My Secrets In The Apocalypse

Chapter 2

Riley was sitting by the fire as she usually did. Things around camp were a little more lively today as a few people were preparing for a supply run into the city. She watched them as they went about packing up various supplies and weapons they might need. She noticed how Amy was fretting over Andrea while she was preparing, begging her not to go and telling her how worried she was that her sister might die. She also noticed how inexperienced Andrea seemed to be with her gun as she fumbled with it, loading it slowly and holding it awkwardly.

Riley made a mental note of it. It was important to know who would be able to handle themselves in case of an emergency and who would be dead weight.

She watched as Glenn and T-dog spoke with Dale about borrowing a toolbox, finding it important to remember that Dale had tools. She watched as the Dixon brothers went their separate ways, Merle joining the group going into the city and Daryl heading out on a hunting trip. Once a few more people finally joined up with the group they left, heading toward Atlanta.

After the group left, the camp became quiet. Riley watched as Carol and Amy hung some wet laundry out to dry but soon lost interest in them. Dale was on the roof of the RV keeping lookout, Shane and Lori had snuck off to the woods together, and the children were playing a card game by the RV. Deciding there was nothing important happening around camp any time soon, Riley decided to take a walk and stretch her legs a little. She headed toward the water, walking slowly since there wasn't any rush. As she made her way past some of the other's tents Ed decided to grace her with his presence. He walked out from behind the nearest tent and stood directly in her path.

"Where the hell ya think you're goin?" Ed asked with a cold expression. Riley raised her eyebrow questioningly at him wondering if today would be the day.
"The women are over there doin laundry." He nodded his head toward Carol and Amy hanging the laundry up. "You been slackin off, sitting round here doing nuthin all the time, my shirts ain't gonna wash themselves ya know," he sneered.

Riley recognized this as him trying to "put her in her place" and of course, was going to have none of that, so she stepped around him and continued on her way.

"Hey! You don't understand cuz you retarded or sumthin? I said women are over there doin the laundry!" He grabbed her arm to stop her.

That made Riley's blood boil. She had been dealing with his dirty looks and rude comments for entirely long enough and now he wanted to put his hands on her. This was the final straw and she was about to put a stop to it.

"Don't touch me," she said turning to look him in the eye while shrugging his hand off her arm.

"Oh shit the retard CAN talk," he laughed. "And what ya think you're gonna do about it, hm?" he asked grabbing her left arm and squeezing hard.

"I'm gonna give you one chance to let go before I show you what I'll do about it," she said as calmly as she could.

"Hah!" he laughed in her face. "The fuck you think you can do little bitch?" he hissed and squeezing harder.

Riley might have been a little on the small side being 5'5, but she was strong. She was thin but had toned muscle from years of working at her old job. She was also quick on her feet and never backed down from a fight. Which is the reason she decided right then that she would show Ed exactly what she could do, and hopefully make an example of him for anyone else who thought they might try and mess with her.

Using his vice like grip on her arm to her advantage, she pulled her arm back hard throwing him off balance and bringing him down closer to her level. She then punched him in the face, just once, as hard as she could. As she watched him stumble, his lip split and bleeding, she decided that one punch was enough for now. She turned away and was about to continue on her walk when a large hand clamped onto her shoulder and yanked her back.