ELYZA POV
Madison was predictably unhappy to be contained within the warehouse whilst her daughter was risking her life in search of them. It was a difficult situation, one that I was not eager to be complying with but I recognised the sensibility of the decision.
Leaving the safe confines of the warehouse could lead to encounters with either a horde or the prison gang, neither of which would end well for the Clark family. A day, two at most was all that was necessary to ensure a clear route back to find her daughter. If she could wait that long.
"Not only would you be risking yourselves, but also us if you decide to leave now," Raven was insisting firmly, hoping that against the odds this stranger would respond to her plea. There were many people to consider in this situation.
"She's right Madison, we have to think of everyone involved before we take any unwise action," Strand spoke up in support, drawing the woman's gaze as she considered her options carefully.
Nick was seated on the ground as his mother continued to worry about the fate of her daughter, fiddling idly with the hem of his sleeve as the conversation swept around him.
"Are you not going to go and back Raven up?" Octavia inquired as she drifted up beside me where I was safely standing a few metres away from the tense interaction to save being pulled into the argument.
"No chance," I muttered, more than happy to observe the proceedings without getting on the wrong side of the devastated mother. "I don't want to piss Alicia's family off before I even get a chance to know them."
"It's not exactly the ideal way of meeting your girlfriends mother," Octavia mused, as if she watching the entire event unfold on a television programme. Unfortunately it was my life and I had to think carefully about the consequences of my actions before I intervened.
Nick finally glanced up from his silent observation when Raven pleaded for them yet again to do the right thing. "Mom, we'll find Alicia. One day won't make any difference, she's survived this long without us."
My skin prickled at the statement. Alicia had survived this long in my company and I had taught her well, but there was no telling what awaited her outside these walls.
Finally Madison complied with the demands and Raven was able to go about her duties once more without fearing that the family were about to make a run for it. Instead they huddled together in their own bubble, virtually oblivious of those around them.
"Two days and then we're leaving to find her no matter what these people say," Madison expressed, already reluctant to wait that long. "Once we find her, it's a matter of getting back to the ship without delay and regrouping with the others."
Nick nodded solemnly at his mothers feet and I couldn't stop the wave of numb realisation from washing over me. This was everything that Alicia and I had been searching for since we had first met, but I had never planned for the reality of the situation.
It took me a long time to realise that I was staring openly at their private family gathering, a second longer to realise that Octavia had drifted away from my side, and another excruciating moment to acknowledge the questioning frown that Strand regarded me with.
No one else appeared to notice my fixation and I was quick to avert my eyes and retreat back to my own belongings where I could process my thoughts in peace. Each step felt weighted and I couldn't quite pinpoint the exact reason why.
It wasn't until my back was pressed against the wooden cabinet and I was hidden from sight that the tears began to well unstoppably in my eyes. Heartache at the prospect of Alicia being in danger was conflicting with the happiness of being able to reunite the girl with her family if she did return, only to be diminished in the face of how I would now fit into their chaotic lives. There was a lot to take in.
These thoughts assaulted me without conscious effort and I was too busy trying to quell them to notice the approaching sound of footsteps, glancing up in a mixture of surprise and horror to see Strand side stepping the cabinet to stand before me.
"I've seen that look before," he remarked as I hastily brushed away the collecting tears with an embarrassed grimace. "May I sit?"
I nodded casually, attempting to collect myself as he crouched to sit cross legged in front of me. To my surprise he reached into his pocket without saying anything else and offered a small hip flask towards me. An amused smile lifted his lips at my expression.
"There's no problem a dash of brandy can't solve," he divulged sincerely, waving the flask towards me until I accepted it. "I always come prepared."
Without pause he reached into the opposite pocket and produced another virtually identical flask and lifted it into the air with a sly wink. "To the miraculous healing power of brandy."
I merely chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief and took a sip of the strong liquid. It wasn't appealing by any means, but the unmistakable burn distracted me from my own grievances, at least for a brief time.
Strand savoured the alcohol with satisfaction before turning his attention back to me with unbridled curiosity and I consumed another gulp of alcohol before the questions could begin.
"Alicia means a lot to you," he stated, not requiring an answer to gleam the truth from my expression. "How did you meet?"
Before I knew what was happening the words were pouring from me in a tide, explaining how I had saved the girl and promised to help find her family. It was a long story, one interwoven with details of our adventures together, fighting the living and undead alike until finally I reached our current predicament.
There was no rational reasoning for my willingness to divulge my story to this man, but in a way I felt I knew him through Alicia's stories and we had a few particular traits in common, needless to say our mutual likening for alcoholic beverages.
He was quite the character, just as Alicia had described with a small shake of her head as she had detailed his unique confidence and self assurances that had saved them from many a precarious situation. I could imagine we would get along quite well and so far my assumptions had been well founded.
