[Rewritten: 3/16/2021]

Chapter 6 - Squabbling

"We walk from here." Glenn announced, pulling the van to stop.

By the time the door open they were already sprinting from the van towards the city.

"Please, let this be in and out." I whispered to myself.

This is going to be a mess. I can feel it.

"Merle or the guns first?" Rick asked.
"We ain't talking about this. Merle!" Daryl yelled.
"We are. It's your call."

"Merle's closest," Glenn answered.
"The guns would mean doubling back, right?" I asked.
"Right," Glenn answered. "This is the smartest move."

After a few turns and alleyways we ended in a rundown department store.

We headed up the stairs and the chains were still on the door.

"That's a good sign." I stated.

The padlock is cut, and Daryl throws the door open with a bang.

Talk about discreet.

"It's empty." I whisper.

Daryl found this out quickly. Instead of his brother was a puddle of blood and in the puddle of blood, a hand.

Daryl pulled his crossbow on T-dog.

"Woah, hey." T-dog yelled, raising his hands.

Rick pulled on Daryl.

"I do not care if every walker in the city hears." Rick threatens.
"Well I do," I announced, stepping in front of his gun. "Don't be stupid."

Rick lowered his revolver and Daryl lowered his crossbow.

"I don't need no woman to protect me." Daryl harshly said.
"I wasn't protecting you, hick. I did what was necessary." I stated, pacing away.

Daryl ended up placing the severed hand into Glenn's bag, much to Glenn's amusement.

"I guess the saw blade was too dull for the handcuffs. Ain't that a bitch." Daryl said, as he walked back and forth.

There was barely any blood.

"Must have used a tourniquet." Daryl said to no one.

He led us down some stairs.

"Merle? You down here?" Daryl yelled.

No answer.

Instead, we are greeted by a lonely walker and two corpses. The walker quickly falls to the ground to join the others.

"Had enough to take out these two sumbitches. One handed." Daryl spouts.
"No matter how tough he is, any man can pass out from blood loss." Rick counters.

Daryl ignores him, calling for Merle.

"Can you keep it down," I snapped. "Or does that hick brain of yours only run on two braincells?"

"Keep talking." he threatened.

"Oh I plan on it," I retorted, stepping closer to him. "I loathe men like you. Not having sense God gave a goose."
"Yeah, and I detest broads that can't shut their mouths." He stepped closer.

I glared up at him. Like I'm going to back down, never.

"Enough you two." Rick interjects.

He breaks eye contact with a grunt and walks towards another room.

It was a kitchen. Inside a burner was left on, flames flooding out of it. Beside laid a belt and an old-fashioned iron.

"What's the burned stuff?" asked Glenn, holding up the iron.
"Skin," answered Rick. "He must have cauterized it."

Glenn dropped the iron down shortly after that answer, disgust on his face.

We come to realize Merle broke out of here.

"He's out there on his own, stupid." I said to myself.

"I'm gonna go get him."

Rick tried to stop him, but it ended in a compromise.

Glenn draws out a map of the surrounding streets on the ground, using random things to mark the tank and gun.

Glenn explains it in great detail. The tank is five blocks from is, the bag of guns was three. The alley that Glenn dragged Rick into that's where Daryl and I go.

"Why me?" Daryl asked.
"Your crossbow is quieter than the gun." He answered.

"Why her?" Daryl asked again.
"She's quick on her feet and it's best to have someone to watch your back." Glenn answered again.
"I don't need anybody to watch my back!" he snapped.
"Like hell, your dumbass will get us killed." I scoffed, crossing my arms.
"You know what!?"

"Hey!" Glenn yelled.

"Why are we elsewhere?" Rick asked, changing the subject.

"In case I'm not able to come back the same way. Walkers might cut me off, anything." Glenn answered.

Glenn, Daryl, and I crawled down the ladder to an alley way. While Rick and T-dog headed down the other alley.

"You've got some balls for a Chinaman." Daryl quips.
"I'm Korean." Glenn sighs.
"Whatever."

I'm sure that's not the first time this has happened.

Glenn opens the gate and runs down the street.

Nearby walkers notice him and start to saunter over.

I leaned by the gate; knife ready if any made a move over here.

Daryl was crouched behind me near the dumpster.

"Whoa, don't shoot me!" a voice yelled.

I whipped around to see Daryl aiming his crossbow at some boy.

"I'm looking for my brother. He's hurt bad, you seen him?" Daryl sharply asked him.
"Ayúdame!" the boy yelled.
"Shut him up before he draws every walker in the area!" I snapped.
"Answer me!" Daryl yells, ignoring me.
"Ayúdame! Ayúdame!" the boys voice grew louder.
"Shut him up!" I seethed.
"Shut up!" Daryl threatened, grabbing his throat.

He kept trying to scream and Daryl threw him to the ground, covering his mouth.

"Shut up!" I snapped.

Two guys ran from the opposite end of the alley, kicking Daryl over.

"For the love of—" I spat.

I grabbed the guy's arm mid-swing as he tried to bring the baseball bat down on Daryl.

"Get off of him!" I yelled, forcing a knife to the guy's throat.

Out of nowhere, Glenn came back. A confused look was plastered to his face as he clutched the bag.

"That's it! Take it, Vato! That's the bag!" yelled the man with my knife to his throat.

The man brought the baseball bat back against my stomach, causing me to fall to my knees.

The man lunged at Glenn punching him down.

I hacked from what felt like forever, clutching my stomach before I caught my breath.

They held Glenn in a head lock as they wrestled to get the guns off him.

"Get off him!" I yelled.

I lurched at the man, trying to pull his arms off of Glenn.

He loosened his grip on Glenn, but quickly tightened, sending an elbow back into my face.

"Fuck," I cursed, clutching my nose. "Not my nose again."

The other man grabbed my collar, hitting me in the face again, knocking me down.

My face hit the pavement. I could feel the rocks sinking into my face before he grabbed me back.

"Glenn!" I yelled, feeling my arms get pinned.

The man pinning me lurched forward with a scream but tightened my arm against my back.

"Let go!" I screamed.

I could feel them pulling me towards their car.

"Let's go, man!" the one snapped.

"Daryl!" Glenn yelled.

"God damn it, let go!" I continued to struggle.

But soon my head was stuffed down into the car.

[Word Count: 1,153]