𝐍𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐀

𝟐𝐱𝟎𝟖

WE all just stood there, overcome by grief. Carol being the most, as she sat there sobbing violently. "Don't look. Don't look." Daryl told her as he held her up into a standing position. Carol pushed him away before running in the opposite direction. Then, I heard Beth's loud sobbing as well as she sped walk to the pile of dead walkers or to her, her dead mom. She moved the other walker off of who I was assuming was her mom. She turned her mom over, and she started growling and grabbed onto Beth. We all ran up to her and while they were pulling Beth away from her mom. I stabbed the walker in the head as they successfully pulled Beth away. We all stood there as Beth held onto her dad.

We were all walking back to the farm after that temper tantrum that Shane pulled. "We've been out. We've been combing these woods looking for her and she was in there all along. You knew." Shane started, throwing around accusations. "Leave us alone." Maggie said. "Hey, Shane, just stop, man." Rick started. "Get your hands off me." Shane said to Rick. "You knew and you kept it from us." Shane accused.

"I didn't know." Hershel said. "That's bullshit. I think y'all knew." Shane retorted. "We didn't know!" Maggie exclaimed. "Why was she there?! Shane yelled. "Otis put those people in the barn. Maybe he found her and put her in there before he was killed." Hershel suggested. "You expect me to believe that? Do I look like an idiot?" Shane questioned. Yes, yes you do, glad your aware. "Shane, hey hey hey." Rick stepped in.

"I don't care what you believe!" Hershel exclaimed. "Everybody just calm down." Rick said. "Get him off my land!" Hershel exclaimed. "Let me tell you something." Shane said getting in Hershel's face. "Hey, don't touch him! Haven't you done enough?" Maggie questioned while slapping Shane in the face. I smirked her way. I'm loving my future sister-in-law.

Beth, Maggie and Hershel walked toward the door. Hershel stopped before walking in and looked at us. "I mean it, off my land." Hershel asserted. Glenn walked inside as I looked over at Rick and Shane, before walking off to go find Carol. I did not want to hear them bicker.

I walked in the RV where I saw Carol run into. I sat down across from her and grabbed her hand across the table and gave it a squeeze and she squeezed it back. I didn't need to say any words and neither did she. We understood what the other was saying.

Daryl then walked in the RV and looked at Carol who had turned around to make eye contact with him. She then looked at me and gave me a short smile before looking back out the window. Daryl and I made eye contact next. A million things had gone unsaid between the two of us but, whenever we made eye contact I would genuinely start to sweat. I always feel like I'm exposing myself to him as if I was naked. It was very intimidating.

Luckily, Lori walked in and saved the day. "They're ready." She said softly. "Come on." She continued. "Why?" Carol questioned. "Cause that's your little girl." Daryl answered. She looked back at him in disagreement. "That's not my little girl. That's some other thing. My Sophia was alone in the woods. All this time I thought-." She stopped. A tear streamed down my face at Carol's declaration.

"She didn't cry herself to sleep. She didn't go hungry. She didn't try to find her way back. Sophia died a long time ago." Carol continued. She just kept looking out the window with glossy eyes. I looked over at Lori and tilted my head, telling her to give Carol some time. She visibly nodded. Daryl got up and walked out of the RV right along with Lori.

I turned to look at Carol and sighed. "I'm gonna tell you something that only my brother knows. I had left home after high school, went to college in Washington. I came back for holidays and birthdays. It had been during the time of the fall and um...Glenn wasn't answering his phone. I just assumed he was at school or something. I walked up to the front door of my childhood home to see it already opened. I walked inside and called for my parents and my sisters. I obviously heard nothing. I walked up to the end of the staircase to see a blood trail leading up the steps. I ran up the stairs in a hurry and saw my parents just lying there.."I croaked towards the end of the story. I quickly wiped the tears away and sniffled.

