Curative
By Kaimaler
Review replies are at the bottom! WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB
Welcome to THE chapter. It's time. Yes, yes indeed. It is time.
Now,
With the inclusion of this addition person (Laura + Red's group) the story from TWD show will change just a bit. Not enough to change everything all the time, but this situation has been changed with Laura helping Merle.
The order of events and certain details of those events, will not be the same. So if you don't remember something, don't fret. It's probably just one of those new spots.
This is a dialogue / interaction chapter. We'll be focusing first on building the relation between Atlanta and Red Atlanta, these groups gotta get to know each other. So I hope you guys like talk talk talking!
Micheal did as he said and remained with Carol's group. He was given a cell alone and he felt thrilled about it. To have a bed and a room, no matter how small, all to himself was quite a treat. He slept like a rock through the night and for the first time in months he did not have to worry about the undead breaking down the door or being woken up within an hour to evacuate what little shelter they had.
To say it was a welcome change from living on the run did not do it justice. He felt like he was living a dream sleeping on an actual bed, though it is a cot designed for prisoners to Micheal, after months of sleeping on dirt, rock, wood, or leaves this cot was the equivalent of a feather mattress. They even gave him a blanket, sheet, and pillow.
The rest of his group were experiencing the same joy. A bed and all comforts, it was better than they remembered.
When the door to the cell block was unlocked they were all disappointed to leave their beds. Waking up was hard as no one wanted to give the comforts of a warm bed up. Red came out first, seeing Glenn coming inside to start the day. It was early morning, the sun had just started to come up. Carol came out of her cell with Sophia sitting up, just as Laura had done.
Carol looked at Sophia and gave her a reassuring smile, but grew concerned Sophia would suffer the same fate as Laura. She did not know if she felt the same as Laura did, but Carol remembered she talked to Laura about Sophia's condition before. Sophia was a walker for a very short time like Laura died and turned for months. The damage to Laura would not be as extreme in Sophia.
She hoped that was enough. They walked together to greet Glenn, he was a bit somber knowing he needed to start digging graves for their lost people. When he mentioned this Braddock and Markus approached him and without having to tell Glenn they would help, he led them to the field out front and got to work. It was hot out and they were pouring sweat by the time they had one grave halfway done.
Daisy saw a moment and sought to take it. Daryl was standing alone off to the side of the other cell block. She had her arms crossed and sauntered over, seeing Melanie hurry to look around the courtyard. Putting a hand over her eyes she saw Glenn, Braddock, and Markus all working to dig graves. "You know, you remind me of her." She sighed, putting her hand back down to cross her other arm.
Daryl did not respond, he spared her a look as if to ask her what she was talking about. Daisy smiled at him, her eyes squinting in the sunlight. "Laura, you remind me of Laura."
He let out a humph and shifted on his feet. Though he did not expect the way with words Daisy had; she had always been very charismatic. "I met a Laura in Atlanta who was scared of her own shadow and sweet as sugar. The gentlest woman I ever met who would do anything for the people she cared about, even though that terrified her." She had a faraway look on her face and a delicate smile. "Then I met a Laura on the road, wrapped in a winter coat and covered in dirt and blood. She looked formidable, like she could take on the world. Now that Laura... she had already done anything for the people she cared about and it make her unyielding."
Daryl remained silent, looking between her and the field outside. A grave for T-Dog and Lori, a depressing sight but seeing both groups come together to give one closure was oddly refreshing. There was not much he could say, he wondered what Daisy was trying to tell him, but he wasn't the sort to poke and prod for information about it. She would tell him, in her own way.
"These two women look so different now when I think about their faces." Daisy huffed, her eyes downcast to the stone beneath their feet. "One so strong but small, I felt if I moved too fast I would scare her away, if I was too rough I would break her. The next Laura I met at a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, Georgia... I knew if I tried to reach out to her... it would probably break me." She looked to Daryl, turning her head slightly to him.
There was an unreadable expression on his face. She knew he was listening, but wondered if he would want to understand. Daisy let her arms fall to her sides before pulling her hands up to rest on her hips. "I felt attracted to her. The kind of things she must have seen, like a glimpse into the existence of the undead. It was terrifying and beautiful, I don't have the words to describe how it felt to be a part of that."
He looked over Daisy, questioningly. Daisy just laughed softly, "I don't mean attracted physically. More akin to feeling drawn in by a really good book. There was just something about Laura that made me want to know more. She is what she is, this powerful creature in a world she could have all to herself. This world, the kind of being she is; it's all an open field to her. I just wish I had that, I miss freedom more than anything. I was envious."
"Think we all were." He answered her finally. A short reply, but she made it through to him at least, that sign was enough for her. She had gotten his attention and it was a positive improvement over the distrusting man from the night before.
"Yeah, that's probably true. Even if we don't all realize it." Daisy moved to brush her hair behind her ear, moving it out of the breeze that had been pushing it into her face. "When I stood beside her I felt special, as if I was just like her. It was exhilarating, for the first time since this all started I felt free... She could do whatever she wants out here, I always wondered why she didn't."
Daryl scoffed, "She got lonely, ain't easy living out there alone. Gotta have people to survive out here, ain't no other way no more." He figured it was an easy answer but found Daisy shaking her head.
"Any herd of undead would provide more protection than anyone of us could offer. That leaves her sticking around because she wanted company, a human connection after the end of the world." Daisy glanced over Daryl, "So despite the risks to herself, she chose to stay with all of us, to protect us. Maybe that's enough to feel special even without her here."
He nodded, but did not respond. Daisy gave him one last smile before heading off, she wanted to be with her sister and meet Sophia properly. The end to their talk was purposeful, she wanted him to think about it. She wanted him to come to terms with the loss of Laura just as they all did.
