Don't Dream It's Over // Glenn Rhee

Chapter 33

"Sorry, brother." 

Kira

ᨒ↟ 𖠰

Everyone surrounded the camp fire. Shane, Daryl and Rick had taken Randall off to the barn to put him down. Rick had decided he'd shoot him in the head, make it more quick, to not let him suffer. It was only about ten minutes that they were gone for when we soon see Rick and Shane returning, along with Carl trailing behind. It was odd. Because as we waited for them to finish, we were all expecting a gunshot to echo through the air. But nothing happened. 

Rick pauses as he looks at all of us, knowing we want answers and an explanation of what's going on now.

"We're keeping him in custody for now." Rick informs us. Everyone gives him a nod.

"I'm gonna go find Dale." Andrea smiles and excuses herself from the group. I inhaled deeply, turning over to Jack. He gives me a slight shrug to the shoulders, shaking his head. Rick walks over to Lori, almost tears in his eyes.

"Carl, go inside." Lori orders him. "Now, please." She demands. Without a word, Carl enters the tent.

"He followed us out there." Rick says softly. "He-He wanted to see it happen. I-I couldn't. I just couldn't."

"Sh." Lori says, touching Rick's cheek. "It's okay. That's okay." She pulls him into her arms and hugs him tightly. Rick's eyes slowly shut, letting out a sigh. A sudden scream fills everyone's ears. We all jump alarmed, frantically looking around.

"Wh-What was that?" Glenn questions.

"I don't know. Go!" Maggie points.

"Stay in the tent with Carl." I order Jack. I rush over to the tent, opening the flap and grabbing my handgun. As I rush out, I bump into a body, Glenn and I grabbing onto each other's arms.

"Dale!" Andrea screams. Glenn and I run together, pointing our flashlights in every direction, looking for Dale.

"Help! Over here! Help! Run!" Daryl shouts, waving his hands in the air. We finally arrive, finding Dale down on the ground, Rick kneeling over him. Dale's stomach is torn open. His white shirt covered in red and his organs exposed to the world. And just off to the side...a walker lying dead in the tall grass.

"Get Hershel!" Rick orders. "He needs blood. We gotta operate now." Andrea drops down to her knees, holding onto Dale's hand as he moans and pants heavily.

"Listen to me, okay, listen to my voice." Rick calls to Dale. "Hershel! We need Hershel! Dale, we're gonna help. We're here. Just hold. Please, just hold on."

"What happened?" Hershel quickly appears. Rick stands up as Hershel looks down at Dale's state.

"What can we do? C-Can we move him?" Rick asks. Hershel shakes his head, but I knew he wasn't that we couldn't move him, I knew that even Hershel couldn't do anything to help.

"You have to do the operation here." Rick quickly says. "Glenn, get back to the house-"

"Rick." Hershel stops him. He shakes his head again, and it finally clicks.

"No!" Rick shouts. Everyone begins sobbing hysterically over the loss of Dale. Dale remained lying on the ground, gurgling, moaning, groaning, crying out in pain.

"He's suffering." I call.

"Do something!" Andrea sobs. Rick reaches down and pulls out his gun from the holster. He raises his gun, holding tearful eyes with Dale. He breathes heavily, his hand shaking. Daryl steps up, placing his hand over Rick's, taking over for him. Rick steps back and Daryl steps forward, kneeling down to the ground. He cocks his gun and aims it to Dale's head.