Shattered

Chapter Thirty-Six: The End

        Maggie ran through the town with Glenn holding her hand. They jumped off a truck hood just as the building behind them exploded. "Who the hell is setting those things up?" "I don't know but glad they did. Come on." They continued running back to the car and drove quickly drove back to the prison. Rick was looking frantically for Judith. Carol came walking back in holding her small hands. "Found her in Daryl's cell." "Once she's going she doesn't stop." Rick smiled down at his daughter who was now learning to walk faster. Daryl walked by without a word. He tossed more of their stuff in the back of the truck. Maggie and Glenn pulled up and shared the news of another building going up in flames. Rick quickly rounded up the group and got the rest of their stuff out of the prison. They knew they had to go after another break in. Everyone got in their vehicles and started to leave the prison. Daryl walked up in the guard tower and couldn't help but think of Grace. This was their spot and every inch of it had one of them against it at some point. He looked out the window and looked down at the graves. Carl was saying goodbye to his mother. Daryl had three people buried there even if one of them didn't have a body. A small flower was beginning to grow on Grace's.

       He got on his motorcycle and pulled away from the prison with everyone else. He looked back at the tower and could swear he saw someone standing there but looking again it was gone. No one would admit it but they weren't over Grace's death. Everything was different. Some of them were questioning if they would still be alive without her. The air was cold once more as they searched for somewhere safe to stay for as long as possible.

        A house came into their view after a few hours of driving. Rick got out with Daryl and Glenn and started moving around the house. After clearing the perimeter they moved inside. Daryl went up the stairs and checked room after room. It was oddly clean for a place that had blood all over the outside. In the last bedroom an empty pack of cigarettes stood out from the rest. Daryl looked at it and thought of Grace. They were the ones she always smoked. As he stared at the box in his hand he wondered if she was alive but in his heart he knew it was impossible. He tossed it aside and met Rick downstairs. "Clear." "We'll stay here then." Rick nodded unsure. It seemed like someone already took it as theirs. He let everyone come in and take a room. Daryl took the couch since all the other rooms were now full. He would be on watch all night anyway.

        The house was quiet as everyone slept. Daryl watched the sun peak slowly over the trees. Grace's rosary rested in his hands until he saw a dark figure standing at the edge of the trees. He stood up and took a step off the porch with his bow pointed. The figure pointed at something and disappeared. He looked towards the spot it pointed and saw walkers coming up the hill. Maggie was waken from a nightmare and was happy to see Glenn still beside her. She heard running and immediately got out of bed. Daryl told her the news and she woke up Glenn. Soon they were all fighting to get to their vehicles. Daryl plunged his knife into a walker and helped Rick off the ground. "Why are there so many?" "Don't know." Carl threw his knife at one and easily hit it. He tore it from the dead corpse and jumped in the back of the truck. Everyone was too distracted to notice Daryl and Carol fighting to the ground several feet away from each other. Rick could barely make a dent as he fought against them to get to his most trusted friend. Carol was crying and trying to get them off of her when blood sprayed her face. When she got up no one was near her. Daryl stood in a state of confusion and got the hell out of there. No one could explain what just happened but they didn't really care they were safe.

        Carl looked over at Sarah. The girl Grace gave her life to save. She was eleven and reminded him of Sophia. She was childish and immature. He could honestly say he hated her but didn't know if it was because of her personality or the fact she got his family killed. She followed Carl around like a lost puppy and it made him more pissed off than he already was.

      The night was cold and silent around a small fire. They were back to eating squirrel thanks to Daryl. They didn't mind since it kept them alive. You could hear things falling in the background but no one could figure out where it was coming from or from what. They felt an odd sense of safety as they sat together looking into the fire and actually laughing for the first time in almost a year. This was their life now and they could'nt have it any other way. The end of the world has given them a family closer than their last. It might be the end but it's also a beginning of something more.