Red and his had months to mourn and move on from Laura, but this group she was with for even longer, who knew her better only learned last night she was gone. He needed his time, their talk was meant to try and bring some peace. Her way of coping with loss was to acknowledge and accept it, she was an easy going woman who believed in keeping herself as healthy as she could, mentally and physically.
She had no idea if Daryl would even consider anything she said, but she bet he would not ignore it. If Glenn is right about how close Daryl was to Laura, she knew he would not be able to let it go. It would be even more confusing to find someone in this dangerous world and lose them shortly after. The stress and damage would be much harder to take than Daryl would ever admit.
He was a strong willed person, he was not the kind to voice himself or his emotions. Daisy would compare him to Red if Daryl was persuasive and commanding. He was more the type to stand to the side peacefully, ready to take lead if he had to but preferring to be beside the leader instead.
As Daisy approached Carol and the girls, she noticed Sophia's more unusual appearance. She had not realized it before, but she remembered Carol mentioning Laura saving her daughter. It seemed like this was a good time to ask about how that came about. Especially now that she was looking at Sophia and could clearly see the unique appearance that, while not the same as Laura's, was still not like everyone else.
Inside Maggie helped Hershel and Carl cook breakfast for the group. Micheal sitting on a bench near them, watching as they tried to have some semblance of normality. It was clear Carl was not into this, but Maggie and Hershel tried to include him anyways.
When the group started to filter in from the outside, Micheal noticed Daryl entering, Glenn not far behind him, and then the scatter of his own group entering behind them. Daisy came in with Melanie and Sophia, Carol just behind them both enraptured in a conversation that had them smiling, having forgotten the months of struggle for a moment.
Red entered last, Braddock just ahead of him sweating like an animal. Markus taking a seat and fanning himself off with his hands. Braddock laughed at him and rested his head in his hand as he watched the smaller man act offended.
Micheal looked over Red, he appeared well rested and with his usual stoic expression on again. He had been friendly to this group enough, now they needed to get to know each other which meant no fake faces for them. Let them know each of their members grit and all.
Sophia and Melanie seemed to hit it off well enough, the two girls relieved to have someone their own age in the world. It was nice to see the kids in the group get along, though Carl was still as distant as he could be. They knew not to poke the kid, he lost his mother and had to kill her before she turned. He was allowed to be distant; he just needed time and space to come to terms with it.
The newborn rested in a small laundry basket that had soft blankets lining it to it would be comfortable. She was relatively quiet, sleeping through the gathering crowd for breakfast. Red passed by her, careful not to be too close to make the others nervous, and he smiled at her. Something about the newborn struck a cord with him and he always wanted to be around her. It was a fierce protectiveness he had not felt since he was with his own son.
Red's group noticed it, they always knew Red changed after losing his son. They saw how he regarded both Carl and the infant girl, like they were unique and fragile. He was careful to remain at a safe distance from the children in the group so the others would not feel concerned.
Daisy smiled at Red and came to sit beside the little girl as she started to wake up. She jostled a bit, eyes still closed, and Daisy leaned over her with a big smile. "Well good morning, missy. You going to join us for breakfast, hmm?" She brought her hand next to the girl, letting her grab onto her fingers as tightly as she could. "I think someone is hungry." Daisy looked up to Red who smiled back at her and the baby.
"Here," Maggie came up from behind her with a bottle, "Know how to feed a baby?"
Red and Daisy shared a look before she nodded, "Yes, I have quite a bit of experience with babies. If you don't mind..." Daisy accepted the bottle and Maggie shrugged. It appeared the group was alright with this new level of trust quite quickly. Daisy was surprised, but she knew she probably looked like the least threatening person in their group excluding Melanie of course.
"Come here sweet thing." Daisy lifted the infant slowly, gently supporting her. Her arms cradled the baby as she urged her to drink from the bottle. The baby girl did not need any more encouragement before latching onto the bottle. Daisy was elated to hold the baby and feed her, never believing she would have that chance again.
Carol had a big smile on her face, beyond thrilled to see two groups get along. They were building a future with these two groups to be one small community of people working towards survival. She knew they would make a formidable team if they trusted each other, but they had to work up to that. It would take time and she knew it.
Breakfast was served and it was plain oatmeal. A welcome dish after days of next to nothing. Red's group ate relatively quickly, still feeling the need they developed on the road. Two ate and the others took watch, the next two ate, so on and so forth. It was a survival tactic that saved them a few times, it was always like this. Here inside the prison they did not need to do it, but found it became habit.
Red and Daisy were distracted with the baby, but once the infant was fed and Daisy finished making sure she was alright, she put her back in the makeshift cradle and got her own food. Braddock and Micheal ate first, the rest waited their turn.
The practice did not go unnoticed by the other group, Carol being the only one who understood the precaution. She did not feel the need to have a look out inside the prison walls.
Carol put a hand on Markus' back and patted him, encouraging him and the group to eat without taking turns to look out. He smiled pitifully and started to eat his own bowl of oatmeal. She broke the cycle and they all participated in a breakfast together, no one taking watch. It relaxed them tremendously.
Breakfast was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Everyone was just relaxing after a long few weeks, both groups having fought hard just to get here. So they sat peacefully together, no concerns over breakfast.
It was not until they heard footsteps down the hall did they interrupt that silence. Micheal and Red were up first, paranoid about walkers bursting in from deeper in the prison. The tapping of shoes on the concrete was pointed, definitely a person and not the shuffling feet of the undead. The barred door swung open and from it stepped Rick, the leader of this group.
