[b]Farren North – Road – Buck Bradley[/b]

Farren could hear footsteps approaching. She tried to will herself to get up and move, but instead just looked over her shoulder at a large hulking figure of a man with quite a beard. She licked her lips and swallowed hard, hoping he might not notice her, but as he came closer she knew it was inevitable. She started to move towards the ditch alongside the road when she heard the shuffle of his feet backing up and she looked at him again, now faced with a large piece of solid wood aimed to come down on her. She winced slightly in the dark, breath quick and coming in small puffs like her sons while her heart raced. The woman waited for a blow that never came until the man spoke an almost confused sounding greeting. It was obvious she was vulnerable, and she supposed that was one advantage of having her child. No one expected trouble from her. Which was true, she was never trouble to anyone. But at the same time, caring for a toddler amongst walkers and low society was much more of a disadvantage than it ever was an advantage.

Farren kept quiet while the man spoke, alarm flashing in her eyes when he said she should go to a shed with him instantly. She slowly stood once more, giving a soft noise of protest while watching him as he seemed to realize how that sounded. The way he was stumbling over his words, and didn’t harm her right away, she had to trust him for the moment. He could always be a rapist, but he didn’t strike her that way. At least he wasn’t a murderer of women with children. 

“I was headed towards that light,” Farren said in a whispery tone, nodding to the town the road was leading to. She looked past him after she spoke, thinking she heard a noise as well. “Were you followed?” she asked, frowning and shifting Dean on her chest until she reached a bit more comfort. It may have just been an animal behind the man, but she knew she couldn’t take the chance. “I think we should go towards it, because well, no offense but, your offer sounds a little creepy,” she said with a tired, quiet laugh. In the dark her bright smile shone, weary but amused.