𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗔- rick grimes

TWENTY

TWENTY

DURING THE APOCALYPSE THE LAST thing on anyone's mind is catching a contagious sort of strain of the flu. Everyone too busy trying to stay alive from the waking dead outside, begging and lurching for any human flesh they could get. No one seemed to remember the colds you'd get or the viruses that went around, until of course you'd catch them yourself during the end of the world.

Aria Blake thought she could say she survived the dead, survived the worst that could happen to someone but now every event in her life seemed to contradict that notion. The woman couldn't seem to catch a small glimpse of a break in her day to day survival lifestyle. Always on edge or concerned for the worst, now even more so as she sat next to Glenn while helping Hershel with a patient.

Her whole face was dripping in sweat, her shirt probably drenched as well. The underside of her eyes usually dark were red, like she continuously rubbed at them until they were raw. Her throat horse, hurting every time she had to cough. Head pounded still, aching dully as it lingered not wanting to easy up. And every time she closed her eyes she could feel the heat from her fever.

Her body ached, sorely, as she moved her hands away from Hershel's patient and to the cup Glenn had handed to her. "Drink some of that, all of you." Hershel said referring to the woman, Glenn and Sasha who had been sitting on the other side of the patient.

"Some council meeting, huh?" Hershel made small talk as the group drank out of their cups, Aria sniffling every couple of minutes. Sasha tiredly said, "We're three members short."

"I think we should make some new rules before they get back." Hershel began as he kept attending to the man in his bed. "I hereby declare we have spaghetti Tuesdays every Wednesday."

Aria heard Sasha groan but the blue eyed woman couldn't help but to nod at his idea, moving her cup away from her face. "I like that idea. I haven't had spaghetti in forever."

Hershel smiled at the woman, "First we have to find some spaghetti."

The room went silent afterwards, the occasional sip of their drinks or the coughing amongst the group being heard. Aria finished the rest of her drink, holding it in her lap as she took her hand and wiped away at her forehead. No matter how many times she did that the sweat kept reappearing, beaded across her face. Her blue eyes were dull today, not vibrant as they normally were, more grey than usual.

"You okay to take over?" Aria heard Hershel ask the other woman in the room. She blanked out the rest of their talking as she closed her eyes before she felt a tap on her arm. Reopening them, she found Glenn nodding towards Hershel.

"You want to help us go on my rounds?" Hershel questioned again as her eyes met his. She nodded, grabbing the wall to help stand up. "Yeah sure."

Glenn turned around as they stepped out of the cell, leaving Sasha. "How long will that keep him alive?" Hershel didn't answer at first, just looking at the young man in front of him. "Just as long as were willing to do it."

"As long as it takes."

___

After the close call with Glenn earlier that night, Aria stayed in her new cell she occupied since being sick. She tried hard to cling onto any hope she had left that she'd survive this. That nothing bad would happen and no close call would barge in through her door. Aria would never admit it but she was terrified. Terrified to end up like most of the people did today, dead.