Broken Trust and Shattered Dreams

Yes a nice lengthy chapter. I am sorry if it seems kind of confusing at first but I was trying my best to stay focused writing this, it just came about slower than the other chapters :/ But please enjoy and leave me a review. They really do inspire me to write more so if you want to see more frequent updates try and support, or critique, me.

"So we need to make sure we stay close enough so we don't lose their trail ok?"

"Yeah but I don't know about this...if they have guns or think that we're trying to attack them first then we're pretty much dead."

After Orella had awoken Charlie she had wanted to leave immediately, not wanting a confrontation to happen between them and the unknown group. But Charlie had argued with her. Unfortunately her points were reasonable.

"Look what if they follow us somehow? That would be putting not only everyone else in danger it would completely ruin the secrecy of where we live. We need to find them and figure out who they are."

She knew that Charlie was right, but something told her that this was going to be more trouble than they had first thought. Something about the way they had been sneaking in between the houses in the dead of night just screamed 'Danger' in big flashing letters.

"Hey watch it!"

"Oh, sorry."

How could she zone out at a time like this? Charlie sighed and peeked back around the corner just in time to see three shadowed figure open the door to a small one story home, closing the door silently behind them. Now was their chance.

"C'mon!"

She grabbed Orella's hand and crouched low as they both made for the house. Of course they had made sure to take along their own weapons so if a fight ensued they weren't defenseless, but that was the last thing they both wanted. As they reached the house both women pressed themselves against the side and crouched just below the window to what seemed to be the living room. Voices began to reach their ears as they listened in closely.

"We can't go back to camp empty handed again, its been days since we've had anything proper to eat and I'll be damned if I'm eating shit out of the garbage again."

"Enough Rob. Chances are we're going to find something in one of these houses, just give it a bit longer ok?"

"Oh give me a break Jamie! I say we head back to that car I saw back on the last street and bust in the window, looked like there was some things that were packed in the back."

Charlie and Orella looked at one another with wide eyes as the more aggressive one spoke up, obviously he didn't mind robbing others.

"Oh my god we have to get back to the car!"

"I know I know! Lets just sneak around really quick before they know we're-"

"Care to join us ladies?"

The voice was cynical and cold as it addressed the two crouched in front of the house, making them look up in a mixture of surprise and fear.

"Get up now and keep your hands up. Don't need either of you to try and pull some stupid shit on us."

"Okay okay, just...get that barrel out of my face please."

"Uh Charlie, I really don't think we're in the position to be requesting anything."

He backed it up just a bit, but it was still trained on them as the front door was opened and both women were ushered inside. Immediately another one of the guys came forwards and began to pat them down, quickly finding both their pistols, Orella's shotgun and Charlie's machete. After all weapons were taken from them the more violent of the three faced them once more with his gun, eyes narrowed with waves of hostility practically radiating off of him. She knew that they were going to be found, why didn't she run when she had the fucking chance?! Because she knew she couldn't leave Charlie like that. Maybe she could try and get a hold of Slender...

"Hey answer me!"

Orella was snapped back to reality as a gun was shoved in her face threateningly, the voice behind it sounding out loudly. He wasn't much of a ladies man, sheesh.

"Oh um, sorry. What'd you say?"

"What the fuck are you two doing out here? Trying to steal from other people huh?"

"No we're not actually. If you must know we've been looking to relocate and came this way hoping that there was a house we could move into, that a problem?"

"You're damn right it is!"

"Nick stop it now. Talking to them like this obviously isn't necessary."

The one named Nick lowered his gun with a glower, looking between the two before stepping back to let a softer looking man step forward. This one seemed reasonable at least. Kind looking brown eyes scanned over first Charlie then herself, like he was looking for something that they may posses. It sent chills down her spine and left her nearly breathless, almost like a kiss but more...unnerving.

