Curative
By Kaimaler
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Welcome to the beginning of the rest of our lives...
We're going to be rejoining TWD season 3, episode 9.
Originally this was the episode Merle and Daryl go it on their own... But since the story has been changed, the result will differ too. Let's see how things go down~
The sunrise came before the rest of the group returned. Disappointing, but they managed.
Axel and Carol prepared breakfast of spaghetti noodles, dishing out bowls to the entire group. Laura and Merle last on that list, but they were still served all the same. A few curious and concerned looks from the group quickly distinguished them from the others. Though they were allowed with the group, they were still apart. A fact that did not really bother Merle and only served to worry Laura.
She wanted to be safe from Woodbury more than anything. Her memory told her that these people, at least a few she could see, were good to her in a way she had forgotten. It felt good not to constantly be on guard. Laura's brain still told her to be on guard and she was sure to be so.
In light of last nights events Merle and Laura were welcomed as a part of the group. Only until the details of said events could be discussed further. Red was still angry, but that anger turned into a concern for Daisy. He spent the night on the bunk above her, just in case she woke up. When breakfast came around Carol took a bowl to him in the cell before leaving him alone.
Laura sat beside Merle on the stairs, watching the people move around, other sit quietly and eat. There were people here she did not know and her memories offered no recognition beyond her reclaimed memories.
Tyreese looked at Laura quite a bit, interested in her appearance. He was alarmed to say the least. Sasha, Allen, and Ben were all with him in sideways glances. Laura paid no mind to them, she was focused on Merle and keeping the two of them together. Said man was right beside her, eating his breakfast while Laura just looked at her bowl and shrugged.
She held out the bowl for Merle as he finished his own. Seeing her offer the bowl he nodded and took it happily, more than welcoming to eat more. These people had a limited store of food, to see any go to waste was not alright.
"Laura," Carol spotted Laura giving her food to Merle. "Why don't you take off that mask and eat?" She took a bite of her own food, watching the two people on the stairs as they deliberated. Merle paused chewing, huffed then continued to eat.
Laura looked at Carol for a moment and before ignoring the comment. She kept her hands to herself and did not bother anyone, she hoped they would extend the same to her.
Hershel paid attention to any interaction between Laura, Merle, and the group. These two people hostile from the beginning before suddenly switching sides without notice. It was suspicious, but Hershel did not believe in negative intentions from this duo. If they had wanted the prison they could have taken it easily, without risking their lives. Instead Merle and Laura killed the soldiers and freed them; he knew the others understood this.
His main concern was Maggie, seeing her with a welt and darkening bruise on her face. He knew she was shaken, but she was strong and would pull through this even stronger. He was grateful Laura and Merle stopped those men, though it hurt him to know this had happened in the first place. More than anything he wanted to protect his daughters and he knew that was impossible in this world.
Daisy was resting, Red beside her. Hershel knew the bruising would be bad, but Daisy was medically fine. She had not suffered a concussion as far as he could tell and required very little medical care. Most of what he needed to do was clean her up to keep away infection. From there all she really needed is rest and time to heal. Red was not keen on letting her do it alone though, a matter he would likely need to discuss with the man later.
Merle made quick work of the second bowl of food before setting on the side of the stairs. He stood up and stretched, Laura standing up behind him, ready to go where he goes.
Braddock took this as a sign they needed to start getting some work done before Merle and Laura wander off. No one felt unsafe around them, but neither did they feel comfortable with the two people from Woodbury. This unfortunately extended to Laura the same as it did to Merle.
"Hey, alright." Braddock had not lead the group before. Red was always the leader, he almost never had a day down. Even on those few occasions Daisy or Micheal took charge. "We should probably work on the gates, huh?" He tried to get people moving, earning a few hesitant looks around the room.
"We should." Hershel supported, quickly joined by the others.
Carol went to put up her bowl with Axel, "I don't know what we can do to fix the gate, but we can't just leave all those walkers in there." She thought about what Rick would think if he drove up with the others and saw a field of walkers. "Merle, maybe that's something Laura could help with." Carol picked up on Laura's connection to the man fast. She was always by his side the entire night.
The man in question nodded, "Want her to go out and kill all them biters in the field?" He looked to Laura beside him, "How 'bout it?"
Laura shrugged; indifferent.
"It would be a tremendous help." Carol added, collecting various empty bowls. "It's too dangerous to go out there ourselves. Gunfire would only attract more. But you can go out there without that risk and clear out the fields before Rick and the others get back." She tried to keep her tone gentle, more suggestive rather than ordering them around. She knew Merle was a rough edged man already and figured if Laura was attached to him, she was either the same or preferred him for a reason. It was best to stay on Merle's good side if that was the case.
Picking up on her try for polite suggestion, Merle threw an arm around Laura. Unwittingly she flinched, but did not push him away. "I'm sure my girl can handle a little clean up, eh?" He shook her in a playful manner and Laura returned with a lame look. "It's not too hard, just a few biters wandering around. I'm sure we can make it work - for the good of the group, right?" Something about his tone always irked people. They knew he was saying what they wanted to hear, doing what they wanted him to do, but not actually caring for it or the task in general.
Laura took a deep breath and tilted her head to the side. In response to being shaken she raised a hand and pointed a finger to his arm, poking him with the sharp end. Merle withdrew his arm and hissed, "Ah! Fu-" Merle paused and looked at the kids in the room. Sophia, Melanie, Beth, Carl, and the infant girl. He also spared a glance to Carol and Hershel, "-Shh, girl!"
"Nice save." Braddock grinned. Merle glared at him and Laura raised her brow.
