Lost | Daryl Dixon

12 - Shot

Elizabeth's POV

I paused, taking a moment another hour or so into the journey, looking back into the forest. My mind kept going back to the gunshot, and there was a pit in my stomach. Something felt wrong - I didn't know how to process it. I saw from the corner of my eye that Andrea paused, looking at me. "You still worrying about it?" Andrea asked, and I glanced back. She joined me looking back. I gulped, looking around for any sign of them catching up.

"It was a gunshot," I muttered, half-heartedly. I felt so helpless. First Sophia missing, now a gunshot and the guys weren't back yet?

"We all heard it."

I glanced back at Daryl - unsure why he was suddenly catching an attitude with me. We were fine with our chat in the early hours of the morning - now he suddenly he had an issue. I rolled my eyes, glancing at Lori, knowing she at least was in the same ballpark as me. "Why one- Why just one gunshot?"w

"Maybe they took down a walker," Daryl added, and I shook my head, turning and looking at him.

"Please don't patronize me," I muttered, glaring at him. "You know Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker, or Shane. They'd do it quietly."

A silence filled the group as everyone thought, knowing I was right. Something was up. I wanted to head back, check on them - but I knew they wouldn't let me. "Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol carefully added.

"There's nothing we can do about it, anyway. Can't run around these woods chasing echoes." He added, gruffly. I shot him a look and dragged a hand through my hair. Glenn joined me, catching my eye.

"I'm sure they're fine, Liz," He comforted. I glanced at him but still felt a sense of dread. Lori wandered over, looking into the trees.

"So, what do we do? Same as we've been?" Lori asked, looking through the leaves and wood.

Daryl adjusted the weight of his crossbow. "Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway." He said, simply. I looked towards him, before sighing and nodding, pulling my shirt up slightly to wipe the sweat off of my head, before dropping it back down - swinging my bag off of my shoulder to see if I had any water left - I didn't.

"I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV," Andrea added. I nodded, starting forward again as she turned and looked at Carol. "I'm sorry for what you're going through. I know how you feel."

"I suppose you do- Thank you. The thought of her, out here by herself. It's the not knowing that's killin' me," She smiled lightly, relating to the blonde. "I just keep hopin' and prayin' she doesn't wind up like Amy..." She paused and realised what she said, looking at Andrea in shock. I looked away, feeling the second-hand embarrassment. "Oh, God! That's the worst thing I ever said."

"We're all hoping and praying with you, for what it's worth." Andrea bites out, forcing a smile. I grimace in sympathy to the pair, as Daryl steps forward.

"I'll tell ya what it's worth- Not a damn thing," He comments. I give him a look. "It's a waste of time, all this hopin' and prayin'. We're gonna locate that little girl. She's gonna be just fine. Am I the only one Zen around here? Good lord."

I don't know whether to glare or laugh at him, so I settle on shaking my head, following after him with Glenn by my side. The boy glances at me. "I didn't know you had tattoos?"

I look at him, realising he must have spotted it when I wiped the sweat from my brow. I nodded. "I have a few, all hidden for hospital rules."

"Didn't know you were the type," He keeps pace with me. "You seem-"