▎SAFE HAVEN  ▎
»»————　act four. painful goodbyes
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE ━━ photographs

The gentle breeze rustled through the tall trees, creating a soothing whisper. In the distance, you could hear the melodic chirping of birds, their songs blending harmoniously with the soft lapping of water against the shore. It's a symphony of nature, filling the air with tranquility, betraying the norm of an apocalypse.

Both the Rhee's had spent the night in the lookout tower, Glenn waking up first as he watches his wife sleep, peacefully.

He smiled to himself—seeing Josie move every time she breathed in and out, but staying cuddled under the blanket.

He breathed out a soft chuckle, turning to his bag as he pulled out the camera he had gotten from the run.

Glenn looked back down at the peaceful Josie, bringing the camera to his eye as he took a photo as Josie, the camera click waking her up.

She let out a groan, hiding herself under the blanket as Glenn let out a chuckle, letting the photo print out as he leaned toward and pulled the blanket down.

"That is not a way to wake someone up, creep." Josie uttered, rubbing her eyes with her hands as she adjusted to the light. "You better not have taken a photo of me." Josie opened her eyes, letting out a yawn as Glenn stared at the photo.

"I did." Glenn breathed out, grin on his face as Josie rolled her eyes. "I'll bring you some breakfast up after perimeter check." Glenn said as he leaned closer towards her, pressing a kiss against her lips.

Josie quickly snatched the photo out of his hand, her tired eyes looking down at it as she immediately shook her head. "Oh, no." She muttered, breathing out as she sat up. "Throw that away, or burn it." Josie handed the photograph of herself back to Glenn as he stared at it.

"Yeah...not gonna happen." Glenn quickly said as he held the photo. "It's mine." He breathed out as he got up, Josie letting out a sigh as she opened the hatch.

"You see Michonne, tell her to get me some Oreo's." Josie bit back a grin ad Glenn started to climb down it, his hand on the door as Josie pressed a kiss against it. "Tell her to hurry back, too."

Josie grabbed her jacket, pulling it on as she braided a part of her hair, looking out towards the prison. It was peaceful.

She leaned down to grab her sword then a gunshot made her jump. Josie looked towards the prison, from on her face as more gun shots echoed.

She opened the door, looking down as Jada ran out with Mika and Lizzie and Riley. "Cell blocks?" Josephine yelled down towards the three as Carol walked towards them.

"I don't know!" Rick Grimes yelled up to her as Josie looked down. Rick told something to Carl as Josie looked around, frantically.

Josie watched as Carl ran towards the gate, letting Michonne come back in. Josie grabbed her sword as she ran down the stairs, missing a couple steps as she ran towards Carl.

"Carl, get back!" Josie yelled, pushing her nephew behind her as she opened the gate, pulling out her sword as she ran over to Michonne, slicing a walkers head. "Come on." Josie panted as she held out her hand for Michonne.

Michonne grabbed her hand, letting Josie pull her up, slinging her arm around her neck as Michonne limped.

"Carl, get the horse!" Josie yelled as Carl grabbed the horse, Josie carrying Michonne as Carl closed the gate behind them.

Carl and Josie helped Michonne toward the cell block as Rick walked towards them. They stopped in their tracks as Carl ran over to his father.

"Hey, you might want to stay back." Rick held out his hand for Carl, but Carl didn't listen as he pulled him into a hug.

Josie held onto Michonne, watching the interaction. But a pit formed in her stomach as she looked over at Rick. Where was Glenn?

"I was coming back." Michonne spoke up as Carl apologised to his father for using a gun. "I fell. They came out and helped me." She gestured to Josie and Carl, making Josie squeeze Michonne's hand.

"Are you all right?" Rick asked Michonne, who nodded her head, leaning into Josie.

"What happened in there? Is everyone okay?" Josie spoke up, her face decorated with worry as Rick turned to her.

Then a woman walked out, a dead child in her hands as Josie's heart dropped. "Patrick got sick last night." Rick spoke as Josie frowned, looking back over to Rick. "It's some kind of flu. It moved fast. We think he died and attacked the cell block."

Josie swallowed thickly as she lowered her head, Rick speaking to his son. Josie bit down on her tongue as she lowered her head. "Glenn is okay, but he was in there." Josie's head snapped up at the mention of her husband. "You shouldn't get too close to anyone that might have been exposed, at least for a little while." Carl then ran towards Michonne and Josie, helping the older woman out. "Carl. All of you."

Josie nodded her head as she helped Michonne into the cell block C. So, there was a sickness going around?

Josephine held the crying Judith, pacing back and forth in the cell block as she hummed to the baby in her arms. "Shh." Josie spoke softly as she cradled Judith in her arms. "It's okay, J."