"Boys." Carol grinned, enjoying this rather down to earth moment between Merle, Laura, and Braddock. It had been a while since she could just enjoy people interacting. Things had been so tense between Rick and Red since they arrived. Braddock broke into a wide smile and let Merle's annoyed look go. The group finding some levity after the previous day.
Hershel put his crutches out, ticking on the ground as he moved around the table. "I think thinning the walkers would be better. We can't clear it out and not expect more to come through. Can you see to clearing walkers out around the fence and the road into the courtyard?" His eyes on Laura, seeing how she moved when put on the spot.
Laura's fingers twitched and she turned back to Merle. She pointed to her chest and held her hands out before generally pointing to the group. Merle just listened and waited for her to finish.
"What is she saying?" Braddock spoke up and earned a few narrowed eyes at him. He clamped his mouth shut and waited.
Hearing him finish, Laura continued. She made a few gestures, blinked a few more times, and finished by pointing her finger between herself and Merle. He nodded, "I'll be in here not gettin' eaten. I'm sure these people got somethin' they need done right. Ain't gonna' be too far." He insisted, finding her concerns in public a bit difficult to discuss. He preferred to keep their companionship quiet, personal.
She made another gesture, somewhat obscured from the group and Merle huffed at her. "Shouldn't take a long time. The sooner it's done the sooner you can come back. If shit goes down; same signals as usual."
Carol smiled, "What's going on?" Merle and Laura turned their heads to see Carol approach with her arms folded over her chest.
"Ain't nothin' going on." He ignored Laura's gauntlet tapping on the metal railing behind them. "Probably should get to work, huh? What are y'all doin' just sitting around?"
"We need to talk." Red's voice pierced the light mood in the mess hall. His brow low, jaw tight. He did not appear amused and his somber appearance brought them all back to reality. He entered the mess hall, passing the first table to see Merle and Laura side by side.
Cautious, but crass as ever, Merle gave the tired and angry man a wide smirk. "What's to talk about? I think we made our business pretty damn clear last night." Laura at his side, hands open and prepared for this man to fly off the handle. He was visibly exhausted and upset, but he did not act on those emotions. Instead, he wanted to talk to everyone about last night. For better or for worse, that's where they landed.
Carol took a step closer to the two men, trying to stay just barely between them. "That's a good idea, we should talk about last night." She advocated Red's thoughts, but was worried he would not remain objective. "We should at least wait until Rick and the others get back."
"That would be best. Rick will want to know what happened and I think we would all benefit from some time to think." Hershel agreed with Carol, hoping to at least keep Red from doing anything. The air thick with the anger Red felt towards the Woodbury soldiers and they all understood that, no one blamed Red for feeling that way. But jumping to blame and potentially violence as revenge was not the way to do handle this.
Red did not say a word, he turned around, dropped his empty bowl with the others, and left the cell block. He knew they would not allow him what he wants and all he wanted was retaliation. Leaving the group to handle their business with Tyreese's, Red returned to Daisy's side and remained.
Carol spared a glance to Hershel, sharing a concern for the man. They would have to watch him, make sure he was calming down without looking for vengeance. Merle parted this long look of worry by slapping his hands together; one 'hand' being metal it made a dull clunking sound.
"So, we gonna get to work or what?" Laura teetered behind him, waiting for the order to clear the field as they had discussed.
Passing the large man, Carol stalked off to the door behind them making sure to pass Laura rather closely as she did. Merle followed, turning around to see her climb the stairs. Pausing at the top step, she waved Merle and Laura up. "Well, come on then. If you're going to be that impatient, let's get going."
Laura bumped Merle and lead him out, pushing the metal handle down and swinging the door open. She held the door open, allowing Carol to exit with Merle in tow. The trio leaving the rest of the group behind to deal with each other. Filing out the door it clanged shut behind them, Tyreese and Sasha immediately turned to Hershel.
Tyreese could not wrap his head around this, spending the rest of the night while he was awake with his sister, Allen, and Ben. There was a quiet discussion about these people, about the blue skinned woman, and what had happened.
"I appreciate what you're doing for us." Tyreese started before his sister could, also slowing Allen and Ben down. "I know I owe Red my life. I'm sorry I got caught out there and for taking your guns..." He was tense, unsure, and struggled to find appropriate words.
Hershel had a knowing gleam in his eye. "But...?" He continued for Tyreese, allowing him to say what he wanted to say.
He gave a strained smile, "But I have a question." The two men perhaps the most level headed of their respective groups. Hershel agreed, finding no harm in answering him. After the events last night they all needed time to face what happened, what nearly happened, and how to handle this in the future. Tyreese was thankful Hershel was far more collected than the others appeared to be. Though, they did arrive at a time of great stress.
Welcomed to do so, Hershel gave him an encouraging nod. Sasha started before Tyreese could, "What was all of that about? Red told us a little. Something about another group and that girl in the cell. What's up with her? Why is she all strapped in like Edward Scissorhands? And her skin, that's just not normal. I've seen all sorts of people messed up in this world, but nothing like that."
Tyreese chided her quietly, giving her this big brother look that communicated all he needed her to know. "I'm sorry about that, if any of it was offensive. We're just... shook up, you know?"
"It's alright, those are valid questions and I'd be happy to explain." Hershel adjusted on his crutches, thinking of the best way to explain their situation. An unfortunate position this group stumbled into. "What would you like to know first?"
"How about why you and this group have problems. We're willing to help, to be a community, but I'd like to know what we're fighting for." He gestured to the cell block to their left, "What happened last night... I know they gotta be the bad guys. No good man would be willing to do what they did." Sasha nodded, seating herself at the table and waiting.
Hershel thought about the best way to explain their situation, to detail what really has gone on and what that meant for all three groups currently residing in the prison. It was hard to answer simply. "I'll start at the beginning, when a few in our group found and brought back two people. One of them being Laura, the girl you're asking about and another, a stranger to us."
