Cat in a bag | DarylxReader |

7even

Why can't men be responsible and do their own laundry?

That's a question for the ages. We were stuck with laundry. Again, and I hadn't even begun working through my share. Incoming laundry never seems to end anyway.

Right now there's plenty of resources for those who look but I'm scared for the day that'll come when I won't be able to provide for her anymore. There was one store I raided with Shane and Lori a couple weeks back. To no one's surprise the cat food was untouched. Even in comparison to dog food. Guess more people left their cats behind.

It is inevitable that all the kibble here on earth will expire a day long before I'm able to find it. It'll be alright though, cats are built for raw diets so I'll make sure to save some of whatever I'm having for her, it's an easy compromise. I trust that she'll enjoy the meat much more than I do anyway.

________________

"Jesus," I mutter to myself. What is it with all the chaos today? I quicken my steps, Ed's being a mosquito.

[A persistent annoyance of a bug, able to be exterminated with relative ease]

I couldn't quite make out the words exchanged but it wasn't Ed coming over to praise his wife that's for sure. He's always hovering over her but this time feels different, he's engaging with more than her, not that that was any better.

Andrea threw a shirt at him. "Ain't my job, missy." He chucked the shirt back with force.

Amy left her spot by the lake "Andrea, don't."

"What is your job, Ed?" She's serious now. "Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes?"

"Well, it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch—Tell you what" He has no argument whatsoever. He directed his focus onto his wife who was ignoring the situation at hand. "Come on. Let's go."

"I don't think she needs to go anywhere with you, Ed." Abdrea maintains her ground

She drops the clothes she's scrubbing to leave with Ed: her head was hung and steps indicated she was disinclined. We've had enough of his blatant abuse though and I can see it in Jacqui's eyes.

"And I say it's none of your business." He sure sounds like a bitch. "Come on now." He motions to her as if she's a puppy, god I can't take him anymore either.

"Hey!" I'm positioned behind the group, only he was unaware of my presence. "It becomes our business if you're hurting people."

"Carol." Andrea puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Andrea, please, it doesn't matter." She mumbles, clearly upset this was taking place in public.

Ed wasn't expecting to see me but wasn't affected either, turning back to the other women. "Don't think I won't knock you on your ass just cause you're some college-educated cooze, all right?" She gasps but he turns his attention to me now.

"Looky here, we got another smart one." He gestures as if there's an audience "With what evidence? You got any?" He sounded (threatening) but it was all for show.

"Now you come on now or you gonna regret it later." He just wanted to take Carol away.

"So she can show up with fresh bruises later, Ed?" There's my evidence. "Yeah, we've seen them." Thanks Jacqui.

Ed forces a laugh. Nothing to retaliate with?

"Stay out of this. Now come on! You know what? This ain't none of y'all's business." Oh no you dont. Is he seriously shading me? "You don't want to keep prodding the bull here, okay? Now I am done, talking. Come on."

He yanks Carol by the arm. "No. No. Carol, you don't have—"

"Ed." She begs for him to let go "Please."

"You don't tell me what!" I see his hand moving but I'm too slow. "I'll tell you what!" He strikes her across the face with full force...

Carol covers her face shrieking in pain and we're all clamouring to get him away from her "Get off her! Get off her!" He maintains a firm grip "Come here! Come here!" There was someone else here I saw on the way–Shane.

I search for him to see he's just a few metres behind. Amy's trying her best to somewhat shield the crying woman.

Ed yells in surprise as Shane pulls his collar back. I jump out of the way. That could've been a straight collision course. He falls, being dragged too quickly, to regain any footing.

"No!" Carol still feels sympathy for her husband. "It's okay. It's okay." Amy holds her back.

Shane pushes Ed, sending him tumbling on his back. He makes an attempt to sit back up but he's met with Shanes fist. The first strike causes him to writhe in pain but Shane's prepared, lifting him up by the shirt, slamming his fist in Ed's face again.

There's no way to block the attack but Ed keeps reaching as if there's any hope. None of us moved a muscle onlooking in what was mostly still shock. I should probably check on Carol, she's got a busted lip, but I'm distracted by all of Ed's screaming.

My feet finally move and I can see clearer. Ed's face is swollen beyond distinguishability. His nose is bleeding and so is each cut. "It's okay." Amy repeats to Carol "No!" Shane's not seeming to tire anytime soon, his eyes grow with fury. I've lost count of how many punches he's landed now.

Andrea yells his name, we all do. Shouting at him is useless too. "Stop it! Stop!" It's like he can't hear us at all. Andrea holds Carol back now that her sister has let go.

Shane has his bloody finger raised "You put your hands on your wife, your little girl or anybody else in this camp one more time, I will not stop next time." Ed's barely lucid, his eyes swollen shut. "Do you hear me?" The man he's questioning seems unconscious even as his face looks to be getting crushed.

"Do you hear me?" Shane seethed. I couldn't hear but he's dropped to the ground. It could only have been "Yes."

"Oh God!" Carol cries. "I'll beat you to death, Ed." Shane delivers another blow to his face as he blubbers. He leaves Ed lying there but stays to kick him in the ribs. "No...God!" her wails drown out all other sounds.

Andrea steps back. She's scared, we all are. There's deep marks in the soft mud of the lake all made by Ed's round head and the force delivered to it. Carol screams for her lifeless looking husband. That woman still cares after all the abuse. It must've been worse than we initially thought.

"Ed, I'm sorry." Carol falls at his side. "Oh my God. Ed, I'm sorry." She's profusely apologising and I can understand her side better now.

Shane silently stares at us. He hurries off hearing Carol's wails. "I'm so sorry, Ed. Ed, I'm sorry." He doesn't—he can't respond, choking on his own blood. That had to be a concussion as best, maybe a broken nose at worst.

___

I feel like I'm just describing everything happenning in a way that doesnt involve Y/n enough... Probably because I've never been in a fight before ahaha.

Hope you liked the one line I gave her :)