The Governor, they called him. A nickname for their hero, someone they all looked up to. He was no different than everyone else, just the light in everyone's eyes because society these days always needed someone to guide them. Even after the world went to shit.
Somehow he had been the one to take charge.
I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, leaning against the building my family had now called our "home", watching him intently. He stood, head held high, arms making motions to match his speech, pacing back and forth on a rectangular wooden box. The way the crowd cheered back at him, some raising their arms, some clapping, reminded me of Sunday mornings at church. My faith evaporated once the human race did. Nobody was the same anymore, alive or half dead we might've all just been the same. My heart had gone cold, trust was a hefty word and letting your guard down at any given moment could mean you were that much closer to becoming one of... them.
I had changed. There was a time when I used to wear dresses and cowgirl boots, bows in my long chocolate brown hair, even make up. But those days had disappeared with the girl I used to be. I turned into a girl who wore jeans and plaid shirts, had two hand guns strapped to either side of her waist - Sig Sauer's P220 semi automatic. They once belonged to my father- he had been a cop. My father's face crossed in my mind and I saw my own hand holding one of the guns and pointing at his head with it. I heard the gunshot in my ears and the thump as his lifeless body hit the dirt. It was the first time I had ever used a gun and had ever encountered a Walker. Looking at the Governor reminded me of my him. After all, they had been brothers.
It was when that new blonde chick and her dark skinned friend joined in our little community when my suspicions arose, and something about my uncle unsettled me. He had changed - like everyone else - and in a horrible way. It was when my cousin Penny and her mother died... something inside him had just snapped. The way he carried himself and that stone cold look in his eye is what convinced me he was lost. On the outside he was smiling, reassuring everyone that we would survive and work together, but on the inside he was screaming for vengeance. The thing was, I didn't know if it was against the Walkers or survivors. Newcomers had came here occasionally, but I happened to notice we never saw them leave. Or anywhere in Woodbury. It made me curious... what happen to them?
"You look lost in thought."
I shook myself out of my reverie, turning, my blue eyes locking with the same ones but on my brothers face. "Hey Jesse."
"You're not actually listening to Phillip, are you?" Jesse asked with a smirk. He put his hand over my shoulder, against the brick wall, and leaned on it, one leg crossing the other. That was one thing I enjoyed about my brother; we both agreed on a lot of things, usually thought of the same ideas and nothing went passed either of us. I called it twin telepathy, slightly cliché but it made sense. He had his suspicions of our uncle, same as mine.
"Ugh, no. Just watching the crowd react to our preacher. And overthinking pointless matters." I replied with a roll of my eyes.
He grinned, and I couldn't help but return the smile. Jesse was one of the only people on this planet I could trust. For fraternal twins we looked very identical. We shared the same chocolate brown hair, although his was cut short and shaggy, same almond shaped baby blue eyes, same small button nose, same smile. The difference between us was our height, he stood at six foot two and I stood at five foot seven. He also had light layer of freckles that dotted his nose and I had a Munroe beauty mark.
"Happy Birthday Tess." Jesse said after a moment of silence, pulling out a small box with a tiny pink bow tied around it from his jacket pocket. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Was it already our birthday?
"Oh Jess, I completely forgot... Who keeps track of the time anymore?"
"I do." He said, holding the box out for me to take.
I accepted the present, gently pulling the bow apart and lifting the lid. Inside was a heart shaped white gold locket. I looked up at him, my jaw dropped, eyebrows raised further on my forehead. Before I could say anything he spoke.
"Open it."
My fingers fumbled with the locket for a few moments before I finally cracked it open. Inside was a picture of our father on one side and a picture of my brother on the other side. My heart skipped at the sight of our father. "The two most important men to me. Jesse... where did you get this?" I looked up at him, forcing tears back.
"I've had it for awhile... The necklace was grandma's. I grabbed it from mom and dad's room before we evacuated." He explained. "It was empty so I put pictures in it from the photo album mom packed. Do you like it?"
"I love it." I whispered, and threw my arms around his neck. "Happy Birthday too you too Jess... Sorry I didn't get you anything."
"What the hell Tessa. Why not?" He laughed and pulled away from our embrace. I punched his arm playfully with a smile, then put the locket on.
"Jesse, Tessa, it's your turn for watch." Martinez called out to us as he walked over from the wall. "Haley and Karen need some lunch." My brother stepped back from me, and we exchanged a glance.
