Impregnable {A Walking Dead Fanfiction}

Forty-Four

(content warning - this chapter includes discussion of suicide) 

  Jimmy, Maggie, and I began digging graves for the walkers that afternoon in the hot Georgia sun. Mable helped us after playing in the fields with Carl, seeming to think that we were playing a game. No one had seen Shane and the group that went for Hershel still hadn't returned, I was beginning to worry. We did our best to distract ourselves with cleaning and making dinner. Beth hadn't been out of her room since her father left, I heard the muffled sound of her crying through the walls. Maggie and Lori had gone upstairs to comfort her but they were shooed away. She needed Hershel. 

     I stood over the stove, feeling numb while steam rising from the large boiling pot of soup filled the air around me. No one spoke, the tension was too thick for small talk. "Beth?" I heard Maggie call from the top of the stairs, her footsteps creaking down the hallway. "Beth?" She called out again, sounding more anxious. "BETH!" She screamed. I sprinted up the stairs, finding Maggie banging on the bathroom door and desperately shaking the door knob. "She's in there, I heard glass," Maggie said, turning to me with wild eyes. "Beth, please don't," I said, pressing my ear to the door. I could only hear the sound of her faintly crying, she was too quiet. "Beth, don't do this, honey," Lori said calmly, walking up and putting her hand on the door. "Oh God, where's the key," Maggie said, ripping open Beth's dresser drawer and throwing out the contents. "Beth, we're not mad, please just open the door," I said. There was no response, just the sound of glass being picked up. I took a step back and kicked the door, hearing Beth scream. The door didn't move, I fell backward and winced at the pain shooting up my leg. "Watch out, Hollie," Lori said, appearing in the doorway with a fire iron. I moved to the side as she shoved the metal rod into the door gap and pried backward, struggling for a moment before finally breaking the door open.

    Beth startled and turned to face us, blood pouring from a large cut she was covering on her wrist. "I'm sorry," She cried. "It's okay, it's okay..." Maggie sobbed, running to hug her. I stepped over broken glass, grabbing the hand towel next to the shattered antique mirror, ripping the metal holder from the wall. "I don't feel so good," Beth sighed weakly. "Here sweetheart, we need to get pressure on it," I said, reaching for Beth's wrist. I moved her hand away to reveal a long superficial cut across her wrist, bleeding heavily. "Oh God, she needs stitches," Maggie said, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "Get Dale, and get the kids out of here," Lori said sternly, taking the towel away from me and pressing it against Beth's wrist as she cried out. Oh my God, the kids. Carl was at the foot of the stairs, staring at me in horror with Mable holding onto his leg. "What's going on?" He asked. "Outside, now," I said, wiping my hands on my jeans while running down the stairs. 

    "DALE!" I screamed as the screen door slammed behind us. "Did somebody get hurt?" Carl asked as we hurried through the fields towards the Winnebago. "Beth had an accident, she's going to be okay," I replied, struggling to stay calm. "Dale, we need you in the house," I said, swinging open the Winnebago door. "What happened?" Dale asked, startling and looking up from his book. "Beth's bleeding and she might need stitches," I said, sitting Mable down on at the table. "Oh, God, I don't have the supplies or knowledge for that. I'll see what Patricia and I can do," He said, picking up the first aid kit and rushing out the door. 

    "How did Beth get hurt?" Carl asked as the door swung closed. I sighed, glancing over at Mable as she played with papers on the table. "Beth took everything that's happened really hard, Carl. Sometimes when people are really sad they..." "She tried to kill herself?" He asked, I stared at him in shock. "Yes," I breathed. "But she's going to be okay, right?" He asked. "I'm sure she will be. She needs love right now." I sighed, staring out the window down the driveway. My eyes caught Shane as he walked through the field in the direction of the house. "Carl, could you watch Mable for a second? Yell out the window if you need me, I'll be right back," I said, walking outside. 

    "Shane!" I called out, catching his attention. He started in my direction. "What happened? I heard screaming," He said.  "Do not go in there," I said bluntly. "Why, what happened?" He asked. "Your actions had consequences. Beth locked herself in her bathroom and tried to slit her wrists with a broken mirror," I said, the rage I'd been trying to control beginning to surface. "Oh my God," Shane breathed. "Hollie, I'm..." Shane started, reaching out for me. "Don't," I said, smacking his hand away. "I don't want to hear that you're sorry. I want to know how we're supposed to fix this. For all I know Hershel had the same idea and we have our men out there searching for him." I said, a tear falling down my cheek. "He wants you gone by sundown Shane. You burned the bridge." 

    Half past five and still no sign of Hershel. I sat in the living room and did my best to distract Mable and Carl. Dale and Patricia had managed to control the bleeding, but Beth needed stitches. Maggie found Hershel's old veterinary textbooks for Dale, who had begun studying the chapter on suturing while Patricia prepared the medical supplies. They were just about to start the procedure when we saw headlights coming down the driveway. Maggie sprinted outside and met them in the driveway, falling into her father's arms. They spoke for a moment before rushing inside to help Beth. The screen door opened and Rick entered, running to hug Carl. "Where's Shane?" Rick asked, turning to me. "Probably off in the woods again," I replied. "Well, the Wrangler's gone," Rick said. "What?" I asked, standing and staring out the window into the field. "Lori, could you watch Mable please?" I asked, starting towards the door. "Of course," She replied as the screen door shut behind me. I broke into a sprint, finding mine and Mable's bags sat next to the old oak tree where the Wrangler had been parked. "Why?"  I breathed, looking down the empty driveway.