"I'm staying" Jacqui says "I don't want to end like Jim and Amy. Go while you can"
I go. I couldn't change her mind and I had to get out, I wanted to live, I wanted to try. I ran to the room and packed my stuff. I waited for Ana and the others. Andrea, Dale and Jacqui weren't with us when we we made it to the lobby. The doors were locked. Shane fired at it, I banged at it with my machete and T-Dog threw a chair and nothing worked.
"I have something that might help" Carol says digging around in her bag
"I don't think a nail file is gonna help" Shane says and I roll my eyes
"Your first night at camp. I washed your uniform and found this" she says as she holds a grenade in her shaky hand
"Everyone get down!" Rick yells
I ran and jumped down the steps. I laid on the ground with my head covered. I felt the ground shake underneath me and debris falling on me.
"Let's go!" Ana yelled and grabbed my hand to help me up.
we ran through the yard of the CDC. Killing walkers as they walked towards us. We had to go. I got in the RV and found myself in the same seat we were just in yesterday. I saw Andrea and Dale step out the building.
"Duck!" T-Dog instructs from the drivers seat and we all do.
The ground shook once again, this was more powerful than the first. The heat from the explosion flew in through the windows and brushed over us. After a while we all started to slowly raise our heads. The CDC was on fire and Andrea and Dale rejoined us. We drove off with the CDC behind us and no plan.
•••
We stopped on the road. Rick walked off to talk some of his feelings into a walkie talkie. Our plan was Fort Benning. We cut down the amount of our vehicles to Carols car, the RV and Daryl on his bike. I saw Shane go into the RV and became weary on the idea of being in there with him. It didn't seem to bother him about what happened back at the CDC.
"Isabelle, you don't have to" Ana says
"Where else am I gonna go?" I ask
"With Carol"
"There aren't enough seats"
"Daryls bike?"
"That's a long shot"
"There a problem here, ladies?" Shane asked
"Fuck you" I spat at him
"No need for that language"
"Don't talk to me" I said and walked away frustrated.
I didn't know who would understand. I looked at my options of people who weren't traveling in the RV. Lori, Lori and Shane were close. Rick, so was Rick and Shane. Carol, Carol had to stay with Sophia. Daryl, Daryl could. I walked to him.
"Hey, Dixon" I say trying not to be rude
"Yeah?" He grumbled
"I need a ride"
"You got the RV"
"I've got some problems with the people in the RV"
"You slept with one of them? You're in a bitch fight?"
"No. Just. Can I ride with you?"
"Tell me what happened"
"I was attacked. In the CDC. Shanes face. That was me. I think that's enough. Thanks for the ride" I said and walked past him and to his bike.
I sat on the back waiting for him. When he got on, I secured myself around his waist and he started the bike up. We led the group of cars behind us down the empty road and out of Atlanta for good.
•••
We arrived on a jammed highway. Daryl led the group through a small cleared path of cars. Bodies were left dead and untouched in cars. Soon a loud noise frightens me and Daryls stops. I turned to see Dales RV smoking and knew we were stuck.
"It was bound to happen. I knew it" he said and stepped out the RV.
Ana came out next and hugged me.
"We weren't like, separated for a long time. Calm down"
"Do you know where we are?" She asked with a huge grin on her face. I looked around and realized how close I was to my old home, on the farm with Hershel.
"Home. It's nearby!" I exclaim "why aren't we going?"
"We need this group. If they aren't there and they leave the highway. If we go, we go together"
"Blah blah" I rolled my eyes and laughed quietly
"This is a graveyard. We can siphon some fuel and other supplies. Food and clothing. It's here" Shane says to the group.
•••
I collected a few clothes and cans of food for me and the group. I turned to show Ana something and saw everyone ducking under cars. I wondered but when I saw another persons head go down, I saw a walker in the distance.
"Get under the car. Now" I say in a hushed tone to Ana and pull her under the car with me
"What?"
"Shhh" I tell her and point to the outside.
A walker passes out car. And soon, many other pairs of feet shuffle past. I watched as dirty shoes and decaying ankles dragged across the asphalt. The ground was hot, but not so hot under the cars, as they had been parked for months I'm assuming. I waited until less and less feet turned into none. I waited still. I did hear a scream soon, I looked forward and saw Sophia under a car that a walker was crawling under. I rolled out from under the car to help her but Ana grabbed my ankle and I fell forward. She dragged me back under the car.
"Isabelle. You can't" she whispered "it's not your job. You need to stay alive"
"While that girl dies?"
"What's the change of heart?"
"Dixons bike is magic"
"Okay" she said and rolled her eyes at me.
I waited until she got out from under the car to know I was clear and I was. I looked around as the herd was behind us and the bigger problem now, was Sophia.
