morph // C.Grimes

Chapter 29: Another Way



Her spoon dipped in the murky broth of soup, stomach twisting as she stared at the shriveled vegetables and spiraled noodles. Shoulders hunched forward, the ache of her spine constant, a fresh reminder. Disheveled hair fell into her green eyes, fingers spinning the silver spoon in slow circular motions.

The front door opened rather abruptly, and collective amounts of footsteps echoed off the dark hardwood floors. She figured the adults were gonna hold a discussion about Rick's situation. Wondering if she remained silent, they would forget her presence, allowing her insight on the plan.

"Caden," her name rolled off Carol's lips firmly, arms crossed over her horrendous bright patterned sweater, taking a stance opposite of the seated teen.

The teenager's gaze like a doe trapped in the beaming lights of a car headlight. The handle of her silver spoon slipped out of her fingers, lightly clanging against the rim of the bowl. Aware of all the stares pinning at the back of her head. "What is this? An interagation?" She composed herself, straightening herself in the wooden chair, ignoring the tender pain of her spine.

"It's not," Glenn approached her, the bags under his eyes heavy, stress lines carving his round features. He gave a warning glance to Carol, not approving how she was approaching the situation. "Sam told Carol... we know Pete hurt you."

Caden didn't know how to react. How to feel. Scream. Cry. Smile. Laugh. Deny. Instead, all that came out was an 'oh'. Glenn knelt down, searching for her eyes, his hand clutching over top hers.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Glenn asked, trying to figure her out, console her.

Caden cautiously looked over her shoulder, a majority of the group still staring at her. Embarrassment causing her neck to blotch red hues, feeling it warm her cheeks. She dipped her head down, thickly swallowing. "He reminded me of Cynthia," voice wavering, words somewhat cryptic, but not for Glenn.

"It's okay to be scared," Glenn soothed, a sad frown twitching at his lips. "No one see's you differently for it." his other hand brushed back her dark frizzed stands,

"We can use this," Carol looked right over Caden, towards the others. The teenager was a just peice in a game of chess to her. "Caden tells Deanna what happened. We have Sam as a witness. Caden tells her she told Rick, and that's when he went to confront Pete," the others reacted with doubt and indifference.

"You want Caden to lie, and for Rick to lie?" Rosita stepped forward, "what if they find proof that Caden didn't seek out Rick?" She stressed, not comfortable with the plan.

Caden moved her hand from Glenn's, "They won't. They don't look into anything. They just wanna hear what they want to hear." The girl turning and standing from her chair, shoving her hands into the pockets of her red jacket. "I'll do it. I'll go to Deanna when you go talk to Rick," she looked to all their faces, seeing if anyone disagreed with the plan. "It's settled then,"

Caden left the room, brushing past Abahram, who's mind seemed elsewhere. Distant. The ginger took out a flask from his back Jean pocket, staring at it for a moment. He then strided over to the dining table, setting the hard liquor atop of it. "Won't do me any good," he mumbled in response to the strange looks sent his way.

----

Inked words blurred, jumbling, colliding, eyes unable to focus on the sentences. Defeatedly, she tossed the book aside with a fustrated breath, discarding it in atop the mattress. Just as she did so, a tap on her window startled her, the girl snapping her head wildly in the direction.

Carl blue eyes like gleaming diamonds even in the dark of night, peering through the glass. Caden rolled off her bed, steps heavy as she approached her window, fingers tightly gripping the bottom as she lifted it upward. "Gave me a heart attac-"