Daryl's Girl

Chapter 78

Everyone apart form Lori, who was stood on the little balcony with a smug look on her face, were all crowded near the gate into the tombs. I don't know why she didn't join us as we were all just getting ready to go but it didn't bother me. We just kept out of each others way which seemed to make us both happy, and the rest of the group. The last thing we wanted was yet another conflict.

Allowing my thoughts to disappear, I turned back round to see Carol, Beth and my dad all helping Hershal, Glenn and Tdog into some armor as Maggie already had hers on. The armor obviously didn't really appeal to me that much. Neither did it Daryl or Rick. I think the idea of getting it was good to begin with but after seeing how much shit dripped off of them, no matter how much we cleaned them, I wasn't going near it. I think both Daryl and Rick thought the same.

All of a sudden, Briana came over and gave me yet another hug. I hadn't even seen her coming so she almost knocked the both of us off our feet. "You be careful in there, you hear me?" She smiled with a serious tone to her voice.

"Yeah. I promise." I smiled back. "With any luck, we'll find what we're looking for and be back in no time."

"I hope so." Briana nodded and looked around before she then looked back towards me. "I'm gonna go help the others. Stay safe, and I mean it."

I couldn't help but smile and roll my eyes as she made her way over to Beth but as she did I spotted Carl fitting one of the helmets onto his head. I walked over and thought about what Rick said before about who was going. Carl wasn't one of them and I knew Rick was going to keep his word and have Carl stay here, whether he liked it or not. "Carl, you won't be needing that." I carefully took the helmet from his hands. "Your dad wants you to stay put."

Carl's face dropped. "You're kidding."

I looked at Rick then back at Carl. "Wish I was bud, but look, we don't know what's in there." I replied.

"Lily's right. If something goes wrong, you could be the last one standing. I need you to handle things here." Rick stepped in. I hadn't even realised he was behind me.

Carl's facial expression didn't change but he shook it of angrily and nodded. "Sure."

Both Rick and I looked at one another as Carl began scraping the toe of his shoe on the ground. He was clearly pissed but Rick knew what to do. He took the keys to the cell block and handed them to Carl. Carl then immediately livened up when he recieved such a large responsibility and I couldn't help but smile as he looked back up at Rick. I think I even saw a smile escape from Rick's lips.

"Great, lets go." Rick ordered and we all walked through the common room and through the gates to the tombs, on the other side.

"Stay safe Lily." I heard my dad call from behind me. I didn't plan on being anything other than safe. I had my gun and my knife that Daryl had given me, back on the farm. What more could I possibly need?

Just as we left the cell block it all went quiet. Our foot steps and heavy breathing were the only things we could hear as they echoed down the long corridors and we couldn't see much. I just found myself at the back of everyone, behind Maggie and Glenn as both Daryl and Rick lead.

Every turn we would make Glenn would use the spay can to mark an arrow to help us get back. It wasnt like we had a map, that I so desperately tried to find. It just felt like we were walking for ever. Lost in a maze. Not knowing where to go.

Soon enough we entered an area filled with freshly chewed bodies. The smell was awful and I had to try not to chuck up the contents of my stomach. However much that was, but this meant only one thing. Walkers were near. We didn't know where but I made sure my hand was firmly on my gun and followed behind everyone else.