Wildfire
Rick stood at the edge of the quarry, the walkie-talkie clutched in his hand.
“Morgan,” he began, “I don’t know if you’re out there. I don’t know if you can hear me. Maybe you’re listening right now. I hope so. I found others… my family, if you can believe it. My wife and sons, they’re alive. I wanted you to know that.”
Rick paused, glancing out at the empty expanse before him, “There’s something else you need to know. Atlanta isn’t what we thought. It’s not what they promised. The city is… Do not enter the city. It belongs to the dead now.”
He exhaled softly, his gaze shifting upward toward the streaks of light breaking through the clouds. “We’re camped a few miles northwest, up by a big abandoned rock quarry. You can see it on a map. I hope you come find us. But be careful. Last night walkers came out of the woods. We lost people.”
The memory of the previous night’s chaos flickered across his face “Watch yourself, Morgan. Take care of your boy. I’ll try you again tomorrow at dawn.”
He lowered the walkie-talkie, his hand lingering on it for a moment before he clipped it back onto his belt.
Camp
Harry and several others moved the bodies of their fallen to the burial pile. Nearby, Andrea and Amy sat together on the steps of Dale’s RV. Andrea rested her chin on her Amy’s shoulder, her expression distant as she processed the events of the night before. Amy, her own grief barely concealed, glanced toward Harry. When their eyes met, she offered him a small, grateful smile.
Glenn and T-Dog hauled bodies toward the fire near Harry.
Morales and Daryl dragged the lifeless body of a dead camper toward the burn site. Morales glanced at Daryl, his voice quiet but sincere. “Thanks. Thanks.”
Glenn, noticing their direction, called out sharply. “What are you guys doing? This is for geeks. Our people go over there.”
Daryl didn’t stop, his tone dismissive. “What’s the difference? They’re all infected.”
Glenn’s voice rose, his frustration evident. “Our people go in that row over there. We don’t burn them! We bury them. Understand? Our people go in that row over there.”
Daryl and Morales exchanged a look before changing course, dragging the body toward the digging hole. Daryl muttered under his breath, his tone bitter. “You reap what you sow.”
Morales shot him a glare. “You know what? Shut up, man.”
Daryl’s voice hardened, his anger bubbling to the surface. “Y’all left my brother for dead. You had this coming.”
Nearby, Jacqui and Jim worked to pile up walker bodies. Jacqui paused, her eyes narrowing as she noticed a dark stain on Jim’s shirt. “Are you bleeding?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Jim glanced down “I just got some on me from the bodies,” he replied quickly.
Jacqui stepped closer “That blood is fresh. Were you bit?”
Jim shook his head, his voice defensive. “No. I got scratched during the attack.”
Jacqui’s eyes narrowed further. “You got bit.”
Jim’s voice rose slightly, his words hurried. “I’m fine.”
Jacqui didn’t back down. “Then show me.”
Jim hesitated, his gaze darting around the camp. “Don’t tell, please,” he whispered.
Jacqui called out “A walker got him. A walker bit Jim.”
The group gathered around, their faces etched with fear. Jim raised his hands, his voice trembling. “I’m okay. I’m okay.”
Daryl stepped forward “Show it to us. Show it to us.”
Shane held up a hand, his voice steady. “Easy, Jim.”
Daryl wasn’t having it. “Grab him,” he snapped
Jim’s eyes darted to the shovel lying on the ground. He grabbed it, holding it defensively. “I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay,” he repeated, his voice growing more frantic.
Shane took a step closer “Jim, put it down. Put it down.”
Before Jim could react, T-Dog moved in, catching him from behind and holding him tight. Jim struggled, his voice breaking. “I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”
Daryl stepped forward, lifting Jim’s shirt to reveal a deep, jagged wound. The sight drew a collective gasp from the group.
Jim’s voice cracked as he continued to repeat himself, his words growing quieter. “I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”
Daryl leaned back against a nearby post,“I say we put a pickaxe in his head and be done with it.”
Shane shot him a sharp look. “Is that what you’d want if it were you?”
Daryl didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, and I’d thank you while you did it.”
