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O'Death

Chapter Eight

The dusk settled in as everyone in the camp prepared to eat for the night. With Daryl still laid up, Angela offered to bring his dinner over for Carol. She gladly understood and watched as she took the two plates over to his tent. Daryl was so bored himself, he was actually skimming through the book Andrea had given to him. It was this or poke holes into his tent again. He had his lantern on illuminating his tent, Angela wandered in and handed him his plate of dinner. The last can of sweet corn was cooked with mixed beef they've held off, trying to go another night without beans.

"Thanks." Daryl muttered, as he sat up feeling the dull pain start to annoy him less. Angela briefly smiled and sat down on the floor of the tent, scooping some corn into her mouth.

The two ate in silence, near shoveling the food into their mouths. Daryl used his fingers at times instead of the fork she provided, licking the ends of his digits. Angela watched him in amusement as the sounds of the crickets enveloped around them. She didn't know what to expect from a redneck. Angela has only heard jokes about it back in Delaware, never met one before. He'd only use the fork to eat the corn, while gather a small clump of the beef in his fingers to drop into his mouth. Daryl felt eyes on him and looked to her, as he licked his fingers again.

"What ya starin' at?" He questioned, genuinely not understanding her gaze.

She shook her head. "Nothing."

Angela was growing to have some trouble holding her fork. Daryl watched as her hand shook, some corn spilling back into her plate as she winced at the pain it brought. At first, she was scooping the food to her mouth fine. But, the repeated process was straining for her.

"Just eat with yer hands." He told her, dropping more bits of the meat into his mouth. Some rolled down his chin back into his plate.

Angela sighed and placed the fork down. She placed the plate on her legs and used her left hand to copy what he was doing with her corn. Daryl chewed thoughtfully on his beef, as she nodded at his suggestion.

"Don't even see the point in forks, let alone knives." She told, dropping more bits of corn into her mouth. "When I was a kid, whenever we had meat for dinner; steak, pork, schnitzel-"

Daryl frowned at her in confusion, "Was that a sneeze or a name of a shit?" he asked.

Angela blinked, not really knowing if he was being a smart ass or not. "No, no. It's usually meat covered in breadcrumbs and fried in a pan. It was my favorite meal, ever had that?"

Daryl shook his head, "Can't say I have." he told her.

The woman rose her brows and smile., "Second I get my hands on some bread crumbs, you're gonna have the best schnitzel ever!" Angela ate some more, then placed her plate beside her. "Anyway, when we had meat for dinner, my mom would pass out knives to cut the meat."

Angela took the fork off the plate to act out her words. "I would stab the fork right into the meat," She jammed the fork downward into the air, then flipped it upward. "I would eat it right off of it, like some savage."

She laughed at the memory as Daryl smirked softly at her imitation she showed him. She placed the fork back down, and noticed her fingers had residue from her meal. She glanced to Daryl, who was licking his fingers a third time without a care. Angela brought them up to her lips and copied his actions. Though she looked more like a puppy licking a wound, compared to Daryl. She would prefer a napkin or a wet nap, but she doubted the RV had any. Angela felt nervous eating like this in front of Daryl, it was one thing when she was with her family. In public, back before this happened, she ate like a civilized being. She guessed it didn't matter anymore how to eat, so long as it got them through another day.

"How'd the shooting range go?" Daryl asked, as he tossed his empty plate on top of hers. "Said ya would tell me tonight; it's night."

Angela rose a finger, "It's dusk, actually." she corrected. He narrowed his eyes at her making her sigh. "Shane made a fool of me."

"What do ya mean?" He asked, resting his arms on his knees.

"I mean- He first gave me this really light gun. My brother's gun is a heavier feel, I told him and Rick that I was used to it. They agreed and let me try it." She told, adjusting her hat as it was falling over her eyes. "Shane, he roughly handed it to me, making my wrist act up again. I-I found it difficult to fire the gun."

Daryl nodded and leaned back, bringing a knee up. "Told ya that would happen."

"Yeah, I know. I had to try though. Shane wanted me to make a scene, to look like I can't handle a gun at all." She groaned and tucked her knees up to her chest, hugging them with one arm. Her bad wrist rested on her knees as she looked up at Daryl. "Rick, he looked at me like he was expecting better of me."

"Feel ya disappointed him?" Daryl asked, as he started picking at his nails. He shook his head when she didn't respond. "Don't." Angela perked up at his words. "Ya don't need his approval like that."

Angela thought on his words. She hummed, and rested her chin on her wrist, only to hiss at the stinging and move it to her side. Daryl was disgruntled at how she still hadn't gotten her wrist treated yet. Leaned to his side with a soft groan, he took out a black bandana with fading gold designs from his back pocket.

"C'mere." He called, motioning for her.

Angela blinked at him, and got to her knees as she moved to him, he leaned forward as she sat between his knees. He took her hand and rolled her sleeve up, earning a few winces from her at the touch. Daryl folded the bandana and started wrapping it around her wrist. Not too tightly, but he made sure it was enough to restrict the movement and hide the bruises.

"Since yer too big of a stubborn ass to get Hershel to see it," He knotted the end and shrugged at his work. "Better than nothin'."

