Without A Voice

Chapter 10: Sophia

~word count: 1770~

~ Jane's POV ~

I could see the anger burning in his dark blue eyes. Or was it fear? There was no time to think. Daryl dragged me back downstairs where Jacqui and T-Dog were pleading with one another. Andrea just sat there with a blank expression. I watched as emotions raced through my head like lightning. I immediately knew staying would be a mistake. Shane grabbed his shotgun and began firing into the glass. Rick tried breaking it with the axe. Just when I thought it couldn't get crazier, Carol pulled a grenade out of her purse. Was she carrying that around this whole time? What the fuck. It worked though. Glass covered everything and walkers began stumbling in after. We cleared our way through, Daryl making sure I was right next to him. Everyone was running to their vehicles. Suddenly Daryl pushed me into the backseat of his pickup, crawling right on top of me as I lay in the floorboard. We had to stay low to protect ourselves. He covered his ears and I closed my eyes feeling an intense heat go over my body. The vibrations made by the explosion shook the truck. It went by so quick but in the moment felt like an eternity. I slowly opened my eyes to see Daryl staring down at me. My heart was racing as his face was only inches away from mine.

"Uh sorry." He scrambled to climb off.

I got up and looked out the window letting a sigh of relief escape me as Dale and Andrea appeared. The CDC was gone. Nothing but rubble remained where the enormous building used to stand.

Rick decided we were going to head to Fort Benning. We made a stop to an abandoned warehouse for the night so we could all rest. Daryl and T-Dog were able to siphon some gas from a few cars. I was surprised to see Daryl take his motorcycle out of the bed of his truck. He was swapping it out. Things were hard after the CDC. Daryl was upset with me for wanting to stay. He was avoiding me. I appreciated him not telling anyone but I didn't want him to hate me for it. I know I made a mistake. I rode in the RV with Andrea and Dale. They were arguing about something so I closed my eyes. I didn't want to intrude. The RV came to a slow stop and I watched as Dale hopped out. There was smoke coming from beneath the hood.

I got out and walked around to him, "What happened?"

He ignored me. Clearly upset and annoyed.

"I said it. Didn't I say it? A thousand times. Dead in the water."

"Problem, Dale?" Shane said sarcastically in front of the smoking RV.

"Just a small matter of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no hope of-"

We looked over at Daryl who began rummaging through the open trunk of a vehicle. It had a lot of stuff in it. The group talked for a moment before everyone split up, scavenging for supplies. I walked pretty far staying near T-Dog just in case. Peeking through the windows there were lots of dead bodies. Flies consuming their rotting flesh. It was gross. I made a disgusted face and walked over to the next car. My back was turned but I kept my knife by my side to protect myself. I can usually tell if walkers are around due to their smell but the amount of bodies in the cars made it incredibly hard. Opening the door to a car a couple cans of fell out and I backed up, bumping into someone. I turned around to see his blue eyes staring me down. That's when I noticed the herd. T-Dog was lying just a couple feet away with a dead walker on top of him.

"Under the car", Daryl pulled me down to the ground.

I shuffled, the rocky terrain scraping my arms. He stayed right next to me holding a finger up to his lips. My heart was jumping out of my chest in fear. I pulled my knife out of my bra, clutching it in my hand. All I could do was hold my breath. Then it was over. Daryl hurried back out. He looked panicked. What happened? I rolled out from under the car and the second I stood up I saw what was going on. Carol was crying in Lori's arms as Rick rushed into the forest. I ran so fast. My chest felt like it was going to explode. I read her lips and I could feel my eyes burning.