Left Behind (sequel to Not Alone)

Ch. 8 - Stomach Pains

Anna

"So tell me again why you decided to have us walk along the road instead of in the woods like we've been doing," I asked as I followed behind Michonne and her two pets while I had one hand on my very, very pregnant belly and the other on my back for support. "Easier for you to walk," Michonne said as I happened to glance behind me at Andrea. She hasn't been feeling too good lately and has decided to keep a good amount of distance between me and herself. "That may be," I said looking back to Michonne, "but with the way the world is now, I think it puts us at risk. There are all kinds of creeps out there that would see three women and automatically think they're easy targets."

"We'll be fine," Michonne said as we came across a clearing beside the road we were walking and noticed a pillar of dark smoke coming from beyond the trees at the edge of the clearing. We all three shared a looked, not saying a word, before Michonne pulled for the two walkers she had with her to follow her. Me and Andrea shared a look before moving to follow behind, me being careful where I stepped so I didn't fall. I was in enough pain already with my feet and now my stomach. Ever since this morning when I woke up, my stomach as had a dull pain to it and I just figured it was from sleeping on the hard ground too long.

When we reached the origin of the dark smoke, we came face to face with a crashed helicopter. Michonne had Andrea sit tight after she vomited from over exhorting herself. I decided to sit with her, the pain in my stomach had gotten stronger since we got to where the helicopter was and I was beginning to worry about it. I sat there while Michonne walked to the helicopter, I was on my knees just try to ease the pain by rubbing small circles on my stomach. "You okay," Andrea whispered as I continued to rub my stomach. "Yeah," I said through gritted teeth, "just a little pain. I'm fine." I took a few deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain as I watch Michonne check out the wreckage.

I watched as she came running back to us. "Someone's coming," she whispered as she knelt down between me and Andrea. "Any survivors," Andrea asked looking over at her. "Two dead," Michonne said, "not sure about the other." I watched as these vehicles pulled up and out walked a group of men. "Fuck," I groaned out in a whisper and a had a sudden sharp pain in my abdomen. I took a deep breath to keep from screaming out as I rubbing my stomach again and looked up at the group of men to watch what they were gonna do.

I looked over at Michonne to see she was watching me. I just simply shook my head and looked back at the men as I watched this one man, my guess the leader with air he had around him, as they pulled someone out of the helicopter. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Andrea and Michonne shift in the positions to look behind us. I glanced back and noticed a walker coming up behind us and Michonne looked ready to cut it down. I held up a hand to stop her then nodded towards the group in front of us as the walker moved on by and right for them, not even giving us a second glance.

I began to worry when Michonne's pets began making too much noise for my liking, dragging the attention of all the men towards us. I bit my lip to suppress a cry of pain when I felt another sharp pain in my stomach, worse than the last one as Michonne silenced the unwanted noise the two walkers were causing. My breathing was labored as I opened my eyes again to see that the men that had turned towards us, were turning around and getting ready to leave. I heard Andrea let out a small sigh of relief at the same time me and Michonne heard a twig snap behind us.

"Uh, uh, uh," I heard a male voice say behind us as I watched Michonne out of the corner of my eye get ready to strike at whoever had walked up behind us. I thought for sure my ears were playing tricks on me as he spoke again. "Easy does it girl," he said, "mine's a whole lot bigger than yours. Now you put down your weapons." I watched as Andrea released her hold on her gun while Michonne slowly put down her sword. "That's it nice and easy," he said as Michonne finally laid her sword on the ground, "and let me see your hands." I slowly lifted mine up just like Andrea and Michonne did but it was hard because I wanted to keep them on my stomach to ease the pain.

"Now spin around," he said as I glanced over to Andrea and slowly turned around so we were both facing him and I swear I thought I was seeing a ghost. "Oh holy shit," he said noticing who Andrea was at first, "Blondie." I glanced over at Andrea then looked back at Merle to see he had finally moved his eyes and they had landed on me. "Well I'll be damned," he said smiling as he looked at me, "Anna!" "Thought ya were dead Merle," I said as I lowered my hands and placed them back on my stomach. "How's 'bout a big hug for your old pal Merle," he asked smiling as I suddenly doubled over in pain. "Not the best time Merle," I said through gritted teeth just as I felt warm liquid run down my legs, "fuck!"