The next morning, Ryan was making out with Amy in the woods as per freaking usual, Dakota was by the pond trying to catch fish and Abby was with Sophia.

As for me, I was cleaning clothes with Carol. It wasn't a job I craved doing, but it stopped the other members of the group from complaining that I don't do anything.

"Morning," Carol greeted, and I looked up to be met with the sheriff from the night before.

He was no longer in his uniform though and donned a white t-shirt; it felt odd to see him without it.

I glanced towards the lake to see that Dakota was unaware of his presence. Although she was calmer now, I didn't want to risk an encounter between the two.

"Morning." He said.

"They're still a little damp," said Carol, "I'll have them dry in no time."

I looked back at her to see her patting his uniform. She must've washed it before I arrived to help, but I honestly don't see why we're treating him with such hospitality.

He may have gotten rid of Merle, but that didn't mean he earned some kind of high status. Not in my eyes, at least.

"You washed my clothes?" He asked. I rolled my eyes at his tone.

Carol seemed to think he was surprised—I thought he was being inconsiderate. Washing clothes was horrendous and she did it without anyone asking her to do it.

We didn't deserve to have her around, if I'm being honest. As much as I hated washing clothes, I would rather everyone had to do it than just the women.

"A 'thank you' would be nice," I grumbled. His eyes flicked to me and I could see him remembering our encounter.

A scowl fell across my face as Carol handed him his clothes. Despite being a bitch, I still thanked people when they did something nice for me. Not as often as I should have, but at least I tried.

"We haven't been properly introduced," He said. "I'm Rick Grimes."

I stifled a laugh. Of all the nicknames I could've come up with, I said the one with his actual name in it. He narrowed his eyes at me. Carol shot me a warning look.

"I'm Josephine Malloy," I replied. "Wish I could say it was nice to meet you, Ranger Rick, but I'd be lying."

A weak smile tugged at his lips. This was the first time that someone wasn't offended at my snarky comment—other members of the group didn't appreciate my somewhat crude comments and actions.

If the sheriff was gonna stay, it was nice to know he wouldn't take my words to heart.

"Thank you, Josephine Malloy, for washing my clothes." He said.

Ranger Rick began walking away before I could point out that it wasn't me who washed his clothes, but Carol. His words surprised me to the point where I had to stop for a few moments.

"He seems nice," Carol noted, "Why don't you like him?"

I shrugged, eyes still glued to his retreating figure. Upon meeting him for the first time, I thought he was going to be one of those people who wanted me kicked out of the group.

It was always clear to me that they would prefer me somewhere else.

"I'm not known to like people, Carol. Only to hate some less than others."

"We both know that's not true." She countered. I turned my head to see her giving me a stern look.

Her looking after me wasn't something unexpected—she had been doing it ever since she saw my scars. Despite my act of not caring, Carol was the only person that I liked in the group.

If she'd let me, I would have even killed her excuse of a husband for hurting her.

"You're right," I nodded, "I hate everyone equally."

Carol opened her mouth to respond, but Carl's cries for Lori filled the air before she could. It wouldn't have worried me so much if Abby wasn't with him and Sophia.

If they were in danger, so was she. Lori called for Carl as I rushed off towards the screams. I called out for Abby and the kids running out of the woods. Thankfully, my youngest sibling was among them.

"You okay?" I asked. She nodded just as Ryan appeared having heard the commotion.

I motioned for her to go to him as I joined the others to see what the fuss was about.

We saw one of the dead feeding on a deer, arrows poking at its insides. Those were Dixon's arrows—I've had the pleasure of seeing one up close.

I tore my knife out and we circled it. It saw us and got up. They all started beating it. I stood at the side, staring at them in disbelief. It was hard to believe that they had ever killed any of them this way.

It had to be the damn brain—everyone who'd survived so far had to know that. Dale sliced off the head, and peace fell.

"It's still alive." I muttered. Nobody paid attention to me.

I couldn't say I was surprised considering everyone thought I was a stupid bitch. I was a bitch, it was a conscious attitude, but stupid? I most certainly was not.

When the outbreak first started, only puncturing the brain worked to stop these things. I couldn't be the only one who knew that.

"That's the first one we've had up here," sighed Dale. "They never come up this far on the mountain."

"Well, they're running out of food in the city. That's why." said Jim.

There was a rustle in the bushes and I rolled my eyes when everyone jumped. They raised their weapons, ready to attack whatever came next.

To my distaste, Daryl Dixon emerged. "Son of a bitch. That's my deer! Look at it all, gnawed on by this filthy, disease bearing, motherless, poxy bastard!" He kicked the dead man to the beat of every adjective he used to describe it.

As if his presence wasn't enough, I now had to listen to him speak. Usually, he didn't do a lot of that, but his brother made up for it. The two Dixon brothers were everything I couldn't stand rolled up into one personality.

"Calm down, son," Dale muttered, "That's not helping."

Daryl narrowed his eyes. "What do you know about anything, old man?"