"I ran over to them and my mom was just a few minutes away from dying. My dad was already dead. They had been bitten by my dead sister. My other sister hadn't even been there. My mom handed me the sword that I carry everywhere and she told me to take care of my brother. My little brother, my responsibility. She asked me to kill her. She said she didn't want to become one of those things and end up killing me. My first k-kill was my own mom." I trembled. I felt that familiar lump appear at the back of my throat. It felt like everything was shutting down.

"A few minutes after that my dad tried to kill me. I knew he wasn't actually my dad. My dad would never try to hurt me and he never did. I stood up and stomped on the walker out of pure rage. This uncontrollable anger just pooling in the middle of my stomach waiting to burst, and it did. The point of me telling you that is because I agree with you. That was a walker. That wasn't Sophia, just like that thing wasn't my dad. I get it." I continued. I got up and walked over to put my hand on Carol's shoulder.

I bent down in front of her. "Now people are gonna be sympathetic and pity you. It's just human nature. They might even treat you like your a fragile object or they may feel like they need to walk on eggshells every-time they see you. Just know, your gonna get through this, you may not believe me now, but you are. You're so strong, and your one of those people that are gonna outlive the rest of us. I'm counting on it. Now I'm gonna get out of here and leave you in here for a second to get yourself together." She was crying and she hugged me. I returned it and gave her a squeeze.

When I pulled away from the hug, I wiped her tears away and she did the same to me. We laughed at each other before I patted her shoulder. I stood up and walked out of the RV and saw Daryl standing there and jumped up. "Jesus!" I exclaimed. I put my hand over my chest and panted like a dog. I caught my breath and looked at him. I went to walk away but Daryl grabbed my arm softly. I turned around and looked him over in confusion.

"You good?" He asked. I had hoped he hadn't heard my depressing backstory. "Yeah. Are you?" I questioned, thinking about his stitches. "I'm fine. I been meaning to talk to you." He told me. He let go of my arm, with his fingers lightly brushing my skin as he did so. He looked as if he was scared to let me go, fearing I would leave or disappear. "I'm sorry about earlier." He said softly. "Can't push me away that easily Mr. Poison Oak." I joked. "You best stop calling me that girl." He tried sounding stern until he started laughing with me. I smiled at his laughter. It was rare to ever see Daryl Dixon actually laugh, even smile.

"I can't blame you for wanting to go out and find her, I did too. You thought we could've found her." I said sincerely. "What else was I gonna do?" He asked. "You aren't just meant for tracking people or food. Don't belittle yourself, your too valuable for that." I told him.

"Plus, who's gonna laugh at my jokes." I grinned and patted his shoulder. "Yeah, right." He said. "This is the start to a beautiful friendship, just you wait." I pointed at him. "Whatever china lady. Let's go." He brushed off before he motioned me to walk over to where everyone was gathering to pay their respects for the dead.

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I was in the house talking with Glenn about recent events and everything that we hadn't had a chance to talk about. As far as him and Maggie, Daryl and I, me going out for Sophia a few hours ago with out anyone knowing, the walkers in the barn, the pharmacy run gone wrong with Maggie, and Lori being pregnant.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me. We're supposed to tell each other these types of things." I pouted at my brother. "I know, I know. I'll make it up to you." He vowed. "Whatever. So, you think it's Rick or Shane's?" I asked referring to the baby Lori was carrying. "What? What do you mean Rick or Shane's?" He questioned, confusion spreading across his features. "You know, the kid." I said.

"Why would it be Shane's?" He questioned. "You know, back at camp. Her and Shane would do the do." I answered shortly. "What?" He asked. Why is he looking at me like I'm an alien. "Oh my god Glenn! They would engage in sexual activity, bump uglies, P in V action. Jesus!" I exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?!" He exclaimed. "I thought you knew!"I exclaimed back.

"Obviously I-." He started before getting cut off seeing Maggie come over. "So if your group leaves, you wouldn't stay?" She asked. "I'm gonna be like anywhere else but here...yeah." I said awkwardly excusing myself. "We're finishing this later Ara." He told me. "No we're not. Enjoy the talk with your lover." I said making my way to the kitchen and winking at Maggie who giggled.

