CHAPTER 7.

Echo hurried down the stairs and to the front door, where Hannah and Myles stood. The screen door flung open and she accompanied Hannah and Myles. Breanne ran onto the porch, returning from the front tree she climbed.

"Mom, who are they?" Breanne questioned.

"Sweet-heart, go inside." Hannah directed Breanne.

"But I want to stay with you, in case anything-" Breanne was cut off short by her mother.

"Now." Hannah firmly said, shutting down her protest.

Breanne grumbled and returned to the house as ordered. The screen door flapped, the moment she closed the door. Echo licked her lips and stared as they hopped the fence, close to the driveway.

"Are these the folks you met up with?" Myles questioned, keeping his focus on the strangers that roamed their yard.

Hannah furrowed her brows, confused about what Myles was saying. Hannah had no knowledge Echo met a couple of people in the woods. She was more upset than concerned at this point, that Echo didn't even speak a word to her, about what happened out there.

"Only the one with the crossbow on his back and the leader." she pointed over to Rick.

"That's far enough," Echo called out to the large group of people. The group stopped and Rick approached the steps. She chose to keep the distance between Echo and himself. 

Echo shook her head, "Thought I told ya, to stay away from here."

"Plans happen to change, I didn't have much of a choice."

"Nope, I warned you, Rick. Now I'll have to ask your people to turn around." Echo protectively suggested. 

Hannah widened her eyes and her jaw dropped, "Echo! You cannot decide that. What the hell is wrong with you?" Hannah staggered.

Echo exhaled through her nostrils and turned to Hannah, "We don't know these people. We don't know if they are harmful." Echo objected.

"Maybe, but sending them back without shelter or anything is: inhuman." Hannah snapped.

Echo paused and looked back at Rick. He returned to his group and spoke to a woman with long, dark, chocolate-coloured, hair. She noticed the woman was pregnant, just like Hannah. At that moment she placed herself in Rick's shoes.

She pictured in her mind: her family and her seeking shelter and help. Then someone says go away, especially to someone who is pregnant. Her gaze traced over the group, old and young. She licked her lips and felt her chest swell. 

She feared what she was turning into. 

She probably looked like a careless and self-centred woman to these people. This was why she needed to stay a particularly fair distance away from them, if she agrees they can stay.

Myles placed an arm around her shoulders, "Hannah is right. Remember your code, Echo. Serve and protect. Don't lose it because the world is different now." Myles whispered pure wisdom into her ear.

Though this made her feel even worse for being so rude to them. Maybe it was time to make things right.

"Echo, the woman over there is: pregnant. We cannot send her away or any of them." Hannah pointed out the same woman Echo noticed.

"Time to make things right," Echo mumbled, leaving Myles and Hannah's side.

She approached the group, quietly keeping her composure. The group's eyes locked on her. 

"Rick." Echo started.

Rick turned away from the group and approached her.

"I apologize if I lied to you. I was only trying to"

"Protect your family. I get that." Rick finished her sentence. Echo smiled and gave him a nod, she was glad he understood. But the lie was the worst part of the situation.

"We came here scavenging as a group, then we ran into you. I didn't think you were with people of your own." Rick confessed, keeping minim eye contact.

"I pulled them out of the city when everything went to shit. My brother and my niece were stuck in their neighbourhood when the death started to rise. You gotta understand, Rick. I was on the streets when hell broke out, fighting and saving people. And for that, it changed me..."

"I understand, you're only doing what's right for you and your family. As a group, we respect that, and we're leaving." Rick answered Echo.

"Hold your horses, Rick. I didn't dismiss you from this conversation. I wanted to return the favour, y'all can stay, as long as we can follow a couple of rules. With respect, is your wife pregnant?" Echo whispered the last part.

"She's four months," Rick replied.

"I can't send you all back. So, feel free to make yourselves at home." Echo turned her back on the group. Rick understood that it was a difficult decision to make. 

"Thank you." a female voice came from the group. Echo turned her head over her shoulder and smiled.

"Are you sure? I can't ask you to do that for us-" Rick was interrupted by Echo.

