crooked heart → the walking dead ⁵

[ 015 ] the camp.

CROOKED HEART.

chapter fifteen, the camp.
[ season nine, episode twelve ]

FOR THE FIRST TIME in years, Odessa Grimes leaves the safety of the Hilltop and the miles surrounding the community.

Her heart pounds in her chest at the thought of leaving the first place she's felt safe in years. The Hilltop, her home. She feels safe there, the Hilltop has brought her peace.

And yet as soon as she heard of Henry's recklessness, she didn't even hesitate to leave the safety Hilltop has provided for her over the past five years of her life.

Henry, the only thing she has left of Benjamin. The boy that somehow became her lifeline during the worst time of her life. Benjamin, who made her smile when she wanted to die.

And then as he laid on that table in Carol's cottage, Benjamin begged Odessa to take care of his little brother as if he were her own blood. And she did. Even after she lost her own baby brother, she still was there to protect Henry.

Henry is her family.

She doesn't give up on family.

The sound of a branch snapping brings Odessa out of her thoughts.

Everyone spins around, their weapons pointing at the source of the noise.

There, stands Brielle Grimes. Her eyes are wide and her arms are in the air showing her surrender.

Everyone lowers their weapons.

As soon as Odessa's gun is in its holster, her gaze hardens on her daughter. Her eyes lock with Brielle's. And the young girl knows she's in trouble.

As soon as Odessa starts to storm towards her, Brielle considers hauling ass back to the Hilltop. But as she turns around, Odessa's hand grabs her shoulder. She spins her daughter around, forcing her to look at her.

Brielle's eyes widen at the fury in Odessa's eyes.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Odessa hisses lowly. Brielle says nothing. "Huh? Explain to me why the hell you're out here, Brielle."

"I— I couldn't. . . I didn't want you to get hurt." Brielle stutters.

"I can protect myself. I have Daryl and Connie with me. I am a grown woman!" Odessa snarls furiously.

"Mom—"

"Do you know what happens when people go off by themselves?" Odessa narrows her eyes. "Do you? They get hurt. They die. They get—" Odessa stops talking, taking a deep breath. "They get r— rap—"

She can't say the word. All these years later, and Odessa still hasn't healed from that night outside of the church. It still stings. It still brings tears to her blue eyes. It still hurts her core.

And now here she stands, worrying that the same thing might happen to her daughter. Her little girl. Her baby. Her entire fucking world. If something like that happens. . . the person that does it will feel an unfathomable amount of pain.

"Mom, you're hurting me." Brielle whispers, her brown eyes full of fear.

"Odessa," a voice says from behind her. Daryl steps in, dropping his hand on Odessa's arm. Her eyes snap to him, "you're hurtin' her."