Angela felt her lips stretch into a smile, looking up at Daryl with a thankful look. "I'll be sure to return the bandana." She told, not moving from her spot between his knees.

"Ya better." He teased, feeling uncomfortable now with her position as how close she was to him. He cleared his throat, making a move to stand so she could move. "Stars out yet?"

"I'll check," Angela offered, taking the plates and leaving the tent to the RV.

Not many sat around the fire in camp. She found Andrea and Shane, so she hurried inside where Dale and Glenn were. Placing the plates in the sink, Angela got out before the two could say a word to her. As she passed Shane, she sent a glare at the back of his head and continued to Daryl's tent. He was halfway out when she got back, he noticed the others might be in their tents.

"We can get a good look further from the fire. Less lights, more stars." She suggested, pointing toward a small hill closer to the house.

The two sat together, looking up in silence. Angela had a bit of a difficult time finding the constellations, it could be from her mind still fraggled from today. Her eyes traveled to Shane, his figure lighted by the fire as he messed with it. She felt her shoulders hunch, she swallowed wanting to ask something to Daryl who kept staring at the night sky.

"Hey, Daryl?" He hummed in response, acknowledging her. "I was thinking," Angela hugging her knees again, rubbing the fabric of the bandana between her fingers. "Maybe I should head out."

Daryl looked to her quizzically. "Head out?"

She nodded, "I should leave, just disappear from you guys." She took a breath, continuing. "It's always been just me and Kay. We never had anyone else and it's been fine that way. I should go out and find her on my own, and when I do, we shouldn't come back."

Her eyes rose up to his, he just stared at her in deep thought. "What would yer sister say to that?"

Angela chuckled looking away. "She would argue and scream her head off. I first thought, she only needs me in her life. But, look where that lead her." Angela threw her hand toward the trees in the large distance. "Nolan wouldn't have allowed that. Now that I think about it, maybe she should stay here and I-"

"Not gonna happen." Her eyes shot to Daryl who was giving her a hard glare at her words. "Ya think she's gonna agree to ya leavin' her behind with us?"

Daryl was furious by her words. Leaving her only family, her lonely little sister with people they honestly didn't really know. She would trust people like Shane to be with her, after what he's done to Angela so far? If he didn't like Angela here, what made her think Kaylee would be alright with them. The thought of Angela leaving her sister, reminded him of the times Merle left him behind. The brother always claimed how much he cared about Daryl, how important his baby brother was to him. If so, why did he always find him gone when he needed him growing up? Why did Merle just leave him to get beaten by their father every day? Why did he cut his hand off and leave him, again?

"Isn't it the older siblin's job to protect the younger one?" He questioned, shaking his head. "Don't be what Merle was." He looked away, focusing his stare on the forest. "Don't leave her behind."

Angela felt touched by his words, she felt she learned a bit of him by what he said. He was right, how could she think of abandoning her sister? Nolan would kick her ass at the notion she tried to give.

She sniffled, wiping her nose on her sleeve and nodded. "You're right, sorry."

Daryl scoffed, "Of course, I'm right."

Angela nudged his arm, he looked down to his shoulder than to her finding a big grin on her face. He felt his chest tightened at the sight, Daryl just shook his head and looked up at the stars. With a grunt, he laid down, tucking his arms behind his head feeling it would help see the stars better.

"Where's the damn scorpion?"

Angela laughed and laid down too, keeping a fair distance to respect his personal space and her own. Her finger shot up, outlining the stars. "Right there, you can always find it from the Big Dipper and Little Dipper." She moved her finger toward above Scorpio, lining out the dippers. "Not to mention, Polaris is connected to the end of the Little Dipper."

"Pol-what?" Daryl questioned, raising his hand slightly to outline the dippers as well.

Angela giggled, "The North Star. Some call it the Pole Star, I call it Polaris." she explained.

Well, that was something new for him to know. He sounded the word out through his lips, Angela peeked at him before adjusting her shoulders and looked at the sky once more. She never felt so comfortable with anyone other than her own sister. Daryl had this air around him that put people off, like when she first met the redneck. But, with how he's been helping to not just find Sophia, but Kaylee too, it touched her heart. Angela's heart fluttered at any movement she saw at the corner of her eye or any noise he uttered. She felt a bit of a privilege to be conversing with the hunter more than the others.



The next morning arrived faster than anyone expected. A long sleep was what everyone needed. Angela and Daryl stayed up late, looking at stars. After Angela yawned for the fourth time, Daryl decided to call it a quits for bed. They bid each other a good night and left for their separate tents. Angela felt herself sleep perfectly that night, venting all that to Daryl today seemed to have lifted off her mind.

Angela woke up and dressed in her short sleeve shirt and stayed in her jeans. The sweater was just ruined in her body odor, finally glad to let her arms breathe. Her eyes fell onto the bandana wrapped on her wrist, smiling to herself.. Angela slipped her boots on, slid on her baton, knife, and left the tent. Carol was cooking something at the fire, Angela could smell eggs being cooked. Ohh, it smelled really good!

She found her stomach taking charge, as she walked to the camp finding everyone sitting around for breakfast. Carol smiled and handed her a plate. "Hope you like eggs." She told, already scrapping some from the pan onto it.

