Chapter 004

After all of the abuse and heartache I've been through ever since I was a little girl, you would think I'd be used to the pain. But the truth is, nobody can get used to the pain the world gives you, we just get better at hiding it. I wasn't shocked when I had woken up from an episode with confusion and nausea coursing through my body. I wasn't shocked when Glenn had told me about all the events that lead us to this moment, stuck in a nursing home crowded with the elderly. What shocked me the most was that the Mexican's that kidnapped us, were truly nice people and only wanted the guns because they want to protect the older folks.

But that still doesn't give them the right to beat Daryl and kidnap Glenn and me, just to get what they want. I remember that I had woken up on a hospital bed, on a firm mattress, with a soft blanket draped over my body. The panic and pain that had settled in my body at that moment were enough to send me in another anxiety-ridden episode, just thankfully Glenn had been in the room waiting for me to wake up. That was when he decided it was best to explain to me what had happened and who these people are. All these people wanted to do was protect the older people that cannot defend themselves.

Shifting uncomfortably on the firm mattress, I glance over toward Glenn as he continues to fiddle with his fingers. He seems to be getting impatient with the fact the others haven't come and got us yet, but I believe that it won't be too easy as Daryl had shot one of their men with an arrow. At least that is what Glenn had told me when I had woke up a little over an hour ago. The dull ache that had been running throughout my body had finally subsided, as well as nausea which I am thankful for. I just hope that we can get out of here soon and back to the others, so we can just go back to camp.

"How are you feeling?" Glenn questions slowly after he had patted my hand to gain my attention which had caused me to look up at him. His signature had that I see him wear almost every day still, somehow, sits perfectly on his head as it hides his unwashed hair. He continues to stare at me with concerned brown eyes, as he takes in my sweat-covered face; which is common after I have an episode, no matter how hot or cold it is. "Better, I think," I sign tiredly, as I allow myself to lean my head against the pillow that rests behind me. I will feel completely better when I am out of this nursing home and away from these old people. "Still tired and feel a little confused."

"Is that normal for after these attacks?" He asks while he continues to look at me with concern with a bit of curiosity. This is understandable, for I would be curious too if I didn't go through this and I saw someone else go through it. I would be filled with questions if I saw someone pass out after shaking horribly and crying at the same time. "It varies honestly," I reply truthfully, as sometimes my body reacts this way and sometimes it doesn't. It depends on how severe the attack in itself is. "When they are as bad as today's, then yes it's normal. But other days, when it isn't as severe I recover quickly."

Glenn nods as he takes in the information before he looks down at his lap again. I can tell he is feeling a bit scared and overwhelmed at the moment, and I don't blame him. He has never been through something like this before and I know this because he has told me his entire life story. It had been the third week after Daryl, Merle, and I had been at the camp and he was already telling me everything that he had been through, before and after he had moved to Georgia. It had been at that moment that I knew that I could trust the young Korean man that sat next to me near the fire that night, so I went ahead and told him everything that I had been through.

"They took our weapons," Glenn finally informs, after there had been a moment of peace between the two of us. I raise my brow at him in confusion, almost not knowing how to reply or even react to what he had told me. "They took our knives and your gun. I'm not sure about your bow though." Nodding at his words, I look away for a moment and look toward the door. It is currently closed, leaving Glenn and me to our lonesome - which I am thankful for. "I don't blame them for doing that," I state after I had looked back toward the Korean that sits next to me. "We're strangers to them and one of our own shot one of theirs."

The young Korean only shrugs his shoulders, probably not truly understanding the reasons behind them taking our weapons from us. I'm sure if we were in their shoes, we would take the strangers' weapons too and the other men would probably make a makeshift cell to hold them in until we could trust them. At least that is what Daryl and Merle would do after I would talk some sense into their murderous ways. Noticing Glenn tilting his head toward the closed door, I look toward him for a moment before following his fearful gaze. Forcing myself to sit up rather quickly, causing dots to fill my vision, I stare directly at the two unknown men that stand in the doorway.

