Left Behind (sequel to Not Alone)

Ch. 1 - Leave Me Be

Daryl

I had just got Anna back after the world went to shit. She fought so hard to find me and Merle, now she's gone, just like Merle. I pulled away from everyone after T-Dog told me she was gone. She was pregnant with my baby and I'll never know what it feels like to be a dad now. It's been close to eight months now, since the farm was lost to that herd. I can't stop thinking about her, and I'm not the only one grieving for her loss. Hershel, Maggie, and Beth, all three of them are grieving for the loss of a family member. Wish Carol would just leave me the hell alone. I get the feeling that she didn't like me and Anna together and now that she's gone, Carol seems to be trying to make a move.

We're looking for a place to hunker down at, now more than ever because of Lori. I can't even force myself to look over at Lori without thinking about Anna and the child I'll never get to hold in my arms because of the damn walkers. We find this house, hoping it'll be a good place to stay until Lori has that baby. Rick, T-Dog, Carl and myself all go into the building while everyone else waits for a signal saying it's clear. I walked over to this door while we were checking the house, heard movement. I got my crossbow at the ready when the door flies open and wouldn't ya know it, it Rick with that damn gun in my face again.

I laugh once, then turn and walk away from the closet he's standing in, headed upstairs with T-Dog right behind me. He goes to one room to have a look around, I go and open the door to another. Dinner, I think when I spot an owl perched on a chair in the room I went to. I walk around in the room to get a better angle, and also so I know it won't fall out the window when I shoot it. "Gotcha," I whisper when I hit it and it falls to the floor. I drop my crossbow down and pick it up then head back downstairs as I start plucking the feathers off the bird. I walk by the others in the front hallway as Rick whistles to Beth, Hershel, Carol, and Lori that the cost is clear.

I sit down and continue to pluck the bird as everyone walks into the room and sits down around me. I scoff when Carol decides to sit down next to me. I glanced up when I heard footsteps and noticed Rick walking over to Carl. Boy looked like he was opening a can of dog food. I watch as he turns his back to the kid and walked towards the fireplace before throwing it into it causing a loud noise and for me to jump just a little from not expecting it. The hell's his problem, I thought, ain't like he ain't got his family with him and one on the way. I go back to my bird until I hear T-Dog get everyone's attention. Great, more walkers.

I quickly lead everyone out the back and around to our cars that we parked nearby. Everyone gets into the cars, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, and Hershel in one, Carol and T-dog in one, and Lori, Rick, and Carl in the other while I get on my bike and leave out first. I'll be damned if I'm leaving it on the side of the road anywhere. It may have been my brother's bike but it was now mine and it was all I had left to help remember the family that was taken from me. I still had some of Anna's clothes tucked away in one of the bags. I wasn't gonna get rid of them, I couldn't.

I heard a horn from behind me, someone wanted to stop the convoy. I pulled over as the car with Glenn, Maggie, Beth, and Hershel pulled up beside me, and the others stopped behind them. I stepped away from the bike as everyone gathered around the car beside me. I didn't want to be a part of this conversation but the group was only letting me pull away from them by so much. I watched as Maggie was handed a map by Glenn and T-Dog started talking first as I came and stood by the car with the rest of them.

"We got no place left to go," he said as he came to stand beside me. "When this herd meets up with this one," Maggie said pointing on the map, "we'll be completely cut off. We'll never make it south." "What would you say," I asked looking around, "that was about a hundred fifty head?" "That was last week," Glenn said looking at me, "could be twice that now." "This river could have delayed them," Hershel said pointing to a river on the map, "if we move fast we might have a shot to tear right through there." "Yeah but if this group joins with that one," T-Dog said, "they could spill out this way."

"So we're blocked," Maggie said sighing. "Only thing to do is double back at twenty-seven," Rick said, "and swing towards Greenville." "Yeah we picked through that already," T-Dog said, "it's like we spent the winter going in circles." "Yeah I know," Rick said nodding, "I know. At Newnan we'll push west. Haven't been through there yet. We can't keep going house to house. Need to find someplace to hole up for a few weeks." I watched as Rick looked over to Lori still sitting in one of the trucks. "You alright," I heard Carol whisper to me as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm fine," I grumbled as I jerked away from her touch, "just leave me be." With that I turned and walked away from her, grabbed my crossbow and headed into the woods beside the road.

Hey guys so first chapter up. If you're a new reader I'd suggest reading Not Alone before reading this as it's the sequel. Otherwise carry on and I hope y'all like this as much as y'all did with Not Alone.

-Kenz