succumb - glenn rhee

[THIRTY-NINE] maturity levels

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE// MATURITY LEVELS
"YOU DON'T GET TO TALK
TO HER LIKE THAT."

ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ

The four of them sat around the table in the Governor's apartment, being joined as well by Woodbury's scientist, Milton. "Eight months? Hard to believe you ladies lasted so long out there." The Governor spoke in disbelief.

"What? Because we're women?" Andrea teased, smiling up at him.

"Because you were alone." He responded.

"Ew." Liz mumbled.

"We had each other." The blonde described.

"Four against the world, I suppose. That's pretty bad odds." He explained.

"We managed." Liz said quickly.

"Oh, we're impressed." The Governor spoke, trying to ignore the brunette's tone.

"Very." Milton agreed with a smile.

"Survival in the wild is tough sledding. Wake up every morning on the ground wondering if today is the day. Will it be quick and final or slow and, well, without end? Will someone have the good sense to kill my brain, or will I come back as one of them." He debated as he set the pan down on the counter, having served out all the eggs.

"Do you think they remember anything? The person they one were?" Milton questioned as he chewed his eggs.

"No. They're mindless monsters, nothing more nothing less." Liz answered, moving the eggs around on her plate.

"Milton believes there might be a trace pf the person they were still trapped inside." The Governor explained.

"Well, that's just stupid. They're dead. The only thing alive about those things is the brain stem. And barely if that." Elizabeth spat as she pursed her lips, taking a bite of the eggs on her plate. "If you think there is humanity left in those things, you haven't really seen one, or seen it eat someone you love."

"Liz. You don't have to be rude." Andrea scolded.

"No, no, it's alright. I asked and she gave her opinion." Milton spoke kindly. "Thank you for your point of view."

"No problem." Liz said.

"Now, um, the two turned men you had in chains, who were they?" Milton questioned, looking to Michonne before sipping his tea. "The way you controlled them.. used them to your benefit. You did know them, didn't you?"

"Sir, I don't think she wants to talk about that." Theodora spoke, still trying to be respectful.

"My apologies." He spoke with a nod.

"So, what you have here, you expect it to hold? What if a herd comes through?" Andrea questioned, trying to change the subject.

"It'll hold."

x

Liz, Theodora, and Michonne stood close to one of the alleyways between the buildings, having just heard the worst 'hope speech' after Governor had come back with multiple army vehicles, declaring that the others had been killed and turned by the time they arrived. "God, I feel sorry that these people believe him." Liz spoke quietly.

"Some people need something to believe in, even if it's not true." Michonne responded before taking a sip of water from her bottle. "This place.. there's something wrong here, Andrea just doesn't see it."

"What do you think is wrong with this place?" Theodora questioned, looking in between her aunt and Michonne.

"We're not sure yet, Teddy Bear. But, you'll be the first to know." Liz responded, leaning forward to poke the younger Horvath on the nose.

"We need to get Andrea on board with leaving, go to the coast, live out our lives on an island." Michonne explained with a sigh.

"An island? Like Hawaii?" Teddy asked with a smile.

"Maybe if your lucky." The dark-skinned woman said with a laugh.

"Island probably is the safest place to be. Good supply of fish, we can boil the saltwater." Elizabeth mentioned.

"I don't really like fish.." Theodora whined. Despite her definite growing up by the standards of knowing how this world works, she was still a kid at heart. And a picky-eater. Liz and Michonne laughed as the youngest glanced between them with a pout. "It's not funny! Fish is nasty."

"We've eaten worms before and you were totally for it.. but you draw the line at fish?"

x

The four girls stood in a circle in their designated 'apartment', which was really a single bedroom with a couch and a cot. Michonne had caught Andrea coming out of the Governor's apartment, making it known that they had to speak to her about Woodbury, and now. Andrea was taken by the hand by Michonne and basically dragged back to their apartment.

Michonne and Andrea walked into the room, spotting Liz and Teddy pulling their belongings together into a few small bags. "What's going on?" Andrea questioned slowly.

"We're leaving. Remember?" Michonne answered.

"What? When did we say that?"

"When we got here. We had an agreement, Andrea. None of us want to stay here." Elizabeth replied as she zipped the bag.

"Well, I want to stay. At least for now. We can always leave tomorrow or the following day." The blonde argued.

"Andrea, we had decided this-"

"The following day?"

Andrea scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "We don't want to walk into trouble that we can't get out of."

"We're in trouble here, Andrea! There's something wrong with this place and that guy." Liz exclaimed.

"I don't like it here. We should leave, Andrea." Theodora said.

"Theodora, this is an adult conversation." Andrea reprimanded.

Liz's mouth opened in a scoff as she stepped closer to the blonde. "You don't get to talk to her like that. She's saved your ass more times than anyone can fucking count."

"She's a kid, Elizabeth." Andrea bickered.

"She's acting more mature than you. Respect is earned, Andrea. Not just given because you're older. I can't believe you right now." The brunette scoffed as she placed a hand on Theodora's back guiding her out of the room.

xx
word count: 947