"Haven't had them in a long time." Angela told, taking a piece and blowing on it to cool it faster. T-Dog came over and sat down, drinking something from his cup, spoon clinking around in it. "How's your arm, T-Dog?"

He looked up and grinned. "Doing much better." Carol moved the sizzling eggs in the frying pan with her spatula. She offered some to him, he shook his head. "Thanks again for helping what you had, back at the highway." He told, looking back at her.

Angela patted his arm, "It's no problem." she assured.

"I'm sure he'd do the same if it were you." Carol said, sending her a knowing look. Angela noticed Carol was eying the material wrapped around her wrist. "Unless someone already has?"

Angela turned to sit down in a lawn chair not wanting to respond. Not caring about a fork right now, she put the tinier cooler pieces into her mouth looking around the camp. Carl sat with his parents eating contently with them. Rick seemed to be spacing out, not touching the food on his plate. Andrea was sharpening her knife, giving glances to everyone now and then. Shane was spotted past the Grimes staring at her, she felt uncomfortable and looked down at her plate.

Angela heard someone move a chair next to her, she glanced seeing Daryl plop down next to her. He nodded to her and she noticed him sitting there blocked her view of Shane. She smiled softly as Carol came over plating him some eggs as well. Everyone ate contently, not saying a word on what the plans for today would be. Angela liked it, she felt welcomed to something and it felt- Nice. Daryl may be right, once they find her sister, they should both stay with these people.

"Uh, guys?" Attention was given to Glenn, who stood in front of everyone. "So…" Angela and Daryl gave full attention, finding his expression solemn. He sighed and blurted out, "The barn is full of walkers."

Heads shot over, others slowly looked up in shock towards Glenn. Angela dropped a piece of egg onto her plate, feeling her heart race. Walkers. Barn. Walkers in the barn.

Everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed over to the barn across the property. They all stood ten or so feet from the barn doors, Shane took the chance to look through the boards. He saw shadows wandering and staggering left and right. Moans and low snarls were heard inside. The eyes of a walker popped up in his view, making him step back and look right at Rick.

"Ya cannot tell me yer alright with this." He hissed at him, walking around him.

"No, I'm not!" He spat back at him. "But we're guests here, this isn't our land."

"This is our lives!" Shane countered loudly.

"Lower your voice." Glenn hissed, not wanting to stir the walkers inside.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea told, seeming to agree with Shane.

"It ain't right. Not remotely." Shane added, waving his hat about in anger.

Angela shifted her footing, folding her arms as she stood by Carol and Daryl. Shane walked around the group, trying to get his mind in gear on this. "Okay, we've either gotta go in there, gotta to make thing's right or we just got to go. Now, we have been talkin' 'bout fort Bennin' for a long time-"

"We can't go." Rick told, raising a hand to stop his words.

"Why, Rick, why?"

Carol stepped up to him. "Because my daughter is still out there."

Angela agreed beside Carol. "So is my sister, we can't up and leave yet."

Shane looked between the woman, stepping back and bringing his hands over his mouth. "Okay. Okay." He sighed and dropped his hands down his face. "I think it's time we all start to just consider the other possibilities."

Angela stomped forward, glaring the man. "There are no other possibilities until we see them, dead or alive."

Shane brought a hand over his face, pointing a finger at her. "You should've accepted the possibly fact that yer sister is long dead."

Daryl came up next to Angela. "I'm close to findin' these girls. I just found her damn doll two days ago."

"Ya found her doll, Daryl. That's what ya did- You found a doll." Shane said, slowly as if Daryl couldn't comprehend it any other way. "Kay is dead, accept that!" He shouted in Angela's face, making her stumble back at the words.

Daryl glared at him for a few seconds before shoving him by the shoulders, yelling, "Man, ya don't know what the hell yer talkin' 'bout!"

Rick got in between as Daryl eyed Shane like a feral animal. Angela blinked her eyes to keep dry, those words hurt her more than she thought. Carol put an arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort the stunned woman.

"I'm just saying what needs to be said. Ya get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours."

"Shane, stop." Rick told, but he continued.

"Let me tell ya somethin' else, man. If they were alive out there n' saw ya comin', all methed out with yer buck knife n' geek ears 'round yer neck, they woulda run in the other direction!" He shouted, emphasizing by pointing out behind him.

Daryl started shouting back at him, Shane shouting right at him too. Everyone started shouting for the two to stop. Angela and Andrea tried to pull or shove Daryl back as Glenn and Lori got Shane at a distance from him. Rick kept yelling at them to stop, keeping himself between the two. Angela pressed her hand to his arm, raising a hand with a pleading look. Daryl saw and stepped back more, Shane barked something at Lori ready to walk off.

"Let me just talk to Hershel." Rick told him, causing Shane to round back at him.

"What are ya gonna figure out!?"

"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn. I have to talk him into it. This is his land." Rick explained, trying not to raise his straining voice any more than he already has.

Dale walked over to Rick, silent after all this time. "Hershel sees those things in there as people, sick people. His wife, his-his stepson."

"You knew?" Rick questioned.

"Yesterday, I talked to Hershel." He told, without any regret or hesitance.

