They drove for over an hour before stopping. Making sure they were clear of the herd of walkers. There were the quiet introductions, inside the crowded van it was mainly silence. Those who didn't know about the deaths would look about the van for those lost, upon not seeing them they'd look to the closest person Annie or Patrick. The looks on their faces said it all. When they finally pulled off to the side of the road, Anthony stepped out of the passenger door to face the car that was nearing, he was now holding the rifle that had been handed over by Patrick, much to Shiloh's protesting.
The car that had been following them pulled off as well. The passenger door flew open and Ellis popped out, Ryan followed from the drivers side. "I'll be damned." Anthony said in surprise. Others stepped out of the van, curiously. Kate almost dropped to her knees at the sight of Ryan. Ryan grinned half jogging to her with a limp, they embraced in a hug. "I knew you'd make it!" Kate said checking him over, almost to see if he was real. "You can't get rid of me that easy Kate." He smiled kissing her on the forehead before looking to the others, he had mixed emotions by what he didn't see. He looked into Kate's eyes, "Greg?" he asked. Kate shook her head, "We never saw him." Ryan again hugged her tight, this time he needed the hug.
Ellis had gone rushing by Anthony and Wayne to the side door of the van which was now open. Falisha was coaxing Annie out slowly."Annie!" Hearing Ellis seemed to break her out of whatever trance she was in. He practically knocked her over when he came running in, clutching to her. The two crumbling to the ground in a mess of tears. The reunions brought smiles to some, uplifting their spirits from the despair of that night.
Patrick stayed in the van, numb to his surroundings and what was going on. Tony stayed inside as well, staying with Austin, his head in Tony's lap. Austin wasn't getting better, he'd occasionally open his eyes or mumble, but it was incomprehensible and didn't last long.
"That guy's not doing so well." Klaire said as they all formed into a circle outside of the van to discuss what to do now. "That guy's got a name you know. It's Austin." Shiloh snorted, leaning against the van. Klaire's hands were on her hips as she looked over Wayne's shoulder to see Shiloh. "Fine, Austin's not doing so well." she said. Shiloh cocked a smile, this one was touchy he thought.
Shiloh looked over his shoulder, peering through the van's side window, glancing at Tony and Austin, he kicked off the van before walking closer, entering himself into the conversation. "Look, not to sound ungrateful but Austin needs help, he needs medicine. If you all don't plan on helping get that then we'll part ways here." Anthony raised his hands, "Woah woah woah. No one said we weren't going to help your friend. You say he needs medicine do you even know what kind he needs hotshot?" Anthony said questioningly. Shiloh would have loved to throw it in his face that he knew but the fact was he didn't. His hand instinctively went to the bruised injury on the back of his head, he still had a killer headache. "No, I don't." He crossed his arms motioning to van with a nod. "Austin would know, he was studying for medical school or something. But obviously we can't ask him." Klaire shot him the 'no shit genius' look to which he rolled his eyes.
Kate still hadn't let go of Ryan, still half hugging. "We should help them. We could use the supplies, Ryan's hurt too." Ryan brought his hand up. "No really I'm fine." She looked at him angrily before bumping her own leg into his, one hand instinctively going to grab it as he squeezed his eyes shut and grit his teeth. "Not fine, ass." She said before turning back to the others. "Patrick is still out of it too."
"We're at half strength, we need time to regroup." Anthony said agreeing with Kate to a degree.
"I'm alright. But I'm helping them." Came a voice as Patrick stepped out of the van. "It's what Audri would have wanted so it's what I'm doing, with or without you guys help."
"You heard the man." Wayne said slapping the van. "Let's go." No one argued, everyone piled into the van and car before setting out. As luck would have it there was a hospital that wasn't embedded deep in the middle of a town. The downside was it wasn't a short drive.
Hours later they'd arrived, the front parking lot of the hospital looked like most did, a giant mess. Except there was an added touch they noticed, instead of cars scattered everywhere there was a half circle barricade made out of parked cars, blocking the front entrance, as well as the lack of any bodies. Military medical tents were beside the building, even a few military vehicles we're scattered about. The group parked far enough away when they noticed this not wanting to go stumbling into something they'd regret. "So do you think whoever made that barricade's still alive in there?" Shiloh said from inside the van, they'd sat watching for any kind of movement or hint that the place was occupied by the dead or otherwise. Tony was growing restless, worried about Austin. "There's only one way to find out, we walk in." Many in the vehicle wanted to protest this but the fact was it was probably the best if not only option at this point. "Anything could happen so only a few should go. Let's not risk the whole group at once." Klaire pointed out.
