TWD: Crimson Tears
Chapter 14: Karma
As the hot sun beat down on Abraham and the sweat dripped down his face, neck, and back, he thought back to one of his favorite remedies in this type of weather. Slurpee. Any flavor, any kind. His wife made fun of him about it all the time, but he didn't care. He had a sweet tooth for that stuff. There was something about the icy slushiness that he found so addicting.
He licked his lips, almost as if he could taste the Slurpee. Rosita saw this and gave him a strange look. "What's your favorite thing to drink when it's hot as hell out?" He asked her.
Rosita thought for a moment. "Ice tea with a lemon wedge in it," She said. "That or a cold beer."
Abraham chuckled. "I'm not much of an ice tea fan," He said to her, "But beer. Definitely a big fan." He looked at Eugene who was walking by the side of the road, trying to show that he wasn't listening to their conversation. "What about you big man?"
Eugene looked at him. "I prefer water," He said quickly. "But since you guys are picking beverages that are extremely unhealthy." He frowned. "I choose chocolate milk."
Abraham gave him an odd look. "Chocolate milk?" He began to laugh almost mockingly. "You choose chocolate milk?"
Eugene thought for a moment. "I like the taste," He said with a small shrug.
Abraham continued to laugh. "Last time I had chocolate milk." He paused for a moment and ran a hand through his moustache. "Shit, I think I was still running around in diapers."
Rosita burst out laughing at his comment. "I used to drink it all the time," She told him. "My momma was a big believer in always having milk in the fridge and since I am a chocolate fan. It only made sense."
Abraham looked at Carol. "What about you?"
Carol was about to answer, when they came upon a clearing in the woods around them and saw a cabin a small distance away. She stopped walking, studying it from afar. Abraham approached, eyeing the cabin as well. Rosita was right behind him and Eugene beside her.
"What do you think?" Rosita asked Abraham. "Check it out?"
Abraham thought for a moment. "I say yes," He said looking at her for a moment. "There may even be chocolate milk in there."
Eugene gave him a strange look. "That is unlikely," He said even with the knowledge that he was joking.
Abraham didn't respond. He made his way toward the cabin, keeping an eye out for anyone or any walkers. A place like this, wasn't secluded, so there was a good chance that it was empty. But there was also a good chance that there wasn't anything of value in the house.
Rosita was to his left, Carol behind her, and Eugene behind her, all keeping an eye out for anything. So far there was nothing. All that could be heard, was the hot wind swaying through the trees. It gave the scenery an eerie look to it.
Abraham scanned the outside of the cabin. There was a man made dirt path that led toward the front steps of the porch. Two cracked windows were on either side of the front door. An old pickup truck was parked on the left side with all of its tires missing. It looked as if it hadn't been used in years.
He was about to take another step, when he heard movement from behind him in the brush of trees. He turned, expecting walkers, but saw a well-built male step out from behind the tree. He had a shotgun pointed at him.
"Lower your weapons," The man threatened as he aimed his shotgun at Abraham's face. "Now or I'll shoot."
It took a second for Abraham to realize that he, as well as everyone else had their guns out. "Calm down," He said to the man, not in the mood to fight. "We are not here to hurt you." He paused when he heard movement behind him. He glanced and saw three men exit the cabin and another from behind the pickup truck. "Shit," He cursed noticing all of them were packing heat.
"Bullshit," The man snapped. He took a dangerous step toward him. "You guys are trespassing on private property."
"We didn't mean to," Rosita interjected. She slowly began to lower her gun hoping that she was making the right decision. "We are just passing through that's all. We aren't looking for any trouble."
"No one just passes through," The man said motioning for them to lower their guns. "Not these days."
"You are right," Eugene said with a terrified look on his face. He was sweating profusely. He kept his eyes locked on the man. "No one just goes nosing around anymore. Not with the walkers everywhere." He paused for a moment. "But I am on an important classified mission that I can assure you will change the world."
The man began to laugh. "Is he for real?" He looked at Abraham, who nodded. "Well shit." He stopped laughing. "Now lower your guns."
