CHAPTER TWO || INFECTED

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Glenn stared down at Alex who was lying Asleep on the makeshift bed in the guard tower after having kept Glenn company while he was keeping watch during the Night. He sat Admiring her, how peaceful she looked while sleeping, Glenn smiled to himself as he thought how lucky he was. He loved her so much, He truly thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, he admired how her hair fell perfectly framing her face even in her sleep. He carefully reached into his bag, pulling out an old Polaroid camera as he edged himself closer to her. eager to capture her beauty so he would never forget this moment, how perfect things were between them.

looking through the viewfinder of the camera he smiled clicking the button that would capture her beauty in a photograph. the snapshot sound that came from the camera startled Alex, waking her up her eyes peeled open to see Glenn cheerfully waiting for the Polaroid to escape the camera, a soft chuckle leaving his lips as he grinned ear to ear mumbling a; "sorry"

Alex smiled immediately seeing his happiness, waking up to Glenn was always something that left her in disbelief, she couldn't grasp how she'd become so lucky. or what she had done to deserve such a beautiful man, who treated her so well.

"changing guard?" Alex asked wondering what he was doing next throughout the day, Glenn nodded running a hand through his hair, his contagious smile still plastered across his face.

"I'll bring you breakfast after perimeter check." He smiled leaning forward so he could press a kiss to Alex's lips, which she gratefully returned. before reaching for the Polaroid he'd just taken off her. breaking the kiss she glanced at the photo she chuckled in disbelief shaking it.

"oh my god. throw that away" she said as she sat up, Glenn shaking his head as he took the photo back, looking down at it with a smile on his face. his first ever photo of her, absolutely not, he wanted to keep it. to remind him of this exact moment.

"yeah.. not gonna happen" He smiled licking his lips, as he reached for his bag, a smile showing up on Alex's face. The warmth that rushed through her body was indescribable, a feeling she wasn't familiar with until now until he came into her life. 

"it's mine" He gushed looking at the photo, as he got up grabbing his things before he opened the hatch in the floor that lead down out of the tower.  As he made his way into the hatch, his hand still on it to close the hatch behind him, Alex pressed a kiss to the back of his hand before he closed it. leaving her in a good mood for the day by purely just being himself.

The way he made her feel was unreal, like nothing she'd ever felt before. it was a new feeling, one that filled her with happiness. his kindness, his touch. She just wanted him all the time. attention wasn't ever something she craved until she felt his touch.

he'd bring her breakfast... Alex had never felt this way before, this cared for. Despite the fact she hadn't said those three words, she loved him. Yet a part of her was still scared to say it. but she did. She loved him, he was beautiful, he was kind. how could she not? 

**

"Hey how's farming?" Alex chuckled as she leant against the pig pen where her uncle and Cousin were feeding the pigs, Both Carl and Rick looking at Alex like she'd intruded on an important conversation. which she had, and she could tell by the annoyance the expression on Carl's face displayed. 

"it's great" Rick replied, yet the look on Carl's face said otherwise, it wasn't difficult to tell the new rules that had been put in place were hard to get used to. Rick wouldn't Allow Carl to carry a gun, Rick didn't even carry himself. She didn't blame her uncle for the decisions he'd made, and she felt a twinge of Guilt for training Sam behind her uncle's back but she wanted to be prepared for the future even if they were safe. you could never be too sure. 

"Alex, are you helping with the walkers today?" Carl asked in regards to the abundance of walkers now pressing against the fences that needed to be taken care of. alex nodded knowing since the prison was now dealing with the loss of beths boyfriend she'd probably have to pull some extra weight. She didn't mind. especially in times like this, she knew how important moral was. 

"yeah probably jelly bean" Alex shrugged as her uncle sent her a glance as if to disagree with her doing that, He just wanted to keep everyone safe. Carl then let out a sigh of defeat as he looked up at Alex before his glance shifted back over to his father.

"Sorry. I'm trying" Alex cocked a brow at her Cousins' words, She'd almost forgotten the rules Rick had put in place as she always carried her weapon. She wouldn't go anywhere without it.

