Back Woods

Chapter Ten

Every step Tess took echoed the urgency pulsing through her veins, driving her to prepare for the mission that could mean life or death for someone she held dear. Grasping another container of water, she placed it in the back of the truck. Turning, she let out a involuntarily  jump as Daryl was know behind her. Wordlessly, he lifted his hand and placed a leathered belt containing a sheathed hunting knife into her palm. 

"It's Merle's," he stated. Recognizing the item, Tess ran her fingers over the leather and grasped the handle of the knife, unsheathing it before gazing solemnly at the sharpened blade. 

"Hey," Daryl exclaimed, before placing a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up, "we'll find him," and upon sensing the footsteps of others approaching, Daryl nudged her chin with his clenched finger, which caused her to let out a small smile. 

"So that's it, huh? You're just gonna walk off?" Tess groaned on hearing the gruff, accusatory tone of Shane, "Just to hell with everybody else?" 

She watched as the man shadowed behind Rick, his tone and demeanor angry and confrontational. Tess couldn't shake the feeling of unease and disdain that that gnawed at her insides whenever she was around the man. When the camp was first created, many of the people sighed with relief and praised the heavens when he arrived with his uniform and authoritarian demeanor. But there was something about him – a slick charm, a glint in his eye – that set off alarm bells in her mind, particularly as he turned up with another man's wife and child and she for one didn't quite believe the campfire stories that he would share depicting a daring rescue attempt to the hospital for his friend. Despite his friendly demeanor and easy smile that he shared with everyone in camp, Tess couldn't help but think that every word that passed his lips felt like a carefully crafted façade, hiding ulterior motives. 

Moving to the side, to allow Rick to place his belongings within the truck, she watched as his shoulders sagged and he let out a sigh, "I'm not saying to hell with anybody," 

Throwing his arms over the side of the truck, Shane shook his head towards his friend in disbelief, slamming his palm on the metal, "Well, look, I... I don't, okay, Rick? So could you just... Could you throw me a bone here, man? Could you just tell me why?" Shane threw a look towards Tess, letting out a small smirk before continuing, "Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon?"

Tess felt a surge of anger and frustration rise within her and she moved to take a step forward, but Rick threw an arm out to stop her. Tess' eyes blazed with fury as she locked gazes with the man standing behind the truck, Shane's smirk a blatant challenge to her resolve. She felt her jaw clenching, her fists tightening at her sides as his arrogant demeanor fueled the fire burning within her. How dare he mock her with that smug grin, as he knew that mentioning her family would ignite her. But Tess refused to back down. With a steely glare, she met his gaze head-on, refusing to let him see the fear and anger boiling beneath the surface. She knew she had to stand her ground, to show him that she was not one to be trifled with.

"Choose your words more carefully," she glared. 

Mockingly, Shane tilted her head sideways, "No, I did. Douche bag's what I meant. Merle Dixon...The guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst," 

Staring at his former partner, Rick couldn't help but feel a pang of disbelief at his friend. Once again, Shane had ignited a heated confrontation. A man who once swore by the duty of an officer, to serve and protect all, regardless of stature. His brows furrowed with concern as he struggled to comprehend Shane's seemingly insatiable appetite for confrontation. It was as if he reveled in the chaos and conflict, seeking out opportunities to engage in verbal sparring matches at every turn. He had always known Shane to be passionate and outspoken, but this newfound eagerness to dive headfirst into confrontations left him feeling uneasy. It was as if he had become a different person - maybe this was what the new world had turned Shane into?