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chapter twelve | the search begins
LAUREL WALKED BETWEEN Glenn and Daryl as he tracked down Sophia's trail. Laurel never grew up in the woods, she lived in the city parts of Georgia before slowly moving further and further out and finally barely even got to say she lived in Georgia until her mom remarried. One thing she did like about her stepdad that she would admit, he was rich and took care of her family. His lawyer job paid well, enough so their mom was able to be a stay-at-home mom.
When Laurel got her first apartment at twenty, she was swarmed with emotions. Excited because she could finally do whatever she wanted and proud because she did it all on her own but she felt an immense amount of grief because her dad wasn't there to see her grow up and tell her how proud of her he was.
Her mother and stepdad did share their pride in their oldest moving out, but she wished her dad was able to as well. She didn't know where he went when she finally had enough of lies and excuses. She supposes it doesn't matter anymore, most of the population was dead by now from what she learned at the CDC. Her dad was dead.
The CDC, Laurel thought, seemed so unreal now. She didn't know how long ago it was since the building turned into ash, but, it seemed like a lifetime ago yet she could still smell the smoke as if she was still driving away. It was engraved in her head.
Laurel was so lost in her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention as Daryl stopped and crouched. She tripped over him, almost falling on him until Glenn caught her by the arm before she could. Daryl had to place his hand down in front of himself before he faceplanted.
Daryl slowly turned his head and glared up at her, she muffled an apology before standing straight. She shyly looked down at the ground as Glenn chuckled behind her. Shane rolled his eyes at her as he walked around them and stood next to Daryl.
Daryl sighed, "she was doing just fine til right here," he motioned with his hands the tracks he saw but they couldn't tell what he was seeing, "all she had to do was keep going. She veered off that way."
"Why would she do that?" Glenn questioned.
"Maybe she saw something that spooked her and ran off?" Shane looked at Daryl for confirmation.
"A walker?" Laurel worried.
"I don't see any other footprints, just hers," Daryl spoke quietly.
Laurel felt like she was playing hide and seek, she thought they would've found Sophia by now. She wanted to make sure she was okay and reunite her with her mother, Carol. Laurel knew she wouldn't rest until she found Cassie, and she doesn't expect Carol to either, even if there are walkers up and down the highway and in every direction in the woods.