I grabbed a glass from inside one of the cabinets and poured some faucet water in it. I was thirsty, sue me. I looked over and noticed Beth by the sink cleaning dishes. "Hey kiddo, you alright?" I asked in concern seeing her pale exterior. Before she could reply she fainted and dropped to the floor along with the stuff in her hand. I caught her and yelled out to Maggie. I saw her and my brother turn around and run in my direction.

I carried Beth to her room and she woke up a while later but was unresponsive. "Sweetie, can you hear me?" Maggie asked feeling her head to see if she had a fever. Lori then popped her head in the door looking concerned at Beth's state. "What's wrong with her?" Maggie asked. "She might be in shock. Where's Hershel?" Lori thought before asking. "We can't find him anywhere." Glenn answered from beside me.

Lori then walked off, probably to go look for Rick. "Hey, kiddo." Maggie greeted Beth while holding her hand and sitting on her bed. Glenn and I looked at each other somberly before Lori came in with Shane and Rick. We were gonna search Hershel's room to see if we could up with some clues as to where he ran off too.

"Your stepmother's things?" Shane asked as he looked at the counter. Rick saw all the stuff Hershel had on the bed, including a wedding dress. "He was so sure she'd recover. They'd just pick up where they left off." Maggie informed us. Shane was touching all over the stuff and the counter and examining it like he owned it.

"Looks like he found an old friend." Shane said tossing the flask he found on the counter at Rick. Rick looked at the flask before looking at Maggie. "That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to dad when he died." Maggie informed as Maggie took it and looked at it herself. "I didn't take Hershel for a drinker." Rick said. "No, he gave it up on the day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house." Maggie told us.

"What's the bar in town?" Rick asked Maggie. "Hatlin's. He practically lived there in his drinking days." Maggie informed. "Betting that's where I'll find him." Rick guessed as he looked over at Glenn and I. "We know where it is." I told him. "All right. I'll get the truck." Rick said to us. Rick was about to walk out the door until he heard Maggie disagree with my brother going.

"It's an easy run." Glenn told her. "Like the pharmacy?" Maggie questioned. "Hey. Maggie?" Rick chimed in. "I'll bring him back." Rick chuckles. "I'll bring them both back. I always tend to clean up after them." I joked. "Funny." Rick said sarcastically shoving me lightly. I shoved him back before following him out into the hall.

"Rick? You want to have a conversation about this before you leave?" Lori followed us and so did Shane. Rick and I turned around in sync. "I'll take that as my cue." I said awkwardly. "Traitor." Rick whispered to me. I smiled at him and pat him on the shoulder before walking out the hallway. I walked through the door and stood by the truck.

I looked up to see Shane walk out of the house and Rick not too far behind a few minutes later. "You were supposed to have my back." Rick said. "I did have your back." I paused. "From right here." I continued pointing where I stood. "Yeah yeah your still a traitor." He retorted. The door opened and out came Glenn and Maggie. Rick and I looked up at them to see them walking down the steps before kissing each other.

"Gross." I grimaced. Rick laughed at my expression. Glenn then walked over to us with a rifle in his hand. "You ready?" Rick asked him. "Yeah." Glenn answered. Rick sat in the drivers seat, Glenn sat in the passengers seat while I sat in the back.

Glenn opened up the map as I moved my head in between both of their seats to see if Glenn was giving the right directions. As I told Rick to drive straight Glenn then sparked up conversation. "Maggie said she loves me." He told us. "Mmhmm." Rick and I said simultaneously. He looked at us before scoffing and breaking out into a grin. "She doesn't mean it. I mean she can't. I mean-well... She-she's upset or confused. She's probably feeling, like-." I cut off his rant.

"Are you trying to convince us or yourself." I questioned.

Rick then chimed in, "I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling." Glenn was just having an internal argument with himself. He just couldn't believe that Maggie could love him. Why? I don't know. "No. No." He shook his head. Rick laughed in response. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "No, you know what? She wants to be in love, so she needs something to-to, like to hold onto." Glenn tried explaining.