Shane stepped forward, glaring Dale. "N' ya waited the night?"

"I thought we could survive one more night! We did!" He barked at Shane, then looked back to Rick. "I was waiting till this morning to say something. But, Glenn wanted to be the one."

"The man is crazy, Rick. If Hershel thinks those things are alive or no-

Rick yelled for him to shut up, but the sudden sounds of chains and doors banging caught everyone's attention. The walkers were growling against the doors, hearing their arguing. Lori pulled Carl back as Carol stepped back in fear. Who knows how many were in there, they all froze waiting if the doors really could hold their weight or not. How were they going to handle this new situation?



Everyone dispersed from the barn as Rick convinced them it was best to leave it be. Their loud arguing was making it all the worse and the more they stood there, the more they would pound that door down. Shane stood back, walking around the barn to make sure it was really secure. Glenn was nowhere in sight and Lori had Carl focusing on some book work. Lori tried to convince Angela to help, but once she noticed it was math, she instantly denied claiming, 'math is true hell'. She offered that if he ever needed help with history, she'd be the first to do so.

Angela was still shaken by Shane's words, she just walked around the camp, her arms folded to try and calm her nerves. She noticed Glenn trudging back, face and hair stained with raw egg. "What happened to you?"

Glenn chewed his lips, waving his stained hat in the air. "Something I'm sure I deserved."

Angela chuckled softly, "Better wash that out before it gets all crusty."

Glenn nodded and walked over to the RV. He opened the door, then looked to her. "Can I borrow your hat?"

The smile on her lips faded and she shook her head, placing her fingers on the front rim. "Sorry, it's my only one." Glenn nodded and walked in.

Angela decided to go visit the horses. She never actually rode them nor has she encountered them. Angela breathed in and out to calm herself more, she heard horses can sense feelings. The last thing Angela wanted was the horses to get spooked, especially since what happened to Daryl the other day. Approaching the stables, she heard voices talking inside. She stood by the entrance, hesitating to enter in case it was Maggie or Hershel tending to their horses.

"We don't know if we're gonna find her, Daryl." Came Carol's voice. So, it was her and Daryl inside talking. "We don't. I don't."

There was a pause, which made Angela near want to peek in and see what caused it. "What?" Daryl's voice muttered.

"Can't lose you too." Carol told, her voice straining at the words.

Angela turned ready to leave, until the sound of something being thrown to the ground and a groan was heard. She spun around and peeked through the wood panels the best she could.

"Are you alright?" Carol's asked, had Daryl hurt himself?

"Just leave me be!" He barked at her, making Angela jump at the tone of his voice. "Stupid bitch." was muttered before making his exit out of the barn.

He stopped, spotting Angela staring at him in shock. Without a word, he marched out on his own. Angela looked in, seeing a tearful Carol standing there. She wiped her face, turning away and taking even breaths to calm down. Angela looked around, finding a horse saddle on the ground and concluding what might have happened. She took a step to comfort Carol, but couldn't find herself to say anything. After all the times she's been there and comforted Angela, she can't find the courage to do the same.

Angela turned and marched after Daryl who was heading toward his tent. "Daryl." She called, though he didn't stop. "Daryl!" She called louder, but he entered his tent without a glance. She bolted into a run and barged right into his tent, glaring at him.

"Hey! What the hell was that?"

"None of yer business." He spat at her, refusing to look at her.

"I don't care. Why did you call Carol a bitch? Just taking your anger out on her isn't right and you know it!" She barked back, not caring if anyone had heard her nearby.

"I don't need anyone else tellin' me what to do." He turned, glaring at her. "I don't need these shitheads tellin' me how I should stop findin' those girls. Let alone the girl's own mother!"

Angela rose her hands up, in attempt to calm him down. "If that's what this is really about, that's still no reason to call Carol a bitch."

"It just- It feels like we're the only ones who are tryin' to keep on lookin' for Kay and Sophia." Daryl picked up his arrow before chucking it down at his bed. "Unless yer thinkin' the same, after what Shane said."

Angela got angry again at that. "You think Shane, screaming in my face, is gonna change my thoughts on my sister being dead or alive?" She gave one last glare. "You can scream at me all you want, I don't care. But, don't treat Carol like that with how she's feeling."

Angela huffed and left the tent, the plan on heading to the stables was out of the question now. Daryl's shouting made her mind all buzzed up, unable to find something to do. It seemed Carol got Daryl keep from searching today. No one seemed to be leaving today, she guessed. Walking past the camp, she didn't see Shane at the barn. Did he finally leave the damn thing alone?

Curiosity got the best of her, she found herself walking over, being careful of her steps. She didn't want to stir the walkers, but wanted to know the number of walkers that were kept inside. Angela walked along the side of the barn, her fingers skimming along the wood to find an opening wide enough to see inside. Coming around the corner, she almost let out a shriek as she ran into Shane.

"Jesus, what the hell are ya doin' here?" He questioned, towering over her.

Angela stepped back patting her chest, her heart nearly jumped out. If her knife was in hand, she would've stabbed him thinking he was a walker that got loose. "I was just trying to get a number of how many there are."

"A dozen at least." Shane answered shortly, "Ya shouldn't be anywhere near. I've got the place under watch."

