TWD Chapter 18 - Panic
"Dad, stop!" Joel growled at her in warning, noticing the roamers who seemed to turn at her voice, but she was much more concerned for what was happening a little ways off. "Let me go!" Realising she wasn't going to quieten by herself, Joel covered her mouth roughly with his hand and dragged her further away. Olly fought against her father's tight grip... to no avail. She tried to look through the herd in the hope of spotting... well, anyone. For a quick flash, she swore she saw Clementine with Kenny... but then her visual was blocked and she was back to fighting against her father. She wanted to shout at him, bite him, kick him... anything to get him off her. She'd only get them killed though, as much as she hated to admit it.
Joel, who had obviously been concentrating far too much on the horizon, pulled Olivia a little to hard, causing her feet to fumble and for her to crash to the ground. The yelp she released in shock attracted some very unwanted attention and gnashing teeth quickly turned on her. "Olivia..." Her father's wavering voice was barely audible compared to the loud moans of the roamers who had now turned on the young woman. One in particular launched towards her, leaving only enough time for Olly to dodge out of the way and unsheathe her sword. Pulling her to her feet, Joel pushed his own hidden combat knife through the roamer's head, twisting to yank it out straight after. Another charged towards them and Olly responded by slicing horizontally, it's head toppling to the floor. "We have to move." Joel whispered quietly in to her ear and Olivia silently agreed with a nod of her head.
They soon emerged from the herd with sweat pouring down their faces and both of them doubled over, their hands on their knees, panting as they reached what looked to be, safety. Neither of them sure how far they had run after escaping the bulk of the horde, but both knew that it had been a reasonably long time. Once Olivia was able to catch her breath, she wiped her hand across her forehead swiping away any loose droplets whilst her father removed his hat and waved it in front of his face in order to cool down.
"I think we're fine, now." Joel managed through deep breaths as he replaced his hat on his head.
Olly turned to her father and glowered at him. "Fine?! We're not fine! We abandoned everyone!"
Joel frowned and shook his head. "We did what we had to. They would have done the same."
She scoffed at him. "You're wrong. Luke already came back for us all once. They'd never abandon m-... us." Olly startled herself by nearly finishing that sentence with 'me'. It didn't sound like her at all.
Joel laughed humourlessly. "It's alright. It's true. The only person who would have given a shit whether I lived or died in that group would have been Carlos... and he's gone." The man tried with all his might to hide his sorrow, but Olly could see right through it... and immediately she felt terrible. Carlos was dead. The doctor had been her father's only friend and he'd been a friend to Olly too. He'd taught her a few easy and crucial procedures and in that time she'd learned so much about him. Even though most of the time she disagreed with him about Sarah, amongst other things, she knew how much that man had loved his daughter... and how difficult everything was going to get now.
Olly placed a soothing hand on her father's arm. "I'm sorry about Carlos." She offered gently, but Joel just shrugged her off.
"I assume you had set up a meeting place with the rest of the group. That would have been the smart thing to do... not that I'd say the group was particularly smart."
Olivia sighed impatiently. "Yeah. The Civil War site. You know it?" He nodded and pointed towards a sign a few metres away. Then they both began a brisk pace towards their destination. The gloomy, descending darkness doing nothing to break the tension. "Had you done that before?" Olly asked randomly.
Joel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Done what?"
"The whole walking through a herd thingy. You seemed like you had."
He chuckled lightly. "Nothing gets past you, ey? Yeah. Once. Just before I met Bill." Olivia winced at the mention of his name. "And I could certainly tell that you hadn't."
She rolled her eyes in response. "Ha. Ha. Sorry for not wanting to see my friends die" the venom in her voice was apparent as she spat the words at her father, irritated he was treating her like a child.
"You should do yourself a favour and leave the lot of 'em. They're gonna end up getting you killed... if you don't get yourself killed first due to your stupid impulses to try and help everyone."
