Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

33

When kit came back, it was almost two hours later. Her first stop was Judith, the organic meds the people had only done so much for the little girl, but no fever was a good sign. She stepped out of her room to get a glass of water but stopped seeing the light creep out from Jody's room. She peaked in seeing him staring down at something. "whatcha got?" her voice making him jump. He sheepishly held up two items long left in her med bag, the picture of her and Shane and the ring he gave her. "who is he?" jody asked, playing innocent; he knew, of course, carl had told him the basics and how he died. He just wanted to learn more about her.

"someone significant to me."

"and the ring?" "a gift from him."

"Why don't you wear it?" kit sighed, sitting next to him

"I used to, but then he did something bad, and I was just so angry at him when I found out."

"Are you still mad?" kit thought of the little girl in the other room; it was not how she ever imagined he would follow thru and give her a child, and she still would periodically get angry at the thought of him. But he was also a permanent fixture in her life for as long as she could remember, and he was her everything at one point. He had taught her many things that have been able to keep her alive until this point. Is she mad about the whole betrayal? Of course, she was and still sometimes is, but she also isn't stupid; if he didn't think she was dead, she can say with conviction Judith wouldn't exist. But at the same time, although Judith was born from the affair, Kit loved the little girl as if she was her own. Kit wasn't even sure when she started to forgive Shane or why; the wound had just begun to heal on its own.  "no, I forgave him." Jody gave her a small smile handing her the ring, and she lipped it onto her right hand.

"Will you tell me about him?"

"I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you about my past, anything you want to know. If you tell me about yours."

"deal," kit laughed at his excitement, getting more comfortable.

"his name was Shane Walsh-" they talked for hours; kit told him about her life before, her parents, Shane, Rick, Daryl, and merle, and he told her about his deceased parents, the house hopping, the longest he stayed at was a house was with a couple who couldn't have kids. he stayed with them for almost a year until the man got arrested and lost his job. The state took him back as they no longer met the requirements; this happened three months before everything happened.

Early the following day, kit was awoken by a distinct cough; kit got up, giving Judith more cough meds that would have to do till she got back. She quietly got dressed and geared up after Judith fell back asleep. She crept to the front door "what are you doing?" kit whirled around to see merle standing in the parlor doorway.

"nothing"

"doing nothing, huh?" eyeing her entire get up, " you coming back alive?"

"yes," merle stared at her for a minute before he nodded, walking away and slurping his coffee. Kit felt guilty, but she had a plan in case Judith needed meds, and now she's glad she did. With the apparent signs of whooping cough, Judith needed antibiotics.

She walked about a quarter of a mile away, removing the dirt and small logs she had made over a hole. Grabbing the item that would help her save her daughter. "fucking christ, I've officially lost my damn mind. It's gross, but you need to do this. Judith needs those antibiotics. no feelings, stay calm, shut it all out,"  she groaned, hyping herself up.

~~3rd person

three strangers halted their movements as they watched a woman in a red leather jacket standing at the edge of the forest, the reaper on her arm mocking them as if for a challenge. She had many weapons compared to them. one of the members had already seen what the temptress could do, witnessed from the shadows as she massacred the men who thought they could touch her. she moved gracefully, but her actions were ruthless; it was a sight to witness one he kept a memento of. Her right hand dangled a mass of blonde hair as she stared blankly at the large group of walkers surrounding where they had hoped to enter. "I am be come death, destroyer of worlds," her voice low, empty, and haunting as she slipped on what they now knew was a mask. They watched her slowly approach the horde humming, none paying the woman any mind as she entered the building or left with two duffels. They watched her remove the mask and drop it on the ground without a care as she kept walking.