Abraham cursed again and lowered his gun and then tossed it aside, even though every fiber in his body was telling him not to. He hated being defenseless. He stared at the man angrily as the man motioned for everyone else to do the same. Rosita tossed hers aside and then reached for her other gun. She tossed that one as well. Carol lowered her gun and then tossed it aside.
"You guys can keep your knives," He said as he motioned for one of his men to approach.
A young skinny male, no older than twenty, ran up with a bag slung over his shoulder. He gathered the weapons and then placed them in the bag. He nodded at his leader and then returned to his spot. The man began to slowly walk around them, with his shotgun still aimed at them. When his back was facing the cabin, he began to walk backward.
"Have fun on your world saving classified mission," He laughed as he motioned for his men to leave.
Abraham watched them leave with burning hatred in his eyes. Rosita stood beside him with a furious expression. Eugene stood behind them, scared that this was the end of the world. Carol stood beside him, emotionless, as she waited for the perfect moment to make her next move.
She saw that the man continued to stand there, while the rest of his crew went to the back of the cabin to get their working pickup truck. Their plan was to drive away and then return later to get their belongings.
When the truck drove by and their leader turned to jump in the back, Carol quickly reached for the gun hidden by her ankle. She shot the leader in the head, killing him immediately. She shot the two other men in the back of the truck, before the other men realized what had happened.
"What the..." The driver said reaching for his gun.
Carol shot him in the head, splattering his blood and brain matter throughout the car and front windshield. That left the last male, who jumped out of the passenger seat and hid behind the truck. The shotgun shook in his trembling hands as he uttered a silent prayer.
Carol slowly made her way toward the pickup and lowered herself to the ground. She saw his knees and shot him. He cried out in pain and let go of the gun. He grabbed his knee as the blood oozed through his fingers.
She approached him and pointed her gun at him. She was about to shoot, when she saw a wild patch of flowers beside the house. The man began to beg for his life, but she didn't care. With an intense look in her eyes, she shot him in the head, his blood splattering on the outside of the truck.
She stepped away from the truck and then looked at Abraham Rosita, who had surprised looks on their faces. Eugene took a few steps backward, almost as if Carol would shoot the rest of them.
"We got our guns back and more," She said motioning toward the pickup truck.
Tara sat beside Alisha in their trailer with a sleepy, yet nervous look on her face. She was holding her hand and thinking about the events that led to her love getting shot. Whoever these men were, were the most ruthless, conniving thieves she had ever met. From the moment she saw them, she had that feeling.
They took half of their belongings, leaving them with practically nothing and also tore through their camp like a tornado. As they searched through each trailer, they made such a mess, that it was barely recognizable. Beds turned over, cabinets and drawers emptied, and anything else they searched through was turned over. Thankfully there were no other injuries.
"Don't look so worried," Alisha said to her with a slightly drugged, yet assuring smile on her face. "I am going to be fine."
Tara smiled at her. "I know that," She said, "I'm just nervous that's all."
Alisha understood how she felt. Everyone felt that way. Now more than ever with the most recent events that have occurred. She gave her a loving smile to lighten the mood.
"I know," She said to her. She squeezed her hand affectionately. "But it's okay. We will get through this like we always do."
Tara nodded. "I hope so," She said feeling a bit better, even though she still had a nervous look on her face. She glanced at her injured leg. "How is it?"
Alisha glanced at her wound briefly. "Not too bad," She said with a small shrug. "Although I feel like I can sleep for days."
Tara chuckled. "Yeah me too," She said, "Things have been crazier than usual."
"Yeah," She agreed.
Tara shifted in her spot. "Do you think that we will move to the new place?" She asked referring to the Governor and Martinez.
Alisha thought for a moment. "I do," She said. "And I want to." She paused for a moment. "If recent events showed us anything, it is that this place isn't safe. We have to move."
"I know," Tara simply said.
"Don't worry," She said to her. "Once we get to the new camp and see what it has to offer, we will be calling it home."
Tara smiled at her and caressed her cheek with her hand. "I hope so," She said.
