It took Maisie some time to get over the initial shock of everything, only making her sad after when she remembered that Samantha, her doll, was left behind and blown into smithereens.
The group stopped well away from the CDC— or whatever remains of it to rearrange vehicles and figure out plans. Daryl decided to leave his truck behind and take the motorbike, as well as everybody swapping gas.
After that, the journey to Fort Benning began, Daryl driving lead. Maisie sat comfortably next to the window, Carl in the middle of her, Sophia and Carol. "I was just thinking about our trip to the grand canyon with Carl."
"I don't remember that." Carl said.
"Me neither?" Maisie countered, confused.
"No, you wouldn't." Lori shook her head, "You were just a baby, and Maisie wasn't born." She told them. "Besides, we never made it past Fort Worth."
"No, you got sick." Rick added, "I never knew a baby could throw up so much. Well, besides maybe your sister."
Maisie furrowed her eyebrows and huffed. "I didn't throw up!" She said, though she didn't really remember if she did as a baby.
"Oh yeah you did, at one point we thought something was wrong and ran you to the hospital," Lori chuckled, rubbing her forehead in remembrance. "Wasn't anything though, apparently you just refused some foods."
"Ick." Carl scrunched up his nose.
"Yeah, Ick." She laughed, "But the doctor said you'd live, then we turned around and drove home."
"That sucks." Carl sighed.
"No, it was a good trip." Lori smiled brightly.
"The best." Rick added.
"Can we go see it? The grand canyon?" Carl asked hopeful as he looked at both of his parents. Maisie didn't see how they'd get there now, but she wanted Disneyland just as much. "I'd like too."
"I would too." Sophia quietly whispered. "Can we go?"
"We'd never go without you or your mom." Rick reassured her, Sophia leaning into her mother's side, both with a soft loving smile.
"I'd prefer Disneyland." Maisie snuck in with a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. That made Rick and Lori laugh, ever since Maisie was four she had been asking to go there. They did promise to go when she turns thirteen, but she supposed that wouldn't happen anymore. "And a new doll, I miss Samantha." She said sadly.
"I know, baby, I'm sorry." Lori offered sympathetically, reaching a hand back and squeezing Maisie's hand before facing the front again.
Maisie peeked her head above the window the get a clearer look at the rubble of broken-down, rusting cars that followed their path. Navigating around them was like walking through a maze, or a graveyard. Each holding death in its hands.
Supplies for survival were scattered all over the floor, doors left open and cars turned upside down. Maisie screwed her eyes up at the sight of a decaying body residing in one of the cars.
She tilted her head forward when they pulled to a stop, designating behind the RV, which must've broken down again. Her hand clasped around the door handle and she pushed the rusty door open, jumping out the car and landing steadily on her feet before circling around with everybody else.
"Problem, Dale?" Shane asked as the older man walked around towards the engine. Everybody else gathering around, Maisie standing carefully by Rick, her eyes occasionally drifting towards the cars around them and whatever rested inside.
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Flower of Blood | TWD
Fanfiction9-year-old Maisie Grimes was a girl who lived by how she was taught. In her case, that meant being kind and loving the unloved. With a big heart and warm smile, Maisie would have to navigate and survive through the new scary world, trying not to fo...
