"It's alright. It's alight." Lori whispered.
I shook my head, tears clouding my vision. "I'm so sorry."
My hand clutched the knife, my body not listening to me as it pressed the knife against Lori's stomach. I looked up at Lori, my heart stopping at her face. It wasn't Lori anymore. She was a walker. She was gone. I gasped, my hand pressing the knife down into her stomach, blood spilling out and flooding the floor. It was too much blood. What was happening.
"Lori!" I yelled. I jolted awake, being yanked back by something across my chest as my heart raced. I looked around frantically, forgetting for a second where I was. My head spun as I leaned back, closing my eyes as I reached up to wipe the sweat from my forehead.
It was just a dream. Calm down Claire. Just another nightmare.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded, opening my eyes and turning to look at Glenn who was driving. "Just a dream," I answered hoarsely. "How long was I out."
"About ten minutes," He replied.
I nodded again, leaning over so my head could lean against the window. 10 minutes was longer than before. It's as if every time I close my eyes, Lori or someone else like Dale haunts my dreams. They won't let me rest. It's almost as if I was being punished for not trying hard enough to save them.
"You want to talk about it?"
"No." Was all I answered. That's all anybody has been asking me lately, but really, I was fine. I wasn't going to lose my mind again. I know that they're just nightmares. Doesn't make them go away by talking about it, I can handle them this time.
I looked down as my hand was grabbed, Glenn squeezing it softly in comfort. "I'm here Claire," Glenn reminds me. He gives my hand another squeeze. "This run is an in and out job, grab whatever you think we could use while looking for baby formula."
I nodded, pulling my hand away from his, and looking back out the window. The car came to a stop as we pulled up to the curb of the store we were to loot. Glenn turned the car off as I opened my door and stepped out into the blazing sun. I grabbed my flashlight from the waistband of the back of my pants and softly shut the door back before walking over to Glenn's side.
It was quiet. That could either be a good sign or a bad one. I'm praying there isn't more than one of two walkers inside this place because I'm exhausted. I'm tired of having to kill something every damn day, and I know I shouldn't complain since that's just how the world is now, but it's be nice to just be able to relax. For once.
"It's clear outside," I called out. There wasn't a walker in sight which meant this place was probably touched before or walkers just never made it this far.
"Alright let's take a look inside."
Glenn grabbed the bolt cutters from the car, a flashlight hanging out his mouth as he went up to the chained up door. He let out a grunt as he clipped the chains and grabbed the door handle. I took my spot behind him as he swung open the door. I let out a small shriek as bats flew out over our heads, my heartbeat picking up in pace.
"Jesus," I hissed. I stood back up, gripping the flashlight in my hand tighter. "That scared me more than it should have."
Glenn chuckled, leaning back to give me a quick peck on the lips before heading in first. I turned my flashlight on, shining it behind him to make sure nothing was going to pop up. I smiled as my eyes landed on a little toy duck.
"Glenn," I called out. "Get that duck."
"What?"
I flashed the light at the duck that I was talking about. "Get that duck," I repeated. I watched as Glenn walked towards it, a confused look on his face. "A baby growing up in a prison could really use some toys."
Glenn only nodded before grabbing it and stuffing it into the handheld cart he had. I smiled once more before following him in, keeping close to the doorway since I was supposed to keep watch outside too. Glenn was the one who was supposed to check the back, but I wasn't going to just make him do all the work.
I hopped over the cashier counter, bending down to rummage in the shelves behind it. I grabbed a few water bottles that weren't open and the can of corn that sat besides them before standing back up and placing them on the counter. I turned around, flashing the light to the glass cabinets behind me. I opened one, coughing slightly as dust flew out from it.
I frowned as I was met with nothing but vodka and whiskey. What good would that do for anyone. But whatever. I grabbed one bottle, shutting the cabinet back and placing it on the counter for Glenn to put in the basket also. I'm sure a time will come when someone would want something to drink that wasn't water.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I waited for Glenn, wondering what was taking him so long. I peeked around the counter, finding the grocery baskets, and grabbing one. I tossed the items I grabbed into it before hopping back over the counter and making my way in the direction that Glenn went.
"Glenn?" I called out softly. I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat. "Glenn are you alright?" My hands were beginning to feel clammy. Why wasn't he answering?
I yelped as I bumped into someone, the hand with my flashlight flying up to hit whoever it was. "It's me, it's me," Glenn whisper-yelled as he held up his arm to block my hit.
I let out a sigh of relief, lowering my hand so the flashlight left light on the ground around us. "Jesus, Glenn you almost gave me a heart attack," I grumbled.
He only let out a small laugh, nodding his head in the direction to leave. "Sorry, it's still dark in here so I wasn't quite sure if we were totally alone."
I nodded, understanding what he meant. It was dark in here even with the door wide open and our flashlights. I turned around, heading to the door, with him following. I walked out the door first, stopping a few steps before the car and turning around to look at Glenn.
"I didn't find much but a few water bottles, a can or corn, and a bottle of whiskey," I told him. I did feel a bit disappointed that I couldn't find more though.