"Like there's anything else to do, since you keep claiming we should stop searching." Angela countered.

Shane eyed her up and down, chewing on his cheek. "That why yer really here?"

Angela walked around him, still trying to see inside the barn. "Thanks to you constantly telling Carol about her daughter, she's starting to doubt as well."

Shane followed her, at a slow pace. "That means she's startin' to see reality, finally."

"No, it means she's giving up on her daughter." Angela glared over her shoulder. "I don't believe she's dead until we see her body."

Shane sped up, blocking her from making another turn around the barn. "And ya think we should be riskin' lives to find a lost cause? Ya got no say in this group."

Angela scowled at him deeply, "Like it or not, I am in this group."

Angela rounded to pass him again, but almost screamed when she felt that tight grip on his wrist again. She was slammed against the barn wall, hearing the snarling of the walkers on the other side of the wood. Her face stung as it was pressed into the wood, she saw the walkers looking through the gaps of the boards. The gnawing jaws made her shudder, Angela held her breath as the smell of rotting flesh reached her nose through the wood. In attempt to push herself away from the danger, Angela cried out as Shane held her wrist behind her back, the other hand pressed her face to the boards.

"G-Get off me!" She hissed, hearing the walkers claw at the wood. Angela hoped they couldn't scratch her in between the gaps.

Shane leaned into her ear, she closed her eyes feeling bile rise in her throat in fear. "Yer useless to us. I see it, Daryl sees it, now Rick sees it. Soon, ya'll be left behind to the walkers."

Angela growled, only to be deafened by the pounding from the threat in front of her. She felt him push his body against her, making her press right against the shaking wooden walls. Angela felt herself tremble, she didn't know which was worse; Shane or the walkers. Angela tried to angle her head, causing her hat to fall off.

It was then he noticed the left side of her head, he spotted an ugly red scar. It stretched from her temple to her above her ear, her short hair made it difficult to hide. Finding this scar intrigued him, she was clearly given it in a means of punishment. It wasn't too old, he could tell its fresh for sure. It wasn't a thin one either, it started small then widened to about one inch before getting to the other end. He always wondered why Angela was always keeping this hat on her head. Sympathy wasn't in his heart, when finding this small hint of her past. If anything, it gave Shane encouragement to get Angela out of the group for good.

"Seems ya done somethin' to deserve this." Shane indicated, before pulling her from the barn wall and throwing her to the ground.

Angela rolled onto her back, not knowing weather to tend to her worsened wrist or try to cover her head. She spotted her hat by his boots, only to have him snatch it up before she could think to reach it. He sneered at her before tucking the hat into his back pocket and marching off around the barn. The trembling dirty blonde sat there, now feeling the streaking tears pouring from her eyes.

Someone had seen her scar, though he didn't question it, he knew something happened to cause it. Angela reached up, a haunting shiver ran up her spine when her fingers skimmed at the marred skin. She had to hide it, but he took her hat away. Angela looked around, only to gasp when leaning on her injured wrist, falling to her elbow. Her eyes fell on the bandana wrapped around her wrist, leaving her with a decision. Keep the bandana on her wrist to hide her injury, or wrap it around her head to hide the ugly scar?



Maggie was in the house, trying not to think too much on the tense situation between her father and the group. They didn't understand, of course Glenn wouldn't either. Maggie glared out the window, seeing the built man, Shane, wander the perimeter of the barn. Once she spotted Angela rounding the barn as well, she huffed a sigh and moved to the kitchen to finish cutting the greens on the cutting board. She had just heard the argument between Rick and her father and just got over her own argument with him. She didn't want her dad to kick these people out, it wasn't right. Sure, Glenn had gone against her plea to keep it hidden, but after that attack in the pharmacy, she saw them as dangerous as his group did. Walkers, that's what they're called.
The front door opened, thinking it was Beth or Patricia. Jimmy had left with her father so it wasn't them.

"Hello?" That voice, it wasn't either of them.

Maggie wiped her hands on a towel and left the kitchen to find Angela at the front foyer looking up the stairs. Angela turned see Maggie, she had a black bandana with faded gold designs wrapped around her head. But what caught her attention the most, was the swollen ugly bruised wrist she supported against her chest.

"Oh God, Angela." Maggie rushed over, leading her into the dining room sitting her down at the table. "What happened?" She asked, as she gently turned to see the bruising color cover her entire wrist. The skin felt so thickly swollen, it clearly has been some time since the initial cause.

Angela didn't speak, her eyes stung with puffy redness and was still felt shaken up from the encounter with Shane. Maggie walked to the kitchen and came back putting ice into a towel and slowly pressing it onto her wrist. Angela hissed at the sudden cold contact, pulling herself out to see Maggie was trying to get her to talk.

"How'd you get this?" She asked, pulling a chair closer to keep the bag of ice in place. "It looks like it's been needing to be tended to for a while."

Angela leaned her cheek into the palm of her hand, as she rested her elbow onto the table. "Something hurt me a while ago, it happened before we arrived." She excused, causing another lie to pile up in her collections.

Maggie wasn't part of their group, so Angela found it to be simple to just tell her something else entirely. Maggie tilted her head, seeing the stress in her expression. "You sure? I don't remember seeing this the day you arrived with the rest of your group."

