𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲

𝗗𝗔𝗪𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗘. The group had buried the body's and burned the corpses. Losing people was something that every person is prepared for the moment they come into this world.

It's inevitable.

But this isn't how it was supposed to work. Your meant to live your life to the fullest then die. It's the life cycle. Now it's all bullshit. You survive, you don't get to live anymore. Nothing and no one is safe anymore. Only them and the dead.

Jim; one of their own, had been bit.

Why did life fucking suck? That was Hallie Walsh's question to whatever higher being that was up there looking down in them with its pity laugh. She felt sympathy to the lives that were lost last night, and sympathy to the kin that were left to deal with lifetime of pain—how ever long that may be.

Hallie was snapped out of her thoughts when a hand was pressed onto her shoulder lightly. "Hey kid, you alright?" Rick. It was just Rick.

Nodding, Hallie swallowed "mhm" she mustered up as she stood up brushing her pants off.
"You can talk to me you know? I may be old but my ears still work fine" Rick said with a soft smile on his face, tapping his ear.

"I know, rick. Thank you"

"C'mon,Halls' " Rick said as he patted her shoulder, the two making their way over to Lori and Shane.

"I guess I'll just add it to the list of habits that I'm breaking whether I like it or not" Shane said, a calm aggression underlined his tone.

"What habits?" Rick asked making himself and the blonde known.

"Just talking about my need for a plan man. So what's it? Are we leaving or not? Maybe y'all just want to stay here, we can hang some more tin cans" Shane changed the subject quickly, causing Hallie to raise her eyebrow.

"We can't stay here. We both know that" Rick said as he looked Shane in the eye.

"I was just telling Shane I think we should trust your gut" Lori inputted, backing up Shane's lie.

"Let's go do our sweep. Pack up your things, sweetheart" Shane said, patting Hallie on the shoulder.

"Somethings different between them" Hallie whispered as she stood next to Lori.

"That's not something you should be worrying about, Hallie" The older woman smiled softly.

Hallie opened her mouth, going to say something before quickly shutting it. "What is it, honey?" Lori asked, she looked worried as Hallie never had a problem expressing herself or anything she had wanted to say.

Gulping, Hallie looked at the ground slowly looking at Lori, "do you think my moms alive?" She broke out. Her voice was quiet, as if talking about Jannette was a sin.

Sighing Lori brought hallie into a hug, the girl resting her head on her shoulder.  "What ever happened to her doesn't matter, I know she's your mother but your safe. We all are and that's what matters right now. I'm sorry if it seems harsh, sweetie but what matters most it that you are safe"

"I still don't know why she left... were we not good enough? Did she not love us enough" Hallie questioned as her eyes glossed over slightly, refusing to let any tears out.

Bewildered Lori pulled away from the embrace, taking Hallie's face softly into her hands, "hey, don't you ever think you are any less than that woman. You are enough, you will always be enough. You hear me, Honey?"

"Thank you Lori" Hallie smiled softly.

"What?" She asked softly.

"For being there when my mother couldn't"

It was loris turn to smile now, once again bring Hallie into a tight hug.

—

Shane cleared his throat as he spoke up "I've been, uh... I've been thinking about Rick's plan. Now look, there are no... There are no guarantees either way. I'll be the first one to admit that. I've known this man a long time. I trust his instincts" he paused before continuing.

"I say the most important thing here is we need to stay together. So those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning" Shane finished.

Okay?

Roman was surprised when the woman approached him. From what he'd seen she kept to herself, similar to Daryl. "Hey kid" Abby greeted.

"Em, hi?" Roman replied, scratching his neck.

"Your riding in the RV' when we leave? Okay, okay"  Abby informed the rather distressed looking boy before walking away.

—

"Everybody listen up. Those of you with C.B.s, we're gonna be on channel 40. Let's keep the chatter down, okay? Now you got a problem, don't have a C.B., can't get a signal or anything at all, you're gonna hit your horn one time. That'll stop the caravan. Any questions?" Shane announced, Hallie stood by Roman with a solemn smile on her face.

"We're, uh... We're... we're not going" morales announced.

"We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with our people" Miranda added on.

"You go on your own, you won't have anyone to watch your back" Shane reminded the man.

"We'll take the chance. I got to do what's best for my family" Morales insisted.

"You sure?" Rick asked.

"We talked about it. We're sure" The man finished.

"All right. Shane"

"Yeah, all right"

"357?" Rick asked

"Yeah" Shane said as Rick handed Morales a gun and Shane handed him the ammo.

"The box is half full" Shane said.

Thank you all... For everything" Miranda cried great fully, Lori bringing the woman into a hug. The rest of the group following saying their goodbyes. Hallie didn't know the family well, she had very few interactions with them but they became apart of the family they brought together. This is most likely the last time she'd ever see them.

