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Modern Period of The Walking Dead Game

High School AU


Chapter 51: Way Back


"You came here to tell us to drop it? Are you insane?" Dr. Paul Lingard squinted, questioning Dr. Carlos behavior lately. He been curious about Carlos since the summer. Many party kids and young adults emmitted to the hospital to get their stomachs pumped out. In the lab, he founded the same chemical in each patients. The chemeical effect the immune system and sexuality, which concluded why most of the patients are young female. The female body isn't capable to handle such a drug.

Something weird is going on and Paul confronted Carlos a bunch of times. Carlos would tell him to keep it to himself or between them. Everything didn't make sense to him.

"Yes. I can handle this. Just tell the parents their kids were just intoxicated from the alcohol." Carlos waved him off as he flipped through the documents of two patients. Paul followed behind Carlos.

"We can't tell them false information. They must know their children are in the same case like those girls on June, September, and even October! What if this your little girl?!" Carlos stopped. Facing Paul finally.

"Don't you dare!" Carlos grinded his teeth with a glare full of rage in his dark brown eyes. Paul stood his guard up.

"This is a serious matter. I'm here to save lives and warn people. Not the other way around." Paul spat. Carlos sighed.

"Paul, trust me. This is just something teens are doing that we can handle."

"There already had been three deaths because of that drug they been taking."

"It was from over dose and suicidality. Just leave me to the paper work." Carlos told him. Paul didn't buy any of that bull but he let it go. Like always. There was no winning when it comes to Carlos. The head doctor in the hospital.

Paul let out his frustration with a short sigh. He swiftly marched down the steps to see Eleanor. She was on the phone smiling with no worries. At least her job didnt dealt with the situation he was in.

"Your father should be cooking tonight. Yeah James... I must go sweetie... I love you too, Jamie." She hung up the phone. She kept that lovely smile of her face.

"Your son?" Paul popped a brow up. Eleanor nodded.

"Yeah. He was worried why I didn't come home last night. He hates it when I'm stuck here for days."

"I don't blame him. You do look like you need a shut eye." Paul said. Him and Eleanor made their way to the fourth floor.

The woman next to him rubbed her face. She couldn't agree more to her superior.

"I'll be off after checking in with the girls."

"Hey guys." They stopped to see Rebecca leaving a room.

"Hey Rebecca. I thought you were off today?" Eleanor asked. Rebecca hugged the Asian woman.

"Yeah. I am. My niece stomach had to be pumped out and needed a few stitches here and there."

"Oh, Ms. Clementine Everett?!" Paul jumped in the conversation.

"Yeah. Her. Are you guys checking in on her? If so, can you tell me what exactly was in that drink she had." Rebecca asked. She glanced at Eleanor but she shrugged. She clearly didn't get the heads up of anything. Only permission to check in on the patients for her last few hours on the clock.

Rebecca crossed her arms as she laid her eyes on Paul. The man rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"It was just alcohol poisoning." He told her.

Eleanor took the chance to go in the room to check in Clem. Soon as she left, Rebecca pulled out her phone. She took Paul's arm, leading him to a vacant room. She shut the door and shown him pictures of documents.

"I clearly read her file and saw that she consume soda with something else. I don't see anything related to alcohol. So do me a favor and tell me the truth." Rebecca smiled at him. Paul dropped the corner of his lips into a scowl.

"Rebecca. You know that's against the rul-"

"This is my niece. I work here too. On or off the clock. What are you guys trying to pull when I noticed a recent different paperwork in her file."

"It was a screw up-"

"Stop fucking with me. She could had died without that bullet in her. Whatever that drug is, Imma call in the cops to investigate this shit. No child of my brother should be stuck in there because of stupid party shit." She jolted out the room with the door slam.

Paul rubbed his forehead.

"What the hell am I going to do?"

.

.

Years ago.

In the cramped up apartment in a rough neighborhood, Sarita came home after a very long shift. She worked at supermarkets distributing items, working cashier, and helping out costumers with their bags.

She love her job because the people their were friendly but her boss always had her running around the huge store doing the smallest to the major things. She always thought of telling him to give her a promotion. Deep down, she knew he wouldn't allow that.

Yet.

"Namaste maan (Hi mommy)" A small little brown girl rushed over with her arms spread out. She clung on her mothers leg. Squeezing her chubby cheeks on her mother's thigh.

"Meree pyaaree ladakee (My sweet girl)." She stroked her daughter's dark hair. Smiling with joy. Only her daughter could make her feel wide awake. She picked her up to go through the small kitchen that connects to the living room. She sat little Sarah down to pick up the teared envelopes. She skimmed through some to see it were bills.

