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sayafics · 1 year

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Ghosts - Chapter I

TWD fanfic

I have no clue who I want my love interest to be (Daryl or Rick), but this is an idea I have been messing with for the past few days.

Plus, who doesn't love a good love triangle? Or yk...👀

Consider this as the healthiest form of my procrastination <3

Next Chapter

Masterlist

Desperate hands gripped my shoulder, and agonised pleas echoed around me as I pulled myself back into a sense of consciousness.

I could make out the light of a bright morning through my closed eyes, feel the heat of a generic day in Georgia. I could feel my hair being brushed back as the voice got louder - clearer.

I could feel my bare arms brushing against the coarse fabric I laid upon. A stinging sensation burning across my back that became stronger, more painful.

"Wake up, c'mon, get up."

Those words forced searing images to brand themselves across my mind - my parents, coming to Georgia, hiding, fear, pain. And then, the hospital.

I inhaled sharply, as all sense of consciousness was pushed back into me. I forced my eyes to open against their will, bringing my hand towards my face to cover them from the intense glare of the sun peaking through my window, only to brush it across something rough and solid.

My hand froze where it been, my heart sinking as the world around me came into focus. And there he was, a man with eyes of the ocean and the skies, eyes that were filled with confusion and desperation.

Eyes that were now looking into my own with some hope, with some dwindling sense of loneliness and there was my hand resting against the scruff of his beard as he lumbered over me, hands gripping my shoulders tightly as he shook me back into the world of the living.

There was a breath. A moment of pure silence, we took each other in. I took in his tired eyes, his pale skin, and the mess of curls that sat atop his head.

He took in my eyes, the dirt smeared across my cheeks, the blood dried into the strands of my hair, and the horror painted across my face as I thought to myself - what happened to me?

My body felt tight and tired, as though I had been fighting for a millenia but I was in a bed, unconscious and vulnerable found by a man who seemed to be in a state the same as my own.

We were both as lost as each other, and we had found each other.

As though the thought had passed through his mind, too, the man took a step back - stumbling slightly as though he was readjusting to his own weight.

"What happened?"

I'm unsure why I asked the question, I knew he had to have been as clueless as I was. But my memories were hidden in bright flashes, and my heart would beat in protest every time I tried to recall how it is I ended up here.

"I know just about as much as you do."

Hia voice was deep, gravelly - a thick southern accent painting his words, the sound of it brought a slight smile to my face.

An accent like that was something I was not familiar with - Georgia was something I was not familiar with. But I must have been here for something.

"So nothing," my voice was light, hiding the desperation for answers because I knew he could not give me them.

The blue-eyed man shook his head lightly, but he seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"What is it?" This time, I allowed the anguish I felt in my heart to leak into my words, "what do you know?"

He seemed to hesitate again, then he looked into my eyes - I'm not sure what it was that he was looking for, but it seemed he had found it.

"Something bad happened. The hospital- it's empty. Like it's been evacuated."

"What, like an earthquake?"

"Worse."

We regarded each other for a moment, but I knew I would not get the answers I needed lying on a hospital bed, so I heaved myself up, inhaling sharply as my back protested in pain and a short groan escaped my lips as I paused in my struggles.

The sound caused him to launch into action, coming to my side, hands on either side of me, and lifting me to help me sit up straight. His hands were careful, gentle.

He hovered close by as I settled into my new position before taking a forcible breath and throwing my legs over the edge. My foot hit something hard and solid, the sensation surprising me as I looked down towards the offending object.

Apprehension came over me as I regarded the bag hidden clumsily under the confines of my hospital bed, and it seemed my curiosity outweighed my pain as I reached out towards it and ignored the tugging sensation at the damage that was hidden from me.

I pulled the bag out from under the bed, all the while his eyes were still on me.

I heaved it across my lap, puzzled by the weight of the bag. That is until I opened it, I stretched it wide as I examined the contents and had to hold back my incredulity.

But it seemed he could not, his eyes widening and brows raising as he took in the countless daggers and knives littered amongst pictures, clothes, and food packs.

Pictures.

Of me.

Of my family.

There were two weapons that stuck out in particular. They were longer than the rest, the handles slim and brown - the wood engraved with... is that my name?

It had to be.

What happened to me?

If I had not been confused before, desperation for answers now clawed at my throat as I processed what sat in front of me.

Remnants from a life I did not know I had left.

The man seemed to be snapped out of his stupor, caution now filling his eyes he straightened his shoulders - "we should go."

I could not take my eyes off the bag, but I nodded all the same.

I still had not moved, not until he walked over to me, crouching slowly as he grasped one end of the bag and pulled the zipper close until the secrets of a life I did not remember were hidden from me once again. He sat across from me, hands resting atop the duffelbag I gripped with whitening flesh, forcing my hands to not tremble.

"We should go."

It was I who whispered now, and it was him who stood.

A hand came into view, a single request. A simple request.

One I accepted.

I placed my hand into his own, allowing him to pull me up slowly so I did not hurt my back.

He turned his back towards me, leaving through the door and waiting as I collected myself.

I took a moment, closing my eyes and promising myself I would figure this out. I would find my answers and I would get my closure.

But right now, in the middle of the unknown, I was not safe, and I needed to be.

I slid on the slippers that were near the bed. They were fluffy and resembled a stuffed animal - a bunny? A hesitant smile split across my face, surely whoever it was that had left me the duffelbag, that had left me these shoes, that had helped care for my injury - surely they cared for me? Perhaps they were my parents?

Flashes of them burned across my mind, and I forced my burning eyes to not let my tears fall.

Instead, I followed the echoes of a man who had found me, a man who saw me and decided I was worth coming along in whatever journey it was he had planned in his mind.

I came to stand at his side, my bag now thrown over my head and stretched across my body - I followed his eyes, wide and fearful to a door.

'DON'T OPEN. DEAD INSIDE.'

When I looked back, he was looking at me instead. His eyes are searching mine again. Looking for something only he knew where to find.

And he found it.

"I'm Rick Grimes."

I searched his eyes, trying to find a trace of what it was that he saw in mine - truth? Friendship? Loyalty?

I wonder if he would ever tell me.

Thinking of the bag, of the pictures, of the weapons and the lost memories, it was as though my instincts had caught a hold of me.

"Casper. My name's Casper Graham."

