Ch. 12
'Choice Pt. Two'
[Chattanooga, Night]The city was mostly quiet aside from the occasional sound of walkers or small animals in the nearby buildings.
Amanda limped ahead of the group a crutch with signatures and stickers covered it her dirty blonde hair looked like it had been cut recently.
Summer figures she could use a haircut, but so could Trevor with his brown curly locks.
Genevieve walked in the back of the group her shoulder hung low her head looking down at the ground.
Corrine walked beside the little girl. "Everything alright Genevieve?" Corrine asked, quietly.
Genevieve was at first slow to answer but eventually looked up to the woman with a glum face. "I don't think Summer likes me." Genevieve confided, somberly before returning her gaze to the road.
Corrine furrowed her brow then looked at Summer's back and remembered her attitude towards Genevieve at the store. "She might not have meant it." Corrine said calmly hoping the child would understand.
Genevieve's heart sank further at the woman's words. "Maybe..." Genevieve answered before closing up.
Amanda limped on towards the destination that only she knew. "So..." Amanda turned her head to speak over her shoulder adopting a somber tone. "I don't see him... So I'll guess..." Amanda tried to find delicate words for her question.
Summer nodded her head slowly a saddened expression on her face.
Amanda turned back to the road surprise showing on her face. "Wow big guy... Rest easy..." Amanda whispered to herself.
Summer shed a silent tear hearing Amanda's words.
The group made it to the northwestern side of the city dodging walkers and the group of bandits from before.
Amanda ducked behind cover her injured leg kept straight. "Get down. I keep walkers near the house as a form of defense... and camouflage." Amanda explained in a hushed tone.
"How do we get by?" Corrine asked crouched against the car.
Amanda picked up a half of a beer bottle and threw it at a window. "Like that." Amanda said as the walkers went towards the sound with murderous intent.
The group slipped in through the double pull doors and followed Amanda up the stairs at the top of the stairs Amanda pulled out a set of keys and put the correct key in to the door with the number three zero two on it and let everyone in before shutting and locking the door behind her.
"Whoa! What the fuck! Shoes off at the door..." Amanda snapped when she saw everyone with their shoes on.
Everyone took their shoes off and set them in a small shoe closet next to the front door without raising an argument.
After removing her own shoes Amanda grabbed her crutch and stood in front if the group. "House rules. Number one shoes off at the door." Amanda said gesturing to the closet.
"Second this place has power from a generator because this was also the administration building, the TV works volume stays at ten or below, if you can't hear it there's two headsets on top of the TV." Amanda explained while leaning against her crutch.
"Third those are blackout curtains they are to be closed at ALL times when while it is dark, if you need a light on the curtains are closed. Do we understand this rule?" Amanda asked before moving on with her speech.
Summer, Melissa, Corrine and Trevor all look at each other then back to Amanda and agree to the rule.
"Good. Three more, Fourth: There is food ask before you take or you'll be sorry." Amanda briefed while grabbing a seat.
"Fifth there is running water... for now anyway. Five minute showers I will be timing you guys." Amanda said seriously.
"And finally the sixth major rule is no one goes into that room." Amanda stated her voice growing into a deep growl at the end of her sentence as she pointed to the room at the end of the hall.
After the group agreed to the rules Amanda mellowed out some.
"First order of business, who's hungry?" Amanda asked hunching forward in her chair.
"Starving." Trevor said clearing his throat.
"Cheesy mac in the cupboard." Amanda directed motioning to the rest to get some food.
The group filed into the kitchen except Genevieve who sat in one of two recliners.
"What happened here?" Genevieve asked in quiet voice looking to the teenager.
"What do you mean?" Amanda asked sitting back in her chair.
"The blood stains?" Genevieve said in the same small voice.
Amanda looked to the bloodstains on the carpeting near the couch.
"I had to take care of some bad guys..." Amanda answered simply.
Amanda got up and limped her way to the second recliner. "You ok ... what was your name? Guinevere?" Amanda asked sitting in the recliner.
"Genevieve." The little girl corrected.
"Ok. Are you ok Genevieve?" Amanda asked reclining back with a sharp inhale due to her leg.
"Why wouldn't I be..." Genevieve replied averting Amanda's gaze.
"Did you see when he..." Amanda trailed off wanting to catch the little girl's response.
Genevieve gulped back tears and looked straight ahead as tears welled in her eyes regardless.
"That sucks ki- Genevieve." Amanda said sympathetically.
Genevieve nodded her bottom lip now quivering.
Amanda could sense something else was going on with the child so she leaned closer to the kid to speak.
"Was he your dad?" Amanda asked calmly studying the child's features.
"No." Genevieve choked out in a broken voice.
"What happened?" Amanda pressed wanting to know how it happened.
"He... I m-messed up... I fell and... he died to save me." Genevieve explained sorrow filling her voice she tried to blink away her tears but one escaped onto her cheek.
