Chapter 24: Nice Lectures

Chapter Twenty Four

Nice Lectures

▬ First Person- Electra's P.O.V ▬

"You awake yet?"

Daryl grunted in response, currently rubbing his sleepy eyes with the back of his hand in attempt to refresh himself after whatever little amount of sleep he had managed to get. I myself, hadn't gotten an awfully great amount of sleep but I had gotten enough to keep me going. I wasn't sure whether it was the sleep that had energized me or the fact that Sophia needed me. There was so much to do, it was a huge forest and Sophia could literally be anywhere inside the circumference, we needed to be on the top of our game to find her and return her to Carol.

"Yeah."

"Good." I commented curtly causing Daryl to raise a dark eyebrow at me. "Cause you're gonna need to be." I stated before turning on the spot to face Daryl dead on once more. "We need to be 110% focused on finding Sophia." I dictated, unaware that I was doing out of control hand gestures until I caught Daryl staring at my hands. "Now," I bunched my hands up into fists to avoid continuing my ridiculous ways.

"We need to make ourselves a plan and we need to make one fast." Daryl continued for me, nodding his head in agreement. "And we need to make it a good one, we have to be smart about this." He asserted, causing me to become the one who was now nodding in agreement. "You got anything in mind?" he questioned me as he readjusted the strap of his quiver.

"Well...." I trailed of. "Yes, yes I do." I vowed. "We take every able body that we can," I started off. "So that's everyone minus Dale, T-Dog and the kids," I pointed out to him. "The more of us there are, the more ground we can cover." I reasoned with him but he looked pretty much convinced already. "You got any ideas as to where we can start looking?" I enquired

"The creek." Daryl proposed after taking a few seconds to think about my question. "It's her only landmark," he explained. "Like you said before, we often underestimate the kids." He echoed my earlier words the day before. "Sophia's not an idiot, she shouldn't stray too far from the creek. After all, that's where Rick left her, isn't it?" Daryl quizzed me, causing me to nod my head once more.

"I don't think we should split up," I added on causing Daryl to display a look as if to tell me to continue. "Well not now anyway, we need to stay together...united." I elaborated logically. "We don't want any other people getting lost or worse." I mused.

"What do you think about weapons?" Daryl interrogated me causing me to shift my eyes uneasily in confusion. Weapons? What about them? "As in who takes what, we have quite a few guns floating around camp and not everyone can use them." He explained.

"Oh." I let the word out softly in realisation and embarrassment. "Well, according to Stacie, Carl found and arsenal....I'm sure that's bound to come in handy." I informed him. "And I'm sure someone is going to deal with weapons, probably Rick." I predicted.

"What's Rick going to do?" I span on the spot to see Rick hastening his pace in order to join me and Daryl, obviously having heard me say his name. "Mornin'." He nodded to me and then Daryl before shifting his gaze back to me. "So, what is Rick gonna do?" he raised his practically non-existent eyebrow at me.

"Rick is going to sort out the whole weapons situation amongst the group." I stated before looking him dead in the eye with a small grin. "Mornin'." I greeted him as I fidgeted with the strap of my black backpack which I had slung over one shoulder.

"Well....Carl found an-"

"Arsenal." I interjected, finishing off Rick's sentence causing him to squint at me. "Yeah, Stacie told me yesterday. You should have seen her little face, the way it lit up." I told them while a small smile creeped back up onto my face at the memory.

"Well then, I'm not too keen on everybody having guns, neither is Shane." Rick remarked. "We agreed that only those who know how to use them should be carrying them- that makes it you two, Shane and I." he mentioned. "The others can use whatever's in the arsenal." He stated. "I trust you guys have got yourselves a plan." Rick stated but it sounded much more like an enquiry.

"Yeah." I confirmed before my eyes flickered behind Rick to see that everyone was huddled around one of the SUV's that had been caught in the huge traffic snarl. They must have had the same idea as me, I guessed. Although dark circles lined their weary eyes. "Best get back to them." I advised causing Rick to nod whilst turning on the spot, walking along side Daryl and I as we re-joined the group.

