The Dead Studios: Season 11

Chapter 10: A Blade to the Throat

     Jax stood besides a large weeping tree in the middle of a field in the woods. He stood there, holding onto a shovel as he had just finished burying Smithy's body. He had his eyes closed, as footsteps echoed behind him and a hand was softly placed on his shoulder and right away he knew it was Caroline.

"Colton and David don't know." Jax said, there was a slight pause afterwards, with a slight crack in his voice. "For fucks sake, we don't even know if they're alive." Caroline hesitated, as she tried to pick her next words wisely. "What the hell are we doing, Caroline? We were safe at the bunker. Perfectly safe...with our child!" He began to raise his voice.

"I trust Olivia." Caroline said sternly.

"Oh come on. She's just a child too." Jax said.

"Jax, you agreed to leave her behind too. Don't act like this was only MY call." Caroline said as she raised her voice. "We did this FOR THEM. Not for us. We've survived the wasteland. Together. We can sure as hell do it again." She said.

"They never should've came with us." Jax said. "If they had just stayed at the bunker- Smithy would still be alive and David and Colton would be WITH US!" Jax raised his voice, as his back was turned to Caroline.

"Jax. . .you're becoming very unstable, and I'm worried about you." Caroline said.

"Unstable?!" Jax said confusingly. "You're the one who is showing zero interest in your friend's death! Do you not care? Do you just not feel anything anymore? Towards your friends...? Towards me?" Jax asked, as his voice cracked again and his face turned a soft red.

"Jax. You know the answer to that question. Don't play bullshit with me." Caroline said. "I made my decision over five months ago. You know that." She said.

"Do you ever think about James?" Jax asked, as he finally turned to face her.

Caroline hesitated, as her stance became unstable and she took a small step back.

"D-do you ever think about Lisa?" She asked in return.

"Yes." Jax said. "I think about them both, every minute of the day. Because for all we know- they're out there, trying to survive together or- or they're-" Jax's face turned a darker red, as his voice continued to crack between words. "Caroline I can't keep going like this." He said. 'There's going to be a breaking point. For both of us. We both know it- we can feel it." 

"Jax the group is moving out in 10 minutes. Alpha won't wait any longer." She said.

"Alpha..." Jax said as he scoffed. "Fucking Alpha." He turned his back to Caroline.

"What?" Caroline asked.

"SHE KILLED SMITHY!" Jax finally broke out and yelled. "SHE KILLED SMITHY AND- AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING HER!"

"JAX SHE'S OUR ONLY LEAD ON A SAFE AND SECURE COMMUNITY!" Caroline yelled back.

"AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE GET THERE? THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE US IN WITH OPEN ARMS? GIVE US A FUCKING WELCOME HOME GIFT BASKET? NO CAROLINE. WE'RE 3 YEARS DEEP INTO A HELL-HOLE OF A WORLD. I HIGHLY DOUBT THESE PEOPLE WILL TAKE US IN, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU WANT TO IMAGINE IT OR BELIEVE IT. IT'S NOT HAPPENING." Jax bursted out, as his voice echoed through the woods.

Caroline stood there with a steady stance.

"I'll believe in it, for Chloe. I follow Alpha... FOR CHLOE. We've been over this already Jax. I better see you back with the group in 10 minutes or they'll leave...or I'll leave." Caroline said, as she turned and began to walk out of the field.

"Not even going to say anything about Smithy?!" Jax called out. "This is fucking funeral! His fucking grave! SHOW SOME FUCKING RESPECT!" He yelled out- but she soon disappeared and became one with the trees.