"Dude, Glenn come on." I scoffed. "Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone Maggie loves you, and not just because you're one of the last men standing. So what's the problem?" Rick asked. "Yeah Mr. Rhee what's the problem?" I teased. Glenn turned to look back at me. "You think your funny?" He asked. "I don't think, I know. I'm hilarious." I answered.

"Yeah Daryl obviously thinks so." Glenn countered. "Of course you want to turn this around on Daryl. Your deflecting! That's so beneath you Mr. Rhee." I teased. Rick just laughed at our interaction. "Ok but seriously, what's the problem?" I asked, getting back ti the topic at hand. "I didn't say it back." Glenn answered. "Huh." Rick muttered. "Did you at least say thank you?" I asked. They both looked back at me with raised eyebrows. "What it's better than nothing and hey eyes on the road ranger rick." I defended.

"I've never had a woman say that to me before you know except my mom, of course, and-and my sisters. But with Maggie, it's different. We barely know each other. What-what does she really know about me? Nothing. We're practically strangers. But I-I didn't know what to do with it. I just stood there like a jerk." He ranted looking at Rick and I. "Hey. Hey, this is a good thing, something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it. And when we get back, return the favor. It's not like she's going anywhere." Rick advised.

"Yeah listen to Rick, he gives good advice." I co-signed. "You should be taking his advice with Daryl." Glenn retorted. "Oh, yeah, let's talk about that Ara." Rick started. "Oh darn. We're gonna have to cut this conversation short. We're here." I  avoided. "Now who's deflecting?" Glenn joked. I stuck my tongue out at him to which he did the same. He's such a nerd.

Rick then parked the car and Glenn called him. "Rick?" He asked with a bit of hesitation creeping into his voice. "I know about Lori, her being pregnant. I got her those pills." He confessed. "I figured." Rick answered before getting out of the car. Glenn and I then followed suit with all of our weapons. I had a few daggers here and there, and of course my sword. They can waste as many bullets as they want.

"Hey, I'm sorry I kept it from you." Glenn started.  "Don't be. You did what you thought was right. It just so happens it wasn't." Rick retorted. "Now that we got that awkward interaction over with, let's go find Papa Greene." I said taking the lead into the bar. I unsheathed my sword and had it out and ready before bursting in through the door. All three of us were faced with Hershel just sitting there with his back towards us.

"Hershel." Rick stated yet it sounded more like a question. "Who's with you?" He questioned from his chair. "Ara and Glenn." Rick answered. "Maggie sent him?" Hershel asked referring to my brother. "He volunteered. He's good like that." Rick answered. I looked at Glenn and grinned admirably at him. He was good, probably even better than good. I just hope it doesn't get him killed. Hershel then looked over his shoulder just a little before turning his direction back toward the front. All three of us walked up to where he sat to see him drinking.

"How many have you had?" Rick asked. "Not enough." He returned. Rick then looked back at Glenn and I with a tilt of his head and a sigh before reverting his attention back to Hershel. This is not gonna be as easy as we thought. Hershel is stubborn and static (unchanging). He stook to his beliefs and once he had an idea his mind was far from being swayed by anyone. "Let's finish this up back at home. Beth collapsed, is in some sort of state. Must be in shock. I think you are too." Rick suggested with hope etched on his face.

"Maggie's with her?" Hershel asked. "Yeah, but Beth needs you." Rick pressed.

"What could I do? She needs her mother. Or rather to mourn like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now." He said somberly.

"You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope." Rick sympathized. "Hope?" He scoffed and took a pause and turned to Rick. "When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in your arms, I had little hope he would survive." He continued. "But he did." Rick said. "He did. Even though we lost Otis. Your man Shane made it back and we saved your boy. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist. Only it was a sham, a bait and switch. I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that. My daughters deserve better than that." He ranted. He then grabbed the bottle of alcohol and poured more into his glass.

"Your wrong. Your girls need you. Beth needs you and Maggie can't do this by herself. You have to come back with us." I urged while walking up to the other side of Hershel. He looked up at me, pain swirling in his ocean blue eyes. "You don't know that." He disagreed while taking another sip. "I do." I persisted. "Just please think about it." I continued.

