FATHERS RIFLE • C.Grimes

ೀ⋆｡˚ CHAPTER 26 ೀ⋆｡˚

THE NEXT DAY
faye woke up last out of the three, her eyes fluttered, adjusting to the light shining through the thin curtains. "morning sleepyhead" rick grinned teasingly. "mornin." she stretched. "carl was telling me about your adventure" he raised his eyebrows, his grin never faltering. "snitch." she glared at the boy.

suddenly a knock on the door gained their attention. fayes head shot up to look at the door, her body tensing slightly. rick grabbed his gun, peering through the peep hole of the front door, faye tried to read his expression as he peered through and let out a chuckle. "what?" carl spoke in a hushed tone. "it's for you." he breathily chuckled.

the three pushed the couch forward, quickly untying the door. carl opened the door to reveal michonne, she'd found them. a grin plastered on all 4s faces as they each brought her into an embrace. "hey, pretty" michonne whispered into fayes head as the girl held onto her tightly.

that morning they'd tidied up the house slightly, carl and faye sat down at the table eating bowls of cereal, engaging in small conversation. michonne came down the stairs in a new shirt, a white button up that made the two teens start laughing. "what? do you have something to say about my extremely comfortable and attractive shirt?" michonne rolled up the sleeves that were very much too big for her.

"no, no, no it uh.. it looks..." carl began "great.." faye backed him up, still giggling at it. michonne sat down at the end of the table, pouring some cereal into the bowl "i wish we had some soy milk." she said, making the two pull a face of grimace. "seriously?" the girl raised her brows. "yes, seriously. have you ever tried it?" the woman tilted her head "no but merle said it tasted like shit." she explained.

"my bestfriend in third grade, he was allergic to dairy. and uh everyday he would bring this soy stuff to lunch. i tried it and i threw up!" carl piped up, reminiscing on memories from before the outbreak. "oh yeah right" michonne looked at him in disbelief. "alright, alright i almost threw up. but i was like blehhh" he reenacted him throwing up.

"it was so gross! i would rather have powdered milk, i would rather have judith's formula!...." everyone's face fell from the grins they had a moment ago, the mention of baby judith hitting them hard. "i'm gonna go finish my book." he got up from the table, storming up the stairs. faye sighed once he left, giving michonne a soft smile

"you okay? seems like you don't speak much anymore." michonne turned her attention to faye, brushing a stray hair out her face. "nothing much to say anymore. i've basically lost everyone." faye stated, stirring her spoon around the dry cereal. "that's not true. you have me, rick, carl." she spoke softly, emphasising carls name. "did you.. did you see my dad? back at the prison?" she spoke again after pausing for a moment. michonne debated on lying or giving her the honest truth, she didn't have the heart to get the girls hopes up so she decided to speak the truth. "no, no i didn't."

later that day, michonne and carl set off for more supplies while faye stayed back with rick who was meant to be resting. the girl sat down on the windowsill, watching the outside world. it was calm, peaceful if you will. but of course nothing lasts forever, a group of men caught fayes attention. her eyes widened as they got closer to the house, she rushed across the hallway into the room rick was sleeping in.

"rick, rick, rick, rick!" she shook the man as she spoke in a hushed tone. the man woke up startled, his chest racing "people are here." she whispered. upon hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, rick dragged the girl under the bed with him. for the first time in two years, faye remembered how she felt that day on the highway, the day the horde passed through and changed their lives forever.

she kept her eyes on the man who was pacing by the stairs, she feared what his intentions would be if he'd found them. he slowly walked in the room, the girl could feel her breath hitch as the man layed down on the bed.

although it was only a few minutes, it felt like hours. sat under the bed, listening to the men downstairs and the man just a few inches above them, snoring. suddenly another man entered the room, the two men began to argue about 'claiming' a bed. faye kept her hand over her mouth to silence her shakey breaths as she watched the men begin to fight. one of the men dropped to the floor, fayes eyes widened realising he could see them. rick and faye both gave the man a death glare as he got choked and ended up passing out.

once the other man fell asleep, rick gave the girl a small nod to follow his lead. the two slid out from under the bed, watching their step, attempting to be as quiet as possible as they slowly made their way into the room that carl and faye spent most time in. rick attempted to open any windows or find any escape but the windows were painted shut, fayes heart raced faster as she heard the men discussing the fact there was a woman in the house and that they'd found her shirt. she silently prayed michonne and carl wouldn't return soon, not until rick and her escaped the house.

rick and faye rushed across the hall, running into the bathroom, just before the man who was rushing up the stairs could see them. the girl hopped up on the counter, trying to push the window open soon to be interrupted when she realised they'd walked in on another man who was now fighting with rick. she watched helplessly as rick strangled the man with a towel, she'd never felt so protected but terrified in her life.

she managed to get the window open, rick helped her climb out of it before getting out himself, they now both sat on the roof, relieved they were out the house but confused on what to do next. rick slowly lifted himself down off the roof while faye used a nearby tree to help her get down.

they slowly and quietly creeped around the front of the house, silently cursing the leaves that crunched beneath their boots. sat on the porch, was another man. he sat on the railings eating a can of fruit that carl and faye had scavenged the day before. they sat there in silence, listening to him eat without a care in the world. the girl noticed carl and michonne in the distance returning, oblivious to the fact they were walking into danger.

rick was about to shoot the man on the porch and make a run for it, fortunately, the men in the house let out a yell making the man drop his can and run back into the house. "come on." rick whispered to the younger girl who hid her face in his back. the two ran towards michonne and carl "go, go, go." he instructed in a hushed tone.

the 4 reunited quickly, returning back to the train tracks they'd passed a few days prior. michonne and rick lead the way while carl and faye stayed behind them, carl noticed the frown on the girls face and how quiet she was. "crazy cheese?" he pulled a can of crazy cheese out his bag. "that shits nasty" she chuckled at his attempt to lighten the mood.

the groups attention diverted to a map on a nearby railroad car. above the map was a banner

"SANCTUARY FOR ALL COMMUNITY FOR ALL
THOSE WHO ARRIVE SURVIVE."

"whatcha think?" faye tilted her head as she looked up at rick. "let's go." he muttered, turning back onto the train tracks.

RIRIS NOTES
yay😋