The night Andrea left, we were all sitting around the table room. I was sitting on a table with Sophia, Carl and Beth. On the other table was Rick, Hershel and my dad. Everyone else was sitting in various other places around the room.

"So, what do you want to do?" I heard my dad ask Rick. In the silent room, their quiet conversation was public.

"We match it. I'm going on a run." Rick responded.

"Want me to come with?" Dad asked.

"No, I want you to keep an eye on your brother. I trust you'll keep him in line. I'm glad you're back, really... But if he causes a problem, it's on you." Rick stated.

Dad nodded. "I got him."

"I'll take Michonne." Rick said.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Dad questioned.

"I'll find out." Rick replied. "And Carl. He's ready."

"You know where you can find guns and ammo?" Hershel asked.

"I have a good idea on where some would be." Rick nodded.

"I don't mean to interrupt." I said to Rick. "But I might know where some guns are too. Ammo as well, I bet."

"Where?" Dad questioned.

"You remember Carlos? He was the leader of The Vipers. I remember there was this gang meeting over at his place one day. I went too because mama made me. I snuck off when everyone was getting a little too drunk and a little too high. I saw guns in his basement. More than I could count. Boxes of ammo too. Once our town went bad, mum locked us in our house, Carlos locked himself in his house. Through my window I could see his house, I spent a lot of time in my room, and I never saw him leave. I did hear a gunshot come from his house one day though. Only one. He lived alone. I think he killed himself, the walkers tried to get in but gave up when one of my other neighbours tried to leave. Ate them instead. Everything should still be in his house." I explained.

Rick nodded and a small smile twitched onto his face. "I'll take Michonne and Carl. Ellie, you'll go with Daryl and Merle."

Dad smiled at Rick subtly. "Why those two?" I asked, dad's smile faltered as he looked down to the table.

"Because, it'll be good for you to spend some time with your father and Daryl's responsible for Merle." Rick replied. "Also, Daryl knows where your old neighbourhood is. You don't even know what state we're in."

I sighed. "Yea, that's a good point."

Dad was driving, Merle in passenger and I was in the back. It was very awkward. "How'd you get the scar, kid?" Merle broke the silence.

I looked up to him. "What?"

"The scar on your face. That wasn't there last time I saw ya." Merle stated.

I nodded with a sigh. "My mama."

"Told you the Spanish ones got anger issues." Merle said to my dad.

"Shut up, man." Dad shook his head.

"Your kid's got a permanent scar on her face and you're still defending that bitch?" Merle raised his eyebrows.

"I'm defending my daughter's race, not Isabella. Stop being so racist, man. None of that matters, the world ended." Dad reminded him.

"You thought race mattered before the world ended?" I questioned.

"No, babe. That's not what I meant." Dad sighed, shaking his head.

Merle chuckled. "Oh, Ellie. The stories I could tell you about your old man."

Dad glanced at Merle but didn't say anything, I stayed silent and went back to looking at my nails whereas Merle still held that shit eating grin on his face.

We parked a mile up the street from where my house was. We didn't want to risk attracting walkers. Merle and my dad walked pretty quickly so I was nearly running to keep up with them. We couldn't shoot a gun because we needed all the ammo we could get, so Sophia leant me her machete. I wasn't as good with the machete as she was, but I was good enough.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Merle questioned. "I mean, it's not like you were here a whole lot."

"Yes, I know where my daughter lived for nine years of her life." My dad huffed.

"You sure?" Uncle Merle teased.

"Will you be quiet? We don't actually know if this herd's moved out." I reminded him. "And we need a goldmine to beat cotton eye Joe."

Uncle Merle laughed. "Look at you talking back. Must've gotten that from me. Certainly, wasn't from your old man."

"What part of being quiet do you not understand? Would like me to simplify it for you? Shut up." I complained. 

"Daryl, why didn't you bring her round? She's a firecracker. I like her." Merle smiled.

"We're here." Dad ignored his question. We were standing outside my old house. I stared up at it. I small smile twitched onto my lips. I went through unspeakable pain and trauma in that house, but it was still my home. "Baby, what house is it?" Dad questioned.

"Oh, right." I shook my head out of the trans. "This one." I said, walking over to the house directly opposite. I leaned down and got the key from under the doormat. "Never was a big one for security. Had enough guns that he didn't need to be." I pointed out, pushing open the now unlocked door.

"Any freaks in here?" Merle yelled loudly into the house.

We waited a few seconds, but nothing came. "Guess it's clear." Dad stated.

"What gave you that impression?" I asked sarcastically.

"Hey, watch your attitude, would you?" Dad furrowed his eyebrows.

"You can't tell her off when she's exactly how you were when you were younger." Merle slapped my dad on the back. Dad rolled his eyes, but I just smirked. We walked over to the basement, and I opened the door, walking down the creaky stairs. 

Dad passed me a torch. "Thanks." I said quietly before flickering it on. Flashing it around, I noticed that it had been cleared out, not a single gun or a single bullet in sight. "Shit, where is it all?"

"You sure it was here?" Dad questioned.

"Positive." I responded. That's when I saw a note on an empty table, so I walked over and read it out loud. "Dear, surviving member of The Vipers. I'm glad you remembered where my stash is and I hope it helps you survive. However, only a member of The Vipers is allowed my stash, not some random gringo breaking in. If you are a member of The Vipers, you'll know where I would've hidden it. Good luck, and I hope you survive the apocalypse. It was nice knowing you, see you in Hell. Signed, your leader, Carlos." I read out with a sigh before scrunching the letter up and chucking it onto the ground. "Damnit."

"Your mama was a member of The Vipers. You were a member by association. Do you know where the stash is?" Merle questioned.

"I was a member by association like you said but I was never jumped in, so I don't know all their secrets." I said, jumping up to sit on the table.

"Don't worry, princess. It ain't your fault." Dad said with a small smile.

"We can't go back empty handed. Just let me think." I muttered, leaning forward, putting my elbows on my knees and resting my head in my hands. "Oh my god." I realised, jumping up and going over to the bookshelf in the corner of the room.

"What is it?" Uncle Merle asked.

"You ever seen a secret tunnel?" I smiled.

"Secret tunnel?" Dad questioned as I was chucking all the books, trying to find the lever.

"The original Vipers built the tunnels back in nineteen sixty-nine. The coppers used to actually care about this part of town back then, so they were constantly being caught for drugs. They built tunnels that connects three places. The Vipers bar, the leader's house and a laundromat that was a cover for a meth lab." I explained. "Hah." I cheered as I pulled the right back and the bookshelf wedged a bit before I pulled it all the way open. As soon as I did, a walker ran out that I quickly sliced the head of. "Might be a few walkers in here though, so we'll have to be careful."

"This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. And I once saw this lady who had rhinestone on her tits and-" Dad cut Uncle Merle off before he could say anything else.

"Can we not talk about that in front of my nine-year-old? Please?" Dad requested with an annoyed glance.

"What? She could take notes." Merle laughed.

"Dude!" Dad yelled and hit the back of his head. 

Merle shoved my dad back. "Do not put your hands on me!"

Two more walkers came from the tunnel. "Stop yelling, both of you." I ordered, slicing one of the walker's heads as dad shot an arrow through the second. I sighed happily as they both silenced. "Thank you. Now, secret tunnel anyone?"