Walking Dead: Dark Burdens
Chapter 10 of my Walking Dead story, end of part 1, here we go.
Reviews
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yeah well, things are building.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Chapter 10: Unravelling
Violet smiled lightly to herself. After the long week at school and the party last night, it had been a rather quiet Saturday, she had spent most of the day around at Clem's. It was a casual hang out really, she was just spending time with her girlfriend and helping her take care of AJ while Christa and Omid were out. As such she just wore her typical casual, albeit worn, clothing, ripped jeans, a blue T-shirt under her favourite grey hoodie, worn unzipped and a pair of black sneakers.
'To think, I never imagined anything like this happening to me. I always thought I'd have nothing to make things worth living. Especially after Minnie and I split.' She reflected. 'But...then Clem came along and, God, it was like everything just. I really hate having to hide, but with dad. Urgh, I just don't know what to do.'
Trying to push the thoughts aside, Violet composed herself and made her way home. Entering the house she prepared herself, knowing that she'd have a hard time dealing with her father if he was indeed present. Slowly opening the door, once again resorting to her old tactics of trying to avoid him. Things seemed clear and so she slipped inside and began making her way to her room.
"You!"
She flinched and turned to see her father was in fact waiting for her, out of sight. He was slovenly as ever, torn jeans, a white stained T-shirt, damaged denim jacket and black worn boots. He was also extremely enraged judging from his expression.
Violet fought to keep herself impassive, not sure what could have made her father so much angrier than usual.
"Dad…"
"Don't you play the innocent with me." He snarled. "I can't believe this, after all this time, I have proof, you are impure, a goddamn fucking dyke!"
Violet froze at that, feeling a chill run through her. "I don't, I don't know what you-?"
But then, to her horror, draining what little colour there was in her face, her father held up her phone, Violet's mouth dried up almost at once.
"You...you took my phone." She tried to snap, but her voice wavered.
For good reason as her father then revealed. "You were texting some other girl, fucking obscene messages…"
Violet shook her head, stepping back, almost choking. "I...There was nothing obscene."
It was true, all her messages to Clem were simple, casual chats, with the more recent ones, as their relationship grew, adding in comments of love and affection. Although, given her dad's fanatical extremist religious views, it was no doubt in his view as bad as her sending nudes.
"Dad, I-"
"I will not have it, I will not having a fucking dyke for a daughter!" He roared at her, lurching to his feet, Violet's phone falling down the side of the sofa. "You are not seeing that girl again, I cannot allow you to ruin yourself this way. You've already turned away from your faith, now you're openly defying and besmirching it, I-"
Violet felt something, she wasn't sure what it was or how it happened, but she felt a sudden surge or anger, unable to take anymore.
Stepping up she glared at her father, her confidence increasing for once, instead of feeling small around him as she usually did.
"Dad, you forced that 'faith' upon me, it was never my choice." She told him sharply. "I am done lying about who I am, I am done hiding who I am, I don't want to hide anymore. I don't have to take this you know, so just leave it, we're done!"
"You dare-!"
"Yes I dare." She shot back. "I'm eighteen dad, I don't need your 'permission' for anything, you don't have a right to go through my phone. You are the one who has the problem here, so just accept that and move on!"
"No, I won't accept this, how dare you defy me like this! You do not have authority over me, I have authority over you and your mother and you know it, you and my daughter, she is my wife and we are family, I am the head of the family!" He roared.
Violet shook her head in disgust. "Get your head out of the your ass!"
"You don't speak back to me!" Graham interrupted her. "I have a friend who can fix you, his camp will make sure you do not become lost in hell!"
"What, you cannot-!?" Violet burst out. "Camp, fuck that, you know what they do and I am not going to anything like that!"
With that she turned and prepared to leave, only for her father to roar and suddenly and grabbed her around the neck, startling her horribly.
Violet let out a strangled cry, struggling as Graham attempted to keep her in a chokehold. But while Graham was five nine and heavier in build, with Violet being only five two and malnourished, Violet was still fitter than her father thanks to his heavy drinking. She struggled and managed to wriggle out of his grasp.
"What the hell dad, are you-?" She began.
But she was cut off by someone else grabbing her. She tried to cry out but yelped as instead she felt a sharp sting in her neck. She was then let go but before she could even try to move, she felt her body go limp, her vision blurred until finally she collapsed, out cold. Graham glared down at his daughter, then at his confederate.
"You're sure she won't wake?" He asked.
The man smirked. "I have my assurances from Troy that she won't. She will be asleep until well after you get her to Father Markus."
"Thank you, but of course once I do, my wife will have to meddle, so too will that whore corrupting my daughter." Graham growled.
"I can deal with that, should they start to take things as far as a police investigation, just leave it to me." He remarked.
That was sufficient for Graham and so together the two of them got Violet's unconscious body down to Graham's car and, once she was inside, Graham got into the car and began driving while his confederate made his way back away.
Driving out of town and through the woods outside of town, Graham glowered over at Violet, still out cold.
