Fuelling Forces || The Walking Dead

Part 7: Non-Disclosed Godmother

Carl questioned Rick about Shane's death but there was no time to discuss the matter. I grabbed Carl's arm as my heartbeat raced uncontrollably. Never in my twenty eight years did I expect this to happen to me ever. How many Walkers were we surrounded by?!

"We need to go." I told Rick firmly, herding the boys towards the farm. We had little time to manoeuvre.

Rick quickly briefed me on his idea to burn some the Walker's inside the barn after Carl got up onto the other ledge. I agreed with him through a quick nod of my head. He climbed up there with Carl and dropped the lighter when I told him to.

We managed to escape on rooftops and lure Hershel last minute into the truck we snatched just as the Walker's overran the farm. I let out grieving breaths. What if we never got that safety again? This world is too cruel!

We waited for a short while on the highway prepping ourselves to leave before the rest of our group started arriving with the exception of Andrea. I grit my teeth again as pain crippled me. I was starting to get used to this type of pain and it was twisted. I shouldn't be getting attached to these people. We camped out on the road for the night after we had run low on gas. Lori attempted to speak to me.

"Look I know you don't like me. But can we at least try and be on good terms." She asked me.

I smiled at Lori.

"It's not that I don't like you, it's that I'm afraid for you and this baby. I'm not proud of what you've done with Shane and I figure this baby is his. No matter how much you try to deny it, you started up with Shane before you did Rick. But I'm not here to judge you for that Lori." I told her with a sigh.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I felt bad for just going at her so I toned it down a bit by going quiet.

"I want you to know that if I die in childbirth, I want you to look after it as your own even if Rick is around. I'll let Rick know of this decision and I'm sure he'll agree with me. Not because I'm sympathising with you, but because I trust you with my life Leah and the life of my kids. Promise me?" She told me with her hand on my shoulder.

I didnt know how I felt about that.

"You won't die in childbirth." I told Lori, removing my shoulder from her hand unsure. There was a possibility but I was denying it at every turn.

"Leah." She wasn't leaving any room for me to deny her request in her tone. She was also afraid.

"You won't die Lori." She shut me up quickly with one look.

I nodded swiftly, before walking off towards Daryl. I lost my motorbike in the rush. We spoke briefly to each other about our weeks, calming each other down. Daryl went off to speak with Rick about Randall's reanimation after not being bitten or scratched. I was also curious about this until Rick revealed what Dr. Edwin Jenner whispered in his ear; that we are all infected. Anyone who dies from any cause, under any circumstance, will reanimate.

This revelation upset the group. Hell, I was upset. I had other things to think about and consider and now, I have to worry about avoiding my own death. Intense anger is what I felt for Rick at that moment. When the group started questioning Rick's leadership, Rick snapped, telling us that he never asked for the leadership position and he has done everything he can to keep the group safe. He shouted that he had killed Shane for us, which I was highly doubting. He told us that anyone is welcome to leave, if we feel that we can do better without him. When no one chose to exit, he issued us a final warning which gave me the chills:

"If you're staying, this isn't a democracy anymore."

This is a bunch of bullshit. I felt myself harden, becoming something fierce, something solid, something dangerous. This wasn't a world for little princesses anymore.

He has officially established himself as our leader. I was both proud and angry with Rick Grimes at that moment.