Room for Pain (Shane Walsh love story)

Chapter five: Shot

Chapter 5: Shot

We had been trekking through the Georgia forest for a while now, the heat of the day dissipating as we approached the afternoon. Thankfully, the trees provided a cool shade and offered protection from the sun that so longed to cook us. Maybe it thought that the dead-ones preferred their humans medium rare.

"So this is it?" Asked Carol as she stopped mid walk to sit down on a log, "this is the plan?"

I gave her an odd look which said I wasn't quite sure what she was referring to.

"I guess the plan is to split us down into smaller and smaller groups." Huffed Daryl.

"Hey, look on the bright side," scoffed Andrea, "we get to carry knives and pointy sticks."

I shot Andrea a glare as I secured my gun in my belt, checking my pocket knife still remained in its assigned pocket.

"I see you have a gun." She scowled.

"Yeah? Why? You want it?" I replied, a harsh tone now present in my voice as I took it out of my belt and held it out to her, "here, take it."

She pursed her lips as I stared her down, awkwardness creeping up into the atmosphere of the forest.

"Unbelievable." She sighed, rolling her eyes and folding her arms across her chest before reaching out and snatching my gun from me.

"I'm sick of this. I'm sick of all of you." I hissed, "the looks you've been giving to not only me, but Rick and Shane. I'm absolutely done with it."

I fell back onto my butt on the log, taking a seat and combing my fingers through my knotted and messy hair that was in desperate need of a wash.

"Carol, I can't imagine how hard all of this is on you, really." I started, "this must be excruciating to have to go through and I'm sorry about what I said before, but you have to stop blaming Rick."

Lori walked over to take a seat next to me, her next words backing up my argument, "I completely agree. It is in your face every time you look at him. He didn't hesitate about going out there to search for her, didn't rethink his plans for even a second. Hell, I don't know if any of us could make the hard decisions he has to all time. And I don't think anybody would have done this any differently."

"Anybody?" I asked, eyeing all members of the group to see if anyone had anything different in mind, "exactly. But hey, you know what? If you guys think you can do it without Rick or without Shane, feel free.... Go right ahead. No one is stopping you."

The group was silent as the awkwardness spread throughout, shame registering across most peoples faces.

Andrea walked over to me with her arm extended, gun in hand.

"We should keep moving." She said gently as she handed me back my gun.

I took the gun and stuffed it into my belt, securing it before we began to move along again.

"Daryl!" I called softly, "you cover the back of the group, alright?"

"Will do." He replied with a nod as I lead the group out further into the woods. We were now headed on our way back to the highway from yet another unsuccessful rescue mission.

We had now been trekking our way through the forest for around half an hour or so, the sun still in the sky but the temperature gradually decreasing, much to the delight of everyone. I trampled over countless sticks, the sound of the twigs beneath my feet snapping startling me every now and again. I was still grumpy from having to tell Carol and the group off like that, but I believed it needed to be said. Suddenly, the feint sound of a shot being fired began to ring in my ears and my heart stopped, panic flooding my facial features.