Ch. 14

'Life lessons part two'

Genevieve's vision was blurred after being thrown through the makeshift gate falling hard into the dirt path outside the walls where her friends and family were, Genevieve was hit by her backpack that was thrown at her head.

"Pl-please! I'm so sorry!" Genevieve said rubbing her nose feeling blood run from her nose down her lip continuing down her neck.

"It's too late for that!" Jacob's mother yelled holding the gate ready to slam it closed.

"Please! Summer! Amanda! I don't want to go!" Genevieve screamed looking passed the angry woman to the sad looks on the two women she loved most.

Summer and Amanda turned their backs on the girl and walked away.

Genevieve heard rustling in the woods nearby she turned her head to investigate but heard the gate being closed behind her.

The little girl sprinted to the gate but it slammed before she could reach it

"No! Open up! Don't leave me!" Genevieve screamed banging on the metal gate desperately as tears burst from her eyes.

Genevieve heard the rustle again and this time a gurgling groan followed it, she turned to see walkers surrounding her and shambling in for the kill.

Genevieve shrunk down against the metal barrier for a moment before remembering her backpack in front of her, the little girl crawled forward quickly opening the pack and finding nothing useful, Genevieve looked up to see the first walkers reaching out.

Genevieve tossed her backpack over her shoulders and jumped away, clumsily falling on her back.

"Summer!" Genevieve shrieked as the first fell on her.

Genevieve was slammed with the weight of this walker, it clamped her right arm to the ground, the little girl lifted her head to fight back but it was slammed back into the ground.

Through her fuzzy vision Genevieve made a horrible discovery.

"Blake?!" Genevieve shrieked in fear.

"You did this to me!" Her former protector screamed through rotting lips and teeth.

Genevieve looked and saw her parents and grandparents as well as Jenny stumbled towards her.

"I'm sorry I didn't me--" Genevieve screamed out before the walker ripped into her throat with its teeth cutting off her words and breath.

A few seconds passed and the walker pulled out a portion of her neck.

[In settlement of Monroe, Night]

Genevieve sat up panting soaked in sweat and her nails broken and bloody.

Genevieve looked at her bed frame and saw she'd been scratching, Genevieve swung her legs over the edge and stood up.

The room was empty except for her bed and a bookcase with a small amount of books.

Stepping out into the hall Genevieve was careful to miss the creaking parts of flooring, Genevieve stopped at the back of the trailer where the laundry room once was.

Genevieve walked to the end of this room and pulled a dirty rug up and pulled on a handle lifting an escape hatch Amanda and Summer made together secretly, only the group that Genevieve traveled with knew of its existence.

Dropping into the hatch Genevieve felt the cool dirt on under her feet, it was dark all around her but she knew what she was looking for reaching to her right Genevieve felt the metal of a old generator.

After feeling around for a second unhooked a phone from the charger and climbed back in the house closing the hatch and replacing the carpet.

Genevieve returned to her room as stealthily as possible and got back in bed before she turned the phone back on, the little girl swiped through the phone finding the pictures easily, she tapped on the icon and found pictures both new and old.

Genevieve tapped on the most recent picture taken only a few days ago showing Amanda and Summer talking and leaning against the counter drinking coffee. Summer enjoying it, Amanda clearly not.

Swipe

The next picture showed Summer taking a selfie with her eyes rolling in a joking manner while Genevieve gave Summer bunny ears using her fingers.

Genevieve backed out of the slideshow and scrolled down to older pictures and found the first ones.

One depicting Blake in a cowboy hat with the number forty-seven taped to his shirt making half of a circle with his arms and Summer making the other half and in the middle of the circle was the bull he had just rode.

Genevieve spent another hour looking through the pictures before falling asleep.

[Morning]

Genevieve woke up groggily rubbing her eyes with a sigh she rose from her bed and opened the door and walked out to the living room where Summer was with coffee in her hand.

"Did ya make your bed?" Summer asked taking a sip of coffee wincing at its lack of cream or sugar.

Genevieve spun around on her heel without a word and left towards her room.

Summer stifled a quiet chuckle as the little girl left before returning a minute later.

"Sleep good?"Summer asked looking out the kitchen window.

"Ok..." Genevieve said distantly earning Summer's attention.

"You sure?" Summer asked inquisitively.

"Mhm.." Genevieve answered resting her chin on the counter, the child looked around for a moment. "Where's Amanda?" Genevieve asked since Amanda was usually present for morning coffee.

"Out with the scavenger team." Summer replied taking the final sip of coffee before setting it down on the counter.

[Livingston, TN]

The knife flew through the air burying itself in a man's face crumpling to the ground.

Amanda rolled forward pulling her knife out in mid roll landing in a coiled striking position a man ran towards her with a board as a weapon.

The teenager rushed forward as the man lifted the board over his head, Amanda slowed the man's arms from descending on her with her left hand and thrusting her knife into his throat before pulling it horizontally slashing the man's throat as she sweeped his legs.

A bullet ricocheted near her, Amanda looked up to see another man try and fire his gun again but the gun had been emptied.

