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Daryl was sitting in Dale's trailer, staring out the window and observing the forest around them. Behind them followed a small convoy of cars with the rest of the group. Shane was leading the way in his vehicle, guiding everyone toward the quarry. They had been driving for a while; maybe in a few hours, they would arrive at their destination.
Daryl glanced at his brother, who was lying on the floor, sleeping like a slaughtered pig. He rolled his eyes. "This guy can sleep anywhere," he thought.
Meanwhile, in Shane's car, he was fiddling with the radio, trying to catch some news. He kept turning the dial, hoping for useful information, but it was always the same: violence, crimes, outbreaks. Lori sat in the back, holding her son tightly. Her face was marked with sadness and fear—she still mourned her husband and worried about their survival. Hunger and thirst only added to their struggles, as Lori hadn't prepared for this kind of situation.
Taking advantage of the moment while Carl was asleep, Lori broke the silence:
— Shane, we're starving and thirsty. We can't go on like this.
Shane sighed, trying to reassure her.
— I know, Lori. I'll figure something out for us, okay? Don't worry. — He reached out to hold her hand, attempting to comfort her.
Just then, a strange noise came from the engine. Shane frowned and said:
— I need to stop and check the engine.
Lori, concerned, replied:
— We need this car, Shane. You'd better take a look.
— I know — Shane said as he pulled over to the side of the road.
He got out, popped the hood, and quickly realized the engine was overheating. On closer inspection, he noticed other problems: a leaking radiator hose and a loose fan belt. If they kept going, the car could break down completely. They couldn't afford to lose a vehicle in such good condition. It was going to take at least two hours to cool the engine and make the necessary repairs.
In Dale's Trailer
Dale, driving behind Shane, noticed his car stopping on the road. Frowning, he muttered to himself:
— What now?
He parked the trailer and walked over to Shane to find out what was going on.
— What happened? Why are we stopping?
— The engine's too hot, and I found a few other problems — Shane explained. — If we keep driving, it'll break.
— We could use another car.
— I'm not leaving my car here, Dale.
Dale nodded in agreement. He approached the hood to check and confirmed the issues Shane mentioned.
— A busted radiator hose and a loose fan belt. This isn't a quick fix.
While they spoke, the other vehicles in the convoy began stopping one by one. Soon, the group gathered to discuss their situation.
Daryl had already stepped out of the trailer and was about to sit down when Lori and Andrea approached him.
— Daryl, do you have any food left? — Lori asked, her voice filled with worry. — My son is really hungry.
Andrea chimed in quickly:
— Do you have anything for my sister too?
Daryl sighed. Within moments, more people surrounded him, asking for food. Reluctantly, he gave away everything he had, but it still wasn't enough to feed everyone. Feeling the weight of responsibility, he walked over to Shane and Dale.
— How long until the car is ready?
Dale wiped sweat from his brow.
— At least two hours. The engine has to cool down, and we need to fix the radiator hose and tighten the fan belt.
Daryl shook his head.
— My food's gone. These starving folks ate everything. I'll have to go hunt something. If we don't find more food, this group won't last.
Shane and Dale exchanged a look. Shane shrugged.
— Do what you have to do.
Daryl grabbed his crossbow and a few arrows, determined. He knew his hunting skills were rusty, but he had no choice. Too many people were counting on him.
Before he left, Dale called out to him:
— Don't take too long, Daryl. We won't wait for you.
Daryl shot him a side glance and smirked slightly, thinking to himself: "Maybe I'll change my mind…".
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