DOOM DAYS 【 carl grimes 】

chapter five

Riley kept respectfully mute for a minute instead of pushing for more details, assuming that Harper had become fierce after the deaths of her family members and converted her fellow survivors from Indiana into fighters, a situation that was all too familiar to the teen.

With a sigh, Riley looked to his other side. "Hey, Daryl? Roush Road is the next turn-up ahead. We just have to take a right at the end, and we'll get to Ada; that's where Ottawa is. We'll actually be able to see one of the walls toward the end of Roush since there's a cornfield on the right halfway up."

Daryl ignored the teen, not saying a word to acknowledge him or his presence. Taking no offense, Riley was growing accustomed to Daryl's behavior, something he'd seen many times before.

Daryl kept his stare on a dark forest in a furrow opposite the reservoir. He stared into the woods, and over the next seconds, his movements became slower and slower.

When the group paused, a redheaded woman dressed very similarly to Flora emerged from the shadows of the trees. Her expression showcased innocence, and she put her hands up to further display her harmlessness. Her bare feet carried her up the trench.

"Oh, I didn't know there were six of you. Please... don't shoot me," the lady begged, stepping over the guardrail.

Daryl raised his crossbow and immediately fired. The arrow pierced the woman's forehead, her body dropping with a soft thud. As blood seeped from her skull, he carelessly stomped to her fallen carcass, swiped back his bolt, and stole a pistol concealed beneath her torn skirt.

"You didn't have to do that, man," Wally stated, mildly agitated, "I mean, really? For all you know, she really could've been someone who needed help, not a Martyr."

"Was she?" Daryl questioned in a bragging tone as if he already knew the truth.

Wally, knowing the faces of his former group, ducked his head, sufficient to give the rest an answer. Daryl scoffed, continued up the road. Wally lagged back as Riley stayed near the middle with Maggie, Taylor, and Jessica

"Hey, shouldn't we do something about her body?" Riley suggested. "What if another Martyr sees it? They'll know we came this way, and she was already pretty close to Ottawa. She could've even been going back to report it. We should hide her in the ravine or dump her in the reservoir."

After thinking of a solution swiftly, Daryl picked up the corpse, tossing it over the metal guardrail. It tumbled comedically down the ditch before slamming into the trunk of a tree with a satisfying thud. Disgusted, Wally shook his head as we resumed walking the route. Jessica, too, had a look of distaste painted on her face as she walked with Maggie and Taylor in the middle of the group.

Riley ran a hand through his hair as he settled by the girls.

"What was that?" Jessica whispered just enough for Riley to hear.

"What?"

"He just shot that woman with no remorse" Jessica replied, distaste seeping from her voice

"He did what he had to do," Riley shook his head "She was a Martyr"

"So, maybe she could've helped us like Wally"

"Jessica," Taylor gently spoke up "she would've killed us. That man did what any of us woulda done"

Jessica shook her head, eyeing the pavement "I guess"

Taylor pulled Jessica into a side hug as they continued to walk and Riley smiled at them. They were together again and though he had a lot to come he was happy to see his family. "I'm gonna go talk to Daryl more" he informed before jogging up to the shaggy-haired archer