Shattered

Chapter Five: Killer

      "Grace can I talk to you?" I put down the apple I was holding and turned to see Rick. I nodded and left the kitchen. We started walking around the farm. "You seem to have made yourself at home on the farm." "Yeah. He wanted us gone at first until he realized that would mean saying goodbye to his son Josh." "How did you get the president?" 

       "We're some of the best people I know and we were sent to take him to the safe camp in Atlanta. It didn't work out." He nodded and looked out at the view in front of us. "I'm sure you didn't pull me away to talk about politics." "No.. no I didn't. I don't know what to do. Back at the CDC a doctor told me about the virus or whatever this is." "And you don't know what to tell your group. Telling them that they're all infected is going to send them through a wild cycle of emotions. You have to be ready for that." 

       "You knew?" "Please I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't know what was going on." We leaned against the fence in silence again. I lit a cigarette and looked at the two groups. "You're a good person Grace." "So are you Officer Friendly. Just don't leave anyone else for dead." I winked at him and we went over to the truck. Shane laid out a map and started telling people where to go. Hershel walked up shaking his head. "You two aren't going anywhere. You walk on that ankle and you'll be out for months. Rick you gave two transfusions. You'll pass out from exhaustion." "Guess it's just me then." I looked back at Daryl and he started walking away. Rick gave me a pleading look and I went after him. "Dixon!" "What?" His anger made me step back but I slowly walked up. "Let me go with you. I've got my gun if anything goes south." "I don't need your damn help!" I watched him walk into the woods and I went after him at a distance. I walked silently behind him watching him look at the ground as though he was looking at a paint trail. 

       He came up to a house and went inside. I hid behind a bush silently watching him. I heard walking behind me and I pulled out my knife. I didn't take my eyes off the house when I stabbed the walker in the head. I wiped it off on my pants and put it back in the holder. Daryl walked out looking pissed. He was about to walk back but went over to the flowers instead. He bent down and looked at it and almost smiled. I on the other hand was smiling. He must really care about the girl to do this. I walked back with him and he turned around quickly. I thought he was going to shoot me until I heard the thud behind me.

      "You spying on me now?" "No, Daryl I was worried. I don't think anyone should be off on their own." "Then quit thinkin'." He stormed off and didn't look back. I wondered if he was smiling to himself like I did the other day.

      "Mary?" "Merle!" I looked over and saw Daryl across the farm. We held our gaze before the front door of the house opened. "Grace she's not inside." I ran in and looked around the bedroom but didn't see anything. Her stuff was gone and there was no sign of Merle. "Serge you need to see this." I walked past Greene and followed Andrews outside. There were tire tracks leading away from the farm but didn't match any of our vehicles. "They left.." I stood up and opened the back of the jeep. I was grabbing my bow when I heard a shot. I dropped everything and pulled out my sidearm running down to where I heard the shot. I looked down at the ground and saw blood. Inside I saw the president. "Mr. President! Jon! God damnit. Who did this? Who?!" He choked on the blood falling from his mouth and was gone. I threw my knife into his skull and kicked the wood. I slammed my palms to my head and wanted to scream. Andrews put his hand on my shoulder gently. "Serge its ok." "We had one job and he was killed. We risked our men for this piece of shit! We lost men Andrews!" "What the hell is going on here?"

      "Who here is carrying?" "We all are." "That's a problem then. I don't want any guns here. Rick and Grace are the only ones allowed to keep their sidearm. You have a problem with that you can leave."

      I grabbed Jon's legs and Andrews grabbed his shoulders. "You can borrow the truck, Grace." I nodded and we walked him up the hill. I laid him in the back of the truck and we went down to a different field. I rode in the bed of the truck making sure he didn't fall out. That would be embarrassing. I watched the trees go by and wondered how many people looked at the same scene. It all seems unreal to know we are some of the last people to see the world so empty but so very cruel. He pulled to a stop and we got out. I took out my rosary and said my prayer to the dead. Andrews lit the body on fire and we stayed till it stopped. It seems cruel to just light someone on fire like this but they're dead and no one cares for graves anymore. We sat on the back of the truck and he put his arm around me. "Kind of makes you miss deployment." "Yeah it does. Back then we knew our families were safe. No one died twice in a day." We both let out a small laugh at the thought. "You like Dixon don't you?" "No. He just interests me.." "Oh ya Im sure." I slapped the back of his head and he got back in the drivers seat. I heard him mocking me the whole way back. 

       I jumped off the back and everyone turned to us. Andrews pointed at my neck and I quickly put my rosary back under my shirt. "What's up?" "Nothing but because of you we had to turn our guns in." Shane stepped up trying to intimidate me. "I would agree with you but my men had to give up their guns as well." "Those aren't men. They're pathetic excuses for you to act like you have any control." "What's your problem with me?"

      "Everything." Andrews and Rick pulled us away from each other sensing the fight about to start. I pulled my arm out of his grip and left. Who the hell does he think he is?