Red was surprised to see him, he was wondering where he went all this time. He was clean, must have recently bathed and put on clean clothes. It betrayed how unhinged he was at this point, the stress of leadership cracking down on him with the loss of his wife. "Everybody okay?" He sounded even, no evidence of that stress.
"Yeah, we are." Maggie answered him, everyone leaning back to see Rick enter. It was tense, but not in a bad way. They all wanted to see Rick back, to help him through his grief. He did not particularly want that though.
"What about you?" Hershel asked as Rick approached his side, between him and Carl. Everyone was concerned and no one acknowledged the problem worried Rick would react poorly. Now was not the time to pressure him into moving on. He needed time just like Carl did, there would be time to help them both to come to terms; it was not now.
Rick nodded to Hershel, "I cleared out the boiler block."
Daryl dropped his plastic spoon back in his bowl, "How many were there?" They all knew the prison was overrun before, clearing any section of the prison needed to be done cautiously and usually with the group.
"I don't know. A dozen, two dozen." Rick answered dismissively. Red and Daisy shared a look of concern, clearing walkers in a condensed space alone was dangerous especially when there were more than four or five. "I have to get back. Just wanted to check on Carl." Rick reached down and patted his son's back, a simple act with more weight in it than the two even attempted to realize.
"Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have to-" Glenn stood, trying to convince Rick to let them work as a group. A kind of support for the suffering man.
Rick turned to him. "No, I do." He pushed Glenn's offer out of his head then walked around him to Daryl, "Everyone have a gun and a knife?" He was notably suspicious of the other group in the room. His side long look towards Red did not go unnoticed.
"Yeah, thanks to them we got enough guns and ammo to stock an army. These guys were packing serious heat." Daryl replied, very careful of Rick's reaction to the new group. Rick faced Red, not a negative look in his eyes but certainly not a friendly one. He was still not sure about them even with Carol's support.
"We offered a trade, food for guns and ammo. It was the one thing we didn't have." Red continued, satisfying Rick's suspicious look. "Not a huge loss to us, we are looking to make a go of this prison with you. What's ours is yours, we hope to make that a two way street. We have guns and ammo, you have food."
Glenn chimed in, "Yeah, we were going to make a run this afternoon. We found a phone book with some places we can hit, look for formula. Micheal said the local gas stations actually had formula so he wanted to take a look."
"We cleared out the generator room. Axel's there trying to fix it in case of emergency. We're gonna sweep the lower levels as well." Daryl gave Rick a report of their plans and accomplishments so far. They all still treated Rick like the leader even though he had been absent the entire night. No one blamed him though even if it did put some stress on them.
Rick seemed alright with these plans. He turned from the group and hurried out of the cell block, slamming the metal door behind him as he disappeared into the corridors further in the prison.
Red sighed and looked to Daryl, "Should I try to speak to him?" It was a polite offer from a man who lost even more than Rick did and was still leading a group. If anyone could understand he could.
Daryl shook his head, "Nah, just let him be. He'll come around." He went back to eating what was left of his oatmeal, long since cooled. Red sat back down beside Daisy, feeling himself grow worried over Rick.
He remembered during a conversation with Laura that Rick had defended her against his old friend from before the outbreak, a man named Shane. Red looked around and tried to name all the people he saw. Hershel, Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Beth, Carol, and Carl. Where was Shane? Did they lose him? He frowned, wondering if Shane's attempt to kill Laura was his last mistake.
Back in the farmhouse Laura and Carol did not mention the names of all people in their group, but they did appear light. He knew they lost two the day he and his people arrived. A man named T-Dog and Rick's wife Lori. That cut up the group fairly badly, they were all mourning their friends in their own way, but faced the reality of this world.
Red finished his bowl and set it down, noticing others had already finished as well. Daisy stood up and took their bowls before going around to collect the others. She took Daryl's empty bowl and the prisoner they still did not know the name of. She took as many as she could trying to be decent to these people who let them stay in the prison.
Appreciative, Maggie stood up with Daisy and lead her to the sinks taking all the dirty dishes away. Red smiled at her, always glad to see Daisy's usual kind demeanor. She always avoided confrontation and put her fears aside to keep the group alive.
Hershel stood first, still getting accustomed to his crutches. He went to follow Rick deeper into the prison and Red figured he felt he needed to speak to the distraught man. That area was clear to best of his knowledge so he left the older man alone without risking him running into walkers.
The plan for the day was set. Finish digging graves for their people and an afternoon run for formula. It was not a long day planned, but the heat outside would definitely put a strain on them all. Overheating was a very real threat, they would have to bring water just to be careful. Red assumed he would be helping clear the lower levels, it was a dangerous task and they could use any help offered.
Daisy would remain with Beth and Carol looking after the kids. Micheal would accompany Glenn and Maggie on the afternoon run. Markus and Braddock volunteering to finished the graves, the prisoner joining them.
They all had work to do and they all got to it.
Laura was beside Merle careful about travelling through the woods with that woman out here. Merle was on high alert, but they had not yet caught up to the woman. They were close though, she could smell the woman not far ahead. She had slowed down, the smell of death hit her; something had happened not but a few yards from where they were now.
Though the two were in view of the three other men the Governor sent, Merle sent her looks every now and then. It was similar to checking up on her, but he knew she was in some serious pain even overnight. Laura held her right hand hovering over her left abdomen, trying to shield the burn from other people and the heat of the sun. It burned constantly, but only stung when it was being heated or touched.
Keeping that in mind Merle kept to her left side, effectively helping her protect her weak spot. He did it intentionally to help the only other person he gave a damn about in Woodbury. He never told her, he knew it would not mean much to her without being able to remember who she is, but Andrea was in Woodbury and had been for a few days.
