Ain't a world for the living

1.9 - Gone in the rain

Carl's P.O.V.

Beans and peas. Stew, pork, peaches and rusk. Beans and stew, peas and pork. Rusk and peaches. Beans and...

That was a mantra that kept us alive during the last two days. Dad was really pissed when Abe and his friends kept their promised and moved with Josephine. Noah told us to better go to Virginia. He knew a village that was nearly spared from walkers and strangers. It was a 390 miles journey and we didn't know what was going to happen then.

Michonne and Daryl were on a run. They came back with tons of stew, beans and peas. Expired, but still tasty. As we took in the food we already had, my mind wandered of to Josephine. What a strange girl. Brave, sassy and strong, but somehow...calm, quiet. "What he's thinking about?" "He's your son, Rick. Don't ask me stuff like that." Daryl answered and grinned. I was so lost in thoughts that I accidently kicked my can of food over. "What's wrong?" "It's nothing, Dad. Really." I mumbled. I wasn't hungry anymore and I had the urge to talk with someone. Someone who's not my Dad. "Daryl?" the redneck looked at me, chewing the pork sticks in his hands. "Can I talk with you?"

We were ten feet away from the rest of the group, keeping our voices low to not attract any walkers. Sadly we had to stay outside. The small storehouse we found was full of walkers. "So...you wanted to talk?" I just nodded, biting my lip. I never had this talk before and I didn't know how to start or what to expect, but something I knew: my father would not like it. "It's about Josie, right?" How'd he know that? "Listen bud. I'm not gonna repeat myself and I'll kick your ass if you tell somebody. I knew her, before all this shit happened, ay? And I'm not happy that she got kicked out, yeah?" "W-what? Where did you-?" "Let's just say that our families are close, yeah? Oh, and one more thing: I know where they heading so I'll follow them. Don't tell Carol, don't tell Michonne and please – don't f***ing tell your father, got it?" "Can I-" "No. You are a kid. I'm not in the mood of being responsible for someone else's life. Don't even think about it." He warned me, eyebrows knitted together and eyes darkened. I nodded again, trembling with excitement. I knew what I would do when I'd see the chance to run.

"So, what were you both been talking about?" Carol asked, a sleeping Judith in her lap and drinking stale vitamin water. "Eh...boys stuff?" Dad looked at me worried and confused. "And you couldn't talk with me about it?" Oh oh. Suddenly my heart did a racing tempo, refusing to give me a calm attitude. "He was worried about Josephine." "She'll be fine." Dad shot back faster than I thought with a cold tone. Did he hear me and Daryl talking about his plan? "She was hurt." "That's not changing my mind, Carl." "She could've been a good part of our group." Maggie exclaimed. Glenn grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. A silent warning not to go on. "Could've, should've, would've – who cares? She's just another teenager and she's putting our group into danger. And I think she's not good in doing what she's told to." I wanted to reply back, but Daryl shook his head, giving me a warning glare again. Shutting down, I ignored the following conversation, not daring to chirp in. I wanted to leave more than ever now.

Daryl's P.O.V.

It was noon when I saw the first walkers. Just after Rick's watch ended in the early morning I sneeked out, to take a 'piss'. Eventually I was ahead of 'em, my crossbow dangling on my back. Rick and his group will be hella angry, but it's not my fault that Rick chased her away. Not like he really did, but I'm not someone to forget that. What happened with Sofia, Merle, Beth – losing another person will be my death.

The highway was full of walkers. A navy blue Volkswagen caught my attention. With a little bit of luck I could take it and drive to her. A smile crept on my face, lightening my mood up and I started to work my way through the walkers around the car. Pulling my knife and preparing myself, I went forward, lunging for an undead and killed it with a single hit. Two others decided to join the party. "C'mon you bastards!" I whispered, pushing the blade into their torsos. Unfortunately it got stuck there and I had no other choice than to kick them away from me. My crossbow wouldn't work here and I spinned around, searching for another weapon. Not afar from me was a brick.

Bam! I flinched in shock. Someone shot a walker. A nice clean shot right in the head. That someone shot again. Ripped another walker's arm apart, then got knocked out. Without even looking for that guy I sprinted to the car, opened the door and got in, taking a glance at the gas level. Nearly empty. The key was already settled. The motor hissed for a moment before I put pressure on the gas pedal. It worked! I sighed happily and was about to drive on as the door opened again and closed briskly and I saw a boy with sheriff's hat ontop of his head.

"Are you stupid?!" I yelled. Carl didn't flinch. Fumbling with the gun in his head, he locked it and looked outwards. "I said: Are. You. Stupid?!" I repeated myself, hitting the steering wheel, causing it to honk. "That wasn't smart." "Shut up or I'll drive you to your father." He shook his head, putting the gun in his holster and waited for me to start ranting. "Rick's gonna rip our heads off, ya know that, right?" The boy nodded. "Why did you come after me?" He shrugged. Sighing I passed two broke cars blocking half the way. "Where we going?" "None of your business." "Does she know?"

"No. But she knows Merle. Probably never told her about me. Our fathers went fishing often." I felt uneasy. That kid just knew how to hit some nerves. We passed a sign referring to Savannah and two other cities but wind and rain made it hard to read their names. "Why are you here?" "Saved your ass." I grimaced angry and took a breath. "Watch your mouth, boy." "I'm curious." Carl answered. He turned his head, eyes blank and a grey tone in them with a little emotion captured in this orbs. Was it really curiosity? "Curious?" "Yep." He paused for a brief moment, watching how the car hit an limb on the ground and shivered. "She's...weird. For a teenager. Y'know like she's shy and nice in one moment then it changes and she's harsh and bitter. I mean, she saved us and now she's running away?" "Your dad made her leave." It sounded more like a complaint than I actually wanted. "I know. But I don't see it that way." "You realize he will kill both of us, right?"

"I think she should be in our group." My heart thumped faster and I couldn't deny my hands sweating suddenly. A growl echoed from the sky. Then within an eye strike water hit the roof of the car. The windscreen wiper had a hard time wiping all the rain from the glass, making it difficult to drive over the slippery street.

Later

Rick's son was asleep. The steady rain turned into a monotone thud whenever a drop would hit the car. It was dark outside and due to the broken lights we had I was driving slow, hoping not to hit a walker or another obstacles when the maschine stuttered and came to an halt a few meters ahead of dead cars. "Oh come on!" Hitting the steering wheel as well as the gas pedal, my mind played through different scenarios that could possibly happen in the next minutes: a herd of walkers attacking the car, a lightning striking us, a strange group forcing us to get out and shooting us the next second. This thought made me feel cold and weak, so that after a few moments where I tried to blink the tears away I couldn't stop but spill them and cried heavy.

After two minutes I was finished and cool enough to wake the boy up. He, sighing and rubbing his eyes, sat up and put the sheriff's hat on his head, watching the rain with an unnatural interest. "What?" "The rain...it looks interesting how it makes a way down the windscreen." He turned his head, eyes bright and wide open.

G'day! So - thanks for the nearly 60 views! I hope you'll like it. I had to rewrite it like six times. 

Love

~Panda