Lost Too Much | Daryl Dixon

5

Shane, Carl, Rick and I were a search team. We headed in a different direction than the other group, which consisted of Daryl, Andrea, Lori, Carol, and Glenn.

We were in some unknown part of the woods, and Rick and Shane were talking about something from before the times I got here. So Carl and held our own conversation, walking in front of them.

"So how did you do in school before this? Like, were you a grade A student, or were you badass back then too?"

He giggled, "I was kind of in the middle. I didn't do that good. But I wasn't a bad kid either."

"I see... So tell me stuff. I wanna know what happened before I got to the group."

"Well... My dad got shot before this started, and he was in a coma. Shane found mom and I when it happened. And we found Carol and Sophia, and Peter. Then we found the camp, and then half the group went out into Atlanta to get stuff, and they found dad. But they left Daryl's brother back there. I didn't really like Merle, he was mean. But they got to the camp, and we got attacked, then headed for the CDC thing, and you know the rest."

Carl sometimes sounds a lot smarter than he looks. I can have adult conversations with him.

"Tell me about you now." Carl looked up at me, squinting his eyes. (A/N: I CAN SEE HIM DOING THAT. JUST IMAGINE IT.)

I sighed, not an annoyed sigh, just a bit of a tired sigh. "I was a hairdresser before this. I know, it sounds terrible because cutting hair is a terrible skill in this life. I only had one friend, and his brother. My friend was much older than me, and his brother is more my age, but I seemed to be closer with guys older than me."

Carl giggled, and I continued.

"I found the CDC, and tried to get in for months. He didn't let me in until you guys showed up." I smiled. "So thanks. You saved me."

I suddenly sensed that I was being watched. I quickly turnes around, just in time to catch Shane looking at me. He turned his head, playing it off as if he was looking into the distance.

"I have an idea! When we find Sophia, can you give everyone haircuts?"

I laughed, "If it's okay with the leaders, then sure."

Rick then had his attention on us, "If what's okay with us?"

"When we find Sophia, could she could cut everyone's hair? She used to be a hairdresser."

Rick started laughing then, thinking that the matter was much more serious. "Is it okay with you Shane?"

Shane did this face while looking at Carl, his eyebrows raised, and he sucked in his bottom lip, "That would be just fine." He looked right at me and then the face went away.

Suddenly, I felt as though we weren't alone.

Walkers.

I kept myself on point, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want them to think I was paranoid.

Then a beautiful deer appeared in front of us. Carl turned to Rick and Shane, silently asking permission to get closer to it. They nodded.

As soon as Carl stepped forward, I realized why I felt paranoid. There was a large man, wearing camouflage, hidden in a tree, with his rifle aimed at the deer. His finger rested on the trigger.

"CARL!"

I ran up to him and jumped in front of him just as a gunshot went off. I felt a deep pain in my lower stomach. My hand flew to my abdomen. Dark red liquid covered my hand.

My vision, got blurry, and all I heard before blacking out was my name coming from Rick's, Carl's, and even Shane's mouths.

SHANE'S POV

Carl saw a deer. Then Cory was shot. Lucky for me, I didn't actually care about her. I didn't care about her at all. I only had to pretend because Rick kept fucking pairing us up.

Since she decided to live and jumped in my car, Rick paired us up together for everything. He's made her ride with me most of the way, made her hang out with me on every run, and brought her with us on this expedition to find that little girl.

And now she's in my arms, bleeding through a bullet wound in her stomach. But that's her fault, and I don't need to actually care.

Okay, I'm lying to myself. I don't like her, but I care about her. I've been taking care of her this whole week, watching her so she doesn't get hurt, and keeping her happy by keeping her mind off Jenner. And up until this moment, I swear we almost had a friendship.

"How far?!" I screamed at the fat man behind Rick and Carl, "How far?!"

"How far? Another half mile, that way! Hershel, talk to Hershel-- He'll help your girl."

He called Cory mine. She isn't mine though. She sure as hell ain't mine.

We came up to a farmhouse, a large, white country themed place. It seemed nice in my opinion, untouched. But I have bigger things on my mind.

"Dad!" A young woman with short brown hair yelled.

"Was she bit?" An old man with white hair walked out, who I assumed was Hershel.

"Shot, by your man." I growled. I don't give a fuck what they need to know, I just want her to live.

"Otis?" An older woman with blonde hair asked.

"He said find Hershel. Is that you?" Rick spoke. My voice definitely wouldn't work correctly right now.

"Help me-- Help this girl."

"Get her inside, inside! Patricia, I need my full kit. Maggie..." Hershel barked orders.

"Yeah?" Maggie asked.

"Painkillers, coagulates. Grab everything. Clean towels, sheets, alcohol. In here. Pillowcase."

"Is-is she alive?" I was right not to trust my voice.

"Pillowcase, quick."

"Is-is she alive?" I continued to ask.

"Fold it. Make a pad. Put pressure on the wound." Hershel ignored me. I did as I was told.

"I've got a heartbeat. It's faint."

"I got it. Step back." Maggie said to me, taking my place. But I'm not sure if I'm happy about that. I want to be with Cory right now, but I want to make sure this goes correctly.

"Maggie, IV. We need some space." Hershel spoke to Rick, Carl, and I.

"Your name?" Patricia asked me.

"S-Shane."

"Shane?" She repeated.

"I'm-I'm-I'm Shane."

"Shane, we're gonna do everything we can, okay?" Patricia tried to calm me down.

"You need to give us some room. Now. Move!"

I left the room, with Cory on my mind. What was I doing? I know her, but I don't KNOW her. We just met, and I'm saving her life like I knew her for a long time.

What's wrong with me?