Tyreese and Sasha sat in for a lengthy explanation. Happy to hear Hershel was willing to tell them what went on between the group that attacked and their own. Allen and Ben standing a few feet behind them, suspicious and nitpicking.
"You see, we lost Laura about eight months ago when my family's farm was overrun. Carol and Red's group lost her again at an old farmhouse that was attacked. We all thought that was it, that she died in the fight." He moved forward to the bench in front of him, settling himself down carefully and keeping his crutches to the side as he sat down. "A few of our group found her and brought her back. I'll tell you the same as the others; the last time we saw her she was not in that condition."
Sasha tilted her head to her brother and back to Hershel. "You mean with the-" She held a hand over her opposite and wiggled her fingers. "- things?"
He took a deep breath, "Those, the mask, and all those scars on her. Laura was a simple girl; shy, nervous, and not a particularly strong fighter. She walked in leg braces as she healed from fractured and broken legs." He had a small, faint smile on his face. "She was a sweet girl who got caught up in a lot of trouble. People didn't understand her. I didn't understand her."
"So all that on her, it all happened after you guys got separated?" Allen's question denoted disbelief and Hershel chose to ignore it.
"All of it. There was barely a scratch on her. It was a shock to see how much she had changed in a few months." He continued, seeing Tyreese lean forward on the table glossing over Allen's suspicions. "It hurt everyone to see what became of her. Rick was very close to her, they always found something to talk about. He has had a rough time over the last couple of days after we lost another person in our group; Rick's wife, Lori."
"Damn," Tyreese sighed, "I'm sorry for y'all's losses. Looks like you've been put through the grinder." He saw Sasha move beside him, comforting. They had all lost people, it was a given in this world. His condolences were not without hard earned experience.
Hershel appreciated the sentiment, "Thank you, I know Rick has taken it very hard. I'm sorry for your loss as well."
The comment directly to Allen and Ben being family of the deceased woman. Allen just nodded softly, "Yeah, thanks." He was not in a place to discuss this or accept his grief.
"I can see it being hard to take in. That girl looks like went through a lot." Tyreese redirected, hoping to spare that talk of lost loved ones. There were far too many gone and far too few left alive.
"She has. We all have." Hershel continued, "Laura was panicked, she had been through enough and didn't adjust before lashing out. To protect both her and ourselves she was put inside the cell. We had no intentions of keeping her there any longer than overnight. She arrived yesterday morning." That news seemed to surprise both Tyreese and Sasha, but also provided some comfort to know she was not being kept imprisoned.
"She nearly killed Rick and Daryl." A voice broke the tense retelling. Maggie approached behind her father, placing a hand on his shoulder as he took her other in his own hand to show his support and care for her. She offered a small smile, assuring him she was better. "We didn't want to toss her back out on road, especially when the other woman we brought back told us what was out there. We had to keep her in that cell."
Hershel thought of the stranger, Michonne, who was brought back with Laura. "She told us about the group that had held Laura and it appeared they're the ones who... changed Laura. It's hard to explain everything that is different about her to someone who doesn't know her just like it is hard for us to believe she has changed at all."
"So this other group... the people who came here last night." Tyreese connected, "Y'all's group go out there for some kinda' revenge?"
Maggie kept her hand on Hershel's shoulder, "No. That other woman who was brought here told us about them. A place called Woodbury and told us about their leader. About how he'd come for her and Laura."
"And you believed her?" Ben spoke up, earning a quick look from Allen. He agreed with Ben's assessment but did not want to say so out loud. He was already unsure how he felt about these people, he did not need to broadcast that.
"No reason to lie. We asked a question, she answered it. Lying about it would only put her in a worse spot, since they took her with them." Maggie answered sternly. Hershel calmed her by placing his hand on her own, telling her it was alright with only a gesture.
"So they went to hit them first, before this Woodbury could hit you?" Tyreese continued despite Allen and Ben. He knew he had Sasha on his side even if the other two men of their group disagreed. They had to survive and this prison was a sanctuary. To stay here they would need to be careful, attentive, and open.
Hershel looked down to the table, thinking about his answer. "I would like to say Rick took the others to protect the prison before they could attack. They went to scout out this place, but I doubt that's all they will do." Maggie's head tilted down, expression reading upset surprise. "I believe Rick went there to strike first, while we had the advantage. I don't know if that's true, but I guess we will find out when they return."
"Damn..." Tyreese sighed, "I hope they're alright."
"So you don't know why she looks like that?" Sasha added, "She just showed up, blue with knives for fingers and a BDSM mask on her face?" She gestured around her mouth, still confused how someone could change that much.
Maggie shook her head and crossed her arms, "Laura's dead, she turned long before we met her."
Tyreese and Sasha stared at Maggie, in unison turning to each other and back to Maggie and Hershel. The explanation not yet reaching them, not quite grasping the string of words she had just put together.
"The hell are you talking about?" Sasha spoke in a lower, harder tone. "The dead don't come back like they were. They eat people, they're dead. That's it."
Hershel gestured his hand to Sasha, trying to ensure her they understand what being dead meant. Maggie's bluntness generating from her frustration and last night's trauma was perhaps not best suited for explaining such a delicate matter. "I know it isn't easy to believe, trust me I know." He shifted forward on the bench, "It's true, though a bit more complicated than that."
Tyreese stuttered, "I-I don't understand. She died, but she came back? As in completely back? That's not possible."
"Laura was bitten and passed on during the early days of the virus. Through tests I do not understand myself, Laura was cured." Uttering the word cured raised their brows. Astonishment and uncertainly across their faces, they did not entirely believe this. "I cannot tell you much more than that, I don't know anything else myself. All I know is Laura was brought back after she turned. To answer your question, she always looked a bit different from everyone, but it's clear now she has continued to change."
