million dollar man | twd

ʙᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴏʀsᴇ

[ bad to worse ]

꧁꧂

The quarry was a temporary sanctuary, a rough encampment perched on the edge of the end of the world. It had been two weeks since Vanessa, Shane, Lori, and Carl had arrived, driven out of town by the chaos of the undead and the bombings. The camp was a motley collection of tents and makeshift shelters, a fragile haven surrounded by danger.

Vanessa kept to herself near the edge of the quarry, her knees pulled to her chest. Her hands trembled slightly, a cruel reminder that her stash was running dangerously low. She had rationed her drugs as best as she could, but the supply was dwindling, and the telltale signs of withdrawal were creeping in.

Lori kept a wary eye on her from a distance, her distrust palpable. Carl, once so full of questions and curiosity, was now under strict orders not to talk to his aunt. The boy played nearby, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Vanessa with a mix of confusion and pity.

Shane, who had taken on a protective role since Rick's presumed death, was distant. He made sure Vanessa ate and drank water, but that was the extent of his concern. The bond they once shared felt like a distant memory, buried under layers of loss and survival.

Carol, Ed, and their daughter Sophia were also part of the camp. Carol, always kind-hearted, offered Vanessa a gentle smile whenever their paths crossed, but Ed's disapproval was as clear as Lori's. Sophia, shy and quiet, watched Vanessa with wide eyes, sensing the tension that surrounded her.

As days turned into nights and back into days, more survivors found their way to the quarry. Daryl and Merle Dixon were among the first new arrivals, their rough demeanor a stark contrast to the others. Daryl, with his crossbow and sharp eyes, seemed to notice everything, including Vanessa's growing distress.

Andrea and her younger sister Amy arrived next, bringing a cautious hope with them. T-Dog and Jacqui followed, along with the Morales family and a man named Jim, who kept mostly to himself. The camp grew larger, a small community bound by shared fear and the struggle to survive.

The nights were the hardest for Vanessa. The ache in her bones and the gnawing anxiety kept her awake, staring into the darkness. The nightmares, when she did manage to sleep, were vivid and relentless. Memories of Rick, her brother, haunted her, mingling with the horrors of their current reality.

One night, as the camp settled into an uneasy rest, Vanessa slipped away from her tent. She wandered to the edge of the quarry, the moonlight casting a pale glow over the water below. She clutched a small, dwindling bag of pills, her lifeline in this nightmare.

"Hey," a voice called softly. Vanessa turned to see Carol approaching, her eyes soft and curious.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Carol shrugged. "Saw you out here. Figured you might need some company."

Vanessa laughed bitterly. "Company? Or a babysitter?"