Declarations

Part 20: Running Wild Again

"It's cold!" Nik said with a laugh. "You?"

"You can go in for a bit," Tara offered. "I got this side. Nothing's going on. It's cold as shit out here."

"Our shift will end soon. I can tough it out—"

Screams suddenly interrupted their conversation. Nik and Tara ran across the roof to join Bob and Carol as they disappeared down the stairwell which led to the 2nd story of the mall. To Nik's relief, he saw nothing amiss in the food court, but then he noticed that it was empty of his wife and her morning helper. Like the others, he quickly scanned the 2nd level but saw nothing. The terror was coming from below.

Carol led the charge down one escalator while Nik took the lead on the other one. Somehow, walkers had infiltrated the mall. Several were slain, but more continued to attack. He plowed through them with his blade. One after another, he aimed for that sweet spot right between the eyes. He felt them fall and he heard their mumbles become fewer.

In the frenzy, he saw his wife and son work together to take out a hefty, determined walker. Michonne's katana provided assistance. The coppery stench of blood and the putrid smell of decay permeated the area. Nik stepped through the carnage to reach his family.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah." Dawn briefly squeezed his hand. "We gotta find Lorenzo. He took off that way."

"Stay here," Nik said.

"I can't." Dawn shook her head. "We go together."

$%^&

Michonne joined the Cassidy family as they ran toward the raised voices. She pressed her hand over her shoulder to check Judith. The baby was still snug in place. Her cries had subsided, and Michonne hoped that the little one would bear no memory of this day.

Flickering light provided some light for this part of the mall. Michonne noticed that the barricades had been disturbed and she was preparing herself to encounter more walkers. Instead, she saw Daryl pulling Rick from a prone person on the ground. Others also stood nearby, but at the distance, she didn't recognize them. Just Rick.

"Sonuvabitch!" Rick yelled. He tugged free of Daryl's hold, but he made no move toward anyone.

"He's dead, Rick!" Daryl said.

Michonne moved around Nik, Dawn, and their son to see who had Rick's attention. The man's face was bloody, but she did recognize him. He had followed them earlier when she, Rick, and Carl had first reunited. Before the other men had taken them. She remembered there had been two of them, and their names were Lee and Aaron. But she did not know who was dead on the ground.

Abraham rushed in from the entrance area. Maggie moved slowly behind him. Her expression was glazed with a bizarre mixture of rage and devastation until she looked at Nik. Then, her eyes brightened with unshed tears, and she looked away.

"What happened?" Nik asked. "Who's this?"

"The blizzard's coming back," Abraham said, breathlessly. "Be a cow's tit in hell to track them in this shit. Ain't no way we can do it."

"Who's them?" Michonne asked.

Daryl face began to mirror Maggie's. He grabbed his head and began to pace. "They can't get too far then. We can try—"

"Ain't safe," Abraham said. "Motherfuckers used the undead as ammo. They planned this. Can't go out there half-cocked—"

"Somebody tell us what the fuck is going on?" Nik said.

"That bastard," Maggie said, kicking the body viciously, "and his people led Walkers in while th-they..."

Rick finished for her. "That piece of filth is Lee. He and his friend, Aaron, stalked Michonne, Carl, and me a while ago. Thought we lost him. Guess they've been with us all along."

"Where's Aaron?" Dawn asked.

Michonne noted the hesitation that warred with Rick. She, too, had seen Lorenzo run in this direction, but now, he was nowhere to be found. She dreaded to think what that meant.

"He's gone," Daryl said quietly. "He ain't go alone."

Dawn looked at Nik. She took his hand.

Rick drew in a deep breath and said the rest, "It wasn't just Aaron. He had others helping. They took your brother. They took Beth, Carol, and Mika. We gotta check and see if others were taken."

"Carol was right in front of me," Nik said. "How...? Lorenzo, my brother? Why? What the hell?" He pulled free of Dawn and headed toward the dark exit, but Daryl blocked him. "No! What the fuck, man! We can't just stand here! He's my brother!"

"And my sister!" Maggie cried. She looked around at everyone, but her gaze did not seem to lock on anyone. "A blizzard shouldn't stop us—"

"There are more of them," Abraham said firmly. "You and I both ran out there. We saw what they had."

"I don't give a fuck about that! They took Beth. She is my sister!" Maggie's wail cut through everyone and Michonne went to her, wrapping her arms around her.

"What do you know about them?" Nik asked quietly. "You said they were stalking you. Why? What do you have that they want?"

"Nik..." Dawn said.

He glanced at her. His hardened expression softened just a fraction.

Rick met Nik's glare and said, "Michonne. They wanted her. From what I heard, they work for a Shannon—"

"Sherri," Michonne said. "They called her Sherri."

"Sherri," Rick repeated. "I don't have to spell out the rest."

"Oh, God," Maggie murmured.

"We know for certain that they took Beth, Mika, and Carol," Michonne said. "Mika? She's a little girl..."

"They had 'em," Daryl said angrily. "No doubt."

"Why would they take my uncle?" Dominik asked, his voice hoarse. His parents immediately went to him. "They want girls. Why take him?"

"Leverage," Rick said.

At that, Lee began to reanimate. Before anyone else could respond, Nik plunged his blade so hard into the walker's skull that the crack echoed in the quiet space. Once he retrieved his knife, his family led him away. Glenn and Sasha arrived. After a summary of events was given, Glenn, too, escorted Maggie to their quarters. Sasha, Daryl, and Abraham worked together to secure the opening left by Aaron's exit.

Finally, Michonne went to Rick. He vibrated with unspoken emotions. She took his arm, and they slowly began walking toward the survivors of their family. "None of this is your fault."

"Should've listened to Carl," he said. "He heard what they wanted to do to you, and his first instinct was to rid us of the threat. I talked him down."

"We both did," she gently reminded him. "Neither of us knew. This isn't on you or me."

He paused at the border of the flickering dark behind them and the light ahead. "We have to get them back."

She laced her fingers with Rick's and squeezed. "We will."