Chapter 78

Since we've already encountered this, there's no need to go back and try to find a solution.

Noah led everyone to a place where they could observe the hospital. "The hospital is over there. Can we go now?" Noah glanced at the burly Tyrese and Abraham and asked Lena nervously.

Lina awkwardly scratched her cheek. "Since you're already here, could you lend a hand?"

Noah was stunned for a moment, "You lied to me!"

“No, they’re looking for you. Just lead them here,” Lina said.

Rick raised an eyebrow and didn't object to Lena's plan. It was indeed a good idea, but... Rick looked at Noah. Would this skinny black guy be willing to help?

“You lied to me,” Noah was angry and furious, but he was even more afraid that these people could easily crush him.

“Plans can’t keep up with changes,” Lina said, a little guilty. “How about this, you help us lure people here, and I can give you a pistol and a box of bullets.”

This did pique Noah's interest; he needed weapons to get home, and guns were hard to find these days.

"You absolutely cannot let them take me away—" Noah emphasized repeatedly.

“I promise, provided you don’t get any funny ideas,” Rick threatened Noah, who glanced at him hesitantly.

“Now, let’s discuss the plan,” Rick said, scanning everyone one by one, his voice low and filled with anger.

“Listen, Noah, start firing from here,” Glenn drew on the ground with a stone. “It’s not too far from the hospital, and there’s a parking lot and a small shop nearby. If you go down that road, there’s a gas station. It makes sense for you to be in that area,” Glenn told Noah, who nodded.

Glenn continued drawing. "I'm faster and I know the way around here, so I'll observe from this side to make sure Noah leads the people over. Rick, you and Abraham stay here and prepare. Sasha and Tyrese, snipe from the high ground."

“You can’t be alone,” Rick said.

“It’s alright,” Glenn drew on the ground again, “Lina and Daryl take this route, so they can come to my aid if anything happens to me.”

It makes perfect sense. Lina squatted down beside Glenn, looking at him with adoration. She never expected to witness such a famous scene herself.

"Um, what did you do before the cataclysm?" Abraham asked Glenn, somewhat shocked.

"What's wrong, pizza delivery guy?" Glenn asked innocently.

“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, kid,” Abraham remarked. “No wonder you survived.”

"Um... thank you?" Glenn said somewhat embarrassedly.

Sure enough, every delivery driver possesses a unique skill. Lina thought to herself.

Now that the plan was finalized, everyone worked without delay, as they needed to see Carol immediately, especially after hearing Noah's brief explanation of the situation at the hospital.

Lina handed Noah the pistol she found in the safe, along with some bullets, saying, "When you come back, I'll give you the box of bullets we agreed on."

Noah nodded. Although he was still very scared, it was worth the risk. These people were working so hard to save their companions, so they couldn't be bad people, right?

Glenn and Noah reached the intersection, separated, and went their separate ways. Lina and Daryl saw Glenn appear in their line of sight from afar, and everyone took their positions.

The first shot rang out, followed by more shots.

Lena and Daryl barely had time to speak, their eyes fixed on Glenn, tracking his every move.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

Following the alley, Lina and Daryl could no longer see Glenn. As Glenn had instructed, they circled around from behind. Daryl and Lina came to Rick's side and hid in a corner. Noah came into view, and soon they heard the sound of cars speeding by.

Rick signaled for everyone to prepare their weapons. The vehicle braked sharply, and Rick stepped out first. "Hands up," he shouted.

As soon as the two policemen turned around, they found four more people pointing guns at them from behind.

“Turn around, put the gun on the ground, and then kneel down,” Rick’s voice was deep and his tone left no room for argument.

The silenced sniper rifle shot at their feet, and the two policemen reluctantly handed over their guns and knelt down as Rick had instructed.

“We need to talk. If you need it, we have food and water,” the male police officer said.

Lina and Daryl simply tied their hands, and nobody paid them any attention.

As the two officers lifted the two bound officers up, the male officer couldn't help but look at Rick and ask, "Mind if I ask you something?"

"The way you talk..."

"Your every move..."

"Were you a police officer before?" he asked.

Rick just looked at him coldly, a mocking smile faintly appearing on his face.

“Believe it or not, I used to be like that,” the policeman said.

“That’s Ramson,” Noah whispered as he walked over to Rick. “He’ll be on our side; he’s a good man.”

Just then, a car came rushing towards them.

Rick immediately raised his gun and fired, and everyone quickly took cover in nearby bunkers.

Glenn shattered the rear window of the other car with a single shot, but the other party didn't intend to engage in a prolonged fight. They simply picked up the two policemen and sped away from the scene.

Following them, Rick turned a corner and saw an empty car. The people inside had disappeared. On the ground were what looked like scorched zombies, stuck to the ground, tearing at their bodies as they tried to get up.

