Season 2, Episode 9: Triggerfinger
November 3rd Day 71
Ariel was usually good at keeping secrets, having kept plenty for her own sisters before. It was hours since Lori left, and Shane had gone to get her. The sky was dark, stars lighting up the sky.
Patricia had made a meal with Carol and a little help from Rory as the girl needed some sort of distraction, they had all insisted the group should eat inside with them, both sides missing people. Everyone needed company.
Ariel understood completely, and usually she would have loved the extra numbers, but with everyone questioning and concerned didn't help. She didn't know how long it would take for people to realize a couple of others were missing.
“They should've been back by now.” Andrea commented, pausing mid-bite to ponder over the whereabouts of Rick, Glenn and Hershel.
“Lori,” Carol poked her head out of the doorway, allowing her voice to reverberate upstairs, “dinner.”
“She's not in there.” Maggie informed her.
“Where is she?” Dale asked, brows knitted into a worried frown. Rory was cuddled up beside the old man, not leaving his side.
They all fell into silence. You could cut the tension with scissors.
“Ariel. . .” Andrea looked over at her, eyes furrowed. “You went to find her, yeah?”
Ariel shrugged, looking down at her plate. “Yeah, an’ I did.”
Dale looked over. “And, where is she?”
Andrea looked over, counting everyone. “And Shane and the kid?”
“They're probably hanging out maybe?” Carl said. He furrowed his brows in worry, trying his best to be brave.
“She's goin’ to find Rick.” Ariel said, sighing softly. “And for that, I told Shane he had to go after her.”
Dale sighed. Disappointment laced his features. “You didn't tell us? You honestly trust Shane to—”
Ariel continued, “I wouldn't tell anyone else to do it.”
From beside her, Carl looked up at her, and she looked at him. “Is Mom okay?”
“Um, yeah, I think,” Ariel said, looking into his eyes. “She's still alive, isn't she?”
Carl nodded. “Yeah.”
It's true—well, for now it's true. Regardless of any pessimistic thoughts for the future, she knew Shane would be able to bring Lori back. She's safe with Shane, and that's why she told Carl that Lori was safe.
The thing. . . when Shane gets back, everyone would be even more tense, thirty times more, and Rick would have to solve it again. Ariel felt guilty for asking Shane to do this, but she knew she had to get Lori back to Carl; she was his mother.
—————
Nicky loved watching the stars at night—the constellations that seemed so vivid to her. She could tell each constellation about, like Crux or Perseus or even Hydra, and nighttime was always quiet time.
Tonight was different, though. Way different, she was sitting on the porch, staring into the stars.
It had been hours and Carl was still miserable. Nicky tried to keep him occupied, but eventually, she found it impossible. If, somehow, they found the others, they would have returned. But they're not back.
YOU ARE READING
Ghosts★The Walking Dead¹
HorrorAfter the world fell, Rory didn't think anything would get better. She watched her city burn, her family turn, her house collapse...she barely made it out, but thanks to Glenn, she managed. She doesn't think the world can get back to normal, and it...