She was praying everyone was okay, she wanted to see Glenn, but she knew she couldn't, it was a risk. And she needed to look after Judith.

Josie pressed a soft kiss against her head, leaning on the wall as Beth walked out, flashing Josie a smile. "Want me to take her?" Beth asked, holding out her hands for the baby.

"You sure? You don't have to, I got her." Josie softly replied with a smile, looking down at Judith in her arms.

"You're tired and clearly stressed, JJ." Beth pointed out as Josie titled her head, eyes softening. "Come on."

Josie breathed out as she carefully passed Judith to Beth, running a hand over her head as Beth smiled at Josephine.

"Rest. You need it." Beth told her as Josie shook her head.

"I don't think I'll be able to rest, not now, anyways." Josie sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'll check on Michonne."

Rick had moved a small group into the other cell block, the ones that hadn't been in contact with this disease. And Josie was one of them.

Josie had the job of looking after the young ones. That was her job, and she needed to look after them.

She held Judith in her arms as she sat down on one of the tables. Mika sat beside her as Jada braided her hair. "Can you do mine after, Jada?" Lizzie questioned as she looked around the room, sitting beside Riley.

"Of course." Jada smiled as she looked over at Josie, who was lost in thought. She watched as Josie stared at Judith, her eyes blank as she bit down on her lip. She was worried.

"Do you think everyone else is okay? The people that are sick?" Mika questioned, her curiosity getting the best of her as she looked over at Josie. "Mrs. Josie?"

Josie snapped out of her thoughts, turning to the young girl with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah." She muttered, nodding her head. "They'll all be okay."

"Yeah, Carol is looking after them." Lizzie added with a smile, hands on her hips as she looked at her sister. "They'll be okay."

"Carol is a saviour. Don't worry your little heads about everyone." Riley then added, her hands gripping the edge of the table she sat on.

"And done." Jada smiled down at Mika, rubbing her shoulders with a smile. "Lizzie." The teenager beckoned for the younger girl.

The young girl stepped forwards, moving past her sister as she sat in front of Jada. Josie looked over at them, soft smile on her lips. These children were innocent. They were too pure for this world.

"Have you seen Carl?" Beth's voice made Josie looked towards the door, frown on her face. "He's not here. Nor is my daddy."

"What." Josie frowned as she stood up, holding onto Judith. "Here, take her." Josie carefully passed Judith to Beth, the Greene gently cradling her.

"You can't leave, Josie." Riley spoke, shaking her head as she stood up, walking towards her younger sister. "They'll be fine."

"Carl's not here. Hershel isn't here." Josie simply replied. "Carl's probably gone to find Rick, I need to find him."

Riley breathed out, holding onto Judith as she nodded her head. "Look after them, for me." She nodded towards the kids as she spoke in a whisper, making Riley nod her head.

Josie walked past her, closing the door behind her as she moved towards the other door. She had a job to do, but she needed to know where Carl and Hershel went, even if that meant risking her life and getting infected.

Josie let out a breath as she opened the door, closing it behind her as she walked through the hallways.

"Josie?" Josie turned to the side as she heard Maggie's voice. "What are you doing? You need to be in quarantine." Maggie said as she moved backwards.

"Carl's gone, so is your dad." Josie simply replied. "I need to know he's okay, he should be in quarantine." Josie said with pleading eyes. "Maggie—"

"Glenn's sick." Maggie spoke as Josie's breath got caught in her throat.

Josie froze at her words, her lips parting as she turned to face Maggie. Glenn couldn't he sick—no.

"Josie, you need to stay in here, with Beth and the kids." Maggie reminded as Josie shook her head. "Jo-"

"I need to see Glenn." Josie quickly said, going to move past Maggie, but Maggie stepped in front of her. "Maggie." Josie clenched her jaw, but the Greene woman was persistent.

"You need to stay here, with those kids, Josie. They need you there." Maggie moved backwards, keeping her space from Josie. "Rick wouldn't want you-"

"Fine." Josie cut her off, swallowing thickly as she lowered her head, eyes glassy as she pursed her lips. "But you need to let me know if Glenn gets bad, okay. Please, Maggie."

"Of course." Maggie gave her a slight smile, nodding her head. "He's with the others, Doctor S is looking after him." Maggie told her as Josie nodded her head.

— madeleines notes

I absolutely adore josie and glenn, I literally... UGH I DONT WANT SEASON SEVEN GIVE OVERRR

but sorry for the lack of posts, I've been busy with my exams because your girl is yr 11... I've SLAYED THEM SO FAR. I've done photography, art, biology, English literature so far. I BREAK UP A MONTH TODAY AHH

But I'll try update frequently for you babies, I appreciate your love sm and I am extremely grateful for it <3

14th May 2024
1861 words