Olly scowled at him, the death glare returning in its entirety. "Look DAD, if you're plannin' on sticking around, I think you should start learning that being a selfish prick isn't a fucking option in this group. I don't even know who else is alive right now and if there is anyone left..." Her thoughts quickly turned to Luke and Clementine, unable to push past the images of their mangled bodies, she shuddered at the thought. "we have to stick together!"
Joel tutted to himself. "Who says I'm 'sticking around' anyway?"
"You did. You did when you chose me over... him."
Her father managed a glance in her direction, his eyes trying to mask his irritation. "I thought I was incapable of caring about you, huh?"
A wave of guilt washed through her at the memory of their dispute... she knew she had been wrong about him... but he had been wrong too. "I am sorry for what I said. I- I know you care about me... in your own weird way. But you were wrong about Luke. Being a good person isn't a bad thing!"
Joel gave himself a smug grin, the rest of his face betraying his false sincerity. "Well that 'good person' you like so much sure as hell is pissed at you."
"What? What are you talking about?!"
"That icy look he gave you when you decided you wanted to beat the shit outta Bill before killing him, damn. I'd be surprised if he is able to even look at you again."
Olly growled and punched her father in the arm, which in the end probably hurt herself more than him, his hard muscles causing the flying fist to bounce off pathetically. "Why are you doing this to me?! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO BAIT ME?!" Olivia's eyes filled to the brink with tears, her body shaking with anger and distress.
"Because I need you to wake up and smell the coffee, honey!" Joel stared his daughter down, exasperated.
"Luke cares about me!"
"Maybe he does, but that only accounts for so much! I told you. His morals mean more to him than anything else and what you did-"
"-He tried to have me raped!" The tears, no longer able to contain themselves, slid down her now pale cheeks.
Joel's face softened as he took in the view of his broken child. "I know. I'm sorry. But it's about time you realised that the only person you can fully rely on is YOU. Not the group, not me and certainly not Luke."
Olly wiped her face on her sleeve and shook her head, as if trying to block out his words. "I'm so done." Olivia glanced around for any inkling of how long it would be before reaching the Civil War site.
"We've still got another hours walk." Joel said as if reading her mind. She ignored him.
When their destination was in Olivia's line of sight, her heart began hammering even quicker, the fear almost paralysing. What if nobody had made it? What if they'd already left? Surely not...
Relief released her body at the sight of, what looked to be, Bonnie and Mike stood waving at them. They weren't alone.
"It's good to see someone else has made it." Bonnie said softly, failing to hide her disappointment that it wasn't someone who actually meant something to her. "And I didn't think I'd be seeing you again, Joel."
"Good to see you too, Bonnie." He replied sarcastically.
"So... has anybody else made it?" Olly asked hopefully. Bonnie and Mike's eyes glazed with sorrow as they both turned to the hunched figure sat at the fountain, cradling his dying love. "Oh my... w-what happened?"
"Sarita... she got bit. There was nothing we could do." Bonnie's eyes lowered to the floor, an expression of pity gracing her features.
"No word on Clem? Luke?"
Mike shook his head. "No word from anyone else. We know Luke and Nick might have been headin' after Sarah when shit went down back at the warehouse, but other than that..."
Olly made an empathetic glance towards Kenny, genuinely worried for his state of mind. "Has anybody tried talking to him?"
Mike nodded. "Of course but... he just sorta lost it at us. I think it's best we leave him alone a little while."
She hummed in acknowledgement. Then as she looked around the lonely looking Civil War site, she came to the conclusion she needed to find the others and quickly. "We need to split up. Search for the others."
Bonnie shook her head. "We agreed to meet them here. I'm sure they'll be here soon."
Olly looked up at the sky, then back at Bonnie, a brow raised with a questioning look in her eyes. "It's already light and nobody else has turned up..."
"You turned up."
"Look, you know that we wouldn't get anywhere with out Luke now... we need him. And Clem is still out there. My bet is that Clem is with Luke and I'm sure Nick will be too. We need to find 'em." Olivia pleaded.
"Even if that's the case, we can't all go chargin' out there." Bonnie retorted, her hands on her hips.