"Of course, I had to make things right. Besides we're stronger as a group. I am in your hospitality." Echo replied to the woman that was pregnant.

Echo turned her heel and returned back to the group. She held out her hand to the woman that was pregnant.

"My name is Echo. Yours?" Echo introduced herself.

"Lori, Lori Grimes. So, you're the women, Daryl and Rick found out in the woods?" Lori places her hands on her belt.

Echo briefly nodded, "Yes. How about we go inside and talk more? It's awkward as hell leaving y'all out on our driveway, talking and discussing." Echo admitted.

A small chuckle came from Lori's lips.

Rick turned his focus back to Lori, "You, Carl, Beth, Hershel, and Carol, should go with them inside. While Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, T-dog, and I, gather up the remaining vehicles." Rick instructed.

A young kid made his way through the back of the group and over to Rick. He wore a sheriff hat, had short brown hair, and had sun-kissed freckles. He was around the age of Breanne.

"Dad, I want to go with you." the young man pleaded.

"Carl, I need you to stay back at the house." Rick knelt down to his level, placing his hand over his son's shoulder.

Highly unnoticeable, Myles overheard the conversation between Carl and Rick, "I guess he can hold down the fort until you return." Myles commented.

Myles and Hannah introduced themselves as if it was a family reunion. Merely they were only strangers looking for help. And this was a start to surviving together. She chose this time to not isolate herself in her room, reading or hunting. But to quietly listen and be a part of the conversation.

"Rick, mind if I tag along? You could use the extra help." Echo offered.

"I don't see why not." the African American answered. She assumed his name was T-dog. Remembering each time Rick divided the group up, with either staying back here or going to collect the vehicles. Each time Rick listed their names he would look at each one of them.

Myles took his Machete off from his belt and handed it to her. 

"Come back, safe." Myles requested, letting go of his machete. The confidence and fear dragged on through his voice, hoping this wouldn't be the day when he loses her. That feeling was the most agitating feeling he had for the remaining years when she joined the armed forces.

"I will." Echo answered Myles.

"Alright, Rick. Lead the way." Echo rushed to the objective, hoping not to waste a second.

The group started to split in two, and a couple of them exchanged hugs and goodbyes. Myles gave a small smile and waved to her. A small, smile curled from her lips. She returned the favour and waved back. It was still mid-afternoon, and a warm autumn breeze passed through the golden fields of wheat. Echo was surprised that the fields lasted, though disappointment hit her when she realized it was close to winter in Georgia. Her fingertips brushed against the thin pieces of wheat.

She walked next to a Caucasian woman with short, brown hair, and a sharp jawline. She was accompanied by an Asian man. He was more of the quiet type. He wore a blue and white baseball cap, and a black, t-shirt. 

She felt a shiver crawl up her spine, she felt as if someone was burning holes through her back. It was a very unusual feeling, she wasn't sure if this was paranoia, or if it was the fact she was with a group of strangers. She turned her head over her shoulder and her eyes traced over the man who held a crossbow. He was reserved and independent, he stood towards the back.

It made Echo feel almost bad for him. It reminded her of her youth when she was that one child, who never was chosen in groups. But she loved working on projects herself. Accomplishing things by herself with no guidance was a feeling of glory.

"Didn't think we would find another person out here." the woman next to Echo started.

Echo smiled, "Neither did I. It's kinda nice to be around others." Echo started to engage in the conversation.

"Well, I am glad. Has it just been you and your family out here or has there been others?" the man with the ball cap questioned, thoroughly.

"It's only my niece, my brother, and my sister-in-law. I have no clue where my uncle or mother is now. But I hope never to see them." Echo mumbled, her voice being more disappointed than upset.

"Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to bring anything up." the Asian man apologized, guilt trailing in his voice. Echo knew he meant well, never meaning to hurt anyone.

"No, no, I am happy who I am with now. And that's what matters. I mean, I wish Abraham was still here. But who knows, maybe I might run into him someday, or not..." Echo swallowed thickly.

"If you mind me asking, who's Abraham?" the Asian questioned, respecting whether she wanted to tell them about him.