"That's... a little hard to process." Sasha laughed in disbelief. "You people are messing with us right? You must be."
Maggie pursed her lips and shook her head, "Wish we were, might make more sense that way. But it's true, all of it."
Tyreese and Sasha surely could not believe them. Allen and Ben starting to wonder if these people were crazy, thinking about a cured walker. Hershel answered their questions and he did so honestly. It was up to them to find out if they would accept this as the truth.
"Too many to clear all at once..." Carol raised a hand to shield her eyes from a morning sun. "Maybe it's a better idea to get the ones around the fence line. The more noise they make rattling the chain links the more attention it draws."
Merle stepped up to the gate, locked by chain and padlock. He inspected the field full of walkers, figuring how much work it would take to clear the field of walkers. It would certainly take a lot of work to collect and move the bodies, he assumed they would burn them as the best disposal method. Likely somewhere outside the fence, using their truck as transport.
He rubbed a hand over his mouth, thinking to himself. These people wanted a hand and, after last night, it was a good idea to give it to them. They might have helped, even saved the group, but the incident that lead up to their turning on Woodbury did complicate matters. Had everything gone as planned they could have had their place in the group immediately, rather than having to defend their position.
Laura had definitely made a big deal of the situation. She came around, kill those men, and Merle was forced to jump into action. It was not her fault really, he knew though he did blame her at first. She did give away their position and put them at risk. If they had lost that fight the whole group could have been killed.
Hard to swallow as it was, Merle jumped in and protected his girl and the group. He wanted out of Woodbury, she wanted out, and they had the opportunity with another group with fences and thick walls. They had weapons, he saw that when they threw down their arms last night and later when they pulled a bag of guns from another cell.
Impressive defense, good armory though perhaps not as good as Woodbury's... if they played their cards right they would have a chance at this. A chance to be free of the Governor, of Woodbury, and survive their own way. Laura and Daryl, the only two people he could see himself ever wanting nearby. He was most focused on his brother, but he knew Laura would not resist any idea he puts forward.
"Don't worry about moving them right now." Carol pointed to a clump on the far side, "See those by the fence? The fence will hold them, but the longer they push and pull the weaker it gets."
Merle nodded, his arms crossed his chest and he grunted his agreement. "When your boys get back they'll need a way in. How about you clear the path and the gates, then get those groups at the fence and the biters up here. Spread 'em out some." He pointed to the plan of action he wanted Laura to take. Laura following his hand to each point.
Carol smirked, "Yeah, that's better. Clear the way in as best you can, then run clean up on certain areas." She simplified. Laura turned to her and back to Merle, receiving a confirming nod from him. "Here, you'll need these to get in and out." She pulled from her cardigan's pocket a large set of metal keys, jingling as she held them out for Laura.
She reached her hand out flat below Carol's, allowing the woman to just drop the keys in her hand. The metal ticked as it collided, the sound making Carol flinch slightly. It was strange to see such odd and clearly weaponized items attached to a sweet girl that took care of her. Carol blinked, remembering that was right. Laura was the only reason she escaped that farm, at least, it appeared to be the only chance she had. A herd behind her, no one nearby, and Laura just showed up.
Carol made a mental note to keep that rescue in mind. Laura kept her safe for a long time before she met Red's group and she did it while struggling against this internal force.
Laura took the keys carefully in her hand, one Carol had held the keyring by she assumed to be the correct one. Approaching the gate, a few walkers snapped and growled at Merle and Carol behind her. Whipping around, she waved her hand to tell them to back up in case. Merle did not require encouraging and had already backed up to a safe distance while Carol hurried to join him.
The key clicked in the padlock and she turned it, careful of her claws. When the padlock fell Laura inched the gate open just barely, slipping her body through sideways and keeping the gate in her hand. The dead attempting to push through to get the living they could see. The gnawing and pushing began to get on Laura's nerves. She shoved one back and closed the gate behind her, wrapping the chain around to reinsert the padlock through the loops. Once it snapped into place, she swung around, fingers and hand straight, and sunk her gauntlet to one of the dead's skull.
It collapsed in a heap and Laura began to make quick work of the others. Without a single one caring about her or what she was doing, she walked through the group and easily sliced her way through half a dozen. Carol smiled, seeing how it went for Laura to kill the walkers in the field. She was glad most of all that it was safe, so she did not have to worry about Laura protecting herself.
The walkers paid her no mind, just like the walkers back on the farm or on the road. Carol was... unsure how she felt so see Laura tearing apart the dead with her hands. Of course it was quieter, perhaps she was more used to the claws, but it definitely not cleaner. The claws shredded through necrotic flesh and dying bones with force, but had no trouble causing damage on their own.
Laura cut through them one by one, not a single walker turning to her. To see how she brushed through the group, pushed, pulled, and handled them without concern. It's strange watching the thing that collapsed civilization be killed so easily, no risk. Carol wanted to be able to walk through herds without being looked twice at, without gore spread across her to hide scent. Just the way Laura did it made the world seem... less dangerous.
The bodies piled at the gate and Laura started to move on. More than a dozen walkers down and more to go. Laura took a moment to look over the field and plan through her path. Carefully treading down the gravel road towards the main entrance, she cut down a few more walkers that stayed within arms length. The rocky path was not the easiest to descend while stabbing and swinging her gauntlets. She had to focus on her balance more than usual.
Walkers began to line the road, there were not as many as she thought, but enough to be a threat if the group got too loud. Attention from anyone is the last thing this group needed.