"Sure thing Caesar." Jesse said. Martinez eyed me with interest and desire as he always did, but I pretended I didn't notice and pushed myself off of the brick wall. I followed my brother, feeling Caesar's eyes on my backside as we went. When we reached the wall, we climbed the ladder up the platform and waited for Haley and Karen to get out of their seats.
"Time for some food." Haley stretched as she stood, lifting her bow and arrows and slinging them over her shoulder. "Hasn't been much excitement today." Karen said with a sigh and followed after the younger girl, clapping Jesse on the shoulder as she walked by. Once they were gone we took their seats.
I stretched out, putting my feet up on the bags of sand that helped create the wall, putting my hands behind my head. Jesse rested a single foot on the wall and started leaning his chair back, balancing it on two legs. "What do you think of them new girls?" Jesse asked me, his country boy accent coming out thick. "What are their names again? Andrea and Michelle?"
"Michonne I think it was." I said in reply. "And I'm not sure what to think. Andrea doesn't seem too smart, I'm surprised she's still alive. Michonne seems ... too intelligent." Although they had only arrived two days ago I was exceptionally well at reading people, even those who I hadn't talked to before.
"I agree." Jesse said. "I have a little respect for Michonne. I don't trust them, but she doesn't trust us either. Andrea seems too... comfortable."
I hummed in agreement and we fell silent. Hours ticked by and we took down only two walkers. The time for dinner finally came around and Martinez and Crowley showed up to take over. "We haven't had many visitors today. Something has the Walkers occupied." Jesse said to the pair as we stood and headed for the ladder. "Have fun guys." I said and smirked at Martinez as he watched me climb down from the platform.
"Caesar has a huge thing for you, Tess." Jesse laughed as we headed towards our unit for supper.
"Ugh... You tell me that almost every day."
"I know. Just thought I'd refresh your memory since I hadn't reminded you yet today." He grinned and I gave him a light shove with my shoulder. "He's only three years older, and you're not getting any younger." Jesse lightly pushed back and I rolled my eyes.
"We're only twenty-one - sorry twenty-two - and I'd rather chose someone who has flesh hanging between his teeth, and limbs hanging awkwardly off his body." I said. "Way more attractive and suitable than Martinez." I said as Jesse laughed. "Besides who has time to date anyways? Life or death is a choice we have to face every day. Getting too close to someone is stupid."
He shook his head. "You're so depressing sometimes."
"And realistic." I pointed out with a smile.
We reached our home and stepped inside. Jesse closed the door behind us and took his hunting knife out of his boot, placing it in his belt and took off his shoes. I kicked my boots off and headed towards the kitchen, smelling barbeque chicken. Our mother, Sarah, and ten year old sister, Sasha, were placing dinner on the kitchen table. Chicken, potatoes and corn on the cob. Seeing this sight made it feel like there was no apocalypse outside our front door, but there was one person missing from the scene. I pushed the thought away and smiled at Sasha, but grimaced at our mother; we had never gotten along, even after the human race started to end. I was civil with her, but it was clear to us and everyone else how our relationship was. She favoured my brother above us all and blamed me for our father's death. I reminded her often that he was already dead, before I shot him... that I only did him a favour. That only made even more distant from each other.
"Smells great Ma." Jesse said from behind me, slipping by and taking a seat at the table. I sat down next to him.
"Thanks love. Rowan brought by some chicken for us, and Sasha helped harvest the potatoes and corn. The crops are coming in nicely." Mother said as she finished setting the table and sat down. She put both her hands out, palms up on the table. Sasha took one hand and Jesse took the other. I grabbed hands with my siblings, and mother bowed her head, eyes closed. She began to pray. I tuned her out, rolling my eyes for the hundredth time that day. Everything about her irritated me. I didn't understand her point of view, I never did and never will. She looked up after she finished, and we all released hands.
"Tessa." She said with a tone that suggested I was being frustrating, somehow.
"Yes, mother?" I asked, reaching for a chicken leg.
"Why is it you always disrespect me?" She said. "You couldn't at least just pretend you care?"
"Really mother? You're giving me shit now? At the dinner table?" I snapped.
"Don't use that language with me. It's rude. We pray before we eat, you know that."
I sighed heavily, letting her know I wasn't pleased with her, but apologized anyway. "You're right. I'm sorry."
She didn't answer, choosing to eat her meal instead. We all ate in silence for awhile until Sasha broke the silence.
