𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 ➳ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

Chapter 7 ~ Ambushed By Walkers

The sound of walkers moaning was the first thing I heard as we made our way through the deserted streets of a town nearby. It filled my ears, suddenly bringing back the memories of Owen's death to me in flashes.

Owen tackled one of the walkers that was coming closer to us. Walkers immediately began to swarm around him.

"GO!" he called after us.

"NO! NO!" I cried out in horror.

I hadn't even realized that my breathing had picked up before someone put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched at their touch before realizing it was Sasha. She was usually tough and stand-offish but right now, her eyes were filled with concern.

"You okay?" she asked me kindly.

Slowly, I nodded and shot her a small smile.

"I'm fine." I lied and believing it, she nodded before walking off up ahead into one of the stores.

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and tried to even my breathing. From out of the corner of my eye, I felt Rick watching me but I ignored it and stepped into one of the stores that read 'Trader Joe's' above it. Fingering the cool metal of the gun in my hand, I made my way down one of the empty aisles. Dented cans littered the floor and most of the shelves were bare, already picked clean by other survivors passing through. My combat boots thudded loudly in the quietness of the tiny store, the dimness making it hard to see. Glancing up, I saw a sign over that read 'infant care' and headed down the next aisle.

I ran my hand across the bare shelves before my fingers found a dented can. Furrowing my eyebrows, I picked it up and rolled it over to read the label. In big black letters, I could just make out the word 'Gerber's'. I grinned. I'd found it! Quickly, I unzipped the backpack Sasha had given me earlier and threw the can in.

Scanning the rest of the shelf, I noticed more cans littering the nearly-empty row. I grabbed them all and dumped them into the backpack. Taking one last glance around the store, I didn't see anything else Judith would need. I slung the backpack over my shoulder and turned to go. And Rick thought I couldn't take care of myself, I thought sarcastically as I took a step towards the door. All of a sudden, empty boxes that lined the shelf opposite me fell off and the shelf teetered dangerously.

Before I had time to react, I saw what had made them fall. A walker limped its way to me from around the corner. Half of its face was bloody and you could clearly see where the skin covering its teeth had been ripped off. Drat! I almost made it out of here scot-free. Holding the gun up high, I aimed it at the walker's head. I lined it up perfectly but just as I was about to pull the trigger, something latched onto my arm.

A shriek bubbled up in my throat as I turned to see another walker but I bit it back. Struggling to break free of the walker's grip, I tried to pry the corpse's hand from my arm. I almost had it too when the other walker from before lunged at me. I dodged out of the way but the walker latched onto my arm came with me, making me lose my balance from the added weight. We went down with a thud, landing in the pile of empty boxes and my gun went off. A loud shot rang through the air while the other walker shuffled over and running into the other, fell on me as well.

I glanced over to find my gun but it had skidded across the floor far away from me. A groan emitted from my lips as I tried to keep both the walkers at arms-length. Their teeth gnashed at me, glassy-eyes staring into mine mindlessly. Tears pricked my brown eyes. So this was it. This was how I was going to die.

Just like Owen... But not just me... No, the baby too... And that was just too cruel a fate for an innocent. Maybe Rick had been right after all, I couldn't handle this. Not when I had the baby to protect.

With a burst of determination, I shoved one of the walkers hard in the chest. It tumbled over, its skull making a light crack! sound as its head got shish kebabed on a pole connected to the shelf. Scrambling across the floor, the other walker was hot on my heels. I could hear its teeth grinding together as it made a grab for my ankle. Reaching until my arm hurt, my fingertips grazed the cool metal of the handgun and I gripped it tightly in my hand. I whipped back around and with perfect precision, pulled hard on the trigger.

The bullet whooshed out of the chamber and embedded itself in the walker's skull with a satisfying bang! I grinned and let out a sigh of relief, letting the gun fall to my side. Suddenly, a loud clamor of footsteps rushed into the tiny store and I looked up to see Rick, Daryl, and Sasha run inside. With a smug smile, I picked myself up off the floor and strolled over to Rick. Flicking the safety to 'on' on my gun, I pushed the gun into Rick's chest. His hands went to hold it instinctively.

"See? Told you I could handle myself." I grinned, shooting him a wink as I walked out the door.