The teenage girl threw her knife hitting the man in the center of his forehead killing him quickly.

Amanda ducked as she saw a man swing a machete in an attempt to decapitate her, the girl then stepped quickly behind the man hooking her arm under his swinging arm and twisting her body towards the ground flipping the assailant over her hip.

Amanda didn't release the man's arm instead she pressed her knee into it breaking his arm and taking his machete.

Once she had dispatched the man, she rushed another driving the machete through his abdomen.

Amanda flinched as a bullet whizzed past her head she then turned the body of the man into a shield and started walking towards the man briskly when she heard the click of an empty gun Amanda shoved the body onto the man who pushed it off promptly and used his gun to shield the incoming machete blow, before kicking Amanda in the chest knocking her backwards.

Amanda rolled back from the fall into a crouched position knowing the man would rush her and sure enough once she was upright she slashed with the machete breaking through the shin bone and lodging the weapon in the muscle beneath.

The man cried in pain falling to the ground, Amanda pulled the machete earning another cry before she slammed the machete down on the bandit's head.

[Summer's home]

"I'm sure she's fine." Summer said nonchalantly. "She can take care of herself." Summer added under her breath.

Genevieve turned and leaned her back against the counter and pushed off and moved for the door, opening the door and pulling a note off and closing the door.

The little girl set the note on the counter as Summer came over to read it as well.

"I guess you're gonna be helping Melissa in the infirmary." Summer said turning to see Genevieve already putting her shoes on.

"Ok." Genevieve replied shortly.

"Have fun." Summer said walking over to the couch.

"Ok..." Genevieve said tying her shoe. "Have a nice day off." Genevieve said genuinely before standing to leave.

"Oh! And no hitting today!" Summer called after making Genevieve freeze in the door way.

"I won't.." Genevieve replied somberly.

"Promise?" Summer asked expectantly.

"Promise." Genevieve confirmed before closing the door.

[Livingston, TN]

Amanda peered over a car trunk with a man struggling in her arms.

Amanda ducked back down before plunging her knife into the man's neck and slicing it open blood spewing onto his shirt and her arm, holding him tight until his body relaxed.

The teenager then laid the body down and peered around the side of the trunk and saw four men with old hunting rifles, she also saw to her left a relatively small group of walkers looking more decayed then in the years before their clothes torn barely holding together their skin half missing or barely hanging on by threads yet they continued to "live on" they milled around about two blocks away.

"What's your plan 'captain'..." A.J. asked in a condescending tone.

"Quiet..." Amanda whispered not facing her teammate.

"What the fuck are we doing! They're guarding that building for a reason!" A.J. growled, barely whispering.

"Go around. I'll make a distraction." Amanda whispered ignoring the man's anger. "Throw something on the roof of this car." Amanda ordered quietly.

A.J. let out a frustrated exhale and snuck back the way they came then started circling around towards his destination.

Amanda waited for A.J. to get about half way around before she opened the passenger door as quietly as she could, crawled in and laying across the seats and waiting for A.J. to throw something, after a moment Amanda peeked up and saw something fly up in the air making her lay back down and get ready, timing it Amanda pressed on the center of the steering wheel the car horn blaring continuously in response.

"Aw fuck! Someone threw something!" One of the guards said looking around for the source.

A.J. could hear both the car horn and the growls of the undead descending on Amanda's position.

"Crazy bitch..." A.J. muttered under his breath as he snuck in towards the entrance that was previously guarded.

Once inside A.J. stripped his backpack off and checked the shelves, A.J. grabbed a can and checked it. "canned peaches" the label read.

A.J. tossed in his pack before hearing gunfire and walkers just outside the building, sticking his arm behind the rest of the cans A.J. tried to slide the entirety of the cans into his pack about half of them missing and falling to the floor with a clattering noise.

A.J. cringed at the noise before putting them in pack and sneaking back to the entrance and saw the walkers eating the guards and a half dozen trying to get in the car Amanda was in.

A.J. figured he could just leave her behind and say she died, The gruff man went to the back of the former general store and found another exit, opening the door he saw it was clear of walkers and that there was a fire escape he could climb up assuming the men had been using it as a means of traversal.

A.J. took the first few rungs up the ladder before stopping and resting his head on a rung. "Fuck me!" A.J. growled as he dropped off the ladder and stormed back into the store and to the entrance seeing the same group of walkers hammering the car with their arms.

After a moment watching the teenager trapped in the car with her feet propped up on the dashboard, A.J. stepped into the store looking for anything to draw the monsters away safely.

As he looked high and low he saw small plastic whistle in its packaging, A.J. picked up the small toy and opened it.

A.J. heard glass cracking outside and hurried to the entrance seeing the cracked windows of the car he inhaled and blew the whistle emitting the shrill sound the walkers turned to investigate the noise finding A.J. standing in the door of the store.

The monsters advanced on his position making A.J. turn tail and run through the store out the back and up the ladder.

Amanda opened the driver side door and jumped out pulling her backpack out with her, Amanda looked up to see A.J. standing on the roof.

"Fire escape behind this building!" A.J. exclaimed ushering her around the building.