Amanda pursed her lips wishing this hadn't happened to a child. "I'm sure he would it over again for you..." Amanda said trying to be comforting. "He seemed to really like you." Amanda added.
"Mm-hm..." Genevieve mustered before closing her eyes to stop her tears.
"I'm sorry." Amanda said after a moment.
"Summer... hates me too... because of the accident..." Genevieve uttered hoping for more comfort then Corrine gave.
Amanda backed away from the child and laid back. "I'm sorry kiddo..." Amanda breathed.
After a long moment Amanda inclined her chair and sat up. "Tell ya what." Amanda said in trying to be cheerful. "You like Disney princesses?" Amanda asked in the same tone.
Genevieve looked over and wiped her eyes then nodded.
"Well come over here." Amanda said hoisting herself up. "Inside this hutch... you will find every disney princess movie." Amanda exclaimed trying sound happy for Genevieve.
Genevieve got up and knelt next to the hutch and opened up one of the compartments and saw all of the movies from Snow White to Rapunzel in chronological order.
"Pick what ya want." Amanda said returning to her Recliner.
Genevieve pulled out 'Tangled' and put it in the player and started back to her seat.
"Oh wait grab a headset." Amanda said pointing to the sets on top of the TV.
Genevieve stopped and grabbed one. "Don't you want to hear?" Genevieve asked ready to grab the other pair.
"Nah go ahead." Amanda dismissed.
The rest of the group came out eating their food.
"Who picked this?" Trevor asked in disgust.
"Genevieve." Amanda replied simply as Genevieve started to put the headset on.
"It sucks though..." Trevor said in an annoyed tone.
"No it doesn't!" Genevieve exclaimed in sheer disbelief putting the headset around her neck.
"Dude I can throw this knife at you." Amanda joked sounding serious.
Trevor put his hands up in mock defeat as the girls returned to their movie after a few minutes Trevor was glued to the screen with Genevieve.
[One day later]
The group were having an easy time adjusting to the small apartment.
Melissa sat on the couch conversing with Corrine.
Summer sat with her dead phone in her hand.
Genevieve was in the bathroom washing up.
Trevor laid across the floor reading the same magazine from the store.
And Amanda was reclined back in her recliner.
Amanda looked over at Summer, seeing the phone in her hand.
"What type of charger do you need?" Amanda asked getting up from her recliner.
"Uh.." Summer mumbled pointing the charging port at the girl.
Amanda got closer and examined it before nodding. "C'mon I got the same." Amanda limping into the hallway and opened the first door on the left.
Summer walked in to what she assumed was Amanda's room since it was covered in poster of bands like Nickelback, Three Days Grace and Papa Roach as well as movie promotional posters such as Tangled, Brave and a 'Here's Johnny' poster hung on her door.
Amanda rolled into her bed setting a Jason Voorhees plushie to the side and pulled her charger out of the wall and handed to Summer.
"What about your phone?" Summer asked holding the charger in her hands.
"I'll just charge it out in the living room where you put it." Amanda said waving her hand dismissively.
"Thanks." Summer said genuinely.
"Ya..." Amanda said trying to find words to confront Summer on Genevieve's behalf.
Summer turned and left before Amanda found her words, Summer went out and plugged the charger in near the recliners and set her phone on the floor.
"I'll be up on the roof..." Summer announced as she left back down the hall and through one of the windows leading to a fire escape with a ladder tied to the edge of the roof.
[On the roof]
Summer pulled herself over the edge and looked out at the cityscape falling apart from months of disrepair and warfare pitting humans against the dead.
Summer saw how the vegetation was taking the buildings back, she saw vines climbing the side of the buildings, water flooding the streets from the sewers not being pumped.
Summer watched a flock of birds fly from over head then curve their way in between the skyscrapers.
After the birds disappeared Summer sat in a lawn chair that Amanda had set out and leaned back closing her eyes and allowed herself to think of her family all gone except for her and her brother left her with a little girl not even six years old.
Summer let out a sigh of exasperation at the thought as she put her head in her hands leaning forward in her seat.
"Why would you do this to me?" Summer asked pain in her voice as she covered her eyes and waited for an answer that would never come.
"I never signed up for that kid Blake..." Summer cried voice breaking on her deceased brother's name.
Summer didn't move from her spot even when she heard someone climbing the ladder.
Summer didn't even look up to see who it was.
"No one signed up for any of this shit." Amanda's voice spoke out. "I didn't sign up to live alone in an apartment not knowing if my mom's ok or not, But I ain't bitchin'." Amanda said standing next to Summer.
"No one asked you..." Summer said not facing the teenager.
Amanda sighed as she propped herself against a A.C. unit. "Listen... I know what it's like to lose people that... are your whole world, who are the world to you." Amanda admitted slowly sounding like she was a mile away in thought suddenly.