Elecrtic. Cable. Water. Car tickets. And the highest and important bill was her husband college loans and credits. She sighed. All she can do is try her best to support him and their child.

"Hola." The man that won her heart stepped out the room. Rubbing sleep out his eyes.

"Hey. How's work?"

"Great. Working behide the doctors desk is a dream." Sarcasm lingered in his voice. Sarita folded her arms over her chest. Carlos smiled as he hugged his beautiful girls and gave them a bunch of pecks. Sarita and Sarah giggled.

"No papa! Eww! You smell like coffee!" Sarah squealed. Carlos lifted her up, blasting her off through the living room and kitchen. Making the small girl giggle.

Later that day, Sarita made kati rolls and rajma. Sarah eagerly asked to bless the food. Carlos and Sarita laughed and let her. Sarah bowed her head and folded her hands.

"Thank you for watching over my family and I. We are thankful for feeding us everyday, even though sometimes its are to full our bellies. But we make it work every time. Thanks for sheltering us. Giving us hope for another day. Guiding me to school and home. And guiding my parents to work and back to me. Aman!"

"That was beautiful darling." Carlos smiled. He pinched her chubby cheeks.

"Thank you papa. Maan (mommy) helped me write one down. And I tried to remember it. I think I forgot a few words." Sarah rumbled as she fixed her round glasses on her face.

"Don't doubt yourself. That's was very good." Sarita comfort Sarah. Sarah smiled softly.

"Its the best blessing every. You added some flavor to the food." Carlos chew on the kidney beans. Sarah's eyes widen.

"Really!?" She started eating. Humming in joy.

"Tasty?" Sarita asked them. They both nodded.

Time sure was hard for them, but the love for each other makes the pain go away.

After washing and putting Sarah to bed, the adults stayed in the kitchen to wash and dry the dirty dishes.

"Remember that time you said you always wanted your own business." Carlos started.

"Yeah. We were so young when I said that. I always dreamt about that." She said as she scrubbed the plate. Carlos dried a dish, ser it down on the drying cloth. He went behind Sarita, wrapped his arms around her waist and lightly kissed her neck.

"We were young. But that's not stopping us." He whispered in her ear. Sarita chuckled. Tilting her head to the side to feel his lips all over her neck.

"I wish. Money been low for years. It's hard to... Ca-Carlos..." His hand groped her bosom. He gazed down at her with lust.

"Soon as I get certified for being a doctor, I'll help you live your dream." His hand smoothly went downward, disappearing in her pants. Before things got hot and heavy, she brushed him off.

"Not tonight." She continued washing the dishes and drying them off.

"Oh...Okay." He said. Once she finished, they stripped off their clothes to their pajamas. Carlos got in bed after her. She was studying his face.

"What's wrong?" He kissed her forehead. She snuggled close to him.

"Nothing. Just thinking about what you said."

"What?"

"About my dream."

"Hmmm."

"Sarah and you are my dream. Who cares about a silly old dream. Nothing can't top you two." She smiled. Carlos chuckled. Pulling her into a hug.

.

.

At the Garcias, Javier rushed inside to see everyone in the living sulking. He went towards his uncle and aunt but they shook their head.

The hurt in their eyes said it all.

Soon as he made it in a room, his body flung back. His back contacted the floor harshly.

"You have some nerve to come back here!" Javier sat up to see his elder brother, David. Like usual, Javier late and David is mad.

Javier got up on his feet. He spotted his mother in the room. When he tried going back, David wouldn't budge.

"Let me see him."

"Why should I? He been asking for your stupid ass for months and all you do is call him for extra cash till he goes broke. Letting our old man rot like trash." David towered Javier. Pushing the young man back.

"David. Javi. Chill out." Their cousin came over, breaking them apart. David's nostrils flared.

"This shit head have no right to-"

A wrinkled thin hand reached out. Gently grabbed on Javier's forearm. The man being embraced held his small mother in his arms. She welt in his chest. Saying Spanish words about her late husband.

The small lady known as Mama, Tia, and Abuela lead her youngest to the room. David scoffed.

In the dead silence room, Javier noticed his father's still vessel. When they reached the bed, he brushed his hand on his father's freezing limp hand.

"Pa..." He croaked, breaking down on the edge of the bed. His mother rubbing his back in circular motion.

The guilt swallowing him up. All these times for gambling with his money and running away from his problems. What good is he? David is right. He shouldn't had came.

Bit by bit, his feet dragged him here. His mother and father needed him. And this would be his last good bye to his old man.

