Until the End

Chapter Twenty-Three: Scary movie.

Keeping his hold on Mallorie, Daryl shot an approaching walker in the head, before entering an abandoned movie theater. Mallorie cried into Daryl's shoulder as he looked around for any sign of danger.

"Daryl, the others are still out there." Glenn said as Carl moved closer to Daryl.

"So I've noticed. We have to find a safe place to stay 'til the storm is over." Daryl said, allowing Carl to clutch the back of his shirt.

Glenn followed behind them, his rifle close to his side. The banging of a door opening caused Carl to bump into Daryl. Daryl lowered Mallorie down to where Carl now held her.

"Glenn." Daryl whispered, getting Glenn's attention.

When Glenn looked over, Daryl pointed upwards to the second landing that was just low enough for Glenn to reach if he was boosted up.

"Right." Glenn whispered back.

Glenn tossed the strap of his rifle over his shoulder and placed his good leg in Daryl's cupped hands. Daryl grunted as he lifted Glenn up. As soon as Glenn was up in the closed off area, Daryl took Mallorie and lifted her over his head to Glenn. He did the same to Carl.

"How are you suppose to get up here?" Carl whispered, as Mallorie clung to him.

Carl wanted his mom and dad, but since he had neither, he was glad he was with Daryl.

"Ssh." Daryl said, placing his pointer finger against his lips as movement was heard from the door they had entered through.

Daryl crouched back behind one of the theater chairs, aiming his crossbow at whoever or whatever decided to appear. He didn't expect to see a pack of five mutilated looking dogs step within view. Each had patches of skin missing all over their bodies, all bloodied with muscles and bones showing. Daryl noticed the gray film over their eyes as they scoped out the area, sniffing the air.

'What the fuck?' Daryl thought, tense as the lead dog's head turned and stared in his direction. 'You've got to be fuckin' kiddin' me.'

Daryl inwardly groaned as he scooted backwards quietly, while keeping his eyes towards the infected dogs. Daryl cussed under his breath when his boots crunched down on some broken glass. If the growls were any warning that the dogs knew his position, Daryl didn't stay still. He moved quickly to a few rows over and kept his head down. He glanced up to where Glenn, Carl and Mallorie were. Glenn had moved the two kids behind him as he aimed his rifle down at the pack of dogs.

Glenn pulled the trigger, taking down one of the dogs and Daryl took that moment to back down a few more rows of chairs. Getting down on his stomach, Daryl glanced around underneath the chairs and spotted the body of the dog Glenn had shot. Howls broke out within the movie theater and the four dogs began jumping up towards the landing Glenn and the kids were on. Glenn jerked back when one of the dogs actually jumped off of another that was up in the air, giving it a higher vantage point.

"Oh shit, their smart." Glenn breathed, his heart racing as he took aim again.

Daryl shot the closest dog with an arrow, but risked getting the other three's attention. Getting to his feet, Daryl ran down the isle of the seats with three snarling dogs behind him.

"They split up, Daryl! One of them is coming up from behind you!" Glenn shouted.

"I know what they did, China man." Daryl huffed, pulling out his .22 caliber.

Daryl fired off a round at the dog that came from the right of him. The dog went down and Daryl jumped over it as he switched directions.

"I'm Korean!" Glenn shouted after shooting the one behind Daryl.