"You have no idea what I've been through." Summer said anger seeping into her words.
Amanda was pulled back by the girl's words. "Its not a competition... who's been through worse, we don't have time for that. But Summer right now. That little girl needs help and she's looking to you." Amanda explained.
Summer looked up for the first time. "Why me?" Summer asked standing up. "Why does she want me?" Summer asked walking towards the injured Amanda. "I don't want her... she killed my brother!" Summer yelled in Amanda's face.
"Did she shoot him?" Amanda asked like she knew the answer.
"No." Summer replied.
"Did she stab him?" Amanda asked.
"No." Summer answered.
"Drown? Burn? Choke him out?" Amanda asked in rapid succession.
"No. No. No." Summer said impatiently.
"Then what the fuck happened?!" Amanda shouted in Summer's face.
"Dont get in my face..." Summer said quietly averting the teenager's gaze but not backing away.
"You got in mine and if you start something you better be able to finish it." Amanda threatened. "What happened?" Amanda asked again.
"Genevieve fell through a hole in the roof... Blake went down for her... and we couldn't get him back up before the.. dead got him." Summer retold the tale of her brother's demise.
"Did she jump down the hole in the roof?" Amanda asked knowing the answer.
"No... she fell." Summer said still avoiding eye contact.
"Then quit blaming her! You're fucking her up! For something she couldn't even help!" Amanda exclaimed as Summer backed away.
"Listen to your own story... ok? Dont hurt Genevieve." Amanda said somberly.
"Ok..." Summer said sitting back in her chair and looking at her feet.
"Alright... enough of the heavy talk. I'll see you downstairs." Amanda said returning to the ladder and climbing down.
Summer put her head in her hands again, 'Blake... I'm not ready for this.' The overwhelmed teen thought to herself.
[One day later]
Summer stepped over a downed stop sign while surveying her surroundings.
The generator had ran out of fuel leaving the apartment without electricity, Amanda brought Summer along with her to the nearest gas station.
It was a cool morning, a thin layer of fog was in the air, the streets were quiet and neither of the girls had seen any undead or hunters so far on their journey.
"So... how often do you have to fill this generator up?" Summer asked breaking the silence that seemed to envelop the city.
"Shhhhh" Amanda whispered calmly Over her shoulder as she limped across the pavement the bottom of the crutch sprayed with rubber.
Summer quieted down begrudgingly walking behind the teenage girl.
"Week or two." Amanda whispered watching the rooftops and alleys, scanning the streets for potential threats or opportunities.
Summer appreciated the answer and continued following Amanda, Summer had her bow out with an arrow notched and ready.
The duo crept down the road a gas station laid presumably abandoned on the corner.
Amanda slowed to a stop, listening closely for any hint of an ambush.
Summer stopped behind Amanda looking around waiting for the go ahead to move in.
After a few long moments Amanda started to creep slowly towards the station staying close to the building on their left.
Amanda took the lead slowly watching the ground for any sort of trap, when she felt confident there weren't any Amanda stood up from her semi crouched posture.
Amanda set the five-gallon container on the ground next to the pump she then motioned to Summer to keep an eye out for trouble.
Amanda then disappeared into the gas station then returned a moment later. "Put the nozzle in." Amanda whispered quickly, trying to bring out some hustle in Summer's step.
Summer got the idea and quickly put the pump in. "How are we getting gas out?" Summer asked in a whisper.
"Some places have back up generators and mechanical switches in the event of power outages." Amanda explained in a hushed tone as she readjusted the nozzle in the container.
"How'd you find that out?" Summer asked louder then she meant to causing Amanda to cringe.
After relaxing Amanda turned her head to look at Summer. "Internet." Amanda replied simply over the top sweet smile before looking back to the container as the pump stopped.
Amanda put the nozzle back and made her way inside after a moment she returned again.
"Let's head back. We come back if it's really needed." Amanda said motioning for Summer to carry the container.
Summer picked up the gas can and followed after the teenager. "Internet? What did this girl do in her free time before all of this?" Summer thought to herself.
[Three days later]
The group had settled into the apartment but rumors were now spreading about what was behind Amanda's forbidden room that was what the topic was tonight as the group spoke in hushed tones hoping not to wake the owner of the apartment.
"Maybe she's a perv or something and it's a dungeon!" Trevor stated quietly to the group as they bounced around ideas.
"What is a perv?" Genevieve asked while standing next to Summer.
"Uhhh not for kids ok?" Summer said giving Trevor a look.
"Oh. Ok." Genevieve said resigning her curiosity.
"I highly doubt that." Corrine replied to Trevor's accusation in a calm quiet voice.
"Well what's your idea?!" Trevor spat in a hushed tone.
"Maybe that's where she keeps her survival gear." Melissa offered.
