Half Alive and Miserable

Driving at night was difficult for two reasons.

Human vision was limited by the available light.

Walkers, however, did not depend on sight. Sound and scent were enough to lead them to prey.

As a result, vehicles struck far more walkers at night than during the day.

"We're almost there!"

Maggie pointed toward a place ahead where faint lights glowed in the darkness.

"Thank God. Dale, we made it!"

Excitement shone openly on Glenn's face despite everything he knew about Carl's condition.

"Yeah. We finally made it."

Dale sounded equally moved. After another desperate journey, they had reached a new place of refuge, and the thought brought him some comfort.

A smile appeared on Miana's face as she looked toward Isaac. "Isaac, this place seems pretty nice."

"It does. It seems very nice."

Isaac smiled as he answered Miana.

The smile vanished almost instantly, though the darkness kept Miana from seeing the change.

A farm this poorly defended, openly displaying its lights in the middle of the night? They're asking to be killed.

Against the boundless darkness, the farm's lights gave Isaac a trace of warmth.

Far more than warmth, however, he found them glaring and cold.

If Logan's group learned that a place like this existed, they would be determined to seize it.

Isaac had agreed with Miana only because her emotions had been stretched tight for so long. He wanted to let her feel happy for a moment.

The sound of the arriving vehicles carried across the farm, and Lori came running out of the house.

A blond teenage girl stood beside her.

The heavyset, greasy-looking man had to be Philip.

A white teenage boy with short blond hair and a middle-aged woman stood nearby as well.

At the sight of them, Isaac's inward sneer deepened. Taking a farm like this by force would require almost no effort. Its residents were far too weak.

"Lori!"

Rick had worried about Carl every moment of the journey. As soon as he stepped from the vehicle, he rushed straight to his wife.

He pulled Lori into his arms and kissed her cheek, showing his concern and affection.

Lori looked exhausted. She stared at Rick. "Rick, Carl... Carl, he..."

"What happened to Carl?"

Fear filled Rick's face. He was truly terrified that something had happened to his son.

"Your boy is alive. He needs a blood transfusion."

Hershel emerged with his long white hair combed neatly back and a grave expression on his face. "You're the boy's father, aren't you? Come with me. We need your blood now."

"All right."

Rick accepted Hershel's request without a moment's hesitation.

Shane stood to one side, melancholy in his expression. He wanted to pull Lori into his own arms, but this was neither the time nor the place.

"Whose shirt is Maggie wearing?"

Beth studied her sister in confusion. The shirt hung more than a full size too large and clearly belonged to a man, not Maggie.

"Don't ask. I'm going to change."

Maggie instinctively glanced at Isaac and saw Miana and Amy standing beside him.

For reasons she could not name, a complicated emotion crossed her face before she turned and went inside.

"Maggie, what's wrong?"

Beth hurried after her. Whatever had happened, she cared deeply about her older sister.

Dawn, the blond teenage boy, followed close behind Beth.

Margery, the only older woman present and the one who managed the farm's rooms and sleeping arrangements, addressed the newcomers. "Would you all like something to eat?"

"Thank you very much. We're starving."

Isaac smiled as he answered. In the darkness, the expression shone like a bright star and made Margery stare for a moment.

"Then follow me."

Margery nodded and led the group into the main hall to eat.