scoffed, looking down at the group as they got ready to attack.

"You'd best let us handle this," Shane advised, snatching a pickax off the ground.
"Shane, hold up," Rick called to his friend. "Hershel wants to deal with walkers."
"What for man? We got it covered." The man retorted as he, T-dog, and Glenn started to run across the field.

"Dammit," Rick muttered, running inside the camper and back out with his gun. He took off after the group at a sprint, easily catching up with them. Rick ran in front aiming his gun high at the closest walker. But everyone stopped as they recognized the two 'walkers'.

Alexa and Daryl. Both covered in blood, sweat, and dirt. It was hard to tell if they were alive or not, they just looked so... unalive.

"That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head," Daryl grunted, his voice raspy. "You gonna pull the trigger or what?" He quizzed grouchily. Alexa watched from behind the man, her eyes wandering over the shocked and relieved expressions of the group.

Alexa almost smiled, she knew that just behind this group was her baby brother. But before she could think about anything else her already buzzing ears were filled with the loud bang of a gunshot. The last thing she heard was the distant sound of her name being called and the face of Daryl Dixon appearing above her before she passed out.

"Alexa!" Daryl yelled as he ran over to the girl's body. "Alexa!" He yelled again, shaking her shoulders as he tried to wake her. Luckily the bullet only grazed her, but she had already passed out a few too many times today, and Daryl was not ready to give up on the girl that helped save his life.

The whole group was screaming 'no' or cursing strings of profanity as Rick rushed up to the pair, pushing away Daryl as he lifted the girl's unconscious body.
"I was kidding." He grumbled as Shane came over to help him stand.

"Oh my God," Andrea yelled as she and Dale came sprinting over. "Oh my God, is she dead?"
Daryl huffed as he didn't see why Andrea would care. He knew she never liked Alexa after the whole argument over guns, so he didn't know why she cared about the girl now.

"Yeah, no thanks to you," Daryl grumbled.
"You just grazed her," Rick answered.
"But look at them." Glenn panicked, pointing to the unconscious girl's neck. "What the hell happened? Look at their... wearing ears."

"Let's keep that to ourselves," Rick said, gesturing for Shane to take off both necklaces, which he did.
"Guy's," T-dog suddenly spoke, getting everyone's attention. "Isn't this Sophia's?" He asked, holding up the doll the duo retrieved.

Everyone was stunned silent for a moment, just glancing at the doll in T-dog's hand. Everybody glanced at the unconscious Alexa and the half-conscious Daryl and based on appearances they all got their answer.
Rick nodded, as he adjusted Alexa in his arms.
"Let's get them inside." He said simply as he started moving toward Hershel's house.

Daryl grunted as they continued to walk. He noticed Alexa's little brother standing with the rest of the group.
"Chase..." He mumbled, looking over to Shane. Shane nodded, knowing what Daryl was referring to. No little kid should have to see their sibling like that. Especially not Chase.

"Get Chase back!" Shane called at Lori and Carol. "Get him inside!"

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