Laura would have to know Andrea, there was no way she didn't. However, when Merle asked her about his brother and the group before she could barely remember anything. He considered if she faked not knowing or if she just intentionally lied. Judging by her condition and the torture she went through and faced when withholding information - he seriously doubted she knew anything anymore.
So he did not tell her Andrea was in Woodbury and absolutely kept her and the Governor getting close out of it. Laura would not remember, her only trickling memories were of Rick, Daryl, Shane, and another man she did not know the name of. These people were part of a fleshed out memory she recalled when sitting in the rain one night.
After yesterday's events with the branding punishing her and Merle for befriending each other even the memories she had reclaimed were repressed into a darker part of her mind. Laura could not live the way she is and still know what it was like to kick back on the front porch of the Greene farm with Rick. In desperation she split that person she was before the herd and the person she is now after being taken by Woodbury.
Laura could not do this on purpose of course, this was a subconscious desire by the part of her brain she simply called the Voice. It resided quite happily in the infection spreading in her brain and took away anything that could damage its chances of survival. The cure her father gave her was Laura as a person and the infection that reanimated her into a walker was the Voice another version of Laura still clawing and craving for satisfaction.
Only now the Voice had what it wanted. The Governor allowed her to eat what she wanted more than anything, the craving for human flesh sounded sinister and terrifying to Laura. She could not condone cannibalism, but the Voice was already winning at the Greene farm, now after everything in Woodbury it had won.
Out here in the woods it was the strongest, but the severe conditioning in Woodbury still meant fear drove Laura more than hunger. Survival was paramount, the yearning hunger could be satiated after.
Laura was taking the backseat on this one, letting her instincts do most of the work so she did not have to think about killing this woman she had never met. It was not easy the first time the Governor wanted her to hunt another human being, but she did it. When he gave the order to kill the person Laura did it, the act of murder repressing the person that is Laura and bringing out the hunger that is the Voice.
Confused, ruined, and well convinced of worthlessness Laura gave up. Whatever she did the Governor punished her for it. When someone else did something for her the Governor still punished her. The pain in her body, the soreness and burning she felt evidence of what happens when she crossed the Governor. Instead of trying her luck and risking further punishment, Laura kept her head down.
She had done that before and still wound up suffering. The meaning of that was lost on Laura, but was not on Merle. He understood, he did not need anyone to explain it to him. He wanted out of Woodbury as soon as possible, but they survived there and it was not easy to make it alone. The Governor would not just let them go anyways, he would send search parties out for them.
Merle could not leave after finding Andrea. She told him about the Greene family farm, about the herd that tore through it eight months ago. She did not know if Daryl survived the herd or where they went afterwards. Andrea left with her friend, the woman they were hunting, and never looked back to the farm. They did not try to circle back to find her group, they simply escaped while they could.
It was not the answer Merle hoped for, but it was more about his brother than he had since Atlanta. If he left now he risked losing that source and he needed it. He would not say that escaping the Governor was likely impossible for them currently, but he felt like she knew. If that permanently sad look on her face was any indication of anything.
He did recognize that pissed off woman the first day he saw her at that farmhouse, he could recall the glare she gave him when they threw her in the room. He did not see her for weeks after that. The next time he saw Laura her expression was sorrow, her fierce eyes with their unnatural look that even threw him off were tired and sad.
It was uncomfortable when he first saw her. Merle had seen people die, killed people, and rarely participated in the torture. But they went too far with Laura, Merle remembered thinking that months ago. They took it too far he thought they should have just killed her the moment she told them about the group she was with. They kept her around before finding out what she was, then they used her for testing purposes which made no sense to Merle.
Merle was looking at her, thinking about everything that she was before Woodbury, everything she is inside Woodbury, and how she was outside the walls with him on scouting or scavenging trips. For moment he asked himself if she was the same even after yesterday.
He watched her trek forwards, that long sorrowful look still on her face. Black blood streaking down where the muzzle's nails were, where the gauntlet nails were, and a hovering hand over her newest wound. He knew she was not the same anymore.
Laura paused and sniffed the air, turning to their left. She pointed with her left hand, redirecting the group to the trail of this woman. Merle followed her hand and pulled his pistol from his belt and shifted the overgrowth and sapling branched out of their path. Laura kept close behind him, her hand on the machete handle in her belt.
Merle stepped over a large branch and slowed down, looking into a small clearing where the chopped up remains of a walker were spread out. Flies buzzed around the body parts and a crow flew off with a bit of flesh in its beak. "What the hell is this mess?" He eyed the walker parts before scanning the trees around them. He figured it must be a trap. "It means something the way it's all set up like that." He pointed at the body parts.
"The Governor was right to send us out." One man behind them commented. Merle knelt down beside the gore, trying to make sense of it. The blood had soaked into the dirt and leaves around the parts, obscuring some part of the original message.
"Damn straight, Tim." Merle regarded the parts with a certain level of disgust. "We're doing a righteous public service here." He huffed, still trying to see if he could spot the woman nearby. If she set a trap she would have to be in the area.
"Go back." A younger man caught their attention.
Laura more interested in watching the area before spotting a strange outline in the trees. It was a person for certain, she wondered if it was the woman they were looking for or a walker mindlessly standing around. The body did not move, remaining completely still- it had to be the woman or at the very least another living person. She did not make a move yet, just watched her.
The three other men in the group turned to look at the young guy of the group. He pointed to the parts on the ground, "The arms are a G, the legs make an O. And that's a back, it says 'Go back.'" They all turned to look at the body parts, following the young man's directions.
Merle chuckled, "This is too good. Look at this, she sent us a biter-gram, y'all." He found the idea amusing and the execution perfect. The message was received and immediately ignored.