A slow smile stretched across his face, his eyes lighting up as the start of a new friendship distracted him from whatever thoughts haunted his mind.

#twd #rick grimes #daryl dixon #lori grimes #carl grimes #andrea twd #glenn rhee #merle dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x oc #rick grimes x you #rick grimes x oc #rick grimes x reader

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optiwashere · 4 months

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Since work is very much not on the front of my mind, I'm constructing my "NYE 2023" playlist instead of creating profit for my employer. I think ringing in 2024 with some Godflesh, Rotten Sound, Gravesend, and Hellripper will be the right choice.

Nightsongs Shadowheart prefers a playlist of modern Ulver, that new Predatory Void band, and old Katatonia albums. She sneaks in a few Lacuna Coil and Nightwish songs. "Oh, I didn't mean to put those on there," she says while never once skipping those songs. If Astarion happens to be at the same party, he gives her shit all night about it. He asks where the Birthday Massacre and Bauhaus went.

Meanwhile, Nightsongs Ash just wants to listen to some Sturgill and go home. Then she hears a Panopticon song from Kentucky and thinks, "oh, maybe I like this??? Appalachian protest black metal??????"

#personal nonsense #nightsongs au #oc: asheera #I feel like at some point in the fic I should clarify that Ash likes GOOD COUNTRY #none of this shitty pop country dogwater - johnny cash and the aforementioned sturgill simpson and merle travis and yeah some dolly parton #an Appalachian trans country girl butch is just what Shadowheart needs tbqh #oh and that new Godflesh is pretty good ngl! but anything that isn't Streetcleaner does sadly wash off my brain quite quickly #christbait rising is *the* industrial metal song and I will not hear otherwise

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smokbeast · 4 months

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HFEFFGHGD MAN YOU MAKE ME SIMP FOR HORROR WTFFF-

YOU'RE KILLING mE-/pos

DFLJKGG IM SO SORRY NOT SORRY, fang is doing his best to be a kind soul to all these simps

#im so happy DLKFGJG YOU LIKE FANG #HE WILL NOT KILL U I PROMMY #HE IS GENTLE. BUT AGGRESIVE SOMETIMES..#merl is there to emotionally support him for these asks cause oh my god theres so many LJKSDFGGH #asks #froggy mail time #my ocs #fang #merlot #i am ANSWERING ASKS NOW

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paofia · 11 months

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Yes I love Rambo, but can’t forget about my girl Merle 🤍

Gave my builder her natural dark hair color because she technically can with Rosy around 🖤

#my time at sandrock #mtas #mtas builder #mtas oc #mtas fanart #mtas merle

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deadweightwritings · 4 months

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ON A PLAIN. TWD S6. [snippet]

ON A PLAIN - NIRVANA

TWD + Dixon!Reader [SEASON 6 E8 SPOILERS]

The grip on her dad’s waist loosened as they slowed down in the forest. Blinking to clear her vision, Kit realized she was weaker than she expected…more tired than she knew.

“Going down—Bailing—” She said, sliding off of the motorcycle and onto the woodland ground. THUMP.

“Kit, Jesus Christ!” Both of them were out of breath as Daryl joined her in the dirt.

“Dad, Jesus Christ.” Drawled from her mouth in mockery and he scoffed playfully. A growl next to them made them both jump and shriek quietly, but the helmet on the walker showed they were just fine lazing on the ground.

On their feet a few minutes later, Kit saw her dad wince and the crimson gushing out of his glove. She sighed, grabbing the pack strapped to back of her belt. Daryl tried, muttering and cussing to get the jacket off, and he did. Seeing the extent of his wound made her a little relieved, nothing but a gnarly scratch. Kit watched as the small bottle of alcohol contents dripped down his forearm and she bandaged it wet. Not the smartest idea, but shit, they didn’t have much of a choice.

“Jus’ fer now.” Afterward, they covered the bike in broken branches and leaves, knowing they couldn’t travel far right now. Hearing the familiar sound of a branch snap, Daryl motioned upward, for Kit to get in a tree as he stood guard with his crossbow. She twisted her pointer and middle fingers around each other at him, signaling: I’ll track you, promise. Her hands dragged her higher and higher in the tree, making barely any noise as she heard a solid THUNK. Her eyes looked down to see her dad unconscious and carried by a man, and two women. Welp, looks like tonight will be spent in a tree.

WHAT THE HELL AM I TRYING TO SAY?

The group heard a crack of tree bark and Kit swore more than a drunken sailor in her head. She held her breath, trying to blend into the branch she was balanced on. At dawn, she started tracking the people who nabbed her dad before dusk the day before. Not that she needed breadcrumbs, but Daryl stepped harder into the ground that he normally would, once he was awake. The others weren't exactly smart enough to be light on their feet. He, Dwight, switched his head back to Daryl, readjusting his aim with the handgun.

“You tell me, am I being stupid?” FWIP. An arrow shot and knocked the gun from his hand, and he stiffened, they all did. Kit dropped below from a tree, leaves crunching under her dirt crusted boots. Her next arrow aimed right at his forehead:

“Yea, if you think you gon’ shoot him n’ stay livin’ afterward.” He raised his hands up, the women following suit after him, Kit dropped her bow and arrow, fashioning the machete from her thigh holster.

“You really think some girl like you can take on us?” The shake in his voice made her tip the machete onto his neck, she pushed a little and he winced. Her hand swiped the bowie knife from her hip and handed it to her dad behind her back,

“Bitch, I’ve skinned rabbits wit bigger balls tha’ you.” Daryl went and swiped the gun from the ground next to him. The two women were shaking like two autumn leaves and Kit felt bad for them, and how naïve they were, at this moment.

“Yer gonna take us t’ where we can find this Patty. Move it.”

I LOVE MYSELF, BETTER THAN YOU.

Pulling the crossbow out of the duffel, Kit had already thrown a knife straight into the skull. She huffed, pulling her weapon out of the bone and looked back to see her dad staring blankly at the duffel.

The woman, Tina, had collapsed and the Dixon duo saw the opportunity. Daryl grabbed the handle of the large duffel, and grabbed Kit's forearm, sprinting out of the open area.

"HEY! WE NEED THAT!"

She saw a cooler with the label of “INSULIN – keep cool” on it and pinched between her eyes.

“Fucks sake, man.”

