morph // C.Grimes

Chapter 25: Reality



The red metal wall stared back at her, separating her from the world she had grown accustomed to. Her legs crossed beneath her, the unmowed grass prickling her exposed hands that rested in her lap. Flexing her sore knuckles, the joints swelling and turning purplish.

The scuff of boots on the lawn made her irritably inhale a long breath, her chest puffing out and shoulders raising. "Here" something cold and solid hit her lap, the girls' brows furrowing as she looked up.

Sasha stood beside her, eyes staring at the wall just like Caden had done. The teenager drew her eyes away, picking up the ice pack, icily burning her fingertips. With a hiss she placed it atop her knuckles, biting down on her lip.

Sasha's almond-shaped eyes looked down at the young girl, "You got a hell of a punch you know" she then squatted down, elbows resting on her knees, fingers picking at the grass shards.

Caden didn't smile at the compliment, only flexing her fingers as she shivered with discomfort at the coldness of the ice pack. "Well, apparently that makes me more of a freak here" she grumbled, remembering the looks of fear she received from the Alexandrians.

"They're the freaks" Sasha coldly stated, "They don't get it, too busy playing pretend" her face filled with an intensity that Caden could not place words to describe. "None of this... none of this is real"

Caden brows pulled together as her lips parted. Numb to the cold burn on her knuckles. The faint whispers of the dead interrupted them, barely audible between the thick metal of the wall. Reality attempting to break in.

--

"You are extremely lucky, I hope you know that" Glenn had exhaled a heated breath, pacing in front of the girl who sat at the edge of the bed. He pointed a finger at her sternly, "Tomorrow you will go apologize to Deanna"

Caden scoffed as she crossed her arms, "For what? She said herself that her son deserved to get his ass handed to him." She retaliated,

Glenn ran a hand run through his jet-black hair, "He's still her son. The Leader's son." He emphasized with stress, "You can't go around choking people"

"He threatened you! I was protecting you!" She yelled defiantly, "You're my family, and I'll be damned to sit back and let some asshole hurt you" The two fell silent, the only sound their heavy breaths as they tried to calm down. "I made that mistake once... I won't let it happen again" her eyes glossed over, the threat of tears brightening her green hues. "I'm not gonna be alone again," she told him determinedly, unable to cope with the idea of that life once more.

Glenn's eyes softened, looking to the floor in defeat. He reached into his waistband, pulling her knife out, holding it in his hands as he twisted the green handle. "You'll never be alone, Caden. I'll always find you, I promise" he then extended the weapon out toward her, flipping the handle in her direction.

"I hate promises" she meekly whispered, slowly taking her weapon into her possession. "But I'll trust this one" she swallowed thickly, sliding her knife into her holster.

She buried her face into her hands, feeling Glenn take a seat beside her. His arm wrapped over her shoulders as he pulled her into his side. "How're your knuckles?" He questioned in concern, "You hit him pretty hard" he added in a small hint of a compliment.