I walked over to Glenn and Rick who were standing by the door. "So what do we do? Just want for him to pass out?" Glenn asked. "Just go. Just go!" Hershel exclaimed. "I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe." Glenn refused. Hershel then chuckled. "Like you promised that little girl?" He refuted. I was about to say something until Rick looked at me and shook his head.

"So what's your plan? Finish that bottle? Drink yourself to death and leave your girls alone?" Rick asked lighting a fire under Hershel's ass. Rick was getting upset and it was evident in his voice that he had been ticked off. The glass thudded against the surface of the table and Hershel turned around. "Stop telling me how to care for my family, my farm. You people are like a plague! I do the Christian thing, give you shelter, and you destroy it all!" Hershel shouted. No, that was Shane, yet I understand where he's coming from considering that one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch.

"The world was already in bad shape when we met." Rick sneered walking up towards Hershel. "And you take no responsibility! You're supposed to be their leader!" Hershel shouted. "Well, im here now, aren't I?" Rick shouted back at him. (A/N Glenn and Ara in the background: 🧍🏾‍♀️🧍🏾‍♀️😭 alright back to the story.)

They paused before standing there breathing heavily at each other. "Yes. Yes. Yes, you are." Hershel shook his head and slurred his words before walking back over to the stool to sit down and drink some more. Rick walked up to him. "Now come on. Your girls need you now more than ever." Rick touched his shoulder. Hershel pushed him away and turned to Rick. "I didn't want to believe you. You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead, not sick. I chose not to believe that. But when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming, that's when I knew what an ass I'd been, that Annette had been dead long ago and I was feeding a rotten corpse! That's when I knew there was no hope. And when that little girl came out of the barn, the look on your face, I knew you knew it too. Right? There is no hope. And you know it now, like I do. Don't you?" He ranted. Rick looked back at Glenn and I somehow looking toward us for validation. I hadn't know what to see. Hershel was one of our moral compasses and he was a faithful and hopeful man, so to see him like this, it was upsetting.

"There is no hope for any of us." Hershel finished before turning back around and grabbing the glass to put up to his lips. "Look, I'm done. Im not doing this anymore, cleaning up after you. You know what the truth is? Nothing has changed. Death is death. It's always been there, whether it's from a heart attack, cancer, or a walker. What's the difference? You didn't think it was hopeless before did you? Now there are people back at home trying to hang on. They need us, even if it's just to give them a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it ourselves. You know what? This-this isn't about what we believe anymore. It's about them." Rick broke out into a speech, sounding entirely fed up with trying anymore. We had been here for some hours now.

Hershel downed the rest of his drink in response. The bar door opened and Glenn, Rick, Hershel and I whipped our heads around to see two guys, one skinny guy and one obese guy, standing at the door. We all looked at each other skeptically. "Son of a bitch. They're alive." The skinnier guy said turning to heavier of the two. Well we're gonna be here for awhile...I should've stayed on the farm.

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The two strangers had sat down and made themselves comfortable, they even poured themselves some drinks. "I'm Dave. That scrawny looking douche bag there is Tony." The skinnier of the two introduced before cracking a joke at the heavier guy. "Eat me Dave." Tony sneered. "Hey, maybe someday I will. We met on I-95 coming out of Philly. Damn shit show that was." Dave remarked before telling us his "story".

"I'm Glenn. It's nice to meet some new people."  Glenn introduced. "Ara." I followed suit raising a peace sign. "Rick Grimes." Rick stated. Why he stated his full name? I will never understand. Never give the stranger your full name Rick. "How about you, pal? Have one?" Dave aimed the question toward Hershel. "I just quit." Hershel answered. "You've got a unique sense of timing, my friend." Dave smiled. "His names Hershel. He lost people today, a lot of them." Rick told Dave.

"I'm truly sorry to hear that. To better days and new friends. And to our dead. May they be in a better place." Dave said before downing his shot as the rest of us did the same. Damn I missed alcohol. "Not bad, huh?" Dave asked Rick pulling out his gun. "I got it off a cop." Dave said. "I'm a cop." Rick responded casually. "This one was already dead." Dave retorted while grinning.