The duffel bag was swung over Kit’s shoulder, machete in hand as they stalked to finally track and find the group of three.

“Drop the gun, drop it now!” Daryl ordered, lining up his arrow with his head as precaution. Lowering the gun, Kit held out her hand and said nothing. This man knew what to do either way and placed the gun in the young woman’s hand swiftly.

“What were you carvin’ earlier, huh?” Slowly reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little statue wood carving.

“My grandfather taught me, I—”

“We don’ care.” Snatching it from him, Kit threw down the duffel bag full of medicine, and two finger saluted them.

“Good luck, yer gon’ need it.” The rumble of a vehicle approaching made Daryl grab Kit’s denim vest and yank her to the ground. Oh, c’mon. The back-and-forth conversation by the people in the car and the trio they just found made a pit form in Kit’s stomach. Something about their tone reminded her on the Claimers. Next thing she knew, they were booking it through the woods.

Oh look, it’s like this is every fucking day.

Shuffling behind a cage made of thick branches, Daryl and Kit broke off from the trio. They spotted a walker stuck, slightly covered by the greenery, but enough to cause damage to anyone who got close. Daryl went forward, rustling the branches in front of them to draw the guy’s attention, and booyah, the fucker got bit.

“Wade! I’ve been bit, Wade!” If he isn’t killed soon, another fucking herd of walkers will hear him. The guy, Wade, she assumed appeared next to him, seeing the bite on his arm. He wraps something around the dude’s upper arm, and Kit is reminded instantly of Merle.

“Ah, don’t hurt tha’ bad, honey. Can’t be a bitch, n’ order t’ go through wit it!” Shaking her head as the piercing scream and the SHING of a blade echoed through the woods. As they retreated so did the Dixon’s and the trio. They followed them to a charred down house, skeptical but still wanting to know who they were. One of the women, Tina, broke down seeing two of the people she knew, dead and burnt on the ground surrounded by glass.

Kit stood a few feet away from her, constantly eyeing her dad and the other man. A shout broke her away from her gaze and the walker broke out, gnawing on Tina’s throat.

“Shit!” She yelled, chucking herself to the ground and slashed the walker across the brain. Blood shot up into her eyes and she grimaced at the well-known feeling. Honey threw herself at Tina’s body as Kit rolled to her side, away from them and exhaled through her teeth noisily.

“Can’t ever be peaceful, huh?” She muttered as Daryl lifted her to her feet, hearing Honey sob behind them. Daryl was helping the man dig Tina’s grave as Kit sat on her ass, hand on her machete, while the other had two knives nestles between her fingers. He caught his kid’s eye, and she held up three fingers to him:

“How many walkers have you killed?” “A lot…two dozen at the least.” “How many people have you killed?” “None?” “Why?” “Why didn’t I kill someone? It’s not something you come back from.” Kit scoffed at that.

Daryl eventually convinced them to come to Alexandria, Kit could laugh at how Aaron had made him still take up the job in this circumstance. She followed behind her dad, machete at her side as she helped him lift up the motorcycle. They both heard a click behind their backs. Kit struggled not to audibly groan.

God, we can’t have shit in D.C.

The Dixon’s merely turned around, unfazed by their threat. Kit glaring at the two, but mainly Dwight in front of them, holding the gun.

“Give her the crossbow, machete, bow and arrows.” Neither of them moved. The man shifted his gun to Kit’s head and Daryl flinched,

“Give her the weapons or she dies.” The young woman, covered in dirt, oil, human and walker blood almost burst out cackling.

“Honey, it’s kill, or be killed.” Merle’s voice echoed in her ear, seeing him leant up against a tree trunk in the distance behind the barrel of the gun.

“An’ the only thing that kills a Dixon, is a Dixon, missy.” A gunshot rang out next to Kit’s head and Merle disappeared from her view. Both of them barely moved at the action and the noise that followed. A hand swiped a pistol from under their shirt. BANG. BANG.

Kit shot them both, point blank, in the head. Daryl stood still, taking a moment to look at his daughter.

I KNOW IT’S WRONG, SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?

“Kit—”

“Tha’ walker wit the helmet…gotta be another ride ‘round here. Gotta find Abraham n’ Sasha.” She motioned with her head to follow, spit on the ground and shuffled past him and the bodies she just shot.

That walker on the ground was still moving, moaning and growling, the thing was practically a black skeleton and had more life than Kit felt she had. Her boots stepped on something that made a metallic CLANG, she scuffed her boot on it, then reached down to wipe the dirt off.

“Patty’s Fuel Company…Found ‘em.” A silent trek later, the duo scored a massive truck. No walker booby traps, or bullshit strings attached to it. Before Kit opened the driver’s door, Daryl grabbed her shoulder.

“Kit—”

“‘M fine.”

“Kit, you just—”

“They’d ‘ave killed us both. We can’t be takin’ chances. Not anymore, not after we give 'em a choice too.” Whipping her arm out of his hold, she threw open the door, seeing the dead driver try to claw at her. Daryl barged in front of her and drove his knife in its head. They met eyes and Daryl motioned for her to get in the truck, she hopped up and slid over, taking her pistol in her hand as she looked out the windshield. There was un-needed tension between the father and daughter, and it softened when they were on the road and Kit pulled a pen out of her inner jacket pocket. Clicking it, she opened the side of her vest:

I I

The tally marks laid next to a dozen other tallies on the denim inside. Kit sighed heavily through her nose, clicking the pen and shoving it back in the pocket. Daryl caught her movements and breathed through his teeth,

“You ain’t gonna turn cold on me, Kit?” You ain’t gonna shut down on me, right? You ain’t gonna stop in the middle of the end of the world, Kit?

“No, sir.” Kit smacked her thigh with her fist a few times, her face twitched as she fiddled with the pistol. She swiped at the edge of her nose.

“Ain’t never gonna switch up on you.”

I’M ON A PLAIN, I CAN’T COMPLAIN.

“Daryl.” “Dad.” “I see ‘em.” Kit furrowed her eyebrows, holding up her pistol at the people in the road, blocking them.

“End o’ the world, n’ there’s fuckin’ biker gangs still?” Abraham chuckled at her statement,

“What in the holy shit?” The car pulled to a halt, brakes squeaking, and Kit felt sweat run down the back of her neck.

“Why don’t you come out? Join us in the road?” Nobody could hear a pin drop in the truck as the hum of the engine filled the space.