Down at the broken in double gates Laura saw the walkers were sparse, all spread between the field and beyond the gates mostly. A few stragglers caught on split wires that grabbed their clothes or broken bars that tripped them. Looking down and around Laura groaned, not really wanting to keep bending over to kill each walker.
One by one she tediously dispatched, piercing the tops and backs of their skulls. Though she did not mind the task of clearing walkers from the fences, it was easy. Walkers did not fight her, they did not resist her advances, and provided no challenge. She began to think about how dull she would get with nothing to fight but walkers.
Laura could recall some moments with Woodbury, soldiers or with Merle at her side. Walkers surrounded them, snapping their jaws at her human team. At one point she was leashed with a chain and could not leave a certain range, decreasing her effectiveness when sent out on runs. The chain often got stuck, pulled, grabbed, yanked, and trapped which nearly ruined her entire purpose of being on the team.
As she pulled a walker back to sink her claws into its skull, she heard Carol calling out to her. "Laura, don't worry about the ones outside the gate!" Carol shouted from a good distance. Her voice traveled fine and Laura could hear her clearly, but something else interrupted her work.
Pausing Laura felt something in the back of her mind, it was so close but still shrouded in fog that all her memories suffered from. Her voice, someone's voice for certain, while looking at a rush of walkers around her. Her expression tense, straining to pull that familiar scene from the fog. It was almost clear as she stared into the growling, torn apart face of this walker.
Focusing on Carol's voice and the mixture of walkers surrounding her, Laura was just barely able to see a faded scene between herself and Carol. It was dark out, walkers crawling every inch of the field, a fence behind her. Carol was right beside her, tears in her eyes and panicking. Laura swung a machete, no gauntlets on her hands, and cut down a walker in front of them.
A hiss in the memory, Laura was shushing Carol, telling her to stay quiet and act dead. Echoes of gunfire and vehicles behind them, too far to catch up to and too many walkers already agitated near there. They would catch onto Carol since she was still terrified and shaking. Laura grunted, shoving over another walker as her eyes caught the intense red and yellow flames bursting from the barn. Rick lit the barn on fire. She thought, recalling finding Rick in the field with a boy, the boy from the prison with the sheriff hat on; Carl.
Carol begged Laura to hurry, that they needed to leave now. Taking the older woman's hand Laura lead her from the herd and into the treeline, using the woods to break line of sight with the majority of the walkers. Just being near Laura hid Carol's scent and masked her obvious aliveness. Laura scoffed, That's not a word. She muttered under her breath, Is it? It sounds made up.
She looked over her shoulder, seeing Carol still crying and scared she figured now was not the best time to consider her vocabulary.
Laura's claws shredded the skull of another walker. Applying more force to her swipes, Laura could rip apart a rotted walker skull, many spines weak enough to be snapped apart when the metal pierced the bone. Heads went rolling, though cutting the heads off if not done right left the decapitated heads still alive. Laura stared at the head rolling slowly as it growled and kicked it further into the field.
Later. She continued clearing the road and gates. Things began to clear up, as if each walker death was washing the window of these newly acquired memories. So she worked faster, more efficiently. Laura made a beeline for a clump of walkers attracted to the fallen gate. Like picking weeds from an empty flowerbed, Laura was able to wipe out the walkers within moments.
Flashes of Carol, the woods, the herd, a burning barn played in her head. The more walkers that fell, the more she could see. A particularly tense moment between herself, Carol, and a stranger in the woods. Fighting, but it did not end in a death. She saw a face, a man's face, who appeared familiar greeted her with her own name. He knew her and, after realizing she was about to swing her machete and kill this man, she knew him as well.
It was incomplete, still suffering from her memory loss. Though it was something and she could see more of this woman who definitely did not appear as nervous or scared as she used to.
More bits and pieces on a walk with her. Together they survived, alone Carol would die. She remembered thinking that, about how she had to stick to her or she would never make it out there. Yet she knew she could not stay forever and there might come a time where they could not find what they were looking for.
Almost like a hallucination, Laura could see herself and Carol walking at a rather slow pace. It was grey outside, it appeared cold and unwelcoming. Laura stared as this figment she saw in front of her. She looked... different. Both of them truly.
Laura's hair was shorter, unkempt and she could see dirt and leaves in it. There was no muzzle, just the long face of a woman in deep thought. Carol just barely two feet behind her taking longer, but more difficult strides to keep up with Laura. She was exhausted, she even looked like she would pass out standing up if she could. Her skin was pale from the cold, her nose a slight pink. She sniffled and wrapped her arms around her.
They looked dirty, they had been walking for weeks and the temperature was plummeting. Laura remain unaffected and Carol struggled to stay warm. Sharing body heat was pointless as Laura did not generate the warmth necessary to keep Carol comfortable over the long dark nights. Being too close to Carol...
Laura's stomach ached, the hunger began to rage. Just thinking about how hungry she was and it was strange for her to think that, at this time where Laura and Carol traveled, she knew she had never eaten before. How she knew that without remembering any proof of that, she did not know. All she could see was how much pain she was in, how the hunger drove her everyday. The further she went, the more she tried to believe there was food.
Carol neared her, took a step too close and tripped, sat beside Laura and talked, or tried to embrace her and all Laura could think about was opening her jaw, baring her teeth, and eating.
Perhaps something she should keep to herself, Laura gulped. Worried the others would not understand.
Before Laura knew it, the field was reduced to a small spread out number of walkers. The road and gates clear, her job was done. The rest of the group would return by vehicle so Laura took it upon herself to begin dragging corpses out of the road.
Piece by literal piece she pulled bodies from the gravel road. A few walkers coming apart in her hands, their clothes shredding before she could get a stable grip. So she tossed them to the side best she could.