'Stupid girl, I offered you every chance, but you continued to defy me at every turn, I cannot let that go unpunished.' He thought bitterly. 'This will be good for you, you'll see, you'll be safe in God's embrace once more.'
With that he drove on until finally, a few miles outside of town, the large homestead came into view. The gate to the homestead was open and standing outside it, waiting for him to arrive, was Markus, again the perfect image of his religious vocation in black pants, a white shirt with a white collar and black shoes.
"Ah, Graham, I see you've brought your daughter?" He remarked quietly.
Graham nodded. "Yes Markus, I'm afraid I needed help from another of our people as she was resistant."
Markus nodded. "I understand, those tainted by the devil rarely welcome a chance at salvation when it's offered."
He gestured to his brother in law Troy and Troy's brother Eric and they came over and lifted Violet from the car and carried her into the homestead.
"She will be put into the camp and we'll soon have her saved." Markus explained. "Now, take care of yourself, my old friend."
Graham nodded and began to drive away back to town, now relieved that he had finally done what needed to be done. He could only wait for results, then his wife would have to admit he was right when Violet was fixed and had her obscene sexuality and blasphemy were removed, then returned to him as the obedient daughter she was supposed to be.
XXXXX
"Minerva!"
Minerva started, surprised at her name suddenly being called. Leaving her room, Minerva ran her hands down her black knee length skirt, which she had paired with a black tank-top and black flats. She soon reached the living room where she spotted her parents, Richard in smart cargo pants, a white shirt and black polished shoes and Mariah, in a dark blue dress with matching flats. Both seated on the sofa, waiting for her. Also seated in the living room, looking worried, was Sophie and Tenn, clad respectively in a pink calf-length dress with matching flats and khaki pants, dark blue shirt and brown loafers.
"Minerva…" Her father said softly. "We need to make sure you are ready, tomorrow. You have an appointment with a therapist."
Minerva tensed. "What, therapist?"
"The best one available." Mariah explained, revealing that as usual they'd spared no expense. "We're just trying to help you."
Richard nodded. "We have noticed, problems and we feel that it would be better if a therapist could help you, allow you to explain things and get them-"
"There's...there's no need to…" Minerva spluttered. "You, you told them about us arguing and gave them the wrong impression and-"
Sophie shook her head. "No, Minnie, I didn't-"
"Don't go blaming your sister, Minerva." Richard said sharply. "This has nothing to do with her. We have seen your behaviour first hand."
"You haven't exactly been hiding it, your anxiety, your panic attacks...you might think you are but you're not."
Minerva swallowed nervously, now more afraid than ever.
She shook her head, trying to make them see that this was useless.
"It's nothing like that, this, therapist, would just be a waste of money for you…"
"Only if you deliberately withhold information." Richard replied. "It's clear something is bothering you and you're not telling us, so maybe it would be better talking to a professional. If you're deliberately withhold information, that makes this more serious."
Minerva glowered. "No, it just makes things worse, for me. But you don't care about that, all you care about is the family reputation."
With that she stalked off, ignoring them calling after her and shutting herself in her room again. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, this had to happen. Then her phone indicated a text, another from her 'photographer', demanding another session.
XXXXX
Groaning as she woke up Violet blinked, trying to make sense of where she was.
"What the…?" She mumbled.
She was lying on a bed in some sort of bland room, she didn't recognize it or anything around her. There were no windows, in fact, nothing but the bed she lay on and a door. She bit her lip, before attempting to make her way towards the door, but flinched as it suddenly opened and three people entered. One was a tall man with dark greying hair, the other a boy her age who somewhat resembled the man, both dressed in simple pants, grey for the boy, black for the man, both with the same white shirt and black shoes, the man wore a white collar. The woman had auburn hair greying at the temples and clad in a long dark grey conservative dress with matching flats.
"What is this?"
The man smiled softly. "You may not remember me, Violet, I am Reverend Markus Daniels. This is my son Simon and my sister Alyssa."
"Oh, you're the guy my dad knows, who keeps going on about." Violet replied. "What the hell am I doing here?"
Simon glared. "You watch your language and do not speak to my father or your betters that way. You need to learn."
Violet glowered, certainly outraged at Simon acting as if he had authority over her.
Markus however then spoke up.
"You are here, by your father's authority, to atone for your sins and to fix your incorrect sexuality." He explained. "We all know Violet that this has caused you much pain, we can help you put things right, open you to the true light of God and guide you to-"
"Are you crazy!" Violet burst out.
Simon growled but before he could say anything Violet spoke up again.
"There is nothing wrong with you, you can't do this!" She cried. "I've heard about you, that 'cult' Delta...the 'camp' dad spoke of-!"
She tried to push past them, but was quickly grabbed, she tried to struggle free.
"Get off me!"
She wriggled free and tried to run but was quickly caught by Simon before she could even get out the door.
Markus' kind demeanour was gone. "You should not speak of God and his messengers that way. You will pay for this, you will be punished and then you will take your place here and learn to repent. Alyssa."
