~Day sixty~
With a wide grin stretching across her face, Daisy felt an unfamiliar sense of purpose that had been absent from her life for what seemed like an eternity. Her small heart swelled with unbridled joy, and her eyes gleamed with excitement. It was a rare sight to see the usually overly-reserved 7-year-old so animated.
It was as though the weight of the world had been lifted from her delicate shoulders, replaced instead by a sense of self-assurance and determination.
A pair of rusted scissors nestled snugly in her back pocket while a makeshift cloth holder carefully crafted by Officer Shane was securely fastened to her denim shorts with a sturdy carabiner - inside of which was one of her inhalers, a couple Band-Aids and an extra hair tie. All neatly organized, and always within reach.
In her hand was an aged red bucket with a thin crack on it's side, and on her back hung her trusty bookbag. She tried to always keep it with her - Glenn had taught her to. Even though it was unlikely, there was no promise that she wouldn't be seperated from everyone else.
The thought was scary, but necessary.
Her battered pink Chuck Taylors were a testament to resilience. They had been found at the thrift shop. The soles were worn and the fabric was frayed, but they were hers, and she wore them with pride.
Just like her bookbag, just like the other few possessions she owned - they were given a second chance at life, just as she was.
As they walked, both girls knew to be cautious. They weren't far from the safety of the camp, but danger could lurk around the most unexpected corners. Daisy was grateful for the opportunity to explore the unknown, but she was also aware of the risks. She knew that in this new world, anything could happen.
It was a rare interruption to Daisy's solitary reading time, but when Dale suggested she go on a hunt for food with Amy, her curiosity was piqued. Despite her initial hesitation, the thought of exploring the woods and encountering wildlife thrilled her. The idea of spotting a deer or fox, or even her favorite animal, a snake, made her excited.
As they wandered through the woods, Daisy couldn't help but feel a growing sense of camaraderie with Amy. The older girl was playful and kind, making the foraging feel more like an adventure than a mundane chore.
Above, the morning light filtered through the dense trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Birds tweeted, and frogs croaked while insects buzzed around.
Daisy's bucket was already filling up with a small but impressive haul of mushrooms and berries, and she he imagined herself as a brave explorer, charting new territories and discovering hidden treasures.
Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for any signs of life that she could find.
"Behold!" Amy exclaimed playfully, gesturing towards Daisy with a warm smile. "There are lots over here, Daisy!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Daisy rushed towards Amy, her steps light and graceful as if she was a woodland nymph.
The clearing they stumbled upon was tiny, but lush with life. Dainty, colorful flowers and mushrooms grew in circle-like formations, beckoning to her. She could almost hear them whispering, begging "Take us with you! C'mon, Lady Linette!"
Daisy couldn't contain her excitement and eagerly hopped towards the new bounty. In her mind, she imagined Glenn and T doing the same, but instead of foraging for food, they were looting lots of important supplies - medicine, canned food, water.
Daisy's eyes widened with sudden recognition as she gazed at the circles of foliage, her lips parting in a gasp of surprise. "Fairy rings," she blurted out, her voice sounding louder than intended, surprising not only Amy, but herself.
Amy's curiosity was piqued by Daisy's reaction. "What was that?" she asked, her eyes bright with interest as she raised her brows.
Daisy was completely entranced by the sight before her, and her words came tumbling out in a barely cohesive mess, her face tinted red. "It's actually, really - uh, where faeries and um elves danced," she tried, "It's super bad luck to step in them, though"
Amy's amusement was evident on her face as she listened to Daisy's explanation. The usually quiet girl seemed to have been transported to a world of magic and mystery. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone both teasing and incredulous.
Daisy's excitement was palpable as she nodded, unable to contain her wonder, "you could become trapped in them forever and ever."
She had read about these mythical circles before, but to actually be standing in the midst of a field of them was beyond her wildest dreams.
As she crouched down to pick the mushrooms growing within one of the rings, she could almost imagine tiny faeries and elves dancing around her, their laughter tinkling like bells while moss gnomes vigilantly kept guard.