"Maybe we won't have to." Mike pointed over Olly's and Joel's shoulders at the people walking over horizon; Rebecca, Jane... Clementine. Olivia broke in to a sprint, a smile on her face. Clementine saw her coming and opened her arms for her, which she responded to by picking the little girl up and twirling her around.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Clem. I'm so sorry for leaving you, I couldn't stop my dad from-"
"-It's fine, Olly. I'm okay." Olivia placed the girl back on the floor and put her hand on her shoulder, still smiling. She looked past the young girl in the hopes of being able to greet Luke also, her smile faltered when she realised he wasn't there.
"Luke's not with you?" Clementine shook her head.
Olivia rose and turned to face the group. "Okay. I'm going to find the others, don't even try and stop me."
"I wasn't going to." Bonnie said, surprising Olivia with her agreement... and obviously seeing the pained look in Olly's eyes.
"Is Kenny and Sarita okay?" Clementine's timid voice spoke from behind Olivia causing the group to turn and look at her, then at Kenny.
"Sarita's not going to make it. I tried talking to Kenny and he flipped out on me." Mike explained carefully.
"Maybe I should talk to him?" Clem offered.
Olivia shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Clem."
Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. "It might be worth a try. Kenny knows Clementine."
"You think he's a danger?" The mysterious woman, Jane, asked Olly who was looking the most nervous about it.
"I know little enough about Kenny to be wary, if that's what you mean." Before anyone else could say anything, Clementine had already made her way over to the grieving man. Olivia gave out a gasp and was about to bring her back, until a firm hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Let her do it." Joel ordered. She scowled at her father, attempting to shove his hand off her shoulder. There was a long pause of silence whilst the group weighed up their options.
"I'm going crazy just sitting here not doing anything." Mike huffed after a minute or so, his hands twitching with impatience.
"Agreed." That's when Olly noticed Clementine rejoining the group, her eyebrows knotted in a sad expression. "Are you okay, Clem?" She remained silent.
"How'd it go?" Rebecca pried carefully. Again she was quiet, just turning to look at her old friend. "Give him time. You can't expect him to just bounce back after something like that. What that man's going through..."
"Still. Doesn't exactly help us figure out what we're gonna do now." Mike stated. "We've got no food, no water, it's getting damn cold, and we're losin' daylight fast."
"We should look for the others." Clem said matter-of-factly.
"Thank you! Someone who's speaking my language." Olivia managed a smile in appreciation of the little girl.
"Agreed. You can't just keep sitting around waiting. Things are difficult enough right now and soon you'll have a baby on your hands, too." Olly glanced over at the woman she knew so little about and couldn't help but be a little curious about who she was... and why she seemed so cold.
"If they're in trouble, we might be able to help them." The little girl offered.
"I'll go. Clem can come with me." Jane ordered.
Olly suppressed a chortle of fake laughter. "I hope you don't planning on goin' without me!"
Joel sighed. "Does it really require more than two people, Olivia?"
"Well considering I was the first to fucking offer, I think I'm entitled to look for them myself."
"Is it really about that?" His words were spat, no inkling of affection for his daughter or her 'lover' present. "Or is it more to do with that boy you dote upon." It wasn't a question.
Olivia scowled at him and was about to open her mouth to retaliate, before Jane interrupted, sensing a full blown argument. "You can come. But we need to go now."
It felt like they had been walking forever. The dirt paths never ending as the overgrown vegetation surrounded them, the silence amongst the small group and surrounding area almost deafening. Olivia felt like she should say something... anything to break the tension and perhaps to take her mind off how every second longer searching, made her heart break. She lifted her head up to look at the strange woman who was tottering beside Clementine in front of her. Clem almost seemed comfortable in her presence and the sight almost made Olly snort in disbelief... but she wouldn't be jealous.
"You haven't told us much about yourself?" The red head stated as her legs sped up in order to be aligned with theirs.
"Was that a question? Sounded like a question." Jane asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm just curious. You seem a little... isolated."
Jane smiled knowingly. "So do you."
It was Olly's turn to narrow her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm not stupid. I've seen the way you are with that group. You're not good in it. You don't fit. I'd say you were pretty new in it, right? It would explain why Bonnie and the others didn't know you. How long were you alone for?" Jane questioned.
