Daryl's Girl

Chapter 48

Once we reached the house, Daryl drove over to where the group had originally set up camp. My best guess was with Daryl, the way he is, he didn't want to be stuck inside with so many people. It wasn't his type of thing and with so many people cramped in very little space, it wasn't mine either. Hershal did say it'll be tight after all. At least, with us being here, we're closer to the house, but Daryl still gets to have his own space.

We came to a stop where Daryl kicked the stand down and I climbed off. Daryl turning the engine off as I did, leaving the fields around us quiet. I then handed him his crossbow and looked around. From what I could see, everyone was inside the house where I presumed they were unpacking, leaving Daryl and I to get settled. No one around to interfere with what we were doing, which suited me fine.

Hopping off the bike, Daryl handed me the tent and I lay the mat down on the ground, but just as I was about to start putting it up, out of the corner of my eye, I could've sworn I saw Shane walk into the shed. It looked like Shane at least, but whoever it was disappeared before I could get a proper look leaving me to question whether I'd actually seen anything at all. If it was him, I doubt he was going in there to talk to Randall.

I didn't think anything of it, as I couldn't be sure, so I went back to helping Daryl with the tent. He'd gotten himself tangled up in the ropes and I couldn't help but laugh. I even saw Daryl smile a little as I helped him get out. Luckily for him, there was no one around to see him. At least he seems comfortable enough around me to show me his more playful side.

Once we'd finished, Daryl made his way into the house to catch up with Rick and I stayed back to finish off, putting our things back inside the tent. I started with the sleeping bag and just as I was about to get my bag from Daryl's bike, I spotted someone emerge from the shed. It was Shane. I hadn't imagined it after all, but as I watched, he wasn't alone. He was pushing someone in front of him and I had a bad feeling it was Randall, but why? What was he doing?

Without thinking, I found myself following on after him. With no one around, he was free to do what ever he wanted and, what made things worse was I couldn't risk calling for help and risk Shane hearing. I couldn't go back to the house and risk losing sight of him. I had to go after him. 

I pulled out my gun and followed him into the woods.

As I slowly got closer, I could hear grunting and the sound of Shane's voice telling someone to move. He wasn't being very pleasant, but when was he? And I had to keep quiet. As far as I knew, he didn't know I'd seen him and I wanted to keep it that way. Then, as I peeked out from behind a tree, I saw what he was doing. He was in fact pushing Randall deeper into the woods.

All of a sudden, Shane stopped and I quickly jumped back behind the tree, holding my breath, hoping he hadn't seen me. Luckily he hadn't, so I carefully peeked my head back out and watched as he knelt down in front of Randall, who'd tripped and fallen to the ground. "I get it. I'm the last face you probably want to see, huh?." Shane whispered, removing Randall's blindfold where he jumped back when he saw Shane in front of him. "I'm gonna take you up out of here, okay? I'm gonna get this off of you so you can breath, but I want you to keep quiet. You listen good. Do you hear me? Don't do nothing stupid" 

Randall nodded and at that, Shane began ripping the tape off from over his mouth. "Hey. Hey, keep it quiet." He spat as Randall began crying out, grabbing his face. "Your group, you know where they're at?"

Randall shook his head frantically and glanced over in my direction. Just like Shane, I didn't want Randall to see me either so I jumped back behind the tree. Neither of them could know I was following them. "No. I don't. I really..."

Then I heard the sound of a sharp slap, looking around the tree to see Shane lower his hand. He'd slapped Randall right across the face. "Get your little ass up here." growled, dragging him to his feet. "Now I'm the shot of you getting out of these woods alive, you hear me?" Yeah...right. "Now you start talking, boy. Where they at?"

I could see Randall shaking from where I was and I can't say that I blame him. Whatever Shane was doing, it wasn't going to end well for him. "We had a camp set up just off the highway, about five miles from here. Who knows if they're still there." Randall panicked.

Shane placed his hands on Randall's shoulders, trying to calm him down. I didn't understand. What was he up to? "So you gonna take me to 'em?" Shane growled.

Randall froze and looked up at Shane. "Why?"

"Because man...I'm just...I'm done with this group, man. They doomed and I want no part of it. That's all." Shane lied. I knew when he was lying. It was a face I've seen him pull many times before.

"So you're not going to kill me?" Randall questioned.

I kept myself hidden as the two of them began walking again. "Come on, man, if I was, you'd be dead." That was the part that confused me. Surely Shane of all people would've killed him and have it all be done by now. "Come on."

"You ain't got to be so rough. We're on the same side now." I heard Randall yell, as I ducked from tree to tree. "You're gonna like it with us. Gets a little crazy sometimes, but we're a tough bunch of guys." He continued, only this time with a little prep in his step. "You'll fit in good."

All of a sudden, something snapped under my feet and Shane immediately turned around again, scanning the area behind him as I jumped behind another tree. There was no way he hadn't seen me that time. I was being too heavy footed. "Less talking and more walking!" Shane growled.

"Look, I run my mouth when I get nervous. I can't help it. I got a lot going on, you know?" Randall hesitated.

"It ain't all about you." Shane replied, still looking behind. I just stayed as quiet as I could, trying not to move.

"I ain't saying it's about me. I'm jut trying to-" Suddenly, Randall stopped talking. A small yelp and the sound of a large thud cutting him off.

I slowly moved my head and took a quick peep around the tree to see Randall on the floor with Shane now towering over him. I knew it, but I didn't think he'd take this long to kill him. The woods around us now silent. Then, unexpectedly, Shane turned and began walking directly towards me.

Without any hesitation, I forced myself back against the tree trunk. My breath caught in my throat as I listened to the sound of his footsteps getting closer and closer. Different scenarios running through my head about what could happen if he finds me, that is if he didn't already know I'd followed him. The most likely being he'd probably kill me.

Then, his footsteps stopped. 

I peeked out from behind the trunk and watched as he stood facing another. He was just staring at it and I noticed his hands become fists. His whole body filled with psychotic rage, confirming in my mind just how dangerous and unhinged her really was.

The next thing I knew, Shane ran at the tree, ramming his face into the bark and began clawing at the trunk, scraping his fingernails on the wood. He then fell to the ground and rolled around a little allowing the blood to pour from his nose. Once again confirming my unhinged diagnosis.

After a minute or so, he stood up and I quietly edged my way around the trunk as he past me, heading back towards the farm.

Shane had done all of this for something, but what? What could he possibly gain by doing this? Was it to get what he always wanted? Or was it for something else entirely? My best guess being it was some sort of plan to get Rick or Daryl into the woods. If this doesn't show how unstable he is then nothing will.

After I knew for sure he'd gone, I walked over to Randall and sure enough, he was dead. I already knew that. It looked like Shane had snapped his neck, just like he always wanted to and my blood ran cold. Shane had killed him right in front of me and now he was on his way back to the farm. 

I just wish I knew what his next move was...