"Morning y'all."

I sent a small smile around the group when I squeezed in between my brother and Glenn whilst Rick disappeared briefly. Immediately I felt little arms wrap around my waist, smiling slightly I brought Stacie so that she was standing in front of me. Rick returned to the group and slammed the arsenal down onto the SUV.

"Everybody takes a weapon." Rick said with authority as he slammed an arsenal down onto the SUV, not to my surprise he had disappeared to fetch the arsenal from wherever he had stashed it. Not waiting a second, Glenn rushed over to the arsenal and reviewed the weapons within.

"These aren't the kind of weapons we need." Andrea raised her point almost instantly as Glenn finally decided on his weapon of choice. Then she continued to ask one of the most feared questions; "What about the guns?" Instantly I heard Shane sigh from beside me.

"We've been over that," Shane reminded her. We had? They must have had a conversation about it yesterday when Rick, Daryl and I were out looking for Sophia. "Ellie, Rick, Daryl and I are carrying." He told her. "We can't have people popping off rounds every time a tree rustles." He said level headedly.

"It's not the tree's I'm worried about."

"Say somebody fires at the wrong moment," Shane started to illustrate his point. "A heard happens to be passing by," he picked out a perfect example. "See, then it's game over for all of us," he said rationally. "So you need to get over it." He told her, I guess the conversation hadn't been a pleasant one.

"The idea is to take the creek up about five miles," Daryl stole everyone's attention away from my brother and Andrea. "Turn around and come back down the other side." He informed them of our plan. "Chances are she'll be by the creek: It's her only landmark."

"Stay quiet." Rick spoke up again, his tone dead serious. "And stay sharp." Rick ordered with determination written on his face. "Keep space between you but always stay within sight of each other." He advised us before being chucked a water bottle from Shane.

"Everybody assemble your packs." Shane instructed causing everyone to disperse from where we have gathered around the SUV. "Hey El." I span around just in time to catch a water bottle which was heading right for my face. "For your backpack." Shane explained.

"Thanks." I held up the water bottle causing Shane to nod before turning around. "Hey Dale, you mind me dumping the unnecessary stuff in the R.V?" I questioned politely causing him to give me the go ahead as he opened the door to the RV for me. "Thanks." I smiled before barging into the bedroom to see Stacie in the corner. "Hey."

"Hey." Stacie greeted me with a small smile as I chucked my backpack onto the RV bed and proceeded to unzip it and search through whatever junk I had in here. "Looking for Sophia..." she trailed off whilst I chucked out whatever clothes I had in there onto the bed. "Will it be dangerous?"

"I don't know Stacie." I told her truthfully with a sigh. Sometimes I felt that Stacie was the only person I could be 100% honest around all the time. "I can't lie." I looked up at her through my eyelashes. "But assure you, we will all stay alive." I told her before stuffing the water bottle Shane had given to me into my backpack along with ammo.

"Well I'm ready."

"Ready?!" The sudden movement of me shooting my head upwards caused me to wince in pain but it was as if it were a reflex. "I mean," I grunted as I slipped on the upper thigh holster onto my bare leg, I had decided on wearing shorts today. "Say what now?" I glanced back at her.

"Rick said that he needed every able body on finding Sophia." Stacie informed me, slinging her little backpack over her shoulder. "And we're all a team right? That means we should be working together." She added on quickly. "An organised effort but a big one." She finished before I could get a word in. Sometimes things I saw in Stacie made me think of how she was so wise beyond her years.

"Rick did say that yes," I confirmed, thinking about how I was going to argue with her on this one. She did have a valid point. "But, Sophia got lost out there Stace," I reminded her with a frown. "I don't want that to happen to anybody else." I explained.

"I should always stay close to you." She echoed my previous words. God dammit. "You said so last night, remember?" she reminded me, and I certainly did. Crap. "Can't I come?" Stacie begged with a small frown plastered onto her angelic face.

