Without A Voice

Chapter 22: Shane

~word count: 1267~

~ Jane's POV ~

I stood next to Daryl by the truck as we were getting ready to take Randall up to Senioa. It would be a long drive so we had to prepare. T-Dog was helping too.

"Only got so many arrows." He handed me Dale's tiny pistol. I tucked it into the back of my jeans.

Daryl looked at it for a second, "Is that Dale's gun?"

"Yeah." T-Dog spoke before I could answer.

"Wish I knew where the hell mine was." He muttered.

I was getting really good at reading lips. Now that I haven't had my hearing aid for a while, I've adapted quite well. So have the people around me. The group will always look at me or speak more clearly while talking. Carl even had a small sign language book Sophia had given him. I'd catch him reading it while he was supposed to be doing homework. Lori never scolded him for it though, she knew it was beneficial.

"Ready?" Rick walked up to us and loaded the last bag into the truck.

I nodded as Daryl slung his crossbow over his shoulder, "Yeah."

"I'll get the package." T-Dog headed towards the shed.

"You sure you wanna go?" Daryl looked at me with concern.

I bit my lip, "I need to do this. For Dale."

Suddenly T-Dog came rushing back with a panicked face, "He's gone. Randall's gone."

We all followed T-Dog to where the guy was being kept. His chains were still there but there was no sign of him.

Lori ran up to us, "What's wrong?"

"Randall's missing." T-Dog replied.

Hershel sighed, "How long has he been gone?"

"It's hard to say." Rick stopped examining the scene, "The cuffs are still hooked. He must've slipped them."

Carol shook her head, "Is that possible?"

"It is if you've got nothing to lose." I signed with tired eyes.

Hershel showed us the lock on the outside of the shed, "The door was secured from the outside."

I wondered what that could mean. Did somebody let him out? Who would do that? No. That would put us all in danger. Suddenly everyone turned around. They were looking at Shane, who came running towards us with a busted nose.

"Rick!" He yelled, "Rick!"

"What happened?" Lori seemed concerned.

Shane was out of breath, "He's armed. He's got my gun."

"Are you okay?" Carl rushed over.

Shane nodded, "I'm fine. Little bastard just snuck up on me. He clocked me in the face."

"Alright, Hershel, T-Dog, get everybody back to the house. Glenn, Daryl, Jane come with us." Rick called out. His lips easy to read.

Carol butted in, "Just let him go. That was the plan wasn't it, to just let him go?"

"The plan was to cut him loose far away from here, not on our front step with a gun." Shane scoffed.

Carol grabbed my arm, "Don't go out there! Y'all know what can happen!"

"It's okay just get everyone back in the house and lock the doors." I signed quickly before stepping back.

Shane led us through the forest, "I saw him head through the trees that way before I blacked out."

"He couldn't have gotten far." Rick looked around, "He's injured and exhausted."

"And armed." Glenn mentioned.

I nudged his arm for being so negative, "So are we."

"Can you track him?" Rick turned to Daryl.

"No, I don't see nothin'."

Shane stopped us, "Hey, look, there ain't no use in tracking him, okay? He went that way. We just need to pair up. We spread out, we just chase him down. That's it."

"Kid weighs a buck-25 soaking wet. You trying to tell us he got the jump on you?" Daryl asked with suspicion.

Shane snapped back, "I say a rock pretty much evens those odds, wouldn't you?"

"Okay knock it off." Rick took charge but then Shane came up with a plan, "Daryl and Glenn start heading up the right flank. I'll take Jane with us. Remember, Randall's not the only threat out there. Keep an eye out for each other."

Shane glanced at me before leading us through the woods. I locked eyes with Daryl before leaving. It was dark so I had the gun T-Dog gave me at the ready. It would be easier to aim since it was a bit windy.

"Does this way feel right?" My flashlight illuminated their faces as Rick questioned Shane.

He nodded, "Right as any."

I could feel Rick's hand grab my wrist, pulling me away from Shane. "Snatched your gun, huh?"

"Yeah. It was my favorite piece, too. Gonna wish he'd killed me when I find his sorry ass." Shane scoffed.

We went a little further, "You said he got you with a rock?"

"That's what I said." He nodded.

Rick tightened his grip around me, "Inside the shed? Because that door was shut when T-Dog rolled up."

"Yeah, I saw that too. Must've slipped through the rafters in the roof."

It was all a trick. Leading us off so he could kill us. If I was going to die, it will be by my own hand, not Shane's. Someone will figure it out. I just know it. He's a terrible liar. Daryl and Glenn are probably on their way right now.

Rick and I had our hands up as Shane kept his gun pointed at us, "So this is where you plan to do it?"

"It's a good place as any."

"At least have the balls to call this what it is. Murder. You really believe if you walk back onto that farm alone, no me, no Jane, no Randall..." Rick looked over at me then back at Shane.

He was getting sick of his talking, "I want you to hush up."

"You really believe they're gonna buy whatever bullshit story you cook up?" Rick questioned him.

"That's just it. It ain't no story." Shane argued, "I saw that prisoner shoot Jane and you tried to protect her. Died a hero. I ran after him. I snapped his neck. It ain't gonna be easy, but Lori and Carl, they'll get over you. They done it before." He looked over at me, "And you? Ain't nobody care about you. Except maybe Carol. She got over Sophia, she can get over you."

I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I locked eyes with Rick, "Why Jane? What'd she have to do with this?"

"She's easy. Randall knew who she was. He has reason to get rid of her." He pointed the gun at me, "On your knees."

I sobbed knowing who I'd be leaving behind. Carol. Glenn. Andrea. Daryl. This group was my family. I was gonna meet the rest of them soon. Mom. Dad. Sophia. Dale.

Rick started talking again the second I knelt down, "Screw my wife? Have my children call you "Daddy"? Is that what you want? That life won't be worth a damn. I know you. You won't be able to live with this."

Shane was clearly angry, making my heart skip a beat as he quickly pointed his gun at Rick, "What you know about what I can live with? You got no idea what I can live with, what I live with! You wanna talk about what I can do, Rick? How about what you can do? Here I am." He shifted his aim back at me.

"Please." I croaked. My voice was barely a whisper.

He cocked his gun and I closed my eyes, waiting for a sharp pain. Death was coming for me and I couldn't keep running.