▎SAFE HAVEN ▎ 
»»————　act two. on the hunt
CHAPTER FOURTEEN  ━━ walker hands

Josephine had been stressing about the barn all morning, since Glenn had told her about the walkers in the barn. She had to talk to Riley or even Maggie about it. She was worried if Carl ever went near the barn and accident went in.

Josie knew she had to do something about this, but she didn't know if she should tell her people, her brother. Josephine knew her brother would throw a fit if she ever told him.

She anxiously sat on the porch of the Greene house, waiting for someone to walk out who she could talk to.

Josie leaned her chin on her hand, looking down at her people. She quickly jumped up as she heard the door open, to see Riley with a basket of peaches. "Riley, hey." Josie ran a hand through her hair as Riley smiled.

"Hey, Josie." Riley held out the basket of peaches as Josie shook her head. "What's up?"

"Uh, can I talk to you, uh...inside, maybe?" Josie scratched the back of her neck as Riley raised a brow, but nodded her head, leading her into the house. Josie made sure nobody else was in the room before speaking. "Me and Glenn know about the walkers in the barn."

Riley's eyes widened as she moved towards Josie, who anxiously looked at her. "Josie, you can't tell anyone, okay. Anyone." Riley shook her head as Josie let out a sigh.

"We have a kid here, Riley." Josie bit her bottom lip as Riley looked distressed. "If my brother finds out about this—"

"He won't. Nothing bad has ever happened." Riley told her with a pleading look. "My daddy doesn't want to kill the dead, I don't know why, he thinks they're still people."

"They're dangerous, Riley." Josie breathed out. "They're not people anymore."

"The barn is secure. Josie, you can't tell a single soul, okay. Please, my daddy will make you all leave." Riley pleaded as Josie bit her tongue, slowly nodding her head.

"Okay, I won't say anything. I'll tell Glenn not to either, but they will find out, Riley." Josie told her as Riley nodded her head.

"I did amazing, aunt JJ." Carl grinned as Josie raised her brow, flicking the hat on her head. "My dad was so proud!"

"You're a natural, Carl." Josie grinned as she bit into her apple. "Soon, you'll be better than Shane." She whispered as Carl let out a chuckle, looking up at Rick, who looked at the pair with a smile.

Josie looked over her shoulder, looking over at Lori. "I'll be right back, kiddo." Josie tapped carls nose as she stood up, Rick squeezing her shoulder as she walked over to Lori. "You okay?"

"Did you tell Glenn?" Lori asked as Josie's dropped. Damn you, Glenn. "Don't worry, I'm not mad, J."

"It just came out, I promise I haven't told anyone else." Josie quickly said as she placed her hands on her hips. She couldn't deal with these secrets. "I'm sorry, Lori."

"J, calm down. I should have never put you in that position." Lori told her as Josie closed her mouth, nodding her head slowly.

"Have you told Rick yet?" Josie asked as Lori sighed, shaking her head. "You'll need help Lori, you know I offered to help with anything, but Rick can do more than me."

"I know, I know." Lori nodded her head at her words. "I was thinking about what you said...about needing help. And I do need help." Lori told her as Josie smiled.

"Yeah, I'm always here to help, Lori. Name it and I'll get it." Josie told her as Lori smiled, slightly.

"Would you be willing to make a run into town for me." Lori raised a brow, feeling guilty for even asking her to do that. "Even bring Glenn."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll ask Riley if we can borrow two horses." Josie nodded her head, placing her hands into her pocket. "You write me a list of what you need whilst I go get Glenn."

"Thank you." Lori breathed out as she pulled Josie into a hug, making Josie hug her back with smile.

Lori pulled out of the hug as she walked away. Josie bit down on her tongue as she looked around for Glenn, grinning as she saw him.

"Pizza boy, I need your help." Josie walked towards him, leaning on a tree as he looked over at her.

"Im sorry for telling Dale about Lori, and the walkers in the barn." Glenn immediately said as Josie's eyes widened.

"You told Dale about both? I thought you only told Lori that you knew!" Josie said in a hushed whisper, her brows narrowed.

"Oh, so you didn't know I told Dale about both things." Glenn awkwardly said as Josie scoffed, leaning her arms on the tree and placing her head on them. "Sorry, Jo." Glenn added.

"Just get ready, we're off on a run for Lori." Josie sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, walking towards the Greene house.

Josie held onto the horse's saddle, looking at the scenery as she felt Glenn send her multiple glances, which she ignored.

