After Death

Chapter 12 (Grave)

Chapter 12: Grave

Rudolph Alinsky

Estimated, May 2024

About two years after outbreak

California

Season 3

----------------------------------------------------

I followed Thomas outside the walls, he knew I did and he never turned around to stop me. We walked up a small hill not too far away from the Circus. Inside a graveyard, he led me to a small headstone, it was the grave of Philip King.

"My son," he explained. I didn't say anything, I just stared at the grave and the old torn ribbons that hung from the trees nearby.

"He died before any of this even started. He was such a good kid and a part of me's glad he was taken so young. He was to sweet to exist in this world."

"He sounds great," I smiled at Thomas.

"He was," he smiled too but he didn't face me. I saw a small tear trickle down his face and for the first time in a while, I felt devastated yet again.

----------------------------------------------------

Ethan Warren

----------------------------------------------------

I know I probably should have been investigating Aiden's case more than I was, mainly considering what I knew from what I overheard Thomas and Piper talking about. I was unfortunately not very worried about what was happening. If Thomas wanted a fight that was something he would deal with, we'd only get involved if we had too.

A part of me wanted to leave but I knew that would be the worst decision I could possibly ever make. Everyone would hate me for it and if more of us died out there, I'd be blamed because it would be my fault.

I knew I was being dramatic, we had something good here. It really isn't that bad, we have homes, food, and protection, what more could we need.

I had been so set on finding the perfect place for us after Loveland that I became unrealistic. This place is great, it's not perfect but it's something.

We could've built a place for ourselves. We had the supplies, we had what we needed and we had help. A place for our own, our own way of getting shit done. It would be good for us but the "what if's" made it practically impossible.

What if something went wrong?

What if we turned on each other?

What if we died?

I wanted us to be able to be happy here, to be able to work with other's and help people like us who showed up on The Circus' doorstep. We all needed a break and this was a break for us if we could find some sort of system.

I wanted a break from being the leader and I wanted Thomas to take over for me. This was his home, most of the people here were his and he was one of the most reasonable people I've met my entire life. The only problem was that he too turned to me for what we should do to handle problems in this town. That was supposed to be his job but it turned into mine.

I think he was in the same mindset as me. He needed a break too from keeping everyone alive and he saw me as an opportunity but I wasn't one. I was gonna end up being simply just a disappointment.

I wanted to be too much. I wanted to be someone to my people, I wanted to be someone to The Circus, but I wanted to get away from it all too. If there was a war coming or something along those lines, I didn't want to be a part of it but I knew if I wasn't it would get everyone I love killed.