Blood Guts And Farm Life

New People

Warning-

I had always wanted to become an EMT it was a dream I held onto for years, a way to help people and make a real difference. But, as with so many things in my life, my past got in the way, and that dream slipped through my fingers. Still, I learned a lot from the time I spent in school before everything fell apart, and those skills have proven useful, especially now. Hershel had started trusting me to help with the medical supplies, knowing I had some training. We were working together, sorting through the items I brought back from the last run. There were bandages, antibiotics, and some other essentials that hadn't been put away yet.

I kept thinking about the high school it was a goldmine for supplies, but it was crawling with the sick, making it too dangerous to approach. It had been on my mind for days now, wondering if we'd ever get a chance to go back. For now, though, we made do with what we could find.

While we were organizing the supplies, Maggie's voice suddenly cut through the air, sharp and panicked. "Hershel! Mila! Get out here, now!" Without hesitation, Hershel and I dropped what we were doing and ran outside. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline kicking in as we reached the front yard.

Standing there was a man, looking desperate, holding onto his son. The boy was pale, clearly in distress, and I could see the worry etched into the father's face. Hershel stepped forward, his voice calm but urgent. "Was he bit?" he asked, his eyes scanning the boy for any visible wounds.

The man shook his head, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He was holding something back, and the tension was thick in the air. I exchanged a quick glance with Hershel, both of us bracing for what might come next. Maggie stood nearby, her eyes wide with concern, watching the boy closely.

"Your guy shot him," the boy's father said, his voice tense. I glanced over at Hershel, who immediately went to retrieve the closest bullet from him. It had to be from Otis. I didn't trust Shane, not for a second. But they'd both left to get the supplies Hershel needed for the surgery. I had wanted to go with them, but I knew Hershel needed me here.

I was in the room, holding a glass of orange juice I made seeing how drained the father looked from giving blood to his son, I handed it to him. "Name's Rick," he said, accepting the drink. "And that's Carl." I nodded, about to leave the room, not really want to start a conversation. But before I could slip away, Rick spoke again.

"I have a feeling you'll get along with one of my group members, Daryl. You two seem alike," he said.

I raised an eyebrow, confused. Daryl? I guess that's who Maggie went to find, along with Rick's wife and the rest of their group.

Without saying much, I left the room and headed outside, sitting down on the porch. I stared out into the distance, waiting for Shane and Otis to return, the weight of the situation heavy on my mind. I noticed a car pulling up in the distance and coming to a stop, dust kicking up from the gravel road. Sitting beside Maggie on the porch, I watched as two guys got out, talking among themselves, trying to figure out how to approach the door. They seemed hesitant, like they didn’t know what to say or how to start. I could tell they were overthinking it, but before they could make up their minds, Maggie interrupted.

“Did you lock the gate?” she asked, her voice calm but firm.

They exchanged quick glances before one of them nodded. “Yeah, we locked it,” they replied.

Something about the way they said it didn’t sit right with me. I had learned a long time ago not to take people’s word for things, especially when it came to security. Without saying a word, I got up and made my way to the gate to check for myself. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the farm, and the air felt cool against my skin as I walked.

As I neared the gate, my thoughts drifted, and I found myself thinking about one of the guys the one in the baseball hat, it was obvious that he had a massive crush on her. The way he looked at her, the way he tried to act all casual, it was almost endearing. He couldn’t hide his feelings, no matter how hard he tried.

I had to admit, it was kind of funny watching him stumble over hair words. She didn’t seem to notice, or maybe she did and just chose to ignore it. Either way, the whole situation brought a rare smile to my face. It was a brief escape from the heavier thoughts that usually crowded my mind.

When I reached the gate, I checked it carefully, making sure it was securely locked. Satisfied, I turned back and started walking toward the house again, the weight of the day slowly creeping back into my mind. For a moment, though, it was nice to think about something light, something that wasn’t tied to survival or danger. Just the awkwardness of a guy with a crush trying to hide it and failing miserably.

As the blue truck came into view, my stomach tightened. Shane was in the driver’s seat, but Otis wasn’t beside him. It was clear before they even stepped out of the truck Otis hadn’t made it back. A wave of sadness threatened to overwhelm me, but I pushed it down, knowing that Hershel and the others needed me to stay strong. There was no time to mourn, not yet. Carl’s life was hanging in the balance, and every second counted.

I went straight to Hershel, who was already focused on preparing for the surgery, his face pale but determined. As we worked, I kept my thoughts centered, moving through the motions of assisting Hershel. My hands stayed steady as I handed him tools, cleaned up, and did whatever needed to be done. For now, Otis’s memory would have to wait; helping Carl was the priority.

When the surgery finally ended, and it was clear that Carl had made it through, the tension in the room eased. We all shared a collective sigh of relief, the exhaustion hitting us now that the adrenaline had worn off. Lori, overcome with gratitude, walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. The warmth of her hug was unexpected, and I felt my body tense, unfamiliar with such gestures. But I let her hold on, knowing it was her way of expressing thanks and relief.

Afterwards, I went to the kitchen, making food for Glenn and T-Dog, who had been working tirelessly to help around the farm. The whole place felt quieter than usual, with the weight of Otis’s absence lingering heavily in the air. Even though I stayed busy, that emptiness felt as if it hung over all of us.

When I finally sat down, I thought of Otis, his gentle way of speaking, his willingness to help everyone, no matter what. The ache of loss was sharp, but I held onto the thought that his sacrifice had given Carl a chance. Hershel joined me for a moment, and though we didn’t say a word, we understood. There was no need to speak we had all been through something today that words couldn’t capture.

Later that night, Rick’s group finally arrived at the farm. Relief washed over their faces, but it was mixed with exhaustion and worry. It didn’t take long to find out why. A young girl named Sophia was missing, and they’d been searching for her for days. Hearing the desperation in their voices stirred something inside me. I felt a pang of sympathy, knowing what it’s like to be out there alone. If I could help in any way, I would. Maybe on my hunting trip tomorrow, I’d keep an eye out for any signs of her. Out here, anything could be a clue, and I’d be glad to lend a hand if it meant easing their worry.

As I stood there, lost in thought, a loud motorcycle roar cut through the quiet night, growing closer until it finally stopped nearby. I turned in time to see a man on a bike pulling up, his gaze scanning the area with a look that spoke of caution and experience.

“That’s Daryl,” Rick said, nodding toward the biker. His voice held a strange note, as if there was something unspoken between them. I glanced at Rick, remembering how he’d mentioned earlier that Daryl and I might get along. Maybe he saw something similar in us, though I couldn’t quite see it myself. Right now, though, it was too late to think much more about it.

I simply nodded, acknowledging Rick’s words, but didn’t say much. After the long day, my mind was spinning, and all I wanted was to retreat to my tent and rest. Walking back, I took in the quiet of the farm, the faint sounds of people settling in and preparing for the night.