Dale, who had been quietly listening, cleared his throat. “I hate to say it… I never thought I would… but maybe Daryl’s right.”
Rick’s voice cut through the tension,“Jim’s not a monster, Dale, or some rabid dog.”
Dale shook his head quickly. “I’m not suggesting that…”
Rick didn’t let him finish. “He’s sick. A sick man. We start down that road, where do we draw the line?”
Daryl crossed his arms, “The line’s pretty clear. Zero tolerance for walkers, or them to be.”
Rick ignored him “What if we can get him help?” he said. “I heard the C.D.C. was working on a cure.”
Shane folded his arms, his skepticism clear. “I heard that too. Heard a lot of things before the world went to hell.”
Rick met Shane’s gaze. “What if the C.D.C. is still up and running?”
Shane let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Man, that is a stretch right there.”
“Why?” Rick countered. “If there’s any government left, any structure at all, they’d protect the C.D.C. at all costs, wouldn’t they? I think it’s our best shot. Shelter, protection…”
Shane sighed heavily. “Okay, Rick, you want those things, all right? I do too, okay? Now, if they exist, they’re at the army base. Fort Benning.”
Lori looked up, her voice cutting in. “That’s 100 miles in the opposite direction.”
Shane nodded. “That’s right. But it’s away from the hot zone. Now listen to me. If that place is operational, it’ll be heavily armed. We’d be safe there.”
Rick’s expression didn’t falter. “The military were on the front lines of this thing. They got overrun. We’ve all seen that. The C.D.C. is our best choice and Jim’s only chance.”
Daryl paced back and forth, his frustration boiling over. “You go looking for aspirin, do what you need to do,” he snapped, gripping the pickaxe tightly. “Someone needs to have some balls to take care of this damn problem!”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Shane interjected.
But Daryl wasn’t listening. He stormed toward Jim, raising the pickaxe with determination. Before he could swing, the sharp click of a gun being cocked froze him in his tracks. Daryl turned his head slightly to see Rick standing behind him, his gun aimed squarely at Daryl’s head.
“We don’t kill the living,” Rick said firmly.
Daryl let out a bitter laugh, lowering the pickaxe slightly but not letting go. “That’s funny,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Coming from a man who just put a gun to my head.”
Shane stepped closer, his voice calm “We may disagree on some things,” he said, his eyes locked on Daryl. “Not on this. You put it down. Go on.”
For a moment, Daryl hesitated, his grip tightening on the pickaxe. Then, with a frustrated grunt, he dropped it to the ground and turned away, muttering under his breath as he walked off.
Rick lowered his gun, his expression softening as he turned to Jim. “Come with me,” he said quietly.
Jim looked up at him, his face pale and drawn. “Where are you taking me?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“Somewhere safe,” Rick replied, his tone gentle but firm.
He helped Jim to his feet, guiding him toward Dale’s RV.
Harry wiped the sweat from his brow as he worked through the wreckage. His gaze shifted across the camp until it landed on Clementine, standing quietly by her old tent. She watched as Mark carried the bodies of the fallen toward the burial pit. Harry felt an urge to check on her.
“Hey, Clementine,” he said gently as he approached. Her wide eyes lifted to meet his, and she tilted her head slightly.
“You’re Harry, right? Carl’s older brother?” she asked, her voice softly.
Harry nodded and knelt down to her level, offering her a small, reassuring smile. “That’s right.”
Clementine sighed, her gaze flickering back to the tent. “I wish I had a brother or sister,” she muttered quietly, her voice tinged with longing.
Harry followed her gaze, then turned back to her. “Is Mark your dad?” he asked curiously.
She shook her head, her hair swaying lightly. “My parents went to Savannah before all this,” she explained, her tone carrying a hint of sadness. “Mark saved me from my babysitter after the monsters got her. We went to this farm for a while, but…” She trailed off, biting her lip before continuing. “Something bad happened. We had to leave the farm after… with Kenny and his family.”
Harry remained quiet, letting her speak at her own pace. Clementine seemed grateful for the chance to share her story.