“If you wanna try something, it’s your choice. But we will end your asses, split you right in two, so c’mon.” The man waved his hand, beckoning them to come out.

“Dad just run him over.” Kit muttered, barely moving her lips as she stared forward through the dirty windshield.

“Can’t.” Kit blinked a few times, trying to understand the fuckin’ shit show day she’s had, that kept getting better n’ better. Abraham and Daryl opened the car doors, Sasha and Kit shuffling out on their respective sides:

“I already killed 2 people today, what’s a couple more?” She whispered, tucking her gun into her belt, but placed her palm around the handle of her machete.

“Alright! Step two and turn in your weapons?” Nah, you buggin’. Daryl now furrowed his brows,

“Why should we?”

“They don’t belong to you?”

“What?” “What?” Seethed out Abraham and Kit in sync her shoulder tensing.

“See…your weapons, your truck, the fuel, mints in the compartment, porn under the seats, the seats themselves, the little stash of napkins on the dash…they’re no longer yours.”

“Who’s are they?” Sasha questioned darkly.

“Your property, now belongs to, Negan.”

I’M ON A PLAIN, I CAN’T COMPLAIN.

#amc twd #twd x reader #twd oc #twd fanfiction #daryl dixon #merle dixon #rick grimes #michonne hawthorne #carl grimes #TWD ABRAHAM #twd negan #the walking dead #negan smith #maggie greene #twd x teen reader

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dragonsandwolvesohmy · 6 months

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I thought I had this saved, but I can't seem to find it anywhere, so....

I'm looking for a fic with an OC who was neighbors with the Dixons. The fic starts with her walking home from work at night, the Dixons have people over, they're outside drinking, catcalling her, etc.

I think she lives with her mother and her mother's boyfriend, and they get bit/she has to kill them during the outbreak before she ends up at the Dixons' place, and they have to kill one of their buddies who becomes a walker. They discover early on that because of this, you don't need to be bit to turn.

Found by the lovely @livingdeadblondequeen! It's Don't Die by AliceDays.

#lost fic #the walking dead #twd #daryl dixon #rick grimes #daryl x reader #twd daryl #daryl x oc #rick x reader #rick x oc #twd rick #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x oc #rick grimes x reader #rick grimes x oc #twd merle #merle dixon #merle x oc #merle dixon x oc

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garma-mom · 2 months

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I would like to draw Daryl, Merle and my oc for Halloween. I have great ideas for my girl and her uncle, but what about dad Daryl? 🤔🤔

What would you dress up your ocs as?

Uncle Merle would be a pirate, on his right stump would be a pirate hook. Yarrr!

(Or a.. space pirate? 🤔🤔🤔🤔😏😏)

My girl would be dressed as a ghost. You know, made from a white sheet, with eye holes cut out, red cheeks painted on and wearing white gloves because she would be giving the award to a child for the best costume in the Commonwealth, and she wouldn't want to scare others who wouldn't know where her hands were literally, she would LITERALLY be invisible.

#Halloween #TWD #Merle Dixon #Daryl Dixon #TWD oc

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latelyloxiv · 1 year

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[Merle, Gale, and Ardy are the half sisters to Elijah.

Each of them are different in their own regards but have a reputation for causing the most problems when they’re all three together. ]

(she/they for all)

#loxivart #merle #gale #ardy #lesbian #wlw #butch #oc #art #digitalart #6 Days

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archangelofzion · 10 days

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Till Death {The Walking Dead fan fiction}

Chapter Three

After Rick left back to Atlanta with Daryl, T-Dog and Glenn, the campers spent the rest of the day keeping up with the work.

Shane had taken Carl down the the quarry to catch frogs for food, Carol, the sisters and Jacqui had went to wash laundry in the water while Lori gathered firewood and the others did the rest.

Elaina saw Lori arguing with Shane, seeming angry and betrayed, but she stayed out of it, walking along the rocks and down the bluff, thinking maybe she'd help the others with the clothes.

Daryl had told her to keep an eye of things, but she didn't know why he'd tell her that, given no one really gave her more than a glance.

She heard commotion from down at the water, and picked up her speed, coming around the bend she saw the other three women protesting as Carol's husband Ed was forcing her away.

The man didn't give in to their yelling as he grabbed Carol's arm roughly, pulling her.

Elaina jogged to get down there, but her eyes went wide and her jaw clenched when she saw him hit Carol's face, making the others gasp in shock as she reeled back.

"Hey!" Elaina yelled, ruining down and shoving him with her weight, her gun taken out and pointed at him right after.

"No!" Carol cried out, the others starting to clamor.

Ed seemed shocked, but only for a moment before Shane jerked him away, throwing him to the ground hard.

Elaina let her gun down, Jacqui and Andrea holding Carol to stop her from going to Ed as Shane beat his face with his fist, snarling at him to never touch his family or anyone in the camp again.

The others yelled at him to stop, but for the first time, Elaina agreed with him, and said nothing. When he finally stopped, he turned to her. "Put that damn thing away!" He pointed to her gun, and she slowly put it back in its holster, turning to see the horror in the other women's faces before walking away quickly. She stayed away from them best she could after that.

+++

Waiting for the men to come back seemed like an eternity, Elaina could only pace the perimeter of camp, gun in her hands as she did.

No one had spoke to her and she didn't bother to speak to them, Andrea and Amy going fishing as the others did the rest of the daily chores around camp.

Dale stood atop the RV, watching through binoculars.

Elaina looked up at him as she saw him staring, confused across the camp. "What's up?" she called to him.

He took a moment to respond, then climbed down the camper's side ladder. "I don't know..." he said, walking towards where he was looking.

"Dale?" Elaina raised her eyebrow, putting her gun in her holster before following him.

He walked to a hilltop behind the trees, finding Jim there digging. Several large pits had already been dug and he was working on another.

He didn't even acknowledge the pair as they stepped up to him.

"Jim? You okay?" Dale asked.

He continued to dig, still ignoring Dale.

Dale looked around at the holes, then looked at Elaina, she shrugged. "You keep this up, you're gonna keel over out here." he said.

When Jim still didn't stop, Dale offered up his water canteen. "Drink some water at least."

Jim looked at him but didn't stop. Dale turned and went back down to the camp, but Elaina watched Jim for a few more moments, chewing her lip.

