The Apocalypse

33

"I will come back, darling," Maurits said for the fifth time. He stood by the door, watching Maeve seated on the freshly cleaned bed, her expression a mix of anger and worry. To Maurits, though, she looked more like a pouting puppy than anything else.
"I don't want you to go! The herd is dangerous!" she protested, pointing towards the window.
"I am immune, and Dylan is coming with me. We're just going to scout. We've done this thousands of times. We need to find a way," he reassured her, his tone firm yet gentle.
Before she could argue further, Maurits stepped closer and grabbed her neck, his grip firm but not painful. "Stop this," he threatened, his eyes locking onto hers with intensity.
Maeve's eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, her defiance wavering under his stern gaze. She knew he was right, but the fear of losing him gnawed at her insides.
Maurits softened slightly, his hand moving from her neck to cup her cheek. "I promise I'll come back," he said more gently. "But you have to trust me. We need to understand the herd if we're going to survive this."
Tears welled up in Maeve's eyes, but she nodded reluctantly. "O-o-Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Just... b-be careful."
He kissed her forehead tenderly. "I will. Stay here, stay safe, and wait for me."
.
"So, can you show me around your childhood home?" Sophie asked, glancing over at Derek, who was lying on the couch.
Maeve looked up from her hands, her eyes meeting Sophie's. She didn't speak for at least a minute, lost in her thoughts. Sophie watched her curiously, noting how Maeve seemed to regress to the same quiet, withdrawn state she was in when they first found her.
"Oh, yes," Maeve finally said, nodding as she stood up.
Derek looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow at Sophie. "Are you okay, Maeve?" he asked, his tone concerned.
Maeve turned her gaze slowly to Derek and gave a small smile. "Yes."
Sophie stepped closer, offering a supportive smile. "Take your time. We're here with you."
"I know."
-
"Johnny, we shadowed the two the entire day. Emma, the girl, has been wandering around Maurits' house a lot, and Rody stayed with the food. He just keeps staring at everyone. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary," Paul reported to the leader.
Maurits nodded, deep in thought. "Maurits' house is the biggest, so she might just be curious, but it still bothers me. Keep shadowing them. Make sure they don't touch the food, steal, or break into anything!" Johnny instructed firmly.
Paul nodded at Johnny's words before turning around to continue his surveillance. He understood the importance of vigilance in these uncertain times. Every new person posed a potential threat, and it was crucial to maintain order and security.
As Paul walked away, Johnny stayed behind, contemplating the newcomers' presence. Emma's constant roaming and Kylian's unsettling staring didn't sit right with him. They needed to be cautious, especially with the towns safety on the line.
-
"Dylan, look in those windows!" Maurits instructed, pointing at a café to their left. Dylan nodded and carefully stepped over the vines that had overtaken the broken-down road. Reaching the window, he pulled down the overgrown vines and pressed his face against the glass to peer inside.
His eyes scanned the interior, catching sight of a photograph that appeared to show a young Maeve surrounded by other children. Just as he focused on the picture, a walker's head suddenly popped up from the side, slamming against the window with a guttural growl.
"Fuck!" Dylan screamed, startled by the sudden appearance of the walker.
Maurits sprinted over, his eyes quickly assessing the situation as the walker continued to bang its head against the glass. "That's not a herd walker," Maurits muttered, pulling out his gun and shooting it between the eyes. The walker slumped down, its growls silenced.
"Maybe that will draw them out," Maurits said, glancing around cautiously. The car was only a few meters away, close enough for a quick escape if necessary.
"There's a picture of little Maeve in there," Dylan said, still catching his breath.
Maurits' head snapped towards Dylan, then back to the café window. He looked inside, spotting the photograph Dylan had mentioned. Recognizing Maeve, his expression softened briefly before he turned serious again.
"Stay outside. I'm going to grab it," Maurits said firmly. Dylan nodded, standing guard as Maurits carefully opened the door and slipped inside the café.
The air inside was stale and thick with the smell of decay. Maurits moved quickly but cautiously, keeping an eye out for any other walkers. He reached the photo and gently took it from the wall, a small smile touching his lips as he looked at the image of a young Maeve, carefree and surrounded by friends.
He tucked the photo safely into his jacket and made his way back to the entrance. As he stepped outside, he handed the picture to Dylan. "Let's get back. Maeve will want to see this."
Dylan nodded, still on high alert. They moved swiftly, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble. Once they were back at the car, Maurits took a moment to look around, ensuring they weren't being followed.
"Let's go," he said, climbing into the driver's seat. Dylan followed suit, and they quickly drove back to their base, eager to show Maeve the precious memento they had found. Even though he checked he hadn't seen the body of a woman behind a tree watching the two. Her jaw clenched before walking back in the forest.
.
"Uncle's café," Maeve replied, her hand gently tracing over the picture.
"Was it your uncle's?" Derek asked, his curiosity piqued.
Maeve looked up and nodded. "Bad man. Sent us to the orphanage and to the hospital. He helped other bad men before they came."
"You mean the walkers, darling?" Maurits asked, his voice soft and reassuring as he held her on his lap, his hands resting on her hips to keep her calm.
"Yes, walkers," Maeve confirmed, nodding. She took a deep breath, her eyes lingering on the photo as the memories resurfaced.
Derek frowned, leaning forward slightly. "Your uncle sent you away?"
Maeve's expression darkened as she recalled the past. "He sent us to an orphanage. Said it was for our safety. But it was a lie. He was working with bad people."
"Bad people?" Sophie echoed, her brow furrowing. "Who were they?"
Maeve shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "Don't know. Just... men who did bad things. They came before the walkers. They made walkers."