Klaire, Anthony, and Shiloh walked towards the three story hospital. Tony had persisted on going but Shiloh told him to stay with Austin. Anthony had the rifle, Shiloh had his pistol, and Klaire had a metal baseball bat they'd found in the back of the van. Tony held onto his own pistol, no sense in risking all three guns at once, they were all low on ammo as it was. A few walkers wandered on the outside of the barricade, Shiloh and Anthony distracted them one by one while Klaire took care of them with the bat. They were surprised and confused at the lack of walkers.
The three climbed over the barricade of cars, walking towards the entrance. The doors opened and five people stepped out, all holding assault rifles, aimed at them. The older man in the center was wearing a military uniform, he stepped forward from the other four, two women and two men. He held his head up, waiting for one of the three to speak first his own weapon hanging by it's strap, his hand still holding it but it was aimed at the ground in a non-threatening manner.
Shiloh spoke up, "I don't suppose you've got any medical supplies you'd just give us?" The soldier chuckled. "Straight to the point then, fair enough. No, I can't say we do. We can't hand out our supplies or we'd be in your situation one day." Klaire watched the four behind him before looking back to him. "Surely you can spare something. We don't want much, just enough to help save someone." She said, he cocked his head in consideration for a moment before turning and talking to one of the blonde women. He turned back to look at them, "Fine. What do you need? We'll see."
"We're not exactly sure." Anthony intervened awkwardly. Shiloh again spoke up, "He was shot, lost alot of blood and he's been in and out of consciousness for hours." The man sighed before turning once again to speak to the rest of his group. "Look, if he's in that bad of shape you should bring him in and let us have a look. We've got a doctor." One of the other men seemed to object at first before the others snapped at him. He raised his hand up and one by one they lowered their weapons.
Anthony and Klaire both looked to Shiloh, "Austin's your friend." Klaire said. "So this is your call, do we leave or take the chance?" Shiloh hadn't expected to be making this call, he gave it a few seconds of thought before nodding. "It's his best chance I have to try, if you guys want to leave us here no hard feelings." Anthony and Klaire looked at each other then back to him. Anthony crossed his arms. "Your one of us now, all three of you are. We wouldn't leave you. We just gotta be careful." Klaire nodded in agreement. "We aren't gonna have a group hug now or anything like that are we?" Shiloh said raising his eyebrows.
--
Tony, Shiloh, and Wayne carried Austin over the barricade and into him into a wheelchair. The rest of the group followed. "You've got kids huh? Maybe you guys aren't assholes afterall." The soldier said as they all walked down a hallway. Turning into a room they got Austin into a bed, one of the blonde women, Izzie went to checking him over. Some of them filing into the room, some staying in the hallway so it wasn't crowded. "Let's get the soft restraints on him just in case." Izzie said to the youngest of the five, a man Liam helped fasten Austin's arms to the bed. The group growing confused as Shiloh spoke first, "What the hell are they for?"
"Just precaution to make sure he doesn't 'come back'." Everyone gave him a confused look. "He got shot not bit!" Tony said. The man looked around at their faces. "You don't know yet do you?" he said seeing their confused faces. "If you die then you come back as one of those things. Simple as that, doesn't matter how you go. You've gotta destroy the brain or the person will come back." Several people tried to talk at once, the news shocking to them all. Patrick spoke up after the soldier shushed everyone. "He's not lying...Audri came back..." He went quiet, staring at the floor, the memory flashing in his mind seemingly prodding at the fresh wounds of her death.
"It all makes sense now." Annie said a tear falling down her cheek from the doorway. "That's why my mom turned into one of those things. She killed herself in that bathroom. There we're pills on the bathroom floor." The others turned to her, "Honey you don't know that for sure." Falisha said trying to put an arm around Annie who shoved it away. "Yes I do, she did the same thing before." Ellis looked at his sister in shock. "Your lying!" he yelled. Annie had yet to explain the circumstances around Jemma's death to Ellis, he'd only known she was gone. "Mom's not coming back." Annie said putting her hands on Ellis' shoulders. "It's fine Ellis, we're still together just like we've always been. We'll be okay." She pulled him into a hug just as he started to sob away, his face buried into her. Ellis' was old enough to understand his mother was 'complicated' but he was still young enough and scared enough that he yearned for her even though Annie had always been the one to take care of him.
[][]2 Years Ago[][]
School was out for the day and Annie had just been dropped off by the bus. She walked inside putting her bag and coat away, the house was oddly quiet. Ellis' bus wouldn't drop him off for another 20 or so minutes but her mother should still be here. "Mom?" She called out walking through the home. When she reached her moms room she rounded the corner to the bathroom spotting Jemma on the floor pills scattered about. Screaming she ran to her trying to wake her before calling 911.