Narrowing my hazel eyes toward the two strangers, I grab a fistful of the blanket that is draped over my sweat-covered body. Although I want to beat the living hell out of these people for punching me and forcing my body into an attack, I knew that I had to remain still and calm to ensure Glenn's safety. I would rather him be untouched, rather than harmed due to my own blind rage. Noticing that the men had a single potato sack in their hand, I quickly grab a hold of Glenn's hand to make sure he is the one that stays put. If they wanted to hold someone hostage to threaten our people, it will be me; because at least I know how to somewhat fight back.

Both of the men seem to be related to the Mexican's that had kidnapped Glenn and me, due to how much they resemble each other and the guy who had been shot in the ass by my best friend. Watching as one of them begins to walk toward us, I tighten my hand around Glenn's protectively as he squeezes back. If my sight wasn't trained on the man that is walking toward us, I would be staring directly at Glenn's face which I have no doubt is showing a lot of fear. Suddenly the man launches toward Glenn, in an attempt to grab him, but fails as I had moved quicker. Jumping from my spot on the bed, letting go of Glenn's hand, I am quick to tackle the man to the floor.

Once our bodies collide to the floor rather harshly, knocking the wind from my lungs, I allow myself to roll to my side. As I do so, I quickly kick my legs out toward the unknown man next to me that had tried to grab Glenn. I can see that I had caused him pain by tackling him and kicking him in the sides, which is enough to satisfy me. As I gasp for air to fill my lungs, I grab ahold of the edge of the bed before I force myself to my feet. Before I can make another movement, I feel a pair of hands grab at my ankle before they pull my foot out from beneath me.

My mouth instantly flies open as pain and vibrations radiate from the back of my throat, as I force my body to twist before hitting the cold tiled floors. Pain shoots throughout my body, but I try to ignore it as I kick at the person's arm to try and get their hand off my ankle. Anger soars throughout my tiny frame, causing me to quickly gather myself as I charge at the man that had grabbed me and tried to hurt Glenn. Punching him harshly in the face, I go to stand back up, just as another set of arms wrap around my torso once more. Knowing that I may not get freed from this man, I begin to thrash around frantically, just as I am lifted from the floor.

In the midst of thrashing around in the unknown man's hold, I spotted Glenn being captured by someone else that hadn't been in the doorway in the beginning. The man struggles to carry me out of the room, as I try to claw at the doorframe and walls to try and free myself. After I am pulled from the room that Glenn and I had been held in, my body is instantly thrown against a wall harshly causing the air to leave my lungs once more. Continuing to thrash around frantically, despite gasping for air, I can feel the men that now hold me against the wall struggling, as they try to tie ropes around my wrist and ankles. Despite me fighting back, they manage to tie the ropes around my limps to try and prevent me from struggling.

Before I could try to protest or fight back, one of the unknown men then place a potato sack over my head causing the world around me to grow dark. At the sight of darkness and the idea of not knowing where they are taking me, I suddenly begin to feel panicked. My body is then lifted into the arms of one of the unknown men, as I begin to thrash around even more as I can feel myself growing more panicked by the second. Where are they taking me? Where is Glenn, where did they take him?

With so many questions rummaging through my own mind, jumbling the very thoughts that are full of anger and fear, I can feel my body beginning to show signs of another episode. My limps begin to shake violently as I stop thrashing about, as tears begin to run down my face quickly. I can feel my heart beginning to beat faster as the seconds pass, as I can feel myself gasping for air. What if this is the end of me? What about Glenn, what are they going to do to him?

What if this is how we die?

I don't want to die just yet, at least not by the handles of another person or by the hands and teeth of a walker. No, I want to die by my own hands on my own terms, not by whatever these strangers are going to do. I want to greet death with a smile on my face, not with tears rolling down my cheeks. As I continue to shake violently and gasp for air, I suddenly feel the warm rays of the sun which only causes confusion to wash throughout my very body. The person carrying me then stops walking, as they try to put me to my feet - only causing me to fall to my knees.