Dave and Tony gave me an uneasy feeling. Not the good kind and I don't even think there is a good kind of uneasy. They just seemed unhinged and trigger happy. I didn't like it. "You fellas are a long way from Philadelphia." Rick said. "It feels like we're a long way from anywhere." Dave said.

"Well, what drove you south?"

"Well I can tell you it wasn't the weather. I must've dropped 30 pounds in sweat alone down here." Dave answered. "I wish." Tony muttered.

"No, first it was D.C. I heard there might be some kind of refugee camp, but the roads were so jammed, we never even got close. We decided to get off the highways, into the sticks, keep hauling ass. Every group we came across had a new rumor about a way out of this thing." Dave explained. "One guy told us there was the coast guard sitting in the gulf, sending ferries to the islands." Tony chimed in.

"The latest was a rail yard in Montgomery running trains to the middle of the country, Kansas, Nebraska." Dave added. "Nebraska?" Glenn questioned with intrigue written all over his face. He was like a kid in a candy store. "Low population, lots of guns." Tony said. "Kinda makes sense." Glenn spoke up. "Ever been to Nebraska, kid? A reason they call 'em flyover states." Dave piped up. Tony just laughed in response as Rick took yet another shot. "How about you guys?" Dave asked. "Fort Benning, eventually." Rick answered.

"I hate to piss in your cornflakes, officer, but um we ran across a group who was stationed at Benning. He said the place was overrun by lamebrains." Dave informed us.

"Wait, Fort Benning is gone? Are you for real?" Glenn asked surprisingly. "Sadly, I am. Oddly, the truth is there is no way out of this mess. Just keep going from one pipe dream to the next, praying one of these mindless freaks doesn't grab ahold of you when you sleep." Dave answered. "If you sleep." Tony added. "Yeah, it doesn't look like you guys are hanging your hats here. You holed up somewhere else?" Dave asked suspiciously.

"Not really." Rick answered vaguely. "Those your cars out front?" He questioned. "Yeah. Why?" Glenn asked oblivious to what was happening or what was about to happen. "We're living in ours. Those look kinda empty, clean. Where's all your gear?" Dave pressed on the matter. He wasn't intending on letting this go, he was relentless and we can't just let them come back to the farm with us. We don't know who their with, what their like , who they've killed, it's a safety hazard.

"We're with a larger group out scouting, thought we could use a drink." Hershel lied calmly through his teeth. I thought you were a Christian Papa Greene, lying is a sin. "A drink? Hershel I thought you quit." Dave grinned. Hershel just sat there, no words coming out of his mouth. "Well, we're thinking of setting up around here. Is it-is it safe?" Dave stuttered. "It can be, although I have killed a couple of walkers around here." Glenn answered. "Walkers? That's what you call them?" Dave questioned. "Yeah, we do." I answered. "That's good. I like that. I like that better than lamebrains." He said making eye contact with me as he did so.

"More succinct." Tony chimed in. "Okay, Tony went to college." Dave told us. "Two years." Tony answered. Glenn and I looked at each other awkwardly as we turned to Rick and Hershel. This is not gonna end well. "So what-so what, you guys set up on the outskirts or something? That new development?" Dave piped up back at it again with incessant questions. "Trailer park or something?" Tony asked before standing up. "A farm?" Tony suggested. We all remained quiet until Dave had to go ahead and start singing.

"Old McDonald had a farm." He whispered in a sing-song tone. Tony chuckled at that. "You got a farm?" Dave asked. Then, I heard liquid hitting the bar floor. I looked to the side to see Tony taking a piss. I should've stayed on the farm. "E-I-E-I-O." Tony sang while his piss pattered against the wooden floor. "Is it safe?" Tony then asked. "It's gotta be. You got food, water?" Dave piped up. "You got cooze? Ain't had a piece of ass in weeks. Sorry sweetheart." Tony said looking at me while I scowled at him. "Not for you." I said lowly.