"Oh, what the hell?" I mumbled under my breath as I slung my back pack over one shoulder. "Okay, you can come." I told her causing Stacie to beam up at me almost instantly. "But, if you go off on your own, even for a second, I will personally march your butt back here, honey." I said sternly causing her smile to fade off ever so slightly. "You stay quiet and do what you're told, alright?"

"Okay."

"Good." I nodded at her before slinging my significantly lighter backpack over my right shoulder. "If you're coming with us, you're going to need a weapon." I voiced to her. "Let's get you one." I smiled ever so slightly as I opened the R.V door up wide.

"Maybe just a little gratitude."

Dale's voice was the first I heard when I flung open the RV door. I had been placed completely out of context from whatever conversation that was happening outside the RV so instead of stepping outside like I had meant to I just hovered in the doorway, not meaning to pry but feeling to awkward to leave.

"Gratitude?" I heard Andrea ask out of disbelief. "I wanted to die my way, not torn apart by drooling freaks." Andrea's voice cracked ever so slightly. "That was my choice." She stated. "You took that away from me, Dale." She accused him, I couldn't even imagine the expression on Dale's face after hearing that.

Still looming in the doorway, I looked out to see I was not the only one listening into this conversation. From my spot I could see that pretty much everyone was awkwardly standing near the vehicle, obviously waiting on Andrea, myself and Stacie to get going. Shifting his gaze, Glenn's eyes found my own. He threw me a small smile which I returned before he went back to fiddling with the strap of his backpack.

"But-"

"But you know better?" Andrea retorted, cutting Dale off in mid-sentence. "All I wanted after my sister died was to get out of this endless horrific nightmare we live every day." She admitted casting a blank expression amongst the groups faces along with mine. Sure, family was family but she had us. We cared for her. "I wasn't hurting anyone else. You took away my choice, Dale. And you expect gratitude?"

It was at that moment I was pushes violently out of the R.V and forced down the stairs.

Damn you Stacie.

Coughing awkwardly, I saw Daryl in the distance stifling a laugh. Rolling my eyes, I simply regained a normal human stance and continued to walk over to the arsenal. Locating a small flip knife, I took it in my hands and flicked it open with little effort. examined its weight and balance in my hands.

"I don't know what to say."

Trying to ignore the heated conversation going on relatively near me, I examined its weight and balance in my hands before flicking it shut. Silently, I placed it into Stacie's small hand and wrapped her fingers around it carefully seeing as I doubt she knew how to handle it probably.

"I'm not your little girl." Andrea pointed out. "I'm not your wife." She snapped at Dale. "And I'm sure as hell not your problem." She told him with a guttural tone, causing me to shamefully turn my head ever so slightly so I could see what was going on. "That's all there is to say."

Without any other words, Andrea span around on her heel and proceeded to walk in the direction of the forest leaving Dale gobsmacked. Briefly, I connected eyes with Daryl who only gave a small shrug of his shoulders before he travelled into the forest leaving the rest of us to trail after them.

►►►

As soon as I'm in the trees, I passed my backpack to Glenn who had nothing on his back. Swiftly, he took it for me and slid it through his arms whilst I readjusted my quiver and clutched my bow protectively. It wasn't like I was lazy, it's just you need a lot of arm movements when working a bow, especially a recurve one. Lucky for me, I was way more familiar with the ways of a recurve bow than a normal bow.

The woods were probably the worst possible place you could get lost ever, especially nowadays. Inside the woods, the walkers could roam freely let alone the fact that there were no paths to follow. Everything looked pretty similar to the average person, let alone a less experienced one. I doubt Sophia had much experiences with wood. She, like Stacie and most of our group had grown up as city kids. Leaving Rick, Shane, myself and Daryl as the ones who had experience with the woods.

Despite the large number of the group, it wasn't long until we all reached where Rick had claimed to leave Sophia- the creek. Seeing mouths open to question, I held up my finger to stop them talking before looping my arm through my recurve bow.

"Y'all stay up here." I instructed them in a whisper, turning to face the creek. "Daryl, Rick, Shane and I will go down and have a quick look." I told them how everything was going to go down causing them to nod. "Y'all keep an eye out for us, yeah?"