"Abraham was a Sargent, a good friend of mine. I miss him very much." Echo sighed.

"Anyways, were you out here since the beginning?" Echo changed the subject, she chose not to make the moment sour the road she took, a few seconds ago.

"My sister, my dad, and a few others were isolated away from the news; that the dead started to rise. An accident happens when a good friend of my dad's, Otis. He was hunting a buck, and the bullet went clean through and managed to hit Carl. Rick came with his son, draped in his arms, running like his life depended on it, over to the farm we lived on. Dad managed to patch him up, along with multiple blood transfusions. Then one day, the farm got run over by walkers. And we had no choice but to flee." the women sighed deeply.

Echo could tell the topic hit her hard. The place she spoke about told her; that she must have lived there close to her whole life.

"Walkers?" Echo studied the women's face, searching for any sign of if this was a joke.

"The dead, we call them: Walkers," she answered, simply. 

Walkers? That sounded a lot better than Myles calling them Creepers. It reminded her of a simple game of Minecraft on the Xbox, she would play with Breanne, during her seventh birthday.

But now things were different and that didn't sit right for Breanne. But thankfully she found something different to do, other than helping her mother out. But to read, draw, and write stories in a notebook she found; within the house.

Echo found her to be more creative, than athletic.

"So, what're your names?" Echo questioned, swapping from her thoughts and back to reality.

"I'm Maggie and this is Glenn." Maggie introduced herself and along the behalf of Glenn.

"I'll keep that in mind. I'm Echo, Echo Chambers." Echo smiled sweetly, almost as if she was comfortable talking to the two.

"You don't look like an Echo, I guessed you would have been more of a Rachel or Tiffany," Glenn admitted.

Echo scoffed, "Not the first time that has been said."

Maggie chuckled, "That's one way to put it."

Those couple of moments lasted a while. Almost too long, she felt as if things were almost back to normal. Before meeting the group, she felt almost isolated from society. Only a couple of interactions with her family, that was pretty much about it.

But that wasn't healthy, was it? She questioned herself.

The group reached the border of the forest. The group followed Rick through the thick woods, light sprawled through the leaves of the trees. Igniting the forest ground underneath them.

Rick held up a closed fist, as rustling came from a distance. Faint growls came from the distance. Echo slowly, approached Rick and followed him towards the noise. Ignoring the fact that he told them to stop as he goes to investigate. Rick motioned Echo to go around, while he goes the opposite way.

Was splitting up the best idea? Surely, it wasn't.

The group's weapons were raised, ready for whatever it was. Rick calmly, stepped over the large shrubs and thistle plants. His gaze traced a massive hole in the ground. He stepped back as the dirt underneath him started to slide into the hole.

Grasping onto the attention of the walkers. 

Echo clicked her tongue, "And I thought things were going to be fun." Echo announced, chuckling at her own joke.

The group followed her lead and went around the massive dug-out. There wasn't a way for the walkers to escape, it seemed almost as if; the hole was created for this specific reason.

Echo kept her guard up, scanning the distance for any threats, that could oppose the group.

It was just never-ending trees, and thick brush. But the sunlight began to get brighter and more vivid the closer they got to an open area. The open area had a narrow gravel road. Multiple walkers munched on something off in the distance. Knowing that they use to be Human-made her sick, yes there were cases of cannibalism. But how did they change form into something so grim, and emotional, so quickly? 

Echo wondered. She never got a chance to study; how they turn and how much time they have, when bitten. She knew the disease and bacteria were carried on through the dead's saliva and on their teeth. But the process was encrypted as it seemed.

Echo slid down from the hill's slope and onto the road. The bottom of her boots brushed against the gravel. Not much sound was made, the walkers continued to feast on a Human that was alive a couple of hours ago.

Her limbs shook, as she approached the three. Daryl and Rick followed the same path down and held their weapons out. Their pace matched hers, silently they took the walkers out.

Rick grabbed the walker by its collar and stabbed him at the back of its head. An arrow went through the second, on her left. She took out the remaining one in the middle.

