---
Hundreds of people could be seen camping along the road. Some were sleeping in their cars, others in makeshift tents. Merle and Shane sat around a campfire, trying to stay warm as the night went on. Merle was talking to his brother, Daryl, about what they should do next when a figure emerged from the darkness and approached the fire.
Dale: Mind if I sit here with you?
Dale was carrying a beach chair, which he unfolded and placed near the fire before settling down.
Dale: Did you see what they did in the city? Unbelievable, don't you think?
More people began to gather, one by one, forming a small circle around the fire.
Andrea: Why did they do that? My sister and I have never seen anything so cruel…
T-Dog: No idea. Whatever the reason, it wasn't right.
Merle, ever the provocateur, glanced at T-Dog and decided to make a comment.
Merle: Maybe they wanted to get rid of people "like" you.
T-Dog: Are you serious? You're messing with me just because I'm Black? Is that it?
Merle chuckled mockingly and began making racist jokes, clearly trying to provoke T-Dog.
Daryl, uncomfortable with his brother's behavior, stepped in.
Daryl: Sorry about my brother. He's an idiot. Don't pay attention to him.
A Black woman and an Asian man joined the group by the fire.
Glenn: Hey, nice to meet everyone. I'm Glenn. I used to deliver pizza.
Everyone looked at the skinny, optimistic young man who had just introduced himself. The thought was almost unanimous: This guy isn't going to last long.
Soon, Carol's family and other people, including Shane, also joined the fire. The atmosphere was tense, but no one wanted to spend the night alone.
As Daryl listened to the conversations, he thought about their next steps. Now that the group was bigger, finding a secure place was a priority. A prison would be perfect, but he didn't know where it was or if it was worth trying to find it. For now, he decided to go with the flow.
Amy, shyly, addressed the group:
Amy: Does anyone have any food to spare?
Silence fell over the group. No one answered. Most were hesitant to share their supplies, fearing they wouldn't be able to get more later. Amy, embarrassed, looked down.
Daryl: I have. Here, take this.
Daryl took out a portion of his food and handed it to her.
Amy: Thank you…
After a while, Shane stood up and walked to the center of the group, ready to share his thoughts.
Shane: Folks, here's the deal: the city is way too dangerous for now. Our best option is to stay away from it. We can set up camp in the forest, find some tents, food, and wait for help. I know a place near the mountains, a quarry. It's safe and could be a good refuge. Anyone want to come with me?
Andrea: Survive? Do you really think things are that bad? Can't we just go back to the city? It probably isn't as bad as it seems.
Shane: Do whatever you want, but I wouldn't risk it.
Shane then approached the Dixon brothers. He knew he would need strong people if things got worse.
He extended his hand to Daryl for a handshake.
Shane: Nice to meet you.
Daryl: Likewise.
Shane: Are you coming with me?
Daryl looked at Merle, and they nodded in agreement.
The fire was extinguished after several more hours of conversation. Gradually, the group began to settle down to sleep. Some stayed in their cars, while others camped outside in improvised spots.
Shortly before dawn, around 5 a.m., Daryl was startled awake by the scream of a woman calling for help. He quickly got up, grabbed his knife, and shouted to alert the others.
Daryl: Everybody, wake up!
Chaos spread as people nearby also woke up and started to gather. Daryl headed toward the source of the scream, with Merle following close behind. When they arrived, they saw a walker clawing at the window of a car where a terrified woman was trapped.
With a swift and precise movement, Daryl drove his knife into the walker's head, killing it instantly. He looked at the lifeless body on the ground and thought: They're already here. The walkers from the city are migrating.
Daryl turned to Merle and gave him a warning signal. Then he went to Shane and spoke firmly.
Daryl: It's not safe to stay here. If they're coming, a horde could pass through this area in a few hours.
Shane understood the seriousness of the situation and woke the entire group. They needed to leave immediately, heading for the quarry.
---