No one felt safe.

After they were back Daryl explained that Merle was gone. That he cut off his hand and left.

We realized how dangerous this world was. Daryl and I stabbed dead rotting bodies around the camp. I huffed as I dragged the body towards Glenn.

"You okay girly?" Daryl asked as I walked over to him.

I nodded.

"Go take rest don't want you having an asthma attack on me." He pointed to the chair next to Carl and Lori.

My mom walked over to me and grabbed my hand leading over to them. "Lori, can you make sure she's okay? I'm gonna help Daryl." She said and Lori nodded.

"Play with Carl." My mom looked at me.

I nodded and trailed my way over to him.

Andrea sat next to a dead Amy and I stared as Lori walked over to talk to her. "Andrea." She said squatting down next to her.

"She's gone, you're going to have to let us take her," Lori said. Andrea didn't listen as she just stared down at her sister.

"We'll be as gentle as we can." Lori reached down.

Andrea said nothing and Lori walked away.

The men kept hitting bodies and Carl turned towards me. "You left this by the fire." I felt a soft fluffy substance lay on my leg.

I looked at the small bear.

"That's not mine." I lied.

"Yes, it is." Carl looked confused. "No." I rejected the bear. Carl shrugged. "Well, I guess you wouldn't mind if I did this." He threw the bear into the fire and I watched as it went up into flames.

He knew about my obsession with the bear. I've known this kid since I moved across from him with I was 5! He was the one that saved it for me.

I turned my attention towards Rick and Andrea. She held up her gun and he stepped back. "I know how the safety works." She challenged. He walked away mumbling sorry.

"Ellie!" Daryl called.

I turned towards him and he pointed over at the ax on the ground. I picked it up carrying it towards him.

I handed it to him and Rick looked down at me. "What are you suggesting?" He squinted his eyes at Daryl.

"Take the shot." Daryl spat.

Rick shook his head. "Clean through the brain. Hell, I can shoot a turkey in between his eyes from this distance." Daryl waved his hands around.

"No, god sakes let her be." My mom sat down.

Daryl rolled his eyes grabbing my hand. "Wake up JimBo we got work to do." He handed me a pair of gloves and we got to work.

"Our people go over there!" Glenn yelled as Daryl, Morels, and I dragged one of our people to the burning pile.

Daryl stared coldly at him.

"We don't burn them!" Glenn got emotional. I looked up at Daryl. "Korean has a point," I whispered. Glenn smiled at me.

Daryl sighed picking up the body.

"A walker got him! A walker bit Jim!" Jacqui yelled. We all turned towards the commotion.

"I'm okay," Jim mumbled over and over. Daryl walked over there pointing. "Show it to us." He spat.

Jim picked up his shovel. Shane stepped in. "Easy Jim." He said trying to take the shovel.

They grabbed him and lifted up his shirt. We all gasped and Jim kept mumbling how he's okay.

The adults went to talk about what we should do to Jim. I followed behind not wanting to be left out.

Lori turned and stopped me.

"Hey, why don't you go talk to Sophia and Carl?" She pointed. I looked over at them and they seemed deep in conversation.

I sighed and walked over to the RV sitting on the steps.

I had my head in my hands and watched the leave blew in the wind. Sophia walked towards me.

I looked up at her.

"What?" I said kicking dirt.

"Can you fix my hair?" She said looking at my braids. "In that braid."

"It's called a Dutch braid," I told her. "Oh." She said. "And I think your hair is too short but I'll see what I can do." I pointed in front of me and she sat down.

I messed with it for a while until I decided to make a hairband braid.

I twisted it until I braided the strand I wanted. Next, I placed it under a piece of her hair and Bobby pined it in. I smiled at my results and got up.

"And now you're complete," I said. She ran towards her mom to show off her new due.

Carol smiled at me and I smiled back.

Daryl walked towards me. "Pack your things." He said picking up his crossbow. I gave him a confused look. "Rick says he knows a place." He started throwing things in my bag.

"Here, it's hot outside. Go change into this." He handed me my clothes and I nodded.

My mom protested to Daryl and finally gave in to it once he argued my health. "She's only 12 Daryl!" She said throwing the clothes on the ground.

I changed and sighed.

Carl walked over to me and smiled. I rolled my eyes and he frowned. "Why do you hate me?" He questioned. "Because you're annoying and bug me," I said. Carl looked down. "I'm sorry."

I looked over at him.

"Don't be." I slid a knife in my knife holder.

Carl slowly nodded. I walked off and Daryl hopped on his motorcycle. He reached his hand down and picked me up sitting me behind him. I wrapped my arms around him.

"Ellie, ride with Lori and Rick." My mom said helping me off. "Why?" I asked. "Listen to your mom," Daryl said.

I looked over and saw Andrea and Amy. Amy's eyes were different and I closed my eyes. I heard the booming sound of a gun and soon everyone took off.

We rode down streets miles and miles away from our camp... Old camp.

The RV horn echoed around us and Daryl came to a stop. I got out first and headed towards the car.

"He's getting worse," Glenn said emerging from the car. I frowned. "I'm going to talk to him," Rick said. He walked inside and I waited.

"You think he'll be okay?" Carl said. I turned around and looked at him. "Why does it matter if I think he will or not?" I spat stomping off.

"Ellie I'm sorry." He said grabbing my hand. "I told you not to be." I pulled away.

I sat on the hot concrete as I watched Daryl and Shane help Jim out of the RV. He looked over at me and said something. Daryl turned towards me and called for me.

I walked over to them and Jim coughed. "Can I get some time privately?" He looked around.

They nodded and walked away.

"Hey," I said awkwardly.

"Ellie... I want you to keep an eye on Shane for me." He whispered. I nodded. "I don't think he's a good guy." He mumbled.

"Why do I have too?" I questioned.

He looked around.

"You're the only one I know I can trust."

"You're a brave girl."

I let a tear fall down my cheek. "Thank you."

He smiled. I leaned down and hugged him. I walked away and Daryl hugged me. "Don't go soft on me Moore," Jim called. I smiled.

"I won't." I wiped my tears and we all got back in our cars.

I watched Jim fade away in the distance.

I looked down at an empty notebook. I wrote down all of the group's names.

Ellie

Rick

Shane

Daryl

Lori

Carl

Carol

Sophia

Andrea

Dale

T-dog

Jacqui

Glenn

Hanna

The remaining survivors.

The Atlanta group...

I closed the book and thought about all the good things this new world brought.

~

The car ride came to a stop and I got out. We all ran towards the big building. Walkers started their way towards us. We killed the ones close.

Rick banged on the door trying to get it open.

"Let's go!!!" Shane yelled.

Rick screamed. "I know you're there! We have children! Let us in!" He yelled. I looked up and saw the camera move. "Rick!" Lori said.

As Rick was dragged away.

The metal doors opened.

A bright light shined around the entrance.

Did we finally get our hope?