There's a lot I don't know. Laura mused. Her confusion, conflicting feelings, and fear coming to a point in her mind. Everything that happened, so much of my life is gone. These people know me, somehow, but I don't know them.
Laura scoffed at herself, Okay I do know them. But I don't 'know them' know them. I don't really remember them and I feel like I do. Merle does, they know Merle. I know Carol, Rick, Daryl, and Glenn. I know I liked them, I thought they were good. She tilted her head to the side, Well, good as good can be, but better than Woodbury that's for sure.
She kicked another walker corpse off the road and it tumbled slowly down the hill. Laura placed her hands on her hips, careful not to let her claws cut her or touch the burn on her side. I keep remembering things everyday here. People, places, things I know were months and months ago, maybe even years? I don't know how I know that or why it even matters. I just...
With a heave she half lifted the torso of a walker that, the moment she lifted it, tore under the weight from its lower half. Rotted flesh and sinew slipped to the ground with a nasty plop and Laura threw the disconnected torso to the side. She rolled the bottom half off the road, doing her best to keep from getting covered in blood, guts, and mud.
I... I liked Carol. She's a woman, no threat, but she's not a child. She can take care of herself. Merle, of course. He's my friend, he... he helps me even if the way he does it is hard to understand. She thought of their faces in a shadowy line up of all these people in the prison. Only a few of them uncovered, the rest still hidden from her view. Rick was...
She paused a moment, biting on the bit. What was Rick to me? Was he good...? Well, yes. I remember him telling Shane to back off before trying to find Sophia. He stopped Shane from attacking me. Her hands gripped and tore the old flesh of a dismembered walker arm, tossing it over the field. The sound of it landing attracted other walkers to it. He said he believed me... He said something else, like apologizing. I don't remember what it was. Thinking about Rick, about the things he did for her, she felt stronger.
Laura turned to the gate at the bottom of the hill, pleased to see the walker bodies no longer blocking the gravel road. Daryl wasn't bad and I remember thinking other people think he is. A light flutter in her stomach, her heart lurched forward. Laura's feet slipped to a stop and she raised a hand over her heart, That... was weird.
This feeling bloomed inside of her, almost making her feel like she was light as a feather. She imagined his face, the face of her memories and from the cell block. The butterflies in her stomach grew brighter and made a tingling feeling come over her. I... like him. That statement validated the feeling in her stomach and her feeling solidified into her chest. I like him a lot apparently. Something about him? I don't understand.
Evolving from confusing emotions just by thinking about this man, Laura continued walking slowly. I feel... for him. She recalled running from the group in the cell block, attempting to escape them in the tombs. They outsmarted her and her fault was believing them to be as blind and stupid as the Woodbury soldiers. These people were cunning, they paid attention to their surroundings.
A scene from their fight played in her head, swinging her claws at the two men chasing her, who managed to corner her in a solitary block with a dead end. She did nearly kill one, but they did not hold it against her personally. The man grabbed her, the man she felt this ache for. His arms wrapped around her, holding her back from hurting himself or Rick.
Adding to her struggle to understand her own emotions was a relatively new one. His arms around her tightly, pressing her back against his chest. She felt her body heat up and the tight feeling in her chest to expand and travel the area he had touched as it traveled south. Laura made a strange, awkward face and pressed her thighs together. What the fuck. She knew this feeling, of course she knew. Through it all she was still a person and though no pleasant memories about this came to mind she felt a strong, heated pull towards this man.
Wake the fuck up and get over it. She shook herself loose, trying to ignore that tingling feeling. His likeness in her mind she thought about his arms; strong, muscular, but not bulgy and over the top. He was fit, clearly, as he could actually hold onto her longer than a second to keep her still. He wasn't bad to look at either, though his appearance could not be described as conventionally attractive. She found his looks to be ruggedly handsome and unique. She decided very quickly she liked that.
Laura pushed the subject of this man, Merle's brother, out of her mind. She refocused on the other person she knew; Glenn. Though she had less memories of him out of everyone, they were pleasant. Surprisingly, when she thought about Glenn she felt like smiling. Seeing him brightened her day. He's upbeat, but he seems different now. I remember his face... most of the time smiling, joking, or being supportive. I cannot see anything else about him. An enjoyable thought to say the least to Laura, He was reliable, smart, and fun.
He definitely struck her as a pure good, someone who is born without a bad bone in his body. I appreciate him... Like a sibling or a good friend. He means something to me, something earned.
These people, they all mattered to her. Finally thinking through these names, the familiarity she had with them, helped her understand what she needed. Laura lifted the last body off fence and shoved it outside the gates, finished with her damage control task. She shook off her gauntlets from the blood and rot, she really needed to wash them.
I need to calm down. Laura turned to face the prison, seeing Carol and Merle out there overlooking her handy work. I need to remember these people and help them. Woodbury, Philip- She spat -He's done nothing for me. That place is not good for me or Merle. We're better off here, with these people. They were good to me, I know it. I just need some time to figure this all out.
She started her walk back up the gravel road to the others behind the gate. Memories of the burning barn, Carol in tears as her hands held onto her for dear life, an image of people with shady faces in a house, and walking across tall yellow grass through a field with a farmhouse in the distance and a camp just over the hill. She could see herself then; calm and carefree. There was stress, concerns, and she felt a bit unsure. But there were no whips, crops, knives, brands, or experiments. Just a peaceful farm with people who called her their friend rather than their dog.
Laura wanted that, more than she realized before. She always wanted to be out of Woodbury, dead or alive, but if alive completely alone except maybe Merle. Now this goal began to turn, changing with the desire to be with others. These people, whoever they really were, actually made her feel a bit more like the person she used to be. A person she could no longer see in a mirror or recall without difficulty.
