Disclaimer : I do not own The Walking Dead
Chapter O2
Jayden stared at the girl sleeping in front of her, Sophia. The girl looks like she's only a couple of years older than her eldest son, not as young as her kids but she's young enough for her heart to break with how messed up world they have to grow up in. A prickle of soft tears found their way dripping down her cheeks; she can't imagine losing her little kids- not in this kind of world they live in. She would most likely die of shock and worry. Just thinking about it makes her heart race too fast too loud that she's sure anyone can hear it.
Dear God. She muttered quietly, brushing her hands through Sophia's blonde hair. Watching the up and down motion of her steady breathing and clenched hands tightly around herself.
"Momma" she wiped the tears immediately before turning her head to the door. She couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of her; Mason's arms wrapped around his little sister's tiny body, hovering by the door and trying to take a quick peak at the girl sleeping "She okay?" Rylee asked
"Yeah…" she nodded waving her hands for them to enter "…but we gotta keep quiet. She's really tired" Mason and Rylee immediately- as quietly as possible leaned their elbows on the bed to take a closer look. "Alright. I have to talk to your uncle, both of you" she pointed at the two kids looking innocently up to her "…are on nurse duty. No waking the patient up and definitely no one leaves this room, got it?"
"Got it"
Jayden found her brother seating by the front porch with his smokes hanging in between his fingers. She took a seat beside him but didn't utter a word, just stared at him. Jayden can see the calculating look on his face, brows frowning, smoking and biting his damn nails off his thumb. She smiled, just thinking how much her husband have influenced this boy in front of her.
"How's she?" Max finally asked looking at his sister
"Sleeping" she nodded "Poor thing must have gone through hell and back… you alright?"
"Yeah…" he nodded passing her his pack before taking a long drag from his cigarette "Just shocked and tired a-and …anxious" he finished with an outbreath. Max looked at his sister with a troubled look "…there are others Jay… other people in this area" he continued as if he was at his breaking point
"I know."
"You don't know! I want us to move now" he demanded in a harsh whisper, looking back at the house to make sure the kids are out of sight "Couple of times we ran into people we almost got killed. For fucks sake you got att-
"I know Max. I know" she nodded breath becoming harsh and rushed "God I know." She bowed her head and let the tears from spilling down her face. When her brother and son informed them what happened in the woods, first thought that came to her head was people. New people near them. Near Mason, near Max, near her and pray to God near her little girl Rylee.
"Once we help Sophia find her family we're leaving this place." He said with a determined voice that got Jayden shivering from head to toe "The bruises, the marks, every. Fucking. Mark." His voice cracked, ignoring the tears threatening to fall from his beautiful face "We all have because we left our damn guards down." he pressed on "I promised Dare I wouldn't let anything happen to you, Mason and Rylee. I already failed him not once but twic-
"What happened before wasn't your fault" she snapped gritting her teeth tightly looking angrily at her brother's furious face "And you better watch your tone. The kids can hear you" she spat despite the tears from her face and Max's towering figure she still manages to make herself bigger than he is "That wasn't your fault Maxwell" she said slowly but strongly taking her brother's hands and held it tightly "I would rather them tou- attack me than you or anyone else. It's my job as your sister, as your family to protect you."
"I want to leave" he whimpered finally looking up from the ground to his sister's eyes, tears welling up "I-I don't want to st-stay here anymore…" he shook his head from side to side before collapsing against his sister's arms.
Jayden couldn't help it anymore but cried with her brother. Max, her dear little strong brother breaking down in front of her is a heart breaking scene that she sure as hell would break anyone that sees it. Ever since that happened to them- meeting groups and people- those incidents have found their way creeping under Max's skin like poison that he can't get rid of.
