Shattered

Chapter Ten: Save Her

      I stood around the graves again and Rick started speaking about Dale. "He always said what he thought, how he thought. That type of honesty is rare and brave. Whenever I would make a decision I would look at Dale and he would give me that look. We've all seen it at one time or another. I couldn't always read him but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us we didn't even know. He said this group is broken.. Best way to honor him is fix it." 
      I looked over at Daryl trying to read him but instead he was looking at Carol. I walked away not knowing what to really do. Hershel smiled but I couldn't return it. They were moving into the house but I was left. I just moved back up near the porch. Sophia and Carl were off together again while everyone moved into the house. Daryl was at the shed fixing the hole it the side. "Do you know why Glenn is avoiding me?" "He's a guy Maggie. Get used to it. They like to ignore the people that care about them."
     "You still falling over him? "No. He's just.." "Ok well you keep dreaming. I'm going to talk to him." I nodded and stared off. "What are you starin' at?" "Shane. He looks good with a shaved head." I glanced at Daryl who looked a little pissed. "I think I'll go talk to him."
     "Stay away from him Ellis. He's bad news." "Maybe I like that about him." "He's a killer." I rolled my eyes and went to step off the porch. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "I mean it. Stay away from him." His eyes went dark and I nodded. "Ok Dixon. I won't go near him. Now will you give me back my arm?" He looked down and let go of me as though I was a walker. I needed to walk. Mostly just to get out of there.

      "Rick! He ran up and knocked me in the face. He's got my gun!" "Grace go with Daryl, I'll take Shane. Glenn get everyone back in the house." I nodded and Maggie took Glenn's hand. We followed Shane into the woods. I highly doubt an injured teenager got the jump on Shane and took his gun. Plus giving him that big of a wound on his nose? That's what I could do not Randall.
       "There's no point in tracking him if I knew which way he went." "There is if you're lying." "You really think I would lie about something like this?" I watched his face and saw the corner of his lip twitch. Rick stopped us and sent Daryl and me on the right. We walked through the dark with a small flashlight.
       Daryl stopped and headed back the way we came. He stopped again and I ran into him. He grabbed my hand before I could fall. "We need to start back at the beginning. Shane was blocking something." "Like maybe the blood on that tree." We walked a little further and he started telling me about the dust. "Something went down. Hello trouble." I looked down and saw the blind fold. I was about to say something when we heard a snap. He pulled me behind the tree and pressed me close in front of him. He was warm even in the cold air. His woodsy smell filled my nose almost making me relax. Forgetting the situation we were in at the moment. "Take the left." I nodded and moved to the left. I pulled out my knife and Randall tackled me to the ground. I fell and fought to get him off me. An arrow came close to my face and he was pulled off.
       "He got his neck broke. It doesn't even look like he has any bites." "I need to tell you something. Everyone who dies changes into a walker. The bite and scratches just kill you sooner. Rick didn't want me saying anything." He nodded and pulled his arrow out of Randall's skull. "I won't say anything." I looked up at him and noticed the height difference for the first time. I went up to his chin. It made me want to laugh but it didn't seem like a laughing situation. "We should.. uh.. get back." He nodded and stepped back from me. We walked back into camp after hearing the gunshot. I walked up to the porch with Daryl and everyone started coming out.
       "What's going on?" "No idea." We walked inside and everyone sat in the living room waiting for Rick and Carl. "Look Shane ain't no tracker he didn't come up behind Randall." "We think Shane killed Randall." "Will you please go out and try to find him. Please the both of you." I nodded and we walked back outside. I hopped off the porch and looked out at the field. "Walkers.." "Must've been lured by the shot." "The herd passed the highway should we just go inside?" 
     "Unless there's a tunnel downstairs I don't know about it won't do much good." "A herd that size will bring down the whole house." I grabbed my guns and unzipped the bag. "Start taking them." "Carl's gone!" I cussed under my breath and put a rifle on my back. "I'm going to check near the shed for Carl." "You'll get killed." "Worried Dixon?" I started running towards the shed and looked for Carl. Everyone started grabbing the vehicles and packed their stuff. I got on top of the shed and started shooting at the walkers. I killed one heading for Daryl and tried to get my heart to stop thinking for me. I looked back out at the woods and saw more coming. I covered whoever was near the barn and I saw Carl with them. I heard a scream and knew we lost someone. I reached down and pulled Carol up onto the shed's roof. "Andrea! Get out of there!" "Grace did you see Sophia? Please tell you saw my baby!" "T-Dog has her in the truck." Daryl came by on the motorcycle and I handed Carol down to him. "Ellis!" "Daryl just take her. I'll be fine!" "I'm not leaving you behind." "Go! Just save Carol before it's too late." He gave me one last long look and drove away.
      Tears rolled down my face as I watched him leave. Walkers saw me and started to try and knock down the shed. I kept on shooting listening to the hungry groans from beneath me.