"Channel forty if you change your minds" rick reminded.

As the family walked away into their car, Shane spoke up "what makes you think their odds are any better than ours? Come on let's go"

And with that everyone loaded up and drove away from the quarry. She'd miss it.

—

Hallie was passed out, her head was on Romans shoulder as he looked out the window. Shane payed no mind to the two, he understood that she needed a friend.

When the RV stopped Roman lightly shook Hallie, the girl groaning as he did. People gathering outside the vehicle.

Jim's groans could be heard from behind them, Jacqui scurried passed them with a worried look on her face returning with rick in toll.

"Do you ever think about what would happen to us if we got bit?" Roman asked the girl.

"Yeah, I think I'd rather die that get bit..." Hallie answered truthfully, before the world ended if asked she'd say that being eaten alive was her worst fear. Going through the agony of being ripped apart bit by bit terrified her. Now it was all too real.

"I'd want someone to put a bullet in my head" Roman blanked, a dark look took over the normally cheery expression.

"I wouldn't let that happen Roman. Your officially my best friend, that means your not allowed to die" Hallie said, turning the conversation into a more lighthearted one.

A smile came onto his face before he slung his arm around the girl bringing her into a side hug, Hallie immediately letting out a distasteful sound pushing him away.

"You stink" she laughed, on offended look took over his expression before he playfully pushed the girl, the pair giggling away to themselves. Immediately stopping as a hobbling Jim stopped beside them, Rick and Jacqui supporting him.

"It's nice to hear the kids laughing again, don't let the world taint that" Jim smiled painfully at the two, before he shuffled out of the RV.

"Are you okay?" Roman asked Hallie noticing she ad gone quiet.

"Yeah, it just sucks. We're so close" She admitted.

"Yeah. I know" Roman whispered.

—

"Keep it together. Come on" Shane instructed, as he held tightly onto Hallie's arm.

"We're almost there baby,Almost there" Lori reassures Carl.

"Nothing?" Shane asks as they come up to the closed shutters.

"There's nobody there" T-dog said, as he held up his gun.

"Then why are the shutters down?" Rick yelled quietly, trying not to attract any walkers.

"Walkers!" Daryls yells.

"Dad c'mon" Hallie tugged on Shane's sleeve.

"Baby, Cmon" Lori insists.

"You led us into a graveyard!" Daryl grunts angrily.

"He made a call!" Shane defended.

"It was the wrong damn call!" Daryl fired back.

"Guys we gotta' go, we're basically a full course meal out here" Roman spoke out as he looked around at the walkers that seemed to appear out of thin air.

"Do you hear me? No blame" shane spoke.

"Where are we gonna go?" Jacqui asked.

"Fort benning. Rick.... Still an option" Shane insisted.

"On what? No food, no fuel. That's a hundred miles" Andrea spoke up.

"Hundred and twenty five. I checked the map" Glenn added.

"Dude, you aren't helping" Hallie said.

"My bad"

"Forget fort benning, we need answer tonight, now" Lori interrupted.

"Come on let's go, we'll thing of something" Shane assured.

"The camera it moved" rick said.

"Your imagining it" Shane replied.

"It moved, it moved" rick insisted, a deranged look in his eyes.

"Rick it's dead, man. It's an automated device. It's gears okay? They're just winding down, come on" Shane attempted to get rick to move.

When rick didn't move Shane went up to him "Man, just listen to me. Look around this place. It's dead, okay? It's dead. You need to let it go, Rick"

"Dad" Hallie spoke up noticing the walkers drew closer.

Stepping forward Rick slammed his hand against the shutters, "I know your in there. I know you can hear me!"

Shane attempted to drag him away but Rick wouldn't budge, continuing to bang on the metal causing it to rattle.

"Everybody back to the cars now!" Shane ordered.

"Please we're desperate. We have women and children, no food and hardly any gas" Rick pleaded.

Roman had drawn closer to Hallie, as if he was protecting her from the dangers around them.

"Rick there's nobody there" Lori sighed.

"We have nowhere else to go!" He said again.

"Cmon buddy, let's go. Let's go" Shane said as he finally got Rick away from the shutters.

"Please help us. Your killing us!Your killing us!Your killing us!" He yelled over an over again.

Giving up Rick calmed down slightly the group quickly heading for the cars, the sound of the shutters opening stopping them, a blinding light bleeding out.

They were safe.

𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀

This took like three days to write and I hate it.
It's so messy and boring but idc

Anyways Lori and Hallie bonding gives me sm happiness, Lori basically taking in Hallie as her own when Jannette left was something that Hallie has always appreciated and to see that Lori still cares for her even though the world went to shit is such a crucial point for her.

Okay bye