Recklessly, I resumed to take the shortest but probably most dangerous root- down into the shallow of the creek via the rocky ledge/uneven surface heading downwards. Much to my surprise, I ended up without one cut or even a scratch as I readjusted myself in the shallows.

Slowly, I turned my head and nodded to Daryl, indicating that I was going to take the little rocky cave that Rick had hid Sophia. Advancing towards it, I ripped through the bushes that guarded it from unwanted eyes to find...nothing. Not a trace of Sophia.

Sighing, I pivoted around to see that the others were searching the greenery around the shallows but they too looked unsuccessful and revealed it when I saw the looks on their faces. I contained my growling as I grabbed onto Thea's hand as she helped pull me up before helping the others up.

"Well?" I turned around to see Carol with her arm crossed around her chest as she approached all of us with an expectant look on her face.

"She's not here."

"No," Glenn agreed. "That would have been too easy wouldn't it? I mean, our lives are just hell bound after all." Glenn voice causing me to raise my head and shoot a look at Glenn to tell him to keep his mouth shut. I knew it was just his way but he had to be a little bit more thoughtful to others. "What?" Glenn questioned, receiving my look but obviously not understanding.

"Come on, this way." I said loudly to the group who were still aimlessly searching. "This way guys. Chop. Chop. Remember the plan." I pointed in a direction whilst marching to Glenn and taking his hand in mine, dragging him along with me as if he were a toddler but he didn't object. "What?" I asked, sensing his look.

"You're holding my hand."

"Yes," I nodded my head. "I am aware of this." I told him, giving him a side long look before I turned back to face forwards."SSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!" I screamed out into the forest, nothing.

"It's weird." Glenn commented. "I mean...." He trailed off, trying to express himself. "It feels almost wrong." Glenn spoke his mind freely.

"Wow, gee." I exclaimed, rolling my eyes. "Thanks Glenn, I'm touched." I thanked him, not really caring about his words. He was Glenn after all, what did I expect?

"No, it's not like your hands are weird or anything." Glenn denied nervously, but I still wasn't looking at him. "Sure, they're a little small but...." Glenn trailed off, small? My hands were not small they were perfectly sized. "It's just....." he trailed off again. "Why exactly are you holding my hand?" he questioned.

"So I can lecture you nicely," I explained to him causing him to nod his head in agreement and understanding before raising an eyebrow at me.

"Wait, what?"

"Glenn, you can't just go around saying things like that." I told him calmly. "I know you can't help it but you have to learn to help it, and fast." I ordered. "I mean if you're getting angry and annoyed, how the hell do you think Carol feels?" I questioned him. "Just chose your words more carefully and express them a lot less loud." I advised him, squeezing his hand before letting it go and dropping behind ever so slightly.

"How's that bow treating you?"

"Good. Good." I nodded with a small smile as I turned my head to see Rick now beside me, with Carl by his side. "But then again, just to make sure."

Sure, I was showing off but I didn't mean to in an impulsive way, I meant it in a way to cheer up Carl. What kid didn't want to see something cool? I raised my bow and rested my arrow on the arrow rest before drawing back. Squinting, I located a knot on the tree before releasing the tension on the string sending the arrow forth into the air before sticking into the knot.

"Woah."

And at that, I glanced down at Carl and winked at him, before I began to walk forward towards the tree and with little effort, pull the arrow head out of the out of the knot before placing it back into my quiver waiting for them to catch up to me.

"Impressive." Rick commented with a nod. "I didn't know you were still that good to be honest," he admitted causing me to raise an eyebrow. "I underestimated you," Rick stated. "As usual." He added causing a playful smile to form on my lips as he pressed his to my cheek.

"Stop dragging your heals! We've got another 5 miles to cover!"

Urgh.

Well, I suppose it'd be worth it when we find Sophia.

►►►

Nothing.

Not a damn thing.

As the day wore on, the group was either tired and worn or beginning to get tired and worn from a long fruitless search. God, even I was getting tired. And there was me thinking I got an acceptable amount of sleep last night.... Looking around I saw their faces, clouded with lost hope.

