𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | TWD [Book 1]

XV. The History of Betrayals

Madeleine walked away from the aftermath of Shane's death, her emotions fading with each step. She doesn't feel guilt for killing Shane, as it was a necessary act to protect the group. However, the weight of the situation, the realization that her brother had to witness it, and the look in his eyes touched her heart.

The women's cold and stoic demeanor remains unchanged as she approaches the group urgently rushing outside the house. Her attention shifts to the approaching herd of walkers. The urgency in the group's actions and their focus on the threat ahead signal a new challenge that they must face.

As she scans the scene, she contemplates the way they can get rid of them and the difficult choices that will need to be made to protect her brother and the rest of the survivors.

"Kill the lights!" She whisper-yells at them, running closer to them as Patricia heads inside the shut all the lights off.

"I'll get the guns." Andrea urges out, heading into the house to grab the guns for the group.

"Maybe they're just passing, like the herd on the highway." Glenn proposes, the women shooting him a knowing look at the hopeful boy. "Should we just go inside?"

"Not unless there's a tunnel downstairs I don't know about. A herd that size would rip the house down." Daryl points out, the women walking over to him and handing the gun out for him to grab, "What did you do."

Madeleine adverts her eyes away, avoiding answering his question, his mind racing at what she could've have done."We have to fight back."

All of the sudden Lori storms out of the house with a panicked look, Lori's panic and distress at not finding her son, Carl, are evident. Madeleine tilts her head to the side as she can't help but feel a mix of concern and irritation. She gives Lori a warning look.

"Carl's gone." Lori states, her eyes filled with concerned and fear. "He-he was upstairs, like you told him to, but I can't find him anymore."

Madeleine's frustration is evident as she shakes her head and turns her back on Lori. Daryl, observant as always, notices her emotions and the tension in the situation. The uncertainty of Carl's whereabouts and the impending danger from the walker herd can understandably create anxiety and stress, even though the younger women knows her brother is with Rick, she can't help but give Lori a piece of mind.

"Maybe he's hiding." Glenn suggest, frowning as he looks in between Madeleine and Lori, trying to defuse the situation.

"He's supposed to be upstairs!" Lori exclaims.

"You really can't look after him, can you?!" Madeleine snaps at her, no longer managing to keep her range under control. "It's your only job! How the hell are you expecting that baby to survive with a mother like you?"

"Mads, don't be rude!" Carol scolds, but the younger women doesn't pay her any mind as she keeps her glare fixated on Lori.

"The other day, he nearly witnessed an execution. The day after, he stole Daryl's gun and went alone to try kill a walker. Where the hell were you?"