“That’s when we ran into Carley, Doug, and Glenn in Macon,” she continued. “There were two other people there, but they were scary. The old man wanted to throw Duck out to the monsters because he thought he was bitten when he wasn’t. We left with Glenn, but they refused to come with us.”
Her small shoulders slumped slightly, and she turned to look at Harry again, her expression hopeful “Do you think we’ll be able to go to Savannah to find my parents?” she asked, her voice wavering.
Harry glanced toward his parents and Shane, who were deep in discussion nearby. He didn’t want to give Clementine false hope, but he also didn’t want to squash the glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“I don’t know, Clem,” he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe.”
“Is Jim going to be okay?” she asked softly.
Harry paused, the weight of her question bearing down on him. He glanced at Jim in the distance, sitting in the shade of Dale’s RV, his face pale and lined with pain. The truth loomed heavy in Harry’s mind.
He bowed his head, his fingers brushing through his hair as he tried to think of an answer. Silence stretched between them for a moment, the sounds of the camp bustling faintly in the background.
“I don’t know, Clem,” Harry said finally, his voice quiet but steady. “Jim’s… he’s going through something really hard right now. We’re doing everything we can for him.”
Clementine’s lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked down, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “I hope he gets better,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze.
Harry rose to his feet, glancing toward the areas of the camp where the cleanup was still underway. “Come on, Clem,” he said gently “Let’s get you back to Katjaa and Carol. You should stick close to them or one of the adults while we’re finishing up here.”
Clementine nodded quietly, her small hands brushing against her sleeves as she followed him. Harry walked slowly, keeping pace with her as they made their way across the camp.
As they approached Katjaa and Carol, who were both sorting supplies near the RV, Harry crouched down again to meet Clementine’s gaze. “Stay with them, okay? They’ll keep an eye on you while things settle down. It’s safer with the adults right now.”
Clementine nodded, her eyes briefly flicking toward Katjaa and Carol. “Okay,” she said.
Harry smiled faintly, giving her shoulder one last squeeze before straightening up. “Good girl they’ll take care of you.”
Katjaa noticed them and offered Harry a nod of appreciation as she placed a hand on Clementine’s back. “Come here, sweetheart,” she said gently. “We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Quarry
The sound of shovels scraping against dirt filled the air as Rick and Shane worked side by side, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Rick finally broke it “Say it.”
Shane paused, leaning on his shovel for a moment before speaking. “Okay. I’m thinking if you’d stayed here, if you’d have looked after your own… Instead, you went off. You took half our manpower with you. I’m thinking maybe our losses wouldn’t have been so bad.”
Rick’s grip tightened on his shovel, but he kept his tone calm. “If we hadn’t gone off and brought those guns back when we did, I think our losses would have been a lot worse. Maybe the entire camp.”
Shane didn’t reply.
The rumble of a truck broke the uneasy silence, and both men looked up as Daryl stepped out, his expression hard. He glanced at the graves and shook his head. “I still think it’s a mistake not burning these bodies,” he said bluntly. “It’s what we said we’d do, right? Burn ’em all, wasn’t that the idea?”
Shane nodded slightly. “At first.”
Daryl let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “The Chinaman gets all emotional, says it’s not the thing to do, we just follow him along? These people need to know who the hell’s in charge here, what the rules are.”
Rick’s voice was steady but sharp. “There are no rules.”
Lori approached “Well, that’s a problem,” she said, her gaze shifting between the men. “We haven’t had one minute to hold onto anything of our old selves. We need time to mourn, and we need to bury our dead. It’s what people do.”
Rick nodded, his expression softening as he glanced at Lori. “She’s right,” he said quietly.
Inside the RV, Jim lay on the small cot, his breathing labored and his eyes unfocused. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he muttered to himself, his words disjointed and frantic. “Oh no. No no no no. No, not this, please. No no no. Oh, no no no. No no.”
Images flashed before his eyes—twisted faces, hungry growls, hands clawing toward him.
The survivors moved slowly as they left the quarry, their faces etched with fatigue and sorrow. Rick walked beside Lori, his eyes scanning the group as they trudged forward. His voice was quiet, almost to himself. “Burying other people is bad enough, but the thought of one of us…”
“Shh,” Lori said gently, her tone firm but understanding. She squeezed his hand briefly, grounding him.
