VITRIOL | Shane Walsh

XII

I'd ridden Nelly into town that morning to try to find a few jackets for everyone as winter was drawing near and I wanted to be prepared for the cold. We found out Fort Benning had collapsed and had no other option than to stay on the farm and reinforce the defences we had.

I'd passed a display window which I'd spotted an airforce aviator jacket in months before the outbreak and decided there was no time like the present to commit a crime like theft. I'd always wanted the jacket for Caleb but it was far too big and expensive.

"He'll grow into it," I told myself and climbed down off Nelly. I smashed the shop window, grabbed the jacket and rode back to the farm before any walkers would show up to investigate the alarm going off. To be honest it surprised me the alarms were still rigged.

"Hey bud, wanna see what I got you?" I said riding up to the porch, climbing down and opening the bag attached to the saddle. Caleb walked up to me and grinned in curiosity. His face lit up with excitement when I produced the jacket from the bag and I couldn't help but laugh when he tried it on. It dropped down to his knees and we had to scrunch the sleeves up so we could see his hands. Nevertheless, he was overjoyed to have it.

Lori glared at me when I approached but I wordlessly handed jackets for her, Carl and Rick and left before any argument followed. Maggie and Beth were still in a mood with me but I could tell they appreciated the leather and denim jackets. I left the bag on the porch for anyone else to grab a generic one they fancied the look of. I'd separated Shane's and walked off to the windmill to go give it to him.

"Hey Officer, look what I got you" I held up the jacket and his face turned to disgust.

"You know I hate them denim jackets with the fur collars"

"Well, it's your fault for having such wide shoulders. But if you want to freeze..." I teased while walking off. He quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and drew me into his chest making me squeal. He kissed my neck before smiling into it.

"Who'd keep you warm at night if I've frozen to death?" he joked then pulled away so I could help him put each arm into the sleeves.

"I bet Daryls pretty warm" I teased again causing him to raise an eyebrow and smirk at my bad humour. I smoothed down the collar before speaking again. "Not too bad handsome, still a bit tight but suits you" We continued to talk about pointless things until Shane saw Caleb and Carl playing up near the house.

"I think we should do it tonight"

"What, kill Randall?" he nodded "Okay...I say take him into the woods and do it where no one can see"

"I'll say I saw him run out there, chased after him and killed him"

"No that's not what they want, they'll have your head on a stick. Just say he snuck up on you, caught you by surprise and knocked you out clean before escaping. Wait till it's late so they can't clearly track your prints in the dark."

"So I'm going to have to beat myself up to make this believable then."

"Unfortunately you will officer."

"You better fix up my nose when I'm back" he laughed and shook his head

- - -
"I don't care what y'all are saying I'm going to find out what that gunshot was," I said grabbing my bat and pulling on my second layer.

"Pricilla you will stay here until they're back"

"I'm sorry daddy, I ain't been listening to you and I ain't gonna start now" I barged past him and practically threw myself up onto Nelly's saddle. I kicked the horse into full speed and headed in the direction of the noise. I approached three figures in the meadow and saw it was Rick, Carl and Caleb. Rick was crouched over a body on the floor and the two boys were stood slightly further away. I jumped down and walked over and when I noticed who was on the floor I ran and collapsed next to Shane.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I had to do this, he made me" Rick mumbled out in between sobs

"WHAT DID YOU DO!" I screamed and cradled Shane's face between my hands. He was barely conscious and was visibly in pain. I pushed into action and applied pressure onto the stab wound that was gushing blood from his side.

"I'm sorry-"

"SHUT UP RICK!"

"He was trying to KILL ME"

"SHUT UP, Give me your jacket...NOW" he tore it off and I scrunched it up to soak the blood pouring out. "Please just take Caleb back to the house, I don't want him here"

"Mom?"

"No, I'm sorry bud, you need to go back right now. Me and daddy will be fine." 
I cried while staring into the eyes of my shocked little boy.

"Listen to your momma" Shane gasped out causing him to finally give into Rick's tugs at his shoulder, pulling him towards the house. I turned my attention back to Shane for a brief second and made a quick decision.

"Come on, you ain't leaving me like this" I aided him in sitting up and kept the jacket pressed to his side. Things would be a little less disastrous if the knife hadn't been taken out. Suddenly I heard growls coming from behind the fences and looked up to see an enormous herd gathered behind the weak wire.

"Shit" I cursed and hauled Shane up onto his two feet. I took nearly all of his weight onto my frame.

"Just...go"

"I left you once and I ain't doing again"  I tugged him towards the horse and he awkwardly hoisted himself up. I climbed on behind him and grasped the reigns.

"You fall off and I'll kill you" I threatened before speeding towards the house and seeing everyone had gone leaving nothing behind.

I pulled the horse to a stop, ran into the house grabbing my med mag and ran back out to see two walkers getting dangerously close to Shane slumped over in the saddle.  I pulled up the bat I had and swung at both of them with such force they were knocked down on impact.

I climbed back onto Nelly before steering her into the woods as quick as I could without making Shane fall off. I'd stopped when we reached far enough away that I could no longer hear the lifeless groans that had grown familiar. I sat Shane up straighter in the saddle, disinfected the area and wrapped his torso with a gauze and bandage the best I could at the tall height.

"Baby are you okay? You haven't said much?"

"I feel like shit" he responded, still slumped over.

"We need to get out of here, find a car, find somewhere with proper supplies to fix you up with. I don't have any antibiotics, the infections going to kill you"

"I'm fine"

"No, you damn well aren't Shane. Your best friend just tried to kill you. And you tried to kill him. That wasn't part of the plan"

"I did it to protect you"

"I know your intentions were good but look at us, you're pretty much dead already"

"Don't say that"  He grumbled and I pulled the horse along in silence for about five minutes before I was struck with even more panic.

"Oh my god, Caleb!" I stopped and turned back around to face the direction we came from. I pulled my hand to my mouth and broke into tears. I'd cried more in these last few hours that I cried when I broke up with Shane and that is saying something.

"He wasn't there, he probably left with Rick" I knew that was the sensible suggestion but my mind couldn't help but wonder. Yet we were in no position to go back. Really only one of us was useful and we had no food or any water.

"We're going back as soon as you're better" I demanded and pulled the horse to move again. It wasn't long before we crossed into the main road and a few cars were lying around. Luckily the third one sprung to life when I followed Shane's instructions on how to hotwire it. I pulled him into the passenger seat before walking up to Nelly and pulling the saddle off. My med back was empty so I left that lying in the middle of the road too.

"It's been nice knowing you girl" I gave her one final pat before climbing into the car and driving down the road. The pharmacy we had been loading supplies from was run dry so we had no other option but go in search of another group and pray to God they'd welcome us with open/slightly sceptical arms.

This was a new era, and I might be heading into it alone.

{EDITED}