Hide & Seek (OPEN)

[Rick Grimes]

Rick peered down at a map of the surrounding area. He’d gotten if off one of the boats docked on the lake. Kingsport was pretty big, but it was miles up the highway. They would need to loot that area once they all regained their strength, but for now he’d explore the neighborhood to their north and then circle around to the shops to the west before heading back. His energy was still a bit scarce, but he’d slept a few hours during the night. Lying on the floor huddled together with the others had put his mind at ease and he’d slept soundly until the wind began picking up outside. He’d kept watch for most of the night near the center entrance until the sun came up.

The center had been stocked with a few supplies. The previous owner had collected a large amount of deer meat but most of it had gone bad and wasn’t edible. They were running low on canned foods and fresh water so he’d search for that when he went out.

Dressed in a large brown coat, jeans and brown boots, Rick slid Jesus’ pack onto his back and headed to the back where his traveling companion was packing her things. Usually he’d take Daryl or Michonne along, but he wanted to show someone else the ropes today. The others couldn’t depend on them for everything. They had so many mouths to feed now and if any of the leaders got sick they’d be up shit creek without a paddle. Besides, he couldn’t take the children moaning with hunger any longer. Their cries reminded him of Judith and the faster he get food back to them the better.

“I’m heading out. Are you ready?” he asked Jackie. He hadn’t bothered to learn everyone by name and had taken to pointing at people instead. He knew Jackie though. Jesus had said only good things about the woman and so far he wasn’t disappointed.

“Pack light. We’re going to be walkin’ for a few miles.”



Tag: Jackie Bonner

[Jackie Bonner]

It had been five days or more since they had crossed the border from Virginia into Tennessee and already the group had been experiencing problems. The weather for one had begun to take it's effect on those that had weaker immune systems such as the sick and the young. Being a student nurse for most of her years in medical center in Charleston, Jackie had done all that she could in order to make sure that they were taken care of. This had slowed the group down quite a bit but, they couldn't afford to loose anyone else not after facing the Saviors and Negan's wrath. Before she was found wandering the outskirts of D.C. by Paul. She had gone through quite a few different groups and had seen the effects of the outbreak had on people's mind. Some changed for the better bringing out the actual person within while others didn't. It was those that ruled with that showed no mercy and owed the lives around them. Jackie had been through at least one of these ruthless individuals and she was lucky to have escaped it but, once she joined the Hilltop community and saw how evil Negan was towards people. She vowed to one day take a stand against him and the saviors that followed his every move. Being raised by her grandparents, she knew that making the decision to defend her group and community was the right once. Yet at the end of the war, many lives and a community was lost but, none of them had to face Negan's tyrannical rule anymore.

Jackie had been awake long before the sun had graced the peeks of the eastern mountains. East and a state away from her home state. There was an old family photograph laying neatly within the pages of a book inside her bag, preserved against the passing of time. The picture was that of her grandparents when they went to Caeser's Head State Park just north of Greenville. It was the only picture she managed to grab when she made the choice to leave her home on Sullivan's Island six years ago. The edges were worn from the times she had taken it out in order to remember them. Yet to this day she often wondered if her grandfather made it their relative's house in Greenville and was still alive? If he was then, it would be a miracle but, it was very likely that he wasn't. The death of her grandmother made the light in him go out and became only a shadow of the man he once was. Still Jackie had managed to convince him to leave when the outbreak happened but, what happened to him after? She didn't know nor did she want too.

Getting up from her place in the back of the rec center, she straighten up her area and got dressed while everyone remained asleep. Being careful not to disturb anyone, she sat down on the hardwood floor that once served as a gym and put on her soaks and shoes. With the sunlight beginning to filter into the room, Jackie could now see how many remained in the group. There was a fair amount of them but, most had taken different roads once they crossed the boarder. Unlike them, Jackie chose to remain with the group to not only help out where she could but, because she had no where else to go. She didn't like to be dependent yet it had been her only choice in the beginning. Although doing her fair share in keeping the group alive was something that she wasn't about to let go of. There were coughs and moaning of those that have fallen under the winter's spell. The rec center had been well supplied when they came here but, she knew by experience alone that it would eventually run out. They were already short on some supplies mainly on edible foods and water which was why their leader had asked her to accompany him on today's supply run.