Carl trotted beside his father, his young voice breaking through the silence. “Are we safe now, Dad?” he asked hesitantly. “Now that we’re together?”
Rick crouched down slightly, placing a reassuring hand on Carl’s shoulder. “I won’t leave again,” he promised. “Not for anything. Now give me a chance to discuss some things with your mom, okay?”
Carl nodded. “Yeah.”
Rick smiled faintly. “All right. All right.”
Carl turned and headed back toward the camp.
Rick turned to Lori, his expression heavy with concern. He took her hand, his voice soft but serious. “Shane blames me for not being here,” he said. “Do you? We got guns now. We’re stronger.”
She met Rick’s gaze, her expression torn “And we have fewer people. That makes us weaker,” she said softly. “You want me to say I think you were right? I understand that. All I can say is that neither one of you is entirely wrong. It’s the best I can do right now.”
Rick took a moment, digesting her response before speaking again. “What about the C.D.C.?”
“Rick…” Lori hesitated, searching for the right words.
“We’re at the ragged edge here,” Rick pressed “We need relief, and we got a sick man who needs help. I don’t know why people can’t see that.”
Lori’s expression softened “Well, look at their faces. Look at mine. We’re all terrified. If one of us suggested, based on a hunch, that we head toward that city, you’d have no part of it. Tell me something with certainty.”
Rick met her eyes, his voice quiet “I love you. That’s all I got.”
Lori’s lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. “I love you too,” she replied.
Inside the RV, the air was thick with the scent of sweat and sickness. Rick and Lori stepped in, finding Jim lying on a cot, his face flushed and damp with fever. Carol sat nearby as she dabbed Jim’s forehead with a damp cloth.
“His fever is worse,” Carol said, her voice heavy with concern.
Lori stepped forward, her tone gentle. “You need anything?” she asked.
Jim’s voice was faint but clear. “Uh… Water. Could use more water.”
“I’ll get some,” Lori said with a nod.
“Okay,” Jim murmured.
Lori turned to Carol. “Carol, can you help me?”
“Of course,” Carol replied, standing up and following Lori out of the RV.
As the door clicked shut behind them, Rick moved to sit next to Jim. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just watching the man whose life now hung by a thread.
Jim broke the silence, his voice raspy but edged with grim acceptance. “You save a grave for me?”
Rick’s response was immediate. “Nobody wants that.”
Jim let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “It’s not about what you want. That, uh… that sound you hear, that’s God laughing while you make plans.”
Rick’s jaw tightened, but his tone was soft when he replied. “What I want, Jim, if… if God allows, is to get you some help.”
Jim groaned, turning his head to the side. His breaths were shallow and ragged, and then his words grew strange, disjointed. “Watch the mangroves. Their roots will gouge the whole boat. You know that, right?” His voice softened, almost wistful. “Amy is there swimming. You’ll watch the boat, right? You said you would.”
Rick leaned in slightly, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’ll watch the boat. Don’t worry.”
Jim relaxed a little, his head sinking deeper into the pillow. “Okay,” he whispered, his words trailing off as he drifted
Outside, Harry was helping organize some of the remaining supplies when he noticed Amy approaching him, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket as she made her way toward him.
“Hey,” she said softly, stopping a few feet away.
Harry glanced up from his task, brushing his hands off on his jeans. “Hey, Amy. What’s up?”
She shifted on her feet, glancing down for a moment before meeting his eyes. “I just… I wanted to thank you,” she said “For saving me last night. If you hadn’t been there…”
Harry shook his head, cutting her off gently. “It’s no big deal,” he said. “I just did what anyone else would’ve done.”
Amy frowned slightly “No,” she said firmly. “It is a big deal. If you’d been a second slower, I’d be… I’d be one of the ones being buried today.”
Harry’s expression softened “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he said simply.
Amy took a step closer, her voice quieter . “I mean it, Harry. Thank you.” Before he could respond, she leaned in and kissed him.
