❝ Maybe forever was a word meant for memories and not people ❞
𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗛 Sixteen year old Katherine James navigates her way through an apocalyptic world, surrounded by the dead, her little sister by her side and a group of survivors she met on...
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026. doomed
That morning, they held a funeral for Dale. Burying him alongside those they had buried before. It seemed like they had just said goodbye to Sophia, and now they were already saying goodbye to Dale.
He was another original person from their camp at the Quarry gone. First Amy, then Jim, Jacqui, Sophia and now Dale. Katherine only hoped that they wouldn't have to say goodbye to anymore people. Though she knows it's inevitable, she can still hope that everyone she has left, she never has to say goodbye too. Especially Glenn and Harlow, two of her best friends.
After Dale's death, it really brought light to the group. They were gonna prove him wrong about the group being broken. Rick's speech really spoke to Katherine. With that, they were all going to be moving into the house, 16 people in one home was going to be a lot, but they were prepared. With this new move, Katherine was able to have her gun on her now. It had limited ammo, and she promised to only use it if necessary.
They were all moving their things from the tents, to the house. The cars were facing the roads in case the place did get overrun or if they needed to make a quick getaway. Katherine hoped that would never happen. She could see them living happily at the farm, it was secluded, and had a lot of land, they just had to keep a sharp eye out for walkers.
"Katty" Harlow walked alongside her, "Can I tell you something, and promise you won't get mad"
"What is it?" Katherine asked her sister, softly, wondering what happened that would make her believe that she'd get mad at her.
"I think it's my fault" she admits.
"What's your fault, Harls?" Katherine asks, confused.
"That Dale's dead" she frowns.
"Baby, he was torn to shreds by a walker, how is that your fault?" she asks, more confused.
Harlow takes out Katherine's old knife, "That walker, that killed Dale, me and Carl saw it" she explained, frowning, avoiding eye contact with her sister, "It was stuck in the mud, then it wasn't, Carl had a gun, he stole from Daryl– Don't tell Daryl though– We got scared and ran" she explained, the tears falling, "We didn't think it'd follow us back and kill Dale" she sobbed.
"Harlow, it wasn't your fault" Katherine told her, "Don't let the guilt eat you up" she told her. "I could blame myself for not getting there quick enough and killing that walker myself before it did any damage, but I am blaming myself?" she asked her sister.
Harlow shook her head, "No, cause it wasn't your fault"
"It wasn't my fault" Katherine repeated, "It's just the world we live in now. Some people will die, others will survive, I'm not gonna lie to you" she sighed, "But, each time we lose someone, you just tell yourself to be stronger, and beat this world. You're gonna beat this world Harlow Mae"
Harlow smiled, "Thanks" she smiled, "So when are you gonna tell Beth how you feel?" she giggled, Katherine playfully rolled her eyes and pushed her ahead.
⋆ ★ ⋆
Randall was missing. There was panic in the group with how he got away, if he had help, or if he just managed to give them the slip. Either way, they knew they had to get him, because if he did get back to his group, and then lead them here, it'd be an all out war.
"Rick! Rick!" Shane shouts, breaking apart the group's conversation.
"What happened?" Lori asked.
"He's armed" Shane warned them. "He's got my gun"
"What?!" Katherine shouted, not believing that a guy like Randall got the jump on Shane, but from the looks of Shane, she was proven wrong.
"Are you okay?" Carl asked him.
"I'm fine. Little bastard just snuck up on me" Shane informed them. "He clocked me in the face"
"All right, Hershel, T-Dog, get everybody back in the house" Rick told them, "Glenn, Daryl, come with us" he looked at the two men.
"T, I'm gonna need that gun" Shane said, walking towards T-Dog who was holding a gun.
"Just let him go" Carol spoke up, "That was the plan, wasn't it, to just let him go?" she questioned.
"The plan was to cut him loose far away from here, not on our front doorstep with a gun" Rick replied.
"Don't go out there. Y'all know what can happen" Carol shouted to them, as they began to leave.
"She's right, he has a gun now" Katherine backed her up.
Rick ignored them both, "Get everybody back in the house. Lock all the doors and stay put!" he ordered.
"Come on Harls" Katherine gestured to her sister, leading her towards the house, followed by everyone else, as they all ran to the house, locking the doors behind them. Something about this isn't sitting right with Katherine. She only hoped they could find Randall before it turned to something bad.
⋆ ★ ⋆
Night had fallen and still no sign of the boys. Katherine's anxiety was through the roof, she was worried about Glenn. She knew he was able to take care of himself, but she also knew Randall was out there and hoped that they got to Randall first before he got one of them.
Beth could see how nervous Katherine was, so she approached the girl, "Hi"
"Hi" Katherine replied, not sparing her a look.
"You know, it's polite to look at someone when they're talkin' to you" she jokes.
Katherine smiles small, looking at Beth, "Sorry, I'm just worried about Glenn"
Beth smiled, "I know" she nods, "That's why I wanted to check on you"
"I'll be better when I see him walk through the door" Katherine told her.
"He'll be fine" Beth assured her, taking the spot next to her.
She noticed Katherine's knee was bouncing up and down, something she does when she gets nervous. Beth placed her hand on Katherine's knee, exploring new territory for them. Katherine's knee immediately stopped bouncing, instead she gazed down at Beth's hand, then back up at the girl who smiled at her.
Katherine slowly placed her hand on top of Beth's, who made a quick move, linking their hands together. Beth gave her hand a quick squeeze, Katherine squeezed her hand back. Both girls sat there in silence, enjoying each other's company, thankful that they have each other.
--
They're so in love and don't even know it yet <333
