Until the End

Chapter Twenty-Six: Tomorrow never dies.

Two hours past since Kirby was reunited with Daryl, Mallorie, Carl and Glenn. The five of them were now on the lower level, Daryl, Glenn and Kirby all looking out the windows for any sign of the others as the rain was down to a light shower. Carl kept Mallorie entertained and away from the dogs like Kirby said.

"The walkers are growing less and less outside. If we could signal the others some how, we could make a run for the houseboat." Glenn said under his breath as he continued to look out the window pane.

"A gunshot would be too much, wouldn't it." Kirby joked, grinning as she tried to lighten the tension in the room.

Daryl scratched the side of his face, giving it some thought.

"Daryl has his crossbow. If the others are looking outside like us, Daryl could shoot an arrow into the opening where everyone could see." Glenn suggested.

Kirby and Daryl exchanged looks.

"It's not a bad idea." Kirby told Daryl.

"No, it's not, but what if the others don't get the concept?" Daryl asked, resting his crossbow on his knee.

Kirby pursed her lips and turned to Glenn, who sighed in return.

"Mama, look what me and Carl found." Mallorie said, grinning as she and Carl came over carrying a small box of toys.

Carl was holding a toy boat in his hand and Kirby smiled.

"You wouldn't happen to be able to shoot that boat into the middle of the road would you?" Kirby asked Daryl.

"Hn....I need some tape or somethin' to tie it with." Daryl said as Carl gave the toy boat to him.

"Here, Daddy." Mallorie said, holding out her hand.

In her hand was the hunter's bend knot that Daryl had made for her back when they were at camp. Daryl bent down to Mallorie's level and slowly took the knot in his fingers.

"Ya kept this?" Daryl asked, pleased that she had.

Mallorie nodded.

"That's my girl." Daryl murmured, pulling Mallorie in for a hug, before standing up.

He attached the toy boat to one of his arrows with the untied know.

"Get the window." Daryl said to Glenn.

Glenn lifted up the window he was at and moved out of the way for Daryl. Taking a minute to gage the distance and the angle in which he needed his arrow to fly, Daryl then pulled the trigger. The arrow sailed across the air, before piercing the ground with the toy boat in clear view.

"Do we wait for them to signal us now?" Daryl asked Glenn.

Glenn shrugged.

"I figured we wait for the others to bail, before we do." Glenn stated.

"That is if they see the signal first." Kirby said, picking Mallorie up.

Carl stood close to Kirby as the five of them waited for someone in the other group to make a move. It wasn't long until Merle, Amy, Carol, and Sophia emerged from the daycare center, all four running in the direction of the houseboat. Two minutes later Rick, Lori, Dale, Andrea, and T-Dog left the pawn shop from across the road, following the others example.

"Now is our chance." Glenn voiced, excited and scared all at the same time.

Daryl took Mallorie from Kirby and Kirby took hold of Carl's hand tightly. Glenn lead the way as they ran out of the cinema and after the others. The current walkers in the area saw the fresh meat and began to follow after everyone who had yet to make it to the Sea Beast. It didn't take long for everyone to reach the houseboat, which floated safely at the small dock.

"Mom!" Carl shouted as Kirby helped him on board.

"Carl!" Lori and Rick said happily as they gathered their son in their arms.

"Where's Jacqui and Shane?" T-Dog asked, seeing the two weren't there.

"Jacqui didn't make it." Kirby said.

"And Shane?" Rick asked.

"Wait for me!" Shane shouted as he ran through the walkers that began to crowd around him.

He was limping and with every step he took, he left a bloody footprint.

"You were bit." Rick said, his face falling with grief as Shane managed to get on board as Dale steered the houseboat away from the dock.

"No, I just snagged my leg on a piece of metal when I was leaving the store." Shane said.

"Then ya won't mind showin' us." Merle said, aiming his gun at Shane.

Rick was quick to aim his revolver at Merle's head. Which in return had Daryl aiming his .22 caliber at Rick.

"Stop it! No one is shooting anyone. If Shane wasn't bit, then he doesn't have anything to hide. If he is, then we'll deal with it when the time comes." Kirby shouted, pressing down on Daryl's and Rick's gun.

Merle followed suit in lowering his weapon as Shane's eyes ran over everyones face. Kirby didn't miss the streak of fear that flashed across Shane's face, before he hid it.

"Look, I cut my leg on a piece of glass when I fell inside the store. It's no big deal." Shane stated.

"You said that you snagged your leg on a piece of metal." Rick said, his mouth falling open at the fact that his best friend had indeed been bitten.

"Rick, please." Shane pleaded, letting his fear show.

Rick ran his free hand down his face as his eyes weld up.

"We'll have to lock you up, Shane." Rick stated.

"No! No, I refuse." Shane shouted, pointing his shotgun at Rick.

Lori cried out in fright. Merle and Daryl were now aiming their weapons at Shane.

"Put your gun down, Shane. I don't want to kill you." Rick said, shocked by Shane's actions.

"I'm sorry, Rick." Shane said before lifting the barrel under his chin.

Kirby's eyes widen as she covered Mallorie's eyes with her hand.

"Shane, no don't!" Rick shouted, right as Shane pulled the trigger.

Shane's body recoiled and toppled over the edge and into the water, leaving nothing but blood splatter and brain matter on the deck of the Sea Beast. Rick fell to his knees, his eyes wide as disbelief took over him. Daryl stood still, looking at the spot where Shane once stood. He could believe what just happened.

Kirby placed her hand on Daryl's arm as she kept her other hand covering Mallorie's eyes. Carol had taken Sophia inside, before when Shane aimed his gun at Rick. Lori had Carl turned into her stomach as tears ran down her face. Everyone was in a state of shock that Shane had actually killed himself. Right in front of them nonetheless.

Daryl swallowed, but his mouth was dry as dust. He turned away from the blood and pulled Kirby and Mallorie to him.

"Fuck." Merle huffed, breaking the silence.

"Kirby, take Mallorie inside. We have to clean this up." Daryl whispered, keeping Mallorie from seeing the blood.

Kirby nodded and took Carl inside as well as Lori went over to wrap her arms around Rick.

-

After cleaning all the blood and brain matter up off of the deck, everyone sat in the living room in silence while Carl, Mallorie and Sophia sat together on the floor.

"What now?" T-Dog asked.

"What do you mean?" Andrea questioned, holding her sister close.

"I mean what do we do now?" T-Dog asked.

"We survive the best we can. We're safest on the sea and next time when we have to dock on the main land, we'll be more prepared." Rick said, finally speaking.

"One day at a time huh." Daryl spoke up, running his fingers through Kirby's hair as she rest her head on his shoulder.

"Sounds about right." Dale said quietly as the Sea Beast moved farther out to sea.