Dale, Rick, and Shane entered the camp. Everyone gathered around them as Shane cleared his throat, taking a step forward. “I’ve been, uh… I’ve been thinking about Rick’s plan,” he began, glancing at the group. “Now look, there are no—there are no guarantees either way. I’ll be the first one to admit that. But I’ve known this man a long time,” he said, nodding toward Rick. “I trust his instincts. I say the most important thing here is we need to stay together. So, those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning.”
Rick stepped forward “Okay?” He looked around, waiting for their confirmation, and saw tentative nods from several people.
At dawn, the sky was painted in soft shades of pink and gold as Rick stood near the quarry, holding the walkie-talkie close to his mouth. He stared out at the sprawling city in the distance.
“We’re moving out,” Rick said “Leaving the quarry. If you heard me yesterday, you may be coming here. If you are, we’ll be gone by the time you arrive. I’m leaving a note and map behind for you, taped to a red car so you can follow our trail.”
He paused, taking a deep breath. “We’re heading to the C.D.C. If there’s anything left, it’s got to be there, don’t you think? Morgan… I hope you were right about that place. I need you to be.”
Rick lowered the walkie-talkie, his grip tightening as he clipped it back to his belt. He took a final look at the quarry before turning away.
In the RV, Jim stirred, his breathing ragged as he coughed violently. His eyes fluttered open, glancing around in disorientation.
Outside, Shane stood before the assembled group“Everybody listen up. Those of you with C.B.s, we’re gonna be on channel 40. Let’s keep the chatter down, okay? Now, you got a problem, don’t have a C.B., can’t get a signal or anything at all, you’re gonna hit your horn one time. That’ll stop the caravan. Any questions?”
A hand rose in the back—Morales. He shifted uncomfortably, stepping forward. “We’re, uh… we’re not going,” he said hesitantly, his wife Miranda standing by his side.
Shane’s brow furrowed. “You go on your own, you won’t have anyone to watch your back.”
Morales glanced at Miranda, then back at Shane. “We’ll take the chance. I got to do what’s best for my family. We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with our people.”
Rick stepped in, his voice calm but firm. “You sure?”
Morales nodded. “We talked about it. We’re sure.”
Rick exchanged a glance with Shane, then nodded. “All right. Shane?”
Shane sighed and nodded reluctantly. “Yeah, all right.”
Rick took a revolver from the bag and handed it to Morales. “.357?”
Shane reached into his pack, retrieving a box of ammo. “The box is half full,” he said, handing it over.
Miranda stepped forward “Thank you all… for everything.”
Lori pulled Miranda into a hug. “Come here,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.
Shane extended his hand to Morales. “Good luck, man.”
“Appreciate it,” Morales said, shaking Shane’s hand firmly.
Miranda knelt, hugging Jacqui tightly, while Eliza, the Morales’ daughter, hugged Sophia before handing her a small doll. “Bye,” Eliza said, her voice trembling as she stepped back to join her family.
Rick’s voice cut through the farewells. “Channel 40 if you change your minds. All right?”
Morales nodded. “Yeah.”
Carol held Sophia close, whispering reassuring words as the Morales family turned away, disappearing toward the horizon.
Shane exhaled sharply, his voice low. “What makes you think our odds are any better?” He glanced back at the group. “Come on. Let’s go. Let’s move out.”
The group began to gather their things, preparing to part ways with the only home they’d known since the apocalypse began. Near the sports car at the edge of the quarry, a note taped to its red hood flapped softly in the morning breeze, waiting for Morgan to find it.
The caravan moved slowly along the road. Inside the RV, Dale gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes scanning the horizon. Jacqui sat beside Jim, dabbing his forehead with a damp cloth as he groaned softly in pain. Doug and Carley sat at the table, their conversation hushed, while Glenn sat near Dale, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble.
In Rick’s car, Lori sat quietly in the passenger seat, her gaze flicking between the road and the children in the backseat. Carl and Sophia sat side by side, their faces pressed against the windows as they watched the barren landscape roll by. Behind them, Shane drove his car, followed by T-Dog’s vehicle with Andrea riding shotgun and Amy in the back. Kenny’s truck was nect, his family huddled together inside, while Harry drove another car with Mark beside him and Clementine in the backseat. Daryl’s car, with his motorcycle strapped to the back, completed the convoy.
