𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 ➵ (𝐓𝐖𝐃)

𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

Ada

ʚɞ

It was horrifying how quickly everything crumbled.

I couldn't believe it when Tyrese told me how the governor had strolled up to our gates and burnt our home to the ground, something he was unable to do half a year ago.

I couldn't stop the sob that forced itself out of me at the news of Hershel's death. The governor had slaughtered Hershel right in front of everyone, in front of his own children at that.

And now, because of one man's cruelty, and a hoard of naive people who believed every twisted lie that left his lips, we're out on our own again, fending for ourselves in the wilderness, with no end to it all.

We haven't stopped moving since everything happened just a few hours ago. I feel shocked and scared by it all. It happened so fast, that I felt like I had no real time to react, and now that I do, I don't know what to feel.

I'm worried for my brother and for everyone else at the prison. I don't even know if they made it out alive, but I hope they did, they had to.

The woods were vacated of walkers for the most part, with all of them being drawn to the distant gunfire at the prison, so I hadn't had to use my bow yet. Though we were a few miles from the prison by now, I could still see the smoke reaching far up into the sky. It pained me to leave this place behind, but the damage was done. There's no taking it back.

Tyrese hadn't bandaged his wound yet, and the blood had mostly dried, but it was obviously still hurting him. I could tell by the way he winced when Judith moved around in his arms, but when I offered to take her, he refused claiming that I was the only one who could protect us right now. But, from what I saw at the prison, Lizzie can do an awful lot of damage with a gun. Nonetheless, I entrusted myself with the duty of protecting them. For all I know, these four are the only family I have left.

Lizzie and Mica stumbled through the woods ahead of me, pushing astray branches out of their way and whispering to each other softly. I looked around in between the trees that surrounded us. Besides the loud crunching of the girl's footsteps, it was quiet. But not the calm peaceful quiet I usually enjoy. It was an eery silence, and it made me feel uneasy.

It must just be the nerves from today.

I brush it off and quickly turn back to look at the girls. They had stopped just a few steps in front of me.

"It's gonna get dark soon," Lizzie says to Tyrese. "Where are we going?" She asks.

Tyrese turns to look at the three of us. His eyes are dark, exhaustion evident in his face. "Farther." He nods his head forward, gesturing for us to follow him as he speaks simply. "Come on." He turns around, continuing further, and Mica jogs quickly to catch up with him.

Lizzie doesn't follow her sister. She stays in place, and I walk further, standing next to her to look at her.

"Is everybody dead?" She asks, still facing forward in the direction of Tyrese.

Tyrese stops in place for a moment, just a split second, but he doesn't answer. He doesn't turn around to look, he just continues to walk forward.

With her question unanswered, Lizzie walks forward, leaving her curiosity alone.

It wasn't a terrible question to ask, no. But was it the smartest? Also no.