Rick. Jackie had only met him a few times since he came to the Hilltop community to speak to their leader there about forming a militia against Negan. From what she had seen and vaguely heard from Paul, he had been a former sheriff's deputy from Georgia and a leader that did everything he could to keep his group alive. Yet like all of them, he too lost alot since the start of the outbreak. His wife, people he loved, and just recently his daughter Judith, who had been on the verge of celebrating her first birthday. Jackie had never seen Judith but, the news had been enough for her heart to break. Turning her thoughts away from the groups recent losses, Jackie grabbed her old school book bag, her medical center id still attached to the front zipper and packed what she needed for the trip ahead.

"Yes I'm ready." She replied to his question without hesitation as she zipped up the last zipper and took to her feet. She was curious to know why he had chosen her for today's outing and not someone he normally traveled with like Daryl or Michonne? Yet the more Jackie thought the more she realized that Paul must of told him about her and what she had done for her group prior to the unification. "I only packed what I need to take. I'm prepared for the trip ahead." She grabbed her grandfather's old colt off of the bench nearby and put in her back pocket.

[Rick Grimes]

Rick looked like he’d aged ten years in a few short weeks. New streaks of grey hair painted his dark brown hair like lightning. New wrinkles creased the corners of his reddened eyes. He looked like he’d been crying, but he hadn’t, not for days now. Sleep deprivation was taking its toll on him. His already thin frame had gotten lankier so that he looked malnourished and hollowed. He stood tall though, his domineering height the only intimidating thing that remained to threaten his enemies. As he peered down at Jackie he rested his weight on his left leg, an injury to his right calf causing him to limp slightly. Maggie had wrapped it for him during the night. It wasn’t infected so it could be much worse.

He watched the woman tuck her gun away and instinctively checked that his was holstered, even though he knew it was there. His colt python had been an extension of his arm for years even though the aging metal was scratched, the cylinder not as smooth and responsive as before. He’d found more ammo for it a few towns back. They’d been stuck in an old refrigerator, someone’s hiding place before they’d been killed. 

Zipping up his jacket, he lead the way to the front of the building and gestured for a man named Frank to move the shelving back in front of the door once they were outside. They’d blocked it because the door was glass, no thicker than an inch. Someone could easily break in--they had. He moved the large case with a grunt, feeling the muscles in his side pull tight. Unlocking the door with his key, he handed them over to Frank and then pushed the door open. He stepped outside onto the sidewalk and gazed toward the sky which was a dusky gray, the sun beginning to rise in the distance. The air was chilly, the grass crispy and the asphalt slick with ice because it had rained and frozen during the night. Rick inhaled a slow, calming breath, the cold air filling his lungs with the freshest air he’d breathed in a very long time. Closing his eyes for the briefest of moments, he turned and gestured to Jackie that he was ready to go. 

The walk would be a long one, but it would give him a chance to clear his mind. It would also give him an opportunity to see how well Jackie held up. They were both in need of nourishment and although he was accustomed to long stretches without food and water, she had been behind walls for a longer length of time. He didn’t know her past but he knew her present and she was strong. While the others complained she kept her head up, saying yes to his request to scavenge with no hesitation. Fearless--that could be a strength or a weakness. He’d determine which one today.

“We’ll go house to house first,” he said as they crossed the damaged bridge. He ducked his head against the cold and subconsciously walked in front of Jackie to block the wind from hitting her. “We can do it together. It’ll be safer that way.” It would take twice as long, but he’d rather be safe. He didn’t want to lose anyone else. 

Tag: Jackie Bonner

[Jackie Bonner]

In the few short weeks that she had known Rick, she could very easily see that he no longer appeared to be the well rested malevolent leader that she had seen when he first came to Hilltop. His eyes were red due to the long nights without any source of sleep. It was someone thing that seemed to of plagued the group lately. Eversince the battle against Negan ended, it seemed that sleep did not come so easily as it once did. There had been nights when she would lie awake in fear of finding herself reliving moments of her life that she did not wish to visit again. Yet there had been a few times as of late that she thought about her family and wondered if some were still alive somewhere? It was something that continued to claw at her mind. Jackie had not dared to look in a mirror to see if her features had changed as much as Rick's did. His appearance alone was to be compared to that a man in his late fifties, perhaps early sixties. There was more streaks of salt that had claimed his brown hair since they had crossed the boarder into Tennessee. A sign of carrying alot of weight on his slender shoulders that have become more predominant in recent days like the rest of his body which towered about her own average height. She wasn't as tall as some women in the group but, she wasn't the shortest either. However, due to his leg injury that he had suffered in the war his height was shorten just a bit.

