𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | TWD [Book 1]

XXXVI. The Shadows Cast by the Past

As the night unfolds, Madeleine takes the lead, meticulously retracing the tracks left by the elusive girl. In stark contrast, Marie, grappling with an overwhelming whirlwind of emotions, remains eerily silent. Her thoughts and feelings hidden behind a stoic facade as she follows Madeleine's every move, hanging onto her commands with a profound sense of obedience and trust.

Amidst the eerie quietude of the night, their steps echo softly against the rugged terrain, punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant, haunting groans of the undead. Madeleine's unwavering focus drives their pursuit, her keen eyes fixed on the trail they follow, determined to uncover the girl's camp.

As the night presses on, fatigue sets in, casting a heavy shroud over their determination. Recognizing the need for a brief reprieve, Madeleine decides to halt their relentless trek. Marie, grateful for the chance to rest, welcomes the opportunity to steal a few hours of much-needed sleep before their onward journey.

In the quietude of their rest, with only the faint whispers of the night to accompany them, Marie's mind wrestles with a multitude of uncertainties. Madeleine, a stalwart guide through this harrowing landscape, offers a sense of direction amid the overwhelming darkness that surrounds them.

With the break serving as a fleeting moment of respite, Marie replenishes her depleted energy, allowing her fatigued body a moment of solace amidst the relentless pursuit backward toward the camp. The midnight daylight welcomes them, and as they resume their journey, each step propels them closer to the camp, and perhaps, closer to unraveling the mysteries shrouding their path.

Marie's voice breaks the silence, a sudden urgency in her tone. "Wait," she exclaims, her gaze fixated on a bow conspicuously wrapped around a nearby tree. "Keisha marked this tree a couple of days after we set camp. It was the furthest we walked to find food. We're not far away from them."

Madeleine's keen observation takes in the surroundings. "There are tracks that way and going straight. These ones...sloppy, walker's tracks. The other ones...the same shoe size as yours," she points out calmly. "See, you were running."

Marie's eyes follow Madeleine's indication, tracing the imprints left on the ground. "So, we go straight?"

"Yeah," Madeleine confirms, her conviction clear and they continue onward, propelled by a newfound sense of purpose as they follow the trail that might lead them to those Marie holds dear.

With the tension hanging thick in the air, a knife and a sword lay between Madeleine and Marie. Madeleine's firm grip on her sword remains unyielding as they press forward along the straight path. The weapons serve as a silent testament to the uncertainty and danger that lingers in their pursuit.

Moments later, as they continue, their vigilant eyes catch sight of five tents ahead. Madeleine abruptly halts, signaling Marie to stay quiet as she surveys their surroundings, a gesture that prompts Marie to heed the call for silence.