"Let me know if you need something..." she said quietly, unsure of what to make of the situation.

She returned to camp, back to walking the perimeter again.

The sisters returned with lines of fish, the others all impressed and excited for the amount of food the women caught.

Morales thanked Andrea for feeding his children, Carl then asking if he could learn to fish that way.

Elaina kept walking, feeling out of place and distanced from the others, but noticed Dale going over to them, directing their attention to the hilltop where Jim still dug vigorously. The rest of them all went up to talk to him, but Elaina stayed back, going over to the Dixon's camping area and sitting down on a cooler. She found herself wondering if they were alright... and noting to herself that she knew she'd feel horrible if anything happened to Daryl.

She sighed and stood back up, realigning the rocks around the small fire pit as she heard the commotion from the hilltop, she couldn't see anything through the trees but soon after Shane was bringing a handcuffed Jim down the hill, Elaina's mouth opened slightly when she saw he was crying, sunburnt and sweating.

She quickly stood and hurried to the rest of the group, Shane making Jim sit down against a tree and telling Morales to get him restraints.

"Wait, Shane, what the hell?" Elaina would have went right up to hum, had Dale not gotten in her path.

"It's ok," Dale said, trying to keep her from going at Shane.

"No, no, he's obviously not alright and you're going to tie him up? Did you hurt him?"

"No, he didn't." Andrea said. "He did what he had to do to keep the rest of us safe."

"There are better ways to go about this—"

"Yeah?" Shane rolled his head to her. "Well, when ya got one, feel free to tell everyone."

"Let me talk to him, I understand what he's going through."

"You don't get to make these decisions," Shane stood, Dale stepped to Elaina's side as he walked over, Morales dealing with Jim. "I do, now I'm doing this for the safety of everyone involved, if you can't handle that feel free to leave."

"Maybe I will." she whispered, not breaking his stare. Shane finally looked away, and she glared at his back as he walked to Jim, then looked at the tied man with pity.

"Elaina..." Carol said softly.

She shook her head. "Forget it."

+++

She felt bad for Jim... she knew what it was like, to lose yourself, to feel so desperate and scared that you lashed out. She also knew what it was like to be treated like an animal... confined instead of dealt with like a human being.

Seeing all of that, the handcuffs, the rope, the desperation in his eyes, and the unrelenting of Shane, it brought back too much at the moment.

She hadn't realized her hands were shaking until she stopped walking on the hilltop, she held them up and gazed down at them, taking a deep breath.

Had Daryl known the half of who—what—he'd brought with him, he'd have left her in Atlanta. She knew that for certain, and it made her heart feel leaden inside.

She walked around the site of Jim's digging, seeing the many holes, grave shaped, and deep. Sunstroke or not, why would he dig a dozen graves..?

She swallowed and backed away, an eerie feeling creeping along her limbs, then went back to camp. Helping the others where needed to prepare the food for the night.

+++

Daryl and Merle still hadn't returned by nightfall, and now Elaina could hardly focus without staring off at the dirt trail in the woods, expecting the headlights to come back at any moment. If they didn't, she doubted another hour would pass and she wouldn't go after them herself.

Dale was in the midst of giving a long explanation of why he wound his watch everyday. The others slightly trying to convince him of the uselessness of it. "I like – I like what, um, a father said to his son when he gave him a watch that had been handed down through generations." He looked at no one in particular as he went on, "He said, 'I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my father's before me; I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment now and then and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it.'"

There were a few smiles and nods of agreement when he finished, Elaina smiled softly from her seat at the edge of everyone, wringing her hands around her leather bracelet.

"You are so weird." Amy said, standing to leave.

Elaina looked back to the woods, blocking everything out. The forest beyond was alive with animal calls, the wind light and barely a whisper in the night.

What if they didn't come back? What then?

Her mind couldn't help but start wandering.

There was no way she could stay in this place... and after she'd finally found at least some people in the entire world who understood her, brash rednecks or not... she cared about them...

Amy's scream snapped her back to reality, Shane and the others suddenly jumping from their spots, seeing the dozens of walkers coming out from behind the R.V where Amy was, a walker latched onto her arm.

Elaina's eyes went wide as she snatched her gun from her holster, Shane, Jim, Dale and Morales all began to shoot and slash at the dead with their guns and bats.

Lori held Carl close, protecting him. Carol grabbing Sophia.

Shane got his shotgun and cocked it. Many of the others scattering in different directions.

"Lori, get him down!" he yelled.

He stood between them and the attack, starting with shooting the walkers.

Elaina aimed her pistol, shooting again and again, but they just kept coming.

Jim hit one down with a baseball bat. Dale had his rifle, Carol sheltered Sophia behind him.

Two walkers tore into a man, then began to eat him alive. Nearby, Morales took a walker down with his baseball bat.

Even though Lori was holding him, Carl panicked and screamed, she and Carl sheltering behind Shane.

"Shane, what do we do? Shane?" Lori gasped, holding her son close.

He shot again, a loud bang in the dark. "Follow me!"

"Dale! Get up with Shane!" Elaina yelled, shooting the closest two walkers next to him.

Jacqui, baseball bat in the air, stood by Dale as he continued to shoot walkers, despite Elaina's pleas.

A second walker bit Amy in the neck, leaving her screaming more hysterically than before, Andrea running to her.

Jim hit Amy's walker and it sent it down. Andrea crawled to Amy, taking her in her arms.

Elaina's hand dropped for a moment, taking in the horror. All around her people were screaming, some were killing walkers and some were being eaten. Shane was leading Lori, Carl, Carol and Sophia away from the chaos. Her heart pounded in her chest, the smell of blood and the noise of screaming, snarling and crying banging against her ears.

Her body went on auto pilot to continue shooting. Her ears started ringing, just a high pitched screech as her hand kept raising to the rotted bodies coming at her, and her finger tightening around the trigger again and again in reaction.

"Elaina!"

She heard her name screamed, that one voice coming through all the layers of numbness and fear— "Daryl?!" She screamed out, searching the dark and clamor for him.

Rick, Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl ran into the camp, weapons raised. There were still over a dozen walkers, and with their shotguns they started clearing the threats.

"Elaina!" Daryl yelled again, scanning the area.

She dropped her hand again, rushing to make it to him where he lifted his gun up, crushing a walker's skull with the butt of it.