Glenn smiled, holding up the basket full of items he had. "We just hit the powdered formula jackpot," He reassured.
"Thank God."
"I also got beans, batteries, cocktail wieners, many mustards," He listed off as he rummaged through the items. "It's a straight shot back to the prison from here, probably make it in time for dinner."
I nodded, grabbing his basket and tossing the few items I had into as he grabbed the bolt cutters off the floor. I smiled, holding up the basket as I watched Glenn put away his weapons. "I'll be glad to get back home."
"And where is it you good people call home?"
I jumped as I spun around, my eyes widening as a man holding a gun came towards us. It didn't take me a second look to notice he had something else around his other arm with a sharp blade sticking out from it. I instantly dropped the basket, pulling my gun out from the back of my pants as Glenn did the same.
My aim stayed trained on the man, the gun feeling heavy in my hands as I held it up. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. Most survivors we saw these days were not at all friendly and I didn't want to know what this man coming towards us was capable of. I didn't want to get hurt and I damn sure don't want to see Glenn hurt. It would tear me apart.
"Merle?" Glenn questioned in disbelief.
The man, I'm guessing as Merle according to Glenn, laughed. He dropped his gun down to the floor as he held his hands up. "Wow!" He exclaimed. As he got closer I could notice the blood on his face and hands. He looked like he had just came out of a fight, something that didn't sit well with me.
I shook my head as he walked closer, my gut telling me to do nothing but grab Glenn and get the hell out of here. "You back the hell up right now!" I yelled, glaring at the man. I didn't trust him. Everything in me told me to get the hell out of dodge right now.
"Oh okay honey, Jesus."
I looked towards Glenn for a split second, moving slowly to the other side of the car. From the quick look that Glenn shot back my way, I could tell he didn't trust this man. It let me know I wasn't just acting paranoid. This man was dangerous seeing as how well aimed Glenn had his gun raised at him. "You made it."
"Can you tell me, is my brother alive?" Merle asked. "Huh?"
"Yeah." Glenn answered.
The man let out a laugh of relief, nodding his head with his hands still up. "Hey, can you take me to him and I'll call it even on everything that happened up there in Atlanta. No hard feelings, huh?"
Atlanta? Glenn did tell me about the time the had to leave some people behind before I met the rest of the group. I remember him saying they had to leave some racist asshole behind because he was trying to act like the top dog.
Glenn didn't answer, making me look at him as I could feel myself slowly began to panic. His gaze didn't meet mine but I followed it to see that he was looking at the mans weapon on his arm.
Merle laughed, holding it up higher. "You like that?" He asked. "Yeah. Well, I found myself a medical supply warehouse, fixed it up myself." He laughed again, only making me move my finger to the trigger of my gun. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"We'll tell Daryl you're here and he'll come out to meet you," Glenn offered, his voice sounding tense.
Daryl? Daryl was related to a man like this. I eyed the man again, my stomach churning at his appearance. He just looked like bad news. He looked evil and from the stories Glenn told me, he wasn't a good guy at all. How could Daryl have a brother like him?
"Hold on. Just hold up," Merle protested.
"Whoa, whoa."
I raised my gun higher, taking a stance as Merle came closer. "Hold up. Hold up," He repeated. "Hey, the fact that we found each other is a miracle. Come on now." I moved closer towards Glenn as the Merle took another step closer. "You can trust me."
Glenn shook his head, still holding his ground. "You can trust us. You stay here."
Merle laughed, his eyes darting to me for a split second before going back to Glenn. He lowered his arms, still chuckling like something was amusing. "No!" He screamed out as he threw a shirt at us and fired off a shot.
I screamed as I ducked, running back to the other side of the car. My heart hammered against my chest as I yelped out, being tackled down to the ground.
"Glenn!" I screamed out.
I was flipped over before freezing in my movements as a gun was pressed against my temple and an arm was tightened around my neck. My hands gripped at the metal thing on his arms, looking up in panic as Glenn came around with his gun.
Merle's arm tightened around my neck as Glenn held his gun pointed at him. "Hey, hey, hold up buddy. Hold up."
"Let go of her! Let go of her!" Glenn screamed, rage all over his face.
"Put that gun in the car right now," Merle ordered. "Put it in the car son." I whimpered, the gun Merle had to my head feeling like it was pushing into my skull. I didn't want Glenn to put the gun down, but I was terrified. And I think everyone knew it. Glenn tossed the gun into the car before holding his hands up, his eyes never leaving mine. "There you go, now we're gonna go for a little drive."
Glenn shook his head. "We're not going back to our camp."
"No, we're going somewhere else." He countered. "Get in the car Glenn, you're driving, move," Merle ordered.
"Don't" Glenn begged. "Okay."
I whimpered as the gun was pressed harder into my temple. Glenn back away, rushing to the drivers side of the car. Yelping out in pain, I was yanked up to my feet. "Get up! That's it."
I was pushed into the back seat, Merle taking the spot right next to me and holding the gun right back against my head. I looked into the rear view mirror, tears threatening to spill as Glenn started up the car and drove out the parking lot. And yet, I knew things were going to get so much worse.