Lost Redemption
Habits
Mads led the way around the woods and everyone followed. They walked silently and always on the lookout for threats. They only came across a handful of roamers that were mostly walking about alone or in pairs except for a small group of 5 roamers that took them by surprise, they didn't notice they were there until they heard their moaning right behind their backs.
“Sneaky fuckers” mumbled Daryl while shooting a bolt through one of the rotting creature's skull. Michonne quickly decapitated another two of the roamers, Mads took care of the fourth one with her throwing knives and Carol used a blade to stab one of them right through the eye. “We gotta be more careful,” said Mads,“come on, we're almost there.” They continued walking, picking up the pace.
“You got scared back there?” asked Daryl to Nora while walking beside her.
“I'm always scared. Aren't you?”
Daryl mumbled and shrugged, then he said, “You kinda froze there. Were you planning to help at all?”
“No.”
Michonne, Carol and Mads were listening to the conversation. They stopped on their tracks when they heard the blatant answer and glared at Nora.
“Wait, you weren't planning to help?” asked Carol annoyed.
“No” Nora replied, matter of factly.
“Care to explain yourself?” asked Mads, narrowing her eyes.
“You had it under control, you were closer to them, I would've gotten on the way by 'trying to help'. It was better help to just cover your backs in case something went wrong” replied Nora to the questioning and glaring.
“You're in a group now, you have to act like it” said Carol still with anger in her voice.
“I am. No use getting on the way, that could get all of us hurt.”
“So what? Your definition of group work is just standing by and enjoying the show?” asked Michonne coldly.
“No. As I said before I was watching your backs in case something went wrong but again, you had it under control. Besides, I only kill when I have to.”
“Kill when you have to? The fuck does that mean? What, you think these are wild animals?” Yelled Daryl, confused by Nora's apparent lack of knowledge about the current roamer situation everybody had to deal with.
“You need to lower your voice, you're gonna get us all killed. We should go, we're wasting daylight.” said Nora as she started walking.
Mads scoffed, “Well she's right, we are wasting daylight” she said as she resumed leading the way.
Daryl, Michonne and Carol shared a concerned look and then followed.
Nora knew that argument was definitely a step in the wrong direction to earning these people's trust but she also knew she was right. She had learned while being on her own how to get around roamers and not waste any valuable energy fighting stray ones. She knew having a community to go back to at the end of the day meant she could spare some energy but she also knew no community was ever a sure thing and neither was going back after a scavenging run.
After what felt like half an hour, they came to a road where Mads led them uphill. Once on the top they saw a small town ahead. To their left a welcome sign to the city but the name was covered with white paint and a faint legend that said “ALL DEAD” that seemed to be written in blood. Even though they had all been living in this new, zombified world for years, they still shuddered at the sight of the bloodied sign.
“There” said Mads while pointing at a big building just off the road.
Notes
Thanks for reading. Leave some feedback if you can! :)
Great new chapter :) so guess the crazy carl will be the new enemy. love that idea
3/27/14