A Shred of Hope (The Walking Dead) (The Final Season Retelling)

17. Closing Her Eyes

The world didn't seem any different as the gunshot rang out in the clearing. For an instant, everything seemed normal. The wind still blew through the trees and the walkers still roamed the earth. But in the little clearing, things had changed forever.

"Marlon?" Brody asked, confused as she looked down at her reddening stomach.

The kids looked on in horror as she clutched at the wound, blood seeping out. Marlon ran to her, holding her just as her knees began to give out.

"Brody, no..." he whimpered as his eyes locked with hers.

"It's... I'll be okay... d- don't worry," she said, as she fell to her to her knees.

He laid her down on the ground, kneeling next to her. "Hold the wound... you're gonna be okay." He pressed her hands over her wound.

"What...? It hurts, Marlon."

Tears began to roll down the boy's face as he placed one hand on her hands and another on her cheek. "I said... I said you'll be fine. We'll fix you right up. It's... it's not serious, I promise."

"That's... good," she whispered, her eyes unable to focus anymore.

"What? No, Brody, focus! Please! You can't do this to me!"

She coughed, turning her lips bloody. "I-"

"Don't say anything! I'll take care of everything, I swear! Just... don't go... please." He began sobbing.

She tried to smile, wincing with the effort. Raising a hand, she cupped his cheek as he held on it, wishing it could stay there forever. "You know, when you asked me what I want to do... I know. We're going-"

"No! Don't tell me..."

"... to France," she finished. "We'll stay there... until- until we're old and..." Her eyes gazed at the sky as her hand fell limp. She would never snuggle into the boy's chest again. She would never laugh again. She would never be proud of how far they'd come again. She would never do anything again.

"Brody?" Marlon asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He stared at his girlfriend's body, unable to comprehend it. Nothing mattered to him anymore. He didn't move as Beth slowly walked over to them. The second bullet from Beth silenced Brody forever as it went through her skull.

She was gone.

"Guess I picked the right number, then," Beth said.

Clementine's cheeks were wet with her tears. She couldn't believe what had just happened. After all this time, she thought things would be different. But... it wasn't to be so. Brody didn't deserve to die such a meaningless death.

Her eyes travelled to their captor. "You..." she began.

"I told you, if I heard another word, you would regret it. And I make good on my promises," Beth replied, putting her gun back.

Clementine turned her head to the side, noticing Violet's tear-stained face looking back at her. The blonde girl shook her head, discouraging her from picking a fight. They had lost enough that day.

"Now, unless more of you to want to meet this fate, I suggest we go home. Isn't that right Minnie?" Beth continued.

Minnie nodded through her sobs.

"Good." Ed and Tom returned with the grey bag. Opening it up, they showed her all the weapons they'd collected from the bags. "That's quite a bit," Beth commented. "Anything else left?"

"No," Ed replied, shaking his head. "Nothin' else."

"Well, no use waiting here then. Take the kids in and make them carry the stuff. You kids are going to behave, right?"