Endure and Survive (Sequel to How We Live Now)

Chapter 26

"That'll have to do for now," I said.

"Yup. Let's head back," she said.

"Right behind you," I said.

We couldn't catch a break. First it was losing Zack, then Patrick and everyone else we lost. Now we had this to worry about. Was the world playing some sort of cosmic joke on us since we had gone a whole month without an incident? I couldn't help but think that yeah, it was. What more could possibly go wrong? Everyone who had been in D would be sleeping there with the others. Everyone understood that those in C needed to stay safe. Especially Judith. We couldn't risk getting close to her. The day was winding down. Rick had informed us that before all this had happened, he had noticed a piglet that looked sick and that he found it dead hours later. That's why he decided to use the rest of them to lure the walkers away.

Daryl and I were sitting at a table in the cell block and having a quick bite to eat when Glenn came over and sat with us.

"So, Beth told Maggie something very interesting," he said, folding his arms together and leaning into the table.

"Which is?" Daryl asked, taking a bite out of a peach.

"All I'm gonna say is that it's about time," he said with a smirk.

"Well, shit. Why don't you just tell the whole place? It would make it so much easier on us," I said, taking a spoonful of my canned peas.

"Man, y'all got big mouths," Daryl said.

I nearly choked on my peas at his remark. I cleared my throat and started laughing.

"You have no idea," I said.

"Jerks," Glenn said.

"I'm sorry you can't be with Maggie right now," I said, changing the subject.

"I hate it. She hates it too but I mean, it's what we gotta do right?" he said.

"It'll only make you guys stronger," I said.

"I hope so. Thanks, Kari. Well, I'm turning in for the night. Now don't you kids go doing anything Maggie and I wouldn't," he teased.

"You do know that we're older than you, right?" I asked.

"And that all the shit you and Maggie do...we ain't that eager to do," Daryl retorted.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Whatever. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Glenn said with a laugh.

Daryl and I finished eating and we headed to an empty cell.

"I think...I think we should sleep separately. You know, just in case," I suggested.

"Yeah. You wanna take the top bunk?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter," I said.

We stood there and it felt just a bit awkward.

"Uh...this is a bit," I began.

"Weird?" he finished for me.

"Yeah. I mean...we just started this whole thing and we aren't allowed to be close to each other," I said.

"Maybe we should have waited," he said.

"Maybe we should have," I agreed.

"But I ain't mad that we did it," he said.

I looked over at him and smiled.

"Me neither," I said.

We leaned in but I stopped and leaned back.

"Maybe we should hold back on that too," I said.

He bit at his bottom lip.

"Yeah. Good call," he said.

"I'll take the bottom bunk," I said.

"Alright," he said.

He climbed up and got himself settled.

"I'll see you in the morning," I said.

"Yeah," he said.

I took off my shoes and got settled in. I couldn't wait for this whole thing to be over. I closed my eyes and tried my best to get some sleep.

Moving around on the bed, I was slowly regaining consciousness from my lack of sleep. I kept tossing and turning. It was a rough night. I rubbed my eyes and slowly opened them. Running the back of my hand over my forehead, I quickly noticed that I was sweating profusely. I sat up and suddenly felt my throat dry. I cleared it and that just made it ache. I stood up and had to keep my hand on the top bunk otherwise I'd fall. Daryl wasn't in his bed and I was relieved about it. I took in deep breaths and tried to keep myself from worrying. The burn in my throat became unbearable. Dammit. I had it. There was no denying it. I sat back down on the bed, and place my head in my hands. I heard footsteps coming up the steps and I quickly closed the cell door. I kept my hands on the bars and rested my forehead against them.

"What's going on?" Daryl asked when he got to our cell.

I sighed and slowly looked over at him.

"I have it," I said.