"Ugh—" Lina looked at the zombie on the ground with disgust. "At first glance, it looks like strawberry-flavored bubble gum, but upon closer inspection, it's best not to look."

"Your description makes it sound quite delicious," Glenn said with a smile, though he glanced down at it and then looked away in disgust.

“Then… a pink slime?” Lina thought for a moment and said.

“This is just a bunch of earthworm bait,” Daryl said, joining the battle of metaphors.

“…Shut up,” Lina said, her face contorted.

Daryl shrugged as he inspected the abandoned vehicle, its front wheel stuck in the arm.

Rick and Abraham spotted a figure running past and quickly gave chase, with Lena and Glenn close behind. Daryl made the final check of the area to make sure nothing was missed.

He walked forward and saw the door of the tin box house. He opened the door and found no one hiding inside. Daryl breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly, the policeman who had just driven the car jumped out from behind the door.

Daryl was caught off guard and was tackled to the ground. Daryl immediately began to fight with him.

He was much bigger than Daryl, and Daryl's punch was easily dodged, and Daryl was slammed to the ground.

Lina heard the noise behind her. "I'll go check on Daryl," Glenn nodded. Lina grabbed her gun and ran back. The scene before her almost terrified her.

Daryl was forced to walk into the zombie's mouth by a burly bald man.

"Let him go," Lina raised her gun. The man was distracted by Lina's sudden appearance. Daryl shoved his hand into the eye socket of the zombie's head next to him and ripped it off with a forceful blow. He then grabbed the zombie's head and began to pound it against the man on top of him.

The man was badly beaten. When he turned around, Lina and Rick were pointing guns at him, and Daryl had already escaped his grasp.

He wisely surrendered. Though he wasn't convinced, he said, "Fine, you win, you bastard."

Rick stared at the man, his anger barely contained. They had taken Carol, and this man had almost sent Daryl to feed the walkers. Rick's finger was on the trigger, his eyes filled with fierce rage.

Lena didn't care whether the guy lived or died. She rushed to Daryl's side and grabbed him, checking him over and over. "What's wrong with you? Couldn't you have waited for me to come and save you?" Lena was almost crying. She hadn't forgotten what she had just seen Daryl do. He had touched the zombie's head several times before finally grabbing it, and he almost put his fingers in the zombie's mouth!

"You bastard," Lina finally couldn't hold back her tears.

Daryl paused for a moment, looking at Lina with some confusion. "It's okay, I'm fine."

Rick glanced at Daryl and Lena. Behind him, Abraham and Glenn returned with the escaped police. Rick took two steps forward and tied up the man as well.

Enraged, Lina raised her fist and punched Daryl twice in the chest. Daryl almost couldn't help but clutch his chest and cry out in pain.

The two punches immediately drew everyone's attention.

Glenn was a little nervous. "What's wrong? What's wrong with her?" He had never seen Lina cry so hard before.

“No, it’s nothing,” Daryl said through gritted teeth, straightening his posture.

Rick glanced at him but didn't say anything, and Lina kicked Daryl again in anger.

Daryl pursed his lips, remaining expressionless and seemingly unaffected under everyone's gaze.

Rick shook his head. “Take them back,” he said, then gave Daryl a look, grabbed the three hostages, and left, leaving Daryl and Lina alone in the disgusting place.

Seeing Lina's angry expression, Daryl nervously bit his lower lip. "I just thought I could do it. The thing was right next to my ear. I, yes, I panicked," Daryl said.

“My marksmanship isn’t that bad,” Lina said angrily. She had killed the walker that was about to bite Daryl, and the one Daryl was trying to grab was stuck to the ground and wasn’t in danger for the time being!

“If he takes me hostage, no,” Daryl said, revealing his true thoughts. He didn’t want to be a coward and have Lena held hostage. He wouldn’t allow his plan to fail.

“And I really just… did it instinctively,” Daryl said, a man who was never one to wait patiently for rescue.

"...I really don't understand how you have the nerve to criticize me," Lina said angrily, but she was also helpless.

Daryl reached out to wipe away Lina's tears, but Lina screamed and slapped his hand away, "What are you going to do to me with your hands that have stabbed walkers!"

Daryl looked at Lina speechlessly, "That's the left hand, but the one who stabbed the walker was the right hand!"

"I don't care! Go wash your hands!" Lina said domineeringly.

Daryl nodded helplessly. Oh well, as long as she stopped crying, that was fine. Daryl and Lina didn't linger any longer and hurried back. Lina hesitated and grabbed Daryl's sleeve. "Next time, don't do that. I'll be scared."

Daryl paused for a moment, then nodded quickly.