Fire With Fire // D. Dixon

chapter six

TRIGGER WARNING - READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

The group of four was quickly growing tired and hungry, walking through the woods once again.

"We'll stay another day or two, get some more rest." Rick spoke, looking around at their camp as they walked. He didn't like being out here like this, it was far too open. Far too unprotected.

They'd been like this for a while now. When the hours had slipped into days, Chloe had lost track of how much time had passed since the fall of the prison. All this running, constantly moving from one place to the next, was taking its toll on everyone. This wasn't something they could keep doing for much longer, they all knew that.

"Finish healing up?" Michonne asked. Carl glanced over at his father with curiosity lighting up his features.

"I'm almost there." Rick spoke in reassurance, though Chloe wasn't sure if he said it for himself or for them. Chloe had noticed the swelling on his face had gone down, the bruises had begun to fade, but he still wasn't quite back to the way he was before. The Governor's brutal beating had taken its toll on the man.

"We're close now, right?" Carl was growing antsy, wanting so desperately to be behind walls. To be under a roof again.

"To Terminus?" Rick asked, to which Carl nodded, "We are." Rick smiled, though he feared what they would find. Would it be overrun with walkers? Would it be empty and long forgotten by now? Or maybe the people there weren't good at all? He didn't know for sure, and that scared the hell out of him.

"When we get there, are we gonna tell them?" Carl asked, looking at each member of their group. Chloe gulped, understanding what he meant.

"Tell them what?" Michonne's curiosity was peaked. Rick looked at Carl, waiting for him to answer the question.

"Everything that's happened to us," Carl began, "All the stuff we've done. Are we gonna tell them the truth?" Silence quickly followed the four. Nothing was heard except the crunching of leaves beneath their feet.

"We're gonna tell them who we are." Rick answered, seemingly sure of himself. They were still good people, despite the things they've had to do. Rick thought back to when he was forced to kill his best friend, Shane Walsh, in the woods the last night on the farm. It had been over a year since the incident, but Rick still felt guilty. Even though Shane had been reckless and dangerous at times, it still hurt him to know that he was gone. 

"But how do you say that? I mean..." Carl stopped, "Who are we?"

The group came to a halt at the sound of a walker. Chloe moved forward, her knife in hand. Rick stopped her, motioning for Michonne to kill it. To which the woman did. Chloe opened her mouth to complain, but was quickly cut off by the sounds of screaming.

"HELP!" A male voice echoed through the woods, "SOMEBODY HELP!"

With that, Carl shot straight up. He ran towards the sounds, not thinking twice about helping someone. Rick attempted to grab the boy, but failed. Instead, he tried calling out but that also failed to stop him. With no other choice left, the group ran after the boy.

"Damn it, Carl!" Chloe hissed, running after her little brother.

When they reached Carl, he was at the forest edge. He was watching the man they had heard screaming, who was also fighting for his life against a small herd of walkers. Chloe exchanged a look with Michonne, knowing there were too many to fight. They'd have to run.

"We've gotta go!" Michonne spoke in an anxious whisper, gripping tight to her sword. Nobody said anything, but they all ran.

Chloe was so tired of running, but it seemed to be their only choice most of the time. It was always run or die. Why couldn't they find a place that could last?