Heartless ➳ TWD² [COMPLETED]

Chapter XXXV ➳ The End

➳ I was numb and, once in my life, I didn't fear anything. I couldn't talk or move. Hell, I couldn't even cry anymore.

When we all returned back to the Kingdom and walked inside, defeated and abused, everyone looked to us for answers. What happened? Where did it all go wrong? Where are the others?

Then, when we couldn't answer them immediately, they hung their heads down and it told me everything that I needed to know. They knew it, too. We had lost... in more ways than one. This was the end, and it hurt like a bitch.

As soon as we came into the Kingdom, we were ambushed, but I shoved through everyone and tried to find a quiet place to off by myself. However, I didn't get far until I heard small footsteps running across the cement and towards me.

"Mommy!" I heard Tory call out for me before I saw her. When I did, she ran towards me with wide eyes with Earl behind her and little baby Adam in his arms. "Mommy, I can't find Aunt Tara or Grandma Tammy. We couldn't find them last night. Aunt Enid wasn't here, either. So, Papa Earl told me that I could stay with him and Adam."

My fucking heart... It can't take this. I slowly started to kneel down to her level, taking a knee in front of her, and grabbed her little hand with mine. I went to speak, but before I could, the words got caught in my throat and the tears started to come out again. My back shook with each escaping sob. I couldn't breathe anymore and my chest was closing up more and more with each passing second.

"MoMo," I heard Tory say to her older sister, probably with wide eyes of concern. "What's wrong with Mommy?"

I'm sure that Mollie wouldn't be able to answer, either. We all saw the same thing...

"Tess?" Earl's voice now came through and, to my surprise, I yanked my head up when he called out my name. This mouth was ajar and his face said it all, too. He wanted me to say it. "Tess... Where's Tammy? Where's my wife? Where is everyone at?"

I just stared back at him before my head sunk down and the sobs continued to come out, but louder and harder before. Somehow, I could still see through my blurry vision when I saw Earl have his mouth wide open and shaking his head.

"No...," he breathed out in disbelief and started to back up. Just like that, Connie ran up and took Adam from his arms to prevent disaster. "No. No. No. NO!"

Then, just like that, Earl ran off to escape the stares from others of pity and devastation. He knew it; and, now, he had to live with it. And, yet, I couldn't and I wouldn't be able to now.