The journey came to an abrupt halt when the RV sputtered and hissed, steam billowing from under the hood. Dale pulled over, shaking his head in frustration. “I told you we’d never get far on that hose,” he muttered as he climbed out. “I said I needed the one from the cube van.”
Rick approached, his brow furrowed. “Can you jury-rig it?”
Dale sighed, inspecting the damage. “That’s all it’s been so far. It’s more duct tape than hose. And I’m out of duct tape.”
Shane, stepping out of his car, pointed ahead. “I see something up there. A gas station, if we’re lucky.”
Jacqui emerged from the RV, her expression grim. “Y’all, Jim… It’s bad,” she said, her voice heavy with worry. “I don’t think he can take anymore.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and went back inside to tend to him.
Shane glanced at Rick. “Hey, Rick, you want to hold down the fort? I’ll drive ahead, see what I can bring back.”
T-Dog stepped forward. “Yeah, I’ll come along too. I’ll back you up.”
Shane nodded. “Y’all keep your eyes open now. We’ll be right back.”
As Shane and T-Dog drove off, Rick climbed into the RV to check on Jim. The man lay on the cot, his face pale and drenched in sweat. His breathing was shallow, and every bump in the road seemed to send a fresh wave of pain through him.
“We’ll be back on the road soon,” Rick said, his voice gentle.
Jim groaned, his words coming out in broken gasps. “Oh no. Christ… My bones… My bones are like glass. Every little bump… God, this ride is killing me. Leave me here. I’m done. Just leave me. I want to be with my family.”
Rick’s expression tightened. “They’re all dead,” he said softly. “I don’t think you know what you’re asking. The fever… You’ve been delirious more often than not.”
Jim’s eyes met Rick’s, a flicker of clarity cutting through the haze. “I know,” he said, his voice trembling. “Don’t you think I know?”
He groaned again, his body wracked with pain. “I’m clear now. In five minutes I may not be. Rick, I know what I’m asking. I want this. Leave me here. Now that’s on me. Okay? My decision. Not your failure.”
Outside, Rick addressed the group, his voice heavy. “It’s what he says he wants.”
Carol stepped forward, her face etched with concern. “And he’s lucid?”
Rick nodded. “He seems to be. I would say yes.”
Dale spoke up, his tone thoughtful. “Back in the camp, when I said Daryl might be right and you shut me down, you misunderstood. I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim what he wants. And I think we have an answer.”
Shane frowned, his voice tinged with hesitation. “We just leave him here? We take off? Man, I’m not sure I could live with that.”
Lori stepped in “It’s not your call, either one of you.”
Rick and Shane worked together to carry Jim to a nearby tree, setting him down gently. Jim groaned, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Hey, another damn tree,” he muttered, chuckling weakly.
Shane crouched beside him, his voice soft. “Hey, Jim… I mean, you know it doesn’t need to be this.”
Jim shook his head. “No. It’s good. The breeze feels nice.”
Shane nodded reluctantly. “Okay. All right.”
Jacqui knelt beside Jim, her voice soothing. “Just close your eyes, sweetie. Don’t fight.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek.
Rick held out a gun, showing it to Jim. “Jim, do you want this?”
Jim shook his head. “No. You’ll need it. I’m okay. I’m okay.”
Dale stepped forward, his voice breaking slightly. “Oh. Hey. Thanks for, uh, for fighting for us.”
Jim gave a faint nod. “Okay.”
The group stood in silence for a moment, each of them saying their goodbyes in their own way. As they turned to leave, they made small signs of farewell—some with a wave, others with a lingering glance. The caravan moved on, leaving Jim beneath the tree, the breeze rustling the leaves above him as he closed his eyes.
CDC
Inside, Jenner stared at the monitor, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He muttered to himself, his words slurred from the alcohol. “Tomorrow,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Tomorrow, I’ll decide.”
The screen flickered again, the words “Wildfire MSB3417 Active” flashing briefly before fading into static. The silence that followed was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos that had once filled the halls of the CDC.