"It sounds like you've been a good influence on each other," Strand noted, his head resting back against the wall as he listened intently to my tale.
I scoffed and stared down at the half empty flask in my hand, swirling the liquid absent-mindedly inside the container. "I don't think her mother would agree with that."
Strand chuckled heartily and caught my gaze with a gleam of amusement in his eye. "Don't you worry about Madison, she can be quite the fierce character if you get on the wrong side of her, but I don't think you have anything to be concerned about."
I remained sceptical but didn't voice a challenge, hoping that the man was right. He did after all know the woman far better than I did.
"I can imagine she would be far from impressed to see us sat here drinking amicably whilst her daughter is missing," I replied sarcastically, drawing another chuckle from the man before he took another pointed swig from his flask.
Despite the unexpected company, I already felt much better for speaking to someone and was genuinely enjoying Strands company, something that rarely occurred with strangers.
"Hardly," the man scoffed, observing me with a sly grin. "Who do you think the second flask is usually for?"
I paused for a moment to consider that before taking a swig of the liquid and decided that it was my time ask a few questions. There was a lot that Alicia had told me, but undoubtedly a lot that she hadn't.
"So what's your story?" I inquired, settling back as a friendly silence drifted between us. "What's a fine man like you doing in a place like this?"
The man was shrouded in mystery but he revealed a few aspects of his life before the apocalypse and I found myself more intrigued with every word. Time passed with impossible speed until before I knew it the man's flask was empty and he was stretching out his limbs to stand straight, rolling his shoulders to release the building tension.
"You said that it was only meant to be temporary, having Alicia's family on your boat," I burst hurriedly before he could leave me wondering. "What changed your mind?"
Strand seemed to consider this for a fleeting moment but merely adopted a mysterious smile and inclined his head towards the flask still gripped in my hand. "That's a discussion for next time. It was nice meeting you Elyza."
I barely had time to utter a response before he drifted back towards his own group, leaving me to digest all that had been discussed. It was a relief that someone knew about my concerns for Alicia, even if it was a man who could easily spill my secrets to her mother. Not that I had any doubts about his sincerity in withholding the information.
For the time being there was little else left to do but rest and wait for reports to drift in, naively hoping that Alicia would return safely without our intervention.
The days crept by with moderately good news seeping back to us from scouts and patrols who confirmed the successful diversion of the horde and limited sightings of any gang members. Those who had been encountered were either followed at a safe distance to ensure their departure or subtly moved away from the temporary base.
With each positive report, Madison became more restless and insistent on departing without delay to begin the search for Alicia. It was only a matter of time now before her demands were agreed and I would have to insinuate myself within their numbers to accompany them on the expedition.
A safe perimeter had been secured around the warehouse so I had no concerns about slipping out into the early afternoon heat to check the viability of the old car that would serve as my transport. It was a relief to be free from the claustrophobic confines of the warehouse, surrounded on all sides by people when I wanted nothing more than some privacy.
The few conversations that I had shared with Madison after a burst of courage had been far from spectacular, almost dismissive as she assumed me to be every bit of a stranger to her family as the other forty people surrounding her.
I shook away my doubts and focused instead on the beaten up car, hoping that it would survive the return trip.
It was only after I had checked under the hood and assessed the fuel level that I proceeded to lean half heartedly against the metal shell and cast my gaze out over the long stretch of road that cut a hazy path through the environment. It was along this road that I caught sight of a figure stumbling towards our location, almost convincing myself that it was imagined until the outline of a person became unmistakeable.
There was no one else outside to corroborate my suspicions and I refused to entertain any hopeful sentiments until I grabbed the binoculars from inside the car and raised them to my eyes to identify the figure.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was Alicia. All my concerns regarding adventuring into the unknown dissolved upon seeing her and I all but threw the binoculars back into the car as I prepared to meet her half way.
My heart blossomed with happiness to know that she was alive as I jogged down the wide road, an unstoppable smile spreading on my face. Intense heat made the movement uncomfortable, but I forgot all about it in the joyous moment.
My step only faltered as I closed the distance between us and saw that she was tipping ever so slightly to the left, precariously balancing her weight forwards in an effort to reach greater speed. When she finally crept within arms length my smile disappeared altogether to witness the sheen of sweat and pain coating her face, reaching out my arms instinctively as her knees buckled.
"Woah, hey, Alicia?" I urged desperately, slowly lowering her to the ground as her head bent forwards and sweeping hair concealed her face from view. "What happened?"
She didn't respond immediately, inhaling a deep breath as if it took excessive effort just to lift her head again. When she did, my concern grew immeasurably. Fear stained my initial joy at the vacant expression, as if she were somewhere else entirely, driven to a state of delirium by the intense midday heat that she had rapidly travelled in.