Despite the shakiness of my own body and the urge to pass out, I can feel that my jeans had been ripped open due to me falling to the ground. Feeling my body becoming weak, the potato sack is suddenly lifted off my head causing me to wince due to the sunlight that cuts through my blurry vision. Swaying as the strangers let go of my body, I fall forward a bit causing me to catch myself with my tied up hands. Through the blurriness of my vision, I can faintly tell that I am on a roof that seems to be falling apart, while there is a group of people below us. Faintly catching the sight of a familiar figure down below, I am suddenly pulled back as the sack is placed over my head just as my entire world begins to grow dark while my body grows limp.

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Forcing myself to open my hazel eyes, despite how tired and how much pain my body is in, I am greeted with the same room as before - just this time, Glenn isn't anywhere to be found. Not caring how tired I am or about the pain, I force myself to sit up rather quickly as I look around the room in a fit of panic. The dresser from earlier still remains in the same spot as before, as it is pressed against the wall to my right just under the boarded-up windows as the bed that I am in is still placed in the center of the room. The nightstands are still placed on either side of the bed, both with dust-covered picture frames and dead plants; how lovely. Everything seems to be as they were prior to being kidnapped and manhandled again, but one thing is missing; where is Glenn Rhee?

Ignoring the searing pain that cuts through my body with each movement, I shove the blanket off of my sweat-covered body before swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. Thankfully I am still in the clothes I had arrived in and my combat boots are still on my feet, I just need my weapons and I will go find Glenn myself. Standing up from the bed, I feel my knees buckling beneath me which causes me to stumble as I fall against the nightstand. Wincing as my hip collides with the wooden table, I grip it as I lean my body against the bed as start walking around it. Nearly wincing with each step, I look toward the door to see that it is wide open - perfect.

Now all I need to do is find Glenn, then our weapons before we can fight our way out of this hell of a place. I need to get back to Daryl and I need to get back to Millie, especially after having not one, but two severe anxiety attacks in one day. I haven't had that many attacks since my mother had died, and that was when I was fifteen or sixteen. And even then I don't think they were that bad, these ones might have been the worse ones yet and that terrifies me. Once I reach the door, I lean against the doorframe to try and catch my breath only to jump back from being startled by a body leaning on the other side.

Holding my hand to my chest in an attempt to calm down my rapidly beating heart, I look toward the body once more to see that I too had scared them as well. Recognizing the baseball cap that sits perfectly on the mop of unwashed brown hair, I then notice the fairly tanned skin. Once I realize it is Glenn, unharmed and seemingly okay, I feel myself letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank God," Glenn proclaims rather happily, as he then wraps his arms around my shoulders unexpectedly. Tensing up at his action, I then begin to settle in his arms as I allow my head to fall on his shoulders while I wrap my arms around his sides before pulling away. "You scared the hell out of me, Katherine."

"I'm sorry," I reply tiredly, as I allow my body to lean against the doorframe in an attempt to rest. After today, I definitely don't think I will leave the camp again unless I am going hunting with Daryl or Merle. "Where they here? The group I mean, I thought I saw Daryl." Looking away momentarily, I notice that we weren't too far away from the room where all the elderly sat. At least that is what Glenn had told me when I first woke up here. "Yeah, they were. I didn't see much though," Glenn explains after a moment, as he stuffs his hands into the pocket of his jeans. "They kept the sack off my head for two seconds it felt like. How are your wrist and ankles?"

"They feel fine right now. I didn't struggle much after the sack was on my head." I state, with a shrug of my shoulders as if that didn't matter. Everything after the fact of my wrist and ankles being bounded together is still a bit fuzzy since I had just woken up. Suddenly a group of strangers run-pass Glenn and me, causing me to look toward my Korean friend with confusion written on my face. He doesn't say anything, as he motions for me to follow after him before he begins to walk after the others. Wrapping my arms around my body, I force myself off the doorframe as I follow after my friend.