Angela shrugged, wincing as Maggie flipped her arm around to put the ice on the underside. "It didn't start hurting til a day or so later." She lifted her face and pressed her fingers against her cheek, feeling a prick of pain. Oh, awesome- Splinters.

Her brows went up, "Clearly." Maggie eyed the colors, a lot of pressure was put onto this to bruise this badly. "We'll have it wrapped up so it doesn't get any worse. Anymore pressure and it might have broken."

"That so?" Angela asked, Maggie nodded as she got to her feet.

"I'll be right back." Maggie left the room, Angela guessed to get the first aid kit.

Looking around the room, Angela felt out of sorts. It was so clean and pristine, like the hell of the world was nowhere near to ruining this lovely home. She felt dirty sitting in the house, like she would leave a boot print into the carpet or smudges of dirt on the chairs and table. Angela peeked under the table, lifting her boots to check if she was leaving dirt anywhere. Hearing Maggie's footsteps return, she sat back up, fixing the ice as it was slipping off.

The brunette sat back down and removed the ice pack. Once the aid kit was opened, Maggie took out some gauze and gently lifted her wrist. "See, the swelling went down all ready." Angela nodded, putting her free hand into her lap as she watched.

Maggie wrapped whatever was left of the gauze, as most of it had been used for Carl and Daryl over the past few days. The two were silent, avoiding each other's gaze. Angela glanced to her only to have her eyes fall back onto her lap. Maggie took a breath and spoke over the tense silence.

"So, you know about the barn." Angela's green eyes shot up, meeting Maggie's hazel ones.

"...Um, yeah."

Maggie's eyes fell back to wrapping her wrist. "I saw you checking out the barn before coming here."
Angela swallowed, thinking how to respond. "We checked it earlier this morning and a large argument with Rick and Shane stirred them up, so we left. I checked back to, er-" She cleared her throat. "To see how many were in there. It sounded like a dozen or so."

Maggie nodded at her words, Angela didn't think it was to confirm her numbered guess. "My brother Shawn, and my step-mom are in there. Along with neighbors we know."

"They're just-" Angela rose her shoulders up. "Just wandering around inside, not knowing what to do?"

"Pretty much."

Angela took a breath, "If it means anything?" Maggie looked up at her. "It's none of my business, I'll keep from the barn. If you want to keep what's left of your family in there, do what you think helps."

Maggie smiled at her kind words, "Done." she taped off the end and started putting things away in the kit.

"Thanks." Angela muttered, twisting her arm to see it was completely covered. "Oh, do you happen to have tweezers? I felt some splinters in my cheek."

"Yeah, here." Maggie took out the small plastic instrument and handed it to her.

"Thanks, again."

Maggie hummed in response, she got up and took the towel of melting ice into the kitchen. Angela stood and found a mirror, she stood in front and started to try and remove the splinters. She pinched her skin a few times, mumbling some curses, but managed to get a few out. She got about five out, and broke some skin making it look like she had popped an acne.

Once done, Angela placed the tweezers on the table and left the house, pausing at the porch. She honestly wanted to hide out here, not hear anymore argument from the group. Keep her distance from Shane, she found the encampment and her tent less safe. This farmhouse felt safe to her, Angela wondered if she should tell Daryl what happened. But, with him up and about he might actually do something. She heard tapping and clicking of plastic. Her head turned to find Beth, Patricia, and Carl playing some board game. Angela kept her distance, as Maggie exited the house going for a walk. She only walked so far before Glenn trotted up to her, the two paused and talked for a while. Angela would catch the two together now and again the past few days, clearly something going on. Maggie must have been furious when Glenn told them about the barn. But, the next scene made Angela chuckle. The two shared a deep kiss, reconciling with each other.

Finding someone to share love like this was rare in this new world. Angela sniffled, feeling a lump in her throat. It was rare to find anything these days- Even family. She wasn't envious of Maggie. She not only had her family, but to find someone such as Glenn in her life. Looking around, the dirty blonde started to wonder where everyone was now. Daryl and Carol were missing for a while. Her eyes went to the barn, Shane and Rick were gone. In fact, Dale was nowhere in sight either. Were they all on a search or just somewhere else on the property?

Maggie and Glenn came over to the porch, and sat at the steps. It had been at least an hour, before Angela grew restless. Glenn noticed Angela's wrist was wrapped, when she excused herself to pass the two. "I know you hate me asking, Angela." She turned to him, arms crossed. "The wrist doing better?"

Her eyes shifted down, she smiled with a shrug. "Yeah."

"Let my daddy know if it hurts, it was bruised pretty badly." Maggie offered, earning a look from Glenn.

"That bad?" He asked with concern.

"Didn't you see it? It was swollen like a balloon." She told.

Angela looked away as she kept her eyes out for anyone. She heard Maggie laugh and said something about early bird special to Glenn, when Andrea and T-Dog walked up to them.

Glenn walked up beside Angela as T-Dog asked, "Do you know what's going on?"

"Where is everyone?" Andrea asked.

"I wish I knew, I haven't seen anyone for the past few hours." Angela told, hand on her hips.

"You haven't seen Rick?" Glenn asked.