Amanda shrugged into her backpack and ran to the back of the building and skidded to a stop when she saw the walkers swarming the alley.

"Shit!" Amanda whispered as the walkers turned and saw her.

Amanda saw A.J. run across a narrow bridge to another building, Amanda scanned for way up and saw overflowing dumpster near a couple walkers and the bridge was just above the dumpster.

Amanda sprinted towards the escape route the two walkers taking notice and converging on her.

As the first walker neared her, Amanda kicked it in the knee snapping it sideways using a crescent kick, the walker fell promptly.

The second monsters stumbled towards Amanda who threw her knife hitting it between the eyes as the walker fell to its knees Amanda retrieved her knife on the run leaving the walker to fall lifeless once more.

Amanda pulled herself on to the dumpster and knew she wouldn't be able to reach it by herself.

"A.J. get ready to catch me!" Amanda barked at the man above her.

"Ca--? Fine!" A.J. said begrudgingly as he stepped back on the narrow bridge and kneeled down readying to catch a hand.

The walkers closed in on Amanda's position, the teenager jumped towards the wall of the building and kicked off it sending her a bit higher in the air.

A.J. caught her wrist, Amanda crunched her legs up to her body as the walkers tried to grab her.

A.J. gritted his teeth and got to his feet and pulled Amanda up to safety.

"Thanks." Amanda said breathlessly, looking down at the now accumulating horde of undead.

"Let's get back" A.J. said over his shoulder trying to hide his panting.

The two made their way over the rooftops until they got to their transportation.

[Monroe settlement, infirmary]

"Ok. We got it cleaned and the tools are as sterile as can be." Melissa said calmly.

Genevieve nodded silently as she watched Melissa start stitching.

Melissa gently pulled on the tissue before inserting the sewing needle through both sides pulling the thread through carefully and expertly.

After a few minutes repeating the process, Melissa held out a hand.

"Scissors please." Melissa asked calmly.

Genevieve quickly set the scissors in her hand and resumed watching.

Melissa cut the thread and grabbed a roll of bandages the woman quickly wrapped up the newly stitched arm.

"Ok. You're good to go." Melissa said with a sweet smile.

"Thanks. I'll try not to be in again soon." The man said as he gave a nod and stepped out of the infirmary.

Some shouting could be heard outside and before Genevieve or Melissa could investigate, the man poked his head in. "The scavenger team is back!" The man exclaimed excitedly before leaving again.

Genevieve quickly turned to Melissa for permission.

"Sure. Just be back quickly." Melissa said with a smile as she cleaned her station up.

Genevieve turned and ran out the door jumping the porch steps landing in the dirt, she looked down the street to her left where the main gate was and saw men starting to open the double doors.

The little girl ran towards the entrance but remembered she needed to get out of the middle of the road and skidded before jogging to the side of the road.

The gates were fully opened and a second later Amanda and A.J. galloped in on horses.

The two were greeted with waves and welcoming words.

Amanda quickly spotted Genevieve. "Hey!" Amanda said with excitement, stretching her arm down for Genevieve as she trotted by.

Genevieve caught Amanda's hand and was hoisted up on to the back of the horse.

"Whatcha been upto chick?" Amanda as she steered towards the stables.

"Nothing..." Genevieve said in a bored tone. "I did watch Melissa do stitches today." Genevieve added with more enthusiasm.

"That's a good skill to pick up on, make sure you pay attention." Amanda said honestly.

"Ok." Genevieve said holding onto Amanda's backpack so she wouldn't fall off.

"Anyone else taste the 'Genevieve power punch' while I was gone?" Amanda asked in a joking manner.

"No..." Genevieve answered truthfully, her mood drop obvious in her voice.

"Hey c'mon I was just kidding." Amanda teased apologetically as she slowed the horse down to a stop.

"I-I didnt mean to... I've - I've never felt like that before..." Genevieve said sadly, as Amanda helped her off the horse.

"Nah Chick. You've wanted to before... you just never had the means. People stifle you." Amanda explained, pulling the saddle off her horse and setting it aside. "But... I won't I understand sometimes the only way to solve things is to fight." Amanda continued, while she set her reigns on the paddock fencing.

"But ... He's my friend..." Genevieve said, uncertainty evident in her voice.

"I know. Genevieve. But he hit you low... you can't let someone hurt you just because they're your friend." Amanda explained softly, knowing this was a intimate moment.

"But if I do it again they'll throw me out." Genevieve said sadly, her eyes wet as she brushed the horse.

"What?" Amanda asked poking her head up from checking hooves.

"Mhm..." Genevieve confirmed.

"Summer wouldn't let that happen... neither would I." Amanda consoled, setting down a stool and pulled a boot knife before carefully clearing debris from one of the hooves.

"Do you promise?" Genevieve asked, stopping her work.

"Promise what?" Amanda asked getting up from her task.

"That won't leave me..." Genevieve clarified, giving Amanda sad eyes.

Amanda walked over slowly thinking her answer over before putting her hands on the little girl's shoulders.

"I'm never gonna leave."

Thanks for making it this far! Stay tuned for the next episode!