"She keeps that stuff in her room though." Summer pointed out.
"Maybe she keeps the room as a special place for her aunt and uncle's memory?" Genevieve spoke up again.
Summer pursed her lips assuming this was a guess not worth following up. "Maybe." Summer said dismissively.
"Well... What about what you heard?" Trevor asked fishing for Summer's guess.
"I... I don't know for sure but I thought..." Summer said trailing off remembering back to her shower from a couple days ago it was later at night and she was walking out to the living room but stopped when she heard the faint sound of labored breathing on the other side of the door.
"Maybe she's a cannibal." A voice spoke out ominously behind them snapped Summer out of her thoughts.
The group immediately jumped and spun towards the voice seeing the owner was Amanda the group sat their mortified about what may come next.
Amanda waited for a moment to see the faces of being caught red-handed. "Think what you want. But stay the fuck out." Amanda said dropping the whisper from before.
The group hung their heads. "We're... sorry." Summer said shame evident in her voice.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow." Amanda said simply with her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.
Melissa, Corinne and Trevor went back to their respective sleeping spots in an awkward fashion.
Summer tapped Genevieve on the shoulder to get her moving but Amanda stopped Summer and shooed her away.
Summer begrudgingly moved towards her sleep area.
Genevieve timidly stepped forward was she joking about the cannibal part? Genevieve didn't quite know what a cannibal was but knew it was bad by how mommy and daddy talked about them in passing.
Amanda sighed then looked at the little girl. "Thanks for sorta sticking up for me.. not calling me a cannibal or a dominatrix." Amanda said sounding genuine.
Genevieve played with her fingers while holding eye contact. "Um...you're welcome... What are those?" Genevieve spoke in a timid voice.
Amanda's eyes widened at the questions directed at her. "Uh... well... Cannibal is someone who eats other people... the other is something you need to wait to learn about..." Amanda explained awkwardly.
"Oh... I don't like cannibals." Genevieve stated inching backwards.
"They are a bad bunch." Amanda said with a sigh looking towards the blinds of her window for a moment then back to Genevieve who was now looking at her hands. "Off to bed... g'night." Amanda said turning to go in her room.
[The next day]
The group sat on the couch and recliners Amanda stood in the hallways looking them all over.
"So you guys don't trust me huh?" Amanda said with a humourless tone.
"Well... we do. Mostly..." Melissa said sounding halfway genuine.
"Speak for yourself..." Trevor mumbled crossing his arms on the couch.
Amanda let out a humourless chuckle. "Only one of your guesses came close last night. But I'm not saying who." Amanda said a twinge of anger in her voice.
"There shouldn't be secrets between us. This won't work if there are." Corrine said sternly from her seat on one of the recliners.
"It's mine to keep. It is a secret that WILL NOT be any danger to anyone." Amanda reassured her fellow survivors.
"How do we know that...?" Summer asked challengingly.
Amanda's face hardened at the challenging nature on display. "Cus I said it wouldn't." Amanda spat, her accent flaring for a moment.
"Stake your life on it?!" Trevor asked quickly.
"Yes." Amanda replied adamantly.
The group looked at each other for a moment then nodded slowly.
"Alright?" Amanda asked sounding slightly relieved.
"Ya." Summer answered sounding distant looking down at her shoes.
A few hours had passed Amanda resigned to her recliner and they were watching the Godzilla made in nineteen ninety eight.
Summer watched only a little she wasn't big on monster movies apparantly Genevieve wasn't either as she laid on the couch looking lost in thought.
Summer saw an opportunity to try and be nice to the little girl so uneasily Summer motioned for Genevieve to sit up followed by Genevieve immediately obeying.
Sitting down slowly Summer was thinking hard about her next move. "I uh... have something for you." Summer said slowly pulling her phone out of her pocket. "Don't have a password on it. Mom and Dad wouldn't let me." Summer said handing her phone to the child.
Genevieve slowly took it hoping this wasn't a trick she swiped it open with her free hand and saw the home screen depicting Jenny and Summer in their cheerleader outfits striking cheerleading poses while laughing. "Um... thank you..." Genevieve said half-heartedly trying to appear appreciative.
Summer picked up on this quickly. "Well it has angry birds on there." Summer said swiping to the right on the screen revealing angry birds and a few stock apps. "But I figure... you might want to see ... this." Summer said as she tapped on the gallery app.
Genevieve's demeanor shifted when she saw the photos the little girl tapped on one of them it came up depicting a younger Blake in a pool with a girl in a bikini held on one shoulder as they smiled at the camera, she swiped over and saw another picture of Blake covered in muck under a car poking Summer's leg with a wrench.
The little girl's lip began to tremble while she smiled at the pictures encapsulating the man she wished was by her side one she wanted to grow up and learn from. "Thank you." Genevieve choked out genuinely.