He touched her hand over his shoulder.

"Gracias por volver a casa. (Thanks for coming back home.)" She told him with a tearful smile on her face.

At the moment, she told him to stay. Stay home. Stay with her.

So, he moved in with her days later. Without a doubt is he going to leave his griefing mother alone.

One day, Javier answered the door to find Valerie at the door steps with small Mariana and Gabriel. The two kids rushed to him with the hugest smiles on their faces.

"Tio!"

"Thanks again for watching them." Valerie hugged Javier.

"No problem. I hope the drive wasn't too bad." He chuckled. The woman looked unenthusiastic by his words.

"The drive wasn't bad. Those two singing like dying cats were." She swept Gabe and tickled him. He squirmed and laughed in her arms.

"You was singing too, Mama!" Gabriel snickered at his mother silliness. She giggled, put him back on his feet. Before leaving she pecked their chubby cheeks multiple times.

"More Mama! More!" Mariana squealed. She never gets tired of her mother's love.

"How's Mama doing?"

"She's sobering up."

"She's strong. Kids, make sure Abuela is smiling."

"Okie dokie!" Mariana saluted. Gabriel and Mariana raised their pinkies. Valerie giggled, wrapping her pinkie around their tiny numbs.

Javier picked his niece and nefew up. Both kids waving at Valerie as she goes off the work.

While driving, she noticed a scar on her arm. She pushed her sleeve down more to cover it.

.

.

"Natasha! How are you?" David got up from his seat to hug his old college friend. She greeted him with a hug too. They both sat down at the private booth at the back of the bar.

"Great. How's the force?"

"Seriously, Nat. You know they let me go." He said as he took a sip of his drink. He pushed aside her cup and she gladly drank it.

"I'm just messing with you. Anyway, how's everything after shit went down." She asked. Brown eyes peering at his.

"Sucks. My brother back in town... Wife and kids are alright. We buried my father a couple of days ago... And work is..." He stumbled his words.

"Would you like to make more money?" She asked him. David lifted his brow.

"What? Of course. This shitty job isn't paying much. What's it to you?" He shrugged.

"I had been screwing around lately and figured how to get loaded. But I need help from you and..."

A person stepped him. He looked latino judging by his tan skin, face features, and wavy locks of hair.

"Are you Natasha?"

"Yup! Nice to meet you, Carlos."

While discussing the profit arrangements, David was all in it. Even though, what Natasha planned was illegal, he was willing to get rich. Carlos grew anxious.

"Natasha. I have a daughter. I-"

"But you made them in Mexico. How else you had the money to get here?!"

"How do you know?" Carlos furrowed his brows.

"I made sure to dig a little to find out you was a great dealer and drug maker. Plus you have a couple of loans to pay off from school. Oh wait! Didn't you went to trade school?"

"I'm sick of this. I'm in desperate need for money and you messing with me. I'm no longer going back to that life style." He slid off the booth to head to the bar for a shot.

Natashanudged David. The man sighed and went to sit with Carlos.

"Mi amigo. Listen. I know this is a bad idea but the offer is great. Natasha is very good at hiding people from getting into trouble. She's great at hacking into the computers too."

The bartender passed the shot to Carlos. He took a swing of it.

"Your point?"

"No cop can touch us. With Natasha team on our side, we'll get what we dreamt."

"I don't understand why exactly us. I mean, theirs others out there that have my old way. I'm raising a family and Ican't put them at risk."

"They won't be. Just you." Natasha sat next to Carlos.

"If my life is on danger then you can kiss my ass."

"I wouldn't say that, Carlos. Just know this bar has a lot of Russians in here. Moya banda. (My gang.)" She tapped her pistol on his chest. The metal weapon made Carlos pale. He gulped. He couldn't look at Natasha because his eyes saw the bartender whipping out a pocket knife. Sharpening it with a belt. He watched his skillful sharpening and then pulled out a coconut. Peircing it with ease and pour the milk in a glass.

Just witnessing that terrified him.

"Soon as you stepped foot in here, you're mine."

"...All I want is for my family to be happy." He sniffed. David frowned. Patting that poor man's back.

"I have a family too. Just know you're their only hope. And this is a great opportunity."

"Carlos, if you leave now, I'll shoot the back of your head. I know you're better than this. I noticed you and David would work perfect together. And I want you guys to be in my team. So what do you say?"

"Promise me you and your group won't touch my wife and kid."

"Cross our heart." She brought her gun down to lay it on his lap. Carlos just want that disgusting thing off him. He fought real hard to not cry. What did he bring himself to?

