Hush Baby Im here

Chapter 2

Tara walked over, knife in hand, and climbed onto the vehicle. Another walker appeared behind the other, this one was a women. Her she wore jeans and a T-shirt, and there was a kitchen knife wedged between her showing ribs. Tara drove her hunting knife into the male right through his temple. She wasn't quick enough though, the other was already behind her. It tackled her, jaws snapping at any available skin.

She let out a yelp, fighting it off, and seconds later three more appeared.

Two of them look like normal walkers, but the other had half a face, the rest had been shot off. Its ribs were poking out it all directions and his large hairy intestine dragged along the ground with a what looked like a finger stuck in it.

I set Judith down quick and grabbed my knife from where it was tucked in my belt. I slid over the vehicle to the unprotected side. The danger zone.

I drove my knife into the one laying on top of Tara, having a slightly satisfied feeling when it laid still.

I spun, Tara was trying to stand up as I killed another, brushing off some dirt.

That's when it got to heavy, the gross one, I didn't even know what gender it was, lunged for me. I toppled, loosing my knife somewhere during the fall.

I didn't scream though, I had no voice for it, no energy either. There was a glimmer of light as the sun reflected of the blade of my knife, only inches away. I drove my palm up, hitting his chin. It's neck snapped, that was much easier then it should have been. Or maybe I'm just running on adrenaline.

Where the hell is Tara?

I continued to push my palm forward, smashing it again and again. Then the bottom jaw came off. Dark red streams of blood came running down painting my face and torso. I kept my mouth forced shut. It couldn't bite. I shifted and grabbed the blade and rammed it through what would have been the top of his mouth. It stopped moving. I pulled out the knife and rolled it off of me. Just in time to see Tara finish off the last one. I looked down at myself. It looked as if I had been cut open with a chain saw.

"I'm sorry." She said panting and placing her hands on her knees.

I just brushed it off, "Judith?" I asked.

"She's where you left her, she can't crawl yet but she's sitting." I gave a nod as if to say good, and stood up.

"This never happened." I state. She didn't question it. I slid across the vehicle and went to retrieve some new clothes. After I had changed and washed most the blood off most my body, I buried the old ones. Me and Tara checked each other for scratches, there were none.

"How many were there?" I asked her as we sat trying to keep the fire going.

"Eight." I guess I couldn't blame her for not helping me, she must have had her hands full.

"What about the body's? Won't they ask?" She suddenly realized.

"They came one at a time, slowly, and you killed each one." I replied staring at the fire.

"Why are we lying?"

"If we told them I had a struggle one more person would want to stay behind and watch over the camp because of me. and that's ridiculous, we don't need that. We need food and protection out here, nothing should be wasted on me." I didn't even turn to look at her. I was honestly exhausted. All I wanted was to lay down and sleep, but I couldn't.

It felt as if forever had passed when the rest of the group returned. They all looked grave and beat, and when Maggie and me were alone I asked her what had happened.

"Nothing bad, just been a long day." She didn't say anything else. There was no supper over the  fire that night, no conversations and no smiles. When Daryl asked Tara about the bodies she told him exactly what we had discussed. I listened silently, pretending to be absorbed in my own thoughts.

Carl came and sat by me, hugging his knees.

"How was the run?" I asked. He turned slowly, a mournful look in his eyes.

"It was fine. We just came across these two children. I think they were nine or ten." He paused zoning out, reliving the moment. "And there was nothing we could do to save them, they were torn apart." 

I shutter at the feeling, children were so pure and innocent, its so heart wrenching. However I didn't say anything. I knew he wouldn't want to talk about it.

I thought of Daryl's face again, when that little girl walked out of the barn at the farm.

I glanced at him and as usual he sat with his head down and his hair covering up his face, seeming as if he wanted to blend in with the earth. Is that what he was thinking about? I knew that was one of the hardest times of his life, it's probably seared into his mind. He probably can't stop picturing her. 

It was bold, but I stood up and crossed over to where he was. I placed my self down beside him. He didn't look up to see who it was. I don't think he had too. I didn't know weather I should give him a hug, or put my arm around him. So I did the littlest thing, I weaved my fingers through his. At first he didn't move his fingers and they stayed open. But I held on and soon they folded in with mine. I smiled to myself but I quickly internalized the happiness. No one seemed to noticed us.

The sun vanished beneath the horizon and most people went to sleep. Rick and Daryl were staying up to keep guard. I was still sitting beside him when Rick came over. He didn't say anything about our hands, just nodded my way, as a way to say hello.

"Daryl can I talk to you for a bit?" he asked.

 Daryl looked up at him, and gave a soft "hm."

Rick nervously glanced at me, and I took the hint. I stood up, but Daryl didn't loosen his grip. So we were standing and holding hands. I wonder what was going through his head.

"Goodnight." I say to Daryl. Giving his rough hand one more light squeeze.

His fingers trailed down my wrist and he let go. I dragged my feet toward my hearse. I could just barely make out Rick asking how he was doing before I got to the door. When I crawled into my bed and pulled the blankets over my body. I was instantly asleep.