"Jo, I'm sorry, okay. You know I can't keep secrets." Glenn sighed as Josie raised her brow, still looking forwards as she saw the shop. "Like that time me, you, Tiffany and T-dog played cards."

"This is not cards, Glenn." Josie simply said as she sent him a side glance. "I promised not to tell anyone about Lori, and I trusted you, Glenn. And the walkers, I promised Riley that me, and you, would keep the barn a secret." Josie continued. "You know my brother will kick off, Glenn."

"I know, okay. I'm sorry, Josie." Glenn let out another sigh as Josie turned to him. "Dale said he hasn't and he won't tell anyone." He added. "Are you mad?"

"No, I'm ecstatic." Josie uttered as she patted the horses side, signalling for it to stop as she jumped off of the saddle and pulled out the list Lori had given her.

Glenn breathed out as he got off his horse and followed Josie into the shop. Josie looked towards the pills and bottles, looking down at her list. "Grab anything we might need." Josie said to Glenn as he nodded his head, watching as Josie jumped over the stall.

She looked at all the bottles, looking for the ones Lori needs. Josie brows furrowed as she grabbed one of the bottles, reading it before placing it in her pocket. She also reached out for the antibiotics, thinking they might be useful.

Josie reached her arm out for the pill bottles at the back, only for something to grab her arm. She let out a yelp, looking at the walker across from her.

She fought against the walkers hand, pushing against the cabinets as it let go of her. She panted heavily as she grabbed her pocket knife, but Glenn had heard the commotion as he quickly swung at the walker, making it fall to the floor.

Josie panted as she swallowed thickly, blinking heavily as she leaned forwards. "Are you okay? Are you bit?" Glenn asked her, worriedly. He held onto her arms as she nodded, Glenn pulling her into a hug.

"I'm okay." She breathed out, looking down at the walker. "I'm fine." She added as she pulled out of the hug, listening to the walker growl. She grabbed her knife as she lowered herself down, stabbing the knife into the walkers head. She wiped her eyes as she looked over at Glenn. "What was the last thing on the list?"

"Uh." Glenn grabbed the paper from the floor, reading it with wide eyes. "Abortion pills." He said as Josies eyes widened. She missed that part.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Josie groaned as she walked towards him, grabbing the paper and towards the cabinets. She had almost gotten bit because of these.

Josie was livid. She didn't know why. Maybe, it was because Lori wanted to kill her baby, or, maybe because she almost got bit.

"Jo, calm down." Glenn tried to grab her arm, but Josie pulled it back, opening the gate and walking towards Lori.

"You want to kill the baby?" Josie asked in a hushed whisper, her eyes wide as Lori turned to her, clearly stunned. "Here I am risking my ass so you can kill it, without even telling Rick
." Josie handed the bag towards her, not letting Lori say anything else as she walked away, ignoring the fact Glenn was following her.

"Jo. Josie, wait up." Glenn breathed out as Josie walked into the field, trying to breathe. "Josie."

"What, Glenn?" Josie turned back around, frustration written all over her face. "What?" He breathed heavily, running a shaking hand through her hair. "I'm tired, Glenn. I just..." she shook her head, biting down on her bottom lip. "I can't." She placed her hand on her chest as she struggled to breathe. "Give me a minute." She raised her hand, watching as Glenn's brows furrowed.

"Jo?" Glenn held out his hand for her. "Hey, hey." He moved towards her as she struggled to breathe. "Just breathe, Jo." He held onto her as she let out a broken sob. "It's okay, I'm here." Glenn cradled her, his hand on her head as she cried into his chest.

Josie was tired—tired of this world. She didn't know if she could live like this, what she'll have to do, how at any moment, she, or anyone she cared about, could die. She was tired.

It wasn't about lori's baby, at all. And Josie felt guilty for what she had said and how she had spoke to Lori...she felt ashamed.

She couldn't handle it, she couldn't hack this world. And Josie didn't blame Lori not wanting a baby to have to grow up in a world like this.

— Madeline's words

IM SORRY BUT JJ IS JUST UGH!!! She's my baby and I'm so mad because she goes through a hell of a lot!

But here is the downfall of the Walsh siblings... oops... it's gonna throw Josie over the edge...

BUT HER AND GLENN AWWWWWWWWWE

they might get together this season or next season... I'm writing and I'm seeing how it'll fit in... it might be this season..

7th April 2024
1742 words