"A-Alright" she nodded her hands still trembling but held onto Max's head firmly looking at his glossy eyes filled with unshed tears "We're leaving until we figure out where Sophia's people are…" she finished earning a nod from her brother. He stubbornly wiped his tears away with the back of his hands. "I love you Max…" she said sniffing but let a sad smile form on her lips
"I love you too Jayden…" he nodded "I love you too"
"Momma! Momma!" Jayden groaned against her fluffy pillow when she her little boy's voice calling out to her "Momma! Come on, wake up" she can perfectly hear the irritation in his voice, she was about to send him off but when the weight of Mason crashed on the bed he knows he's not leaving without getting what he wants "Mommaaaaaa" he whined tugging on her arms now
"Alright" she groaned out "I'm up Mase, momma's up"
"Good Morning momma" he greeted her with a far too blinding grin on his face. Jayden smiled back sitting up before getting a kiss on the lips by her little boy, a little routing he learned from his father
"Morning baby" she greeted pulling him closer to her "What do I owe you this amazing wakeup call?" she asked not really sure if he got the sarcastic voice in her tone
"Can we call dad now?" he asked excitedly
"Thought you were mad at your dad?" Jayden asked arching an eyebrow at Mason, when their father told him and his little sister his early trip without them, Mason had been furious at his father. He didn't talk to him the whole day and kept ignoring his father's calls and attention not until he was off to catch his flight but even then he only got a small 'see you' to send him off
"He left me" he pouted burying his head on his mother's chest, looking down his fingers as if it's the most interesting thing in the world "I don't like it when he leaves me" he shook his head "…but I was being mean to him yesterday and I know I hurt his feelings. I wanna say sorry…" he looked up his mother's smiling face before bowing his head again "I don't want him mad at me"
"Well, I guess we better call him now right?" she smiled lifting her arms to take her phone from the bedside, despite the early hour she was pretty sure her husband is awake and just being considerate and let her sleep. "Why don't you call your sister so she can talk to your dad too" she smiled sending the boy to the door. She wasn't disappointed when the phone only rang twice before a gruff voice was heard over the phone.
"Hey"
"Hey redneck" she smiled hearing his manly laugh over the phone "H-How was your flight?" she asked stifling a yawn.
"Was alright. Slept through it and all" she can hear groans and muffled of complaint in the background no doubt his brother's "Got the dumbass home"
"Yeah, I can hear his wonderful groans all the way over here" she rolled his eyes "You coming home or you staying with your brother till we get back?"
"Prob'ly. I ain't sure if he'll behave himself alone" he grunted back "Why are you awake? 'is only… 7:3O normally you won't be awake a little later" he asked pausing to probably look at the time somewhere
"Your little spawn of pure evilness woke me up" he heard his good hearted laugh over the phone that sends butterflies in her stomach. She rested her head against the bedpost and readjusts her body to a much comfortable position
"Which one?"
"Speaking of the devil" she laughed passing her phone to Mason when he entered the room with his little sister clutching on his shirt before sprinting off to take the phone off her hands and settled himself on the middle of the bed as little Rylee took the spot on her mother's lap.
"Dad!" Mason shouts to the phone, she can't really hear the response on the phone but he can tell that the father and son are having a decent phone call "I'm sorry I ignored you. I'm sorry I was being mean and I didn't say I love you back" he pouted sounding very sorry when he spoke to his father
"Me too Daddy!" Rylee's voice shouted in attempt to say her sorry too
"We love you too dad…" he nodded smiling at his mother "Dad said he's not mad" Jayden nodded smiling back with her own unique grin as her hands played with Rylee's mop of hair "Alright, we call you again later okay? Be safe… okay, here's momma" Mason passed the phone to his mother before sprinting off to the door
"I love you Daddy" Rylee said through the phone before Jayden can even press the phone against her ears.
"-love you too princess" she heard through the phone, she couldn't help the happy tears from flowing down her face before kissing the top of Rylee's hair
"You heard your kids?" she said through the phone
"Yeah" she can literally imagine him seating outside on his brother's front door, leaning against the door frame with a cup of coffee in one hand and phone on the other, with a big grin on his face "…they're perfect. So fucking perfect"
"They're ours Dare. All ours."
Sophia slept through almost two days, flinching and sobbing from time to time before calming down again. It was hell for Jayden and the rest to watch such a little fragile girl struggle to calm down, but at the end of it all, Sophia soften up to them- talking and even talking to her kids with an enthusiastic tone
"Rylee, can you call your brother and Sophia?" Jayden asked looking at the girl playing with her ragdoll "tell 'em we're about to eat" the little girl nodded her head devotedly before disappearing through the hallway "You too Balboa you better eat up or I won't let you go at all" she smirked when her brother gave her the finger
"Please do shut up"
"Oh come on Max! It's not that bad" she offered taking his chin between her fingers, checking the his bruised cheek "…I would say, give or take a few days for it to fade out"
"Fucker tried to sucker punch me in my sleep" he exclaimed
"He was trying to wake your lazy ass up" Jayden defended her son from the accusation his brother is blaming of "…and don't call my son fucker asshole"
"…and a little 'Wake up favourite Uncle of mine, its morning…' is not a good idea?"