"I don't believe this is happening." The young guy panicked. Hunting a person, finding a message in walker body parts, and still continuing the hunt- he was in over his head. Scared and feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on him, he began to consider going back to Woodbury and getting out of dodge.
Laura just looked at the woman, ignoring Merle snapping at the kid. She heard him say to keep his mouth shut, but not the rest. The woman was watching them, Laura needed to catch her and bring her head and sword back to the Governor, she wanted her dark room and silence. Nothing would satisfy her other than to be given food and left in the dark, complete silence, and no one to bother her. She needed to get this woman.
Focusing on the outline of her target, Laura leaned forward and slid her rifle strap over her back. The sound of her rifle clicking against her gauntlets catching Merle's attention. Before he could ask, Laura took off and bolted through the trees.
The woman she hunted had no idea the threat Laura posed. Merle turned around and followed her, the rest of their group trailing behind him. Laura was slowed by the trees, saplings, and overgrowth in the woods. It was relatively clear, but one misstep and Laura could trip on tree roots or thick vines. She took it one part at a time, planning a path through the trees.
Laura could hear the woman ahead of her and was on her trail. She was impressively quick on her feet out here, much more used to running through the woods than Laura was. Merle and the others were definitely slower, but nearby. Barely ahead of her Laura could see more of the woman, she had a long weapon on her back, dreadlocks, and a relatively small frame.
Her footsteps were loud, there was no way to shake Laura off of her trail. Luckily she was not planning on losing the people hunting her, she was planning on killing them.
The woman broke through the thick brush ahead and Laura heard the footsteps pause for a moment, then move a bit irregularly. Laura continued, ready to leap through the bushes to fight this woman when he hopped a fallen branch, pulling her forearms up to push back low hanging branches around her. One snapped back from her hand and caught onto the loosely hanging rifle on her back.
Laura slid on the leaves and stumbled over herself trying to get back on her feet. The shock of being pulled by the rifle strap confused her for a moment before she realized what had happened. Her boots slid on the leaves below as she stood up, Merle came up beside her and put a hand under her arm pulling the rifle strap over her head and freeing her from the branches.
The other men continued hoping to catch the woman. Their heavy footsteps loudly announcing them as they broke through the brush.
SNIKT-
Merle and Laura heard the sharp sound of metal slicing flesh. He went around a few more feet to the right and pushed through the dense bush with his metal hand-blade, seeing the body of one man now headless on the ground. The other man and younger guy going after the woman.
She moved faster than the other man anticipated and she sunk her blade into his chest with one smooth move. The younger man had never seen someone die like that, never saw someone be decapitated. The fear and shock set into him and he was unable to bring himself out of it. The blood spilled all over the ground below in thick pools of red, the revolting sight causing him to throw up by the trees.
Laura left her rifle hanging in the tree branches and leapt through the bushes her gauntlets tearing the greenery away from her path. With a resounding growl Laura interrupted the woman before she stuck the younger man bent over sick.
She turned and swung her blade faster than Laura could react. Laura saw the blade coming towards the delicate burned flesh on her stomach and she went to jump back from it. The blade caught onto the front of her shirt and cut down it, slicing it from the upper middle of the shirt through the bottom hem. Laura knew she flinched, tensing her body as she tried to prepare herself for the sword hitting her most sensitive spot.
When the sword passed over without cutting the brand mark on her left flank, Laura looked down to her torn shirt and back to the woman. She lunged, grabbing the woman's arms trying to push her back and knock the sword from her hands.
Merle took aim, but Laura was between him and the other woman. He sneered and rushed in to go close range instead. Laura held her own, the desperation to not fail the Governor for fear of punishment definitely made her more vicious.
The woman pulled back and threw her weight forward, her elbow connecting with Laura's jaw knocking her back. The sword came down on her again and Laura used her gauntlet to catch it. The metal rang when it bit the back of her hand, the metal of her gloves enough to stop the sword with enough strength. Surprised, the woman twisted with another swipe for Laura's left arm only to realize she could not do so fast enough before Laura hit the blade away with her forearm.
The ringing of metal against metal was loud, attracting attention. Merle came around and fired off a shot trying to be careful not to hit Laura. The gunshot caused the woman to jump and turn around, knowing she had to get out before she was shot. Laura kicked up dirt jumping forward, her gauntlets grabbing onto the material of her vest and shirt, tearing through the material and just scratching her skin underneath.
Laura hissed and took off behind her, pushing off of the trees to help pick up speed. Merle was not much use against two melee fighters. A gun was useful, but with them moving around so much it was difficult to get a shot without accidentally clipping or even killing Laura. The other woman kept low, even initially kept Laura between herself and Merle.
Chasing her through the woods was not hard, but Laura felt limited with the pain on her side. It pulled on her, stung every time Laura took a step and even more when Laura had to vault over a fallen tree. It burned, scraping against the material of her shirt. Laura had a few moments where she limped along, unable to keep up any speed with her burn growing more and more agitated.
Laura shook her head, Merle even caught up to her. Refocusing on the woman she listed for her in the trees, she was not trying to be quiet anymore. Laura lead Merle through the trees, another relatively clear path out. Her aching burn kept her back, but the more it hurt the slower she was. It made her desperate and it made her angry.
Grinding her teeth on the leather bit in her mouth, she grunted through the pain and gained some speed. The more she detailed the consequences of failure the harder she pushed herself. Adrenaline hit her like a tsunami and soaked into her body, she felt rejuvenated and what inhibitors that restrict humans using full strength did not exist in Laura anymore.
