Sugar Coated

>>chapter two<<

"Merle!" Riley screams at the top of her lungs.

A biter had caught her by surprise and she was now on the ground, struggling to keep the geek off her. It's nasty drool oozing out of its mouth and onto the side of her face. Causing her to scrunch her face in disgust and scream for Merle again.

"Rye!" She hears Merle yell before sprinting towards the young girl. Rye was his nickname for her.

She sighs in relief when the heavy mass was lifted off her and she could finally rest her shaky arms.

Merle quickly disposes of the threat before turning his attention to the panting girl. "Ye' alright?" He asks squattingkm next to her and placing his hand on her shoulder.

Riley sits up and nods her head, telling him she's ok.

Merle and Riley have gotten close over the past two years. Ever since she saved him.

At first, Merle was annoyed with the thought of having to care and tend to a young girl like her. He was the Lone Wolf. Who never cared about anyone except his baby brother. But after several months of surviving with her, Merle grew close to the teen without even realizing it. It was easier than he thought because Riley understood him. She knew when he needed to be alone and she knew never to bother him. She knew not to ask many questions at one time and don't ask him about anything to do with feelings.

On rare occasions, Riley would get him to spill information about his little brother, Daryl.

Riley was interested to know more about the younger Dixon. Was he like his older brother? Did they have the same piercing blue eyes? Is he going to be an asshole to her?

Riley was helping Merle search for Daryl. Merle insisted that 'no one can kill a Dixon except a Dixon' so therefore Daryl is alive somewhere.

Riley looked up to Merle. Yes Merle Dixon was a role model to someone. He had helped her become strong. How to not take shit from anyone and to shut your feelings out and ignore them. Now that's not a good quality, but it's a Dixon quality, and it rubbed off on her.

She admired his strength and courage. She admired how he was never scared and was able to kick ass no matter what time of the day. One handed, no handed, blind or asleep. She was positive he could still beat anyone in a fight.

Merle taught Riley a few tips on how to kill geeks quicker and soon they became a dynamic zombie killing duo.

Merle scoffed at the name when Riley mentioned it to him. "s'dumb"

"No it's not! I think it's cool" she says crossing her arms, offended he thought her idea was dumb.

"Says the one who liked tha' Justin Beaver kid" Merle scoffed, the two began to walk down an old abandoned highway. Well, not abandoned. A lot of empty cars were parked along it. Making it look like a graveyard pretty much.

"Bieber" Riley muttered annoyed. Their fights were always the kind of fights that siblings often had.

"Don't matter.. Still dumb" Merle scoffed yet again. Scoffing was as common as breathing to this man.

"Shut up" Riley rolled her eyes and gave him a hard shove to the shoulder, but it was like trying to move a boulder.

"Aye girl, who do you think ya are?" He griped, wiping his shoulder off like she had left some nasty substance on there from touching him.

"Riley.. I know ya ain't smart but come on.. Give yourself some credit" she said sarcastically and cracked a smile.

"Damn girl yer sassy today" Merle rolls his eyes.

They were currently on their way back to their little wood cabin in the middle of the forest. They had been holed up there for a good month or so and had been lucky to only run into a couple walkers here and there.

They just left to check out a little convenient store up the road. It had already been looted though and all they found was a couple cans of beans and one water bottle. It would have to do though.

"Hey Merle" Riley calls out, stopping Merle in his tracks. Riley pointed to a car, that had some supplies left on the hood of the car, and the windshield had writing on 'Sophia stay here...' It said but the ending was rubbed off.

Merle squints his eyes at the sign, then turns to look up and down the highway. "There was a kid in my group in Atlanta, name was Sophia.. Doubt the same one though. Grab the supplies and let's get goin'" he told her.

"What if she needs them?" Riley asks hesitantly.

"The sign is old.. See, it's rubbing off, she's not around" Merle explained. "But us.. We're here, and alive.. We need 'em more than her"

Riley nodded and started throwing the supplies in her backpack. They consisted of a bottle of orange Gatorade, three bottles of water, some granola bars, and two cans of ravioli.

Riley zipped up her bag and turned to Merle. "Re-" she starts to say but the sound of a car engine cuts her off.

Merle grabs her arm quickly and pulls her behind a van, holding his hand over her mouth in case she tried to talk. She has a tendency to breath loudly when scared. Or try to whisper to him.

The car pulled to a stop near them, and the car doors opened and shut.

They heard the sounds of footsteps approaching and a male voice call out. "The supplies are gone" he shouts.

Merle looks down at Riley, who was already looking at him.

"What?" The other voice asked, also male.

"Think she's around here?" The first male asked.

"Sophia!" The second male shouts.

"Glenn!" Voice one snaps.

"Sorry" 'Glenn' mumbled.

Merles ears perked up at the name Glenn. Sophia first? Now Glenn? 

Merle slowly peeked his head over the car, trying to get a glimpse of the two men. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Glenn, the one from his camp.. And T-dog, the asshole who dropped the key.

He wanted to run out and immediately kill them both, for leaving him up there. But he didn't. He knew he had to follow them, find out where their camp is. Maybe Daryl was there.

Merle sat back down, Riley looked up at him confused. He shook his head, letting her know he would tell her later.

"Let's go man, she's not here" T-dog says.

There wasn't an answer from Glenn, just the sound of the car doors opening and closing again.

The car starts up, and the sound of the engine fades as they drive further away. Merle shot up, and watched them turn off the highway onto a backroad.

"Come on!" He shouts and grabs Riley's arm, pulling her up and dragging her behind him as he runs towards the road they turned on

"Merle" Riley tries to stop him, but he was on a mission.

"Merle hold up!" She shouts.

"No time sweet cheeks... Gotta mission" he answers and keeps running, pulling her behind him.