Without A Voice

Chapter 15: The Barn

~word count: 1143~

The following morning he came to visit me. He brought my bow and quiver for me, setting on the edge of the bed. Earlier I examined my neck in the bathroom mirror. Handprints were starting to form in purple. My stomach didn't look any better in comparison. Despite that, he looked worse than me.

I noticed Daryl staring at my bruised neck, "I'm okay. It's not like I need my voice anyway." I joked.

"The guy that did that, he got what he deserved. I'm proud of you." He grit his teeth.

I shook my head, "You shouldn't be."

"Why?", Daryl scoffed, "He tried to hurt you."

"He was a person. Human. I killed someone doesn't that freak you out?" I stood across from him in disbelief.

He just stared at me with a smirk.

"What?" I threw my arms up.

"The first day we met I tried to kill Rick for leaving my brother on that roof and you didn't bat an eye. Hell, you grabbed the blade out of my hand. You don't scare me, Robin Hood."

We just gazed at each other in silence. I could feel my heart bounce around in my chest. It raced with anticipation as I couldn't look away. His dark blue eyes were looking right through me. He could see me. Not just the deaf girl. Not just the archer. Not a victim. Me. My potential. I got closer to him. God I'm going to regret this. I clasped my hands around his neck, pulling his lips onto mine. His hands held my waist as he pulled me closer. No. I was right. I shouldn't have done that. My jaw gaped at the realization of what I'd done as I stepped back. He looked confused and I didn't blame him.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have." I signed and headed to breakfast before he could say anything. What have I done?

~ Author's POV ~

Everyone except Jane and Daryl gathered around the campfire. She rushed out of the farmhouse and grabbed a plate of eggs. Daryl followed her outside. Glenn stood up, looking like he was preparing for something. They all looked up in anticipation.

"Um, guys. So", He hesitated, "The barn is full of walkers."

Jane read his lips, coughing and putting her plate down as she nearly choked. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. They were shocked. Maggie looked pissed and Dale didn't seem surprised at all.

Shane snapped at Rick, "You cannot tell me you're alright with this."

"No, I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land." Rick responded firmly.

"This is our lives, man!" Shane yelled.

Rick shook his head, "Lower your voice."

"It ain't right. Not remotely." Shane paced back and forth, "Now we have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time."

"We can't go." Rick seethed.

"Why, Rick, why?" Shane argued.

Jane watched them fight, putting a hand on Carol's back to comfort her, "Because my daughter is still out there!"

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea added.

Shane scoffed and let out a sickening laugh, "Okay. Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility."

Jane's face turned into a look of disgust. Why would he say that? And laughing about it is cruel.

"We're not leaving Sophia behind." Rick looked between Carol and Jane.

Daryl shouted at Shane, "I'm close to finding this girl. I just found her damn doll two days ago."

"You found her doll, Daryl." Shane scoffed, "That's what you did, you found a doll."

Jane could feel herself getting more and more upset at Shane's cynical hopelessness.

Daryl stepped towards him, "Man, you don't know what the hell you're talkin' about!"

"I'm just saying what needs to be said." Shane shouted, "You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours."

Rick got between them, "Shane, stop."

"Let me tell you something else, man," Shane fired back at Daryl, "If she was alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction!"

The rage in her burned intensely. Before Daryl could get to him she rammed herself into Shane, knocking both of them to the ground. She crawled on the ground over to him but before she could hit him Rick and Daryl grabbed her and pulled her back. She was like a feral animal. Her hair was down and covered part of her face while her chest rose up and down with every deep breath.

"Enough!" Rick put both of his hands out, "Just let me talk to Hershel."

Shane got up, "What are you gonna figure out?!"

"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it. This is his land." Rick pointed towards the farmhouse.

Dale stepped up, "Hershel sees those things in there as people-sick people. His wife, his stepson."

"You knew?" Rick asked with a hint of frustration.

"Yesterday," Dale responded, "I talked to Hershel."

"And you waited the night?" Shane scoffed.

"I thought we could survive one more night." Dale side-eyed Shane. "We did. I was waiting until this morning to say something, but Glenn wanted to be the one."

Jane didn't even bother hearing the rest of the conversation. She stormed off. Her body was still healing. She knew she needed to be careful but she just couldn't. Ever since Otis died, Shane has been pissing everyone off. Oh my God. That's when it hit her. Shane killed Otis. She knew something was up but just couldn't understand his body language. Did the others know? They had to. Even without her hearing, she figured it out. Looking around she noticed Dale by the RV. He was gathering guns and putting them in the bag Hershel gave the group.

She tapped him on the shoulder, "Where are you taking them?"

"Do you trust Shane?", He quickly asked.

He knew what he did. Jane shook her head, "He killed Otis didn't he?"

Dale nodded, "I think for everyone's safety we should hide them. Shane's starting to go off the deep end."

"I want to help. I'll go get my bow while you figure out where we're gonna put them."

Jane ran off back to the farmhouse, eventually returning to Dale with her bow in hand. Shane was a threat. Dangerous. But she trusted Dale.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Daryl and Carol argue. Her heart dropped a little. Everything was going to hell. Dale and Jane headed into the swamp. He had the bag and his shotgun while she carried her bow and arrows. It was going to be just her but Dale insisted on coming. Jane followed close behind Dale as they stalked through the woods.