Rick had a scowl on his face as he swiftly approached the Governor with a single intent on his mind. Daryl was right behind him, ready for anything. The Governor noticed him immediately and a hated look grew on his face. Martinez stiffened and reached for his gun, but he didn't pull it out.
Deanna saw the animosity between the two of them and stepped in between knowing that things could easily go out of hand. "Guys," She said looking at the both of them intensely. "Whatever the issue is, this is not the place to do it."
Rick narrowed his eyes at them. "This man," He said to her. "Is not who you think he is." He drew a breath as to relax a bit. "This man is extremely dangerous, violent, and should not be trusted."
On a normal day the Governor would have let the comment bother him, especially with the two men who were standing mere feet away. But with everything that was at stake here, he had to remain calm. It took everything he had, to hold back from fighting with them.
"Rick," He said with a fake smile. "Daryl." He turned to face them, his hand by his gun, just in case he need to use it.
Rick still had the scowl on his face, while Daryl looked as if he were ready to kill them both. Both of them were thinking the same things. Why was he here? What was his plan? Was he the one who attacked them back in the store? Neither of them saw him there, but that didn't mean he wasn't there. It wasn't the first time he tried to have them killed and it wouldn't be the last.
"If you guys want to fight," Deanna continued in a scolding manner. "Then do it outside these walls far from here." She gave Rick a hardened look. She noticed that there were people watching, some in the streets and others in their homes.
Rick didn't move a muscle. He continued to look at him distrustfully, not liking the smug look on his face. He wanted to remove the look, by killing him. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't do it. Not now at least. He owed it to Deanna for helping him with his son's injury. Carl would be dead if it weren't for them.
It took him a second to realize that he was clenching his fist so hard, that he had drew blood from oval shaped wounds in his palm. He relaxed his hand and drew a long breath. He nodded at Deanna and turned toward Daryl, motioning for to relax as well. Daryl began to protest, but then stopped short, realizing that it would do no good to fight now.
Rick's jaw quivered with fury as he backed away from them. He didn't want to turn his back on any of them, as to not get shot from behind. The Governor continued to have that smug look on his face, almost as if he were mocking him.
"Rick," Deanna began.
Rick looked at her. "I think that my son is well enough for travel," He said glancing at them again. "It is best for everyone if we leave now." He really had to bite his tongue.
Deanna gave a one moment signal to the Governor and then approached Rick. She looked him in the eyes. "I can see the hatred between you guys as clear as day," She began, "And I don't know what happened between all of you."
Rick didn't want to hear this. The more time he spent here, the more of a chance he had in succumbing to his anger and desire to kill the guy. "It is better for everyone here," He interrupted her. "If we leave." He looked at the Governor, who was standing idly a distance away watching them intently. "That man over there, is bad news."
Deanna gave him an uncertain look. "I don't know you Rick," She said. "And I don't know what happened between you guys, but I want you to do what you think is best." She paused for a moment, thinking about all the violence that they had been through. "Whatever you think is the safest for everyone."
Rick looked at her. "Thank you for everything that you have done," He said simply.
"You're welcome Rick." She looked at Daryl. "And you too Daryl. Safe travels."
Rick turned and made his way to the infirmary with Daryl following closely behind. He found Carl sitting up in bed and reading World War Z. He looked up from the book when they entered. "Hey dad," He said to them. "Daryl."
"Carl." Rick was glad that he was okay and coherent. "We need to go."
Carl saw their reactions and tone. "Why? What's going on?" He asked them.
Rick began to pack up the little that they had. "The Governor is here," He said in a dangerous tone. He looked at Carl, who grew instantly concerned.
"What?" He asked as he slid out of bed. He tossed the book where he just laid.
"Yeah," Daryl simply said. He slung his bag over his opposite shoulder.
Carl shook his head and cursed. "Why?"
Rick shrugged. "I'm not sure," He said, "But we need to leave." He approached his son and touched his shoulder affectionately. "Are you well enough to go?"
