Surviving All Out War (BOOK FIVE IN THE SURVIVING THE WALKING DEAD SERIES)

Mercy For The Lost

     Tobin and Daryl walked along side me as we made our way towards the town hall building. To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. Rick was pissed that I escaped, there was no secret to that, but what he wanted to speak to me about, well, that could only mean one thing in my eyes. Death. "Hey." Daryl quietly spoke up. "You're gonna be alright. We're gonna be right there with ya." I gently nodded and let out a sigh. "What?"

     "I was just thinkin'." I responded. "Thinkin' of when times were simpler, when I didn't have anyone to worry about."

~BEGIN FLASHBACK~

     "There, we go." I smiled as I stepped back and looked at my work. "All finished." I had saved up my paychecks for a month, and now my work was complete. Paw's trailer was finally sthe way I wanted it. It was officially home. I replaced the broken windows, redid the trailer siding, repaired the roof, replaced the carpet, regrouted the shower walls, and even replaced the horrid wallpaper. Hopefully now Paw's screams will turn into soft whispers in my head. I smiled with content and began to put my tools away, wiping my hands off on my jeans.

     "Excuse me?" I quickly looked up as a man began to approach me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, miss."

     "It's fine, but you are tresspassin' on private property." I informed.

     "My apologies, but I'm looking for Roger Clemens. Does he live here?"

     "Used to."

     "What do you mean?"

     "He moved." I lied.

     "Oh, I wasn't aware. I'm from the Social Security office. When he stopped coming to his appointments, I became worried."

     "I wouldn't worry about 'em. He's happy wherever the hell he is."

     "Do you happen to know where he is?"

     "'Fraid not. Woke up one day, packed his bags, and said 'Fuck the Government', and left. Gave me the trailer and property."

     "And you're his daughter?"

     "Adopted daughter. Adopted me not long before my eighteenth birthday."

     "I see."

     "Yep." I closed the lid to the tool box and sighed. "Now, are ya gonna tell me why you're really here or are ya gonna waste my time?"

     "Excuse me?"

     "I'm not a fuckin' idiot, I know you're not from the Social Security office. Why are you really here?"

     "That's none of your concern-"

     "You really wanna play that fuckin' game?" I chuckled. "Listen here, Robert De Niro." I pulled my gun from my waistband and set it on the makeshift table. "Ya can't come onto my property actin' like someone who works for the fuckin' government and think you can get away with it."

     "Ah, it seems that I-" The man reached into his waistband and grabbed his own gun. "-brought a gun to a gun fight." The man chuckled. "Clemens, where is he?"