The charred remains of the TS-19 samples lay in the containment chamber, Jenner stood on the other side of the glass, his reflection staring back at him. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his mind racing with the weight of his decisions.
Outside
Rick turned to the group, his voice breaking the tense quiet. "Stay together," he said softly, urging them to move cautiously forward.
Shane squinted at the bright light. "All right, everybody, keep moving. Stay quiet." He gestured, guiding them closer. "Let’s go. Stay together."
Jacqui clutched her arms tightly, her nerves clearly rattled. "Shh," she murmured.
Glenn’s voice cracked as he looked at the ground strewn with bodies. "Oh, God."
The group shuffled closer.
Inside the CDC, Dr. Jenner sat staring at the security monitors, his face twisting in disbelief as the proximity alarm sounded. He leaned closer to the screen, watching the group cautiously advancing toward the building.
"No," Jenner muttered under his breath, his tone filled with dread.
Outside, Shane reached the locked and shuttered entrance, banging his fist against the door. "Keep it together. Come on," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.
Lori glanced at Carl and Harry beside her. "We’re almost there, baby," she whispered softly. "Almost there."
Shane growled, pounding harder. "Nothing?"
T-Dog peered around the area. "There’s nobody here."
Rick pointed at the shutters. "Then why are these down?"
Suddenly, Daryl stiffened as movement caught his eye. "Walkers!" He grabbed his rifle, taking aim and shooting the walker in the head without hesitation.
Lori shrieked, pulling Carl closer. "Baby, come on!"
Daryl glared at Rick, his temper flaring. "You led us into a graveyard!"
Shane stepped up, trying to calm him. "He made a call."
"It was the wrong damn call!" Daryl barked.
Shane snapped, his tone sharp. "Just shut up. You hear? Shut up. Shut up! Rick, this is a dead end."
Jacqui’s voice trembled. "Where are we gonna go?"
Shane sighed, his frustration mounting. "Do you hear me? No blame."
Lori stepped in, her voice steady. "She’s right. We can’t be here, this close to the city after dark."
Shane pointed toward Rick, his tone urgent. "Fort Benning, Rick. Still an option."
Andrea shook her head. "On what? No food, no fuel. That’s 100 miles."
Glenn corrected her quickly. "125. I checked the map."
Lori interjected firmly. "Forget Fort Benning. We need answers tonight, now."
Rick clenched his fists, his frustration growing. "We’ll think of something."
Shane tried once more to reason with him. "Come on. Let’s go. Let’s get out of here. Let’s go. Please."
Harry grabbed his father’s arm “Dad, we have to go.”
Rick froze, catching a flicker of movement on the security camera above the entrance. "The camera… it moved."
Shane shook his head. "You imagined it."
"It moved," Rick insisted. "It moved."
Shane sighed heavily. "Rick, it’s dead, man. It’s an automated device. It’s gears, okay? They’re just winding down. Now come on."
Inside, Jenner muttered to himself, watching Rick's desperation on the monitor. "No, just go away."
Shane turned back to Rick, his patience thinning. "Man, just listen to me. Look around this place. It’s dead, okay? It’s dead. You need to let it go, Rick."
Rick slammed his fists against the shutters, his voice breaking. "I know you’re in there! I know you can hear me!"
Lori grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Rick, there’s nobody here!"
Shane joined her, tugging Rick away as Harry lifted his brother up, prepared to sprint back to the cars "Everybody get back to the cars now!" he shouted.
Rick pulled free, pounding the door with renewed force. "Please, we’re desperate! Please help us! We have women, children, no food, hardly any gas left."
"Rick!" Lori pleaded. "There’s nobody here!"
Rick shook his head, his voice cracking with emotion. "We have nowhere else to go."
He slammed the door again, his words echoing through the silent graveyard. "If you don’t let us in, you’re killing us! Please!"
Shane stepped closer "Come on, buddy, let’s go. Let’s go."
But Rick wasn’t ready to give up. "Please help us. You’re killing us! You’re killing us! You’re killing us!"
Suddenly, the building’s entrance flooded with light as the heavy doors creaked open.