"Please try to understand that we are simply doing what is needed to survive nowadays right? What with the world fucking everyone over and people eating one another, so I'm going to propose a deal of sorts. You see this area has been claimed by us so we see you two as intruders, and well, with no police we would have to take matters into our own hands. But, if you lovely ladies show us to the car that I am now sure is yours then you go back to your own home...unharmed."

It was at this point that she took back everything she had just thought about this man being kind and gentle. His voice was unnaturally composed as he spoke to them both, almost as if he were making some kind of business deal. Those brown eyes seemed to harden and at one point Orella found it nearly impossible to look away and escape their depths. Now was the time to call for help. But once again just as she was about to connect to Slender Charlie had to reply, sarcastically at that, and goad on the situation.

"Oh yeah sure. And while we're at it why don't we just go ahead and set up a little care package for you guys, you know some food and cute little cut sandwiches. Sounds good right?"

Smack!

The sound was so sudden that it made her jump as her friend was struck across the face with much force, so much that it made her head snap to the side. Tears immediately welled up, but Charlie refused to let them fall as her eyes landed back on the man before her. Sometimes it was best to just shut up while you were ahead. Nothing else was said as he motioned with his hand for one of the other guys behind him to hand him something.

"It's such a shame that you had to be so rude. And here I thought being civil was the best approach...oh well. Lesson learned I suppose, so. Who's first?"

No, this couldn't be it. They couldn't die so suddenly like this, out in the middle of a deserted town, Bongo left in the car and Slender left at home...and Lily. Small innocent Lily. At this point the gun was now moving more towards Orella as she thought, the barrel no more than an inch from her forehead. Her body trembled as it cocked, the noise making her flinch and close her eyes, not wanting to see him pull the trigger. But just as she thought her life was coming to an end...it didn't.

"Wait...wait wait wait wait. I know that face...yeah it's comin back to me now. Charlie right? Oh how I've wished for us too meet again, and in such perfect circumstances no less! Who would've thought that your fucked up little scheme would come back to bite you in the ass almost two years later?"

"Charlie what's he talking about?"

Orella noted how her voice trembled while she spoke. The fear of almost being shot in that moment catching up with her and fraying her nerves.

"I don't know what he's talking about. I've never seen him before in my life."

"You little bitch. How could you lie to your friend like that? Why don't you just come out and tell her how we're connected hmm? I always love a good story."

"Charlie..."

"Orella I don't know him! He's just some washed up loser who's just bullying people for their belongings, why would I have a history with him?"


I wanted to believe her, really I did. But the way he stared her down was too convincing. And I could tell that Charlie was visibly shaken; She could try and tell me otherwise but it wouldn't do any good. She was lying. We looked at one another for a few moments, no one saying anything as we tried to figure out who was going to speak up first, break the silence. Finally I decided to try and provide a distraction of some sort to try and prolong our lives, maybe an opportunity would arise for them to escape.

"What were you before this started?"

My question seemed to catch him off guard, and from behind him I saw Nick glare at me with daggers in his eyes. Fuck off man, obviously you're not in charge of the show here.

"What kind of question is that? You're obviously trying to direct me away from the real problem here."

"I don't know I'm probably going to die right? Might as well know who's killing me."

Good girl. My voice came out neutral and composed, show no fear in the face of death. Though it caught me off guard when he turned his body towards me, lifting a hand to brush a few strands of hair from my face. The gesture was almost soft, loving, like he might break me if he wasn't careful.

"Such a pretty face on you...well if you insist my dear. I was once the head of a small company off the coast, names aren't important at this point. It was a comfy life, barely having to worry about bills or the cost of something...but you know I never really felt whole. Sure it filled my baser instincts on life but what about what I really wanted? But now, walking around to different towns and places, plundering resources and getting rid of unwanted pests...it is quite enjoyable I must say."

What a sick bastard this one was. It sounded like he would have eventually become a twisted criminal in the old world, probably would have started with a murder at his office or something. And damn I didn't even know his name. I let him finish and look at me with his head cocked to the side for a moment before speaking, choosing my words carefully so as not to upset him in any way.