Jackie's gray colored eyes looked up at him briefly before they glanced off in another direction while her hands placed her grandfather's old colt in her back pocket. She had found that it was the easiest place to store the until she needed it. The old gun had seen it's better days since the time she had found it before leaving her home on the island. The metal was scratched and needed a good polishing to bring the shine back out. The trigger itself, was threatening to become non responsive due to the many times her finger had pulled it. She would have to find time soon to work on it or find someone in the group to do it. The only good thing about her grandfather's gun was that the old cylinder was in perfect working condition and was loaded for today's supply run.

Adjusting the worn out straps of her old school backpack, she followed him towards the front of the building being extra careful to not disturb anyone from their slumber or make a sudden loud noise which would startle the entire group. The front door was hidden behind a rather large bookcase which appeared to be heavy to move when needed. The reason as to why it was being used for a barricade was because the glass had been broken sometime prior to the groups arrival. Moving forward Jackie assisted with the effort of pushing the case back just enough so that they could get past. Her muscles ached due to the fact of being used too much in recent days but, still she kept her mind turned away from it and focused on the task at hand. Once Rick had gotten the door unlocked, she felt the chill air of the morning hit her in the face as she crossed over the threshold. To their east, the sky was beginning to grow brighter now that the sun was appearing through the trees threatening to melt the ice which clung to the roads and trees like glue. Jackie took a steady breath. The air was fresh and crisp reminded of the time that she and her grandmother had come to these mountains. It had made her feel relaxed and at ease with the world around her but, now she knew better not to or her life would be danger.

Jackie nodded at his gesture. He was ready to go and with her feet moving forward they followed along the same path towards the neighborhoods across the bridge. She knew that the journey would be long due to the amount of time getting there and back. If she had been in another state of mind she would hope that trouble would not follow but, she knew best not to. The neighborhood which they were traveling towards laid on the outskirts of Kingsport which from what she had seen on a map was a decent size town. So walkers and other survivors were to be expected. The group was in much need of food, water, and in recent cases medical supplies. What was left of the Rec's storage supply was now nothing but, dust and cobwebs. Much of the supplies had been taken by scavengers prior to their arrival. There was only a handful of people that could make it day to day without eating anything but, for those like herself. It was difficult. Although she wasn't one of those that complained about it. True she had lived behind the high wooden fences of Hilltop for awhile but, she knew what life was like beyond it and how hard it would be to find something to eat.

Turning her thoughts back to Rick, she only had to look at him to see how strong he really was. He had stood strong against the odds and carried the weight of his entire group on his shoulders. Paul only had told her what he knew about him. Yet there was still much that she didn't know about him. She knew that he was from Georgia and a former deputy sheriff but, other then being a father. He was just as much of a stranger to her as she was to him. While she admired how strong he was. She could see the hidden pain that was etched in the deepening lines on his face. "Of course." She said agreeing with him about starting at one house and making their way through the neighborhood. "Although I must admit I've never been on a supply run that doesn't involve pairing up like this." She didn't know why she said this to him but, she felt like he had the right to know. In the past when she had agreed or rather been chosen to make a supply run. Her group usually split up so that there was only one person per house but, she appreciated his desire of wanting to stick together. Their group had lost so many since the war that no one not even her or Rick wanted to loose anyone else. She took notice that he had moved infront of her in order to block the cold morning breeze from brushing it's icy claws across her face.

Tag: Rick Grimes

[Rick Grimes]

"We always work together." Rick said as they walked. In the past Glenn would go on runs by himself. He actually said he preferred it that way. He didn't want anyone getting in his way and getting him killed. He'd had his reasons, but he'd never objected to anyone tagging along. Glenn had strange ways, but he knew what worked best for him. A sad half smile rose to Rick's lips as he thought of his friend. He'd been taken from them far too soon. The ghost of all of the people he had lost danced in front of him as he walked, but he quickly brushed their faces aside and tried to focus on what they were about to face.

