The Purification (From the Ashes We Will Rise: Book One)

Chapter 4

 The next morning, I was still awake and decided to help Dale and T-Dog set up the awning for the RV. Andre was off with Carl and Lori feeding the chickens. Glenn rounded the corner with a basket full or fruit and jerky. He tossed me a bag of jerky to me and I couldn't be happier about it. He was acting weird though, weirder than usual.

"What's up?" I asked and he looked at me with wide eyes.

"Nothing's up. Why?" He asked.

Dale walked up and exchanged glances with T-Dog and I while Glenn walked away with the food. I went and found Lincoln and Carl, sharing some of the jerky with the young boys. It was really nice to see that the two boys were getting along so well, all things considered.

What I learned after getting here was that Carol had a daughter named Sofia. She had gone missing when they were traveling from their last camp. Rick has been doing everything in his power to try and find this little girl and it was clear to me that others wanted to give up.

My only thought when I was told this was, if it were Lincoln, I would never stop looking. Though he isn't mine biologically, I've stepped up. He is my son. Rick had a few of us grouped up to start searching for Sophia.

"The creek flows south, past that farmhouse that Daryl found. Maybe Sophia dropped the doll their and the current brought it downstream," Rick suggested.

"So what, you think she took this road here and then she went north?" Shane asked skeptically.

"Yeah, what's up that way?" Rick asked Jimmy, Herschel's daughter Beth's boyfriend.

"A housing development," he responded. "It went in maybe 10 years ago."

"Take a run up there after gun practice," Rick instructed. "I'll hold down the fort here, but take back up. After what went down with Daryl, I don't want anyone going out alone. We stay in pairs. I'll take suggestions on a partner. See how the do on the range, then take your pick."

Glenn walked over the the group with his bucket of fruit. He was still acting really weird, looking over his shoulder and all around him, as Shane and Rick both took a peach.

Shane was looking at Glenn before stating, "my binoculars."

"Oh yeah," Glenn breathed. "Okay bye."

"We'd like to join you for gun training today," Beth announced.

"Herschel's been very clear," Rick spoke. "I can't involve any of you in what we do without his okay."

"Hey doesn't like it, but he consented," Beth confirmed.

Shane grab his group of people, including both Lincoln and Carl, and took them out to the shooting rage so they can learn. Though I don't like the thought of him handling a gun, he needs to know how. I can't always be there to protect him. Rick said Shane was the best instructor he knew and the he's seen the man teach kids younger than both the boys. I'm taking his word on it, so my kid better come home in one piece.

"You coming?" Shane called out to Glenn.

"Uh, no. I've gotta help Dale clean the spark plugs on the RV. He said he'd teach me mechanics. I should probably go look for him," Glenn rambled.

There was definitely something going on with him, but he won't talk. I know my brother and he can't lie, so I guess he's just not talking.

"You found me," Dale responded, causing Glenn's head to snap back. "He's a good learner."

I stood next to my brother as we watched everyone head out. My only condition for Lincoln going with was if Tuck did too. There was no one aside from Glenn that I would trust more to protect my kid than that dog.

"Spark plugs, huh?" Dale inquired. "Wanna tell me what's going on?"

"Ditto," I budded in. "You've been acting very weird today."

"You're old uh—you're—you know things," Glenn started. "So...what if somebody told you something that everybody else should know—"

"Glenn, stop being dramatic and spit it out," I interrupted.

"There's-there's walkers in the barn and Lori's pregnant," Glenn blurted.

Honestly, that was the last thing I was expecting him to say. I thought he was just nervous because he slept with Maggie or something like that, but walkers in the barn? A baby? I was not expecting that. Neither was Dale from the look on his face upon hearing the news.

"Well, uh, boys it's probably best to keep this to yourselves. I'll take care of this," Dale instructed before walking away.

"What the hell Glenn?" I questioned once Dale was gone. "Why wouldn't you tell me? For one I'm your brother, secondly, I have Lincoln now. It isn't just about me anymore!"

"I'm sorry okay! I only found out about the walkers last night! I'm sorry Li," Glenn shouted.

I sighed and pulled my brother in for a hug. "It's okay. We just don't need to keep secrets from each other. Especially now."

Shane came back with the girls and the kids and Andre was so excited. He told me all about how Shane taught him the proper stance, and all about the safety, even how to load the gun. As Shane walked past I gave him a nod, and he returned the gesture. Not that I'm happy Linc needs to know how to use a gun, but I'm happy that he's not scared of them. It's a vital tool for survival these days.

Once again, day turned to night and I couldn't sleep. I twisted and turned inside the tent but nothing worked. I opened the book that I borrowed from Dale and used the headlamp that I found and began to read. A plant guide wasn't the most interesting book of all time, but it was enough to keep me occupied before I was finally able to sleep.