WELCOME(Twd)

Chapter 13: Motherly love

After wishing Beth and Enid a soft "Good night," Raven hesitated. She had noticed that Addy had vanished to her room surprisingly quickly after dinner, something nagging at Raven's mind. Without a second thought, she made her way up the stairs, her steps muffled by the thick carpet.

Reaching Addy's door, she knocked softly but there was no answer. Cautiously, Raven turned the handle and pushed the door open. The sight of Addy, curled up on her bed, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs, hit Raven hard. Quickly, she closed the distance and gingerly lay down on the other side of the bed. Facing Addy in the dimly lit room, she reached out and took the girl's hand, interlacing their fingers together.

Interviews often reveal more than expected. Raven remembered how Addy had confessed her wish: to be comforted in moments like these — something Mac somehow never understood.

As if a dam inside her had broken, Raven began to share her own story with gentle waves of words. She spoke about how for 10 years, until she was 18, she was taken advantage of — daily abuses that seemed inescapable at the time. Yet in the next breath, she painted a picture of triumph over adversity; earning her medical degree against all odds and reshaping her life into something new.

"And now," whispered Raven, squeezing Addy's hand softly but firmly, "I'm here for you. We're going to walk this path together, and just like I learned to move on from my past and build a future I could have never imagined back then... I'm going to help you do the same." The promise hung in the air like a vow not just to Addy but also to herself — a reminder of how far she had come and how much further she would go to ensure neither of them ever felt alone again.

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The morning light trickled in through the curtains, casting a soft glow on Addy's peaceful face. The night had been long, filled with conversations that meandered down the winding paths of fears, dreams, and everything in between. Raven had been there through it all, offering her ear, her support, her silent understanding. And when their talks had given way to the comforting embrace of sleep, Raven had stayed, keeping vigil in the ethereal moonlight that washed over Addy's room.

Addy awoke to an unfamiliar weightlessness in her chest, a sensation almost foreign after months of carrying an unbearable heaviness. There was warmth beside her where Raven had been; though she was no longer there, the impression of comfort lingered like a tender echo. Stretching her arms, Addy's hand brushed against something on the pillow - a note scribbled with Raven's unmistakable handwriting:

"Good morning sleepyhead, 

Hope you slept well. Breakfast is ready downstairs whenever you come out of hibernation.

- R"

A small smile tugged at the corners of Addy's mouth as she folded the note delicately and placed it on her nightstand. Her feet touched the cool floor and guided her through the corridors filled with the rich aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon. When she reached the kitchen, she found a spread that betrayed Raven's earlier presence: fluffy scrambled eggs, golden toast, crispy bacon strips, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Addy served herself a portion, allowing herself to relish in the normalcy that such a simple act brought. As she ate quietly surrounded by calmness unlike any other morning, an unexpected sound broke through – the doorbell. Its chime felt like an intrusion into this newfound sanctuary.

With hesitant steps and a heart pounding against her will, Addy made her way to the door. The comfort offered by Raven felt like it was at risk when she peered through the peephole. It was Mac standing there, his hands stuffed in his pockets nervously.

She swallowed hard as she opened the door.

"Hey," Mac greeted with an attempted kiss that Addy subtly dodged by shifting her head away.

The air was thick with unspoken words as Addy gestured towards the single person lounge chair, her expression solemn. Gathering his nerves, Mac took a seat nearby, not missing the intentional distance she created between them.

'I think we need to talk,' Addy began, each word precise, cutting through the silence.
Mac felt his stomach drop, sensing the gravity of what was to come. As he tried to latch onto any semblance of calm, her words hit him like an avalanche.

'You've been selfish,' she accused, her voice a mixture of sadness and frustration. 'I need someone who's there for me, who comforts me...cares for me.'
Mac opened his mouth to argue, but before he could formulate a defense, the door swung open. Raven entered at precisely the wrong moment—just as Mac's anger started to surface.
As Mac's voice raised ominously, Raven didn't hesitate. She strode forward with fearless determination and wedged herself between them.

'That's enough!' Raven shouted.
Mac's bitterness boiled over. The frustration turned physical—a lashing out that would haunt him forever as his fist made contact with Raven.

Daryl, Glenn, Rick—all bore witness to this unraveling man who they once considered part of their inner circle. They surged forward as one entity; their collective shock quickly giving way to action.

Carl wrapped an arm around Raven, who ended up passing out. While Daryl and Glenn restrained an unrepentant Mac. Through it all, Rick moved with a sense of purpose—ready with handcuffs that glinted coldly under the house's artificial light.

In mere moments, Mac found himself being dragged down towards the unforgiving concrete of the prison floor below—an area known for its relentless monitoring. The heaviness in his wrists matched only by the weight of what had transpired; Rick's expression set in stone as he secured Mac away from those he'd just betrayed.