𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 ;
season four : episode one

𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 from outside the prison as a few of the children there were playing soccer.

it was strange hearing people happy, especially in a world like this. with all the death and loss in this world, there's also life and love.

the blazing sun beamed down on my body as i lay across the grass. the sound of the comics pages constantly flipping every so often.

a shadow blocked the sun from my view, moving the papers i see the familiar blonde girl stood over me.

"hey beth," i sit up, propping myself up on my elbows, "do you need anything?"

her hair was slightly curled and was pulled back into a loose ponytail. her blue eyes shone brightly as the sun only made their colour more breathtaking.

her smile was perfect as the girl beamed down "just wondering if you wanted to help drop supplies off, since some of the group are going on a run today."

"sure," i place the book down on the ground as she reaches a hand out for me to grab, the boxes balanced in her other.

i carried the last of the supplies to the cars, the weight of the box slowing my movements.

beth saw my struggle and came over, taking them from my hands. "thank you." i gave her a wide smile as we chatted about what we were doing for the day.

loud footsteps could be heard running towards us. carl's figure came closer, paper flailing in his hand. "hey, look what michonne brought back for us."

beth gave me a small nod before walking to put the supplies in the cars, ready to go.

i take the comic from him, a wide smile on my face. "cool, we haven't got this one yet!"

"yeah, i was hoping to go read it later but for now i just wanted to hang out."  he shrugged.

we made our way to the front gates, where more kids were laughing and talking to the walkers.

"you're naming them?" carl spoke with an unenthusiastic tone as we got closer, the football passed from one hand to the other.

"well, one of them has a name tag, we thought all of them should." a young blonde girl with a singular braid looked from the walkers to us.

"they had names when they were alive," he paused, "they're dead now."

i smacked carl on the arm "carl, stop it." i turned my attention towards the girls, " i think it's sweet. they shouldn't be forgotten, or only be thought of as what they are now. they were people once too."

the girl smiled "exactly. they're just different."

i wasn't entirely sure but i think her name was lizzie. she'd joined a little while back and she's not much younger than carl and i.

"what the hell are you guys talking about?" carl's voice brought me out of my thoughts, "they don't talk. they don't think. they eat people. they kill people."

"people kill people. they still have names." she snapped back.

to be completely honest, she was right. i've met so many bad people that have killed, and they're still people. i have killed people.

"have you seen what happens? have you seen someone die like that?" his tone was accusing and his eyes were narrowed.

"yeah. i have." lizzie's voice remained stern and her face made her look slightly agitated.

"they're not people and they're not pets." he stepped closer to her, "don't name them."

"carl! stop being such a dick." i aggressively whispered the last part so they couldn't hear but he could.

"we're supposed to read. come on." lizzie walked off with the other three kids.

the youngest looking one, mika, came back "you coming to story time tonight?" her sweet-sounding voice questioned me.

"yeah! i'll see you there." and with that she ran off to catch up with the others.

i shook my head at the young boy, disapprovingly before making my way back up to the prison.

"where are you going?" he yelled as he realised i was going.

"i don't really know." i shrugged, right now i just wanted to talk to someone who wasn't so negative all the time.

i have no clue why it got on my nerves about what he said. maybe it's because i liked the hope of knowing even if my family had turned, they wouldn't always be remembered as being dead.
but also them being alive.

after a bit of wondering i decided to venture into the library, where carol was supposed to be reading, i sat on the floor, listening to her show the kids how to use knives.

i cross my legs as i watched the children, the look of focused on their faces.

carol looked up "please, don't tell your father." she pleaded.

i follow her gaze only to meet the back of carls head. "i'll go talk to him."

"carl? carl!" i yell as he continued to get further away from me "why're you even mad? it's not a big deal."

he pauses, a scoff escaping his lips. "not a big deal? my dad asked for the kids not to be shown that and she did it anyway and you-"

"stop! be pissed all you want, just don't tell your dad." my eyes closed briefly before opening again, "just think about it, okay?"

it was a lot later in the day now, i was on my way back to my cell when i see daryl walking away from beth's cell.

i run up to him, giving him a tight hug, "your back!" he wrapped his arms around me.

"yeah," his voice wasn't as it normally was, it was sadder than usual "we, uh, we lost zack today and i just told beth."

"oh god, is she okay?" i pull away from the embrace.

i didn't know zack well but he and beth had recently gotten close and even started dating.

"she's changed, not cryin' or nothin'. "
looking at his face i noticed his hooded eyes and parted lips. he is tired of losing people. we all are. "i'm off to bed now, see ya kiddo."

creeping up to beth's door, i peak inside and see her writing, "hey." i was desperately trying to think of something to say but nothing came out.

"hi," she paused, closing her book, "if you've come to say that you're sorry or something like that, just don't."

"i didn't," i walk in and sat next to her, laying my head on her shoulder, "just didn't want to be alone right now."

"me neither." she sighed, resting her head on mine.

we lay back, still in the same position, as we just enjoyed each others company. the darkness engulfed us as we fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of a world unlike this one.

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kinda rushed but it's wtv, i'll probably rewrite later anyway just wanted to actually upload a chapter!!

「 1166 words 」