This was not a good position to be in.

"Shane, look." Carl's voice came from behind me and Shane causing Shane to turn his head in his direction whilst I kept my eyes front. I wonder what he wants....Nope, there is no time for distractions Electra. "Dad said I could carry it," Carl began to explain. Ah, he was talking about his weapon. "-and mom said as long as I was-" he continued, I couldn't help but smile at the excitement hidden in his tone.

"Keep it down." Shane cut him off with a rude hiss causing my eyes to widen involuntarily. Resisting snapping my head around to check if I had heard right I just continued forwards in confusion. "We're looking for Sophia, you need to focus on the task." Shane spat at Carl before passing right by me as fast as lightening. What. The. Actual. Fuck. Since when was Shane a douche to Carl?

"Got to keep up."

"I am."

"You okay?"

I was still listening in to the conversation, slightly phased by Shane's actions myself. It scared me to see him acting so cold to Carl. Carl. Of all people.

"I think Shane's mad at me." Carl mused, glancing down at the ground below him, I could hear him scuffing his shoes against the floor as well. Oh man. "Electra!" he called me causing me to perk up, act as if I hadn't been eavesdropping all the time and spin on the spot to join the actual conversation. "Shane's mad at me, did I do something wrong?" he questioned me.

"No." I shook my head, squinting at the boy to add onto my confused act. Sure, I was confused about why Shane was acting like this but kids always need that little exaggeration for effect and assurance. "Honey, I promise you that Shane isn't mad at you one bit." I vowed sincerely. "He's just worried about Sophia, that's all." I assured him with a small smile. "Go on, catch up with Stacie." I urged him causing him to sprint forwards.

Suddenly, everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Following the leader, I came to a stop just after Thea and followed the general action of everyone kneeling down to get close to the floor.

"What's happening?" I hissed to her but she gave me no response. Determined, I carefully paced forwards until the point where I caught up with the first lot and laid eyes on a small campsite of some sort. One green tent had been pitched in the middle and little lay outside of it.

"She could be in there." Shane pointed out causing him, Rick, Daryl, Carol and I to exchange looks of curiosity, uncertainty and doubt.

"Could be a whole bunch of things in there." Daryl remarked, and he was right. God knows what was in that tent, it looked abandoned. Nonetheless, Daryl held up his finger to signal for us to drop behind whilst he slowly prowled towards the tent with a hunting knife at the ready.

"Carol." Rick addressed her as I carefully slipped an arrow into bow and drew it back tight, ready to release if necessary. "Call out softly." He instructed. "If she's in there, yours is the first voice she should hear." Rick explained calmly in a bare whisper.

"Sophia, sweetie, are you in there?" Carol called out, hiding the fear in her voice. "Sophia, it's Mommy." She continued, but by this point we were all convinced that she was not in there. "We're all here, baby. It's Mommy." She finished before Rick told her to quieten down.

Quietly, Shane, Rick and I speeded forwards so that we were closer to Daryl than the group but so that Daryl still stood between us and the tent. Carefully, Daryl began to unzip the entrance to the tent, attempting to keep the noise at the minimum.

What the hell is that smell?

Once he had opened the tent fully, the horrid stench truly entered my lungs- without permission I guaranteed that, it should be arrested for breaking and entering forcefully. Gagging, I bent over fully and the effects of my body rejecting the smell kicked in in the form of a coughing fit.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one as I could hear coughing from both sides of me. Glancing up briefly, I saw that Daryl had gone before looking back down. Wait....what? I shot straight upwards to only come back crashing down with coughing once more.

"Daryl?" I questioned with a raw throat before erupting into coughs once more. "Daryl?!" I enquired, raising my voice through the coughs.

In a matter of seconds Daryl stepped back out of the tent causing me to instantly leap backwards to get a sniff of the fresh air. Appreciating the fresh air, I rose my eye line in order to focus on Daryl.

"It aint her." He confirmed my beliefs.

"What the hell is in there?" Andrea demanded, probably wondering due to Rick's, Shane's and my own reactions to the smell.