Amanda watched this interaction and smiled a bit before turning back to the movie as Godzilla was trying to eat the heroes in a taxi cab.
[Two days later]
It was early morning Amanda left for a supply run with Melissa, everyone else was asleep except for Summer who had elected to take a shower.
On her way back out to the living room she heard it again, the faint sound of breathing on the other side of the door of the forbidden room.
"Who could be in there?" Summer thought to herself, reaching for the handle she tried to turn it but found it was locked from the inside Summer figured she should've expected that but she did notice the hole for unlocking it was a simple round hole.
Summer figured her and Amanda were the same height so she couldn't really hide anywhere Summer couldn't reach.
After a moment of not finding anything she decided to go look in the kitchen to open the door, Summer rummaged through the drawers and found an unopened package of chopsticks taking them to the door.
Opening the pack and fumbling with the sticks as her nerves made her hands shake Summer looked over her shoulder her heart pounding. "She wouldn't be home soon right?" Summer thought to herself turning back to her work.
She inserted the chopstick and pushed hearing a click Summer flinched at the noise looking over her shoulder again she pulled the stick out and turned the knob slowly.
Summer cracked the door open and peeked her eyes through seeing the outline of a bed the blanket looked ruffled up but she didn't see anyone she pushed in slightly further seeing two forms in the low light standing looking at the far wall unmoving.
The first form looked to be an average built woman while the other looked to be a heavy set man Summer then noticed that the two forms seemed to be tied off at the neck like a leash, Summer heard the front door being opened up so she quickly slipped in the door and closed it behind her, not giving up on the chance to find out what was going on here.
[In livingroom]
Amanda stepped in the apartment as the Genevieve was sitting up Trevor jumped at the sound of the door opening Corrine had been reading an old mystery book on the couch.
"G'morning." Amanda said flatly as she waited for Melissa to step inside before closing the door and locking it. "Good news... I found some scissors so if someone wants to get a haircut I got you." Amanda pulling out the acquired item on the dining table.
"Uh... I think I'll pass." Trevor said getting up and rolling up his bedding before disappearing into the hallway.
"I could use a touch up later..." Corrine voiced as she continued to read her book.
The teenager had sat herself in the kitchen using one of the chairs from the table. "Hey Genevieve c'mere." Amanda called out.
Genevieve set Summer's old phone on the couch and headed towards the kitchen.
"Wanna get your haircut?" Amanda asked making a snipping motion with the scissors.
"Um no!" Genevieve said adamantly starting to back out stroking her hair braid worriedly.
"Now hold up and listen to my reason. Ok?" Amanda exclaimed as Genevieve tried to return to the livingroom.
Genevieve froze in place before slowly returning still holding her braid.
"Now listen... your hair is awesome. But! It's dangerous too." Amanda explained calmly letting the little girl connect the dots.
"H-how?" Genevieve asked in a small voice.
easy to grab don't you think? What if a bad guy grabbed it?" Amanda answered.
"I would die then..." Genevieve said in a somber tone.
"That's why I wanna get it cut so that's less of a chance. What do ya say?" Amanda asked leaning closer to the girl.
"Um... um... It-it makes sense..." Genevieve stuttered as she relented.
"Ok." Amanda said satisfaction resounding in her voice as Genevieve turned around.
Amanda undid Genevieve's braid revealing the true length of her long black hair. "Damn girl I'm sorta jealous." Amanda said genuinely.
A soft smile graced Genevieve's face. "Mommy and daddy liked it being long..." Genevieve said reminiscing her parents in her mind. "And... bad word." Genevieve added barely loud enough for Amanda to hear.
"Ah... your right." Amanda said awkwardly before handing Genevieve the silk white ribbon that held her hair.
After several minutes the girl's hair was cut considerably shorter. "Also I found you some new clothes. Hope they'll fit you." Amanda said as she wiped the scissors clean.
"Ok." Genevieve said standing up and looking somberly at the hair on the kitchen floor before leaving with the clothes in hand.
"And when you get those on you can take guard duty with the binoculars!" Amanda said quickly after the little girl as she left trying to lift her spirits.
[In the room]
Summer had shut the door silently and was now turned to the forms her back against the door she could see better now she saw the taller heavier form was a man about forty years old with a chunk taken out of his left cheek but otherwise seemed intact, his clouded eyes gave away that this person was in fact a walker, he wore a clean white button up shirt and jeans, His wrists and neck suggested he was tied down at some point just after his death.
The other form was that of a woman in her early fifties with no visible injuries wearing a navy blue long sleeve shirt and jeans with the same markings on her hands and neck.
[In the bathroom]
Genevieve had stepped into the bathroom her heart heavy with the fact she had lost the hair her mommy and daddy had braided for her every morning, she looked into the mirror and placed her hands on the sink her heart dropping at the sight of her hair now in a bob cut, the little girl then set her new clothes on the counter and shrugged out of her dress letting it fall to the floor then picking up the shirt, a orange long sleeve with the outline of a football player on it.
