Daryl's Girl

Chapter 7

I was surprised Rick had actually let me borrow one of the knives as we headed deeper into the woods. At the end of the day, I was still a stranger to this group, but I think even he knew I needed something to protect myself with. He wouldn't let me take Tyler's gun and considering he wouldn't let his own people carry, he certainly wasn't gonna allow me. I think it was more so because he didn't trust me. Not yet anyway, and it was something I knew I had to earn.

That being said, we hadn't gone far until we came across a small tent. It was nothing to write home about, but it was big enough for a child to hide inside and it seemed to lighten everyone's spirits. I know it did mine. The next step being finding out if she's inside or if she'd stayed the night and moved on.

"She could be in there." I heard Shane say, but he didn't sound convinced and a disgusted look appeared on his face.

"Could be a whole bunch of things in there?" Daryl nodded and began slowly edging his way over. Rick signaling us all to stay put before following on after him, Shane close behind.

We all just watched as, once they were a fair distance away, Daryl gestured for Rick and Shane to stay back, placing his crossbow on the ground and taking out his knife. He then made his way over and began trying to peer inside. From here, it didn't look like he was having much luck. The look on Carol's face becoming all the more worried and when he looked back at Rick and shrugged, an unsettled feeling washed through me.

"Carol." Rick whispered and without hesitation, Carol jogged over. Shane waving over at the rest of us to keep quiet. "Call out softly." He told her. "If she's in there, yours is the first voice she should hear."

Carol nodded. "Sophia? Sweetie? Are you in there?" She called and the rest of us gathered. There was no response and Daryl was now stood at the entrance with his knife raised. Everything about it screaming aggressive and if she was in there, surely she'd run. "Sophia, it's mommy." Nothing. "Sophia, we're all here, baby." Still nothing. "It's mommy."

With still no response, Rick placed a reassuring hand on Carol's shoulder and made his way over to Daryl. His gun in his hand and Shane, again, following on behind like a bad smell. 

Daryl then unzipped the tent, moved the fabric and almost instantly, the three men began coughing and trying to cover their noses. I noticed Carol tense up beside me as they did and I wanted to say something reassuring, anything to help settle her mind, but as I opened my mouth, I couldn't find the words. Nothing came out. Instead, I watched as Daryl stepped inside, leaving Rick and Shane still coughing. 

That was when the smell hit me and I knew who ever, or what ever it was in there, it was already dead, and everyone else knew it too. There was no way that little girl would be hiding out in there...unless...

I couldn't help but think the worst.

"Daryl?" Carol called out. Daryl didn't respond. "Daryl?"

"Ain't her." Daryl replied, stepping out of the tent and a relieved yet saddened expression appeared on Carol's face.

"What's in there?" Andrea asked.

"Some guy. Did what Jenner said. Opted out." He announced, picking up his crossbow and swinging it over his shoulder. "Ain't that what he called it?"

Jenner? Who's Jenner? Opted out?

All of a sudden, everyone froze as we listened to the church bells that echoed through the trees. The were quite a ways away, with no idea which direction they were coming from, but they were close enough to hear. That was all we needed. 

Rick took off ahead with the rest of us trailing behind. The bells getting louder and louder.

"What direction?" Shane asked as we slowed down to listen. Rick, Daryl, Shane and I being quicker than everyone else.