"Work didn't it?" she shrugged placing the rice and eggs on the table "If I see you smoking inside the house one more time I will cut your throat open" she firmly stated snatching the rollup from his mouth before tossing it over the counter
"Moooooooooorning Momma!" Mason's loud greeting put a large smile on her face, bending down and receiving her kiss from him "Morning Uncle Max" Jayden stifled a laugh when her son looked at his uncle with a little too innocent smile on his face
"I will kill you"
"M-Morning Ms. Jayden" Sophia's voice greeted her next and smile seeing the girl couldn't let go of Rylee's hands "you too Unc- Mr. Max" she said stumbling at her words as Rylee tugged on her arms and made her seat between her and Mason
"Max is fine" Max turned his glaring eyes away from his nephew to smile at the new comer "You feeling alright now?" he asked looking at the girl's clean figure. A way better sight when they first saw her in the woods
"Much better" Sophia nodded her head with a cheerful smile on her face holding her spoon on one hand and taking a huge gulp of her water bottle "Thank you for helping me" she said looking at Max with a tint of blush on her pale cheeks, her fingers fiddling nervously.
"My pleasure" Max being the overconfident 17 years old he is gave her his charming smile that sends girls over the moon.
"Stop being an idiot" she muttered to her brother before stomping on his foot with a thud "Would you like some rice Sophia?" she smiled innocently to the girl, ignoring Max's cry of pain.
The early morning passed by without any trouble, Jayden was making sure to pack everything for Max and Sophia's travel to the Highway when Sophia told them where her group would most likely still be at. She and her brother have both decided that Max is the better choice to escort Sophia, not really sure what the day or two have to offer to them.
"I want to hear your voice every hour or 30 minutes" Jayden instructed handing Max the walkie-Talkie with extra batteries "If you're gone more than 2 days I'm coming to get your ass" she said seriously, staring dead-on to her brother's eyes
"I got it" he nodded
"…And you little munchkin" she nodded back before turning to Sophia "I'm not saying your group is bad or anything but you have got to keep quiet when they asked you where our farm is" she said as sternly as she was talking to Max before "I don't mind if you tell our names just don't give them directions to where we're staying you got it?"
"Yes" Sophia nodded before giving her a hug then turned to Mason and Rylee "I'll tell my mommy good things about you" she said before taking Max's extended hands "Bye-bye!" she wave with a smile forming her lips, excited to finally see her mom for being a part for so long
"Take good care Maxwell"
Jayden phased back and forth, trying- fucking trying to get her thoughts right. Looking out the custom's booth, tons and tons of body lay motionless on the ground- employees, passengers and a hell lot of army people on the floor, dead within a second of fire shooting.
"Jay what's happening?" Max asked in a hush voice, trying not to let his emotions show. They've been in the booth for more than half a day thankfully- long enough to let the children sleep with the help of Max's portable devices to block out the carnage that happened just on the other side of the door.
Biting her nails and running her fingers through her tangles mesh of hair, she couldn't believe how damn lucky they're still alive. Too damn lucky if you ask her. When the Army found their way in the building, trying to calm down the panicked citizens with just the sight of them- well things didn't go the way they wanted to. Jayden dragged Rylee and Mason to the nearest room they can find before everything started.
Screaming. Gun shots. Crying. Gun shots.
It repeated over and over until the last men shouted they needed to go back to the base. That was a little more than five hours ago. Still with no sounds from the other side of the door, Jayden couldn't bring herself to turn the knob and see if there's anything- anything on the other side of the door.
"Georgia's been infected" Max said breathing heavily when the realisation hit him "T-Th-The news, dad's warning everything. Oh God" he covered his face with his shaking hands, collapsing against the wooden wall "I-I can't
"Max, Max" Jayden rushed to her panicked brother, taking his head and gently cradling it against her chest for comfort, not even caring if she needs it more than he needs it "Calm down, please- I need you to calm down" she said hands still shaking "I need you on this" when she felt him nod, she placed a soft kiss on his head before letting go.
"I-I'm going to go out and see if th-there's anything I can get alright?" she said determinedly before Max can even protest "Stay with the kids. Wake them up as gently as possible" she nodded before opening the door
"T-T-Take guns" Max reminded her before completely closing the door.
She picked up two hand guns closest to her before moving forward. God, I need to throw up she thought, bringing her hand to her face, blocking out the smell of blood and preventing herself of making any noises that she knows would probably cause her more trouble. Gun aimed in front of her, she turned to a corner before becoming face to face with a man with an army suite
"Don't shoot!" he exclaimed bringing his hands up
"I don't think I want to" she shook her head, still holding the gun tightly "What the fuck is going on?" she pressed on looking hard at the man in front of her
"We got over run" he breath out, looking down the dead bodies around the airport "I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay here any longer… are you bit? Scratched? Anything?" he asked looking at her closely but not daring on stepping forward when she shook her head as a 'no' he physically look relieved "We have got to get out of here…"
"M-My family…" she started taking the gun down before looking back to the custom's room "I have to get my family out"
"Go. We need as much as hands we can get for supplies" he nodded "I got your back go"
"Jayden. My name is Jayden"
"Private Officer Gaines, at your service Ma'am"
"My mom doesn't have work, she just stays at home and cook and clean and do the laundry" Sophia replied jumping from one rock over the other "What about you Max? what does your mom do?"