"We've searched some of the homes in this area before, but we'll be going to the ones we haven't looted. Grab anything you think we'll need. We'll sort through it when we get back." Resting his hand on his gun, he searched the dusky forest for any signs of movement. Other than the rustling of branches and the occasional whistle of the wind, he didn't hear or see very much. He hoped it stayed that way.

They walked for five more minutes before he spoke again, this time his tone a bit lighter. "Who would have thought we'd find an island in the middle of Tennessee. Doesn't quite fit." He smiled, his bearded face hiding his expression. "Do you know much about this area? Can't say I've been this far out. Stayed pretty local before it all happened."

Other than their trip to the Grand Canyon, he would have worked himself into an early grave if Lori hadn't convinced him to take a vacation. He'd seen more of the world than he cared to these days. He'd be content to stay in one place if it meant that they were safe. He was beginning to think that no safe place existed--not even this island paradise in the middle of Tennessee.

Jackie Bonner

[Jackie Bonner]

"And that's a good rule to have. You wish to protect the people that are living within your group and not let them risk their own lives if they go out alone." She replied while she kept up the pace with the group's leader. This was the fourth group she had been in since the start of the outbreak and yet she often wished that those groups had followed the same example when it come to working together on a supply run but, they didn't. They had lost alot of people when it came to making such a decision that she considered stupid and careless. Jackie could remember the first time she had gone on a supply run alone, she had been scared to the point where she wanted to retreat back to the group's truck and wait. Although despite being scared at heart, she managed to accomplish her task without hesitation however, the same couldn't be said for the remainder of the group. Two were bitten while the other pulled the trigger due to the misery he felt. They had been her friends and it had been enough for her to leave with her bag packed. The same could be said for the second group she joined but, it was nearly ruled with an iron fist. Something Jackie found hard to live by. For two years, she was watched by the leader's henchman. If the leader did not like a person or a rule was broken then they were killed on the spot or left out at night to be devoured. She had managed to sneak away from the group before it was too late. Something that a few people at Hilltop deemed to be nothing but, pure luck. Yet when Negan threaten them and the other few groups, Jackie knew better then not to run away. She decided to stay put and fight for her group which suffered severely in battle. Most of her new friends had perished but, she knew that she couldn't stand there and cry over their loss. She had to keep moving like she always had since the death of her grandmother.

Drawing herself back out of her thoughts, she refocused on the task at hand which laid just beyond this dense forest. "I will grab all that I can but, do we have anything specific that we need?" She asked as she adjusted the straps of her old school backpack on her shoulders. She had never liked this straps but, she had grown used to them over the years. She wondered what the group needed the most? Food was the likest of objects but, so was other things and with the winter weather setting in. They needed everything they could get their hands on. Hearing a groaning of the trees around her, she glanced around including behind her to make sure there wasn't a sudden burst of movement in the leaves on the forest floor. So far, Jackie didn't see anything that was worth worrying over.

"Or a recreational facility on it." She gave a laugh at this finding this to be a bit humorous given the situation that the group had been in since their departure from the Virginia hills. "It does sound strange to have but, it can led to other surprises." She said knowing for a fact that it was defiantly true. Far to the south in Chattanooga there was a waterfall hidden deep underground. The Ruby Falls. It was breathtaking and it was something that had surprised her in her teenage years. Hearing his question about her knowledge of the area, she turned her eyes up at him for a moment. "I'm not this fimiliar with the Kingsport area as I am with the areas east of Knoxville." Even from her position, she see could a tiny trace of his smile hidden in the bushes of his bread. "Same here. I stayed at home and helped out until our island's supplies started to run out."

Her home. Jackie often wondered what became of it and the people she knew since she had made the decision to leave the island. Were they all still alive or did they to leave like she had? She didn't know but, the island's supplies had fell to only a month's worth maybe lower by the time she left. If was anyone left then they were now a member of the walkers that dragged through the streets of abandon cities and neighborhoods. Back before the outbreak happened and her grandmother's death, she could remember going on a trip to Yosemite National Park with her family to celebrate her grandmother's birthday. She had just entered medical school at the time and needed the spring to study for the exams that summer but, she placed her books aside in order to fulfill a dream of the woman who had fought tooth and nail to adopt her. She had always been the adventurous type when it came to going to a new or even revisiting a old haunt but, now she was a little leery when it came to a new location due to safety reasons. Although deep down she was still very much an adventurous traveler.

Rick Grimes