Her hand handing in the chain link fence, she leaned against and nodded to the people behind it. She had successfully thinned the rush inside the field, removing the immediate threat of a gathering herd inside the prison external fences.
"That should be good enough for now, I don't see a reason why we have to clear out all the walkers today unless you want to." Carol's eyes squinted in the sun. "There's still some coming from outside. The broken gate will be a problem... Rick won't be happy to see the damage." She gave a long sideways glance to Merle before returning to Laura.
She shrugged and pointed to herself. Merle put a hand on the fence and spit out of the chain link fence. "She's askin' if you want her to do somethin' else. Girl's all over you, huh."
Carol smiled appreciatively, "We'll need a guard at the gate entrance, both to watch in case anyone else shows up but also to make sure the others can get in without attracting too much attention. We don't want to bring a herd to the gates. If they roll in here and start shooting the walkers we'll have a problem. We can't see through the trees, we have no idea how many are around us."
"Especially after last night's fiasco. Who knows what's crawlin' around these fences." Merle added, agreeing with Carol's assessment that the lack of sight from the prison to the surrounding area was a weak spot. "Or who."
"Right," Carol responded, surprised and pleased to hear Merle agreeing with her. "Do you think you can be our guard for the front gate? Just until the others get back and we can find a way to fix the gate."
Merle patted his hand on the fence, "Yeah, work this gate for us. Can't have anyone up here openin' this fence with walkers wandering around. Could get someone killed."
Before Merle could make that an order, Carol dropped her arms and hand her hands together. "If that's alright with you. It would be a lot of help."
Unsure, but immediately pleased to be asked Laura nodded and stayed on the outside of the fence. Carol seemed kind and sweet, kind enough to ask for her help rather than demand or expect it from her. It only lasted a second, but Laura felt a small skip towards her affections for the older woman. She had already clearly meant so much to Laura if her old rotted memories signified anything, but the woman's politeness already began to win Laura over.
Merle just responded with an unappealing grunt before turning away from the gate and the two women. Carol gave Laura a wide smile, "Y'know, it's nice to have you back. I know no one has said much to you or... about you. But we're glad, even if we don't all show it. I know Red is upset, but give him time to work it out. He'll come around."
Laura watched Merle leave her alone with Carol, that usual fear she felt gripping her heart when alone with a stranger did not appear with Carol. She was calm, more comfortable around Carol than she anticipated. A welcome change from feeling trapped in that prison, or the cell, with everyone else staring at herself and Merle. Down right odd, but she ignored them.
Pointing to cell block D and back to herself, Laura raised a brow in question.
Struggling herself Carol shook her head, "I'm sorry, I don't understand." She eyed the muzzle on Laura's face, "You know it's okay to remove that around us, right? I don't know why you haven't wanted too or those... gloves either. Wouldn't it be more comfortable without them?"
Laura looked to her hands, raising them to inspect the metalwork covering her hands and forearms. She could feel the nails in her flesh when she twisted her forearms, they pulled and tore the skin and sinew around them. It did not hurt as much as it had done when they were first strapped onto her arms. It was much less in fact, without serious strain on her hands or arms they were no more than a dull throb and pin prick.
When she had to catch Merle before he slipped off the junkyard pile over a month ago, his weight and the strength she had to use to catch him tore her skin straight and hurt tremendously more. He was lucky this was over the winter months and he had worn a thick jacket, otherwise his options would have been to fall down onto a rusted metal car chassis' or be caught by purposefully sharpened metal talons. Instead he walked back to the car with a jacket in tatters.
Laura shrugged and shook her head, the gauntlets were infinitely more useful still attached rather than sitting on some table inside the prison collecting dust. She was the only one who could use them, so she was not concerned about someone taking them for their own. Unless the living man or woman thief wanted to jam nails potentially into the artery in their forearms.
Good luck with that. Laura continued down the road to watch the gate, keeping an eye out for the others returning from their trip to Woodbury. For a while she just stood there in silence, arms hanging at her sides with the weight of the gauntlets visible even from a distance.
It was quiet, offsetting the violence of last night. The cell block still needed some more cleaning, but they would clean it over time. It was a lot to soak in, the events leading up to Merle and Laura turning on the Governor. She knew he did not want this, he made that very clear. This was their chance and knowing what happened back at the lot, being grabbed by the others and brought to the prison - if Laura went back to Woodbury it would not go well.
For her sake, and for his own, they defected. Returning to this familiar group currently in tatters desperately trying to patch their ranks. Laura was certainly a boost to their defenses and Merle was no stranger to combat, having military training and a remarkably tactical mindset. Looking passed their faults, both Merle's penchant for violence and Laura's cannibalistic needs the two were extremely formidable. Combined with this group, Red and Rick's, they could give the Governor a hard time.
Laura watched the treeline, the road into the prison, and the walkers aimlessly shambling about. None of the living were outside anymore, knowing being spotted by the dead might attract more attention. They waited inside and Laura kept the prison safe.
Review Replies:
Ringer:
Hahaha you got it man, updated. :)
Shadow:
Here ya go. A simple but character development chapter!
Nobody Goes Here:
Yeah, I lost my will to write for a while. The holidays combined with a TON of other trash that showed up. Man, I've been crazy busy... Hopefully I can get back to writing again at least a bit.
Gryffindor Rat:
I'm glad you enjoyed it as always. :)
I know the death of those men came and went faster than hoped, but I did not feel like Laura would spend time on them knowing what was happening. Hearing those sounds, seeing the violence laid before her... it's a different feeling. When it happened to Laura she could manage, survive, and move beyond it to come out at least moderately functional. Actually watching it happen, not just to someone else, but seeing that abhorrent act being done and finally being on the outside of it...