He got in his face and a part of me felt protective over Dale. I wasn't close to the soft-hearted fool, but Abby enjoyed being around him and hearing his stories. Plus, I never needed an excuse to go after Dixon

I pushed him away from Dale. "Hands off, Dixon. He doesn't need your germs."

He stepped closer as the others exchanged wary glances. Dixon and I were notorious for our heated disputes. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at the man who once tried to kill me.

He scoffed. "Oh great, all I needed was Miss Josephine over here saving the day."

I lunged at him, but Rick stood in my way, grabbing my arms and pulling me back. My anger didn't allow me to register it at first. He, however, didn't seem affected by my attempt to attack him.

"I've been tracking this deer for miles," Daryl barked. "I was gonna drag it up to camp."

I tore myself away from Rick's grasp. If he was so fucking willing to defend Daryl Dixon, then he wouldn't mind being the person that I hit when he got in my way. Rick raised his hands in surrender, amused.

Daryl studied the deer once more. "What do you think? We can cut around this chewed up part right here?"

"I would not risk that." Shane remarked. Daryl then stated he had a few dozen squirrels which would have to be enough.

Before he could continue, the undead's head stirred. I gave Morales a smug smile as he rolled his eyes. Amy gasped.

"Come on, people. What the hell?" Daryl yelled. He shot an arrow into the dead man's skull.

Anyone could do that. It was not my fault that these idiots were too stupid to let me come close enough to finish it off. I warned them, yet nobody listened to me.

Typical.

"It's gotta be the brain," said Daryl, "Don't y'all know nothing?"

We followed him back to camp while he called for Merle. This was the part where I got nervous.

Daryl and I bickering wasn't the same as Daryl actually trying to murder people. He and his brother were formidable foes when pushed into a corner.

Shane told him that there was a problem in Atlanta. Everyone looked at Daryl waiting for his reaction. He asked if Merle was dead, getting pissed with no clear answer.

I watched, intrigued as Rick Grimes approached Daryl. This should be good. If Ranger Rick survives this, then he might survive anything.

He explained to Daryl how Merle was a danger to all and that he left him handcuffed on a roof in Atlanta. Surprise crossed my face when I saw Daryl wiping a tear from his face.

"Let me process this," Daryl began, "You sayin' you handcuffed my brother to a roof? And you left him there?" His voice rose to a yell.

Reluctantly, Rick nodded.

Daryl tossed the squirrels at Rick before lunging at him. Shane grabbed him and threw him on the floor. Daryl took out his knife, more than willing to avenge his brother.

Dakota showed up at my side with a determined expression on her face. "I put my money on Daryl."

"You're on," I said. "I'm on Ranger Rick's side."

Daryl sliced the air while Rick dodged the hit and grabbed his hand. Shane put him into a chokehold while Rick tore the knife away. Bored, I chipped at my nails as Daryl complained about chokehold being illegal.

Rick didn't seem bothered. "I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. You think we can manage that?"

Shane let go. I frowned at the fact the fight was already over. Watching Dixon getting his ass handed to him was more than amusing.

Apparently, when other people did it, it was fine, yet when I wanted to beat him to a bloody pulp, I was irrational and violent.

"What I did was not on a whim," Rick explained, "Your brother does not work or play well with others."

"It's not Rick's fault," T-Dog jumped in. "I had the key. I dropped it."

Perhaps now Dakota's anger towards Ranger Rick would be slightly soothed. He was only the guy who handcuffed him, not the one who lost the key.

It was still pretty bad, but better than what he was accused of before.

"Was it so hard to pick it up?" Dakota snapped.

"I dropped it in a drain." He clarified.

Dakota's breath hitched at the sudden revelation. Her hand found mine and I squeezed it. It was difficult to be sympathetic when you hated the guy.

Daryl got up from the ground, still visibly upset by the news. "If that's supposed to make me feel better, it don't."

It made me feel better. If Merle was even still alive, we wouldn't have a way to free him, which meant he'd still suffer.

A little suffering never hurt anyone, right? That way, Dakota couldn't be upset over his death, and I would still get to feel joy over this.

"Maybe this will," T-Dog went on. "I chained the door to the roof so the geeks couldn't get at him. With a padlock."

"It's gotta count for something." said Rick.

Daryl's face twisted in agony and I found myself surprised yet again. Who knew he had feelings?

I thought all of the Dixons were raised to be heartless assholes with an extra layer of rudeness. To see Daryl show any kind of emotion was world-changing.

"To hell with all y'all," Daryl spat. "Just tell me where he is so I can go get him."

"He'll show you," Lori spoke up. "Isn't that right?"

I raised my eyebrows. Of all the ways this could've ended, I did not see that coming. Rick and Lori seemed to have some kind of unspoken conversation through this whole situation.

It's quite predictable that they'd choose the hero route. As for me, I'm more of an anti-hero if we're getting all technical.

Rick nodded. "I'm going back."