Left to Wander • • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Nine

Shane had suddenly erupted from where ever he had been and carried the duffel of guns and rifles. He handed them out like candy on halloween and I had a feeling I already knew what was going to happen. Tensions started to fly like last time and he handed everybody who knew how to shoot guns. He was planning on cleaning out the barn of walkers without Rick or Hershel. I sigh as I put my gun away trying to show I wasn't on his side.

"You with me Naya?" Shane asked and I looked up at him. I glanced towards Carl who wanted to stay and Daryl who wanted us safe. I shook my head slightly glancing away.

"No Shane. This isn't right we can't do this." I said with a firm tone not wanting to leave either. It was safer here than out there I glanced at Daryl and he shook his head slightly. "Besides we need to stay to look for Sophia!" I said wanting to find Carol's little girl for her. Soon my thoughts were interrupted by growls and groans off in the distance. Two walkers being led by Hershel and Rick. I felt my eyes widen surprised at what was happening, not to mention confused why he was parading these walkers around like show horses.

We ran to where Rick was walking, trying to put more walkers in a barn and Carl struggled to keep up. He held his sides slightly and I glanced at Shane and Rick. Shane started to shoot the walker. Hershel knew the vital spots of living, heart, lungs, stomach, eventually the head to which the walker finally collapsed. I sighed softly dropping my head as Shane continued to shout like his life depended on it. He soon enough broke open the barn doors and one by one the walkers spilled out. I pulled out my own gun to assist not wanting anyone to get hurt. The blasts of gunfire had erupted as those who were shooting stood in a line. The walkers had all collapsed and I looked at Daryl then back at the mass of bodies lying on the ground. I sighed softly as thoughts ran through my head, mainly the one were this will now be a common occurrence, killing walkers. After it calmed soft growling and groaning aroused from the barn we waited as one last walker stepped out, the one thing we were hoping wouldn't happened now dawned upon us. A child walked out and Carols cry erupted as she fell to her knees. Sophia walked into the light and I looked away disappointed. Rick was the one to step up and put the poor girl out of her misery. Carol's sobbing continued and put my gun away as the silence was overwhelming.

One of the Hershel's girls, Beth, ran to her mother and tried to get her to wake up, which the corpse started to move and grab onto the mourning girl. We pulled her away as he sobbing continued as Andrea stuck a sythe through the walkers head. It fell and the Greene family started making their way back to their home to grieve over the final death of their loved ones.

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The plan was to bury Sophia and the Greene's loved ones then to burn the rest of the bodies. I went to Daryl who had just left the RV from trying to comfort Carol.

"How is she?" I asked concerned glancing at the door behind him, I couldn't see her but I could hear that her sobbing had stopped. He shook his head slightly and I sighed. "I wish we never cleared out that barn, it was terrible and now all the bodies we have to take care of? This is going to be a long day." I say and I got off to help move bodies. I helped throw them onto the pick up truck. Everyone had started digging except for Daryl who decided to comfort Carol further. She sat in the RV before she left for the woods, saying she needed to think. We didn't question her much since this was a sensitive thing for her. I sat at the graves that were finally made for the bodies. I had a small flask that I had brought only having about two swallows left of booze. I drank them quickly which made me slightly dizzy but I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.

Rick soon came up by my side and sat down beside me. I sighed and gazed upon the lonely dirt grave. "I haven't sat near a grave in forever. I haven't been able to at least." I started breaking the silence between us. I glanced at Rick and gave a weak smile. "My brother, he was buried back in Wisconsin and then... My parents just up and left. They blame me for the accident... Saying I was the one who tripped but... I know the truth. I guess I haven't had the proper goodbye for him either." I said gently and stood as Rick watched me.

"I'm sorry for your loss Naya. That must have been hard." His voice was caring and gentle, careful not to step on any open wounds. I nodded and walked off to the RV sitting by myself to think. I pulled out the photo I had from the Christmas of the accident. I smiled weakly as my thumb wiped over my brothers face, cleaning off the little bit of dust. I sigh and shake my head at myself. "Why'd you have to go? You always knew what to do." I mumble and I put my picture back to look for Daryl. Maybe he'd know how to take away pain, at least get numb to it.