Amy chuckled at Daisy's enthusiasm and joined her in collecting mushrooms from a different ring. "We should be careful not to step in them, then" she reminded Daisy gently.
Daisy nodded absentmindedly, still lost in her own world of imaginary creatures.
The two girls set to work picking mushrooms, their movements careful and deliberate so as not to disturb the fairy rings.
Daisy's small hands deftly snipped the stems of the mushrooms with her rusted scissors, adding them to her bucket. The air around them was filled with the scent of damp earth and the sounds of rustling leaves, punctuated by the occasional short whistle of a bird.
Daisy's bucket overflowed with a vibrant medley of mushrooms and berries, each one radiating with rich, earthy colors. The mushrooms ranged from deep purples to pale yellows, while the berries glistened with ruby-red hues. As they walked back to camp, Daisy couldn't help but admire her small but impressive haul.
She felt a sense of accomplishment in providing for the camp, even if it ended up being just a handful of foraged edibles.
When they arrived at camp, Lori was nestled on a turned milk crate, her hair a tangled mess in the wind. She turned to greet the girls, her face alight with curiosity. "Any luck?" she inquired, craning her neck to see their buckets.
Amy eagerly poured her findings into a little metal dish that Lori held out for her, revealing a cache of deep crimson berries and smooth, pale mushrooms. Daisy followed suit, spilling out her collection next to Amy's. The two girls then placed their buckets to the side.
Lori scrutinized the mushrooms with a critical eye, her expression pensive.
"How do we tell if they're poisonous?" Amy asked, her voice tinted with uncertainty and curiosity.
Lori's face fell slightly at the question, and she hesitated before replying. "Well...there's only one sure way I know of," she said with a shrug, holding out a hand to receive Daisy's scissors when the young girl offered them back.
"Ask Shane?" Daisy suggested softly, looking up at Lori with apprehension. "Or... uh, um maybe Dale?"
"Dale is really smart..." She trailed off, fiddling with her hands.
Lori nodded in agreement, patting Daisy on the shoulder. "Yeah, you got it," she said reassuringly, "smart kid."
As Lori picked up the bucket Amy had set down, the sound of clinking echoed through the campsite. The now empty metal pail glinted in the sunlight, shining in Daisy's eyes and making her squint.
Turning her head to face Daisy, Lori's face lit up with a warm smile as she motioned to Carl, who was hunched over playing with his toy cars nearby. "Why don't you go play with Carl, Daisy?" she suggested, her voice gentle and caring. Despite her usual prickly exterior, Lori had a soft spot for the young girl and wanted the best for her.
Even if that meant the occasional lecture or annoying, invasive question. Daisy knew it was her just trying, but it was also the reason Daisy tried to avoid the older woman when she could.
Daisy hesitated, unsure of what to do, but Lori had already started to walk away. Her bucket swayed gently in her grip, and as she glanced over at Dale, she called out to him.
"Dale, I'm heading out," she announced, her eyes scanning the campsite before landing on Carl.
Lori's fingers fiddled with the bucket as she spoke to the boy, her voice gentle but firm. "Sweetheart, I want you to stay where Dale can see you, okay?" she instructed.
Carl nodded obediently, but Daisy could see his eyes rolling as he muttered, "Yes, Mom."
Dale's gruff voice interrupted the conversation. "You too! Don't wander too far. Stay within shouting distance, and if you see anything - holler!" he bellowed, his voice carrying across the camp. Lori muttered something under her breath, probably annoyed by Dale's protective behavior, before walking off towards the woods.
Daisy let out a deep breath, her stomach twisting with a sense of uncertainty. She didn't feel like going back to reading, but she didn't know what else to do.
"Lori was right," Amy chimed in, her smile warm and comforting. "You should play with Carl - I think you two would be good friends."
"Or maybe find Sophia?" She added, "I know you guys are already good friends, I always see you two together."