The woman stepped forwards and took hold of Violet with remarkable strength, more than she thought possible. She was startled as she was dragged back to the bed while Markus and Simon left, closing the door behind them.
Violet struggled but the strength of the woman was startling and then, shocking Violet even more, her lower clothing was forcibly lowered as she was bent over the bed.
"No, don't you fucking dare-!" She screamed.
Alyssa snapped. "You will watch your language, girl."
Violet screamed again, this time in pain as Alyssa began assaulting her exposed posterior with a belt. Again and again and again, Violet cried and struggled, screaming, but it just got worse until soon it was like an endless cycle until Violet could take no more.
"Please, no more, please...I'm sorry." She choked out through tears.
Finally it stopped and Alyssa stood her up.
"That's better, my dear girl." She said, shocking hugging her. "You have learned and now we can correct it, now, let's get you properly dressed."
With that she found herself having the rest of her clothes being removed and was given a simple pair of white panties and matching bra and, once she'd pulled them on she pulled on the dark grey ankle length dress with notably long sleeves and dark grey flats, rather similar to Alyssa's dress in fact.
"Good, now come, it's time for your new life." Alyssa announced.
Violet shuddered and followed her, tears still in her eyes, terrified, but desperate to find some sort of way out, desperately thinking about Clementine, her one solace in all this sudden onslaught that she had been thrust into.
XXXXX
For Gabriel Garcia, it was a normal Saturday and he was determined to finally do things about the tangle of crushes and relationship problems. As a result, knowing where Brody would be, recalling her usual routine, he decided to meet up with her and hoped he'd finally find the courage to talk to her and admit his feelings at last. Dressed for the warm day in a simple pair of cargo shorts with a white T-shirt, white socks and black sneakers he made his way into the local park. Sure enough he soon found Brody and stopped, again feeling his mouth dry up seeing the beautiful vision of Brody.
'God, she's so beautiful…' He thought to himself.
She too was dressed casually for warm weather, a black mini skirt, a yellow tank-top and matching flats, casually sitting by a tree with a sketch pad in her lap, casually sketching her surroundings, her usual hobby for a beautiful Saturday.
He swallowed and composed himself. 'C'mon Gabe, you can do this.'
With that he readied himself, made his way towards Brody and he smiled.
"Hi Brody."
She looked up and returned his smile. "Hi Gabe, what's up?"
He bit his lip, once again suddenly awkward. Of course, just his luck, Brody would notice.
"Um, you okay?" She asked worriedly.
He felt his face heat up and tried to think, how to explain things.
But, unable to think clearly, he found himself blurting out.
"I...I'm fine, I just, I really wanted to tell you, how I felt and…" He only just caught what he was saying. "Brody I...I really like you and, no, love you and…"
His eyes went wide as he caught himself at last.
He quickly backtrack. "I, sorry, I shouldn't have…"
He cursed himself; why did he always have to end up making himself seem so ridiculous like that. It had been the same when he first asked Clementine out. Brody stared at him, clearly startled and he knew he blew.
"Sorry, I just-"
But then she smiled. "Gabe that's...I had no idea you felt that way about me. I...I've been worried about how to tell you…"
She stood up and Gabe was confused.
"What do you, mean?"
She smiled wider. "I love you too."
Gabe's eyes went wide and relief flooded him. They wasted no time, their arms wrapped around each other as their mouths sought each other, locking in a delightful kiss.
XXXXX
Clementine couldn't help but smirk as she headed downstairs after texting Violet that evening. She had finished dinner not too long ago and was still enjoying the memory of Violet's face when they met up that day. Namely due to her outfit, a pair of black booty shorts that nearly made Violet's eyes bug out, a dark brown T-shirt and white socks. Reaching the living room she joined her family in watching TV. A simple casual evening for them all, and they all dressed to show it. Christa in denim shorts with a dark blue tank-top and white socks, Omid in a white tank-top with white socks and cargo shorts. AJ wore black shorts a red T-shirt and white socks, all of them simply enjoying their time together, watching TV and passing time. But then, something happened which disturbed their simple evening, a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Clem replied, hopping up to her feet.
She made her way to the door and opened it, surprised to see a woman there, clad in black pants, a dark blue blouse and black flats. Clem recognized her from a picture Violet had shown her, it was Amy Adlon, Violet's mother.
Before Clem could even say a word Amy spoke up.
"Ah, Clementine right?" She said. "I'm looking for Violet, she should be home by now."
Clem blinked, startled. "Um, Violet left for home hours ago…"
Amy froze at that. "What...but, she's not at home."
They both realized, with a flurry of fear, that since there was nowhere else Violet would be, that something had to have happened to her, for her to now turn up missing. Acting quickly they both left the house, Clem shouting out to her family to announce where she was going, while Amy pulled out her phone and called the police, to report her daughter's disappearance to them immediately.
End of chapter, end of part 1, there will be a hiatus now but hope to hit the ground running for part 2 at some point, where the action heats up. Read and review please.