Life Isn't Fair

32

I put them right next to Maggie and Glenn, just so they can keep an eye on them. I go and sit on my porch for about an hour, mapping out where Skylar could have gone on the map that she supposedly lent to them. She put a big circle around the area of Alexandria, and told them to come here. She also put the coordinates and location of where she had to go, so we knew where she was going. Not about two hours later, Daryl rides in through the gates, Michonne riding on the back. I watched, confused, as I didn't see her go out. She probably went out this morning to search, and Daryl found her and took her back home. When they get close enough, Michonne smiles, climbs off of the motorcycle, and hugs me warmly. "You went out this morning?" I asked her as she let go. "Yeah, I didn't like sitting around and waiting for nothing." I nod, understanding how she felt. None of us liked sitting around and doing nothing while Skylar could possibly be dead or hurt in any way, maybe even worse. I've caught myself wishing that she would be fine when we found her. It's like a Beth situation, except this time it means more to me than anything. Not that Beth wasn't as important, I'm just saying that Skylar is my best friend, my right hand, my family. And I don't let family die unless they do it themselves. "It's final, we're leaving tonight. Just to get a level head lookout. We get an advantage over everything if we leave at night, that way they don't see us coming." I speak out to Michonne and Daryl.
*Skylar's POV*
It was getting dark fast, and I didn't know if I was going to make it there at the rate I was going. There is next-to-no room for me anywhere, the car is not going to be able to go any longer, and I really don't feel like siphoning gas or switching cars. My hands on the steering wheel I thought of only on thing that would get me there fast and easy without any obstacles. Horses. But, I was in the city part of town, I'd have to go out further. Lucky for me, I was almost back to where there was more land. Meaning a barn would probably be seen on the way too. Which was good news for me, of course. As I was driving along the road, I was looking for places to hide the car and supplies, just so I could come back and get it when I rescued Dallas. And I will, trust me I will. I found a nice thick tree clump by a big building, and I parked there. I got out, grabbed everything I needed and placed it into a bag, threw the backpack onto my back, and locked the car. "Damn vultures." I say to myself. I walk along the sidewalk, for about another thirty minutes, and noticed that the sunset was reaching faster than normal. "Must be in a hurry to get me there." I laugh silently. I looked at the bright oranges and pinks swirling together into one big paint pod, and the riot of colors spewing among the flowers made it even more beautiful. The grass had just begun to grow back along with the leaves, telling me that it was Springtime. I hadn't even got the chance to love Winter, it went by too fast. My heart raced when I finally saw the big wooden structure by a house, and my feet ran me there. I was sweating, but a smile was present on my face. I heard the growls as I got closer to the barn, and I slowed to a stop. "What the-'' I knocked on the barn door, and the walkers pushed giant things against me. "Shit." I cussed. "Not what I'm looking for!" I kicked the ground, dirt flying up around me in a cloud. I looked at the floor with a frown, and my head snapped up when I heard a horse whinny about a few hundred feet to the right of the barn. "They had a separate place for horses? Wow." I chuckle. My mood was good again, because I knew what I needed was right there. As I made my way toward the barn, the sounds of a horse kicking the ground filled my ears. When I got into the horses sight, it reared, scared of me. It was tied up to a swinging barn door, and I couldn't help but notice the beautiful animal in front of me. A dark chocolate coat covered it's body, long raven black hair ran down it's back and down it's legs, making the creature look like a chocolate bar. I laughed, and lastly noticed the big green eyes staring at me behind the corner of one of the barn doors. I squinted to see better, considering it was dark and I had no light. A little girl walked out, long dark hair the same color as the horses covering her entire back. She had olive skin, and freckles that looked like paint scattered on a canvas. "Oh my goodness...Hi?" I smile warmly, and crouch down. "H-hi." she looked scared, and my face instantly took a u-turn. "How old are you? and where are you parents?" My eyebrows furrowed, and I noticed the horse was calm around this girl too. "I'm 9." She answers quietly. "Oh. Are you by yourself?" I ask, afraid that someone or something was hiding the the stalls, waiting for me to come around the corner. "Yes ma'am,"She answered politely, a stern look on her face, "My mom taught me how to be nice to