Shattered

Chapter Eight: Bullets

        I woke up outside on the cot quickly looking around to hear Andrews talking with Greene. They smiled up at me and I just walked away. Something didn't seem right at all. The group was over at their camp talking something out. I walked in the house and Maggie was eating breakfast with Beth, Jimmy and Patricia. "Where's Hershel?" "Out. He'll be back." I nodded and walked back outside. I went up to their camp and everyone turned to me. "You know?" "Yeah I reckon I do." "What do you want to do about it then?" "I'm not sure. What's your idea?" He glared at me and tossed their guns on the table. "Every last one of them." I looked over at Daryl and he nodded. "Hate to say it but I agree with Shane. We'll deal with Hershel later but now.. we need to do something before we're attacked in our sleep." 

      We loaded our guns and started to walk down to the barn. Rick came up with Hershel holding a walker. We ran down and Shane started freaking out. He started shooting the walker Hershel was holding and the girls ran down from the house. Shane walked over and opened the barn to have walkers come pouring out. I ran up and started shooting. Daryl came right next to me with a shot gun and I gave him a slight nod. Maggie and Beth stood shocked not knowing what to do. I lowered my gun when they stopped coming. We were about to relax when we heard another growl. I turned around slowly with my weapon drawn. Tears fell down my face when I saw who it was. She stumbled out and almost tripped over another body. Shane was about to shoot when Rick made him lower his gun.

      "This is insane Grace!" "Just do it come on. Pull the trigger." She pulled the trigger making the deer run off. "You missed." "I can see that Captain Obvious." "You need to learn how to aim. One day it could save your life." "Doubt it. I'll always have you protecting me." I laughed and pushed the hair out of my face. "I'm the older one by five minutes. It's my job to protect you forever."

     "Forever..." I pulled the trigger and Mary fell to the ground. Andrews tried to comfort me but I pushed him away. Beth went running up to her mother's corpse and didn't expect it to still be alive. I ran up and pulled her away just in time. Shane hit the walker with a pick axe and I looked over at Maggie who was crying. Hershel was in shock. I carried Beth back inside the house and she started crying on the couch. "I've got her. You go do what you need to." I nodded and walked out of the house leaving her with Maggie.

     "You don't have to do this Grace." "No you need my help." I grabbed one of the bodies and tossed it on the truck. I looked down and saw Mary laying by my feet. "Hand me a sheet." Rick carefully handed me one and I laid it out. I moved her onto the sheet and said our family prayer. "Where's Merle, Mary...?" I quietly whispered to her and wrapped her up. I carried her to the people we were to bury and continued putting bodies in the truck. I could see the pain everyone's hearts. It easy to forget they knew her.  

      I walked over to the graves carrying my sister's body. I laid her down in the grave and a hand was put near me. I looked up and saw Daryl. I took it and he helped me out of the hole. We laid the dirt upon them and stood around their graves taking a moment trying to let everything sink in.

      I ran down the dirt road in the middle of a storm. Mary's screams kept me going. I pushed my legs as fast as they would go and found her on the side of the river holding onto a tree. A few neighbors were there trying to get her to let go so they could grab her but she wouldn't do it. I heard the cracking of the tree and she sank into the water. I tossed off my jacket and dove into the water. I grabbed onto her arm and pulled her back up. I got to the side and handed her off to the paramedic. A log hit me in the head sending me back under dazed. Coming back up I grabbed onto a tree further down and pulled myself out of the water. Andrews picked me up and rushed me to the hospital with Mary. "You saved me." "I told you before I'll save you at any cost. Even my own life.." I wiped the tears away from her cold skin and smiled.