traded my life [TWD]

『99』

"Eomma," Woojin tugs at my sleeve, "No blood"

I smile, ruffling his hair, "Doctor Edwards has to make sure you stay healthy."

Woojin side-eyes the vile of his blood that Doctor Edwards had taken.

"I'll have the lab results by the end of the week," he informs, packing everything onto his cart.

"Thank you, doctor," I walk him to the door.

"He is walker," Woojin declares and holds his hands up to his face, growling.

"No, no.. Doctors are vampires," Daniel corrects.

I shut the door and smile at the pair as they interact.

"Pam-pire," Woojin sounds out.

"Vampire," Daniel repeats and makes a long 'v' sound. "Like Dracula."

"Dack-u-luh," Woojin repeats.

Daniel holds his fingers to his mouth, mimicking fangs as he mocks a Dracula voice. "Dracula. He wants to take your blood!"

"Walker!" Woojin argues.

I find myself laughing to myself, chest lighter as I watch them.

--

Sitting on the roof, I watch again as Woojin and Daniel spin in circles playfully- staring up at the stars.

A smile graced my lips even though there was a pain in my chest as I wondered when the last time was that they felt this free. This safe.

Maybe Shane was right. Maybe this place was needed.. I mean, it got Woojin and Beth back to me. Saved our lives, at that.

"Hey," Shane says, opening the door.

"Speak of the Devil," I mumble to myself.

He glances at the sight of Daniel playing with Woojin, grunting as he sits beside me.

"It's good you found them. Maybe now.. Maybe now there's hope to find the others," he offers.

"It's a lead," I agree.

Shane is quiet for a bit. I look over at him and see a troubled look on his face.

"What?" I urge.

"We can't keep taking people in that aren't.." he pauses, "Of value."

"What does that mean?"

"That Noah kid.. That old man, Percy.. The young couple.." he names off, "We can't keep losing resources just to send people off on their way to die out there."

"I thought they were staying here? Isn't that what you're building here? Sending people out there," I motion over the roof, "Is a death sentence."

Shane exhales a sharp breath that held stress, running his hands over his hair.

"Now that you're here, I've gotta put you first. That includes Beth, Daniel, Woojin.. everyone else."

"I think I've heard this one before," I note uncomfortably.

"It's not like that," he argues.

"Putting others first is what got us in this position," I remind. "Lori, Rick, you.. If you're gonna go back down that path, then I'll have no choice but to stop you."

"Stop me?"

"In any way I have to."

Shane takes a deep breath. It's disturbed as Woojin waddles over. I note that he was walking so much better than just days ago.