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

Chapter 25

 "Even if we find a place and think it's safe, we can never be sure," Maggie sighed. "Look what happened with the farm. We fooled ourselves into thinking that was safe."

"We won't make that mistake again," Hershel sighed.

"We'll make camp tonight and then get on the road at the break of day," Rick commanded.

"Does this feel right to you?" Carol asked Daryl.

"What if walkers come through or another group like Randall's?" Beth asked timidly.

"You know Glenn and I found Randall, right?" I asked. "He had turned, but he wasn't bit."

"How's that possible?" Beth inquired.

"Rick, what the hell happened?" Lori asked softly.

"Shane killed Randall," I spoke lowly. "Just like he wanted to in the first place."

"And then the herd got him?" Lori pushed.

"We're all infected," Rick rasped, tears in his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I laughed. That's absolutely ridiculous.

"Dr. Jenner told me before we left the CDC," Rick sighed. "Whatever it is, we all carry it."

"And you never said anything?" Carol asked, evidently hurt. I don't blame her for a second. He betrayed them all by not telling them.

"Would it have made a difference?" Rick asked honestly.

"You knew this whole time?" Daryl asked, his voice cracking at the end.

"You saw how crazy that mother—"

"That wasn't your call!" Glenn interrupted. "Okay, when I found out about the walkers in the barn, I told for the good of everyone."

"Well, I thought it best that people didn't know," Rick argued. After a moment, he walked off, and not long after, Lori followed him. I can't imagine how she must be feeling. Rick didn't even tell his wife about this. I don't understand how he could keep this to himself. When we all die, we'll turn no matter what. It doesn't matter if we're bitten. Everyone will eventually become a walker.

Rick was gone for hours, and at that point, I was surprised no one had left. A few people were thinking about it, but everyone was still there. I care about everyone in our group, but Lincoln and I will go wherever Glenn does. I will never, ever be separated from my brother again. I don't think I could take it. Night was here, and the fire was burning hot, but no one could sleep. Even Lincoln and Carl were still up.

"I think we should take our chances," Maggie began.

"Don't be foolish," Hershel sighed. "There's no food, no fuel, and no ammo."

"I'm with you," I told Glenn, clasping his shoulder. "Where you go, I go. That simple."

That's when noises began coming from the woods. Glenn was up on his feet with everyone else. I would have been right beside him, but Lincoln finally managed to fall asleep, and I wasn't about to wake him up. Life is nothing but hardship now. I won't take the relief that sleeps brings all of us, even if it's brief.

"It could be anything," Daryl sighed. "A possum, a raccoon."

"A walker," I mumbled.

"We need to leave," Carol spoke in a panicked tone. "What are we waiting for?"

"Which way?" Glenn asked, feeding off the panic.

"It came from over there," Maggie added.

"Back from where we came," Beth agreed, and Maggie nodded.

"The last thing we need is for everyone to be running off in the dark," Rick sighed. "We don't have the vehicles. No one's traveling on foot."

"Don't panic," Hershel spoke calmly as another branch snapped.

"I'm not," Maggie asserted. "I'm not sitting here, waiting for another herd to blow through. We need to move. Now."

"No one is going anywhere," Rick ordered firmly.

"Do something!" Carol hissed at him.

"I am doing something!" Rick whisper-shouted. "I'm keeping this group together, alive. I've been doing that all along, no matter what! I didn't ask for this! For Christ's sake, I killed my best friend for you people!" 

Everyone's metaphorical jaws dropped to the floor. But, in reality, it was like everyone froze, like this moment in time would last forever. 

"You saw what he was like," Rick sighed. "How he pushed me, how he compromised us, how he threatened us. He staged the whole Randall thing and led me out to put a bullet in my back. He gave me no choice. He was my friend, but he came after me. My hands are clean...maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead. I say there's a place for us, but maybe, just maybe, it's another pipe dream. Maybe I'm fooling myself again. Why don't you go and find out yourself? Please send me a postcard. Go on...there's the door. You can do better? Let's see how far you get." Everyone stayed silent. Dead silent. "No takers? Fine. But let's get one thing straight—if you're staying, this isn't a democracy anymore."

Oh shit. What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?