The two of us walk down a small corridor before we enter a large room that has a lot of elderly folks scattered about. One, in particular, is sittings in a chair with a couple of the elderly standing around him, as he seems to be gasping for air. Sharing a glance toward Glenn, I then start to walk toward the elderly man to see what I can do to help. Cutting through the small group of men and women that seem concerned for this man, I then kneel down in front of him to try and gain his attention. Reaching for his hand, I quickly take it in mine as I softly rub it - almost as if I was trying to smooth out the wrinkles.

As the elderly man continues to gasp for air, I look up at him with worried eyes as he tries to fight in order to breathe. He looks down at me with fearful eyes, as I softly tap his wrinkled hands to gain his attention. Motioning for him to look at my throat and mouth in itself, I begin to mimic a good breathing technique of breathing in and out steadily. Sucking in a deep breath, I nod slowly as I see the elderly man doing the same, I allow myself to exhale after holding it for a few seconds. Repeating the technique, I glance over to Glenn for a moment as he stands right behind the elderly man - his eyes wide as he stares down at me in shock.

Just because I strongly dislike the men that run this place, doesn't mean I'm going to allow this elderly man to die because he can't properly breathe. Looking back toward the man, I notice an elderly woman trying to hand him an inhaler, causing me to take it from her grasp. She smiles down at me as I begin to shake it as you're supposed to before I stand up and bit and place the puffer to the man's mouth. Inhaling in an attempt to get him to do the same, I then press down on it as he sucks in. Pressing the end of the inhaler two more times, I smile softly as I notice the man breathing normally again.

Pulling the inhaler from his wrinkled lips, I place it firmly in his hands as I stand to my full height. A warm feeling spreads throughout my body at the fact that I just saved this old man's life, I turn to look at Glenn. He looks behind me with a small smile on his face, causing me to follow his gaze. My eyes grow wide as I spot Rick, T-Dog, and Daryl standing in the doorway that seems to lead to the front of the nursing home, all three of them looking around the room in shock. "What the hell is this?" Rick questions after a moment, as he finally notices Glenn and me in the room.

"An asthma attack. Couldn't get his breath all of a sudden." Glenn answers truthfully, as he shrugs his shoulders a bit in confusion as to why they were asking such a question. Looking over toward Rick, I notice that he looks rather annoyed as he looks over toward Guillermo; who is the leader. They share a few whispered words before they begin to walk off toward a room to probably talk in private. "I thought you two were being eaten by dogs, man," T-Dog exclaims dramatically, causing me to raise a brow as I then look over toward Glenn who looks back toward small Chihuahuas. Cringing at the sight of those devil dogs, I quickly look away from them as I turn to face Daryl.

He stands in the doorway next to T-Dog, his crystal blue eyes glued to my face as he tries to assure himself that I am alive and well. Smiling at the sight of the man I've known my whole life, I begin to walk over toward him with my arms open. Daryl is quick to place his crossbow against the white wall of the opened room, as he begins to walk toward me - his arms wrapping around my waist the second he reaches me. His cool breath glides against my neck, as I wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. Burying my head into the crook of his own neck, I squeeze my arms tightly around his shoulders as I feel myself finally relax.

"Are you okay?" Daryl questions after we pull away from each other, once he knew that I was looking at his lips. His crystal blue eyes continue to stare down at me with worry, as he hesitates to grab his crossbow that he had put down. "I'm fine," I reply after a moment, not sure how to exactly answer. I know that he saw the attack on the rooftop those random men had dragged me to. "Just tired and sore from the attacks."

Rick finally returns back to the rest of us as he tosses the bag of guns over his shoulder, as places a sheriff's hat on his head. He looks tired and almost fed up with today, as he spares a glance toward T-Dog and Daryl before he stares at Glenn and me. The dark bags beneath his oceanic blue eyes is evident, as he looks over our bodies for any noticeable injuries. "Are you guys ready to go? The others might be wondering where we're at." Rick asks tiredly before he turns on his heels and begins to walk toward the exit. Sparing a confused glance toward Daryl, he shrugs his shoulders before we all begin to follow after our leader.

