Daughter of a Dixon ✔️

15: The Barn

Dad and I completely forgot about the conversation we were having, and started sprinting back to the farm house. As we ran back, more gunshots followed the singular one, and we immediately increased our speed.

When we got back at the farmhouse, it took both of us a minute to find where the gunshots were coming from. They weren't coming from Hershel's house, or any of the field property on the farm, so that only left one, realistic option: the barn.

At that realization, I immediately looked over to the old building, and couldn't help but to gasp. "Dad, look."

I pointed a trembling finger to the barn, and Dad quickly followed it. When he saw everyone gathered at the front of the barn, guns raised, and walkers pouring out of the door, he cursed under his breath.

"Stay here," he commanded in a hushed tone. Then, he took off for the building.

I waited approximately two seconds before taking off right behind him.

Thankfully he didn't notice. When Dad got there, he went directly down to the front of the line everyone had formed, trying to keep the walkers back. He scooped up a rifle from the ground and began shooting the oncoming walkers. I stood back, just watching as the bodies fell to the ground.

After a few minutes, the walkers stopped coming. There was a pile of unmoving bodies in front of the barn, and I couldn't help but notice how Hershel seemed absolutely devastated as he stared at it. I had never felt bad about killing the walkers before, since they weren't even people, but seeing the look on Hershel's face made me reconsider.

Everything calmed for a second or so, but everyone still stood in front of the barn, either too shocked to move or anticipating something else to happen. Then, just as I began to turn around to leave, a quiet, growling noise from within the barn stopped me. I turned around quickly, immediately looking to the barn door.

I'll never forget what my eyes landed on in that moment.

She looked normal at first. She looked disheveled and dirty, but alive, and for a second, I almost smiled and thought she was okay.

Then, I saw the red, gaping bite mark on her left shoulder.

I was frozen in shock, I couldn't move; I just stood there and watched the scene unfold.

Carol immediately rushed towards her daughter, tears streaming down her face as she cried out her name. "Sofia!.. Sofia!"

As she got closer, she began to realize that the thing staggering towards her wasn't her daughter, and she fell to her knees. Before she could reach the ground, Dad leaned in and caught her, easing down to the ground with her. He held her back with an arm across her chest so she wouldn't try to get up again, but I doubted she would; she was sobbing too much to really do anything.

I took a step back as Sofia made her way out of the barn, coming straight for Rick. He looked about as shocked as the rest of us, and even had tears in his eyes. I, on the other hand, had tears streaming down my face, I just didn't notice it at the time.

I, along with everyone else in the group, watched with horror as Rick raised his revolver. He brought it up so it was even with Sofia's head, and looked at her with a sympathetic expression as she got closer.