Carl felt a bit woozy and both his arm and head hurt. He was thirsty and hungry. He still wanted to sleep, but knew that he could do plenty of that once they returned to the prison. "Yeah," He simply said.
Rick left the infirmary with Daryl and Carl following closely behind. He met Deanna on the way, who told them that the Governor and Martinez were in the office, waiting for her. She told them again that all she wanted was for everyone to be safe. That Alexandria was a violence free zone.
Rick wanted to tell her that the world wasn't gumdrops and candy. That is wasn't as nice and peaceful as she made it seem. But he knew that it would do little or no good. She wouldn't understand what they had been through. The world outside was a violent and scary place, but with her behind the walls of this camp, she wouldn't understand.
She showed them to the exit of the camp and then wished them good luck. She told them that if they ever needed anything, that they were always welcome. She even gave them a bag that had some supplies in it. He took it surprised that she was being so nice. Everyone that he had met so far, always seemed to have a hidden agenda.
He didn't think that they'd ever be back here. Not with the knowledge of the Governor being here. There was no way to know what his plan was, but he knew that it couldn't be good. He thanked her and then drove away from the camp with Daryl was on his motorcycle, following closely behind. He looked at his son and gave him a thankful smile.
Carl smiled at him and then looked out the window. He watched the trees fly by, almost hypnotically. He soon grew tired and then closed his eyes to dream of better endeavors.
Deanna stepped into her office and looked at the Governor and Martinez, who were sitting by her desk. They had stopped discussing whatever they talking about, almost as if they were conversing something naughty. She gave them a polite smile and sat at her desk.
"I'm truly sorry about that," She said to him.
The Governor gave her a fake smile. "No," He shook his head. "It is I who should be apologizing. What you just saw between all of us, is old history." He wondered if she caught his lie.
She took his apology. "That must be some history then," She said resting her arms on her desk. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"
On a normal basis, he wouldn't have answered such a question. It was nobody else's' business. But with everything that was at stake here, he had to be open with her. He had to make sure that he did everything he could to get his camp here.
"Rick and I, well we never saw eye to eye," He began. "The moment he saw my camp and what it had, he did whatever he could to take it." He paused for a moment. "He'd kill. He'd steal." He glanced at Martinez who was sitting idly by. He knew what his plan was and why he was lying. "He went as far as destroying the very camp we were living in, just to get to me after I wouldn't give into his demands."
Deanna wasn't sure what to take from what she was hearing from him. From the little bit of time she spent with him, she didn't see him as being such a ruthless killer. But appearances could be deceiving. Rick did come to her camp with an extreme casualty after fighting. He told her that he was attacked, but he could have lied. He could have been doing the attacking.
"From the conversations I had with him," She said to them. "He didn't seem like such a bad guy."
The Governor gave her an understanding look. "Well that makes sense," He told her. "When we first met, he was the same way. But the moment he saw what we had and what he didn't have, he grew cold. Without a warning he attacked us." He paused for a moment. "He even had the hand in my daughter's stabbing."
Deanna saw his emotional response. "I'm sorry," She said to him.
"Thanks," He responded.
Deanna shifted in her spot. "Do you think he will be back?" She asked slightly anxious.
The Governor nodded. "Expect him to be back here," He said to her. "Next time with the rest of his camp."
Deanna sighed uneasily. She didn't like what she was hearing. "What about his son's injury?" She asked.
"It's simple." He told her. "Casualty of his brutality."
Deanna gave him an uncertain look. "How can I be certain that you are telling me the truth?"
The Governor looked at Martinez for a moment. "I would say that you should trust me, but since you don't know me, it would be a meaningless gesture. Instead, trust in what your eyes saw." He paused for a moment. "Casualty of war."
Deanna shook her head. "Damn," She said, wondering how big of a mistake she just made. She sighed again. "What brings you here?"
The Governor glanced at Martinez again. "Actually there is," He said, "It's about what's left of my camp." He gave her a hopeful look. "We are a few people, about a dozen or so, trying to survive in a broken camp."
Deanna gave him a confused look. "Are you still living in that same camp?" She asked him, referring to the camp that Rick destroyed.
