-8 month time jump-
It's been eight months of moving house to house.
Eight months of some odd tension in the group.
Eight months of trying to not lose hope.
Eight months of living, no, existing.
Daryl was Ricks new Shane, Lori was basically due, Carl had become a good shot. Rick and Lori didn't talk as often anymore. Maggie and Glenn were still happy but there was something stopping them from being lovey dovey. We kept moving in circles, just missing the herd from the farm. We collected cars, weapons and silencers. It was hard but we were making it. Going on the words of Rick, that was all we had.
•••
Rick, Daryl, T-Dog and Carl moved in to clear a house we found. The rest of us waited for a signal on wether we can enter or not. It was always scary, a waiting game but death was at high risk.
Daryl came out and waved for us to come in, we did, and with our belongings. Maggie and Glenn moved bodies to the side of a hallway. When Lori entered the house, Rick didn't make eye contact. I walked in after Dad. He paused to look at a dead body but then kept on. Rick closed the door behind me and pat my shoulder before proceeding to the living room. We all gathered there, it was silent. Daryl picked at an owl, everyone else set blankets on the floor and started to pick at food. Carl came in with two cans of dog food and went to open one. Rick noticed this and threw the can into the fireplace causing everyone to jump. He looked around shamelessly.
"Psst" T-Dog says from the window.
We pack up and move out, we were good at this now. We did it quick and fast.
•••
We stopped on an empty road and all got out and gathered around a map.
"We got nowhere to go" I say
"When this herd meets the other one, we'll be cut off and never make it south" Glenn says.
"Would you say that was about 150 head?" Daryl asks
"That was last week. Could be double that by now" Glenn answers
"This river" Dad points at a river on a map "that could've delayed them. If we move fast, we might have a shot to move right through there"
"But if that group meets up with the other, they could spill out this way" T-Dog opposes
"So we're blocked" Glenn says
"So all we can do it double back at 27" Rick speaks up "and swing through Greeneville"
"We've done that already"
"We've moved in circles all damn winter" I say
"Yeah. I know. At Newman we'll push west. Haven't been there yet. We can't keep going house to house. We need someplace to hole up for a few weeks"
"Alright. Is it cool if we head out to the creek before we leave? Won't take long" T-Dog asks "gotta fill up on water"
"Knock yourself out" Rick says and T-Dog leaves with Maggie and Glenn.
I leave Rick, Daryl and Hershel to join Beth.
"I'm tired of this" I say
"We all are" Beth says
•••
Rick came back after T-Dogs group did.
"We found it" he says and we follow him through the forest along railroad tracks to see a prison.
He takes wire cutters to open the fence. We watch the perimeter until Rick makes a hole big enough for us to fit through.
When he does we all move in. Jog along the inside. Walkers in prison jumpsuits on one side and walkers dressed normally on our other, but not able to reach us.
We make it to the front gate, a overturned bus was laid in front of it. Yard filled with walkers.
"It's perfect" Rick says seeing potential that I didn't see "if we can shut that gate. Keep more walkers from getting in, we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight."
"So how do we shut the gate?" Dad asks
"I'll do it. You guys cover me" Glenn says
"No. That's a suicide run" Maggie protests
"I'm the fastest"
I scoff.
"No. You, Maggie, Carol and Beth draw as many walkers as you can over there. Pop them through the fence" Rick says "Daryl and Isabelle, go back to the other tower. Take your time, we don't have a lot of ammo to waste"
His voice fades away as Daryl and I make our way to the tower. This mission was scary, I feared for Rick and everyone else. I heard everyone yelling for walkers attention. I watched Rick move through the field. Killing any walkers I could without messing up. Walkers were starting to notice Rick. But he made it to the gate and closed it before hiding in a guard tower.
"He did it" I let out a breath of relief
"Light it up" Daryl yells and we all kill the walkers in the field.
We all then entered the yard. The silence among the group was lifted. Carol pranced around the field in joy. T-Dog cheered. I kept my happiness to a minimum but it was raging on the inside.
"You can be happy, ya know?" Daryl jokes
"I am. What about you? You can be happy too"
"I know. I choose not to"
"Me too, Dixon. I'm just ready to be able to sleep without being so scared. We got a fence around us now"
"I'll stay on watch to make sure you're extra safe though. Don't want that Ana thing to happen again"
"You care about someone? Someone other that Carol? Oh my"
"Shut up. You know I care about you. We got matching backs" he jokes and pulls me into his side as we continue walking
"That's where the friendship began. But soon," I stop him and look him in the eyes "we'll be lovers"
I burst out laughing at his expression. He was confused, didn't know if he could laugh or not.
"I'm joking, Dixon!" I exclaim
"Yeah" he says with a small forced laugh
"Live a little. We got the prison now"
