Amber Grimes

Twenty Six

We followed dad for months, scavenging through houses and neighbourhoods for food, supplies and somewhere safe to sleep. Through the winter and into early spring, we all followed dad.

I slowly walked into the house, carrying a pillow and a backpack as Daryl and Glenn threw the walkers bodies into the hall. " You alright?" Dad asked, stopping me and holding my head. " Yeah I'm okay" I smiled " Alright" he mumbled, letting me walk into the living room.

I dropped my bag on the floor beside Maggie, getting ready to sit on the wooden floors when Daryl grabbed my arm. " You ain't sitting on the floor, come on" he said, turning me to the sofa. " I can sit on the floor Daryl", " You've had too many close calls the last couple weeks, so you'll listen to me or I'll make you" Daryl said, giving me a look. I rolled my eyes as he handed me some food he had wrapped in a cloth. " Fine" I said, taking the food.

Carl ran in with a can, grabbing a can opener we had found and cut the can open. Dad turned, picked it up and threw it across the room. The smell of the dog food made me sick. I held my mouth, gagging silently. " Maggie" Dad called " Come on, let's get some air.".

Maggie helped me up and brought me outside for some air, " Take a breath, Glenn will clean it up.". I nodded, holding her hand tight, " Shit, we gotta go" I said, catching Maggies attention as she looked out and saw the small herd coming this way. " Rick, we gotta go.". Everyone grabbed their things and ran to the cars.

We drove off in a hurry, only stopping when we were back on the road and the coast was clear. Everyone got out of their cars, except for me and mom. I couldn't do the whole getting in and out of cars so easily anymore. " You doing alright baby?" Mom asked, " I can't take much more travelling mom", " I know baby. Your dad will find us somewhere safe soon, you just gotta hold on a bit longer.". I nodded my head and looked out the window. I have to hold on a bit longer.

Dad and Daryl ran back to the cars, " We found somewhere, let's go.". Dad said, excitement in his voice before we were all back on the road again.

I stared out the window at the huge prison in front of us, its long metal fences still standing strong. " What prison is this?" I asked, " No idea, but its got strong gates. Strong enough for us to stay the night.".

We parked the cars away from the prison, taking some supplies with us as we all snuck around the walkers and cut a hole in the fence. We all went through, using some wire and a lock to close and secure the hole we had made. We walked through the fences, cutting the lock off the huge gate that used to open for people coming to visit their loved ones.

" So what's the plan?" I asked, " We need to close that gate up there. We close that gate it will take us five minutes to clear this section, then we can stay here the night.". Dad said, " I'll do it, I'm the fastest" Glenn volunteered. " No, you and Daryl go up that tower and keep the walkers off me, Carol, you and Hershel use the opposite tower to do the same. You're a good shot, but we don't have the bullets to waste, take your time. The rest of you distract the walkers and kill as many as you can through the fence. I'll secure the gate.".

We all agreed and got in position, " Dont lose your arrows" I smirked at Daryl as I held the door open for him and Glenn. Daryl stopped and gave me a look " My arrows do more damage than your stupid knife", " Careful, you wouldn't want to piss off a pregnant woman, would ya?" I asked with a smile. Daryl chuckled before pushing me slightly " Yeah, yeah, just don't get into trouble. I ain't jumping from this tower to save your ass.".

Once everyone was in position, mom let dad through the gate. Carl, Maggie, Beth, mom and I started smacking the fence and yelling, walking further down the path as the walkers followed us. Our people in the tower killed the walkers that got too close to dad as he got closer and closer to the gate. We killed whatever walkers were at the fence before dad had closed and locked the gate, letting us easily clear out the first fence and blocking the gate with a turned over truck.