"Some guy." Daryl informed us. More like some dead guy. "He did what Jenner said." He explained. "Opted out?" he proposed. "Aint that what he called it?" he enquired causing me to nod vigorously before involuntarily scrunching my face up out of disgust.

Ding.

Dong.

Ding.

Dong.

"Bells!" I heard Stacie yell from somewhere of my right hand side. "They're bells, like the ones they have at my church." She pointed out. "They're church bells!" she stated the obvious, obviously content with herself.

"They sure are honey." Shane confirmed, flashing her a smile to which she returned with a beam. "Now the question is: What direction are they coming from?" he questioned us all.

"I think that way." Rick claimed, pointing in my direction causing me to really concentrate on my hearing above all other senses. "I'm pretty sure." He added as I closed my eyes and stood still in order to truly concentrate on my hearing, sight was unnecessary at this point.

"Damn, it's hard to tell out here." Shane.

Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong.

"If we heard them, then maybe Sophia does, too." Carol.

Ding. Dong. Ding

"Someone's ringing those bells, maybe calling others." Glenn.

Dong. Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong.

"Or signalling they've found her." Thea.

Ding.

"She could be ringing them herself. Come on."

Finally getting a lock on where the bells where chiming from I blindly ran in their direction, literally before flashing my eyes open. The others were calling me, but I didn't know why so I ignored them. Continuing, I sped through the woods, weaving through the trees as I heard there yells from behind me. Oh. I guess I had ran in the opposite direction that Rick had pointed in.

Guess my hearing wasn't as good as it used to be.

I was about to make a U-turn before I emerged out of the tree's and into some empty space causing me to stop in my tracks. Hyperventilating, I scrutinised the image of the small Baptist church that was a little less than a mile to my right as I turned so it was directly in front of me.

"Mismatch!" I heard that oh-so-familiar southern drawl in the form of a bark as, Daryl stopped directly in front of me with a glare on his face. "What the hell is wrong with you, woman?!" he demanded, catching his breath himself as the others caught up with us.

Still out of breath, I simply pointed towards the Baptist church causing him to spin around on the spot and face it dead on.

"Nice work, Mismatch."

"That can't be it." Shane insisted, now beside me. "Got no steeple," he pointed out, confirming my own thoughts out loud. "No bells." He said in short but Rick simple just darted passed us heading in the direction of the Baptist church. "Rick." He called after him, but Rick myself beforehand was not listening.

Left with no other option, I simply just sighed before bolting after Rick, trusting whatever thoughts were going on in his head. Growling, I managed to catch up with Rick just a moment before we both brang ourselves to a stop right before the doors. Deciding to be cautious, I got ready to fire my arrow and kicked the door wide open.

"SOPHIA!"

No reply....well no replies unless you counted growling as one. From the back they looked perfectly human, dressed in wedding attire but as soon as they turned back around it revealed that they most definitely were not humans. Almost instantly, I released the tension on the bow string allowing the arrow to sore through the air and straight into the brides eyeball.

It seemed as if I had caused Rick, Shane and Daryl to spring into action as it was only then they proceeded on the walkers waiting in the pews, skilfully taking them down both quietly and quickly with help of their weapons from the arsenal. Quickly reloading, I brought my bow up and shot at the perfect time to shoot down the last walker before the others could advance on it.

"SOPHIA!"

Suddenly, my vision was filled by two of my own arrows being offered back to me. Before accepting them, I glanced upwards to look at Daryl who was giving me a stern look. Nodding curtly, I took back my arrows and stuffed them back into my quiver.

"Yo," Daryl called, I glanced back at him expectantly but he wasn't looking at me....he was looking at one of the holy statues. "Yo, J.C., you taking requests?" he enquired before backing away from the alter. I think everyone was silently asking the same thing as him but in a different form.

"Shane's right." I spoke up causing everyone's eyes to land on me. "Rick," I addressed him, pleading him with my eyes. "I'm telling you, it's the wrong church." I insisted. "It's got no steeple, Rick." I informed him, but he seemed to be ignoring me. "There's no steeple." I tried to hammer it into his head and he almost believed it before the bells began to toll once more.

