Amber Grimes

Five

I woke up the next morning alone, Shane had already gotten ready for the day, like he usually did. I winced as I sat up, carefully getting dressed before making my way out of the tent and into the campsite. I greeted everyone before sitting next to my family at a table, Carol handing me a small plate. " So how are you feeling, dad?" " I'm fine, sweetheart, other than the whole apocalypse thing, you know?" He chuckled. I laughed with him before digging into my breakfast.

" Listen, we need to talk about Daryl," Glenn said as he sat down close, talking to Shane as he sat down beside me. " I know, he's gonna be a real problem," Shane huffed. " Who's Daryl?" Dad asked . He's Merle's little brother, and he ain't going to be happy when he finds out his brother was left handcuffed to a roof." " Merle was what?" I asked, surprised, my eyes going straight to Shane. " He's deserved it," I spat. " Amber!" Mom scolded me.

" Don't act so high and mighty Mom, you know what Merle was like." " I know he wasn't pleasant, but that doesn't mean he deserves to be left on a roof to die!". " That's enough, both of you," Shane spoke up, " We just need a plan to tell Daryl," Glenn chimned in. " I'll do it," I spoke up. " No, you won't," Shane protested. " Daryl listens to me. Hell, besides Merle, I'm the only other person he talks to in this camp," I argued. " You don't know how he is going to react, so I say no! You ain't doing it, " Shane shot back." Why? Are you jealous?' I shot back at Shane, giving him a look, one he returned. A warning look.

" Amber, I've known you since you were a girl." " I'm not a girl anymore! Okay so stop treating me like one, if I want to talk to a man, then I can and you can't do anything about it" I spat at Shane before I got up and walked away. " Amber!" Shane yelled after me, but I ignored him. I picked up my bucket and walked off into the woods to get away from all this bullshit.

I knew Shane would follow me, or at least yell at me later in our tent, but I didn't care. I was sick of him belittling me, and then fucking me.  In the forest, I picked up whatever berries and nuts I could, stopping when I heard a branch break. I stopped walking and looked around carefully, just in case it was a walker. I jumped in fright when my waist was grabbed, but I knew exactly who it was.

I turned around to Shane, and it was very clear on his face how angry he was at me. " You think this is funny?" Shane asked, glaring down at me. " Piss off, Shane. I'm not in the mood for you right now," I snapped. Shane suddenly grabbed my neck and pinned me to a tree behind me. I grabbed onto his risk in fright as he began to choke me.

" If you go anywhere near that dammed red neck, I will kill him." " Shane," I choked out, grabbing his hand. " I don't care if Rick is back. That doesn't change a god damn thing. You are mine. " He growled, pulling me in close to his face. " Do I make myself clear?" I nodded my head quickly, " If I see you near another man, I'll make it hell for the both of you." Shane released my neck, and I couldn't help but cough as the air stung my lungs.

I grabbed my throat as I tried to get my breathing back, Shane glaring down at me the whole time. " Don't you ever pull something like that again" He spat before he walked away.

Tears stung my eyes as I finally got my breathing under control, what the fuck is wrong with you Shane?! I quickly hurried back to my tent and looked at my neck in the mirror, he hadn't left any bruises, but his grip on me was so strong.

" Daryl, we need to talk," Dad's voice called from outside the tent. I hurried out, looking at the scene unfold as dad told Daryl and Merle. Obviously, he was pissed and swung for dad, only for Shane to put him in a head lock until he calmed down. " Let me go! So I can go get my brother. " Daryl spat, " We can't let you go alone, " Dad sighed. " What are you saying?" Mom asked, " I'll go with him, I'll make sure they're both brought back safe."

" Safe? You only got back, and you're just leaving? For Merle of all people?". " It's my fault. If it weren't for me, he'd be here. "If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. " T- dog spoke up. " He was out of control, and you locked him out for it. That's what happened," Andrea spoke up next. " They're right, Merle was going to get us all killed," Glenn sighed. " I'll go with you." " Glenn, no," I begged. " I'll be okay, Amber." Glenn smiled at me. " As much as I don't like the guy, I can't just leave him to die."

" All of you are going to risk your lives for one guy?" Shane scoffed." You're going to get the group and yourselves killed. We need these guns and numbers to protect us!' Shane yelled. " I dropped a bag full of gums and amo," Dad spoke up. " From our station back home, it could protect us, but I need to get it back." Shane sighed " If anything happens to either groups" " Nothing will happen, we'll be back before nightfall".

Dad and his group were gone quickly after the meeting, leaving the rest of us to do the chores.

I went around each tent picking up the dirty washing as the rest of the women had gone to the river to set everything up. " Amber" Shane called as he followed me " What do you want Shane?" " I wanted to apologise about what happened in the woods" " Which part? The choking? The threat or are you finally here to say you'll leave me alone?".

" Can you just stop for a second so we can talk? Please" He grabbed my basket from my hands, forcing me to turn around. " What do you want Shane?" I asked, getting upset. Shane sighed as he came closer to me, he gently caressed my face before pressing a gentle kiss against my lips. " I love you Amber, I'm sorry I've been taking my stress out on you. I promise I'll be a better boyfriend to you" " Shane" I cried.

" What is it?" He asked, " I don't want to be with you" " What?". His dark eyes widened " I don't love you Shane, I don't want to be with you anymore". " If this is about what happened in the forest, I'll change". " You won't change!" I yelled out, " The Shane I liked was the guy I saw in LA, not the one that's in front of me" " I'm the sake Shane" " No you're not!".

I ran my hands through my hair, " The Shane I liked, he wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't threaten me" " Amber-" " I don't want to hear it Shane!" I yelled, grabbing my basket from his hands. " We're over" I said before making my way down to the lake, smiling as I sat with the rest of the girls.