No Rest For the Wicked ~ A Walking Dead Fan Fiction

Chapter 23- Black Diamond

Chapter 23

Black Diamond

First Person~ Kate

I watched Glenn look to Maggie. It was morning and the whole crew was sitting around the main area eating breakfast. It was abnormally quiet and I could hear Andrea chewing a carrot on the other side of the fire. Maggie shook her head warningly at Glenn. My offer was still out there to be the one to tell but he refused. He looked down at his hands before glancing up at Dale and I. We both shook yes, silently encouraging him to get on with it. Daryl, whom I was sitting next to, glanced over at my movement and noticed Dale was nodding too. Before he could ask about it Carol came over to serve us eggs. Elsie was on my other side and had been quiet all morning, glued to my side and Carl glued to hers. She'd had nightmares again last night. Glenn took a minute before getting to his feet and awkwardly shuffling from one side of the group to another.

"Um, guys." He spoke up, getting about half of everyone's attention. "So..." His uncomfortable start gained him a little more though Glenn public speaking was always awkward so this wasn't anything terribly new. He swallowed and looked at me. I nodded fractionally. "The barn is full of walkers." He blurted. At this he at last gained the groups full attention. People waited for him to elaborate, or say that was some kind of terrible joke but he just stood there wringing his hands, waiting for any kind of response.

"What?" Shane asked sharply at last.

"The barn is full of walkers." Glenn repeated. Still nobody was quite sure what to do. People slowly got to their feet and threw glances at the decrepit looking old barn.

"Come on." I suggested, standing too and taking Elsie's hand. She was staring up at me with horrified eyes and it made my stomach clench. It was hard to say what was more important, staying on the farm or her peace of mind. I'd have to convince her that it was secure. "See for yourselves." At this everyone hurried across the field, following behind Shane and Rick. We reminded me of a herd of sheep. As we approached the moaning and growling became audible and people tensed. As Shane approached the door and peered through the crack Rick looked to Glenn and I for an explanation.

"They're Hershel's friends and family in there." Glenn told him.

"Maybe a dozen in total, barn seems secure." I gave him the statistical break down. "Checked it out yesterday."

"You knew?" Rick squinted at me. I nodded, not getting a chance to verbally respond before Shane started talking.

"You cannot tell me you're all right with this." He muttered, striding back to the group.

"No I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land." Rick reminded him.

"This is our lives!" Shane growled.

"Lower your voice." Glenn hushed him.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea sided with Shane.

"It ain't right. Not remotely." T-dog shook his head.

"Okay, we've either got to go in there, we've got to make things right or we've just got to go. Now we have been talking about fort Benning for a long time." Shane took a rational stance, having cooled down from his original work up.

"We can't go." Rick cut him off harshly.

"Why, Rick? Why?" Shane pushed.