"He went off with Hershel." Andrea answered, "We were supposed to leave for the search a couple of hours ago."

"Yeah, ya were." Eyes shot over finding Daryl and Carol approaching them. "What the hell?"

"Rick told us he was going out." Carol told, rushing up next to him.

Daryl looked over everyone, they all held confused features. It irritated Daryl at this confusion. "Damnit." He cussed, "Isn't anybody takin' this seriously?" He spun around, throwing his pointed finger out into the air in the direction of the woods. "We got us a damn trail."

It was then, Daryl and everyone spotted Shane marching up to them. Angela felt her stomach churn as she stepped back a bit. Daryl approached him, the two traded words and Daryl took the shotgun rifle from Shane, cocking it. Shane continued closer, as Angela backed up behind Glenn. He glanced over at her questioningly, then to Shane.

"Time to grow up!" He barked at everyone, "Ya already got yers?" he asked Andrea.

"Yeah. Where's Dale?" She questioned.

"He's on his way." Shane dismissed as he passed a handgun to T-Dog as well.

"I thought we couldn't carry." T-Dog mentioned, with a frown at the bald man.

"We can n' we have to." He answered. Everyone gathered around on the porch as he rose his voice higher. "Look, it was one thing sittin' 'round here pickin' daisies, when we thought this place was supposed to be safe. But, now we know it ain't."

He offered a sawed-off shotgun to Glenn, Angela kept herself behind Glenn as he approached him. "How 'bout you man? Ya gonna protect yers?" The Korean looked to Maggie, she gave no indication on the thought when Glenn took the gun from his grasp.

"That's it." He nodded, then looked to Maggie. "Can ya shoot?"

"Can you stop?" She countered. "You do this, you hand out these guns, my dad will make you leave tonight."

Shane ignored her, taking out the remaining guns in the bag. "We have to stay, Shane." Carl told, walking down the steps of the porch.

Lori rushed over from the other end of the porch, frown deep in her features. "What's all this?"

"We ain't goin' anywhere, okay?" He assured the boy. "Now look, Hershel, he's just gotta understand. Okay? He- Well, he's gonna have to." Shane looked to Carl, he walked over and knelt down to him. "Now we need to find Sophia. Am I right?"

"And Kaylee." Carl added, didn't acknowledge his comment.

Shane took a gun from his back waistband and held it out to Carl. "Now, I want ya to take this. Ya take it, Carl, n' keep yer mother safe. Ya do whatever it takes." He kept urging the gun to the kid, as Angela moved from Glenn to Daryl.

"You can't possibly agree with him, right?" She asked, seeing how he had the gun resting on his shoulder.
Daryl looked at her for a while, now taking notice how she sported the bandana on her head and not her wrist. His eyes fell down, seeing it was properly wrapped and tended to. Lori's voice was heard, gaining their attention once more.

"Rick said no guns." She told, pushing her son away from Shane. "This is not your call. This is not your decision to make." Lori hissed.

"Oh, shit."

Everyone looked over, seeing T-Dog's focus was on something else. They followed his gaze spotting Jimmy, Hershel, and Rick with walkers! Jimmy was ahead of them, clapping his hands to get their attention. Rick and Hershel had two walkers lead about by animal control poles.

"What is that?" Shane questioned, as he bolted into a run. Everyone, including Angela, ran after. The three were taking the walkers to the barn. The walkers were snarling trying to figure out how to reach Rick or Hershel with the poles restricting them access.

"What the hell ya doin'!?" Shane barked, as the rest caught up.

"Shane, back off!" Rick yelled over the growling walkers.

"Why do your people have guns?" Hershel questioned, struggling to get the walker toward the barn.

The scene Shane was making made it difficult to control the walkers. With everyone grouping around, it made the things want to head into their direction instead of the barn. Angela was shocked to see how this was being handled. How was Hershel sure this was 100% safe to do?

"Are you kiddin' me? Ya see?" He yelled, pointing at the display. "Ya see what they're holdin' onto?"

Hershel yelled back, "I see who I'm holding onto!"

Shane rounded the scene, as he retorted to the old man. "No, man, ya don't!"

"Shane, just let us do this and then we can talk!" Rick yelled to him, trying to control the walker in his grip.

Shane running around them was keeping the task from being finished. Daryl ran past Angela following Shane with his gun up at Rick's walker, in case anything happened. Angela didn't like this, she wanted this to be talked through. Not barking around with walkers in between everything.

"What do ya want to talk about, Rick? These things ain't sick. They're not people! They're dead! Ain't gonna feel nothin' for 'em 'cause all they do, they kill!" He bellowed out, going back and forth unable to contain this any longer. "These things right here, they're the things that killed Amy! They killed Otis! They're gonna kill all of us!"

"Shane, shut up!"

"Hey, Hershel man, let me ask ya somethin'." For a final straw, Shane took out his gun from his back and approached Hershel's walker. "Could a livin' n' breathin' person, could they walk away from this?"

Shane aimed and fired his gun at the walker's chest. Blood splattered out, everyone ducked down screaming in fear. Even Daryl felt his knees buckle, not expecting Shane to do that. He kept his aim at Rick's walker, Glenn now rose his gun in fear of either the walkers or Shane.