"Who the hell are you, Sherlock fricking Holmes? Geez." Olivia rolled her eyes, but her hands began fiddling at the nervousness she felt due to Jane's accuracy. "You're right. I was alone for a long time."
Jane smiled triumphantly. "It's easier, isn't it?"
Olivia scowled. "You and I obviously remember being alone very differently. I remember almost dying of hunger and thirst, of being attacked by opportunists... fearing for my life every time I tried to sleep. How is that easier? The only reason I'm alive is because of this group..." Because of Luke... she silently thought, but if there had been any doubt in Olly's mind that this woman was odd, it had just vanished.
Jane sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor before turning to the red head. "Look, I'm gonna level with you. You should know that finding your friends... that's a shot in the dark."
Olivia and Clementine frowned simultaneously. "I don't know about that. We shouldn't give up before we've even looked." The previously quiet little girl stated adamantly.
"Okay, but..." Jane paused, taking a glance at Olivia before turning back to Clem. "The plan was to talk to you, away from everyone else, but obviously someone insisted."
The woman in question growled slightly. "That 'someone' is right here and has a name. Anything you have to say to Clem can be said in front of me."
The woman stopped and shrugged at the duo. "Okay. Fine. Look, Clem... You wouldn't have made it this far if you weren't smart, but I still... I gotta warn you, both of you. That group is cracking. I've seen it before. And, well... even if your friend disagrees, alotta times it's better to be on your own... You two could easily just go, look out for each other-"
"Just stop, okay! You may be able to get by with being a loner, but sometimes people need someone." Jane shook her head and began walking once again, quickly followed by Olivia and Clementine.
"But you know what I'm talking about... and that's why I suggested you two take care of each other. You obviously care for Clem and you know what she's capable of, even if you are a little possessive."
The young girl scowled slightly to herself. "Olly's right, bad stuff happens to you when you're alone too and you need a group in order to protect yourselves."
"Not always, Clem-" Jane began before Olivia cut her off.
"Enough. This isn't important right now. Luke, Nick and Sarah are still missing-"
"And you haven't been paying attention. Finding them is a long shot!"
"Be quiet, you two." Clem hissed, quickly scouting around to see if anything heard. The group quickly fell silent again, not willing to talk in case another argument ensued. A couple of minutes later the group entered a clearing.
"Jackpot!" Jane exclaimed as she ran towards a few roamer corpses. "Bet these walkers have some good stuff." She quickly knelt down beside the dead people, promptly stabbing her screwdriver through it's rotting head. "That one's not coming back. Best search 'em." Then, her hands were searching the pockets of the dead person. Olly began searching through the other before Jane shook her head. "Let her do it. She has to learn."
Olivia frowned at her before allowing herself to step back and Clementine to step forward. The young girl awkwardly patted around the corpse before pulling out a few bullets. Jane glanced up and smiled. "Hold on to 'em. Ammo's getting hard to come by, and things aren't going to get better."
Olly began tapping her foot impatiently, her nails reaching in to her mouth nervously. "Look, can we hurry this up? No offense but Luke and the other's might be in trouble."
Jane ignored her and turned to Clem. "Smart haircut.." and she smiled in response. "So... has your crew always been so dysfunctional?" Olivia sighed in irritation. "You fit in, but you don't belong there."
"I was with another group before... that's when I got my hair cut like this."
The other woman began fiddling again and a grin appeared when a sharp metal object appeared in her hand. "A nail file. These things are great. Sharpen a blade, strike a flint... Jaime always had one in her purse. It'd jab my hand when I went reaching in..." The soft expression she gave as she spoke revealed her sensitive side and left her vulnerable... making Olly realise that perhaps she missed this more than she let on.
"Who's Jaime?" Olivia asked carefully.
"My sister." Was all she said as she began attempting to shove over another roamer a little ways off. "Give me a hand." Clem joined her side and both began pushing and as it toppled over, fractured red rimmed glasses came in to view.
