The Walking Dead

Chapter 5

I had spent the past few days healing from the beating I took, and now I was fully healed. I hadn't seen much of Ed lately. I hadn't seen much of Daryl lately either, and for some reason, that was affecting me in negative ways, I just couldn't begin to imagine. I think I may have been missing him. But that's crazy, right? I mean, I can't like him... right? I should be worried about trying to survive this world instead of worrying whether or not a man who tried to kidnap me is mad at me.

I strolled through the vacant camp, searching for anyone who would talk to me. Suddenly, giggles bounced from tree to tree, echoing over to me. I followed the sound, tracing it back to the river bank. My combat boots crunched gravel underfoot, dodging weeds and clumps of debris that could trip me and send me sprawling down the hill. I came around the corner, a soft smile gracing my lips as I watched the scene unfold before my eyes. Little Sophia was in the shallows of the river, the bottom of her blue faded blue jeans soaking up water. Her back was to the forest, her head down so she didn't see me, nor did she see the five walkers that were lurching their way over to her. 

"Sophia!" I screamed, shedding my coat and shirt, freeing my movements, and grabing my crossbow. Weapons glinted in the sunlight and clattered against one another and I sprinted down the riverbank towards her. Sophia's small head jerked up, her pale blonde hair flying about her as she stared at me in shock and a little fear, catching sight of my weapon-laden body. I was five feet from her, the zombies were closer. Panic fluttered around my chest, urging me to get to the sweet, innocent child standing not far from me. 

Gravel spewed from my feet, my legs kicking into overdrive. I urged myself on closer. I wasn't going to make it. I am not going to lose another person! I thought. While I was still running, I withdrew a dagger from my shoulder. I quickly cut into my skin, the coppery tang of my blood wafting over to the walkers. They changed directions from Sophia to me. I could hear the hunger in their moans, see the hunger in their dead eyes. I nearly sighed in relief, before I saw that there were more walkers coming than I normally counted, then I realized that they were coming from the forest. 

 I muttered a curse. I had handled bigger mobs than this, but there was an innocent little girl who I needed to protect. "Sophia, go find the grown ups. Tell them... we have a bit of a problem." I saw a few walkers coming over to her, so I drew more blood. Still Sophia didn't move. " Sophia, go!" Finally, I seemed to pierce her fear-clouded mind. She nodded quickly then sprinted off, her thin legs crushing soft pebbles as she disappeared around the bend. 

With her gone, I could now focus on the task at hand; not get bitten or scratched, which was hard since I had removed my shirt, exposing my black sports bra and a lot more of my skin. I sheathed my dagger and pulled out two machetes that had previously been resting in an 'X' position across my back. They came out, metal gliding against plastic with a low hiss. I twirled them around my hands expertly. 

"Let's dance boys." I smiled lethally, adrenaline surging through my body. I missed this. I may seem like a cruel person now, but wait until I save your back one day.

~*~

As soon as Sophia had come running up, breathless, pale, and seeming as if she had been scared wittless, Daryl knew that something was wrong. 

"Faith is down by the river, she's about to face a horde of walkers all by herself. She sent me back here to get you guys. I don't think she needed help, she just wanted back up instead of accidentally under calulating her chances." Sophia spoke rappidly, her hands moving animatedly, but Daryl wasn't listening. He was already sprinting away from the group he'd been formerly waiting with. His crossbow banged against his back softly, his pulse pounding against his ribs like a jackhammer. He could feel panic flit through him, imagining all the thing that those monsters could do to his beautiful Faith.