Before she could even process what she was doing she threw himself into his arms, making him stop moving in shock for just a moment before ushering her away from the incoming walkers, killing the remaining ones.

Rick ran to Carl and Lori, scooping his son up in his arms as Lori clutched him tightly, sobbing. Shane watched Rick and Carl.

Morales held his baseball bat ready as Jim walked through the camp.

Elaina was panting as Daryl looked around for more targets.

T-Dog, still keyed up, searched for more walkers to kill, same with Glenn panting and almost hysterical, as he did the same.

Daryl turned around suddenly, looking Elaina dead in the eye, then scanned her over. "You hurt?"

She gulped. "N—no, no I'm fine." She looked behind him, then once around. "Where's Merle?"

He fell silent, a darkness crossing his eyes. Then he shook his head silently, looking back to the others.

Amy had died from her wounds, Andrea still was crying over her as Jim stood in the middle of the camp, then said quietly, "I remember my dream now, why I dug the holes..."

+++

Fires were lit the next morning, corpses tossed in and burnt.

Daryl swung a pickax into another head, trying to make sure they didn't get back up.

"So, he might still be out there?" Elaina asked slowly, her spear in hand as she helped him with his task.

He didn't look at her as he replied. "Don't know. About as good a chance of that as anything else."

She sighed, sweat running down her neck, then lifted her spear back up, stabbing it through another head. "We'll find him."

Daryl grunted softly, she could feel how he was angry, and didn't really believe that.

"She wouldn't talk to you?" Lori asked Rick as he walked back over from Andrea.

He sighed deeply, shaking his head. Shane stood by, mouth tight as he stood in the heat.

Daryl and Elaina paused, he walked over to the couple first, and she followed.

"Just give her time," Lori said. "Whenever she's ready we'll deal with it."

Shane nodded. "Looks like that's the only option we've got right now."

"Y'all can't be serious." Daryl cut in. "Let that girl hamstring us? The dead girl's a time bomb."

Rick looked at him. "What do you suggest?"

"Take the shot. Clean, in the brain from here. Hell, I can hit a turkey between the eyes from this distance."

"No. For God's sakes, let her be." Lori said exasperatedly.

Shane raised his eyebrows, Rick just watched Daryl as he scoffed and walked off.

"I do not know how you put up with him." Shane said quietly to Elaina. She moved her head to him, giving him a long look.

"I talk to him. Maybe try treating him like he's got thoughts, too. Not just y'all."

Lori closed her eyes, Rick looking from either women before Elaina walked off, finding Morales struggling to lift a corpse alone and grabbing the other end, helping him toss it into the fire.

"Thanks," he said. She nodded, mouth open with silent panting.

Daryl came over and made her move aside just as she went to help him lift another, taking her place helping.

The two men picked up another body, readying to throw it into the fire. Glenn noticed and walked over to them.

"What are you guys doing?" he asked. "This is for geeks. Our people go over there."

Daryl squinted at him. "What's the difference? They're all infected."

"Our people go in that row over there." his voice turned into slight crying. "We don't burn them! We bury them. Understand?"

"Maybe he's right," Elaina offered, feeling sorry for Glenn. "They deserve a real grave."

Daryl and Morales started to pick the body back up, dragging it to where Glenn pointed.

"Our people go in that row over there." Glenn instructed, giving a thankful nod to Elaina.

"You reap what you sow." Daryl mumbled after they'd tossed the body in the back of a truck.

Morales gave him an irritated frown. "You know what? Shut up, man."

"Y'all left my brother for dead. You had this coming."

Morales shook his head, watching Daryl storm off.

"He doesn't really mean that, not fully." Elaina whispered to him, then went to help Jacqui with a body.

Jim walked over to help them lift it, and Elaina looked up at him, noticing blood on his shirt. "Are you bleeding?" she asked.

"I just got some on me from the bodies." he answered, avoiding eye contact.

Jacqui didn't buy it. "That blood's fresh. Were you bit?"

"No. I got scratched during the attack."

"You got bit." Elaina said, straightening up.

"I'm fine."

"Then show me." Jacqui demanded, worry in her voice.

Jim lifted his shirt slowly, revealing a bite mark on his side. "Don't tell, please." he whispered.

Jacqui panicked softly. "A walker got him. A walker bit Jim."

Elaina stepped between the two of them, everyone else stopped what they were doing and started to gather around. Jacqui backed away from Jim.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." He tried to reassure them as they approached.

Daryl walked over quickly. "Show it to us." he said sharply.

"Just—just wait, okay?" Elaina put her hand out to him, trying to calm him down, but he got between her and Jim and she wondered if he even realized.

The crowd was tense and threatening. Jim grabbed a shovel to defend himself as Shane walked over.

"Easy, Jim." he said. "Jim, put it down. Put it down."

"I'm okay. I'm okay." Jim kept whispering.

T-Dog suddenly grabbed him from behind. Daryl moved forward and pulled up his t-shirt, revealing the huge bite mark on his stomach. Daryl dropped the shirt and backed away, and T-Dog let go of Jim. He was left by himself as everyone else grouped up against him but Elaina, who tried to stay next to him.

+++

The rest of the camp gathered to talk about what to be done, leaving Jim sitting on a cooler under the shade of the RV.

Between his infection and Andrea's complete disregard to the fact that they needed to do something about Amy's body before it reanimated, they had only found themselves getting deeper and deeper in issues.

"We can't just leave him like that..." Rick was telling the others. "There has to be something we can do, anything."

"It's not like it could be stopped much," Elaina said, her arms held tight in front of her. "But he needs help and whatever we can give, we need to."

"I say we put a pickaxe in his head and the dead girl's and be done with it." Daryl stated.

Shane looked at him with his brow raised. "Is that what you'd want if it were you?"

"Yeah, and I'd thank you while you did it."

"While there's this point," Elaina moved her head up to him. "There's also the point that he's a human being. No one deserves that."

"I hate to say it—I never thought I would," Dale said, "but maybe Daryl's right."

"Jim's not a monster, Dale, or some rabid dog." Rick shifted his weight as he said.

"I'm not suggesting—"

"He's sick. A sick man. We start down that road, where do we draw the line?"

"The line's pretty clear." Daryl said, moving his eyes from one person to another. "Zero tolerance for walkers. Or them to be."

"There's no cure?" Elaina shook her head "Rick? You've never heard of anything?"