Daisy's timid demeanor was on full display as her cheeks blossomed with a deep shade of crimson. The little girl fidgeted nervously, her tiny shoulders rising and falling in an uncertain shrug.
"Soph is playing with Eliza and Louis, and I - I don't know what to say to Carl. I haven't really talked to him much yet," she mumbled quietly.
Daisy's interactions with Carl had been limited and always felt uncomfortable. Despite his efforts to include her in games, she never felt at ease roughhousing or running around like the other kids. It was a struggle for her to keep up, let alone participate with the same enthusiasm.
Amy tilted her head, furrowing her brow in thought before a smile lit up her face. "Ask him to show you his comics. He loves them, but nobody else seems to want to listen when he talks about them," she suggested, her tone warm and reassuring.
Daisy's mind raced as she considered the idea. She had seen Carl carrying around his comics before, eagerly trying to share them with anyone who would listen. But Daisy knew all too well what it was like to have something she loved ignored by others. Nobody ever seemed interested in her books, not even Mason - even though he tried his best to share her excitement for them.
"I like comics." Daisy thought aloud, eliciting a gentle smile of encouragement from Amy.
With a slow nod, Daisy agreed to Amy's suggestion. She stole a quick glance at Carl, who was meticulously arranging his toy cars in a neat line. With a deep breath, she made her way over to him, her feet dragging.
"Carl?"
Daisy's voice trembled as she timidly spoke up, her soft words barely audible above a whisper. Carl, ever perceptive, immediately picked up on her nervousness and rose to his feet, abandoning his beloved toy cars without a second thought.
He tilted his head to one side, trying to decipher what was going on. "What? What is it?" he asked, confused but encouragingly.
Daisy's heart pounded in her chest, her palms damp with sweat. She took a deep breath, mustering up every ounce of courage she had, and forced herself to meet Carl's gaze. She reminded herself that he was just a kid like her, and that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Her mind raced as she struggled to find the right words. She bit her lip, her small fingers fidgeting nervously, trying to push the words out. She didn't know why she was like this, why she couldn't be normal.
It wasn't that she felt uncomfterable around him, or anyone else in the group. She just didn't know how to actually start a conversation.
She hated it.
"Can you - um ma-maybe show me your -uh comics?" she finally managed to stutter out, her face flushed with embarrassment.
She cursed herself inwardly for stuttering, her dad always got angry when she did that. But sometimes it just couldn't be helped, especially when she was talking to new people. It made her feel all wonky inside, like her thoughts were spinning out of control, and her heart was beating so hard it might burst out of her chest. Her tongue felt tied up in knots, making it hard to articulate what she wanted to say.
Excitement lit up Carl's face as Daisy made her request. A wide grin spread across his features as he realized someone was finally interested in his favorite thing. Without hesitation, he grabbed Daisy's hand and eagerly pulled her toward his and his mom's tent, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "C'mon then!" he exclaimed.
Dale and Amy watched the pair with satisfied smiles, happy that Daisy had found a new friend. Though they had only just met the shy young girl, they felt a sense of pride in her for stepping out of her comfort zone.
Carl opened the tent's flap, holding it open for Daisy to enter. She knelt down on the ground, her eyes scanning the small space. Carl beamed, gesturing to a small pile of comics in the corner. "I don't really have a bunch, but they're all really super good! We can read them together!" he exclaimed, sitting down next to Daisy.
She smiled, nodding her agreement. "Yes, please!"
Carl excitedly showed Daisy his personal favorite comic, Science Dog, before moving on to others like Avengers, Batman, and Lumberjanes. For the next couple of hours, the kids read comics together, lost in the worlds of their favorite heroes and heroines. Each comic transported them to different worlds filled with adventure and excitement.
Their reading session was interrupted when Shane came to find Carl, offering to teach him how to tie knots. At first, he didn't notice Daisy sitting next to Carl, but upon seeing her, he extended the invitation to her as well.
Daisy hesitated, shaking her head at the first offer. But with Carl's gentle encouragement, she soon found herself joining in on the knot-tying escapades.