Pulling the shirt over her head she picked up the jeans and wiggled into them before picking up the dress and looking at it not wanting to lose what's left of her parents hugging the dress to her chest as she let tears fall from her eyes as slid her back down the wall to the floor.
[In the kitchen]
Amanda had just finished cleaning up the hair and setting it in a container when Genevieve came out into view.
"Hey. Wanna use the binocs?" Amanda asked as Genevieve passed by.
Genevieve nodded without looking. "Yes." Genevieve replied not breaking stride.
Amanda figured the kid needed some time to get used to the new look so Amanda said nothing more as she grabbed a sleeve of cheap crackers from the cupboard.
Amanda went and sat in her recliner and had just settled in when she saw Genevieve doing something on Summer's phone, Amanda had figured Summer was in her room charging that phone.
Amanda's stomach dropped at the realization that if Summer wasn't in there then where was she, Amanda got out of her seat and set the crackers on the kitchen counter opened her door hastily not seeing the teenager she quickly moved to her secret room and tested it finding the knob turned.
Amanda immediately turned and pushed the door bumping into a body on the other side she could tell this was a person since the body jumped when the door struck them before they slammed into the door shutting it on Amanda.
What was Summer going to do she's been caught in the forbidden room the teenager propped herself against the door and hoped she was stronger but before long could tell she was going to lose this battle of strength jumping out of the way as the door flew open hitting the wall with a bang.
Seeing Amanda her face twisted in anger but her eyes betrayed her, Amanda was terrified.
"What's going on?" Corrine asked getting up from her book.
Melissa stepped into the hallway to see what happened Trevor doing the same.
"Stay over there Genevieve." Melissa called over her shoulder.
Genevieve obeyed and went back to looking through the binoculars.
"What the fuck are you doing in here!?" Amanda asked through gritted teeth.
Summer though of shrinking from the question but stood firm. "What is this?" Summer asked gesturing to the walkers now attempting to break their leashes. "You keep them in your home?!" Summer asked anger starting to seep into her voice.
The rest of the group had made their way back and could see the scene unfolding.
"They... they're my..." Amanda stammered trying to find the right words.
"You have walkers in your house!" Summer reiterated in a shouting manner.
The group exploded with protests filling the apartment with angry commotion.
"They're my family!" Amanda screamed at the group fear and anger in her voice.
The commotion went silent at this reveal. "They're my aunt and uncle..." Amanda said her voice breaking.
"You know they wouldn't want this." Summer said looking at the faces of the dead.
I know... but I couldn't..." Amanda admitted tearfully.
"This could be a danger to us." Summer accused.
"No. It's safe! I swear!" Amanda yelled at the disapproving crowd.
"Kill them..." Trevor muttered under his breath.
"What?" Amanda asked horror in her voice as she backed away from them.
Summer pulled her knife slowly and started towards the walkers.
"NO!" Amanda screamed throwing her weight into Summer knocking Summer into the door pinning her weapon hand to the wall with her left hand her right arm against Summer's neck. "Leave em alone!" Amanda yelled at her fear and tears present.
Trevor grabbed Amanda's right arm. "Get off her!" He yelled wrenching Amanda's arm off Summer's neck.
Amanda swung her elbow into Trevor's face making his nose bleed as Melissa and Corrine grabbed her arms restraining her as best they could Trevor got up mad he got hit and tried to hit Amanda in the face but missed when she weaved her head out of the way and used the two women's bodies as a base to kick Trevor into Summer toppling them into the wall but after a moment Amanda was restrained.
"No! ... Please stop! PLEASE!" Amanda begged in between sobs.
Summer heard her cries and couldn't do what she believed was right.
Summer instead turned to Amanda and walked over to be face to face with her.
"Shouldn't they get to rest too?" Summer asked genuinely.
Amanda panted nearly limp in her captors arms.
"I won't... they aren't mine to take." Summer said thinking of if someone else had got to decide for Blake or her mom or dad's fate. "They're yours." Summer said dropping her knife on the floor and leaving.
Before long Amanda was alone in the room only a knife and her former guardians, sobbing on the floor knowing what needed to be done.
Genevieve had peeked in during the fight but quickly returned to her spot by the window knowing no one would want her to see what was in the room.
After an hour had passed Summer heard a struggle ensue inside the room before silence again Amanda either did it or died.
[Two hours later]
Summer noticed Amanda leave the room and head straight to the bathroom but she hadn't come out in a long time.
Summer stood from the couch she had been sitting on and strode down the hallway and opened the door to the room where Amanda's aunt and uncle were kept and found them laying hand in hand where Summer assumed the bed had been, she shut the door and continued to the bathroom.
