Don't Get Dead | TWD | Volume 1

[34] Wiltshire Estates

"Oh, man," Glenn stared out of the window at a row of houses, each of which had been burnt to the ground. It was a secluded area with no sign of walkers. "That would have been perfect."

Ace made no effort to see what he was talking about, not willing to look at another dead end. They had been on the road for weeks, and she was becoming numb to the idea of finding them a forever home. Her head fell against her window, but her gaze remained distant as she stared at the treeline.

"Don't fret," Hershel said. "We'll find something."

She wanted to believe him; she really did. It was shocking that Hershel could keep his hopes up; the same man that wanted to be left alone said, if I die, so be it. It was understandable, though. He did get both of his daughters back, safe and alive, while Ace had been alone since the beginning. She only wished he had that kind of hope when she was getting him to leave the farm.

There was movement at Ace's side as Beth shifted next to her, sitting up in her seat. She had been lying against her dad's chest so still that Ace thought she might have been asleep for the entire ride.

Ace wished she could sleep. She needed it; her head was pounding, and her face was still hurting from the bruises that had been left on her face over a week ago. They had started to fade now, a much lighter purple was under her skin. Every time she tried to get shut eye, the car would jerk her back awake. Eventually, she gave up trying and knew her body would make her sleep when it wanted to.

For days, Ace had been growing silent.

It was becoming too difficult to pretend to have any kind of hope, to even force a smile at Carl. She even avoided him a bit more, knowing it wasn't fair or good for him to see her this way. She couldn't pretend for him, just as she couldn't pretend for herself.

Not anymore.

Ace barely noticed when someone spoke to her, zoned out with a blank mind, watching the distance. When she did, it took all of her energy to just make a sound of acknowledgement, or even a nod of the head. Talking was too much, even one word answered made her sick and tired.

"Do you need anything? Painkillers, maybe?" Glenn was asking.

Ace shook her head, not bothering to look in his direction. She silently begged him to leave her, to stop the talking. But that just wasn't Glenn.

"How about when we stop driving, I sit in the back with you guys and we play some cards? We could teach Beth to play Rummy?"

Another shake of the head. Silence followed. Glenn was getting it.

"Well, if you need anything, just say."

Guilt and relief filled Ace. She hated it, feeling like a jerk. She couldn't help it, it was like her system was against everyone and anything. It was better to just be alone.

When they had stopped the car around half an hour later, Glenn told Ace to stay in the car while they got out to search around. Ace didn't argue or even reply. Glenn shot a concerned glance in the rearview mirror to see her eyes open, forehead against the window and staring wordless into nothing.

"How is she?" Maggie asked.

Her and Glenn were searching a mini van that was abandoned on the side of the road, some others searching the house not far from them. They could still see Ace from where they were.

"Quiet," Glenn answered with a frown, reaching into the passenger side to unlock the back door.

Maggie slid the door open noisily, they both glanced around, checking for walkers, "I'm sure she'll come around, she just needs time. It was awful what happened to her, and she's been having a rough time as it was."