She focused on the sound of her prey ahead, the footsteps crunched twigs, leaves, and grass as she weaved through the trees ahead. Laura could tell the direction it came from the longer she focused and she narrowed in on the path she needed to take. Tunnel vision locked her onto the woman's back, she could see the tattered clothing and slight bleeding from her wounds.
The scent of this woman's blood awakened a hunger in Laura she had not felt since before the tests in Woodbury. They had kept her well fed usually but the last four days she had not eaten. The Governor wanted this woman dead, the only part he needed was her head. Laura could have the rest.
That encouragement to feed made Laura push herself. When she pushed her hands off the tree trunks around her bits of bark came with her, the strength she commanded tore anything her hands touched.
Merle was unable to keep up, he was more out of shape than the other woman and Laura had more stamina than both of them. He slowed down to catch his breath, calling out for Laura to stay with him and she turned her head for a second only to trip and hit the ground. Laura fell hard, her momentum causing her to grind to a stop on her hands and knees. A violent shredded cry escaped her unused lungs as she nearly fell flat on her stomach.
Not killing this woman meant a pain worse than death and she had already suffered it once. In a split second decision she ignored Merle's calls to hold back, something about the area she was leading them to. She could think of nothing else but to kill this woman, collect her head and sword, and get it back to the Governor.
Laura broke the treeline and looked for the woman, she had gone to shift between cars up ahead. She was hiding in this parking lot or inside the building, she was not sure which. The smell of this woman was strong here, so she had come through the cars and went to hide, unaware that the person hunting her was able to follow her anywhere.
The parking lot was full of old pre-outbreak vehicles. Nothing looked particularly disturbed, so the woman came through in a hurry and did not try to hold an ambush too close to the treeline. With Merle on his way and Laura using only her gauntlets or the machete the woman had a better chance if she dealt with one person at a time.
Wind began to pick up and Laura was unlucky the wind blew across her path and there were no more trees and plants to catch her scent. Laura could smell the woman, the fresh blood that agitated her hunger, but she could no longer tell the direction. She knew she was here, somewhere, but she needed to rely on hearing and sight more now.
Her prey was in this parking lot, somewhere. She needed to find her, she wanted food and she wanted to succeed so the Governor did not further punish her. The only image in Laura's brain was that damnable chair and the sight of the hot iron. It made her blood boil and the burn on her side to sting. Growling, Laura stalked the cars slowly one by one.
Laura grunted, grabbing onto one of the cars and climbing onto the hood. She steadied her footing and towered above the other vehicles, scanning every possible path through. There were too many ways through the lot without leaving a physical trail and the wind just got harder and harder. Storm clouds were rolling in from the south and they were still miles off, but the wind ruined Laura's usual tracking.
Frustrated she considered the chance that she could lose this woman because of the change in weather. It aggravated her hunger and threw her into a panic. She had to find her, she needed to find her.
"FIND HER." The Voice barked in her head. Laura felt a long growl from her chest and scoured the area. She had exited the woods from behind this building and the back doors were all closed. She needed to check them first before she tried to go around, the building was the best way to cut line of sight with Laura and could also disrupt scent.
Laura went door by door, pulling the door knob and banging on the door. The first did not budge, it was locked from the inside. She moved onto the next but it was blocked on the other side by furniture, there was no way to slip through. Laura slammed the door shut and rounding the far right corner of the building. Scent was almost entirely dissipated, but the slight inkling of blood told Laura her prey was still in the area.
She huffed as she tried the side door only to find it locked as well. "The prey is outside. Hunt and feed, we go back with meat and we will be rewarded." Laura tried in vain to sniff the air around her, the scent was getting weaker the more the wind picked up. She was losing her target and dread set in knowing she was losing her prey. "Prowl the area, check the clearing, if the prey is not outside it is inside. It would not have made it to the woods without us seeing it. It is here. Find it!"
Laura paused as she heard a new sound, a vehicle. She wondered if Merle had found a ride to catch up with her and the prey. He was behind them in the woods, so that was highly unlikely.
There was a trash can, ice machine, and a few cars nearby. She needed to find some place to hide before whoever was coming saw her before she could see them. If they had guns she was in trouble. Laura looked around and found the bushes just beside the long dead ice machine was her best bet. It gave her a way to break visual if she needed to run.
Her prey was here and now Laura knew she would have to wait to catch up to her. Frustrated with the interruption to her hunt, Laura shifted her way into the bushes and crouched down, the entrance to the parking lot obscured by more bushes and a box truck. If they rode the car into the lot they would not be able to see her. If they walked instead she would need to be careful to avoid being spotted as they secured the area. Assuming they were capable survivors of course.
A deep roaring engine grew louder as it neared the lot. She knew it had to be coming here as this parking lot was not connected to any through roads, it was a dead end. They may not realize it and turn around, but she doubted that. Survivors scavenged and that is likely what they were doing here in a place that appeared relatively untouched since the outbreak first happened.
Laura pulled her machete from her belt, ready to fight. She needed her prey and nothing was going to stop her. This person or these people would not stand between her and severe torture. Either they would let her be or they would die too, she only care which ever option took more time away from her pursuit.
The car drove into the lot, taking advantage of the empty space. It was rare for a parking lot to not be blocked by other derelict vehicles. She got a glimpse of it up ahead pulling up to the front door of the old building. The driver she could just barely see the silhouette of moving around inside the car, but it she could not tell what they were up to.
She needed to wait until they were out of the car, if they wanted to go inside the store it was possible she could sneak around to continue her hunt. Laura had no idea where her prey was, she could even be just behind that box truck up ahead or on the opposite side of the store heading back into the woods. Laura realized the scent was carried away entirely by the wind, she could not even smell the blood she drew from her prey earlier.
It narrowed down her area, she had to be downwind. Not much better than what she already knew.
