Survivor (Book #1 of the Survival Series)

Chapter Twenty-Three

---Juli's P.O.V---

***From here on it should go back to Juli's POV so I'm not going to write it at the top unless I switch POV's**

We ran through the forest, there were no Walkers around us which was a bit weird but I didn't care. I just lost the place I considered safe and now we had to start over, everything would be different.

"Luke." I said stopping.I could see a path sort of thing in front of us, but that's not what I was going to say because Luke obviously saw it because he was pulling me along.

"What?" he asked walking up to me. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm hurt but I can still go." I replied but was getting a little impatient. "I got hurt at the prison so I'm fine. But-"

"Where did you get hurt?" He asked examining my arms.

"No where important." It was just a few scrapes and maybe a sprained wrist but nothing I hadn't handled before. "Look Luke, we need-" I was cut off once again.

"Talk a little louder Juli, maybe the Walkers will hear you." a voice rang from the forest floor.

"What?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I looked around and saw nothing.

"Remember what Daryl told you." The voice got louder as it grew closer. "Don't talk so loud."

"Carl?" I asked, my head shot towards a rustle in the bushes and I aimed my crossbow.

"Juli! Luke!" Rick said emerging from the bushes, Carl right behind him. They looked like they were crying.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I ran to hug them.

"Judith." Carl said quietly. I looked around but didn't see her, "She's gone."

I gasped, "Gone?" I asked, "What do you mean gone?"

"I mean her carrier was empty." Rick answered.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered hugging them again.

"Juli, what were you saying before?" Luke asked, I turned to him.

"That we need to find everyone. They all went their separate directions and we need to find them, regroup and start over." I said looking at all three of then as they stood in front of me.

"I think that's a good idea..." Carl said

"But," Rick interrupted. "We don't know where they are."

"Obviously." I mumbled quietly.

"We should get our own supplies and hope that we can find them after." Rick said as my head shot up.

"What?" I asked walking forward. "What did you just say?"

"We leave them off on their own while we gather things then we find them." Rick answered simply.

"You propose that we leave my best friend, Luke's best friends, and Daryl. To fend for themselves?" The anger building inside of me.

"They will be fine. They probably have Daryl. He can handle himself." Rick said calmly.

"My best friend." I whispered, "You want me to leave my best friend when I just found her again?!" I yelled

"Yes." Rick stated. "Now let's move before the Walkers start coming." He started to walk away as Carl followed him. Luke grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

"Leaving my best friend..." I whispered, tears about to flow from my eyes.

"She'll be fine." Luke whispered, "I think I saw Daryl grab her." He rubbed his thumb on mine. "It's all going to be okay."

I wanted to tell him everything would go anything but good, he didn't see the dream...he doesn't know what happens...he doesn't know who dies.