"yeah, I know. you both have. and I'm proud" Rick praised in regards to Alex and Carl getting used to the new rules despite the fact he wasn't aware Alex, wasn't following them.

"When can I have my gun back?" Carl questioned, He seemed to almost have the same thought process as Alex when it came to these situations, he'd rather know he was safe, and have his gun if things went bad.  Rick froze, not knowing how to Answer the question. He wanted Carl to have a childhood, A real one. like he did. 

"Carl, you know the rules. both of you do. Alex only has hers when she goes out on runs, or hunting with Sam-" Rick was interrupted by the loud echo of a gunshot. The sound initially startled the family as Alex jumped, turning to the direction of the sound. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as Rick jumped into action. Rick and Carl rushed out of the Pig Pen, automatically pushing Carl and Alex behind him.

"stay close" Rick muttered as they rushed back up toward the prison, where the sound of screaming soon followed. Alex's heart dropped as screams echoed from the prison, what could've happened? The fences, the walls it was safe. she'd checked. they'd all checked. where was Glenn? 

"help! help! Please! come Quick!" Alex pulled the gun from her waistband as she rushed in front of Rick as two girls rushed out of the Cellblock screaming for help pure panic radiating through the air as people rushed out of the prison screaming. 

"Get in the tower with Maggie! don't argue just go!" Rick ordered his son, Carl rushed toward the guard Tower following his father's orders as Alex And Rick ran Toward the Girls. Anxiety rushed through Alex's veins, Her gun firmly gripped in her hands. Rick and Alex run catching up with Daryl and Glenn Along with a few other people toward the sound.

"walkers in D!" Glenn exclaimed machete in hand As Alex split off from Rick. Everything was happening so fast, Her ears filled with screams and gunshots as She followed Glenn and Daryl into the cell block. the smell of rotten flesh hitting her like a truck, the sight Almost unreal. People. people she knew. walkers. Killing walkers was easy, killing walkers that were people you knew was different. but saving people, that was the priority. Raising her gun she followed Daryl, Almost automatically shooting down the walkers in her path.

"go! Get out of here!" she exclaimed rushing the unarmed people out of the Cellblock as she raced to help the remaining humans left in cell block D. She caught a Glimpse of Glenn slicing through a walkers skull with a machete before she saw Carol racing to help a child. Alex rushed toward Carol, upon seeing the walker going after her, Alex aimed her gun in the direction of the walker. taking a breath she pulled the trigger sending the walker to the floor.

The sound of panic slowly diminished as the group cleared the cell block of walkers. Alex looked around Hearing her uncle's shouts, She couldn't understand what he was saying his words were inaudible, all she could make out was his mouth moving Her vision blurred as memories flashed before her eyes. All she could see was blood. It was everywhere. her chest tightened as her focus shifted to the walls. they were closing in on her. the blood was everywhere. that drowning feeling. the feeling of drowning in pain, grief and memories came rushing back but this time. she was drowning in blood. Glenn's blood. Elis blood. 

"Alex?" she felt a hand on her shoulder that made her jump, a shiver running down her spine as she turned to see the governor. his eyes. They stared right through her, undressing her with just his eyes, and she felt it again. Her heart raced as she backed away raising her gun in his direction, bile rising in her throat as that helplessness came rushing back.

"Alex! It's Sam! it's Sam!" Visions flashed before her eyes as her blood ran cold. Glenn's hand over hers as he took the gun from his hand. Sam stood in front of her, hands raised, panic evident on his face. her chest constricted upon the realisation it wasn't the governor. it was Sam. The fear in his filled Alex with shame.

Alex's wide eyes met Glenn's, panic clouding her thoughts as she looked back to sam as she let go of the gun, Glenn taking it and tucking it into his waistband. Walker's blood splattered across his chest, as Alex inhaled deeply her hand rubbing her chest as dread made her lungs tighten.

"no I'm sorry I'm sorry" She muttered backing away from Sam and Glenn, Her heart raced as she turned around seeing Her uncle staring at her a panicked expression laid out across his features. She thought she was okay. she thought it was gone... 

but does ptsd ever truly leave, or is it just a part of you, you learn to bury until something decides to dig it up?