Laura held the machete tight in her right hand and just barely leaned over the edge of the ice machine. The car door popped open, then another did, and a third opened. She cursed, there were there people and only one of her. This was a problem and Laura was trapped, if she revealed herself they must have guns and would likely kill her on sight.
She looked down to herself, tattered, bloody, with blue skin. Absolutely would kill on sight. She sighed, leaning back against the ice machine. Pressure started to build, she was losing her prey and that meant she would have to go back to Woodbury empty handed. Laura thought back to Merle on his way here, walking into a group of people.
If she moved they would see her, they were still outside talking about something. She became light headed, both of her hands gripping the machete handle tightly, and she screwed her eyes shut. "Just go, if we win we can continue the hunt and if we lose at least dying will be better than what he will do to us. Merle is coming, we are stuck behind an ice machine, and our prey is walking away."
The people were looking around the parking lot quickly, checking for walkers. She heard their footsteps and panicked. "Just run, run away in any direction and neither of those things will happen." She opened her eyes and looked through the thin branches of the bush she was beside. "They will find us, they caught us running away more than once. They will leash us again and this time they will not let us out of the room. The lights, the noise, the fire - take the change. Fight and hunt or fight and die."
Laura steeled herself, her machete at her side and stood up slowly careful not to rustle the bush behind her. The Voice urged her to go keep fighting, keep surviving. Amping herself up she peered over the top edge of the ice machine and watched the people gather back at the entrance of the building, one of them using a pair of bolt cutters to break a chain on the door.
The metal chain and lock rattled to the ground and they swung the door open, out of it flew a few scared birds who escaped. It alarmed the group, but they found it amusing after. She heard them laughing as they turned on flashlights to see inside the building. All the windows were boarded up, keeping the inside pitch black. Laura thought that sounded nice.
As she watched them enter she noticed movement on the far side of the lot. Her eyesight was significant and she did not have to question herself. Behind one of the cars was the woman she was hunting, her silhouette unique with those dreadlocks. Laura had her target again and felt relieved she had not gone too far.
When Laura noticed her it appeared she noticed Laura too. Keeping low to the ground Laura made her way from out behind the ice machine, slowly crouch walking her way to the box truck a little closer to the group's car. She paused and checked to make sure there was no one visible yet. "No movement; hunt!" The hunger hit her as she eyed her prize.
The prey moved though, now seeing Laura made her approach even with the group between them. It was immeasurably risky, yet she knew it was the only way. She needed to keep sight on her prey and get closer to catch her. Had she ducked behind the building and went around the long way the woman could run and put Laura at greater risk of being spotted.
Going through while they searched the building was also very dangerous as they could walk out, take a few steps to the side and spot at least a part of her. Success or death, those were the only options Laura concerned herself with. If she could not get this hunt completed and return to Woodbury with the demanded trophies, she would let this group catch her. They would kill her and it was better than the only other option she had.
Low to the ground, her hands carefully brushing the ground to keep herself moving quickly and still low down, Laura neared her prey. She saw Laura actually crossing the lot and made her move.
Sword in hand, the woman waited until Laura was behind a compact car. Laura checked again for the group at the entrance of the building, when nothing came of it and she heard sounds echoing from inside she felt she had time to make it behind their car before the last sprint for her target.
Laura came out from behind the car and started to cross the wide open space between her hiding spot and the car in front of the door. Her prey was smart and had waited until there was no cover available to Laura in time. When half way to the car the woman raised her sword and hit it against the derelict car in front of her loudly, using the metal blade to smash a delicate side window and attract attention.
The incredibly loud sounds of metal hitting metal and shattering glass reached the people indoor. Laura growled as the woman ducked back down behind the cars and Laura turned around to run away before they came out of the building. Without cover close enough she was forced to try and hide behind the compact car she was using as cover earlier. It was still too visible though, the car very small and hard to hide behind at such an angle to where the rear was pointed to the doorway of the building.
She skidded to her knees behind the car as the people came rushing outside, their guns raised. It was obvious the sound was not a walker so they expected trouble. First they took cover behind the entrance before hurrying out using their own car as cover. Laura was on her hands and knees, bending so she could see their feet underneath the car.
They said something about checking the lot and getting out of here. She heard one man talk about getting back to the prison to tell the others about this. Laura gritted her teeth into the leather bit more, knowing if they took even another step forward they would likely catch a glimpse of her.
The group of three strangers slowly progressed through the lot, surrounding their vehicle. Laura could hear them moving around, but dared not move. She did not want to die. "We do not have to lie to ourselves." She closed her eyes, "We postponed it, we were lucky. We fight because we like to fight and we are good at it. Admit what we are and do not lie about not wanting to die. We have been waiting for death since this started - so fight because we like to fight, die because we will be relieved to die, or survive and because we want to hunt."
"Over there." She heard one speak, the footsteps got closer and slower. Laura knew she was caught.
A gun was cocked, the others already ready to fire. Laura let it happen, they would find her and shoot her, she could not escape this one. If she attacked they would kill her, if she remained still they would find her and kill her, and if she ran they would kill her before she even got out from behind this car.
"Come out, hands up." A male voice reached her ears, it came from just above her. She waited, relaxing as she knew what was coming. It was strangely euphoric to feel that these people would kill her here and now, there was no mercy in the world and she did not want it. The man stepped closer, "I said stand up with your hands up and come out from behind the car."
Laura moved slowly, her gauntlets scraping on the ground as she pushed herself up. Stepping from out behind the car, Laura lifted her dull metal encased hands still managed to catch the sunlight and her machete still in her right hand. Laura came to stand just behind the truck of the compact car and faced the group ahead.