Sighing, I followed the rest of the survivors who were running outside once more. Growling erupted from around the corner as I went around it. There, sure enough on the side of the Baptist church was an automated bell toll. In frustration, Glenn unhooked it violently.

"A timer." Daryl panted, bringing an explanation to those who hadn't quite caught on yet. "It's on a freakin' timer." He stated.

"I'm gonna go back in for a bit."

A few of us, consisting of me, Thea, Carl, Stacie and Rick decided to join Carol inside whilst Lori, Shane, Daryl and Andrea remained outside, probably appreciating the fresh air. The others took their seats in the pews, silently praying in their heads whilst I stood leaning on the wall for support.

After a few minutes, Carol slowly shot to her feet and travelled down the ail, stopping right before the alter which held the statue of Jesus whilst Lori entered the building and took a seat in the pews in between her husband and her son.

"Father, forgive me." Carol began to pray out loud whilst holding her hands together. "I don't deserve your mercy." She admitted causing me to shift uncomfortably in my spot. "I prayed for a safe passage from Atlanta and you provided. I prayed for Ed to be punished for laying his hands on me and for looking at his own daughter with whatever sickness was growing in his soul. I prayed you'd put a stop to it, give me a chance to raise her right, help her not make my mistakes." She listed, now everyone's heads began to raise ever so slightly. "She's so fearful. She's so young in her way. She hasn't had a chance." She pleaded Sophia's case though needed not to. "Praying for Ed's death was a sin. Please don't let this be my punishment. Let her be safe, alive and safe. Please, Lord. Punish me however you want, but show mercy on her."

It was at this point I could take it no more, I immediately pushed my weight off of the wall and slammed the Baptist church doors wide open continuing until I reached the beginning of the forest, joining Daryl who was smoking a cigarette alone.

"Last one," Daryl commented as I crossed my arms across my chest before he held it out for me in an offering. Crinkling my nose up, I shook my head. "Why not?" Daryl questioned me but I gave no answer. "A smoke will relax your mind." He attempted to tempt me.

"Thanks for the offer but; I don't smoke." I explained. "It's a dirty habit if you don't mind me saying so." I voiced causing Daryl to shrug his shoulders before taking another puff. "And what makes you think my mind needs to be relaxed?" I challenged him with a raised eyebrow.

"Cause you just burst out of that church as if it was infected."

"I don't feel like sticking around hearing people praying to 'God' who clearly does not exist and if he does, clearly won't grant their wishes because he doesn't do a damn thing." I snapped at him before my eyes trailed off elsewhere, attempting to cool down.

"Amen."

"Pfft." I rolled my eyes as I turned my gaze back to him shaking away my thoughts. "I'm sorry." I apologized sheepishly. "I mean, I just couldn't bear to watch Carol praying for God to punish her and not Sophia. It just pisses me off as to how people can feel like that." I explained.

"Couldn't agree more, woman." Daryl nodded before dropping the cigarette to the dirt. "Beginning to sound like you're the only one who actually knows their shit around here." he commented as he stomped it out, making it become one with the forest floor.

"Apart from you, right?" I piped up.

"Pfft, of course." Daryl spat. "That's a given, Mismatch." He retaliated causing me to role my eyes before smiling a little at him. "I was bein' dead serious though, the others don't have a clue." He shook his head. "Shane maybe, but the rest? Naw." He continued to shake his head. "Hoping and praying don't do a damn thing, we both know that. But they're in there doin' in anyway. Idiots." He muttered. "Only thing that separates you and me Mismatch? I'll speak up about it, whereas you'll just let them continue and one day, it's gonna get them killed." He said seriously sending a cold shiver down my spine.

And then, as if Daryl had predicted this, the group emerged from within the Baptist church. Shielding my eyes from the direct sunlight, I studied them one by one as I considered his words carefully. Slowly, I took a deep breath in as I looked back to Daryl whose eyes bore into my own. Breaking this connection, I pivoted and headed towards Rick and Shane who were conversing.

