My Path

The Accident

TW!! mentions of abuse in this chapter. 

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You sat at the kitchen table, glancing at Marshall, sitting across from you. Ellie stood at the kitchen sink, awkwardly looking between the two of you. You wondered what was taking Luke so long, the tense atmosphere in here was driving you crazy.

Marshall still looked horrible. He was so thin it looked like his skin was stretched across his skull, his cheeks gaunt. His eyes were a sickly, yellow colour and his breath rattled in his chest when he exhaled. You tried to avoid eye contact.

"I understand why you want me dead," he said bluntly, startling you. You hadn't ever expected him to comment on your obvious dislike of him. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat.

If you were being completely honest with yourself, you hadn't really thought about how your outburst over Marshall's bite would affect him. After seeing the bite, you stopped viewing Marshall in the same way you viewed the others. Not only was he a liability but he was a ticking time bomb. A threat that needed immediate correction.

"If I was in your position, I'd feel the same," Marshall continued, staring at you intently. "But I can't apologise for wanting to spend my final days safe and comfortable rather than alone in the woods waiting for the end."

"You're not going to die, Marshall," Ellie soothed, "Carlos said you seemed a little better, didn't he?"

Marshall shrugged, keeping his gaze fixed on you. Ellie gestured for you to say something.

You sighed, holding up your hands in surrender. "Look, I'm sorry for freaking out at you. It's nothing personal. I would have acted the same if anyone else was bit."

Marshall continued to stare at you. There was silence for a moment before he shook his head.

"You don't have to force yourself to apologise to me, you clearly don't mean it."

You rolled your eyes in irritation. "Listen, if you do get better, I will sincerely beg for your forgiveness. But you won't. We should all know how this goes by now, including you."

Marshall's jaw clenched in annoyance. "I know better than anyone how this goes. My wife and son were both bitten. I had-" his voice broke and he took a minute to compose himself. "I had to take care of them." He finished quietly.

Ellie rubbed his shoulder in sympathy and looked at you with a pleading expression. You couldn't believe how naïve she was being. His story was sad but not uncommon and there was no room for pity in this new world. Not when it came to the Undead.

"I'm very sorry about that, I really am. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a risk to everyone here."

He scoffed at you and your tolerance snapped.

"Do you even realize how fucking selfish you are?" you snapped, "I gave you your stupid apology. I really could care less what happens to you, I don't want to be anywhere near you."

You stood up sharply and stormed outside to wait for Luke instead. Ellie followed after you. You stood next to each other in silence for a few minutes.

"Marshall has had a very difficult life," she started but you cut her off before she could get any further.

"We've all had difficult lives. It really wasn't personal with him before but now," you shook your head with a sigh, "I can't be around someone who willingly puts people at risk like that."

Ellie sighed but nodded her understanding. "I won't force you. I just... wish we could all get along."

You glanced at her hesitantly, "That's, uh, very idealistic," you replied politely.