[][]End Flashback[][]
Izzie turned to look at the room full of people. "Alright, there's too many people. Let's make some room people." She said before continuing. The soldier coaxed everyone out. They moved down the hall to what was a waiting room, it was the only place with enough seats for everyone. There was awkward tension as they sat to which he decided to break. "Sergeant Benjamin Telford, just Ben if you don't mind. Luke, Liam, Shannon, and her sister Izzie would be the one working on your man." He said nodding towards each of them as he called their names.
"Sounds like you've all had it rough. We don't know you and you don't know us, fair enough. But given the chance we'd like to invite you to stay with us if everything works out. We've got food, guns, ammo, and medical supplies. The fact is we don't have people. It's not easy keeping a place this size safe and secure."
"And to be honest it looks like you guys need us as much as we need you." Izzie said strolling up taking her gloves off. Tony and Shiloh stood before she put her hands up. "He's fine, for now. Resting comfortably but he'll need a week or so of rest, I'll monitor him in the meantime. It's a good thing you found us when you did, he wouldn't have lasted another 12 hours." Shiloh stayed standing while Tony just collapsed back into his seat in relief.
Shannon, Izzie's sister shifted in her seat some. "Are you two seriously considering this? Inviting in a bunch of people that we don't even know?" Liam sat forwards in his chair, "Shannon's right we don't know a thing about them. Are you willing to risk everything we've worked for here?" Ben seemed more irritated than anything. "I've kept us safe this far haven't I? You've all followed my lead this long on most matters. What changed?" Izzie could see where this was leading and decided to intervene herself. "Fine, leave it to a vote. It's 2-2." She turned to look at Luke who'd been sitting quietly. "Can't be in the middle this time Luke I'm sorry, you've gotta be the tie breaker." Luke seemed uncomfortable being in this position. "I say we give them a shot. They seem like good people you guys. It can't stay just the five of us forever. What's the point of keeping this place safe if we ignore everything that's happening out there." He said peering over at Liam and Shannon.
"Votes over then, the invitation still stands." Ben said turning back to the group. Liam accepted it and Shannon rolled her eyes.
"The offer sounds amazing to be honest." Anthony said speaking up. "But before anything's done we need to talk and decide as a group." There we're nods all around.
They talked amongst themselves for nearly a half hour before coming to the decision to stay.
Two weeks have passed since they'd come to the hospital, the groups are meshing as well as could be hoped for complete strangers inside the hospital. With the many able bodied it was easier to keep the place secure, easier to burn the bodies of the dead they killed when wandering nearby the building. But it was a drain on supplies, they had plenty but eventually it would run out, so preemptive runs to nearby locations for anything were necessary. Austin was up and around but was under orders to use a single crutch under his good arm while his body recovered.
Klaire stood in front of a table with a lantern for light staring at a map spread out in one of the main rooms on the first floor. Scribbles and X's were drawn here and there. This was the map of the area and they'd been using it to search for supplies. She was deep in thought while leaned in staring at a neighborhood with no scribbles, so deep in thought she didn't notice the figure creeping up on her. There was a sudden loud clattering noise as a metal tray dropped to the floor, causing Klaire to jump, she turned to see Shiloh behind her. "You ass!" she yelled composing herself and turning her attention back to the map.
"How's the view?" Shiloh said with a grin on his face. "Cuz mine couldn't get much better." He was leaned against the wall with his arms crossed his eyes taking in her leaned figure as much as possible. She rolled her eyes, she didn't need to look to know exactly what he was looking at. "Enjoy it while it lasts, one day you'll only be seeing nothing but the silver of my bat before it knocks you flat out."
Ben turned a corner, "What's all the racket?" He asked walking over to the opposite side of the table from Klaire. "Ask jackass over there." She said not turning her attention from the map. Ben glanced over at Shiloh who just shrugged innocently. "We haven't touched this neighborhood, I'm thinking tomorrow if the rain clears up we make a run and check it out." She had her finger pressed to map. Ben gave it a glance and Shiloh walked over to investigate himself.
Patrick leaned forwards against the railing, staring out the second story window of the hospital. It was the middle of the day but rain clouds made it look late evening. The rain pattered against the window. He could hear Austin coming his way for a while, the crutch giving him away, it's squeaks weren't exactly subtle. Austin stepped up beside Patrick looking out the window with him. "How are you feeling? I'm sure those stairs weren't fun." Patrick said not turning his gaze from the window. "Not bad for someone who almost died two weeks ago I suppose." Austin replied with a half smile that didn't last long, he'd come here for a reason. "Patrick, you've been distant. From what I've heard you weren't like this before...and maybe I shouldn't be the one to talk to you about this but I feel partially responsible. I mean I didn't even know your name until I woke up in this hospital. I didn't even have the chance to speak to you or Audri before I passed out back in that house. The two of you risked your lives by helping us."