She looked to them, waiting for them to fire. Instead they all gaped at her, staring wide eyed as they each looked her over.
"Laura..."
Guest:
Merle is a complicated man with a decorative past. I don't think he'll considering it saving unless he gets something from it. But maybe, in the back of his head without telling anyone, he'll feel like a decent person for helping someone else.
Lilithnocte:
A good question regardless of sleep depravity! :)
In the show Merle works for Woodbury out of a debt he owes the Governor, but also because two other reasons.
1.) He wants to find his brother Daryl and would go to any lengths to achieve that. Woodbury provides the support he needs including weaponry, food, and shelter to find his brother. Without any supplies or a larger group to help him with this goal, finding his brother would be far more difficult and he knows it. He relies on Woodbury in this way.
2.) Merle has a problem with authority. Even after the Governor rescued him from bleeding out / infection, Merle shows he does not like to be bossed around. He knows what the Governor is capable of and knows he is a vindictive man. Running from Woodbury would be dangerous and would attract more attention than it is worth.
In the process of escaping Woodbury Merle risks two things. The supplies he needs to stay alive so he can find his brother AND his life knowing the Governor would hunt him down regardless of the cost to himself just to prove a point.
In this story however there is a third reason.
3.) Merle developed a companionship with Laura, now feeling responsible for her position and the furthered torture she endures Merle has taken it on himself to protect her. But he now knows protecting her comes at a cost; he stays in Woodbury for the addition reason to bring Laura with him when he finds his brother. Which, in the show, was his plan all along since he hates the Governor.
Laura stays for a few reasons:
1.) Deep psychological training has developed a kind of "all seeing eye" fear. Laura was captured and knew she needed to give the others time to escape, after she reached her breaking point she talked. The torture and abuse continued beyond that, creating this separation of self and third person.
2.) Classical Conditioning to further studies in her situation, her physical and mental state, has trained Laura to behave effectively like a dog. To come when called, to sit when told, and to "roll over" as it were. Classical Conditioning can also be called Pavlovian as in "Pavlov's dogs." The severity of this training and Laura's already rather delicate psyche created the "dog" the Governor and the Doctor wanted.
3.) She was captured a few times after trying to escape before mentioned in a previous chapter where Laura is staring at a walker corpse decomposing in the water of the flooded town. At that point in time she wore a chain collar for the handler(s) to use to make sure she did not try to run anymore, same general time as she was muzzled. After classical condition took root the chain leash was less literal and more psychological. She wants to run, but previous experience taught her she will be captured.
3.1.) Merle was one of the people who often captured her and brought her back to Woodbury. His successful handling of Laura meant she was more often sent out with him (this will be discussed in a later chapter) and Laura believes that even though she and Merle were partners, he still works for the Governor. After spending time with him outside the walls of Woodbury she came to understand he did not serve the Governor willingly because he wanted to / liked it. She learns Merle works for the Governor because he needs Woodbury.
I hope that answers your questions! :)
SinfullyDeprived:
Why thank you! I'm glad you like it! I've had a blast writing it, I took like a 2 year break before but I'm hoping to make some serious headway again. Considering I did nearly 40 chapters for the first two seasons and already about 10 for 1 and a half episodes in Season 3 I can honestly say this will likely be a long on hahahaha
I do love me some drama ;)
Oh yeah, Laura and Daryl together again... that's going to be interesting to say the least!
adelphe24:
**AGGRESSIVELY UPDATES**
Gemini's Revenge:
Yeah, dolphins are everywhere down there. Drop a big enough net it shouldn't be too hard to catch them.
And you got it, Michonne. ;)
We see Michonne here, but unfortunately are not able to meet her. While she triumphed over Merle and his team quite easily in the show, she clearly had trouble here with Laura. She chose to run instead of fight, knowing that Laura's gauntlets made any close range attacks difficult. Instead she played it smart, attracting attention from the group they crossed.
She winds up with different wounds from Laura instead of a gunshot from Merle due to Laura interrupting the flow of events in the show. More issues will come about sooner rather than later. Hhehehehehehehehheheheheh
And yeah, Laura is defeated. She was a remarkably strong girl for being so shy, but everyone has limits. Some are thin skinned and some are thick skinned, the amount of pain a person can tolerate should never make them strong or weak; Laura did what she set out to do. She protected her people, anything beyond that was simply to spite the Governor and his men for the torture, rape, and experiments. I feel bad for her to, I know I would not withstand that kind of pain. I work a cushy office job, torture is well beyond my capabilities.
And yes in fact, firing a gun is crazy loud so the bang does cause initial sharp pains or discomfort depending on the pitch, length, and decibel of the shot. Due to how quickly the sound starts and is over a pistol will feel sharp, kind of like if you are using a q-tip to clean your ears and you end up hitting the sensitive internals and you get a sharp pain through your ear and jaw. It lasts only for a second and the discomfort afterwards only for another ten-twenty seconds after that.
An automatic weapon being fired continuously or a mounted gun like the one on the back of the truck in Woodbury could potentially damage Laura's hearing for a short time. Like when the flashbang went off and it deafened her, firing a turret would knock her senses out for a bit.
I haven't really had the means to explain it since I haven't really had a character use a gun very often in the story. Mostly melee is the way to do for long term survival, but this difficulty with firearms will be expanded on in a future chapter. ;)
I have not seen anything from Film Theory, I will have to check it out!
And I hope I really do keep the quality, I've been concerned about losing any writing ability I may have while I was not writing for like a year or so. I'm glad you've enjoyed the new chapters! I always try to keep a chapter above 6,000 words. I find short chapters in stories really disrupt the flow of a story and make you feel like you're reading footnotes that are a collective story. So here's another 9,500 word chapter haha