Summer turned before she knocked on the door as Genevieve walked up behind her breathing heavily as if panicking.
"What's wrong?" Summer asked in a whisper.
"I-I... I didn't mean to I'm- I'm sorry." Genevieve stammered pointing out to the livingroom.
Summer walked briskly out to the livingroom and saw Melissa holding the binoculars looking out the window.
"Walkers?" Summer asked as she stepped next to Melissa.
"No..." Melissa said solemnly, handing Summer the binoculars.
Summer took them and looked through seeing a man looking back at her through binoculars, Summer felt her stomach bunch up in knots when the man lowered the binoculars and smile in a sadistic way.
Summer put the binoculars down and started rushing to the bathroom to warn Amanda. "Guys get everything you can carry we gotta go!" Summer shouted over her shoulder.
Knocking on the door rapidly Summer didn't hear anything on the other side. "Amanda! There's people! The bandits! They found us!" Summer shouted through the door not recieving and answer.
Summer tested the door and found it was unlocked. "I'm coming in!" Summer announced opening the door.
Summer entered the room it was dimly lit only from a small window in the corner letting in sunlight, Summer saw Amanda's clothes on the floor and heard the soft sound of water sloshing, Summer looked up in time to see Amanda sitting up right in the bathtub breathing heavy.
"Amanda... we need to leave. Are you coming?!" Summer asked urgently.
Amanda took a moment to catch her breath. "Why?" Amanda asked between breaths.
"There're bandits on their way here! I told you that!" Summer said trying to get the younger teen moving.
"Why would you want me to come... I kept secrets. How can you want to keep that type of person around..." Amanda asked sadly.
"We can talk about that later." Summer said quickly knowing this wasn't the time.
"I'm... I'm really sorry about what I said about your friend." Amanda weeped tears running down her cheeks.
Summer's heart jumped at the though memory of Jenny's death. "I ... ok. It's alright." Summer reassured. "But right now... We. Need. To leave!" Summer reiterated.
Amanda looked at her clothes on the ground. "Then go..." Amanda said sullenly. "They want me anyways." Amanda warranted.
"You dont have to do this!" Summer exclaimed hearing the group hurry around for the supplies.
Amanda stopped answering just staring at the ground her chin resting on her arms.
Summer heard someone banging on the door and turned to run out there but stopped herself and looked back at Amanda. "Only you can save yourself. Live in their memory." Summer said as she took off down the hall.
Summer slipped into the kitchen where Corrine was Melissa and Trevor had went into Amanda's room Genevieve was frozen in fear in the middle of the living room as the door broke and swung open.
"Hey where's your momma?" The lead bandit asked condescendingly, walking in closer to the little girl a machete in hand.
"She's dead." Genevieve answered honestly looking up at the man holding his stare.
The bandit kneeled down and feigned being touched by Genevieve's reply. "Aww. Well. We'll take care of ya." A six men had filed in and snickered at the leader's lie.
Summer felt anger take hold of her. "We have to help." Summer growled quietly.
Corrine pulls a gun from her waistband and gives it to Summer before pulling out her own.
Summer and Corrine shared a nod before standing pointing through the kitchen window that lead to the livingroom and fired both shots hit different men taking them down.
The other men in the room flipped the table for cover then fired shots missing both women.
Genevieve took the chance to run but was quickly grabbed up by the leader an arm wrapped around her neck lifting her off the floor.
Summer ducked as a bullet whizzed passed her head, she moved closer to the hallway to fire around the corner and could hear Genevieve struggling in vain as if she were choking.
"Take care of Genevieve! No matter what!" Blake's words echoed in Summer's mind flipping a switch in her she rounded the quarter and saw Genevieve starting to go limp, the man saw Summer. "Too bad you couldn't save this li--" the leader started to brag before being shot in the face.
The last three had entered without their weapons but were still bigger then the women and Trevor.
Summer lined up her weapon and pulled the trigger with a clicking sound being all that left the gun.
The men took this chance and rushed Summer throwing her into the couch one of them brandished the machete that had been dropped and raised it to strike Summer but was surprised when Corrine jumped on his back and pulled him backwards causing him to fall on her.
The other two men moved to help their comrade but Summer jumped on one pushing him into the flipped table breaking its legs the other bandit turned Summer around punching her in the mouth causing her to fall, the man walked towards her menacingly before he was shoulder charged into the couch by Amanda who was still wet but clothed now.
Amanda grabbed one of the rifles the bandits had and snapped her aim towards the man recovering from his fall into the table.
The man only had enough time to look up before being blasted in the face Summer pulled the bolt back and noticed no more ammunition was present but saw Corrine starting to lose her fight.
Amanda readied for the man's attack she was strong but he was stronger she would have to try and out maneuver him.