Patrick glanced at Austin angrily. "If we'd known you were being chased by a gun wielding lunatic we wouldn't have!" He almost immediately regretted those words, because it wasn't true. Audri was shy but she was also adamant about helping people. Patrick might have swayed towards leaving them had he been alone but all it would have taken was one look from Audri to change his mind. She could be very convincing with little effort, it was a gift.
"You blame us don't you? Tony, Shiloh, and me. If you hadn't met us Audri would still be alive. I can't help but feel like we're to blame. We caught the two of you up in that mess. And I couldn't do a damn thing about it. I don't remember anything but it sounds like if I'd woken up a minute before I could have stopped him before he..." Austin stopped as Patrick looked down at the railing his hands were leaning against. Patrick turned and started to walk in the opposite direction from Austin. "P--" Austin started to call his name before Patrick cut him off while continuing his pace. "I don't blame any of you and neither should you." Austin kept quiet as he watched Patrick turn a corner down the hallway. It was only then did he realize how foolish and wrong he was. He understood now, why Patrick was being so distant from everyone.
As soon as Patrick turned the corner he entered the first room he saw, the room was almost pitch black, only dim light streamed in from outside throught the shades, immediately punching the wall inside the room through angry tears and resting his forehead against the wall. Patrick didn't blame Shiloh, Tony, or Austin for Audri's death, maybe he should, it was their fault he and Audri had been placed in that situation but he and Audri had chosen to stay, they'd chosen to help. But he couldn't and wouldn't blame them even if Tony had seemingly frozen on the rooftop. Helping them is what Audri wanted. No instead, he blamed the mad man that had shot her, he blamed this cursed world, but mainly he blamed himself.
The rain clouds seemed morph in the sky as Austin watched through the window from the spot Patrick had left him in the hallway, it was turning into a thunderstorm.
Lightning flashed outside the window in the room Patrick stood in. The flash illuminated the room for a brief instant, casting a shadowed silhouette on the wall opposite to him. Patrick still had his forehead against the wall distracted by his thoughts and emotions and was unable to see that he wasn't alone.
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Coming Up on Season One's Second half:
Months have passed since they've settled down in the hospital, the cold winter is upon them and and with it, snow and ice. Something is amiss in the halls of what the survivors call home. Tragedy will strike when they least expect it and the solid ground will shift beneath their feet as the group fractures, lines are drawn, and their worlds could shatter.
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Characters are still welcomed. They may appear soon or in season 2, if a season 2 occurs. :p
There might be a slightly short break now as I'd like to acquire a few more characters for the future before continuing. Dunno we'll see. I'm terrible at planning I know. lol
Leave a comment! I enjoy them.
Thanks for reading, and being apart of this journey.
Edit: The series is on a slight hiatus. I hope to have it going again by Feb 1st but we'll see.
Comments
Your writing has definitely been improving through the course of the series and it's interesting to try and figure out in which direction you're gonna take this series!
Oomg. This is amazing. No joke, I didn't even realize how good you were until this episode. This is the best I've ever read. EVER
Some things I love:
Klaire and Shiloh's relationship is perfection, I love reading their conversations, they're so entertaining.
Annie and Patrick are interesting characters and I can't wait to see what happens to Patrick.
Izzie, Ben and Shannon are great additions.
You're an amazingly creative writer, MAKE A SEASON TWO OR ILL DIE.... But if you need a break, that's fine. :)
100/10
And, I'll claim Kate, and I'll make a second character, even though I love Klaire, but y'know. :)))
GrrrImABear_ivyyy_445
I'm glad you guys think I'm getting better because I don't notice it. xD
I hope to live up to your expectations lol.
I do enjoy writing the character interactions with each other I get really invested in them. I'm going to try and have them often while not taking away from the main plot of the story, and not making the episodes super long with them.
I've gotten to a point where I'm caught up to what I'm writing and I like to be writing the next episode before I post the one before usually. I'm trying to map out the events of the next five episodes while I can. Too many ideas bouncing around my head. halp
As for season two we'll have to see how I feel when I finish season one but I have some ideas I think could be great whether we continue with the season one cast or something a bit different. I'm just wondering if I'll finish this before the show starts up again or not. (Which is the day after my birthday. =D)
dragonjason
Well. Just know you're really good. And if you want to do a second season I'll definitely read it!! I reread the series and yeah, the conversations between people is really great. Especially with Shiloh, Tony and Austins parts. And Audri and Patrick's last scene was great to :) sorry I ramble a lot
Don't worry about it. I love your rambles if they can even be called that. It gives me something to read I like feedback even if it's rambling feedback. ;p
The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 7 - Remedy