Ch. 30
'Brutality Part one'
The breeze blew across the land, winter's bitter chill barely clung to the air as the warmth of spring season began to push into Virginia's beautiful topography, the snow was beginning to dissolve making way for grass to grow and flowers to bloom, birds could be heard singing in the trees.
Nature had reclaimed the earth, animals thrived within the new environments of dilapidated buildings covered in thick foliage, they were often far too quick and aware for any walker to catch them.
What remained of people were left to a world of violence and misery, one such person was experiencing misery at that very moment.
The mud squished under her boots as she neared rows of wooden crosses, all reading different names, a broken-hearted Genevieve, made towards a particular name, Tina.
Kneeling at the cross, Genevieve set down the picture that Tina had taken of them a month ago, it had only been a month, it felt so much longer than that to her.
A hand soon rested on the teenager's shoulder, Genevieve allowed herself to melt into the loving touch.
"We haven't talked in a while, how're you feeling?" A familiar female voice said with a southern accent.
With tears in her eyes and some of them streaming down her face, Genevieve looked up to meet Amanda's, the pain in Genevieve could be spoken without any words. "I- I miss her," Genevieve choked out, looking from one of her mentors to the small wooden cross again.
Amanda stepped in just a little closer to Genevieve and kneeled beside her, there were no tears on Amanda's clothing, no wear, and tear or even a speck of dirt or other debris on the Tennessee girl. "Honestly, Genevieve I can't even begin to know how horrible this feeling of yours is, I'm so sorry it happened," Amanda said, as the wind picked up slightly blowing Genevieve's hair and clothes but Amanda's form remained untouched by the world around them.
"I never got to say goodbye!" Genevieve cried out in a voice of pure devastation.
Amanda bowed her head slightly, hearing the pain in Genevieve made her close her eyes for a moment. "Someday, I promise you will see her again, but until you do though, ya gotta keep moving forward," Amanda said before she finally reopened her eyes to see the teenager she had helped raise looking at her. "Stay tough, kid," Amanda added after locking eyes with Genevieve for a moment.
"I am not letting this go," Genevieve said softly, looking back to the picture and locking eyes with Tina's, with a shake of her head and a lurch in her stomach. "No, I am not letting this go!" Genevieve warned as she looked back to see Amanda had disappeared.
The birds could be heard again, the wind blowing softly and footsteps behind her as well.
"Letting go of what, kiddo?" Summer said hesitantly, stepping around for Genevieve to see her.
Registering the new voice to its owner took Genevieve a short moment, giving her a pause in her thought process. "I am not letting go of what they did to her, they crossed the line, there is no going back," Genevieve said calmly at first before the thought resettled in her, making it come out like more of a growl at the end.
Summer's brow furrowed as she connected the dots. "What do ya got in mind, kiddo?" Summer asked hiding her concern as best she could.
Genevieve looked at the mud she currently had her knees in, tears streamed down her face quietly as she began. "They do not save people, they force their 'protection' on others and if they refuse, they slaughter them! I bet if people go to them looking for help they get turned away, all because they have guns, and a lot of people, they think they own this place!" Summer listened in fear of the teen's intentions.
"Well, now they went and fucked with the wrong people, they took her away from me!" Genevieve yelled pointing at the picture that Tina took. "People had ways of dealing with this kind of thing when I was little, but now they can get away with it scot-free! Well, I won't let them!" Genevieve growled, standing from the ground and turning towards her home, Genevieve grabbed the picture and was soon stopped by Summer.
"Hold on a sec! What're you gonna do?!" Summer asked hoping the teenager didn't mean what she thought.
"They took Tina, away from me! So I'm taking from them!" Genevieve said seriously, holding Summer's worried gaze with a fiery intensity.
Summer shook her head in disbelief, setting a hand on Genevieve's shoulder. "Genevieve, you'll die!" Summer exclaimed as the teenage girl exuded anger and hatred.