"Interesting...and your name is?"

"Oh my where have my manners gone?! I really did forget to properly introduce myself. My name is Jamie little one. A pleasure."

So this one was Jamie. It made sense considering he was the one who sounded a bit more composed than the rest. That didn't mean he was any less of a psycho path though. I forced a smile his way and made sure to let it reach my eyes, didn't want to offend and earn a nice backhand myself. But just as I thought that the situation was beginning to simmer down Charlie made a move that she would never be able to take back, and I saw something that I would never be able to unsee. Time slowed to an unbearable crawl as I watched her reach for the gun that was now at his side, her lithe fingers easily wrapping around the handle and removing it from his grasp quickly.

I didn't even blink as she aimed and pulled the trigger. It looked almost as easy as breathing when she did it, a steady hand and a sure eye that never wavered. And then without pausing to watch him fall she turned towards the other two who had watched with shock on their faces. Nick had moved to draw his own weapon but was quickly put down, the bullet hitting him directly between the eyes in a most unmerciful way. Unfortunately while all this had been happening the third man, Rob I think, managed to slip just out of sight and out the back door.

"No! We have to stop him before he gets away!"

I registered Charlies voice yelling, but for some reason my body wouldn't move. It was like some invisible force was holding me in position, trying to let my body process what had just happened considering my mind didn't want to. How could this have been the only option?

"Orella come on!"

She shook me with anger in her eyes as I just stared back blankly. This was someone whom I had trusted for the past year nearly...and now to find out that everything she had told me about where she came from and who she was could be a lie...I didn't want to follow her willingly. A feeling of betrayal began to sink into my heart as I continued to look into her light blue eyes, her words coming out without any meaning to me. It was when she tried to run back out the front door that I finally came to and moved, my hand reaching out to firmly grasp her shoulder and hold her in place.

"No."

She whirled around a bit angrily to look at me like I had lost my mind.

"No? What do you mean no?! These people almost blew a bullet into our skulls and you want to let one get away?!"

"I want an explanation about what the fuck just happened here. This was obviously a provoked reaction on both their part and ours...what the hell did you do."


The car ride home was silent and dead. No one had anything to say after what had just transpired, words couldn't describe it. Not only had they been captured by what seemed to be mercenary like men, but a dark truth about Charlie had been revealed. It had given Orella second thoughts about letting her back into the house, but it was absurd to think that she would hurt any of them...wasn't it? Stones flew from the tires as they skid to a stop in front of the cabin. When had they gotten here? Orella's body was numb as she climbed out of the jeep, not bothering to take any of her things along, and silently went inside. Leaving Charlie to continue to sit in the car alone. Her hands gripped the steering wheel painfully tight as the words continued to repeat themselves in her mind...the look on her friends face as she told her what had happened.

"I led a pack of the dead to their camp...they never saw it coming. It was so easy that I didn't think I had done it at first. They deserved the fate that I gave them Orella, you have no idea what they did to those women at their camp...to me and my brother. I don't regret a single thing that I've done but now that one got away and knows who I am...they're going to try and find me again. No one is safe now."

She knew it was true. They would find her and the others and they wouldn't show any mercy, although Slender could probably take them out, but that wasn't a chance she was willing to take. Charlie knew what she would have to do in order to protect them. But she wasn't going to say anything tonight for it would only stir up another fight. Sleep was her first priority. Her feet drug on the ground as she quietly entered the house, trying not to look at anyone that may be watching her. But when the door knob was grasped in her hand and halfway turned a voice stopped her. It was soft and low but held enough volume for her to hear.

"You did it to save them right...it wasn't just for no reason. You wouldn't do something malicious like that unless there was a reason, I know that."

Not wanting to turn and see the tears that threatened to fall from the other woman's eyes she merely settled for resting her forehead against the wood of the door, closing her eyes slowly and letting a bitter smile cross her face. Nothing was ever that simple.

"Of course not. I'm not a monster."