"I didn't find them," she stated abruptly, although a small smile emerged when she eventually continued. "I did save someone though. A little boy. He's okay because I helped him."
"Good, that's good," I said absently, only half listening to her jumbled conversation as I did a quick physical assessment to find any obvious injuries. Her clothes were torn and blood spattered in places but it didn't appear to be hers.
"I don't think his sister liked me though. She took him away," Alicia went on, oblivious to the hands gently searching for wounds. I was almost convinced that she was physically fine, on the surface at least, until I pulled back her left sleeve and revealed a carefully placed bandage just below the elbow.
"Hey, what is this?" I interrupted as I gently lifted the girls arm and pointed to the applied dressing. "How did you get this?"
Alicia's gaze flicked over the bandage momentarily as if she wasn't sure, but then a spark of recognition preceded her explanation. "The boys sister, she had a dressing in her bag. It was nice of her to-"
"No, Alicia that's not what I meant," I interrupted again, this time with a hint of frustration that was born from rising fear. I pointed to the wound again for effect. "How were you injured?"
I didn't want to unwrap the bandages just yet, not until I knew what I was dealing with.
"Oh," the girl mumbled, taking another moment to order her thoughts before one hand rose unexpectedly to grip my arm, a shine of clarity exposed as she remembered her urgency. "I was protecting the boy from walkers but one of them got me."
She fell silent suddenly, overcome by sadness at her own words but I didn't have time to be gentle about this.
"What do you mean it got you? A bite?"
Alicia frowned, as if trying to remember and I shook her lightly in frustration.
"Did it bite you?" I repeated desperately, my heart almost beating out of my chest as I waited for her reply. A bite meant almost certain death and I wasn't sure how I was going to cope with her next words.
"What? No," she uttered, eyes widening at my outburst before she gazed back at the injury. "It scratched me, I couldn't get out of the way in time."
I blew out a breath, not quite in relief, but at least a scratch was better than a bite. I could work with that.
"I saved the boy though, that has to count for something?"
"Yeah, you did good," I said reassuringly, hooking an arm around her waist to heave her upright. "Let's get you up."
It was no easy task manoeuvring the girl into the old car but I was driven by a rush of adrenaline that made it just about manageable. I couldn't take her inside the warehouse like this, not with her family desperately pacing the walls in concern of her safety.
I was the primary medic anyway, there was no difference in treating her out here or in there. At least this offered some momentary privacy. The car was thankfully situated in the shade of the warehouse which made my life easier and I wasted no time in collecting a bottle of water from the boot.
"Here, drink this," I directed her, passing over the bottle so that I could assess the wound more intently.
An infected wound could have caused the girls mild confusion and physical weakness, but it could just as simply be a result of dehydration and exhaustion. I was severely hoping that the latter was the root of her troubles.
Her head fell back against the chair as I unravelled the bandage, heart beating from my chest as the oblivious girl closed her eyes and savoured the refreshing water.
I was half leaning in the car to access the site, peeling away the layers and abandoning the covering on the other seat. My eyes were drawn to lengthy red gash that streaked horizontally around her forearm but close inspection revealed no sign of swelling or irritation.
My relieved sigh drew Alicia's attention back to the wound and she reached for me with her good arm, clinging to me as if she were drowning.
"I'm sorry, about all this. I shouldn't have come back, not like this."
I shook my head instantly, a tiny smile fighting through my initial concern. "It's not infected, you'll be fine. We just need to get you rehydrated and rested, okay?"
The words seemed to drift over the girl but she nodded anyway.
I was left with little option but to take her inside. She would need water, food and rest if she were to make a full recovery and that wasn't going to happen in this beaten up car. A deep breath steadied my nerves and I helped Alicia to her feet again, this time with more independence as the water seemed to bring about some strength in her body.
Mental preparation did very little to ready me for the explosion of questions that hit me the moment I heaved the girl through the main entrance, gritting my teeth as Madison fussed desperately around me.
I said nothing until the girl was lowered onto one of the mattresses that had survived the devastation, wanting to address the woman directly to make sure that I was understood.
"Listen to me," I said abruptly, waiting until the mother's eyes were resting securely on me rather than her daughter before continuing. "She's going to be okay. There's a wound on her arm but it's not infected. She just needs food, water, and plenty of rest."
Relief cascade over the woman and she nodded briskly to communicate her understanding before gliding around me as if I didn't exist to sink down to her daughters bedside.
"Alicia?" she called tentatively, reaching down to hold the girls hand as her eyes fluttered open. "Can you hear me?"
I stepped back to allow them some privacy and found Octavia already standing behind me with the necessary supplies. I smiled in thanks and collected them from her, not missing the hint of sympathy that was evident in her expression. I ignored it and turned back to the scene.