"How was keeping watch this afternoon? Did ya kill any Walkers?"
"Only two. Something else seems to have their attention today." Jesse answered.
"Phillip will be pleased." Mother stated nonchalantly.
I finished my chicken and started on my potatoes, not in the mood for conversation. My mind wandered to my warm bed, my eyes beginning to feel heavy. "I wonder what daddy would've done if he were here." Sasha said out of the blue. The moment after went very silent and seemed like everyone in the room was holding their breath. You could've heard a pin drop on the tiled floor. "I guess we will never know that, will we?" Mother's eyes locked with mine for a brief moment before she looked away. My temper rose but I held back my snappy comment and instead chose to grip my knife and fork as tightly as I could, attempting to channel my frustration into the objects. "I miss him." Sasha said, putting her cutlery down and pushing her half eaten food away.
"Finish your dinner, we are on limited supply." Mother said. "And yes, I wish I could change it, but he's gone." Her brown eyes looked up into mine once more, and at that moment I was glad I resembled my father. "For good."
That was all it took. I stood, my chair fell over backwards, threw my silverware down and the fork bounced off the table and flew over Mother's left shoulder. "Give it a damn rest woman! I loved him too!" I shouted.
Her jaw dropped open in surprise of the flying cutlery. "So much you shot him?!" She yelled back, rising from her chair as well.
"Hey!" Jesse said over top of us. "That's enough!"
I ignored him. "He was dead before I shot him! I did him and the rest of us a damn favour! It would've been much harder if we let him live, and he started feeding off of innocent people!" My body temperature started to rise with my anger. Sasha started wailing while Jesse stood, trying to make us see reason. I stared her down and she stared right back. One thing in common we shared was our stubborn attitude. "It's what he would have wanted!"
"Yeah and what I would've wanted was for you to have died instead of him!" She screamed right back.
That shut me up.
I turned on my heel and stormed out of the kitchen, racing down the hall to my room. "Tessa!" Jesse called, but I ignored him. I heard him and my mother exchange words in a heated tone, but I tuned them out. I grabbed my backpack, which held emergency supplies in case I needed to leave quickly under certain circumstances, walked back out to the front door, shoved my feet in my boots and threw the front door open, slamming it behind me so hard the door shook the building. I heard a picture frame smash as it hit the floor inside, probably falling off of the wall. I stormed down the dark street, heading towards the wall where they had outside emergency lighting and tons of flashlights.
"Heading somewhere, Blake?" Martinez asked as I approached them.
"Anywhere but here would be nice." I retorted sarcastically and climbed the ladder. Once up top I threw my pack down and sat on the platform. "If you guys want to leave I'll take watch again."
"Whoa why so heated?" Martinez said, rising from his seat.
"It's none of your damn business. Just need to be outside." I didn't look at him.
"Hmm, feisty." He whistled. "Crowley, you can go if you like. Looks like Tessa here will be too stubborn to go back home. We don't need three people keeping watch here."
Crowley nodded and removed himself from the scene. Once he was gone Martinez pulled the emptied chair over to me. "Sit."
"I am. And I prefer the ground thanks."
He sighed. "So are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"No." I snapped. I was too pissed off to want to talk, and he was the last person I wanted to have use for comfort.
"Oh c'mon Tess, you can talk to me y'know... about anything." Martinez sat down next to me, a little too close. "Besides, I know you have a thing for me."
"Excuse me?!" I nearly shouted, eyebrows raising, this time I looked at him. "And don't call me that."
"Oh don't lie, sweet cheeks, you're attitude is just a cover. And it's a huge turn on." I went to stand, to get away from him, but before I could he was suddenly tackling me down. My arm flew out, knocking my backpack off the platform as we fell over sideways. His lips found my jawline and I thrashed out, but his muscular body pinned me down. "Get off me!" I managed to squeal out, breathless against his weight. I tried to wiggle out from under him, to push him away, shove my knees against him, anything, but it was no use. He grabbed my wrists with one hand, holding them above my head while the other hand went for my belt buckle. I thrust my hips from side to side trying to prevent him from breaking through, but failed. He got the buckle free and pulled my jeans down. I felt his fingers on me, and I went to scream, tears threatening in my eyes but I refused to let him see me cry of fear. His mouth found mine before the scream broke free but instead of a kiss I bit his lips. Hard. I tasted a gush of blood and he pulled back in surprise, yelling out. I spat the blood and saliva in his face, his grip on my wrists slacked and I took my chance. I yanked free and thrust my elbow into his throat, and he sucked in a ragged breath after the impact, coughing. He fell sideways off me and I rolled over, pushing myself up with my hands. I went to pull up my jeans but I felt a boot slam into my backside and I flew forward, toppling over the wall and a second later hit the hard dirt on the other side face first.
