Divided Destiny: A Rick Grimes Love Story

Chapter 8

Memories flood your head of the past, everything that has happened makes your stomach weak. What was taking the person so damn long?

Distant footsteps rush towards you, "Wait!"

You open your eyes and see your assasin on the ground with Daryl on top of him. Rick swings around them and unties you. As Rick helps you stand up, Daryl finishes restraining the guy with zipties. Rick pulls off the bandana shielding its face.

"Mayne.." You whisper. You knew it was your brother, everything lined up so perfectly.

Mayne had gotten a paisley bandana from your father, days before the apocalypse. The little dent in his nose was a trait that he had picked up from his mother, along with the hazel eyes and the gallop from his father. As for the shaggy, black hair, that was all his. This was your brother, your Mayne.

"Um, Jessica wants you." Carl says, peaking his head into the store.

Your attention was drawn from the retrained boy, and focused on Jessica. Following Carl to the furniture store, the one in which you woke up in, you try to put this on the back burner. This can wait a little before demanding to be dealt with.

Jessica sat on the bed in tears. Carol and Beth were sitting with her, trying to calm her down. She looked up, saw you, and ran towards you. Taking her in, you look up at the two women who she was previously attached to. They shook their heads, as if telling you that they didn't know what happened.

Going on your knees, you become eye to eye with her. Jessica's bloodshot face make your heart ache.

"What happened, Hun?" you ask, wiping away a tear.

She rubs her eye with one hand and with the other points to the store where you had been struck at gun point. Looking over your shoulder at the store, you see Rick and Daryl carry Mayne out and sit him down at a table. Tyreese was following them, making sure that Mayne doesnt try anything.

When you look back at your little sister, she looks terrified at your forehead. Suddenly, you remember the stream of blood that was pouring down the side of your head a minute ago.

"Why don't you go with Carl over to the couches and sit down for a while. If you ask him nicely, he might even play hide-and-go-seek with you." You say, pushing back a piece of hair that was in her face.

She nods as Carl walks over and takes her hand. You stand up and walk out, in search of a bathroom, or at least running water. Carol walks with you, trailing no more than 4 feet behind you.

"Can I ask you something?" Carol finally says when you both enter the bathroom.

You look at her before adressing your bloody hair and face, "Sure."

She joins you in the mirror and looks in her hands before back up at you.

"What happened back there?" She asks.

You start to wipe the blood from your forehead then stop when she asked the question.

"He's my brother." You swhisper, continuing to wipe away the blood that was stuck to your face.

Carol backs up and puts her hand to her heart. You wipe the final part of blood off your face then turn to face her. Her expression showed that she wasn't expecting that this would've happened.

You slip your hands into your pockets, "He's my brother, Mayne. I thought he died at the beginnning. I took Jessica and we left. I didn't expect that I would ever find him again. Let alone in this condition."

"What condition? He's fine." Carol says, raising her voice.

"He doesn't remember me nor Jessica. Not that I expect him to. I don't think Jessica remembers him. Its been too long since we have ever talked about him." Sadness starts to cloud your mind.

"Well, I could talk to him. Tell him that you're here." Carol offers.

Shaking your head, you can feel the tears coming on, "He won't listen. He's just like our father; stubborn and inconciderate."

Carol back up and nods. She empathizes then heads out of the bathroom.

You look at yourself in the mirror. There was so much to comprehend at the moment. With Jessica freaking out and Mayne drained of ever memory you two shared, Rick doing his best to lead the group, Carol up your butt about helping, and the new people, its a bit overwhelming.

Stepping back to fix your shirt and your hair, you assess yourself. Nothing will show them you're breaking; absolutely nothing. There is a small part of you inside that wants to break free, and let all of this frustration and jealousy go away. Why won't you let it? Anger flows through you at a rapid speed and you black out.