Chapter 7:

I was starting to feel bad about what I said to Michael. After he kissed my cheek last night, I felt a little bad about what I said. He was just depressed. And so was I.
Michael was very quiet the next day. He wouldn't speak to anyone and he only made one announcement, which was we'd be staying here for one more night. He then left and nobody had seen or heard from him in about two hours.
I was talking to Geoff when Millie came over to me and started talking to me. She was really adorable and I smiled whenever she tugged at my shirt to get my attention.
"Gavin, do you know how to shoot a gun?" Millie asked me. I smiled and nodded. I watched at her eyes lit up.
"Can you show me how?" She asked excitedly. Geoff quickly shook his head.
"Millie, you're too young to be learning how to do that," Geoff told her. I shook my head and gave him a confused look.
"I was about her age when I first shot my first gun. And besides, this is a whole different world. She should learn self defense," I told him. Geoff was uncertain but he eventually gave in.
So now, I stood outside the barn with Millie. Geoff stood a little way from us, watching as I taught her how to shoot it.
I placed my hands over her ears as she aimed the gun at the can I had found. She missed the first time, but the second time she hit it.
"Great job, Millie! You're already doing better than me," I told her. She giggled and jumped around a little as I set the can back up.
We played around with that a little. I only let her shoot a few times after that, since we only had so much ammo. She was a little disappointed but she was happy that she learned.
I wandered around the barn a little. I looked out at the forest that was a ways in the distance. Maybe Michael went there. I wondered if there was a stream or river out there. I really wanted to wash up a bit. I was filthy. Dirt clung to me and sweat dripped down my face. My hair was also caked his dirt and sweat and I figured I might as well go and see if there was anything out there.
I checked my ammo and made sure it was full. I strapped a knife to my wrist and began making my way to the forest.
The forest was a little dark, but the sun still peeked through the never ending branches and offered some sort of light to the ground. I walked smoothly over sticks and leaves, careful not to make too much noise. I heard the birds calling and little bugs flying around. It reminded me of when I was little and when my brother and I used to go into the forest and play in the creek.
Speaking of a creek, I found one. I smiled and bent down, scooping up a handful of water and splashing it on myself. The coolness was nice against my hot skin and I relinquished the feeling. I scooped up some more water and scrubbed at my arms, watching the dirt run down my arm. I took off my shirt and scrubbed at my chest, trying to get the sweat that I had there off. I eventually dunked my head in a deeper part of the creek and scrubbed at my hair, hoping I was getting the dirt and sweat off it.
I pulled my head out of the creek and wrung out my hair. I looked at my reflection in the creek, being satisfied with my cleaner self. I pulled my shirt back on and started combing my hair out with my fingers.
I heard a stick snap. I reached for my knife, and gripped it. I heard another stick snap and I jumped up, spinning around.
There was a man with a crossbow in his hands. I held up my knife and remembered my gun tucked in my pants. I used my other hand to grip it.
"Who are you?" The man growled at me. He tightened his grip on his crossbow and I gulped.
"Doesn't matter. I was on my way anyway," I told him. He shook his head and walked closer to me.
"I don't think so," He muttered at me.
I got a crazy idea. I'd probably die but it might work. Quicker than I've ever moved, I shoved my knife into his arm and pulled it out. He screamed out in pain and I dashed away. I heard an arrow whiz past my head but I continued to run faster than I ever have.
I heard footsteps running after me. I still ran away, hoping I'd get back to the barn soon. I saw the barn peeking through the trees and I felt my heart lift with hope.
Suddenly, I tripped. I screamed out at the pain that erupted in my ankle. The man caught up to me and pointed his crossbow at my head.
"You think you can get away with stabbing me and running. Think again, fucker!" He screamed at me. I winced as I waited for the arrow to go through my head.
It never came. I opened my eyes and saw Michael with his pistol against his head.
"Drop the crossbow," Michael growled. The man obeyed and Michael picked it up, still with his gun against his head.
"Put your hands up," Michael growled at him. He obeyed once again.
Michael began searching his pockets. He pulled off his backpack and rummaged about in it, taking things like ammo and food. He shoved the backpack back to the man and shoved the things he stole into his pocket.
"Now, you listen to me. Stay away from here. If you threaten him, or another one of my people, you will have your brains blown out, you hear?" Michael asked him. I saw him nod and Michael shoved him away from him. The man picked up his crossbow and ran away.
Michael turned to me and knelt down beside me.
"You okay?" He asked me. I nodded and started to stand up.
I collapsed back down again the moment I put weight on my hurt ankle. Michael noticed this and pulled up my pant leg to show my already swelling ankle.
"You probably sprained it. Come on, I'll help you walk back," Michael said. He gripped my arms and hauled my up. He wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me slightly. I wrapped mine around his shoulders and limped as we walked back to the barn.

I laid on my sleeping area while Michael pressed an ice pack he'd found in the freezer in the house on my ankle. Some people had gathered around me to see what was going on. Michael shooed them off after they got in his way so now it was just Michael and I in the barn together.
"Second time you've saved me," I muttered. Michael smiled a little and nodded.
"I guess so, huh," He smiled.
I nodded and let him do his work with my ankle. His hands were surprisingly soft and gentle. He would lift the ice pack a little and check the swelling every once in a while. He would be extremely careful around the affected area and I was grateful for that.
After a half an hour of icing my ankle, Geoff and Ryan walked in.
"Michael, we've spotted a group of walkers coming this way. What do you want us to do?" Ryan asked. Michael gulped and thought for a moment.
"How big?" He asked.
Geoff looked down and sighed.
"Big," He answered.
I watched Michael's expression change. He looked down and was lost in deep thought. I looked at him curiously, waiting for him to say his answer.
It never came.
"Michael, we need an answer now," Ryan pressed. He shook his head slowly.
"I don't... I don't know," Michael muttered.
I got an idea. I reached for my knife and pulled it out of my pocket. It was still shiny and Michael looked at me expectantly.
"Anyone got any bait?"
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Hehe, next chapter was fun to wright. Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying. As you can tell, I'm kinda basing some of the events in this on the events that happened in The Walking Dead. Well, I hope you guys like this story. It would mean a lot if you would tell me how I'm doing. Every time I see a new comment, my heart does a little skip. Anyway, thank you for sticking around and I hope you enjoyed!