"Got to move here, man." Shane told him before sending me a small smile as I joined them for a brief moment. "These people are spent, there's only so many hours of daylight left." He explained. "We still got a long way back." He pointed out before I decided to pass by their conversation instead of joining into it.

"Hey guys." I greeted Thea and Andrea pleasantly as I joined them.

"Hey." They chorused with smiles on their faces. "Why did you rush out of there so quickly?" Thea questioned me. "The church?" she added on to clarify.

"Oh....." I trailed off, I couldn't helping thinking back to Daryl's previous words. Somewhere deep down, very deep down, I knew he was right but I couldn't bring myself to be so direct. Beliefs could save you too, help you not abandon hope and keep you sane. "Felt a little dizzy, thought I should get some fresh air." I lied smoothly with a small smile playing upon my lips.

"D'ya think T's going to be alright?"

"He'll be fine." I replied to Thea's question. "I'm sure of it, Dale bandaged him up pretty good. All we can do is hope that the wound doesn't get infected." I added on causing Thea's eyes to open. "Then we'll have to search for meds, otherwise things may get a little nasty." I admitted.

"I....." Thea trailed off, on the brink of tears. "Can I talk to you in private please, Electra?" she asked me tearfully causing Andrea to walk away, understanding that this was going to be a private conversation, one of which she was not involved in. "I-I-I-" she stuttered on the verge of breaking out into sobs.

"Thea...." I frowned before she let loose the sobs. "Oh Thea...." I stepped forwards and wrapped my arms around the girl in a form of comfort. "It's okay.....shhhh.....shhhhh." I told her, holding her tightly in my arms as she sobbed into my sweater.

"It's just....." she dawdled off once more. "I just don't want to lose him." She revealed causing me to 'shush' her once more, opening my mouth to deny. "I know I shouldn't....but I think.......I think I may be beginning to have feelings for him." She admitted as she began to howl.

"Thea.....believe me, that's totally acceptable." I lectured her. "In this world, things go so fast. It feels like I've known y'all for years but in reality it's only a few months. So don't you worry about 'moving' on too quickly." I ordered her. "You deserve a man like T, he's one of the best." I stated. "Who is going to be perfectly fine." I added on for extra measure causing Thea to sniffle and back out of the hug with a smile.

A clear of a throat along with a cock of the gun caused everyone to quieten down and spin to face Shane who was approaching us.

"Y'all gonna follow the creek bed back, okay?" Shane instructed causing me to arch an eyebrow at him, confused as why he said 'y'all' rather than 'we'. "Daryl, Ellie: You're in charge." He placed the authority on me and Daryl causing me to become really confused now. "Me and Rick, we're just gonna hang back, search this area another hour or so to be thorough." He stated.

"You're splitting us up." Daryl stated causing Shane to sigh before nodding his head. "You sure?" he questioned him, urging him to rethink.

"Yeah, we'll catch up to you."

"I want to stay too." Carl piped up from Lori's side causing everyone to give him the second degree. "I'm her friend." He reminded everyone, causing Lori and Rick to exchange looks.

"Just be careful, okay?" Lori said, much to my surprise.

"I will."

"Oh," Lori wrapped her arms around her sun and brought him into her. "When did you start growing up?" she enquired before going over to Rick and kissing him on the lips whilst snaking her arms around him too.

"I'll be along soon enough." Rick assured Lori holding her, automatically my eyes flickered away as I could feel jealousy burning deep within my chest. Sighing, I raked a hand through my untidy hair. "Here, take this." Rick stole his gun from within his holster and held it out to Lori, offering it to her. "Remember how to use it?" he asked.

"I'm not taking your gun and leaving you unarmed." Lori denied but Rick didn't withdraw his hand as Daryl began to walk over to them.

"Here," Now he was the one holding out a gun to Lori. "Got a spare." He explained whilst I examined the gun from afar, definitely hadn't seen that one floating amongst camp. "Take it." He offered it to Lori who took it. Noticeably, Andrea sighed and rolled her eyes from her spot.