"Before anything. David, teach Carlos how to shoot."

.

.

A couple of years later.

Natasha listened to the recording of a man. Her snake in the team, Abel, found one of their people trying to leave the group. And if someone tries to leave, they give them a warning.

Like their man, Reggie. He failed to escape so Natasha had Dorian chop of his arm. She loved Reggie but he was traitor.

While listening to the phone recordings, Ed told his wife everything about the gang, the drugs, and Natasha.

"Abel. Get Conrad."

"Yes ma'am!" He ran off.

The recording:
"Stop going then."

"Its not that easy."

"We're leaving either way. You no longer have any relations with them. I want you home with us. Clem doesn't need to be involve with this mess. On Xday, we're flying to Florida. We're going to have fun at Disneyland."

"But Diana-"

"Do it for Clementine."

"I will."

Natasha ended the recording. Trembling with anger. A tall dark man came in with Abel.

"You two. Kill. Ed."

Before leaving, Natasha added another thing.

"And his family. Whoever spotted in the house."

.

.

Valerie picked up the kids from Abuela's as usual after she left from work. When it was bed time, she make sure they wash up and put them to bed.

The sigh of them sleep, she took her time to strip off her clothes. More bruises were shown all over her body.

She stepped in the shower to wash off the musk and sweat off her. It had been a long day but she happily earned a lot lately. More customers came in, the more she earned.

She let her soapy body soak. Running the water through her marked body. By the time she finished, she dried herself carefully. Added ointment on her wounds and then rush to her room before her kids see.

While dressing up into her loose pajamas shirt and pants, her head was jerked back. Her body dropped to the hard floor painfully.

"Mean to tell me why I saw you at the strip club again?" Her husband whispered in her ear. Her heart pounded through her chest.

"David! You don't understand. I'm-"

He kicked her back hard. Causing her to roll to the other way.

He marched up to Valerie, yanking her shirt up to pull her up. Revealing her tattoo on the side of her waist, that's written in cursive.

'Muerto'.

.

.

Weeks later.

"Gabe! Where's your mother?!" David saw Gabriel weeping on the floor. It was very late at night and he didnt expect to come home to see his son balled up in tears.

The boy pointed. He followed his finger to his study room. He went towards the crack door to see a body limp on the carpet. Blood trailed, spread through the carpet like a puddle.

Over the body was his daughter. She was wheezing and hugging her mother. David's eyes widened is shock.

"Mariana... go to your room." He demanded. She shook her head. Crying out to her mother. Begging her to wake up.

"Mariana!"

The girl's head twisted to the side. She cupped her burning cheek.

"Wait...Mari-"

She took off. Left him in the study room with his dead wife.

He called in Dr. Carlos. Drove all the way to David place. The kids were hiding in the room when Carlos came in.

Carlos examined the body while David took his time on searching the study room and his bed room.

He recieved a call.

He answered it.

"Hope you found your gift. Muerto is one sneaky bitch."

"What did you do to her?! Conrad!"

"Natasha orders."

The call ended.

"What did she get herself into?" He started tearing up. Carlos left him alone. There was nothing he could do.

The ambulance came to get her body. David tried to explain to the police that she was suicidal.

The kids sat in their bed room with Abuela. Their grandmother between them. Comforting the bed she could.

"Muerto..." Mariana mumbled. Remember the tattoo on her mother's side. Her grandmother rubbed her shoulder.

"Si...Si...Tu madre con los angeles. (Your mother with the angels now.)" She told them. Mariana nodded and started praying that her mother watch over them.

.

.

"Maan! I can work on the cash register and say orders up!" Sarah chanted. Sarita swept the area with a smile on her face.

"Of course! It's going to be wonderful!" She threw out the dust. Sarah helped her wipe off the counters and table. Carlos made sure to order the right stuff for her small business.

Carlos came in with dishes to store in the back. Sarita smiled happily at him. Proud that he finally paid off his loans, got himself promoted after graduating to his Doctor degree, moving to a spacious house, and presenting her one of her dreams from way back.

She went to the back where was at.

"Carlos..."

"Yeah?"

Sarita went up to him. Kissing him on the cheek.

"Thank you." She hugged him. Sarah popped in and joined them.

"This is the best blessing ever!" Sarah chirped. The parents chuckled. Carlos picked up Sarah.

"You and your mother are the best blessing ever." Carlos said, poking Sarah's tummy. Sarah giggled.

"We love you Sarah." Sarita kissed Sarah's cheek.

"I love you too. Mommy. You too daddy!"