BETH'S TWIN ¹ ( THE WALKING DEAD ) ✓

chapter three

          ONCE I WAS back on the farm I headed towards the house, eyeing Rick's group briefly. I knew that one of them, Daryl, had gotten really fucked up when he went looking for that little girl that was missing. Sophia. I'd been searching for her somewhat when I was hunting, but didn't really go out of my way. I doubted she was still alive.

I also noticed Shane standing in front of our barn. The same barn that we kept the infected in, even if I disagreed with it. I furrowed my brows as I looked ahead, seeing Glenn.

Picking up the pace, I headed towards the Korean boy, "Glenn!"

He turned around curiously, giving me a slight smile and nod.

"What's Shane doing?" I asked, jutting my thumb over my shoulder in his direction.

"Oh," Glenn seemed anxious as he continued, "We all kinda found out about the walkers in the barn."

"Kinda?" I asked, crossing my arms in slight annoyance.

"They're my group," Glenn reasoned, "I had to tell them."

"I don't blame you," I held up my hands in surrender.

"I just—" Glenn was cut off by shouting. My head whipped around to see daddy and Rick emerging from the tree line with biters on poles, Jimmy alongside them.

"Oh shit," I muttered, just as Beth came running outside.

It wasn't long before Shane was having a complete temper tantrum and had shot the dead in the chest a few times, proving to daddy that they weren't just sick. 

"Shane, enough!" Rick seethed, struggling to maintain control over the still fighting biter.

"You're right man, that is enough," Shane snarled, shooting the biter daddy held back in the head, killing it. Next he stormed over to the barn doors and tore them open, running back and pulling out his gun. He mumbled under his breath as a few edged closer.

Soon, the first biter came stumbling out. This sent everyone into motion as multiple people from Rick's group rushed forward with their guns raised, including Glenn and Andrea, Derek beside her. I turned to see that daddy had fallen to his knees, Maggie beside him as they were both tearstricken. Jimmy was not far with Beth sobbing in his arms, Patricia directly in front of them. 

Facing forward and advancing, I lifted my bow and an arrow out of my quiver. I swiftly took down a biter, reaching back for more arrows and repeating the process. I'd killed four before a familiar biter came creeping out. My grip faltered, jaw going slightly slack as my eyes watered. 

Shawn. 

He looked so utterly lifeless and disturbing. I never wanted to see him like that. Dirty and covered in dry blood. It felt like I'd been punched in the gut, especially when Ma came out right after him. 

My hands fell loosely to my sides, unable to move. Suddenly Derek stepped in front of me, not even looking back as he held one arm out to keep me back and raised his hand gun with the other, shooting down biters.

Eventually every last one of them were dead. For the second time. Derek turned around completely to face me, placing a hand on my shoulder. 

"You okay?" He asked quietly. I didn't get a chance to respond before I could hear another faint growl. Everybody watched in suspense as a final biter came out.

It didn't take me more than a moment to realize that this was her. This was Sophia, the little girl that they'd been so desperate to find. I could tell by their faces that they'd never expected this. The girl's mother, Carol, ran forward in hysteria, narrowly being caught by Daryl. 

I took in the look of sorrow and shock on Derek's face before hesitantly reaching out to rest a hand on his upper arm. He turned to look at me, pain shining through his bright eyes. I simply stared back. He didn't look away until Rick had lifted his gun and shot Sophia in the head, finally putting her out of her misery. This caused Carol to get up and run off back to their RV.

A familiar wail drew my attention away from the grieving mother, watching as Beth quickly examined the bodies, then dropping to her knees beside the all too familiar form of our mother. I abandoned Derek to join her, tears now streaming down my own face. I plopped down across from her, choking up as I eyed our mother's lifeless face. 

All of her life, beauty, and peace was now replaced by a monster. She wasn't my mother, she was a walker now.

Just as Beth brushed her hair aside with her fingers, she reanimated and snatched Beth's hair with her bony hand. I gasped and reached over, grabbing Beth and tugging her out of the walker's grip. It was Andrea who lunged forward, bashing our mother's head in. Beth sobbed louder as she nustled her head into the crook of my neck. I looked up at Andrea through my blurry vision with gratitude. She huffed a strand of her blonde hair out of her face, nodding in return. 

"C'mon, Bethy," I whispered, slipped my arm under hers as I pulled her to her feet. She relied heavily on me as I ushered her towards the house, passing Derek. Maggie joined us and helped me get Beth to our room before leaving again.

She all but threw herself onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow as she mourned. I took the liberty of removing her shoes and pulling her blanket over her. I then sat down on her bed beside her, staring at the photo sitting on her nightstand blankly. 

It was a picture of Maggie, Shawn, Beth, and I. Beth was on Shawn's back and I was in Maggie's, the four of us smiling from ear to ear at the camera. Beth and I were ten at the time. Unable to look any more, I reached over and placed it face down. 

"Knock knock," a soft voice called out. I turned my head to see Derek stood leaning against our doorframe, one hand stuffed into his pocket as the other held my bow and quiver.

"Hey," I said, standing up and walking a bit closer, still leaving distance between us, "I'm sorry about Sophia. I didn't get a chance to say anything out there."

"No need to apologize," he shrugged, his gaze aimed at the hardwood floor. 

"Still," I muttered, reaching out and carefully taking my things, "Thanks for grabbing this."

"Of course," he nodded, briefly glancing towards Beth, "I should go. If y'all need anything, you know where to find me."

I pursed my lips and nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Derek."

He simply nodded before turning and walking off, shutting the door behind him. I couldn't help but let out a deep breath as I set down my bow beside my bed, sitting down and listening to Beth's gentle cries. 

It had been a long fucking day, that was for sure.