Madison Lowery never anticipated the end of the world. In a world made up of pain and the hopes of survival she didn't expect Daryl Dixon to change everything for her. Who would have thought the girl who didn't believe in love would find it at the w...
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Things were going so well. I should have known that eventually, the luck we were having would run out. I swore Glenn's words back at camp jinxed the whole operation. Maureen always said I was too superstitious.
Glenn ran off to help a guy stuck in a tank. Why he would risk his life for a stranger who idiotically strolled down the streets of Atlanta as if the dead didn't rise was beyond me. I just hoped that he didn't compromise his safety for the man. It was too late either way, the dead were everywhere. It would be a miracle to get out of this store alive.
"What do you think is taking him so long?" Andrea asked. I looked over to the blonde, the fear written all over her face.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon." I tried to reassure, but even I wasn't confident in my response. Glenn knew what he was doing, but even he had his limits. We had never run into that many walkers at once. We had always been good about tiptoing around them, but with this man popping off rounds throughout the city, the dinner bell had been rung and the dead were as hungry as the Lowery family on Thanksgiving morning.
"Or he's dead," Merle muttered.
"Come on, man." Morales chastised. I tried to keep a brave face for the sake of the group, but I was terrified. I couldn't lead them out of the city with this many walkers surrounding us. I couldn't do this without Glenn and I feared they all knew it.
"Whatever," Merle mumbled, stomping away from the group. I shook my head and followed the man in hopes of keeping him out of trouble. I followed him to the roof, the two of us glancing over the edge to see what looked like hundreds of walkers surrounding the store.
"Think the doors will hold?" I couldn't help but ask the older man. I knew I didn't want the answer to that question, but a part of me hoped Merle would lie to me.
"Thought you was the runs expert?" Merle scoffed before hopping up onto the ledge and taking a seat on the stone wall. I followed his movements, sitting a few inches away from him.
"Glenn's the expert," I informed him. "I'm just making this up as I go along." I kept a straight face as I continued to stare at the walkers below. I didn't know if we'd make it out, or if Glenn would even make it back to us, but for some reason, I felt an unexpected and strange sense of comfort with Merle. I didn't have to pretend or sugarcoat our situation because he could see through any bullshit I could throw at him. I could feel the redneck's eyes burning a hole in the side of my face, but I didn't dare take my eyes off the scene below.
"You ain't gonna jump are ya?" I laughed at the question and shook my head.
"No, I ain't gonna jump," I promised.
"Good." I couldn't help but allow a small smile to form at that single word. Merle was an asshole, but I couldn't help but wonder if somewhere deep down he did care about people. At the very least he didn't want me to jump to my death.