The Governor shook his head. "No," He said, "Martinez and I are the only survivors." He paused for a moment for drama. "We live in another camp, but it is nothing like this one. We are in the middle of the open, with hardly any feeling of security."
Deanna looked into his emotional eyes, feeling bad for him. "You see, I am pretty skeptical about this," She began, "We have this whole routine on how we recruit people to this camp. Talking to me is usually the second step." She pondered the idea for a moment. "But since we are talking now, let's skip step one." She leaned forward in her spot. "What did you do before the outbreak?" She asked him.
The Governor gave her an odd look for a moment, but realized that she was most likely making small talk. "I worked in an office," He told her. "Boring job and I hated it."
She seemed amused by his answer. "You don't seem to be an office drone type," She said, "I see you more as a police officer."
The Governor didn't like her comment, but he didn't show his annoyance. "That was my dream job at one point," He lied, "But I got suckered into a desk job and got stuck there."
"Makes sense." She nodded. She looked at Martinez. "What about you?"
Martinez took a second to answer. "I worked at a church with my dad," He said to her.
"Wow," She said surprised. "Were you a priest?"
Martinez briefly nodded. "Inspiring," He said, "But that didn't last long. I was kind of a rebel at an early age."
"I can tell," She said, "Not that I am judging you guys." She had a good feeling about them. They seemed to be quite genuine. "So I have a few more questions, before I tell you about myself. After that, I'd say a tour of the place is in store."
The Governor and Martinez looked at each other with similar thoughts. "Sounds like a plan," He said to her.
The moment Rick followed Daryl's bike up toward the prison fence, he felt instantly relieved after a long and tiring drive. In fact, the whole supply run was long and tiring. He was looking forward in being back in a familiar place.
Tyreese and Michonne were by the front gate, opening it up for them. Daryl drove up and parked by the rest of their vehicles. Rick followed shortly after. He stepped out of the car and went to help Carl out, but after sleeping basically the entire trip back, he was pretty wired.
Everyone came to greet them, relieved that they returned after their absence. They all saw Carl's wound and grew concerned. Rick took Judith from Beth and gave her a kiss, happy that he was back with her. Every moment he spent away from her, felt like ages.
He looked at everyone as he made his way back toward the prison. He told them about what happened at the clothing store and the injury Carl sustained in the process. He told them about Alexandria and how they openly helped them. He ended, by telling everyone that they had bumped into the Governor there.
He then told them that the plan would be to strengthen their wall. Create random trenches around the outside to hide in. Create random traps around the inside and outside of the prison. He knew that the Governor was planning something and he had a feeling what it would be.
He would manipulate this camp in thinking that he was the bad guy and tell him that he was a major threat to their camp. That he would kill them and steal everyone in their camp if they didn't follow in his lead. Knowing that an altercation was inevitable, he wanted to be ready.
After he told them everything, they all went their separate ways. Rick, Herschel, Daryl, Glenn, and Maggie went to discuss more about the Governor and his possible plans. Tyreese and Sasha were instructed to guard the prison.
Carl went back to his room and was followed by Beth, who was worried for him. He sat on the edge of his bed and looked at her as she sat beside him. For a few moments, neither of them said a word. But after the silence, she took his hand into hers.
"I'm so sorry," She said softly.
Carl looked at her hand for a second and then at her. "Thanks," He said feeling a bit anxious.
"It must have been so terrible," She said, "Everything." She was having trouble in finding the correct words.
Carl drew a breath. "Well it certainly wasn't a walk in the park," He said to her. "But I am glad that I am alive." He thought back to the gunshots, the pain, and then him blacking out.
Beth saw his faraway and traumatized look. She touched his cheek and then turned his head toward hers. She leaned forward kissing him deeply. He seemed surprised by it at first and then deepened the kiss. When they broke apart a moment later, they were out of breath.
"I am glad you are okay," She said knowing how much worse it could have gone. She took his hand again.
Carl smiled at her. "Thanks," He said, his lips still tingling from their kiss.