In This Life

Chapter 7

Hey y'all! Hope everyone is doing okay and enjoying my story. I have been enjoying writing.

So, now, I have a favor. If you have enjoyed my story, then maybe y'all can help me get more readers? Just tell people about it or post my story somewhere. Much appreciated! 

So has Anderson and the group escaped the Governor for good? Where will they go now? Read!

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"Asher." I yelled into the phone, worry covering my voice. "Asher! Ash-"  My heart dropped when the phone speakers crackled and a low hum rang in my ears.

"Dammit!" I yelled out in frustration, throwing my phone onto the raggedy, old chair that consumed valuable space in our already small living room. It was a keep sake from my grandparent's old house they lived in before they died.

"Mom!" I called out, pouncing from room to room throughout the house. "Mom!" I yelled out again.

"Anderson, good lord! I am sure the whole neighborhood has heard you by now." She stepped out of a small hall closet that was next to the master bedroom. She slouched, looking exhausted. Her figure was rugged, her normally shiny blonde hair was dull and matted to her forehead with sweat. The glow that once consumed her face was dull, her skin pale. My father's project has definitley done a number on her.

"Have you heard from Asher? I haven't seen or heard from him in a couple of days." I spilled out, tapping my foot lightly on the carpeted floor impatiently.

"Now Andy Ray." My mother used her nickname my Pops had given me when I was a baby. "He is a grown boy, off in college, no doubt. A grown boy with a life of his own doesn't stop and talk to his family every day. Leave him be." She said, then let out a loud breath and wiped a hand across her forehead.

"But Mom, this isn't like him." I pressed on.

"Andy Ray, you listen here. Let the poor boy be. He needs to enjoy college, maybe start a whole life of his own. You need to accept that." She ordered sternly.

"Mom, this is Ash we're talking about! C'mon, he's all about family. This is ridiculous, he hasn't even talked to me or anyone since he came over the other night-"

"He came over the other night?" She interrupted me, her eyes wide as she edged closer to me.

I thought back to the night when my father come bursting through the door, dragging Asher beside him. I remembered him drenched in sweat, my father pacing around the house panicking, then soon leaving just as soon as he came. Asher was yelling and moaning in pain, begging for a hospital, but I couldn't disobey my father. After he had rested for a day or so, his buddy, Sean, came and picked him up saying he would watch him at their apartment. My mother, Reese and Hadie were on their way back from my aunt's house by then. I suppose Dad never told her about Asher coming here..

"It was more of a short visit.." I muttered, trying to play it off. I shrugged off and strolled into the living room and plopped down on the couch, my mother hot on my heels. Reese clambered down the stairs, Hadie close behind him, made their way over to the couch and snuggled up beside me.

"Now Andy Ray, you best tell me what-"

But she was cut short by my father, covered in blood, bursting through the front door.

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"Asher.. Asher.." I mumbled.