"Well...I heard the C.D.C. was working on a cure."

Shane held back a scoff. "I heard that too. Heard a lot of things before the world went to Hell."

"But there could be a chance this is true." Elaina offered.

"She's right," Rick said, turning to Shane. "What if the C.D.C. is still up and running?"

"Man, that is a stretch right there." Shane drawled.

"Why? If there's any government left, any structure at all, they'd protect the C.D.C. at all costs, wouldn't they? I think it's our best shot. Shelter, protection, rescue—"

"Okay, Rick, you want those things, all right? I do too. Okay? Now if they exist, they're at the army base. Fort Benning."

Lori leaned towards Rick. "That's a hundred miles in the opposite direction."

"That is right. But it's away from the hot zone. Now listen to me. If that place is operational, it'll be heavily armed. We'd be safe there."

"The military were on the front lines of this thing." Rick explained. "They got overrun. We've all seen that. The C.D.C. is our best choice and Jim's only chance."

"I think we should at least try, maybe it would be more than worth it." Elaina said.

Daryl looked at her, an unreadable expression on his face. "You go looking for aspirin; do what you need to do. Someone needs to have some balls to take care of this damn problem!"

He suddenly moved toward Jim and raised his pick axe. Elaina opened her mouth to beg him to stop but Rick ran up behind him and put his cocked revolver to Daryl's head.

"Wait!" she gasped, her heart plummeted into her stomach and she was caught off guard by that.

"We don't kill the living." Rick said.

Shane took a stand between Daryl and Jim.

Daryl met eyes with Elaina and slowly lowered the pick axe. "That's funny coming from a man who just put a gun to my head."

Shane looked him in the eye. "We may disagree on some things, not on this one. You put it down. Go on."

Daryl stared him down for a few moments then grunted and slammed the pickaxe down and walked off.

"Get him under control." Rick growled, looking at Elaina.

"What the hell makes you think he'll listen to me?"

"Try."

+++

That night, Elaina found Daryl sitting outside of his tent, he had a piece of scrap metal in his hands he was fiddling with but pretty much just stared st it, looking sullen.

It was strange, how fast he flipped his switch regarding his mood. During the day and around everyone else he was angry, hostile, and constantly butting heads with someone. But as soon as he was alone it was his quiet, almost depressed way, when he just sat in the dark staring off.

He seemed worse tonight, and she wondered if it was because of all that had gone down during the day combined with how he'd lost Merle.

"Hey," she said gently, sitting on the ground next to him. "You okay?"

He didn't answer, just kept messing with his hands before he slowly brought his eyes up to her from between his hunched shoulders.

"Why do you care?" he asked quietly, voice barely more than a breath. The question wasn't angry, or sarcastic, he just simply couldn't understand why she gave him a second thought.

She pulled her bottom lip in, looking away from him for a moment, his blue eyes too intense. "Because I know you're not what they say you are. And I know you're hurting."

"Ain't hurting," he scoffed.

"That's what they all say. I'm sure Merle said the same thing, doesn't make it true."

Daryl looked up at her again, gesturing to the rest of camp. "You could make yourself fit in with them, gain a place. You're ruining that chance every time you come here."

"Who said I would rather fit in with them?"

He couldn't take how soft her voice was, how comfortable she made him feel, and having someone who showed him compassion in this way was foreign, leaving him unsure how to handle it so he just looked at the ground.

"Hey," Elaina leaned forward a little, cocking her head to try and make his eyes meet hers again. "If they go to the C.D.C, and you want to go, I'll follow. But if they do and you don't, I'll stay. If you want to go back to Atlanta and look for your brother, I'll follow you. But I can't walk away from you now."

He stared at her for a few long moments. "Why?" he whispered.

"One: you saved my life, more than once. Two: I've never felt more understood by anyone. You were the first person in my life I felt... okay around."

There was silence for a few moments, then he shook his head lightly, looking back down. "Knew you were crazy." he said.

Elaina laughed softly, hitting his arm, Daryl broke a little smirk.

+++

The next morning the group gathered around, about to decide what would be happening. Everything was already packed up. Whether they went to the C.D.C or not, they weren't staying in the quarry.

Daryl's decision was easy after what Elaina had told him, something inside of him didn't want to let her risk anything more for him, and he knew going back to Atlanta was a stupid decision, no matter how hard it was to half believe his he might never see his brother again.

Shane stepped up to the rest of the campers, and began explaining everything. "Everybody listen up. Those of you with C.B.s, we're gonna be on channel 40. Let's keep the chatter down, okay? Now you got a problem, don't have a C.B., can't get a signal or anything at all, you're gonna hit your horn one time. That'll stop the caravan. Any questions?"

Morales spoke up. "We're, uh...we're—we're not going."

"We have family in Birmingham." Eliza, his wife said. "We want to be with our people."

"You go you're on your own." Shane warned them. "You won't have anyone to watch your back."

Morales nodded. "We'll take the chance. I got to do what's best for my family."

"You sure?" Rick asked.

"We talked about it. We're sure."

"All right. Shane."

Shane nodded. "Yeah, all right."

The cops went on to giving a gun and ammo to the family, and Elaina looked up at Daryl. "You're sure this is what you want?"

"Positive." he said instantly.

She nodded slowly, a little surprised he didn't want to go back for Merle.

"Channel 40 if you change your minds. All right?" Rick told them.

"What makes you think our odds are any better?" Shane drawled. "Come on. Let's go. Let's move out."

Rick looked disappointed, everyone getting into the vehicles.

Dale and Glenn nodded at Elaina as she opened the door to the pickup Daryl was driving, a motorcycle strapped up in the back.

He got into the drivers seat and nodded once to her before setting off after the others, Dale driving the RV at the front.

Glenn waved goodbye to the Morales family through the window as they headed off, hopefully to better luck than they had here.

+++

The R.V. was on the side of the road, only a few hours in. The front grill was open, steam pouring out as it hissed loudly.

Dale shook his head. "I told you we'd never get far on that hose. I said I needed the one from the cube van."

"Can you jury-rig it?" Rick asked.

"That's all it's been so far. It's more duct tape than hose. And I'm out of duct tape."

Shane was looking through his binoculars. Daryl, T-Dog and Elaina were standing on guard.

Shane pointed off in the distance. "I see something up ahead. A gas station if we're lucky."