After we all had left the nursing home, Rick and Daryl took it upon themselves to explain to Glenn and me what had happened since we were kidnapped. Apparently, after we were kidnapped, the men had accidentally abandoned one of their own after Daryl had shot an arrow in one of their asses - which led to them interrogating the kid. According to T-Dog, Daryl had even hit the kid a couple of times as he worried for me and Glenn before dumping Merle's decaying hand on the kids' lap; talk about traumatizing. And after they went to the nursing home the first time, saw me having an attack, it only made Daryl angrier as he even threatened to kill the kid more than once. Once they finished informing us of the events leading to them rescuing us, Daryl gave me my knife back as well as my quiver of arrows and my bow.

Of course, it didn't take long for me to put the weapons back onto my body, making me feel safer as we continued to sneak through the city. The streets are still crowded with the infected, as they continue to roam around with a never-ending hunger. Their decaying bodies radiate off a horrible, indescribable smell that can make anyone throw up whatever they ate moments before. Once we reach the outskirts of the city, I finally place my knife back in my stealth as I glance toward Glenn, who stares at Rick. "Admit it," Glenn jokes, as he stares directly at the former officer. "You only came back to Atlanta for the hat."

"Don't tell anybody." Rick mutters playfully, a smile plastered on his lips as he spares a glance toward the young Korean. In the corner of my eyes, I notice that Daryl shakes his head a bit - no doubt scoffing at the former sheriff. It was clear to me that Daryl is upset with Rick about something, despite not needing to be. "You've given away half our guns and ammo." Daryl states bitterly, as he grips his hand around his crossbow tighter. I look toward Rick, as he spares a glance toward the youngest Dixon.

"Not nearly half." Rick informs matter-of-fact, as he shrugs his shoulders a bit. To him, it seems like it is no big deal, and in reality, it isn't - but to Daryl, he knows that is the only reason Lori and Shane allowed Rick to come to Atlanta to search for Merle. Which I guess, is understandable if I look at his perspective but at the same time I find it understandable for Rick to give up half the guns and ammo. "For what," Daryl questions, as he glares in the direction of the eldest Grimes. He really doesn't like the fact that Rick gave up half of the guns. "Bunch of old farts, who are going to die off momentarily anyhow? Seriously, how long do you think they got?"

"How long do any of us got?"

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Whenever we had arrived in the area that the van had been in, only to realize that it was gone - nothing could compare to the sheer terror that I felt within my own body. We all knew that it had been Merle who had reached the van and taken it, which means he is heading back to camp. And if he is as angry as Daryl and I believe that he is, then once he gets there he will unleash his anger upon everyone there with no remorse. Merle probably believes that everyone there probably set him up, to separate him from his baby brother and me. So we all decided that it would be a good idea to run all the way back to camp without stopping, no matter how tired we become.

The amount of pain my body is experiencing from having two panic attacks and having to run all this way is almost unbearable but I continue to run. My legs continue to carry me further up the dirt path, as we are almost to our destination. Trees surround one side of us, as a rocky hill is on the other side - which allows the setting sun to torch our sweat-covered bodies as it slowly sets behind the cliffs. A sharp pain shoots through my lungs ever so often as I continue to run, my body aching all over but I try not to think about it. My bow and quiver of arrows bounce against my back as I continue to follow after the others, hoping we get there before Merle unleashes his uncontrolled anger issues.

Suddenly everyone skids to a panicked stop, causing me to do the same as our chests heave violently. Attempting to push oxygen down my throat and into my lungs, I notice the terrified expressions that are written on everyone's face - especially Rick's. He shrugs the bag of guns off his shoulders, as he begins to unzip it before he reaches inside and tosses a gun toward the others. Rick then looks at me, as he hands me a shotgun, a look of determination plastered on his sweat-covered face. "Walkers, and a bunch of them." He explains once he looks at my confused expression.

Not needing any more explanation, I take the shotgun from his grasp as I click off the safety. Cocking the gun back, I share a glance with Daryl before we all start running back to camp - our aching bodies suddenly not aching anymore. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as we emerge from the trees, Rick and T-Dog killing the first monsters in our sight. Forcing down the pending anxiety that forms in my chest, I aim the shotgun in the direction of an infected that is slowly coming toward me. Lining up the barrel with the infected's head, I quickly pull the trigger causing it to fall to the ground lifelessly.

