Found Book One

Strong

The fire truck engine sputtered out two days ago. Rick and the others have been planning out how to get to Virginia where Noah used to live. "Is it safe?" I ask him, "Yeah. Walls, homes, twentyish people," he says. 

"My mom and twin brothers. they were there when we left," he says. "I hope they still are," I say, Noah nods, "They are," he says. 

"That's where we used to live before me and my dad got taken to Grady," he mutters shoving his hands into his pockets.

"What if it isn't around anymore?" Glenn asks. "Then we keep goin'," Rick replies, pointing ahead to a small cluster of houses.

"We'll stop here get cars and supplies. Sound good?" Rick announces to the group. Maggie hangs back at the edge of the woods.

I slowly walk over to her, "She loved these," she mumbles pointing to a patch of purple sweet pea flowers.

I smile and bend down to pick one of the small blooms. "Then she'd want you to have one," I say tucking the plant behind her ear.

"Yeah she would've huh?" she says. I nod and pull her into my arms. She smiles for the first time in days as she ruffles my hair.

She pushes me toward the neighborhood. I jog to catch up with the rest of the group. "Is she okay?" Glenn asks placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nod, "She just needs some time but she also needs you." The man nods and turns to walk away toward his wife.

"You remember how to Hotwire right?" Daryl asks pulling his crossbow from his shoulder.

I nod, "Carl can you cover me?" I ask as I jog toward a silver mini-van. I open the door and notice that the keys are sitting in the console.

I smile and snatch them up, I place it in the ignition and turn it. The engine starts and I let out a laugh, "We've got a ride and a full tank of gas," I say.

Carl nods and moves to the back seat, I shuffle to the trunk. I open it and look through the contents.

The other people in the group start to collect gas and supplies from the houses and cars in the area.

I find a sleeping bag, a case of water, and some cans of food. I let out a giggle when I feel his lips on my cheek.

I turn to him, Daryl gets a car started. Tara holds out her fist to Daryl who lightly taps his knuckles against hers. "We should get goin'," Daryl yells.

I begin to pour gas into the tank of the minni-van.

"Hey, do you need any help?" Noah asks as he approaches the trunk with a bag in his hands. "I've got it," I say.

He nods and slams the trunk closed. My eyes drift to find Carl. He's talking with his father. 

Then Mika who is reading to Judith. Daryl joins Carl and Rick. Michonne is talking to Carol. Everyone else is searching the nearby houses for supplies.

I jump at the crack of a branch in the woods. Noah drops a pack of water bottles. One explodes with a pop.

I drop the can of gas to the ground and rush over just as Noah begins to bend down. I grab Noah by his jacket and stab the walker that was coming for him.

He gasps and tips forward as the walker falls onto him. Both of them dead and alive fall onto me. I gasp at the weight when I hit the pavement.

Noah is up in an instant but I can't breath in. He grabs my arms. I shudder in my frozen non-breathing state. "What the hell?" Daryl asks as he rushes over.

I sit up and manage to breathe in enough to stop myself from turning blue. "I'm fine," I mutter. "Just got the wind knocked out of me is all," I say before Noah or anyone else can ask.

"She saved my life," Noah tells Carl. Daryl kisses my forehead, "I'm fine daddy," I mutter so he won't worry.

"Thanks Elaine," Noah says. I shake my head. "Now you owe me," I tell him. "We can't lose the daylight," Rick says throwing bags in the trunk.

"Rosita, Carol, Elaine, Mika, Judith, Noah, Abraham, and Tara in the mini-van, and the rest get into the other two cars," Rick orders.

Carol gets into the third-row seat with Mika. Carl climbs in next to them. I sit in the second row and then Maggie gets in beside me. Tara gets in on the other side of me.

"Mags, I need to talk to you," Rick says walking toward the car. Maggie shakes her head. "Please," the man says. Maggie narrows her eyes and slams the door shut in his face.

Tara snickers as Rick runs his hands through his hair and turns away. He leaves and goes to the other packed up car. Tara twirls her yo-yo around her finger and back up into her hand.

Judith claps and stands up in Carl's lap. "Here I can take her," Carol says to Carl as Rosita starts the car and waits for the others to start their cars.

Maggie pulls something out of her bag and passes it back to Mika.

"My dad gave it to me to read when we were going through tough times," she says as the girl takes it from her hands.

"It's a good read why don't you get started," she says with a small smile. "Thanks Maggie," Mika says opening the book the girl cuddles into her mom.

"Maggie we're gonna find a place to live," I whisper grabbing her hand.

"Why do you think that we'll be okay, we've lost so much," I shake my head.

"I think we're gonna be okay because we are strong people," I say.

"Yeah I guess," she mumbles leaning her head against the cool window.

"We wouldn't be alive if we weren't," I tell her. I feel a hand on my shoulder. I smile and place my hand over Carl's.