"I tried to save you," Alicia was saying, her voice barely audible as she mumbled softly. "But I couldn't find you."
Tears welled in Madison's eyes as she tried to remain strong for her daughter. "We found each other in the end."
Silence spread for a moment as the woman was lost for words but her motherly instinct soon took over. "Does it hurt? Your arm?"
Alicia frowned as if she had forgotten and her eyes sought out the scratch on her arm, widening alarmingly at the sight.
"Am I going to turn? You shouldn't be here, not to see this! How can you be here?"
Madison was quick to reassure the girl, but it fell on deaf ears when her alarm continued to grow. Alicia's hand fell from her mothers when she tried to propel herself upright but found herself lacking the strength to do so.
My heart broke to witness her so confused, unable to recognise the very real existence of her family as her mind fell into a disillusioned response to her trauma.
"Where's Elyza? I didn't get to see her, to say goodbye," she expressed vulnerably, distraught at the prospect and far from the relaxed state that would be so vital to her recovery. If she didn't remember our interaction from only minutes ago then this was no time to be confronting the reality of her mothers presence here after all that had happened. It was time to step in whether I wanted to or not.
Madison's reassurances were having no effect and I pointedly dumped the supplies at the end of the mattress before confidently guiding the woman out of my way and taking her place. Her head whipped towards me in shock and anguish, ready to unleash her disapproval on me when Alicia's voice chimed lightly and prevented the conflict from escalating.
"Elyza?"
The voice was weak but thankfully free from the previous distress that had been so troubling to witness.
I forced a warm smile onto my face and sat next to her, pretending with great effort that the world around us was non-existent. Despite her family and my friends looking on, I had eyes only for Alicia and thoughts of her well being. Nothing else could matter.
"Hey, I'm here. How are you feeling?"
A tiny smile appeared as her unease dissipated and she finally relaxed against the mattress. "Better now that you're here."
I suppressed my embarrassment at the public spectacle and continued to channel my ignorance for the world around us.
"I must be going mad," she complained with a frown, a thin sheen of sweat coating her face from the incredible heat that she had been exposed to on her return journey. "I thought I saw my mom for a moment."
There was a hint of sadness in her voice but this was not the time to discuss the revelation of her families presence here. That could wait until she was more lucid and able to appreciate the wonderful news.
"That's what you get for walking miles in the midday heat," I teased lightly, reaching without thought to brush the stray strands of hair away from her face.
I froze momentarily at the natural action which was only made worse when Alicia reached out to hold the hand resting in my lap, intertwining our fingers in a comforting motion. The action only invigorating the internal cringe that was present in response to her mothers inscrutable gaze but I didn't have the heart to pull away.
My gaze remained firmly on Alicia despite the ongoing attention. There was no way in hell I was going to deal with that just yet.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" I continued softly, even as the girls eyes were hanging heavily with each passing second. "I'll get a fresh dressing for your arm and you can eat when you wake up."
"Mhmm," she muttered, head nestling against the soft mattress as her body complied heartily with my request. She had travelled a long way over the last few days. It was inevitable that she would be exhausted.
Assuming her to be asleep, or very nearly, I began the intricate task of unravelling our fingers before I could undo all of my hard work but the action only startled her back into consciousness. She observed me with wide eyes and only held my hand tighter as she felt my efforts to extricate myself from her grip.
"You won't leave me?"
My heart swelled at the innocent question and I didn't hesitate to rest my hand on her cheek this time, unable to stand the shine of fear present in her eyes. "I told you before, never again."
My answer appeared to satisfy her and when her eyes closed this time they remained that way. I stared at her for a few unnecessary moments, trying to avoid the inevitable encounter with the blonde woman who hadn't taken her eyes off me during the entire encounter.
I continued to ignore the attention and turned to Octavia instead. "We have antibiotics?"
She nodded and gestured to the small pill bottle that had been dumped alongside the fresh bandages and water. Good. They would come in handy for treating any minor infection that might occur as a result of the scratch but so far it appeared well treated.
Whoever this mysterious girl was who had intercepted Alicia, if she even existed, had done a good job of cleaning the wound. It was only superficial but there could be no cutting corners when it came to the prospect of infection.
"I'll apply the fresh bandage now and give her the antibiotics when she wakes up. If you've got food to spare I'm sure she'll be hungry," I noted, my attempts at stalling working favourably until Octavia retreated to raid the food supplies and I was left with no choice but to finally glance up at the concerned mother.
Her gaze flicked from the comforting grip on Alicia's hand to my reserved stare and I swallowed thickly as I met her gaze, unable to decipher exactly what lay within the hazel depths. Confusion certainly, but as for the rest I could only guess. It wasn't how I had intended her to find out but there was nothing to be done now. I would just have to deal with the consequences, whether Alicia was conscious to support me or not.
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