"No! Stop it!"

"That's three rounds in the chest! Could someone who's alive, could they just take that!? Why is it still comin'?" Shane fired two more rounds, making the walker stumble backwards. "That's the heart, its lungs! Why is it still comin'?!" Shane fired two more gunshots.

"Shane, enough!" Rick screamed, earning a nod from his friend.

"Yeah, yer right, man. That is enough."

Shane approached the walker and shot it right in the head. Hershel fell to his knees, as the weight of the pole fell with him. Shocked at seeing someone he once knew, drop down at Shane's actions. The pole fell from his hands, as he stared at the limp body on the ground. Shane had proved his point, but he wasn't finished yet.

"Enough riskin' our lives for little girls who are gone!" He shouted, jolting Angela and Carol who now stood side by side. "Enough livin' next to a barn full of things that are tryin' to kill us! Enough! Rick, it ain't like it was before! Now, if ya'll want to live, if ya want to survive, ya gotta fight for it! I'm talkin' 'bout fightin' right here, right now!"

Shane spun around and ran off to the door of the barn. Lori screamed at Rick to do something, Rick yelled at Hershel to take the pole. Hershel was all but there, he seemed shocked at what he had witnessed Shane do. No one seemed to be willing to stop Shane. Glenn and Maggie yelled at him to stop and not to do it. Angela felt a burst of either anger or stupidity as she ran forward toward Shane. She heard Daryl yell for her, but ignored as she tried to pull Shane off the door.

"Shane! Stop it!" She screamed, trying to shove against his built body.

Shane shoved her off, leaving her to land into the dirt harshly. Shane succeeded in snapping the padlock off with a pick-axe and removed the board from the door. Angela got to her feet, only to stumble back as Shane banged on the door to lure the walkers out. The chains above limited the door's opening, but the first walker squeezed out. Angela watched them all start pouring out, she fell back onto the dirt as gun fire echoed into the air. Andrea and T-Dog joined to help take down the walkers as more escaped. One walker spotted Angela as she crawled back, dusting raising around her. Daryl ran over, stepping in front of her and shooting it in the head without hesitation. Glenn joined in, after giving Maggie a begging look, in which she nodded approval for. He clearly didn't want to, but the need to keep her and the others safe rose in him.

It felt like as more were shot, more were coming out. One by one. Angela was in a state of shock, watching Daryl shoot them down from the safety of behind him. Dale told them Hershel's family who died was in there. She turned her head seeing Lori keeping Carl protectively behind her, Carol kept her distance out of fear. Jimmy held Beth and Patricia close, while Maggie stood by her father in comfort. Each walker dropped like flies. The one Rick held was soon taken down by Shane. Now free, Rick kept close to his family, ordering them to stay back. Dale could be seen in the distance, finally arriving to the horrific scene.

Less and less walkers were emerging from the dark barn. Everyone lowered their guns once the last walker fell to the ground, joining the pile around the front. Fourteen, fourteen walkers were killed, two more including the ones Rick and Hershel brought back. Daryl lowered his shotgun, and turned to Angela seeing her frozen on the ground. He knelt down and took her arm, helping her to her feet. She blinked and looked up at him, only to back away from him shaking her head. Angela was thankful of keeping the walkers from her, but found herself wanting distance from him agreeing with Shane on this entire ordeal.

The silence was broken, when the echo of something else was in the barn. Daryl rose his gun up, ready for another walker to emerge outside. One did, short and female. It caused everyone of the group's hearts to sink into their stomachs.

Sophia, the walker was little Sophia. Her skin was pale and darkness rounded her eyes as a stained bite wound can be found on her left shoulder. Bit. She was- She was bit. Angela almost fell back onto the ground, her whole body went rigid.

"Sophia?" Carol's voice broke out as she ran over. "Sophia!" Thankfully, Daryl dropped his gun and held her from getting close to her walker daughter.

The two lowered to the ground, as Carol's voice cracked, repeating her daughter's name over and over again. Daryl held her at the waste, as she watched Sophia stumble past the bodies around her. Her dead eyes scanned the people in front of her. She once saw them all as her new family, but now she saw them as a new meal. Lori held Carl tightly who started sobbing in his mother's arms.

Everyone knew what had to be done, as the walker Sophia grew closer. Not one person could do it, no one could raise their gun and end the suffering, not even Shane. Angela felt herself struggling to breath properly the entire time. She was there-Right there! In front of everyone!

Rick stepped forward past them all, holding his revolver out and aiming it to the girl's head. Rick last saw this girl, begging to kill the walkers that chased her. Pleaded him not to leave her alone all by herself out in the woods. Now, he sees her as a flesh eating walker. Once the bullet was fired from his gun, plunging into the little girl's head, she fell to the ground like a limp doll. The only sounds that were heard was Lori comforting Carl and Carol crying in Daryl's grasp. Throughout this entire scene, finding Sophia as a walker, Angela feared the worst.

Was Kaylee a walker too?

Notes

Comments

@DarylsLilAssKicker

If you love this one, check out the sequel; 'I Just Wanna Die Anywhere Else'!

VixxDer VixxDer
8/4/18

Love love love!!!!!