Venturing further into the campgrounds as I shoot down the monsters left and right, I find myself praying to whatever God there is that everyone makes it out alive. All around me from every angle is an infected, as some advance toward me while others stumble toward someone else, I continue to shoot them - killing them one by one. As one stumbles too close the shotgun seems to click, informing me that there is no more ammo. Feeling even more panicked, I quickly slam the butt of the gun across the monster's face before tossing the gun to the ground. Grabbing my bow off of my back, I quip it with an arrow as I begin to walk backward in an attempt to get away from the dead.

Before I can kill another one of the dead, I feel my left ankle got caught on something which causes me to plummet to the ground; dropping my bow in the process. Pain shoots through my throat as my mouth flies open, causing vibration to tear through the unused muscles. Once I hit the ground, I can feel the dirt, twigs, and rocks scraping against my skin as I skid. Attempting to ignore the pain, I push myself into a sitting position as I begin to crawl away from the infected that is stumbling toward me. Their jaw seems to be snapping aggressively at the sight of me, saliva and what looks to be blood oozes from its teeth as it drips to the ground.

I can see almost every bone prodding against the decaying skin, almost as if they could breakthrough at any moment. Strains of dark hair stick from its nearly bald head, as the sundress it wears, hangs loosely from its body. Even as I try to crawl away from it, as I dig my own fingers into the dirt that lays beneath me, I can see the bite that had embedded itself into the dead woman's cheek - exposing all of the muscles within. Once I get a good distance away from the decaying freak, I fumble frantically to get my knife from my sheath. Pulling it free, I hold the blade as I aim it toward the dead woman walking before I throw it in her direction.

My knife is quick to leave my grasp as it flies through the air in flips before the blade embeds itself into the woman's skull - ending her body's suffering. Before I can make another move, I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around my shoulders before lifting me to my feet. Feeling panicked, I instantly turn on my heels which send a sharp pain through my left ankle. Standing behind me is T-Dog, as he shoots down another walker before looking at me. He motions for me to follow him, as he begins to rush toward the RV that belongs to Dale.

Knowing that I needed to follow after him to get to the RV, I am quick to pull an arrow from my quiver to hold tightly in my hand. Running after the man with a limp, I begin to stab my arrow into the skull of the geeks that step in between myself and where I need to be. By the end of the night, as the morning sun begins to peek over the horizon, as the last geek falls to the ground dead, I finally feel myself catching the break I needed. My body leans against the RV, as I am caked with blood, dirt, grime, and sweat I begin to look around. A lot of dead bodies lay on the campgrounds floors, some being our own as others belong to the herd that attacked us.

Once I look over toward the front of the RV, I notice that Andrea Harrison is hovering over her sister Amy's dead body.

It was then that I realized that the world would never return to what it was.

It was then that I realized that we needed to fight in order to survive.

_____Word Count: 3,288

Here is the fourth chapter! I am so happy that I finally got this chapter finished and uploaded for you all to enjoy! Please feel free to leave comments so I can interact with you all!

What are your opinions of this chapter?[ I personally loved writing it! But my opinion is biased as I wrote this chapter, but I would love to hear your opinions! ]

What are your thoughts of the friendship forming between Katherine and the others?[ I cannot wait to dive deeper into the friendships Katherine is going to share with everyone in the group! ]

Out of everyone, who do you guys what to see more of (as in friendship wise with Katherine)?[ Please leave your answers in the comments so I can make them happen! ]

How has everyone's week been like so far?[ Feel free to boost about any of the good that has happened to you within this last week, I would LOVE to hear about it! My week has been good so far! I have been able to finally go outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and nice weather with my boyfriend and our kitten! I also realized that in three months I turn 20! ]

I hope you all have a wonderful day/night, week, and weekend! Stay safe and continue to social distance and wear a mask!

Lots of Love,Crimson Rose