𝐆𝐎𝐃'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘 - 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐗𝐎𝐍

one - "check with the boss first"

𝐆𝐎𝐃'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘 — 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐗𝐎𝐍
❝ check with the boss first ❞

HER BROTHER WAS INSANE. Madeline Walsh came to this conclusion the moment she realized he wasn't kidding when he told her he was going back into the city. She had looked at him the way she had the day he showed up at her apartment with shotgun in hand and a mouth full of stories about the Walking Dead.

She had just returned from a shift at the diner she had worked at all throughout college. She was still clad in her uniform and the pristine braid that ran down the center of her back. She had opened the door with a smile, excited to see her brother whom was always too busy at the hospital to pay her any visits. Then she saw the blood and the vacancy in his eyes, and the smile dropped into a deep rooted frown.

"We need to leave. Now," he had ordered, pushing his way into her apartment. He had made a beeline for her bedroom, already shoving articles of clothing into a duffle bag when she caught up with him. "We have to get out of the city."

So imagine her surprise when not even three weeks later, he had said he had to go back. She had just stared at him for a long moment, before shaking her head and facing the window of her car. She had been too shaky and distracted to get behind the wheel when they had first left, and it had just become routine. She'd ransack and he'd be the backup. She still didn't know her way around her gun well enough yet.

He left the following morning, promising that he'd be back within the week. They weren't far from the city in the first place, having settled just outside in the forest. She had once been able to see the skyline, but now it was hidden by the thick forest. She had watched him leave with a deep frown on her lips and arms crossed. She wasn't happy with his choice, and thought they both should go. Except he and assured her that he'd be in and out, and it would be useless if they were to both go.

Sure, there was safety in numbers, but once you enter the boundaries of the cities, your group becomes a liability. And she would never let herself be a liability. They had promised to meet up at the end of the week at one of the stores off of the road they had taken out of the city.

But here she was, ten days later, standing in the threshold of said store. It was a small Stop and Go, though the windows were smashed to bits and the cash register was ransacked. But, whoever had done so hadn't been smart enough to empty out the storage room. She passed the time by picking through it, humming a familiar tune to take her mind off the elephant in the room. Where was her brother? Had there been problems in the city? Would he ever return?

She had already lost her oldest brother, Shane. Though the trio had drifted some after they entered into adulthood, they still immediately sought each other out. The duo wanted to join up with their big brother, going as far as to drive to his house in the suburbs prior to leaving the city, but it was empty. The only thing telling them that he had been there was a trail of blood leading to the corpse of his girlfriend Taylor with a distinct bullet wound in her head.

She tried not to think much about Shane anymore. It would only cause her to hurt more. The more she thought on Shane, the more she thought on Issac and a man she thought more of a brother than a friend: Rick Grimes. She just hoped Shane -who was always the provider and protector growing up- was safe, and that one day she would see him again, but she had more important things to think about at the moment. Like where her other dumbass brother was.

As if on cue, the bell above the kicked-in door rang loudly, cutting through the harsh silence. She stopped in her tracks, her hand half reaching out for a package of Sun Chips. She stared at the door to the front room with wide eyes, only one thought on her mind. Was it her brother, or another survivor.

Then came the whistle and the "Come out from your hiding place, Maddy," in his movie-villain voice. A grin broke out onto her lips, and she ran out of the storage room and launched herself into his arms. He cackled loudly, rubbing her back in the way that he did whenever she was distressed.

"You are an asshole, Issac Walsh!" She screeched while jumping out of his arms. She punched his shoulder roughly, watching as the smile wavered on his face.

"Madeline?" He questioned, his voice filled with confusion.

"How dare you be late like that! You had me worried sick!" She said while enveloping him in her arms. He let out a sign in relief and hugged her back with such strength, almost as if he was trying to tell her that he was okay.

"Got caught up in a bit of shit, Lottie. You should have seen the city!" He said, exasperated. "Almost got swarmed, but I was saved by a nice group that are over by the Quarry."

"Yeah? And they just let you go? No repayment?"

"Well, they offered me a tent and clean water, but I said that I would have to check with the Boss first." He snickered, ruffling her hair.

"As you should!" She laughed, walking side-by-side with him out into the sunlight. "But did they seem genuine? Like people we'd get along with?" She began questioning.

"As genuine as one can be in this Apocalyptic world, Madeline. We can't be picky now." He accused as they approached a man who was leaning against a semi-clean truck. He was a younger looking, Asian guy with a baseball hat covering his hair and a smile on his lips. He pushed off of the truck when he saw them approaching, sticking his hand out.

"Glenn Rhee, ma'am," his southern accent was thick. She nodded at him, offering a small smile. They shook hands before he retreated back to his truck. "Now, I suspect Issac here has told you of our proposal?" She nodded. "We are settled over by the old granite quarry. There's about a handful or two of us, but we could always use more."

"You don't have to try and sell it, Rhee, we're in." She chuckled, pivoting on her foot and getting into the car.

Before she knew it, they were speeding down the road, headed towards the mysterious group. They were just behind Glenn, who led the way. Within a month, all normalcy had been stripped from her life. Instead of working her diner job and attending the remaining classes needed for her Masters degree, Madeline Walsh had dirt covering every inch of her body and a gun on her hip.

She just hoped that this group would help return some of that normality.

─☠︎─