Broken LadyBug ~ A walking dead story

Chapter 2

"Step up camp?" I argued. What do you mean set up camp? We don't have food or water or supplies, and we certainly don't have my brothers. I could feel the anger bubbling inside of me, but these people hardly knew I would not have an outburst like my father would. Lori must have seen the anger on my face and bent down to my level.

"Don't worry about it sweetheart, I brought a whole bunch of extra supplies for people who didn't get a chance to grab anything, oh look you have a ladybug on your shirt" she said before picking up the ladybug, "wait" I yelled "let me see her" I said. Lori turned around and bent back down to me. "I get it mom" I whispered to the small bug before taking her from Lori's hands and setting her down gently.

I haven't had a ladybug land on me since my mother died, so I felt like this was a sign to stay and to follow Chealse's lead in the new group, I would just have to trust she would have a plan.

"Hey Lottie, want to read my comic book with me?" I heard Carl say behind me, "Yes I would love that" I replied "Come on let's go to the lake where the other kids are," he said grabbing my hand and pulling me in that direction.

As we made it to the lake, there were two blonde girls on the lake fishing. We sat down in front of a log. "Who are they" I whispered to Carl. "That's Amy and Andrea they are sisters." I nodded slightly, and then to the left of us was a short-haired woman with a little girl who looked like Carls's age. "That's Carol, and her husband, and their daughter Sofia, she is really shy, and that's Eliza and Louis," he said as he pointed to each person in the vicinity. "Who's that," I asked. He looked to be 18 or 19 and he was a pizza delivery guy before the breakout. "Thats Glenn, he came alone," Carl said as he opened the comic book.

"Your mom looked worried when she was talking with Shane." he said "Shes not my mom, my mom is dead." I said with a quiver in my throat. "I'm sorry Lottie" he said before closing the book and taking my hand. "I just want to go home you know; with my brothers I don't know where they are." I said as tears began to fill my eyes. They're probably gone forever; I think to myself.

Out of nowhere we see Officer Shane punch the Ed guy and beat him badly. Sofia came running over to Carl and I and hid behind him as we all watched. "If I find out you touch your family or anyone else for that matter your dead." Shane said strictly. I looked up and saw Chelsea waving me down, "I'll be right back" I said and walked over to her. "My Lottie bug" she said putting her hand softly on my cheek, and I leaned it to her touch, "I'm going back to town, I'm going to get your brothers okay, but you need to stay here and listen to whatever Lori or Shane says do you understand." she said, "I want to come with you" I started to cry "No Charlotte it's too dangerous" she said. "No please ill help I promise please don't leave me" I cried "I'm sorry Lottie" she said before turning her back to me. "No No No" I cried. I wanted to run after her, but something was holding me back. "Take me with you" I pleaded but in a matter of minutes she was gone.

Carl placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his own expression mirroring my distress. "Lottie, I'm here for you," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the chaos of the camp.

But I couldn't find solace in his words. Chelsea, my rock in this unpredictable world, had left me behind. Fear gripped me as I realized I was truly alone, with no family to call my own.

Lori approached, her gaze filled with sympathy as she reached out to me. "Lottie, we'll take care of you," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "You're part of our family now."

Her words offered little comfort as grief threatened to consume me. I felt like a lost child in a world torn apart by chaos and despair.

But amidst the turmoil, a sense of determination began to stir within me. I couldn't change the past or bring back those I had lost, but I could choose how to move forward.

Wiping away my tears, I straightened my shoulders and met Lori's gaze with newfound resolve. "I'll stay," I said, my voice trembling but determined. "I'll do whatever it takes to survive."

Lori nodded, her expression one of pride mixed with sadness. "We'll get through this together," she said, her words a promise of hope in the midst of darkness.

And as I looked around at the makeshift family gathered around me, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I had feared

I got out of someone grip and when i turned around I saw Glenn, he held his hand out and said "Come on let's go for a walk" I didn't argue I let him take my hand and lead me away from the group. "What's your name" he asked as we walked slowly side by side. "Charlotte but I go by Lottie" I said quietly. "Well, my names Glenn and i go by Glenn, it's nice to meet you Lottie" he said extending his hand to me. "Nice to meet you too." I said as we continued to walk. "I know it's scary to be out here with no one else" he said "especially if you know that they still might be alive" he continued "where is your family" I asked "upstate, I was delivering pizzas when I saw the first romer." he said "romer?" I questioned "you know these like dead people, killing everyone yep definitely a romer if I have seen one" he said which made me laugh softly . As we continue to walk, we got to know each other a little better. I learned that Glenn is willing to do anything to help the group.

The adults made a plan to go on a run and get supplies "they think I will be the fastest" he said as we are walking into a beautiful meadow. We sat down and watched the sunset. "Can I come with you I don't want to be alone tomorrow; I can help I swear." I begged "you know you can't Lottie its way to dangerous" he said looking at me. Here I was only 12 hours into the apocalypse, and I am already breaking down, I thought I would be stronger you know, when you think about these types of things you think you will be the biggest and the baddest but really your nothing but an annoying kid who can't take the hint. "How about this Lot, you make me a list of somethings you want, and I'll do my absolute best to bring it back to you, how does that sound." he said as I wiped away my tears and nodded. 'Come on kiddo lets go eat some food and make that list." he said with a smile. He stood up and brought me to my feet. "Glenn" I said quietly "yeah Lot" he replied "can I move closer to you tonight; I don't want to be alone" I whimpered the words as if I was a homeless puppy begging for food. "Anything you need Lottie I will always be there to give it to you okay, you and I were in this together got it" he said which made me feel better.

The darker it became the more Romers you can hear, I held onto Glenn's hand until we made it back to camp. "Oh, Lottie I was so worried about you" Lori cried she ran to hug me "I'm okay Lori really, I'm going to move my tent over by Glenn tonight is that okay" I asked, Lori looked up to Glenn and gave him a motherly look before nodding her head, "Of course but let's move after supper okay" she said, and I nodded eagerly.

Andrea and Amy got enough fish for the whole group, plus whatever everyone else brought. I only had my lunch on me that Charlie made so I decided I would eat that instead. All of us around the fire was really eye opening for me, this is really our life now. We had a lot of people in our group, first we had the Morales Family, then Carl's family, plus Shane, then we have the sisters, Amy and Andrea, Glenn and Dale who had an RV who was willing to share his space. The Dixon brothers looked insane Carl and I didn't dare mess with them. Then we had T-dog, Jacqui and Jim. Soon I would be gone, my brothers and I can take care of ourselves. I took out my notebook and pen and started to wright down something i needed from Glenn. "Knife, lighter, books, maybe some coloring books or crosswords, notebooks, a stuffed animal. Before I gave the note to Glenn, I wrote something on the back, "please be careful I need you." I tore out the sheet of paper and gave it to Glenn before siding next to him.

A few hours later we moved my things over by Glenn and began to get ready for our first night here. "Goodnight Lori and Carl" I said before grabbing my backpack and going into my tent. I dumped out the bag and saw 2 notebooks, some pencils, aspirin, and my orange from my lunch, I couldn't eat it, but there was something in the front pocket, I pulled out a small handgun. I shook as I held it, there was a note in my bag as well, "Just in case I don't come back, you protect yourself and follow your gut...I love you Charlotte Mae" I read. I felt this heavy feeling in my heart that something was wrong, but I don't know what. I took the note and gun and slipped it under my pillow. Goodnight world please let me wake up tomorrow.