Dave fell to the ground, his blood splattered on the mirror behind him. Then Rick shoots Tony to the ground, but not killing him. When he is finally shot twice and weak, Rick shoots him in the head. Dad and I looked at him in shock and confusion.
"Aw, I liked him" I say sarcastically standing over Dave
"Me too" Rick chimes in "but he just talked too god damn much"
"Got that right, officer"
"Check him for guns or supplies so we can get out of here"
I pat him down and all I find is a gun. I put it in my waistband and start to walk to the door.
"Car, car. Get down" Rick whispers and we all rush to hide against the door.
I listened to the car pass outside. My breaths sounded as loud as hurricane winds. I looked straight ahead of me trying to calm my breathing. I held my gun firmly in my hand.
The men outside were looking for Tony and Dave. They were right outside the door, I heard 3 different voices, men. They were right behind us and I was scared I'd make one wrong move or noise and mess it all up.
"They drew on us first" Rick yelled staying behind the door
"Who is that?" A man asks
"They drew first"
"Are they dead?" Another voice asks
"They drew on us first. We didn't have any choice. It was a mistake, wrong place and wrong time. We can avoid anything else if y-"
A gunshot fired through the window and glass rained on the back of my neck.
"Check the back exits" Rick whispered to me and pushed me forward
I stayed close to the ground and walked lightly. I found a door and tried to stay calm. I saw a shadow reach the door, it's arm reached for the handle and I immediately shot my gun through the glass.
"I'll watch you. You go first. Head for the car" I hear my Dad say
I cautiously look out. The man wasn't on the ground and I had no clue where he was. I stepped out into the alley, scared out of my mind. I walk quietly but then a gun is fired in my direction. I'm frightened by it and fell, I rolled over to a wall with a dumpster shielding me. I head another gun shot and a man wailing. Rick or Dad must've hit him but not killed him, so my Dad did it.
I hear the men wanting to leave. They were debating over on what to do. I was scared to move. A million things could go wrong. I'm a woman and there's a group full of men out there. The dumpster was my best bet. If I stepped out into the alley I'd be shot, taken, killed, stabbed or raped. The last one I feared the most. I heard footsteps and I held my gun up and ready to shoot. The closer they got, the faster my heart beat. When they are in front of me I shoot.
"Isabelle" I hear Rick grunt
"Shit" I mumble and quickly move over to him "I'm sorry. I'm sorry"
"It's fine" he groans and sits up"we need to go" he says and I help him stand up and walk.
I hear tires screech, a man yelling as walkers eat him and then another single scream followed by moans. We meet Dad in the parking lot and go see what happened. A boy was caught on a fence post, impaled, his leg.
"No" I say
"We can't leave him" Rick says
"You're bleeding!"
"He's not going to last the ride home. I say we put him out of his misery" Dad says
"Yeah" I pull out my gun
"Please. No, no" he pleaded
"You're leg is fucked. You can't run, you can't survive. Once you're dead, it won't matter what happened" I say
"Isabelle. We can try" Rick says
"If you die-"
"I'm not. You help your Dad and I'll wait in the car"
•••
Randall had been groaning the whole ride. Dad took his own car while I drove for Rick.
"How's your shoulder?" I ask
"Fine"
"I'm sorry"
"I know you didn't want me to see you venerable but, to shoot me. Damn. I won't tell anyone"
"You know, I could've been taken. I had every right to be scared"
"I didn't say you couldn't"
The sun was rising as we drove home. It was pretty quiet when Randall had most likely passed out. I had one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand was laying on the console. I was getting tired from no sleeping and then a shoot out and the alcohol. I felt a warm presence on my hand and looked down to see Ricks hand around mine. His wedding ring was cold compared to our hands. I looked at him and he smiled at me and I smiled back.
"What a crazy night" I say looking back at the road, Dad was way ahead, he liked to drive fast.
"Stop here. I need to piss"
I slowed down and pulled off to the side, not because of the amount of cars, but it was less for Rick to walk. Rick didn't get out through.
"You going?" I ask but he just looked at me "am I missing something?" He ignores me "Rick. I swear to g-"
He cut me off with a kiss. His lips to mine. I kissed back for a brief second but then pushed him back.
"Do you have to pee?" I ask looking at the road
"Isabelle" he touched my arm but I pulled away
"You know how I feel about this. You're married"
"So you like me?"
"Yes, but it doesn't and won't matter. That's why I'm staying when you guys leave"
"I'll miss you"
I start to drive and a tear falls down my face and down my cheek.
"Isabelle" Rick says sympathetically
"I'm fine" I lie "I'm fine"
I pay attention to the tear. It rolled down my cheek and down my neck. I drove fast to try and catch up as much as we could. Rick was burning holes into the right side of my face but I didn't even want to look at him. It hurt too much.
•••
We arrived at the camp a little after my Dad did. My tears had dried and Rick and I didn't talk to rest of the ride. Randall didn't wake up so we left him in the car, his hands and feet were tied and he was blindfolded.
"What took you guys so long. You were right behind me?" Dad asks
"Rick really had to pee" I said and walked to the house
"Isabelle, are you okay?" Maggie asked
"I'm fine. It's just been a long night"
•••
"What are we gonna do with him?" Shane asks as we all sat in the living room to discuss what to do with Randall
"We can fix him up and he can be on his way" Rick says
"Who's to say he won't go back to his camp and tell his boys we tied him up and they'll come back for us?" I say
"I agree" Shane says and I roll my eyes
"He'll be off his feet for a week, but after that we let him go" Dad says
"And let his group come for us?" Shane argues
"My farm, my barn, my say. As long as you're on my land, you follow my rules"
"When he can walk. We'll drive him 18 miles out and a weeks worth of supplies, then he's off for himself" Rick says "that's final"