The three were silent, Echo watched Daryl rip the arrow out from the walker. He wiped the arrow's tip on his pant leg and reloaded his crossbow. Echo examined the walkers they killed.

Their skin was dark and discoloured. Holes in their faces, and skin melted from the heat in Georgia or were possibly ripped out by a walker in the worst way... 

In silence, they continued down the gravel road, until they found the area where an RV, a couple of vehicles, and a motorbike sat. The vehicles remained untouched and close to an area that was unfinished. It looked like the borders of a stone home, with no roof, and barely any walls. A small fire pit sat in the middle, mildly smoking.

Echo sighed in relief when they found the vehicles. Earlier she held suspicions that it would of been stolen by other survivors. Maggie ran over to the small, teal-coloured, vehicle. Glenn on the other hand went over to the RV.

Echo slowly rounded the back of the RV and was caught off guard, when something else rounded the other side of the RV...

It wrapped its fingers around the collar of her shirt. The walker snapped its jaws in the air as she forced it back. She grunted and pushed the walker back, trying to get enough space between her and the walker. To align her blade with the flesh of its head.

The strength of the walker was equal to a Human's. She held it by its shoulder and stomped on its knee, and decapitated its head within seconds. Her heart began to race when droplets of blood were on her face. That moment brought her back to something, she wished she would have let go a long time ago.

She shook that feeling away when someone's fingertips grazed and ghosted her arm. She swung around and pointed the blade at whoever touched her.

Beads of sweat dripped from her hair, her icy eyes stared at Daryl. He lowered his crossbow, learning that she took care of the danger.

The two stood in silence. Echo took a seat at the back of the RV's bumper and took a couple of minutes to process what happened. She raked her hands through her hair and counted to ten.

Daryl stared at the walker and left her be with her thoughts, choosing not to interfere. Not many things impressed Daryl Dixon. But decapitating a walker with an almost dull machete, seemed to impress him. She had guts. And many knew that if the walker wasn't rotting; on the brink of decaying into fertilizer, it would have been an impossible task with one swing.

Echo jumped onto her feet and chose to isolate herself from the group, for a couple of moments.

Those moments she realized the group waited for her. The vehicles started to pull out, a small rumble came next to her. 

"Echo! Go with Daryl." Rick called out from the truck he drove.

She chewed her lip, debating whether this was a good idea or not. She valued other people's space and mostly her own. Daryl awkwardly sat on his motorbike, ignoring her presence. He surely despised the idea, but how long would it last?

Not long, that was for sure.

She placed the machete in its sheath.

Echo hopped onto the back of his bike and slid her arms around his gut. The weight of the bike pressed down, momentary. Embarrassment washed over her cheeks, hoping this would end pretty soon. His muscles tensed at her touch. She looked over her shoulder when she heard a choir of awful, ear-drum ripping, growls as it seemed. There were close to a hundred walkers and they hardly noticed. They stood almost 20 feet away

He ascended the gas. Her chest was tight and Daryl's muscles seemed to relax when his attention was focused on the road. The scenery of the same ditch they went through and the walkers that were crushed passed by. Daryl leaned a bit to the left, startling her, and she chose to remain still. She couldn't help but think of the look on Myles's face. If he saw the embarrassed expression on her face, he would quietly be teasing her while he had the chance.

She was eager to get back to her room and clean her guns. It was quite an obsession, she cleaned it each morning and evening. Echo took note of how close the group stayed the distance from her home.

It wasn't that far, she left the blame to herself for; threatening the group. Now she had to earn their trust and place in this group. The biggest thing she worried about at the moment was the army of walkers. She wasn't sure if the walkers would turn around in the direction they followed, or whether they would have to handle them.

A/note: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for reading and voting. I appreciate you all reading, I am very excited to continue on with the story. There is a lot of knot twisting and my readers might be on the edges of their seats in the next chapter. I love how I've written this story so far. Exploring Echo's trauma and her opening up a bit more. Of course, we'll see more interactions with her and Daryl, along with how she deals with specific things. Stay tuned, and thank you so much for the support and patience.