𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 ➵ (𝐓𝐖𝐃)

𝐕𝐈

Ada

ೀ⋆⑅˚

I sit at a table, eating 'breakfast'. It isn't much, but it's enough to keep us alive. Hershel is treating the wound of one of the people we rescued, and Carl stands close by against a wall, on full alert in case our newcomers try anything.

"You can take those stitches out in a week or so," Hershel says to the man, whose name I learned is Allen.

"Pretty nice having medical training." Tyrese chimes in.

"It'll only get you so far," Hershel responds.

"You got bit?" Tyrese asks, referring to Hershel's quite obvious missing leg. Hershel nods in response.

Beth then walks into the room, holding Judith in her arms, causing the new people to be surprised.

"How old is the baby?" The woman, Sasha, asks.

"Barely a week," Hershel answers.

"To be honest, we never thought we'd see another baby." Sasha walks toward Beth, in awe. "Beautiful. How are you feeling?"

Beth looks shocked for a moment before responding. "She's not mine." She says.

"Where's the mother?" Sasha asks.

The group's silence was enough to answer her question.

"Sorry." Sasha apologizes.

I look at Carl, feeling embarrassed for Sasha, and sorry for him. After I finish my breakfast, I stand up and walk away from the table, following Beth. When I reach the door, I gesture for Carl to unlock it, and he does so, silently.

"Thank you, kind sir." I grin.

He has a plain look on his face and only glances at me briefly. He's too on edge to pay any attention to my humor.

I follow Beth into the cellblock and sit with her on the stairs. She smiles down at Judith as she holds the bottle to her mouth. She seemed to be a natural at caring for a baby.

"Did you ever want kids of your own, Beth?" I ask her.

"Yeah, more than anything." She grins. "I hope one day, I'll still be able to."

"You will," I reassure her. "And, maybe I will too. You know, if I meet a great guy, in a safe place, maybe then."

"Maybe you already met him." Beth giggles.

"What?" I tilt my head in question.

"Nothin'" She smirks at me smugly.

Before I have the chance to probe, the cellblock door opens and Hershel and Carl walk in.

Hm. She couldn't mean..?

"How is she doing?" Hershel asks.

"Amazing, how 'bout yourself?" I joke.

Hershel smiles in return, appreciating my humor.

Unlike somebody.

"I meant the baby, but that's great to know as well."

"She's doing well," Beth answers. "We have enough formula for a while, we'll be alright."

"Good. Good." Hershel says, and then he walks away into a cell, to rest, I presume.

I stand up from my spot on the stairs and start to return to my own cell. As I reach the entrance to my cell, I notice Carl following behind me. I turn around to face him.