"Listen, pardon my friend. City kids, they got no tact. No disrespect. So listen, Glenn-." Dave started before Rick cut him off. "We've said enough." Rick shut down. "Well, hang on a second. This- this farm it sounds pretty sweet. Don't it sound sweet, Tony?" Dave asked. "Yeah, real sweet." Tony answered winking at me. Im gonna beat the shit out of that fat faced asshole any second now. "How about a little southern hospitality? We got some buddies back at camp, been having a real hard time. I don't see why you can't make room for a few more. We can pool our resources, our manpower." Dave tried persuading Rick into it but Rick shut him down again.

"Look, I'm sorry. That's not an option." Rick declined with a grin on his face. Tony and Dave didn't seem to like that answer. "Doesn't sound like it'd be a problem." Dave persisted. "I'm sorry. We can't." Hershel said. "We can't take in anymore." Rick added. Dave laughed and shook his head. "You guys are something else. I thought-I thought we were friends. We got people we gotta look out for too." Dave tried playing the victim card. We weren't buying it.

"We don't know anything about you." Rick said. "No, that's true. You don't know anything about us. You don't know what we've had to go through out there, the things we've had to do. I bet you've had to do some of those same things yourself. Am I right?" Dave questioned. Rick just stared at him blankly. "Cause ain't nobody's hands clean in what's left of this world. We're all the same. So come on, let's- let's take a nice friendly hayride to  this farm and we'll get to know each other." Dave suggested with a grin. It wasn't a real grin, it had been conniving and malicious. He was trying to sell his price and Rick wasn't buying it.

"That's not gonna happen." Rick declined again. "Rick-." Dave started before getting cut off. "This is bullshit." Tony said from right beside me. "Calm down." Rick advised. "Don't tell me to calm down. Don't ever tell me to calm down." Tony spat. "Whoa." Glenn uttered. "I'll shoot you four assholes in the head and take your damn farm!" Tony shouted. I quickly pulled my sword out and aimed it at his throat.

"Your not gonna do a damn thing if you want to keep your head attached to your body." I said dangerously low. "Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Relax. Take it easy. Nobody's killing anybody. Nobody's shooting anybody. Right, Rick? Ara?" Dave questioned as I looked at Rick who signaled it was ok to move the sword away from Tony. While I did that Dave climbed on top of the bar table and stood on the other side of it.

"Look." Dave said slowly as he put his gun on the table. "We're just friends having a drink. That's all. Now where's the good stuff, huh? Good stuff, good stuff, good stuff. Let's see." He said all giddily in search of another bottle of alcohol. "Hey, look at that. That'll work." He said pulling out a bottle of what looked to be champagne. He opened it and poured it into a glass as he sighed.

"You gotta understand, we can't stay out of there. You know what it's like." Dave persisted yet again. "Yeah, I do. But the farm is too crowded as is. I'm sorry. You'll have to keep looking." Rick agreed before shutting him down yet again. It was like listening to CD play the same song over and over again. "Keep looking. Where do you suggest we do that?" Dave questioned.

"I don't know. I hear Nebraska's nice." Rick jokes with a serious expression. Dave then laughed at that. "Nebraska. This guy." Dave grinned and raised his eyebrows as he went to grab the gun until Rick quickly shot him and turned around to shoot Tony. He shot tony twice before shooting him again as his body fell to the ground. Hershel just stood there with his hands on his hips and my brother looked surprised at how that whole thing transpired into what just happened. I looked at both of them before sighing.

Rick was standing by Tony's dead body as he put his gun back in his holster and looked at the three of us. Well, it had to be done. They were gonna kill us so why not been them to the punch.

Well there you have it folks, another chapter of desolation. You guys got some of Ara's backstory, Daryl's apology to her, and her interactions with other characters. You guys will definitely get to see more of it since I like writing her relationships with people in the group. This one was pretty long. It was almost at 6k words. I also wrote this at 1 in the morning so there are bound to be some spelling errors. Anywho...see y'all next time. I love you guys 3000.
-brayla❤️❤️