T U C K E R × twd

fifteen

.fifteen
UNWANTED SURPRISE

IT HAD BEEN SEVENTEEN days since Beth's death and I knew that dad wasn't over it, I honestly didn't know if he ever would. Maggie was a mess, choosing to burn Beth's clothes in hope for closure but when I heard the heart-breaking sobs I knew it hadn't worked. No one spoke about it, I mean how could we.

Dad had closed his self off more if that was even possible, and he hardly spoke to me other than the odd order to go hunting or to keep close. Sometimes he wouldn't even look at me, or anyone, he wouldn't even check if I was drinking or eating enough like he used to.

We'd recently hot-wired two large vehicles, one white van and a blue car of some sort, and driven them to South Carolina so Rick could take Noah home. Rick had this idea that if it was still there then they'd let us stay and we'd have a new home but I honestly found that hard to believe. So much shit happens now, unexpectantly, that I wouldn't be surprised if Richmond had been destroyed.

I knew it was wrong for me to think that but Beth's death kind of solidified that, this world was fragile and unforgiving. It didn't care if people made promises or if you had family and a home, it would chew you up and shit you out for the flies. Leave you on the side of the road for walkers to devour you, the world didn't give a fuck.

Noah had gone with Rick, Glenn, Michonne, and Tyreese to the Richmond 'sanctuary' whilst the others stayed away just in case it was a trap or if something went bad, so the whole group didn't get wiped out.

Carol had a walkie-talkie that Rick would repetitively radio in and tell her about their progress, Carol doing the same with how we were holding up. Dad had run off into the woods, claiming to go for a hunt, Carl sat with Judith in silence and the others were milling around, keeping a watch out for walkers or other groups.

Dad had been gone for a while, making something in the back of mind worry that he'd run off again. So I decided to follow where he went in the woods, and that how I found myself tracing his steps. He'd gone far in, obviously wanting to be alone but I couldn't allow that. No one should be alone, especially at a time like this when half of our group had gone off.

Using my fore-arms I pushed branches and leaves out of the way, keeping an eye out for Dad. I halted behind a tree, hearing the recognisable sound of something being cut open, and leaned my head around the side of my tree. I sighed when I saw dad sat on the floor, leaning against a tree with a dead squirrel in his hands, as he scooped all of its insides out and let them fall to the ground in front of him.

"Dad," I said quietly as I stepped around the tree, he didn't stop or look at me "Carol was gettin' worried, you've been out here for a long time"

Again he didn't show any sign that he was actually listening to me. I shook my head and stepped closer to him, feeling annoyance starting to bubble inside of me. My jaw tensed and relaxed over and over as I stared down at my dad, he was ignoring me. Closing up again. He couldn't do this, not at a time like this. The church was destroyed so we had no where to go now, we needed everyone to be able to defend us but dad being like this meant that he wasn't.

"Don't do this..." I muttered spitefully, stepping towards him again, "Dad, you have to go back to Carol and the group. You can't stay out here all day, it ain't safe..." Nothing. I got fucking nothing. My hand tensed around my hockey stick as I tried to control my breathing.

"You don't want to talk, fine, then don't, but you know what? I do." I spat angrily at him, my anger getting the best of me again until I was shouting down at him "You can't do this! You can't go silent every time somethin' goes fuckin' wrong, and fuckin' ignore everyone. Hell, ignore me! So are you goin' to get off the floor and walk back to camp or are you-"