Hollow Humans

S1 Part 3

After the whole incident with Ed, everyone didn't know what to with Sage. When Kaylee Jo went over to her mother to tell her that she overheard Shane talking about throwing her out of the group, she assured her that it won't happen. Sage had to say that even though they were planning on leaving when Daryl came back with Merle. At least for now Sage was determined to stay until her brother came back. Still, Sage couldn't help but admit that it somewhat bothered her when everyone else avoided her.

Even when she sat outside with them to skin the animals she caught earlier, they avoided eye contact with her. She did catch Jacqui glance at her, but she quickly turned away when Sage noticed. The only bad outcome of this was that now Sophia and Eliza were treating Kaylee Jo differently by not really acknowledging her since they heard what her mother did after hearing that bastard hollering when Carol took him to his tent so that he could rest from his injury. Sage was just glad that she didn't have to see his ugly face for a while, not that she wouldn't feel proud for what she did, but that his face was a reminder of why she did it since his action unleashed the terror from her past.

Not long after, Andrea and Amy came back to camp with a ton of fish, and everyone was so impressed. Sage was even going to admit that she didn't think they could catch so much when she heard they were taking Dale's boat to get some fish for camp. Even Kaylee Jo smiled brightly when she saw the amount as Morales told the sisters that his family would eat happily tonight.

"Hey, Dale. When's the last time you oiled those line reels? They are a disgrace," Amy asked.

Even though Amy appeared to be cheery, Dale wasn't, and it caught everyone's attention when he announced, "I, uh, don't want to alarm anyone, but we may have a bit of a problem."

That was when Shane went over to the group to see where Dale was pointing to, and the group looked to see Jim digging several holes at a brisk pace. Sage didn't know what was going on, and it was clear that no one did either. That was why it was time to find out what was happening as the group headed over to Jim.

Since Shane was their leader, he questioned Jim by asking if he was alright since the entire camp was concerned for him, but all Jim just kept digging and was getting aggravated by his questions. He argued that he wasn't hurting anyone, so Shane reminded him that he could exhaust himself since it was over a hundred degrees. The cop's wife, Lori, even stepped in when she saw that Shane was getting through to him by explaining that the kids were scared of what he was doing.

Sage could get him to stop, but she already caused enough trouble with Ed. These people didn't trust her after witnessing her aggressive behavior. It was best to let Shane deal with it. After all, he took on the leadership role, so it was his responsibility. However, Sage and her brothers didn't trust him since he thought he knew everything. Even though Sage wanted to ditch the group with her brothers, Shane promised that he was going to look for his people, but he had no problem leaving others for dead when they went out into the city instead of having balls and going after them himself just like how Sage and her family looked out for each other by protecting one another.

"We think that you need to take a break, okay? Why don't you go and get yourself in the shade? Some food maybe," Shane said, stepping towards him. "I'll tell you what...maybe in a little bit, I'll come out here and help you myself, Jim. Just tell me what it's about? Why don't you just go ahead and give me that shovel?"

When Jim stopped digging, he challenged Shane. "Or what?"

"There is no or what. I'm asking you. I'm coming to you and I'm asking you, please. I don't want to have to take it from you."

"And if I don't, then what?" Sage was a little taken aback when Jim gestured to her, causing everyone else to look at her, including Shane as he glanced back at her. "Is she gonna come over here and beat my face too if I don't stop 'cause she thinks I'm scaring her kid or something? Y'all seen his face, huh? What's left of it. See, now that's what happens when you don't have control over your own people, Shane."