traded my life [TWD]

『97』

It took everything in me to stay still and not start screaming the second Shane walked in the room. I take a deep breath and clench my fists on the cafeteria table, keeping my temper at bay, at least momentarily. 

"We should talk," Shane says.

"Lori's dead," I state.

He hesitates by the door.

"You got her pregnant.. and she didn't survive the birth. Maggie had to do a c-section.. Carl put Lori down before she turned."

"Hyejin-"

"Let me get through this. You owe me that much," I cut him off.

He sighs and shuts the door behind him, leaving only the two of us here.

"Rick wasn't himself after it happened.. I had to care for Carl and Judith.. Plus, Rick because he wasn't all there."

I see Shane move around my peripheral. He sits down across the table from me and our eyes lock.

"After you left, the farm was taken down by a giant herd. The gunshots from the barn drove them over.. so, that's also your fault."

The fists weren't helping anymore. I move my hands to my lap, pinching the skin between my thumb and pointer finger.

"And while we were on the road after losing the farm, I found out I was pregnant. Had been since I left Korea- before Rick got shot."

I knew I'd said something about 'my kid' when having a breakdown upon waking up. Still, Shane looked just as shocked.. maybe even scared.

"We found a new home. But, some asshole ruined it. He slaughtered a bunch of our people and destroyed the camp with a tank. We've been split up ever since."

I get a single nod from Shane as he digests the information.

"My kid is still out there. Carl, Rick, Judith, Maggie, Glenn, Daryl- everyone. They're out there. And you have me locked up here because you're fucking selfish."

"You were injured," he reminds. "This place saved your life."

"Cool. Thanks. Now let me go," I urge.

"I can't do that," he denies.

"Because you're fucking selfish," I sneer the phrase once more. "You blindside me by leaving, now you can't let me go? You're being hypocritical."

"Maybe.. But, that doesn't mean that it's bad."

"My people are still out there-"

"There's people here, too."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Shane knocks on the table. Then, he looks behind me at the door and motions with his two fingers. "Come on in."

I hear the door open and close, feet shuffling inside. I recall the letter and nod to myself.

"Andrea, I swear to fucking God, I'll kick your ass-" I start as I stand up and turn around.

I pause, though. It wasn't Andrea.

"Andrea was killed during a run," Shane reveals. "She's been gone for about six months."

I absentmindedly point at the younger girl. "Sophia?"

She was a bit older. Her hair was so much longer, her frame taller.

"Hey, Hyejin," she greets softly.

It takes a moment for my brain to catch up. Sophia was here? Alive?

"I found her after I left the group. She was barely hanging on. I went back to the farm, but it was already gone. I saw the burning barn, the walkers.. I didn't know what to do. She was dying and you were all gone."

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose stressfully. 

"I wandered for a bit, just trying to find all of you. Then, Grady found us. Saved Sophia's life. We've been here.. looking for the rest of you."

Sophia takes a cautious step closer. "My mom.. is she..?"

"She's fine," I assure. "She's fucking badass, she's fine."

I pace a few steps as I try to comprehend everything. 

"This place is safe. We can all live here.. we can find the others and-"

"Fuck you," I cut Shane off. "Rick will probably put a bullet in you the second he sees you."

"Rick?" he repeats.

"You pushed him over the edge. He's not the same man anymore," I simplify. "None of us are the same."

"Neither are we," Shane argues. "I had to leave to change.. To be better."

I think about Daniel and my plan to blend in. I had to find Woojin and the rest. I had to get Sophia back to Carol, now. 

I look at Shane. 

But, I don't think I have it in me to forgive him.

"Fine," I state. "We'll find the rest.. together."

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

hi hello i miss writing woojin

i also need ahjussi and doll back together