章 59: Chapter 59
**- Jim and Daryl -**
Daryl and Jim took off to look for the church. They took with them a Rifle that Jim kept, while Daryl only needed a handgun and his trusty crossbow. He wouldn't give it up for the world. They did take an axe each with them, as it was still the next best thing after the crossbow.
Although they didn't know the exact location of the church, they had a general direction they followed. And so, they walked for about twenty minutes with haste, wishing to catch up to the person who activated the bells before he left. They didn't believe he'd stay at the same place after making so much noise, even though they couldn't understand why he'd do that in the first place.
They could clearly see a few walkers roaming around the church, which probably meant no one was there. As they would be feasting on his flesh if that was the case.
"There is no one here..." Jim said with a frown. "Is it possible the bells are activated automatically?"
"Huh, that's possible." Daryl said thoughtfully. "I don't think there is anyone nearby either. Nobody has a reason to ring the church bells, unless they wished to attract the walkers on them. Let's check it out."
They were glad there weren't a lot of walkers nearby. They could only see about five of them, which would be easily disposed of. Daryl took care of them easily enough. They went in the church to double-check if someone was inside, and were disappointed to find a few walkers.
"Don't kill them." Jim said hastily, earning a weird look from Daryl. "The group could spend the night here. We don't want their stench here." Daryl nodded, and dragged them outside before finishing them.
"We still gotta find out why the bells were activated." Daryl remarked.
"Actually, I don't think there are bells in this church." Jim shook his head. "It's probably an electronic church bell."
"In which case... it's probably on a timer." Daryl nodded, and started looking around the church. They quickly found it attacked to the outer walls. Daryl identified the timer system, and disabled it.
"How is it still running? I thought the power grid was down." Daryl frowned in thought.
"Maybe it has solar panels. It wouldn't be surprising for a church as secluded as this." Jim answered. "We should get the rest to come here. This place is perfect to spend the night." Daryl nodded, and they traced back their steps.
**- A while later -**
They informed the rest of their findings, and of their suggestion to stay there as well. Everyone agreed that it would be way better to be protected by walls instead of camping in the woods, with reduced visibility at night. There was an issue of how they would get the cars to the church, but it was easily solved, as Daryl scouted the area with his bike.
Dale and Theodore stayed behind in the RV. They would wait there on the highway, in case Xenon came back. He wasn't aware they changed locations, so they could easily lose him that way.
"I'll go scout the area for walkers." Rick informed the rest of the group, as they were settling in the church. "We don't need any more surprises."
"I'll come with you." Shane nodded.
"I'll come with you too!" Carl said hopefully. Rick looked uncertainly at him, wondering if it would be a good idea or not. He knew there weren't many walkers around this place, and it would be relatively safe, but he didn't wish to put him in danger. "Please, dad! I promise I'll do everything you tell me to do." Carol used his puppy eyes on him, and Rick being vulnerable them couldn't find it in him to deny him. He looked at Lori, hoping she would do it in his stead. Carol followed his father's gaze, and looked hopefully at his mother.
"I can't always be the bad guy." Lori shook her head helplessly. She knew her son was getting bored, and didn't wish for him to start hating her if she's always the one refusing his wishes.
"Alright." Rick nodded at Carl. "You can come, but you have to stay close to us. You don't run off, you hear me?" Carl nodded eagerly. Shane liked Carl as if he was his own son, and was not against the idea as well. In fact, he approved of it.
They walked around the church for a while, Rick and Shane discussing meaningless things, with Carl chiming in every now and then. He was rather happy he finally got to move around the woods, he would've preferred if he could do this any time he wanted, without having to ask for permission, but even his small brain could tell it was wrong to some extent, though he didn't exactly know why.
They halted their steps, when they heard a sound coming a bit further away from them. There eyes snapped to its direction, fearing it may be a walker, but were surprised to find a deer instead. Shane was ecstatic at finding what he clearly deemed as dinner, but Carl thought otherwise. He only wanted to admire the beautiful creature, as he was in a trance, slowly advancing towards the deer, with his father's permission. The latter, along with Shane, watched him happily, as he tried to make friends with the deer.
* BANG *
They were frozen in place, as the deer and Carol both dropped to the ground motionless, their minds enable to process how any of it happened.
"No, no, no, NO, NO!" Rick said hysterically, as he ran towards his son.
**- Xenon -**
Maggie and I carried Hershel to the house to rest, as he has overexerted himself. He was in terrible mood afterward, in fact, all of them were. Shocked at the amount of dead bodies that were now decorating the surroundings.
Maggie thanked me profusely for coming to their aid, and introduced me to the rest of the family. Her younger half-sister Beth, a boy the same age as me by the name of Jimmy, and an older woman, Patricia, Otis's wife. Otis was out hunter, so I couldn't meet him just yet. I greeted all of them, but it was all getting on my nerve, to be honest.
I didn't wish to be here. I wanted to move on, and the more they delay things, the more restless I became. I wanted to take that damned prison, settle down, and start upgrading my level and skills, something I haven't had the opportunity to do just yet. This little trip of mine was supposed to help me do just that, but instead, I was caught in... whatever this is. I just hope I can convince them to leave this place and come with us, otherwise this whole endeavor would've been a waste of bullets.
Patricia and Beth served me some food to as a thank you, while I wanted for Hershel to get better. We made light conversation, with Beth and Jimmy asking me a zillion questions. I would've entertained them if I wasn't already this anxious. Hershel finally joined us after a while.
"Mr. Greene, how are you feeling?" I asked him politely.
"I'm feeling well." He nodded, but I could see he was downcast for some reason. "And call me Hershel. We all owe you a huge favor for what you've done for us, son. I wish it was not necessary, but it was. I will be praying for our lord's forgiveness." He said sadly. I was blinking rapidly at his words. 'Huh?' was my only thought.
Then I remembered... Hershel... He believed that the walkers were still alive, didn't he? That they were only sick people, that the government would find a cure to whatever sickness this was... And that barn... He kept walkers there, his family and friends... Now how do I deal with this?
"I see..." I nodded. "In the meantime, I should warn you that it's still not safe to stay out here. It's too exposed, as you've seen yourself."
"We've been out here for a while, son. We never had any such occurrences before we met you." Hershel said, and my face immediately darkened. "Now I am not blaming you, son. I'm sure you were only running away from them. You're welcome to stay with us, if you wish." I did not appreciate one bit the way he said it. Neither his tone, nor his words, nor his facial expressions. I could clearly see he was not a big fan of me, which made me realize just how huge of a fucking waste of bullets this whole thing was.
"I am not alone, Mr. Greene. I am with a rather large group of people, and we're all looking for a better place to settle." I told him. "Clearly from your words, you've stayed secluded for a long time, unaware of what has been happening everywhere in the country." Whatever Hershel was about to say, he didn't get the opportunity to, as his daughter's voice interrupted us.
"Someone is out there!" Maggie said loudly. Hershel narrowed his eyes, and turned to me.
"One of yours?" He asked.
"I certainly hope not." I frowned. "No one is supposed to have followed me." We all got out of the house to see who exactly it was, and I was honestly dumbfounded at the sight, Gamer's Mind or not. I was quite sure this was NOT supposed to happen. Sophia never got lost, I made sure of that. Ergo, Rick, Shane and Carl had no reason to be wandering the woods. Then why the hell are canon events repeating themselves?!
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Xenon_graves
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