Down by the water • TWD

Gone Again.

Mom.

Avery wanted her mom. All she wanted to do was curl in a ball in her mom's arms and forget about everything. She wanted all her pain to wash away, to disappear. She didn't want to feel the sting on her face anymore. She didn't want to feel the blood plastered on her face. She didn't want to feel like linger of his touch on her body anymore. She wanted to vanish, to drift away with the winds.

If only.

"Stay still," Maggie told her as she cleaned Avery's cuts. After the men had left Glenn gave Maggie his shirt while making sure Avery stayed on her feet. Maggie immediately reached for the medical supplies tending to her cuts.  The smaller cut had stopped bleeding but it was still noticeable. The deeper and bigger cut has yet to stop bleeding. Maggie has used almost all of the gauze trying to soak it up, but nothing was working. She had stuck the only bandage over it but the blood was already soaking into the material. Avery had built up a tolerance for the pain as of recently. "You're gonna need stitches when we get home."

"If we get home," Avery said blankly staring at her blood-stained hands.

"You can't think like that. Rick's coming." Glenn spoke to them not believing what Avery said. He walked over to the walker lying dead on the ground. Avery and Maggie watched him break the arms of the dead thing. All Avery wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep, she knew that wouldn't be allowed. Glenn made sure she'd stay awake, he didn't want her to pass out from hunger and blood loss. He ripped out the bones and she made a disgusted face watching his hands wrap around three pieces. They were sharp, she got it now. They would use them as weapons against the men if they came back. No. When they come back. Maggie took one while Glenn held his hand out to Avery. She was hesitant to take it, she was done fighting for now. She was too tired. "Please. We need to fight back."

Avery took it with a reluctant nod. She made sure her grip was tight around the bone. She hated the feeling of the wetness sticking to her skin. She didn't know why everything was either angering her or grossing her out. She was just on edge, they all were. The three of them stood ready to fight as they heard the footsteps getting closer. Avery wanted revenge, she wanted to return the favor.

As the door opened Maggie was the first to lung forward at the first man she saw, stabbing him in the neck with the sharp object. Glenn went for Merle, but of course, Merle fought back hitting Glenn with his elbow to push him back. Avery slashed her piece of bone at Merle, slicing his forearm.

"You little shit." Merle lunged forward at the both of them before the sound of a gun broke out right next to them. The man Maggie had killed fired his gun rapidly in an impulsive response. By the time Avery was able to collect herself she saw Merle had Glenn pinned down with the knife to his throat. Avery reached for her gun out of muscle memory only to be met with empty air. She looked at Maggie as she stripped the dead guy's gun aiming it at Merle's head.

"Let him go!" Maggie shouted as her hands shook out of adrenaline. They both watched as Glenn struggled against the knife. Avery hated seeing him in this state, he could barely keep himself up straight, he was helpless. So was she.

"Okay," Merle agreed raising his hands in surrender with a smile. God how Avery hated that smile. She whipped her head around at the sound of guns clicking and reloading. multiple men, multiple guns aimed at them.

"Give me the gun!" Merle shouted angrily as he ripped the gun from Maggie's hands. Avery backed away to the wall as Maggie glanced around frantically. "Get up!" He shouted at Glenn. Avery gave Glenn a look of sympathy as he groaned from the pain coursing through his body.

They had the three of them lined up on their knees. Avery could feel the tears streaming down her red cheeks as she waited for the end. She could hear Maggie's quiet sobs from on the other side of Glenn.