Jacqui came out of the R.V. a moment later to say, "Y'all, Jim—it's bad. I don't think he can take anymore."

Shane stepped over to Rick. "Hey, Rick, you want to hold down the fort? I'll drive ahead, see what I can bring back."

"Yeah, I'll come along too and I'll back you up." T-Dog offered.

Shane nodded to him. "Y'all keep your eyes open now. We'll be right back.

Rick went in to check on Jim, leaving the others to stand watch while Carol kept an eye on the kids.

"Maybe this was a mistake." Daryl stood next to Elaina to say.

She turned her neck to him, a little caught off guard by his suddenly talking to her. "I'm sure we'll figure it out, Dale's pretty good with the mechanic stuff."

Daryl chewed his lip. "Don't you go wandering off." Then he walked away.

She watched him, shifting the rifle in her hands.

A bit after Shane and T-Dog got back from the scouting trip Rick came outside to tell the others the news; Jim wanted to be left behind.

"It's what he says he wants." He explained.

"And he's lucid?" Carol asked, concerned.

"He seems to be. I would say yes."

"Back in the camp when I said Daryl might be right and you shut me down, you misunderstood." Dale said. "I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim what he wants and I think we have an answer."

"We just leave him here? We take off?" Shane asked. "Man, I'm not sure I could live with that."

"It's not your call, either one of you." Lori said.

Rick nodded, the decision made.

Elaina crossed her arms, looking at her feet. Daryl waited for the others to walk away, lightly tapping his shoulder against hers as an attempt to ease her. She offered him a weak smile in return.

Partway up a hill just off the road Rick and Shane let Jim down to the ground to settle his back against a tree, the others gathering around to say goodbye.

Elaina and Daryl stood to the side with Glenn and Andrea, the other two walking away after Dale. Daryl nodded respectfully to Jim, then walked back down the hill.

Elaina put her lips in a thin line, crouching down to him, she put her hand on his. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, then stood and hurried back to Daryl's pickup, quiet the rest of the ride to the C.D.C.

+++

The vehicles were parked in the street along the front of the C.D.C building, the group hastily getting out and walking quickly but quietly in the twilight.

Flies were buzzing, a louder noise than their footsteps. There were corpses everywhere, both military and civilians. Sand bag barricades had been constructed to reinforce security at the entrance, still in place but the corpses littered the street in front and behind the barricades.

The stench was nearly unbearable, making them cover their mouths, some coughing.

Shane urged them along, whispering loudly, "All right, everybody. Keep moving. Go on. Stay quiet. Let's go."

Daryl was nearly walking backwards, throwing his crossbow in every direction as the group made their way toward the C.D.C. doors.

"Okay, keep moving. Stay together. Keep moving. Come on." Shane prompted.

"Shh..." Rick hissed, getting up to the doors. The mothers and children were slightly panicked.

"Oh, God." Glenn groaned, looking around.

They walked past the entrance and up through the parking lot. Tanks and more barriers were positioned around the entrance. Corpses lying everywhere.

"Daryl!" Elaina hissed, making him hurry to catch up.

They were almost at the doors, no walkers in sight yet.

"Keep it together. Come on." Shane kept saying.

The security door rattled as Rick tried to roll it up, but it didn't budge.

"Nothing?" Shane asked, then pushed against it himself, pounding it once.

"The noise won't do any good!" Elaina whispered at Shane.

"There's nobody here." T-Dog said.

Rick spun around to face him instantly. "Then why are these shutters down?"

Daryl turned and saw the walkers staggering over from the street, attracted by the noise. "Walkers!" he said to the others.

Guns cocked, the children started to whimper as Carol and Lori shielded them.

Daryl took the first one out with an arrow. "You led us into a graveyard!" he snapped at Rick.

"He made a call." Dale defended him.

"It was the wrong damn call!" His head was on a swivel as more walkers approached, snarling as they hurried to the group. He shouldn't have came with them—Elaina had followed just because he did...

"Just shut up. You hear me?" Shane snarled at Daryl. "Shut up. Shut up! Rick this is a dead end."

"We need to get to the vehicles and find some place else," Elaina said, dagger raised in her hand. "At least for tonight. Rick!" He wasn't acknowledging them.

"She's right." Lori agreed, Carl tucked close to her. "We can't be here, this close to the city after dark.

"Fort Benning, Rick—still an option." Shane said.

Andrea finally spoke up. "On what? No food, no fuel. That's a hundred miles."

"125." Glenn said. "I checked the map."

"Forget Fort Benning. We need answers tonight. Now." Lori prompted.

"Rick, please!" Elaina begged, Daryl waved his hand backwards as the walkers got closer, a silent demand to get back.

"We'll think of something." Rick said, sounding lost.

"Let's go, please." T-Dog ushered Carol and Sophia along, the others following.

Rick looked up at the camera and saw it moving.

Shane raised his voice just a little. "All right, everybody back to the cars. Let's go. Move."

Rick pointed at the camera. "The camera—it moved."

"You imagined it." Dale said.

"It moved."

"Rick, it is dead, man." Shane tried to convince him, grabbing his arm. "It's an automated device. It's gears, okay? They're just winding down. Now come on."

"Daryl!" Elaina gasped, walkers swiping as they came. She stabbed one in the face, and he shot the next.

Rick fought past Shane and beat on the door.

"I know you're in there. I know you can hear me." he said to the camera.

"Everybody get back to the cars now!" Shane commanded.

"Please, we're desperate." Rick pleaded. "Please help us. We have women, children, no food, hardly any gas left."

Lori ran up to him. "Rick, there's nobody here."

He ignored her, continuing to beg. "We have nowhere else to go." Then pounded the door again. "If you don't let us in, you're killing us!"

Shane drug Rick away from the door.

"Please help us!" Rick yelled.

"Hurry up!" Daryl waved his hand at the others.

Rick didn't cooperate, just kept screaming. "You're killing us! You're killing us! You're killing us!"

Shane was dragging him away from the door just as it rolled up, blinding light beaming out from inside the C.D.C. and everyone turned around, the door clanged when it finished rolling, the hiss of gas coming from it.

Elaina gaped, sharing a look with Daryl and Glenn. Rick stepped forward when Shane let him go, everyone standing in the light coming from inside the building.

Someone was alive in there. Someone who decided to show them mercy.

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