Pain burst through my nose and right arm, which I had landed on. I pushed myself up with my left, coughing dirt and blood out of my mouth. "You little bitch!" I heard Martinez call down after me. My head spun as I slowly got to my feet. I heard a thud behind me, and turned to see him landing on the ground, dirt clouding around him at the impact. It was seconds before he threw a right hook into my stomach and I doubled over, trying to cough but nothing came out. He shoved me backward and I hit the dirt, winded. Next thing I knew he was half dragging, pulling me by the back of my shirt and hair towards the woods. I had no strength to break free, my adrenaline pumping was the only thing keeping me conscious.
Once we were secluded he threw me down, I could feel rocks and tree branches against my back. He pulled my pants and underwear the rest of the way down, and I rolled over and tried to crawl away, but he grabbed my waist, pulling me back towards him. "Don't..." I moaned against the dirt and twigs.
"You think I'm bad sweetheart? If only you knew what kinds of things the Governor does."
I heard his zipper unzip, and I held back a whimper. I would not let him hear my weakness. I started to push myself up, feeling a burst of energy at the thought. I would not let him take my dignity. Before I could turn and clock him one, I felt his fist collide with the side of my head. My face met the ground once more, head spinning. Seconds later I felt him push inside of me. The weight of him made me feel like he was trying to drill me into the ground. My hands clenched tightly, nails breaking the skin in my palms. I whimpered out, willing myself to pass out, to die. I wanted anything but to feel like this. It wasn't long before he finished. Once he was done and zipped up he slapped my backside, hard. "Thanks for that sweetheart. Enjoy your night." He chuckled and left. I waited until I couldn't hear his footsteps any longer before letting out a huge sob. Everything on my body throbbed. I didn't move for what felt like ages, just cried until nothing came out. Eventually I pulled myself up, reaching out for my underwear and jeans. It was pitch black. I felt around for a few minutes before finding the fabric. I pulled my clothes on, thankful to feel that my two guns were still in place, and the miniature emergency flashlight I kept in my pocket was there as well. Unfortunately I lost my backpack, but there was no way I was going back to Woodbury to grab it. I clicked the flashlight on, and pulled myself up. My limbs ached, but I wasn't going to stay here another minute. My hunting knife was in my boot, so I unsheathed it. Gunshots were too loud, especially at nighttime.
I trekked forward in the darkness, terrified of what may lie ahead for me, but more terrified of going back and encountering something like that again. I held back more sobs that wanted to escape - I needed to be as silent as I could. I wasn't in the mood to make anymore friends tonight.
Hours went by and I pushed forward. My entire body was screaming to stop and rest, but I forced myself on. I knew if I stopped I would fall asleep. And if I fell asleep who knew if I would wake up as myself again or not. I didn't know where I was going or why I was going there. I was abandoning my brother and sister, and the thought of never seeing them again tugged at my heart, but it was better this way. I couldn't bare to go back and face them. To see my mother and worst of all Martinez... what he would do to me if there was a next time? I shuddered at the thought. Besides, my mother wished for me to be dead, she'd said so herself. Maybe this was me being weak, but I was acting without thinking, and I felt like welcoming death.
I came across a lone Walker. I was tempted to let it devour me, but I drove the hunting knife into her skull, and kicked her off the blade with my foot, feeling no sympathy. I wiped the blood off on her shirt, and pushed myself on. By the time the sun started to come up my legs felt like Jell-O. I saw a large wired iron gate, and about a mile behind the gate held a large empty space of grass and beyond that was a building. A prison.
I walked up to the gate, seeing a body not far from me. He was pacing the gate, probably on morning watch? The man didn't look like a Walker from this distance, at least. "H-hey!" I croaked out, beginning to raise my arms to wave them above my head. I was surprised he heard me from this distance because he froze, turning in my direction. The edges of my vision began to blur towards unconsciousness, but I saw a crossbow raise in his arms as he took a few steps towards my direction. I heard the arrow fly free but I collapsed before it could drive into me as darkness overwhelmed me.