"My mom does business" he shrugged taking Sophia's hand once they're on a flat surface "She works day and night whenever I'm home for the holiday. I don't really see her much so I wouldn't know what company she works at" he nodded smiling at the little girl "How 'bout your pops?"
"My daddy's dead" she said softly, Max looked at the little girl's reaction and saw nothing but relief in her eyes "Daddy's not very nice to mommy and me sometimes." She shook her head before stopping for a short break "A walker bit him"
"Walker?" Max asked puzzled by the word "You mean a zombie?"
"I guess so… that's what Mr. Rick always call them" she shrugged before heading off again "Mr. Rick is really nice, he was a sheriff before we met him and Mr. Shane too! We have two officers in our group" she said showing two fingers at Max
"Sounds like a pretty safe group you have" Max offered taking a few swigs of water while walking
"It is" she nodded "Ms. Lori and Carl is his family. Carl is my best friend he's the same age as me but Mason comes pretty close now and Rylee" she smiled giggling at the little doll Rylee gave her as she said before when she lost hers while on the run "T-Dog and-
"T-Dog?" Max scoffed at the name "You have a guy on your group name T-Dog?"
"Yeah, Carl and me asked him if that's his real name but all he did was laugh" She said frowning at the memory. Sophia and Max have been travelling by foot for about three hours now Max asking questions to keep Sophia's –and his- mind occupied for the time being. Growing up with Jayden and Dare, Max have found himself not to go very deep into the forest with a kid you have to look after and zombies to take care of.
"You see the clearing ahead of us?" Max asked breathlessly pointing at the distance, when Sophia nodded her head Max flashed her a smile "That's the highway"
"Mommy" she breathes out before taking Max's hands tighter and aiming forward "Let's go Max!" For about an hour more, they finally managed to reach the highway and another hour before they finally read a sign that says 'SOPHIA STAY HERE, WE WILL COME EVERYDAY' on a yellow car with food and blankets inside
"Looks like they figured you'd be starving" Max smiled looking at the cans
"Mommy always knows I like peanut butter" she nodded enthusiastically before opening the jar and eating it with spoon
"Hey listen Sophia" Max started opening the door of the car before ushering her to seat inside "I'll keep a look out by the trees over there alright?" he pointed a tree by the opening of the forest "It's way past midday and I know your mommy will come here soon. And once they are here, forget I'm even there okay?"
But Max! I want you to meet my mom" she said holding on to his arms a little bit tighter than before "I don't want you to go… please don't leave me here" She whimpered the peanut butter jar completely forgotten
"I'm not leaving you until I'm sure your mommy's going to be here" he said sternly "I just need to keep my distance so I can go back to Jayden's a little bit quicker alright?" he said softly and smiled at the girl when she finally nodded her head "It was nice meeting you Sophia, I hope your mommy is good too" he kissed the top of her head and turned around.
o.O.o
"…yeah. I think we have enough supplies that will last us more than 4 months on us and I didn't even count the rice sacks you managed to snag" Jayden's voice said over the walkie-talkie in his right hand while the other holding a chip to his mouth
"I haven't check the place out yet but maybe tomorrow we can all come here to scout the place" Max replied after munching on his food "Place is pretty much deserted. Might score maybe a full tank if we can manage to go through every car- maybe two" he added
"Sounds like a good plan" Jayden said "How's the kid doing?"
"Asleep as far as I can tell, she's tucked inside the car with a blanket wrapped around her. Kid's cute" he said laughing at his sister's remark that will surely get him another punch in the face "Ace and Rylee?" he asked
"Hungry. Listen I'm going to make dinner alright? If you can't make it back by tonight get inside Sophia's car and hide. Make sure I know every move you're going to make"
"Got it Momma-bear" Max said before turning his walkie-talkie off. Max stared out the horizon, admiring the gorgeous scene in front of him. It's been a while since Max seen the sunset in such a serene surrounding, last time he tried relaxing he almost got his head bit off by those things- zombie or walker or whatever the fuck people call them. Thinking back now he wouldn't believe himself if his present-self informed his past-self the things he, Mason, Rylee and his sister Jayden especially his sister have been through.
