Spider Monkey

Chapter Thirty - Us

( Notes: TW - Violence against Children and Gore :3 ) 

Hedley found a river just a few miles from the tree he and Judith had been staying in for the last few hours. Taking advantage of the water, he decided to use it to clean Judith up. He set her down and undressed her until she was only in her diaper, using her dirty shirt as a cloth to dip it into the water, ringing out the excess water before gently cleaning the dirt, blood and old milk off of her. She giggled when he cleaned her belly, tickling her with the rag. He splashed the water a little, making her laugh fully as the cold droplets landed on her.

Hedley smiled at her, going into her bag to get out a fresh pair of clothes before putting them on her. A white dress with pink leggings. He decided to rearrange his bags and the contents before going. He left Judith to explore the wildflowers, caging her between his legs protectively. He decided to put all the baby stuff into his backpack, moving his headphones and food around to fit everything in. In the bag, Hedley found the brown teddy bear he had given her and when she saw it, Judith babbled, reaching for it.

Hedley handed her the bear and she started to chew on the ear, making him grin.

Once the baby bag was empty, he chose to abandon it there, not able to carry it anyhow. He put on the backpack, taking out his gun to check how many bullets he had left. Half a casing. Not too bad. He managed to eat some tinned peaches, giving Judith some mashed ones to try. She loved them, eagerly asking for more by opening her mouth wide and waiting.

A growl was heard and a single walker, with no legs, was sliding towards them, using their boney arms to drag themselves along.

Hedley took his crossbow, aimed and fired. The growls stopped and when he looked back at Judith, she was yawning and ready for a nap.

He stood up, strapped Judith back to his chest in the blanket sling and took his arrow back from the walker's head before reloading his crossbow. Checking that the coast was clear, he shouldered his weapon and climbed back up a tree, leaning himself against a branch so he could lie still. Judith quickly fell asleep, and Hedley just watched her, humming in his throat very quietly, letting the vibrations thunder his chest so Judith could feel them as she dreamed.

****

The good news - they managed to find most of their group. Maggie, Glenn, Sasha, Tyreese, Bob, along with newcomers, Eugene, Abraham, Tara and Rosita.

The bad news - they were all locked in a cart like cattle, waiting to be taken, killed and eaten by a cannibalistic cult.

"They're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out." Rick said, looking through the small gap in the door.

Glenn frowned, "Find out what?"

"They're fucking with the wrong people."

As the group got ready to fight back, Daryl explained what happened to Beth to Maggie. "Black car with a white cross painted on it. I tried to follow it. I tried."

Maggie nodded, "But she's alive?"

"She's alive."

Maggie then looked all around, "What- Where's Hedley?"

"Not 'ere." Daryl shook his head.

"Is he-"

"He's just not 'ere."

Maggie pulled him into a hug, it was both a thank you and a promise.

"Put your backs to the walls on either side of the car now!" A man's voice called from the outside. Then gas came through the ceiling, disorientating everyone's vision. They coughed and shielded their faces. The door opened and men in gas masks came in and took Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Bob out from the cart, then shut the door.

And everything went black.

****

Hedley was close to Terminus, just a few feet and he'll be there. He was walking on foot, Judith on his hip as she suckled the teddy bear's ear happily, eyes scanning all around her. He had his gun ready in his free hand, his bare feet making the twigs snap under his weight.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A man's voice.

Hedley twisted around; gun raised.

Three men had their guns aimed at him and Judith. Hedley stood his ground, pulling Judith closer to his chest.

"What's your name, kid?" Said the one in the middle, "I'm Lewis, this is Jake and Kyle."

Hedley didn't answer.

"Put the gun down, kid." Kyle smirked, clocking his gun, "Or your little sister is gonna eat a bullet."

Slowly, Hedley put his gun down, anxiety swimming up his spine, making it hard to breathe.

"Now, empty your bag." Lewis instructed. "And slide over the bow." 

Hedley took off his backpack and crossbow and threw them over to the three men. Kyle and Jake opened it and dumped all that was inside. Blankets, his headphones, bottles, formula, diapers, creams and baby food tins and also cans of food.

"Damn it." Jake cursed, "We can't use any of this shit."

"Just take the cans and bow and let's go." Lewis ordered.

Kyle took the tins and put them in his own bag before shouldering the crossbow. 

"What do we do with the kids?" Jake asked Lewis.

"We could just kill them. Take off. No witness-"

Hearing that, Hedley turned around and bolted through the trees.

"Go get him!" Lewis yelled, shooting his gun towards Hedley, shooting a tree stump instead.

Judith began to cry.

Footsteps thundered behind him as he weaved in and out of tree branches.

Hedley saw an abandoned shed just ahead and went in. There was an old tractor inside with a few bundles of hay. He put Judith in the hay, covered her up then took his knife and climbed the tractor until he was on the roof. The three men came in, going towards the sound of the crying infant. Lewis stayed near the door, Jake and Kyle going either side of the tractor and towards where Judith was hiding.

Hedley jumped, landing on top of Kyle, stabbing him in the head. It was harder than a walker's skull, tough and solid so it took a lot of strength and a twist of his wrist to impale the brain. Lewis shot out; Hedley used the body of Kyle to shield himself. He took Kyle's gun and shot back. Lewis dived out of the way. Jake came from behind Hedley and hit him round the head, forcing him back. His ears rang as blood squirted out his nose. Hedley rolled around, shooting round, hitting Jake in the chest. The man stumbled back, bleeding out. Lewis then made his way in Hedley's view, holding a screaming Judith, gun pointed to her tiny head.

"Drop the gun, you little bastard."

Hedley had no choice but to do just that.

"Now, we're going to have a little chat." Lewis smirked as he spoke, stepping towards Hedley. The boy's face was filled with fear as the man loomed over him.