"W-wait.. s-stop. Stop." The red head stuttered as she quickly grasped the glasses from the floor. "They're Sarah's."
"I'm sorry... I tried to tell you-"
Olivia's death glare returned at an alarming rate. "This doesn't mean she's dead! It means she was here! And I know Luke was following her so all we need to do-"
"Look, I know what you want me to say, but..."
The sounds of crying became audible close by. "GET OFF!" It was Sarah. All three of them had their breath hitch in their throats. The sound was quickly followed by "Sarah... god dammit!" and Olivia had to stop herself from collapsing on the floor with relief.
"Luke..." A single tear sprang from her eye as scouted for a way to reach them, desperation flooding her veins. "We have to get to them."
Jane nodded and turned to look through the fence. "Looks like there's an opening over there." Olivia saw where she was looking and sprinted off in that direction. "Hey, slow down!" Her commands fell on deaf ears as the only thing she cared about at that point was reaching Luke. The fence was jumped and the building they were in was scouted before the other two could even comprehend what was happening.
"They're in that building over there, but it's surrounded by roamers. We don't have a lot of time left." Olivia was crouched behind a wall as the other two approached behind her. "We need to distract them or something... get them away from there." The screams of Sarah were not dying down any time soon. Olly ran forwards towards the two walkers on their side of the fence as she unsheathed her blade and swiped it through the closets' neck. The other was dispatched by Jane, her scowl ignored by Olivia. "We need to make some noise or something."
"Perhaps we could get this done with out you putting us all in danger though, yeah?"
Sensing tension, Clementine pointed at the car. "Could we make some noise with that."
Jane nodded. "Check it." She quickly opened the car door and began buzzing the horn. It managed to grab their attention but it was nothing substantial.
"I have an idea!" Olly pointed to the lifeless corpse on the ground and began heaving it towards the car.
"What are you doing?" Jane seethed, her voice deepening as she attempted to keep quiet.
"Y-yanking this c-corpse over to the horn. T-thought it would be p-pretty obvious." She stuttered out between forced breaths as she pulled the roamer over to Clementine's position.
"Clem, help her." Jane ordered which the girl immediately responded to. Before they knew it, the horn was sounding constantly, the roamers now averting their attention towards it. "Through here. Quickly!" The group turned to the other cabin and ran as fast as their legs could carry them. One of the dead people clawed at the window inside, but was quickly put down by Olivia who ran her sword through it's head. Panic swept in, however, when they realised the noise had stopped on their side... but Sarah was still going. "Crap! We gotta move it!"
The aggressive sounds following behind them panicked each of them more. Matters weren't helped when they tried to open the door and it was locked. Olivia's fist banged on the door as loud as she could but there was no response. "Olivia get that door open! Me and Clem will hold 'em off." Olly didn't even have time to comprehend worrying about the little girl before she began kicking on the door. She could hear the two cutting the mini horde down, but she couldn't think about that. She had to get this door down.
And with another hard kick the door swung open, but before she could celebrate, she was forcefully shoved inside by a strong hand on her shoulder. "Help me block this! Hurry!" Olly wasn't listening though. Her eyes were scouting for Luke, nothing else mattered. There wasn't time for her to be scolded either as Clem and Jane began blocking the now broken doorway.
A squeal was heard as the heavy wardrobes dropped followed by Luke's soothing voice. "Sarah, please. Who's out there?!"
"Luke! I-It's me!" Olivia struggled to voice the words, the adrenaline pumping through her body, her heart clenching so tight... but sinking so fast when he stuck his head out the room her resided in.
"Oliver."
I'm cruel, aren't I? Sorry for this taking so long and sorry for the little cliffhanger. There is a reason for this taking so long... I haven't been very well because of stress which sounds like an excuse but I suffer with epilepsy and stress is very much a trigger for it. Plus my workload has been ridiculous since starting college, but I promise I'll try and write more. If you missed my update on the last chapter, I'm hoping you still noticed the new cover image which is totally beautiful and you definitely check out miamaha on deviantART. Thanks for sticking with me, guys. I hope it was worth the wait.