The Walking Dead

Chapter 20

Laughter erupted around the camp, the fire twinkling merrily in their eyes. I smiled slightly at the sight. "You actually fell out of a tree?" Shane snorted a laugh.

I shrugged. "Well, yeah. But I was thinking of something, so I was distracted." A faint blush pained my cheeks.

 "You were thinking about me, weren't you?" Daryl smirked, looking down at me.

I scowled, my blush deepening. "No." I denied weakly.

"Your blush says other wise." Lori commented.

"I came out to have a good time and i'm honestly feeling so attacked right now." I said sarcastically.

 I stood up and stretched. "I'm going to sleep, I'll see you guys in the morning." 

Daryl stood up and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Night Faith." He said.

"G-Goodnight Daryl." I stuttered, blushing furiously. I turned and walked back to my tree. When I settled down for the night, I could still feel Daryl's lips pressed against my cheek.

***

I jolted awake, immediately alert. I couldn't remember what exactly caused me to become awake, but I grabbed my bow, machetes, and knifes, and jumped from the tree branches. I landed with a soft thump at the base of the tree, and straightened up, peering through the darkness of night. 

I could feel my heart beating, and took slow, measured breaths. Listening intently, I could hear the faint moans of walkers. I whispered a harsh curse, and took off towards Ricks tent. "Rick!" I hissed. "Rick, wake up! Walkers are on their way! Get out of bed you lazy lump and grab your weapons!"

I ducked out of the tent  when I saw him stand up, and made my way towards Daryl's tent, "Daryl." I got on my knees and shook him awake. 

"Wha?" He slurred, grabbing his bow and aiming it at my face. 

"Walkers, wake up, grab your bow and meet me out there. Quickly." I hissed, unfazed by the bow aiming at my face.

Daryl nodded, sleepiness vanishing from his facial features. I ducked back out to see the first cluster of dead corpses walking towards us. Rick had taken the courtesy to wake up the others, and was waiting with the other men willing to fight - which meant Ed was not there - a little bit from Daryl's tent. I hurried over there, twirling a knife between my hands nervously. 

"... many there are." I caught the end of Ricks sentence, and stood next to him with my arms crossed over my chest. Daryl joined shortly after.

"Is everyone safe?" I asked quickly. Just as I finished the question, a scream ripped through the clearing. 

"Ed." Shane muttered, grabbing his gun and pulling three people away. He headed towards Ed's tent and the rest of us heard multiple gunshots, then turned to the swarm coming in our direction. 

I pulled out my machetes with a low hiss of metal sliding against the hard plastic covering of it's case. I flicked my wrists in a circular motion, and took a step forward. My eyes gleamed in the harsh light of the coming dawn, adrenaline starting to course through my body.

I slashed, blocking everything out - worry about Sophia and Daryl, the sound of gunshots, the groan of walkers, everything. I fell onto the hoard, the others following my lead. The fight went quickly, as far as I know. I even got to use my bow a few times, and let me tell you, there is nothing like the feeling of looking down the sights and releasing an arrow. 

Minuets, or possibly hours later, corpses and pools of dark blood lay around the camp. I stared, breathing heavily. Blood covered most of my shirt and pants. It stuck to my face and neck, and I longed to jump into the flowing river. 

But I couldn't. 

I had to stay behind and watch for stragglers, just in case some of them were lacking behind when the horde reached the camp. I slid my machetes into the 'X' formation on my back and slid my bow across my body. Weak dawn light filtered through the camp, illuminating it with a false sense of peace. I shivered at the deception of the beauty. 

My eyes roamed over the camp carefully, combing everything thoroughly. I felt my breath freeze in my throat at the sight I watched. My legs spurred into action, but I knew I would be too late this time. "Sophia!" The strangled scream tore from my throat and cut through the air. 

I knew, no mater how much blood I spilled to keep her safe, it wouldn't matter. She was a locked target, and I was a helpless passer-by. Her small, innocent scream pierced the air. Pierced my heart, my whole being. 

My strangled scream joined in hers with her high-pitched one. I pushed on, running the ffastest I had ever run in my life. I pushed the walker off, grabbed one of my knifes, and sunk it into the skull of the bastard with a scream.

I left the black handle sticking out of the skull and crawled over to Sophia's still body. A stong sob racked my body as I bent over her and scooped her into my arms. Tears slipped down my face as I ran as gently as I could with her in my arms. 

I skidded to a stop, set down Sophia's too-light of a body, and screamed, "Daryl! Carol! Rick!" As loud as I could. They came running, but froze at the sight of Sophia's fragile body. 

Carol let out a scream, "My baby!" before running over and pushing me out of the way with more force than she ever touched anyone with. She collapsed in a fit of sobs by her daughter.

"F-Faith." The girl couched, reaching towards me. 

I crawled toward her, dry sobs wracking my body. "I'm here. I'm here." I whispered, clasping her hand in my own. 

'I-It wasn't y-your fault." She sputtered. 

I shook my head, tears streaming. "It was. I should have been looking out for you!" 

"You aren't my mother. My mother should have been watching me." She whispered. 

I cried harder at her words. "Carol was busy, she couldn't watch you."

"I don't want to be a walker." She whispered. A tear slipped down her pale, flushed cheek. 

I shook my head. "I won't let that happen."

Carol and I watched in silence as Sophia's eyes glazed over. I took a deep breath, pulled myself together, and looked at Carol. "Do you want to do it?" I asked.

She shook her head and stumbled back. "I-I can't. She's my daughter. I can't." she muttered.

I nodded, stood up, and grabbed my Smith & Wesson. I lined up the sight so that Sophia's head was right on. and squeezed.

The bam echoed everywhere.

The gun fell from my fingers, and I collapsed on the ground in a fit of tears. Grief and guilt slammed home, and fought for dominance. I had lost Sophia at a young age, and I couldn't bear the guilt.

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*Cries* SOPHIA'S DEAD! SHE'S DEAD! Why must I be so cruel!? Its only gonna get worse, you guys will be soooo mad at me. oh god... I still love you?

COMMENT, VOTE, SHARE, FOLLOW! 

I'M IN SAN DIEGO FOR A WEDDING. I'm supposed to go to Barns & Nobles tomorrow, then the comic store next to it, and oooohhhh gooodnesss. I'm so excited! Anyways, I'm going to bed. Sorry for the late update. I've had writers block :( 

Stay nerdy, guys. <3

~Three