traded my life [TWD]

『98』

Slamming Dawn against the floor, I bring my fist near her chin. Our eyes lock and she coughs out a breath before laughing and resting her head on the tile.

"Okay, fine," she sighs. "You win."

I hold my hand out for her, pulling her to stand up again.

"Finally," I scoff. "It's about time I win."

I peel the gloves off from around my hands- the tape leaves my skin red and irritated.

"I was thinking.." she begins, leaning against her desk. "That Noah kid.."

"What about him?" I wonder.

"He seems to be moving around good on his own. We need some help in the laundry area. It's time he pulls his weight, no?"

"'Pulls his weight'?" I repeat.

"Although I agreed to let Doctor Edwards save him, we used many resources to bring him back. We saved his life, don't you think he can wash a few scrubs?"

I shrug. "Why are you asking me? Isn't this something you and Officer Walsh should discuss?"

"Talking to you is like talking to him, but.. easier," she admits. "It's a girl thing."

"Ah," I click my tongue. "You have a crush on me. Sorry, I'm out of my MILF stage."

She lets out a 'pssh' of disbelief. "See? Little Shane right there. That damn mouth."

I lean on the desk and cross my arms. "You and Shane trust each other, huh?"

"The previous leader here was a bad man. He got many officers killed. Shane stopped him. Made this place better."

I hum and smile a bit sarcastically to myself. Ironic considering how Rick nearly had to do the same.. maybe Shane did learn his lesson. But, that doesn't erase the past.

There's shouting from outside the office and my head perks. 

"Great," Dawn sighs to herself, heading for the door. 

I follow behind her and rest on the doorframe. But, that changes as soon as I see officers dragging a new patient in. I try to look for how they got in or out- that exit so hard to find.

Then, it felt like my body froze over as I spot the patient's face.

"Beth," I whisper to myself.

I lurch from the wall but right before I could reach Beth, who was out cold, an officer grabs me from around the waist. 

"Let go!" I demand.

"You gotta stay outta the Doc's way, darling," he says, pulling me back.

Shit. My thoughts run wild. The officers and Doctor Edwards rush Beth into an empty room and slam the door shut.

What the hell? 

"Hyejin?" Daniel asks as he hurries into the hallway from the cafeteria. "What's going on?"

"I.." I hesitate, or can't speak.

Daniel pushes the officer off of me, tugging me closer to him with a glare.

I look around, waiting to see if more people are brought in.

"Beth," I repeat under my breath.

"What?" Daniel asks, not hearing me.

Beth.

Of all people, Beth was here.. alone?

"Eomma!" 

My entire body goes stiff and my head jerks to the sound of the baby's voice so hard I swore I got whiplash.

"Woojin.." I breathe.

"Eomma!" he repeats as Shane carries him into the hallway.

"Woojin!" I scream.

Upon realization, Daniel lets me go and I run down the hall, shoving straggling people out of my way.

Woojin squeals and I pluck him from Shane's arms, holding him to my chest. 

"Woojin-ah," I repeat, hugging him close.

"Eomma," he says again with a giggle. "Found you."

I feel a hand on my shoulder, but don't pay attention to it until Daniel laughs.

"Think he's a better tracker than you are," Daniel jokes.

Tears flood my face, but I don't care. I just hug Woojin tighter and try to stay planted to reality.

He was here. Woojin is here, in my arms.

--

My eyes felt puffy. Woojin was fast asleep on my chest. All I could do was sit by Beth's bedside and wait for her to wake up.

"He looks like you," Daniel says, running a delicate finger along Woojin's temple. "The eyes and nose."

I sniffle and smile. "I still can't believe it. Doesn't feel real."

Daniel rubs my knee comfortingly. "It's real. You're okay- he's okay."

I nod a bit, finding comfort in his words as they ease my anxiety.

"And her?" Daniel wonders, motioning to Beth. "This is the one that usually babysat the kids?"

"Yeah.. my best friend's little sister," I say and look at Beth sadly.

She looked beat up. Scars along her face and body. A cast on her arm.

"I heard Gorman say she was alone.. just Woojin," Daniel says. "She's a fighter."

I think about that for a moment. Sure, Beth was a survivor.. But, could she have made it alone? With Woojin? On the road? Directly after losing her father?

As much as I loved Beth and wanted to have faith in her, I wasn't sure about it. She's a survivor, yes. But, Beth wasn't much of a fighter. She had to have been with someone else. 

I rest my chin against Woojin's head and rub his back gently.

Too many questions. Too many loose ends.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

my babie boi :((