And with that Charlie slipped into her room, letting the door click quietly behind her and leaving Orella to watch the place where she had just been standing. A monster. No, she wasn't. She was surprised that Slender hadn't come out to get her until she remembered that he was probably sitting with the baby, figuring that when she was ready she would come to bed. But she didn't want to go to bed now, not in her current state. Hair disheveled, her face and arms covered in dirt whilst splatters of blood decorated her once white long sleeved blouse. The questions would be endless and the answers that she would have to give would be strained, it was something she just wanted to forget.

Eventually her feet led her back outside into the slightly cooled late spring night. She would have died if Charlie hadn't killed them and for that she was grateful, hell, she was eternally in her debt. But her leading walkers to a camp...had innocents been slaughtered as well? The thought made her try to decipher whether or not that would have been considered unintentional manslaughter or just flat out murder...either way it just seemed wrong. How could things have spiraled out of her control so quickly in just a few days? Everything had been close to perfect, they had been happy with life for the moment, and then there was always something that had to come along and just fucking pop the bubble.

"This is bullshit...let me be happy, please!"

The trembling was back in her voice as she spoke. Rain had begun to slip through the the tree tops and now steadily pelted against the roof of the cabin, the sound almost rhythmic and calming. But nothing was going to calm the feelings inside of her right now. Minutes ticked by and now the rain was a complete down pour that had drenched Orella down to the bone; She didn't care that it did. Thunder and lightening lashed out against the black of the sky and illuminated her figure for a moment, making her appear ethereal in appearance. And that was when she snapped. She quickly stood and walked out past the jeep, past the first few rows of trees so that she was far enough away that no sound she made would reach the house.

Her face tilted up to the sky and the rain fell against it without mercy.

"Go ahead and hit me! You haven't held anything back before so why start now, go ahead and just hit me!"

The cries of a wounded heart were drowned out by an exceptionally loud bout of thunder, the rumbling noise carrying off far into the distance. Tears flowed freely from tightly shut eyes, the rain masking their appearance, and she sank to her knees with a keen of despair. Why was she so upset about this? Was it because of the lie or was it because the thought of her friend, no, her family, murdering innocents was just so unbelievable that it hurt to think about.

"I just...dad I don't know what to do. I've been just doing all this time, making all these decisions without listening to others...well I'm listening now. I'm listening to what she had to say and I can't...it's not right. But she's my family now, I can't just turn my back on her like this."

When there was no reply aside from a bolt of lightening streaking across the sky, it made her realize that no one was going to help her with this. The weight of this whole situation was bearing down on her shoulders with no support, it had been weakened long ago. But it was when she was suddenly pulled into a familiar pair of arms and pulled against a firm yet yielding body that she realized there was someone else to share her burden with, and he was by her side no matter what.

"You're lucky that isn't your own blood."

"What?"

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and her voice cracked like she hadn't spoken in ages. He knew she had been crying. When he heard her talk to Charlie she had sounded upset, but he decided to just wait for her instead of investigating. But when nearly half an hour had passed and she still hadn't come to bed he began to panic and immediately honed in on her, sensing that she was outside the house. The rain was heavy as his tall form stepped outside. He didn't see her anywhere until he looked out past the jeep, she had gone far enough away from the house that it struck up a nervous note in his body. She never went out that far at night by herself. In the torrential rain no less. The sound of his steps were nonexistent as he neared her, hearing her voice when he was close enough.

Even from behind her he could tell what her face looked like. Eyes filled with tears and mouth pulled down into a pained frown, her shoulders were slumped with exhaustion. Without another word he scooped her up and took her back to the cabin, now standing in the living room with water dripping off both of them and creating a puddle on the floor. She was freezing. Her hands grasped his suit like a lifeline as he brought her to the bathroom and began to draw a bath for her, no words needing to be spoken between them. He knew that eventually it would all come pouring out of her like a waterfall of emotions, and when it did he would be there to help her stay together. He would always be there to make sure his hunter would never become the prey again.