Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CHAPTER TEN: HELL IS EMPTY
🥀🖤
MELANIE KNOWS THAT she's a good shot when it comes to guns and knives. Her father made sure of that the moment she could even hold a gun or a knife. As a man with a huge military background, fifth generation, he made sure his daughters knew how to protect themselves which came in handy when the world went to shit. Despite that fact, it came as a surprise to her when Rick asked Melanie to help him and Carl teach Ron how to shoot and protect himself. Rick seemed interested in getting to know Melanie, which Melanie didn't understand why but she didn't think too much about it.
Melanie agreed to help out because she knew that she could help and because she needed a distraction from thinking about Margot. Maggie had been practically sleeping on one of the watch towers waiting to see a sign from Glenn and Margot. She promised that the second she saw a sign, she would tell Melanie. Melanie needed something to distract herself from staring at the horizon so she agreed to help Rick and Carl with teaching Ron.
Melanie had met Rick and Carl on the edge of Alexandria near some picnic tables. When Melanie arrived, Rick was showing Ron the parts of a handgun. Melanie had the same type of handgun in her holster.
"Magazine release. Slide release. Thumb safety."
"That stuff's easy, right, Dad?" Carl asked.
As Melanie walked up to them, she watched Ron look at Carl with an unamused, almost annoyed expression. Melanie knew there was some tension there, even with Rick and Ron. Rick had killed Ron's dad, and Carl was his son, so Melanie was surprised that Ron even wanted to learn from them.
Carl noticed Melanie and smiled, "Hey, Mel."
Mel. Carl had started to call Melanie, Mel, ever since she had broken down in his arms about her sister. It had only been a day but Melanie was much more comfortable with Carl than she had been before. Then again, after being incredibly vulnerable with someone for the first time in a long time, it was easy to get comfortable. Melanie was almost uncomfortable with how comfortable she was getting with him. It scared her mainly because she hadn't felt it in so long. She had almost forgotten what it felt like.
Rick looked up and nodded at Melanie, "Melanie. Carl told me you're a good shot. I thought you might be able to help Ron out with us."
Melanie looked at Carl, her eyes raised in surprise. Carl had been the one to tell Rick that Melanie was a good shot. She was surprised that Carl had said anything about her to his dad. Melanie looked back at Rick and nodded, "Sure."
