I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters

I do own Anne Marshall

Tess Carver belongs to Celebrityfan

Anne's POV

It has been two days since THAT incident. When we came back to the camp, Tess was silent the entire way back, except for the occasional sniffle. I haven't seen her since that day. She's been cooped up in her tent most of the time.

I passed by her tent a couple times hearing her screaming and crying, probably from having nightmares about what had happened to Coleen...

Whenever Bill tried to talk to her, Tess would yell at him and shove him away. He deserves it, if you ask me.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. How could he... I knew that he and his ex wife never got along, but... damn...

Now I know. Now I know why those people left. It's because Carver was a monster...

An emotionless monster that didn't care what happened to others... and now that I know what he is now, I've noticed some things about him. He seems pretty obsessed with finding those guys that left a while back. It was like he refused to let them go.

I stepped out of my tent, ignoring the other residents as I passed by with my hands shoved in my pockets. These guys don't know about our 'good' leader, about what his true nature is...

"Anne?"

I'm yanked out of my thoughts by the voice. I look up, seeing Bonnie, another resident of the camp. She's one of the guards here at the community. I don't know her very well, but she's an okay girl. She's pretty nice.

"Hey Bonnie." I greeted.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine." I lie. "Has Tess come out of her tent, yet?"

She shook her head. "No. Not since... well..." she said trailing off.

I scratched the back of my head. I haven't seen anyone mourn over a lost family member in a long time.

"You should talk to her."

I blink in surprise. "Me?!" I asked. "Yeah. You and her seem pretty close, so I'm sure she'll listen to you," said Bonnie. I cross my arms. Well, she's got a point... Tess was the first one to welcome me to the camp. She showed me the ropes here, and always helped me whenever I had a problem. Guess it's time I repay the favor.

"You're probably right..." I say. "I'll go talk to her."

Bonnie smiles in approval and nods.

"See ya later, Bonnie." I told the woman as I ran past her and towards Tess's tent. Where was it again? Oh yeah, that way.

I come to a halt in front of it. "Tess. Tess, it's me! Anne!" I called.

"Go away!" Tess sniffled.

This is gonna be tougher than I thought...

"Come on, Tess. You've been in there for two days. People are starting to worry about you."

"Please... just go away!" she sniffled. "Leave me alone!"

I sighed loudy and crossed my arms. "Please. Just come out. We're getting worried..."

Tess remains silent.

"Please?"

After another silent moment, I sighed in defeat.

"Okay. I'll be in my tent if you need me..." I say as I back away from her tent and leave. Just as I walk around a corner, I pass by William Carver himself. He raises an eyebrow as he looks at me, as if he wasn't expecting me to be there.

"Hello there, Anne." he greets. "Have you seen Tess around here?"

I say nothing, but I glared at him coldly with my visible eye. "Why would you of all people wanna talk to her after what you did?" I spat before I left.

Night had fallen on the camp. I should be asleep by now, but I just can't. Not after what's happened...

I sat on my cot, strumming away on my guitar. I was lucky to get that thing before shit started happening. It's one of the only ways I can entertain myself with when I'm bored. I still couldn't believe that Coleen was gone... and Bill was responsible for her death.

I freeze when I see a shadow pass by my tent. What is that...?

Is it a lurker?

If it is, then how'd it get into the community?!

I cautiously reach for my hunting knife before I lift the flap and peeked outside. Someone was walking towards the direction of the camp entrance carrying several bags. I narrow my eye to get a closer look and silently gasp.

It's Tess!

What the hell is she doing heading towards the camp entrance?! Wait, why does she have that much stuff with her?

Without a second thought, I grabbed a few bags with my stuff and supplies in them, as well as my guitar, before I sneaked out of my tent and secretly followed Tess.

Tess's POV

I ran into the stockroom and towards the camp entrance with my belongings. I'm leaving this place. FOR GOOD. I'm going to find Luke, Nick, and everyone else. I stopped in my tracks when I heard Anne's voice call out to me.

"Tess?"

I froze. I thought I was caught. If I made one false move, I knew I'd be in trouble.

I slowly turned around with a stoic look on my features, seeing that she had a few bags, as well as her guitar with her.

"What're you doing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What does it look like? I'm leaving!" I say with a scoff.

Anne was silent for a moment before she crossed her arms over her chest. "... It's because of Carver, isn't it?"

I stiffened at the name. My eyes started to water, but I blinked away the tears. "Yes... that son of a bitch killed my mother! He's nothing but a fucking monster! I'm leaving, for good!" I said, glaring straight into Anne's visible eye. "What? Are you gonna stop me?"

Anne shook her head. "No. Why should I? I have NO loyalty to that bastard anymore. Not after what he's done."

I nodded with satisfaction and turned around to leave.

Anne's POV

As Tess opened the door that led outside and began to leave, I couldn't help but think... should I stay here, continue taking orders from Carver, or leave also...?

No... There is NO WAY I'm staying here after what he's done! I'm not gonna stand by and let a man who let his ex wife die tell me what to do!

"WAIT!" I suddenly called out. Tess turned around in surprise as I ran up to her with my things. "I'm coming with you!"

"WHAT?!" she snapped.

I smirk. "You heard me. I have absolutely no loyalty to Bill anymore, so what's the point in staying here?"

"But-!"

I frowned slightly. "No buts! You've made your decision, so I'm making mine. Besides, if you're leaving, then I guess you're gonna need a friend by your side."

Tess smiles and suddenly hugs me. I tense, not expecting this.

After a tender moment, I chuckle nervously. "O-Okay, let's not get all mushy now..."

Tess chuckled and released me. We turned around and noticed that the sun was rising. Crap, not good. Carver's gonna be up any minute now...

"Come on, we need to go..." Tess said. I nodded and we ran through the camp entrance and across the parking lot. We had just reached the woods when Tess turned around to face the camp's entrance. I stopped and turned to her, raising an eyebrow. What's she doing...?

She then lifted her arm, held her hand out, and flipped off the camp. I can't help but snicker as she flips practically everyone in the camp off!

"Haha! Nice!" I praised. Tess turns back to me with a smile.

"That felt good." she said. I smile and give her a high-five before we run away into the forest, leaving behind the place we once called our home.