The group had settled onto large rocks, encircling a small, unlit campfire. Shane had unearthed an extra two pieces of rope, using them to teach Carl and Daisy the art of knot-tying. The children sat cross-legged on the rocky ground, their eyes wide with fascination as they watched Shane expertly weave the strands together.
Dale and Jim were hard at work, tinkering with the RV while Amy, on the other hand, paced back and forth, her mind consumed with worry for her sister, Andrea.
Daisy could feel Amy's anxiety radiating off of her in waves, and she couldn't help but empathize with her. She knew the group was supposed to be back already, but she had faith in T-Dog and Glenn's abilities to keep themselves and everyone safe.
Daisy was surprised to find that she had a natural talent for knot-tying. Shane beamed with intrigue as he watched her small hands deftly twist and knot the frayed ropes with ease.
Carl held up a piece of rope, intently following Shane's instructions. Daisy watched with interest as Shane guided Carl's hand. "Make the P the other way," he said, adjusting Carl's grip. "The other way, around your finger - like how Daisy has it."
The sudden sound of T-Dog's voice crackling through the radio startled Daisy, causing her to jump up from her spot on the rock and drop her piece of rope.
"Hello, Hello? Basecamp?"
She couldn't believe they had a radio that could reach this far. How did they manage that?
Shane quickly made his way towards the radio, and Daisy followed closely behind - her small frame dwarfed by Shane's ex-cop stature.
"Can anybody out there hear me?"
His voice was distorted, hard to make out.
"Basecamp! this is T-dog, can anyone hear me?"
Dale clambered up onto the roof of the RV to get a better reception, his hand cupping the radio as he responded. "Hello? Hello? Reception's bad on this end."
"Shane, is that you?"
The urgency in T-Dog's voice made Daisy's stomach twist. She could hear the sounds of monsters in the background, reminding her of the danger that lurked just beyond their camp.
"We're in some deep shit!"
unconsciously, she inched closer to Amy, tugging at her shirt. Amy took her hand without hesitation, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"trapped in the department store, surrounded!"
Dale leaned forward, his hand gripping the radio tightly as he strained to catch any sound. "T-dog, repeat that last," he pleaded, hoping for a response.
The radio was silent, except for the harsh crackling of static filling the airwaves.
Lori stepped forward, her eyes fixated on Shane, "He said they're in the department store."
Shane shook his head, already knowing what Lori was going to suggest. "No way. We don't go after them. We don't risk the rest of the group."
Amy's voice rose in anger. "So we're just going to leave her there!?"
Daisy feels a lump form in her throat, but she couldn't will herself to speak up.
"I know this isn't easy," Shane said, removing his cap. "But she knew the risks. If she's trapped, she's gone. They all are."
Daisy hated Shane in that moment - for what he was implying, for what he refused to do. She tugged on Amy's hand, silently gesturing that she was scared and beginning to panic. But Shane just continued, making her chest well with pure anxiety. "We just have to deal with that. There's nothing we can do."
"Nothing?" Daisy whispered so low, that nobody even heard her.
Daisy felt like everything was falling apart again, and she was starting to feel far away from herself and from everything. "She's my sister, you son of a bitch!" Amy screamed.
Amy noticed Daisy's distress and pulled her away from the group, leading her into Dale's RV. The two of them were away from the arguing but not alone. Daisy didn't register Amy's voice or the fact that she was nodding. She didn't notice when Amy held her hand tighter, took off her bookbag, or when they sat down on the RV's couch.
Glenn was gone, T-dog was gone, and Daisy's family was gone. She felt like everyone was slipping away, and she was only barely existing.
It was as if the world itself had fallen away. In depths of her mind, she heard a whisper, telling her to push everything away. To forget about everything and everyone - to retreat into the blissful escape that was her inner world.
But she looked at Amy, at the woman's tear-filled eyes, she realized she couldn't just clock out like she usually did.
EDITED