I felt like that was a trigger. Kinda like how PTSD sufferers are triggered by something, a veteran is dragged back into their traumatic events by the sound of fireworks. Laura is struggling not just with PTSD but severe mental, physical, and emotional trauma. Seeing the man attack Daisy, beating her and ready to rape her - Laura snapped like the trigger of a gun. She just went off, acting out before she ever even thought about it.
This resulted in the men being torn apart in a matter of seconds and Laura unsure how to respond to the gore. She didn't want anyone to suffer and we learn early on that Laura is more empathetic to others and takes care of herself less. She is extremely empathetic, she wants people around her to be safe and happy, but when she suffers it's often not as important to her. Now, in this situation with ALL this mess with Woodbury, Red's group, the men back in Atlanta, the Vatos taking her, Shane trying to kill her multiple times - things are going to change. Things are going to change a lot and very very soon. (If I could insert some kind of dark cackling, it would be right here :)
And exactly what I hoped someone would see. I wanted them to get the idea that something was off about Laura, not just her appearance but what she was wearing. They don't really know for certain why she wears the gauntlets and muzzle, but a few like Red and Carol are getting an idea. Hershel definitely has seen more about Laura's person than the others have. He is a very quiet and observant man, wise in his understanding of others. For a while Hershel will be watching Laura very closely.
Making the connection between Merle and Laura's metal pieces is what I hoped someone would read and go "OH I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING!" because I tried to lay it all out there, but without overtly stating it too much. People like Red and Carol, Hershel and Maggie will be able to see the connection and find these objects are a part of their time in Woodbury. It's only giving them a piece of the puzzle and we know that's all Atlanta and Red Atlanta need to start solving what happened to Laura and Merle.
Merle and Rick's interaction will be interesting. I feel like when I'm watching the Walking Dead I'm watching each person be turned into a serial killer. Which, in the torn apart world of TWD, it isn't a bad thing. They need to kill to survive and that's the truth. I think when all is said and done, when Merle stops running his mouth; Rick and Merle would get along juuuuust fine. But for that to happen, things need to change. People need to change.
The Rick we see in the show, Season 6, 7 and all that noise - that Rick is the Rick Merle would be suited to work with. If Merle survives to that point. He may or may not die the same way he did in the show, but he might die a different way. I've got some plans, but I'm not spoiling anything. ;)
It's very ironic that this infection inside of her threatens to take away her humanity through overwhelming force. Using the starvation walkers suffer, the restlessness, the over stimulation, primal instincts, and severe memory loss.
However, due to the intensity of these experiences they burn a mark in her muddled memories, creating a unique moment she can still just barely hold onto. When the desperation to eat overtakes her Laura can recall the first time she ever felt that hunger. When the Voice drives her to the brink of insanity, she can remember coming down from it. Or like the example you gave; water is the only time Laura can actually feel herself rest - it's very similar to sleeping or entering a state of absolute bliss. This peace from the hunger, the world around her, and their survival creates an unforgettable memory she can see clearer than any other.
The more she does without the Voice constantly controlling her, the more she remembers. Laura has been freed for the time being. With that freedom Laura can start to heal, fixing at least some of the damage the Voice has caused. v.v
Before I started writing this story I was constantly concerned my writing would not fit with the characters. Like Rick, Glenn, Merle, Daryl, Lori, Maggie, etc, etc. I kept trying to figure out a way to write for them without losing their character. In writing we've already lost the visual familiarity, I can't force you to think of Rick when he's talking. I have to convince you that it's Rick talking and you will visualize him yourself without me having to overtly state that Rick is the one talking.
Hopefully, if the story is done well enough and the dialogue suits the characters involved, the entire scene will play out as you read it and you, the reader, will be able to see what's going on as if you were watching it right then.
If the dialogue is off for a second, if a descriptive moment does not fit the character you will break from your immersion and have to rethink what's going on.
Like Shane ran his hand over his shaved head a lot. It was a nervous tick he developed after murdering Otis - it was a visible, physical embodiment of his guilt. We saw it often as he wore Otis' clothing, sat with Otis' family, and ate the food that Otis would have been preparing. His guilt was eating him alive, more so than any walker.
Rick has a tendency to turn his head to the right, if only for a second, and raise his arm as if to defend himself from a bad situation even when he was faced with the news of Lori's death.
I was very happy to see people liked my descriptions of events and interactions. It was not the easiest thing to brave in this story, but the more I did it the more it felt like second nature. Like writing Laura, which is much easier because I get to dictate what she does and you imagine it.
I guess my point is if you want to write a story, do so! Don't worry too much about writing the characters exactly right. It takes practice and eventually it will just come to you. If you're like me and enjoy writing a LOT than you'll be able to write out 5,000 words rather quickly. :)
Plus I'd be excited to see what you create! x3
Gemini's Revenge:
I'm excited to get them back together. It won't be without it's trials, but we will see how their reunion goes. I'm sure no one will be happy at the end of the day, at least for now. :)
Guest:
Eventually yes, Merle will tell at least some of what went on in Woodbury. Though he's more of the "Yelling loudly" type rather than the civil discussion type. So we'll see how it goes.
Guest:
Red will have some complicated feelings towards Laura and Merle for a while. Daisy is so connected to him. We'll take it one step at a time! ;)
elljayde:
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! I can't wait for Rick to finally interact with Laura directly. It will be exciting!
adelphe24:
NO QUITTING! :D
Thanks I enjoy Merle and Laura's time together. I can't wait to finally bring others in on it too, when everyone calms down a bit! I always appreciate reviews and love talking to readers. I think I've said that already though, sorry to repeat myself. It's been a while since I wrote, for which I am also sorry. :(