strangers." She smiled, for the first time since I was here, and I smiled back, just so she could see that she could trust me. "Is he yours?" I ask, referring to the horse. "Yes, he has been for a few weeks now." My eyes widen, and I'm confused as to how she could have possibly survived out here by yourself. "Were you out here by yourself this entire time?" I shook my head, because it was just not possible. "Yes. I've been out here by myself for about three weeks. My dad left and never came back, I know why." Her small face contorts into one of sadness, and I open my arms. Without hesitation she hugs me. "It's okay, I have a son you can play with at my home, it's named Alexandria." She looked at me with such a big smile, and my heart warmed up. "We need your horse to get there, so do you mind if I saddle him up?" She nods quickly, excited to see me do what I said I was going to do. I approached the horse slowly, it backing up a little and snorting. "It's okay Brownie, calm down." I giggle at the name, never hearing anything that cute since the apocalypse started, aside from when Dallas called me 'mommy' for the first time. "That's his name?" I ask. "Yes ma'am." He replies. I smile more, and continue going towards the horse. It calms after hearing the girls voice, and it gives me an advantage. I put my hand on it's neck, and the horse nuzzles my shoulder. I grab the saddle off of the edge of the stall door, and place it onto the horse after placing a nice warm blanket on the bottom. I tighten the saddle, put some reins on the horse, and grab my backpack. I swing it onto my back. I look towards the girl, and she gets the signal. "I'm going to get on first, and then I'm going to lift you up. Got it?" I ask. She nods, again, and I look back at the horse. He was pretty tall, and long-legged. I put my foot in the stirrups, and lifted myself onto the back of the animal, it being pretty easy, because I've climbed so many horses. She walks over slowly, and brings her arms up. I reach down once I'm situated, and lift her up in front of me. I make sure she's comfortable before I lead the horse out of the barn. While I was saddling up the horse she grabbed a bag of her stuff and it now rests on the side of the horse where it's strapped in. I go down the dirt road to get to the main road, and I have two choices. Go left, where Dallas is waiting for me to save him, or Right, where the little girl is supposed to be safe at Alexandria, safe and sound. There is no way that I'm bringing a child-especially one who is scared to a place like that. She doesn't need to see that. At this point, I wish Rick was here to take her home so I could continue my journey. But, I had to fulfill my promise and that was to get this young girl home and safe. "Can you adopt me?" She asks out of nowhere. My eyes once again widen, and I go to object, but I think about it. This little girl needs a parent, she has nobody. No one that came for her to save her for weeks. If she needs a mom, I'm more than happy to be her mom. "Yes. I don't even know your name, though. What is your name?" She replies with a simple, "Bella.", And I smile. "You'll Love Dallas, Bella. He's your younger brother, now." I take a right, and continue back down the way I came. It was dark out, and it was so hard to see. The horse galloped, and for the next hour or so we kept going until we came back to the neighborhood where I had my leg injury. I decided to stop here for the night, just so we could get some rest. I hopped off of the horse, grabbed our stuff, and lifted Bella off too. "I was just here, where I got my leg injury and why I'm limping." She looks at me with such a sorrowful look on her face, it hurts. "It's fine, I'm okay. I patched myself up, and there was no infection." I smile, and she smiles back. She looks so familiar, but I just can't place it. Her name has a pretty ring to it, something I would've named my daughter. It hit me like a train, the memories.

*Flashback*

Bella ran around me as I walked down the sidewalk, excited to go to the park as that was where we were going. I pick her up and hold her above me, she was only six. Her sweet voice said to me, "Mommy, I can't wait to grow up and be like you!" In return, I smile and agree by nodding my head.

*Flashback*
my mind goes wild, and I blink multiple times. She's my daughter? No way. I shake my head and look back down at her as we enter the house. I set the stuff down and carry her to the bedroom that I would be sleeping in, I'm not leaving my long-lost daughter to be in danger by herself in a room alone. I place her under the covers, and tuck her in. The normal mom thing to do. I kissed her forehead and left the room to go grab the stuff. When I came back, she was sound asleep in the thick blankets and her small snores were heard. I smile, and place the stuff on the floor. I change into something quickly, because it was cold with the windows open, and I climb in next to my daughter. "Goodnight, Bella."