The Lucky One//twd

024. Glass and Gravel

Madison's POV

The highway stretched like an open wound across the landscape—miles of twisted metal and sunbaked silence. Every car was a coffin. Every breath tasted like dust and rot.

We moved through it like ants picking through the ruins of a world we barely remembered.

"Keep your head on straight," Shane barked as he slammed the hood of a pickup truck shut. "You're moving like you've got no goddamn spine."

I turned from the car I was checking. "Seriously?"

"You're not paying attention."

"I'm doing exactly what Rick asked."

He stormed over. "I don't give a shit what Rick asked. You answer to me, Mads. You want to get yourself killed, do it away from the group."

There it was again—that condescending tone, sharp and loud and always meant to remind me he was older, in charge, the protector. My brother.

"You're not my boss, Shane," I shot back. "You're just pissed the world fell apart and you can't control it."

His eyes narrowed. "I'm pissed because you're playing games with two guys and dragging your drama across every stop we make. You think people aren't noticing? You think Glenn's head's been in the game since Atlanta? Or Blake's? Hell no. Because of you."

The words hit like a slap.

"You don't get to talk to me like that," I growled. "Not after everything we've both seen."

"I have to talk to you like that. Because apparently no one else will," he said, stepping into my space, chest puffed. "You think I like yelling at my own sister in front of strangers?"

"Then don't!" I shouted, voice cracking. "Don't treat me like I'm fifteen and just broke curfew. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be protected. I didn't ask for any of it!"

The others were watching. Rick. Lori. Even Sophia peeked out from behind Carol's legs. The silence after my voice rang out felt like thunder in my ears.

Shane looked like he wanted to say more—but then he clenched his jaw, turned on his heel, and stalked off down the line of cars.

I stood there, burning.

Not just from the sun, but from years of being the "kid sister." The one he had to fix. The one he still saw as someone who needed saving.

Blake approached quietly. He didn't say anything at first. Just stood there, looking at me like he was actually seeing me.

"Was that..." he asked after a long pause. "Always like that between you two?"

"Since we were kids," I muttered. "He used to fight guys twice his size for looking at me wrong."

"You ever wish he wouldn't?"

"Sometimes," I admitted. "Other times... I wish he still could."

Blake nodded. "You were right to stand up to him."

"Doesn't feel like it," I said, staring down the highway. "It just feels like we're all splintering. Glenn hates me. Shane barely sees me. And you..."

He looked at me. "And me?"

I shook my head. "I don't know what we are, Blake. But right now I can't afford to figure it out."

He didn't argue. Just nodded once.

"I'll walk perimeter," he said quietly, and then left me alone with the heat, the gravel, and the fading sound of his footsteps.