Room for Pain (Shane Walsh love story)

Chapter Four: Church Bells Ringing, Only Devils Singing

Chapter 4: Church Bells Ringing, Only Devils Singing

I slammed the arsenal down on the hood of the car with a loud thud, the rusty metal beneath not happy with the force of the tools. I unrolled the black folder to display all the tools that were in there, the hatchet earning my look of approval. I looked up from the arsenal to take a glimpse at the faces of everyone in the group, now trying to decipher what they were all thinking.

"Everybody takes a weapon." Said Rick as he stood beside me, eyes fixed on the arsenal.
"These aren't the kind of weapons we need." Growled Andrea, folding her thin arms across her chest, "what about the guns?"
"We've been over that." Moaned Shane, "Rick, Daryl, Zelda and I are carrying them. We can't have everybody poppin' off rounds every time the tree rustles."
"It's not the trees I'm worried about." Grumbled Andrea.
"Deal with it, Andrea." I snapped at her, "what if somebody fires a shot and another herd of those things is in earshot distance? Huh?"
"See, then it's game over for all of us." Added Shane, sticking up for my argument.
"Until everybody gets proper training, no one gets a gun except for those with experience." I continued.
The silence was defeating as everyone stared at each other, Andrea sulking quietly to herself, obviously pissed off about not getting a gun.
"So the plan is to head up to the creek about five miles up, do a loop and come back around the other side. Chances are she'll be by the creek. It's kind of a land mark and she's a smart girl." Said Daryl, splitting the silence.
I nodded and stuffed a pistol into the pocket of my jeans, shoving my pocket knife in the other so that I was well armed. Shane gave me a sign of approval at the weapons I was carrying before checking that he had his firearms too.

I looked over to Lola who sat beside Dale and T-Dog by the RV with her leg stretched out, her ankle supported by some torn and tattered pillows found.
"You'll be alright here?" I asked her, taking Shane's hand as we began to walk.
"Where the hell else am I gonna be with my useless leg, huh?" She chuckled, "I'll be fine, don't worry about me."
I gave her a half nod and set out with everybody else in the direction of the woods. I could hear Carl jogging up to Shane and I, stopping and walking by my side.
"You coming with us, bud?" I asked him with a smile.
"Am indeed." He grinned.
I couldn't help but laugh and tousle his silky brown hair, then giving his shoulder a gentle and soft squeeze. It was nice to have kids around in a zombie apocalypse, however messed up that might sound.
"Alright, make sure you stay in our sight at all times, alright?" I said.
"Don't worry." He replied before running off to his mother, Lori.
"He's a good kid, that one." Mumbled Shane, wrapping one arm around my waist, "I would've liked to have kids of my own."
"Me too." I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder for a brief moment as we walked.

We trekked through the forest for a while with no success along the way. I kept my gun in hand the whole time as Shane and I covered the back of the group, making sure none of those drooling freaks waddled up behind us and tried sink their rotting teeth into any of our necks like fucking Dracula. Lori and Carl walked hand in hand in front of us, Lori staring at her feet the whole way whilst Carl looked around excitedly.

Finally we arrived at a campsite, a yellow tent all set up with some camping chairs lounging in front of it. Daryl hushed us all as we neared it, Rick telling us to get down and crouch.
"She could be in there." Murmured Shane, lowering his rifle so it was pointed down at cluster of leaves on the ground.
"There could be a whole bunch of stuff in there." Purred Daryl as we all moved along closer to the tent.
As we got closer, empty cans of food were to be seen lying around, useless coolers turned over and a shitload of broken lamps and busted light bulbs to accompany. Daryl was the one to search the tent, lifting the corner flap of the material up to take a peek at what lay behind. Daryl looked inside and shrugged his shoulders.
"Carol," whispered Rick, "call out softly. If she's in there, your voice should be the first one she hears."
Carol nodded with a quivering lip, opening her mouth to call out to her lost daughter, "Sophia... Sweetie? Are you in there?"
Carols eyes darted around at her surrounded, her voice trembling as she tried to call for Sophia again, "Sophia, it's mommy. Sophia we're all here baby, it's mommy."
At this point, a tear slid down Carols cheeks as her face went cold. She knew there was no way Sophia was in there, but the men kept her hopes alive by checking it out further. No one wanted to leave an inch of this forest uncovered.