"Fuck's sake" Just the thought of it makes him laugh. Roars of cars snapped Max's attention on the road ahead of the yellow car Sophia's in. Max prepared himself to jump off the tree with his gun ready to be used if it's not Sophia's people that were in that car. Not even five minutes, three people- one with a sheriff hat, a bulky big man and a woman with very short haircut came out of the vehicle. The woman ran seeing something moved inside; Sophia's shifting finally got their attention before the sheriff ran after with both smiles on their face.
Max smiled relived when the woman- most likely Sophia's mom broke down crying when she saw her little girl sleeping soundly under the blanket, The sheriff- crouched down hands on his knees muttering inaudible sounds from his mouth with a smile nevertheless- trying to sink in that Sophia is actually alive and well.
When Max decided to leave, the sheriff and the lady have managed to move the sleeping Sophia to their car without disturbing the girl's sweet slumber- and knowing Sophia's in great hands- or should he say her mother's arms, he jumped off the tree and set off, but before he can even make a move back he didn't see the man behind him
"What you looking at boy?" Max unconsciously reached for his gun but the man beat him to it, pressing the gun-riffle against his head
"I'm not looking for trouble" Max breath out, trying to sound as calm as he can. "I'm just abou-
"About to what? I saw you staring at the kid, kid" he exclaimed loudly causing the other sheriff to ran off to wherever they were.
"Shane! Keep your voice down" the sheriff ordered, looking wide-eyed at his friend Shane. Max tried to look harmless yet strong when he caught the man's piercing eyes "What-who are you?" he asked in a strain-calm voice
"I'm M-
"We don't have time for this Rick" Shane said looking at the panicked woman by their car before looking back to his friend "We're losing daylight" Rick looked at the kid strongly before nodding his head
"Tie him up and blindfold him" he ordered before taking the gun off him "We'll deal with him later" he said before gagging Max's mouth as Shane took his bag from him and draped around his shoulder. Max could have easily taken the other man down but seeing there's two of them and Sophia with them nevertheless, he couldn't do anything at the moment. Not when he's alone. He was about to struggle again when a loud thud was heard and darkness took over.
"…Let go of him! Let go of Max!" He heard Sophia's cry and the car's machine grumbles "Max! Max!" he heard his name being called over and over again, trying to say something but came out as a muffle of noises and darkness over his open eyes
"You know him baby?" A woman's voice asked over Sophia's cries and pleas
"He's the one who took me in mommy" she said and Max can tell the girl's crying tons because of him "I don't want him hurt, help me mommy" she continued as Max felt her small hands reached his arms before being pulled away almost immediately
"We're almost there Sophia. We'll let him go once we get to the farm" A guy- Rick if he have to guess from their early encounter said in a calm voice. After a couple more minutes the car stopped with a jerk before hearing the car doors open and shut leaving him by himself.
What the fuck happened to letting me go once we get there? Max scoffed- well, tried to when he's mouth is gagged with something unpleasant. He can hear the cheers and 'told you sos' that were happening outside, it went on for a few more minutes before someone finally noticed him.
"The fuck you got there?"
"Max!" Sophia remembered before opening the door with a rush "Max! Are you alive? Are you okay?" she asked frantically taking the cloth away from his mouth
"I'm fine" he coughed "I'm fine Sophia, do- argh, that shit is disgusting" he muttered before he felt Sophia's tiny hands wrap around his upper arms for him to get out of the car. He can feel the stares from people around him that sends unpleasant shivers down his spine as Sophia tried to take the ropes off his arms
"The hell is goin' on 'ere?" A far too familiar voice stopped Max from struggling and helping Sophia's task to take the ropes off "The hell you got a man roped for?"
"We thought the guy was a creeper" The guy who pointed a gun to his head said "…looking over Sophia by a tree. Sophia said he's the one who helped her" he continued telling the story but Max couldn't care less.
Once Sophia finally got the ropes undone around Max's arms and still he didn't move. Not a muscle, not a finger- not a thing. His body's too numb to process all the thought going through his head. That voice- that one voice he was so dreading to hear for days, weeks and hell for months now, that voice that will relieve all the weight he's got on his shoulders, that voice that will send his sister over the moon. Not missing a beat, he immediately took the blindfolds off, cutting the man who pointed a gun to his face from talking any further
"Dare?"
Hello Hello ! :D First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who have supported me on this, I deeply deeply appreciate it guys :D If it wasn't for all of you I would have probably stopped this story but that's not going to happened anytime soon I guess. (: I would like to have a few more reviews if that's alright (: REVIEW PLEASE :D