The man quickly got up from the couch and swung his fist in a wide arc Amanda easily ducked under swinging a hook to his ribs causing him to recoil.
The man then grabbed Amanda by the neck and shoved her into the TV sending it behind the hutch it had sat on.
Amanda's spine was in pain from the blow but kept her with about her jabbing her fingers into the man's eyes then grabbing his neck and slamming his head into the glass door leading to the patio causing him to let go momentarily allowing her to catch some of her breath before the bandit came back stronger.
Grabbing Amanda's neck again and slamming her down on the hutch lifting her feet out from under her.
On the other side of the room Summer had turned the rifle around and used the butt of the gun as a club and was now repeatedly swinging it down on the bandits back breaking his grip on Corrine's neck.
The bandit faltered for a moment but turned and caught the gun with his one free hand.
Amanda's started getting blurry but kept her mind on point and got her legs into the bandit's stomach and kicked until he was far enough she could recover.
Coughing Amanda pulled her knife threw it hitting the man in the shoulder.
After a shout escaped his mouth he turned to look at the little girl with blood in his eye, pulling the knife out he started towards Amanda.
Amanda not one to back down stood up again and closed the distance her right hand grabbing his wrist with the knife her left grabbing his neck.
When the bandit grabbed hold of the gun Corrine punched him in the side of the head giving Summer the chance to wrench the gun away again and swing it like a Baseball bat across the man's face knocking him down off of Corrine.
Summer stepped over the man and brought the gun down on his head again. "Are you alright?!" Summer asked Genevieve who had curled up near the mouth of the hall.
Genevieve looked at her and nodded her tear stained cheeks betrayed her.
Before Summer could say anything she heard Amanda wrestling with the last bandit, Summer picked up the gun and stood to move in seeing Amanda was in trouble.
The bandit had turned himself and Amanda towards the couch and pushed her onto it and was trying to force the knife down into her chest.
Amanda gritted her teeth trying with everything she had to keep the knife at bay.
Summer didnt arrive in time as the knife entered Amanda's chest her breath hitching.
Summer swung the weapon over her head down onto the man's head crumpling him to a pile.
"Get the others we gotta move..." Summer said breathlessly her adrenaline wearing off as she tossed the gun down to check on Amanda.
"Amanda..." Summer said sadly seeing Amanda looking at the knife in her chest.
"Fuck... guess I shoulda led with the knife.. woulda killed a lot faster." Amanda said breathless putting a hand on the hilt of her knife.
"Dont do that! You'll bleed out!" Summer exclaimed grabbing Amanda's wrist.
Amanda looked Summer in the eyes then pulled the knife out.
Summer was surprised to find only a little blood at the end of the blade.
Amanda took a breath and held her hand out expectantly to which Summer placed the knife in the teenager's hand and stepped away confused.
Summer now saw she was wearing a different shirt, a pink one with words reading "Be happy." On it.
After a moment the group passed by filing through the door stepping over the bodies Amanda pulled a thick textbook and a lot of duct tape out from under her shirt.
"What the...?" Summer uttered shaking her head in disbelief.
"Don't get blubbery on me..." Amanda said sitting back on the couch as if relaxing.
"That's... that was pretty smart..." Summer said a small smile gracing her lips. "Will you come with us?" Summer blurted out.
Amanda smiled. "If there are anymore they'll probably come for their friends... so this place is compromised..." Amanda explained with a sigh.
"Guess you better move on then... with a group of course." Summer said lightly, a small smile still lingering.
Amanda got up with a sly smile and without a word and started out the apartment but stopped in the doorway and turned around. "Bye..." Amanda said hoping she would hear her guardians voices. "I'll lock up .. Before I leave... I ... love you guys..." Amanda said as if they would hear her knowing they couldn't.
Amanda eventually turned waited outside the door.
Summer started to follow but saw Jenny's old backpack with Genevieve's unicorn sewn on top of the flap lid most likely by Amanda, Summer walked over and found her old phone with a small crack from the struggle no doubt.
Summer set it in Genevieve's new pack and headed out the door.
Once she was out Amanda reached in and locked the knob then closed the door and locked the bolt with her key before following the group down the stairs.
When they got outside Amanda looked up to where her home was and then pulled her keys out and then her knife, Amanda dug a hole in the ground then set her keys inside it then covered it up and set grass on it trying to make it look inconspicuous.
"You don't wanna keep em?" Summer asked, standing next to Amanda's crouched form.
"Far as I know... I'm never coming back... and I won't need any reminders..." Amanda said standing up.
"Where do we go?" Trevor asked shrugging his backpack on.
"I got your back wherever we go." Amanda said crossing her arms.
Summer looked at everyone. "We'll keep moving... find somewhere to live..." Summer said trying to gather courage before speaking again.
"Somewhere safe."
Thus ending the first season. five more to go. stay tuned for the second season!