Apocalypse Now

Chapter 3: Threat

I woke groggily later, my head pounding, the room was bright. But this time it was from the daylight. As my eyes adjusted I could see I was in a bedroom, in an actual bed. Oh how I had missed an actual bed. I could hear angry voices not far from the closed door. I couldn't hear the nature of the conversation but I knew it had to be about me. I went to reach for my gun but my hand wouldn't move. I moved my head to see it handcuffed to the bedpost. Fucking perfect. I couldn't help but feel my own worst fears were about to come to light. My head was working overtime trying to figure out what to do next.

The door suddenly opened and two men with hard looks on their faces entered, staring at me. I panicked, this truly is the end. My eyes flitted between them both, my mind trying to prepare to shut itself down. The man in front furrowed his eyebrows at my expression and then softened. He held his hands up.

“My name is Rick. We're not going to harm you. Daryl bought you here after you were shot. Hershel, the man who owns this farm fixed up your wound. The handcuffs were just a precaution...Daryl said your name is Camille?”

I nodded. I was so petrified at this moment. I figured they wanted a back story to ease their minds. “I came to the states for my gap year”, Rick seemed surprised by my accent, “thought it would be all road-trips and site seeing” I shook my head. “When it all started I was in a small town in Tennessee, met up with a group of people, a herd of corpses rolled through and we got separated. Our original plan was to head to the CDC” Rick's expression changed and he looked quickly to the other man. “So I carried on, when I did get there it was blown to hell. Been on my own about two months now...” I finished. They looked me over trying to figure me out, looking to each other having a silent conversation.

Another man entered the room, much older than the other two.

“This is Hershel, he fixed your wound” Rick said as I eyed the man.

“She seems like she isn't a threat Rick, you can uncuff her” he said with a sympathetic smile on his face. The other man glared at me as Rick went to move round to where I was cuffed. Hershel went to reach his hand out, I flinched away, still unsure of the situation I was in.

“I just want to check the wound, make sure the stitches are holding.” I nodded letting out a steady breath. The handcuff loosened around my wrist and it fell to the bed, I dragged it next to my side, flexing and stretching it out. Hershel inspected the wound carefully.

“Looks like its holding” he said replacing the bandage.

A young woman entered the room holding a large glass of water and a plate of cut up fruit, peaches I think. Hershel handed me several pills; antibiotics and painkillers he explained, then handed me the glass. I swallowed the pills and the water greedily. The other man who had yet to speak, glared at me, anger brewing, he pushed roughly past Rick and grumbled “this is bullshit”. Out of the room I could still hear him “What the fuck is wrong with you, bringing her back here! She's a threat!” he yelled. Rick and Hershel left after him. The woman smiled meekly at me.

“I'm Maggie” she said handing me the plate “if you need anything just holler.” she said before following after the men.

“She's ain't a threat Shane” I heard a familiar southern voice say.

“Well she's your fucking responsibility!”

Silence, then moments later a door slammed.

I set the glass down and ate a few slices of the peach. I rolled onto my good side, closing my eyes, I fell asleep surprisingly easily.