Lost Along the Way

Chapter 28, The Lost Souls


It felt like it had been forever walking through these woods but I guess I can't really complain because I could be someone's dinner right now. I haven't gotten much sleep but I guess it's expected. Daryl left a while ago to go hunting and I'm getting kind of worried. That's all I feel now… being nervous every second of the day.

I think waking up is the worst. When you're sleeping you forget the world around you for even just a little bit… and then you wake up. You wake up and you realize that everything is the same way you left it a few hours ago. This really is a living nightmare… but they make it better… maybe even a little bit worse because you can lose them just as easy as you found them.

I seemed to have held my breath when crunching noises came not far from us. Everyone pulled out their weapons and aimed them but immediately retreated when they realized it was just Daryl coming back with is catch of the day. I exhaled the breath I held in before wiping away the sweat that formed on my forehead.

"We surrender." Daryl raised his hands up, holding up his roadkill. Daryl walked up to Rick and the group began to walk again. I ignored the indistinct chatter ahead of me before feeling a shoulder bump into mine. I looked over at the perpetrator to see that it was the familiar mixture of dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. I rolled my eyes at him as Rick turned back to look at the rest of us that didn't seem to keep up with him.

"Keep close." He motioned before placing himself between me and Abraham.

"Ready to get some concrete under your feet?" Abraham questioned.

"I think it's time."

"That is sweet music to my ears, Officer." Abraham sighed, "Take the next road we come to, try to get back to going North till we find a vehicle. Good?"

"Good." Rick nodded before filling back to check on the rest of us.

"You alright?" Carl shoulder bumped me again.

I took in a deep breath, "Well, besides me and everyone else here sweating like whores in a church... and the awful smell that's coming off of us… I'm great."

Carl let out a chuckle, "The smell isn't that bad."

"Oh, it's that bad." I shook my head with a look of disgust before motioning to my armpit, "You want a wiff?"

"I think I'm good." Carl pursed his lips before placing his hand in mine.

"Thought so."

"Help!"

Everyone reached for their weapons once again as Rick raised a hand to stop everyone from moving any further. Carl looked back at his father with desperation, "Dad, come on."

Rick stared at his son.

"Come on!"

Rick motioned everyone to follow as we ran towards the pleas for help. The closer we got to the yells the cleared it was to see who it was. It was a man struggling on a rock that was surrounded by walkers. I watched Carl aim his weapon and shoot one of them down. I reached for my knife as I watched a walked stumble towards me. I grabbed it but its shoulder before jamming the metal into his skull and watching his body slump to the ground. The walkers were gone in a mere few seconds. I wiped off the excess blood off on my jeans before looking around and making sure everyone else was okay.

"We're clean, keep watch." Rick commanded before looking up at the man we had just rescued, "Come on down."

The man continued to shake with fear as he hoped down from the rock. Poor Guy.

"You okay?" Rick questioned. The man rose one finger up before bowing chunks.

After a few seconds he calmed down and glanced up at Rick, "Sorry… Yes, thank you. I'm Gabriel."

"Do you have any weapons on you?"

Gabriel chuckled awkwardly, "Do I look like I have any weapons?"

"We don't give two short and curlies what it looks like." Abraham added.

"I have no weapons of any kind." Gabriel reassured, "The word of God is the only protection I need."

"Sure didn't look like it." Daryl scoffed.

"I called for help," Gabriel started, "Help came… Do you— Do you have any food? Whatever I— Whatever I had left… it hit the ground."

"We've got some pecans." Carl replied as he held out his hand.

Gabriel took the contents from his hand, "Thank you." Judith began to coo which caught Gabriel's attention, "That's a beautiful child."

Everyone continued to stare at him and all I could do was feel bad for him.

"Do you have a camp?" Gabriel questioned.

"No. Do you?" Rick interrogated.

"I have a church."

"Hold your hands above your head." Rick commanded. Gabriel raised his hands and Rick began to search him. "How many walkers have you killed?"

"Not any, actually." Gabriel replied.

"Turn around." Rick demanded as Gabriel faced the other way, "How many people have you killed?"

Gabriel looked back at him, "None."

"Why?"

"Because the Lord abhors violence."

"What have you done?" Rick questioned and Gabriel seemed to grow even more confused by every question, "We've all done something."

"I'm a sinner." Gabriel replied, "I sin almost every day… but those sins, I confess them to God, not strangers."

"You said you had a church?" Michonne questioned.

Gabriel nodded.


Everyone that didn't go look for supplied was in the church and I was sitting on the porch all by my lonesome. I glanced around the area before letting out a sigh and sitting down on the church steps, pulling out the beaten up box of cigarettes I had taken not so long ago. I looked at the contents and all twenty were still intact. I guess I never really had the time. I had never smoked before. My mom used to smoke before all of this and I never really liked it but I think I understand why she did.

I pull out one of the cigarettes before placing it in between my chapped lips and pulling out a rusty zippo lighter from my bra. I twirled the lighter with my fingers before flicking it open and lighting the objects between my lips. I felt the smoke encase my lungs as I began to cough and the smoke flow out of my mouth. I set the lighter down before grabbing the cigarette from my lips and let it sit between my fingers. I felt lightheaded but it didn't las for very long. I brought it back to my lips, taking another drag and handling it better than the first time.

The church doors opened and I glanced back to see Daryl in the door way. I let out a sigh before looking down at the lit object in my hand.

"You smokin' now?" Daryl questioned as he shut the church doors behind him before sitting down next to me.

"Apparently." I forced a smile as Daryl motioned towards the pack beside you as if to ask for one, "Go ahead."

"These things will kill ya." Daryl stated as he lit his cigarette and breathed it in.

"Mmm," I nodded before taking another hit, "A lot of things can kill you nowadays."

"Can't fight ya on that one, kid." Daryl shrugged, "Carl ain't gonna like it."

"Carl doesn't like anything I do." I chuckled.

"I'm sure there's somthin'." Daryl winked.

I could feel the heat on my cheeks as my jaw dropped and turned to face Daryl, "Daryl!"

"Oh, come on, y'all are sixteen."

"We're not having the sex talk, Daryl." I shook my head, bringing the cigarette to my lips again.

"Just be sure to wrap it—"

"Daryl!" I couldn't help but laugh.


A/N: Short af but it's something. I am trying to get in the groove of everything again. I hope you guys like this chapter, I thought it was pretty funny.