Fighting to Survive: The 3rd installment to Daring to Feel

Chapter 12: A Storm

As we sit there in the silence we hear grumbling from across the road. Just as we start to get ready to take out the walkers, 3 feral dogs make their way out into the street. They stay standing in place, growling and ready to attack us. I eye a few people, unsure what we should do but silenced gun shots go off before anyone can say anything or take further action. Sasha stands to the side, her gun lowering as they die there. We get to eat something that night, even if it is dog, it's meat. I try and stay out of people's conversations, too tired to talk or too even listen. Daryl is fine with that, allowing me to rest on his lap while he takes first watch.

The next day we move along, going in the same direction we have been, moving slower than the past few days, "is this what its come too?" I ask Rick from the front of the group, "walking aimlessly?"

"I don't know much else we can do" he returns shifting a sleeping baby in his arms.

She coo's at the movement but stays asleep, "this isn't a way for her to live." I remind him, "it's not a way for anyone of us to live." I add on.

"You haven't been having any nightmares lately. That's real good" he changes the subject.

I shrug, "I think my body is just too tired to come up with some crazy subconscious story" I reply back, actually believing that to be the reason.

He looks at me, "maybe. Or maybe it has something to do with being back around Daryl" he offers the idea.

I mull it over, having thought of that myself but don't want to give in to that conversation, "could be, who knows." Is all I decide to say back.

He turns his head and scans the crowd, "where is Dixon anyway?" He asks.

My heart sinks and I turn my body around completely, "what?" I stammer out. I search the crowd as well but don't see his familiar dark head of hair or tanned arms anywhere. "Daryl?!" I shout out worried. I move among the passing people, "Daryl?!" I shout again.

"He went off to look for some water." Glenn comes over and whispers to me, seeing how eager I was to find him.

I grab his arm and exhale deeply, "oh, Jesus." I mumble out. Although I'm angry at him for just leaving and telling only Glenn what he was doing I keep moving, using the energy that pulsed through me when I thought he was missing to keep me going. We don't go much further though before Rick stops, "what's going on?" I ask when others begin to stop as well.

"something ain't right" Abraham says lowly.

"There's water.. just, just sitting there." Maggie gets out with a confused look on her face.

I peek out from behind the small crowded half circle and see what they are talking about. In the middle of the road lies water. Bottles and gallons of it just sitting there. A piece of paper lies on the ground next to it, "from a friend?" I read it out loud where I am standing, being the last to see it.

Rick goes over and grabs it from the ground, his body tense with worry and anger. We all start to look around us, ready to attack whoever is following us. Daryl comes out of the woods just then and Rick brings the sign over to him, allowing him to see it. After a moment he thrusts it back toward Rick and swings his bow up, "what else are we gonna do?" Tara asks out loud.

"Not this." Rick retorts back quickly, "we don't know who left it."

"If that's a trap, we already happen to be in it." Eugene speaks up. My eyes find him in the circle, his staring down at the liquid with temptation, "but I, for one, would like to think it is indeed from a friend."

"What if it isn't?" Michonne argues, "they put something in it?" She offers the idea.

"We'd drop and be out for the count" I shrug, starting to agree with her, "who knows what'd they do with us."