For a long time, Eden Perkins believed she wouldn't find another human being she would willingly die for - she didn't want to. The past few months of her life, ever since the day the dead had started coming back to life - and maybe even before that...
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╔──── ╝ ☠ ╚────╗ xi. | HAUNTED. ╚──── ╗ ☠ ╔────╝
ON THEIR WAY TO FIND PETE — with their chances and hopes of getting to the bitten man while he was still alive decreasing by every passing second —, Eden Perkins hadn't even noticed that she had taken a place in the front, walking a few steps behind Clementine. She wasn't really thinking about anything, just staring ahead, determined to reach their destination without even knowing where exactly it was located. So when Luke not-so subtly quickened his pace and adjusted it to her own, Eden noticed and knew he wanted to say something before he even had the chance to open his mouth.
Although, she knew he was about to speak up, Eden didn't turn her head until Luke parted his lips to say, "Hey, Eden... I want you to know, I—I really appreciate what you did for Nick back there."
His words catching her off guard, Eden quirked a brow. "I didn't do much, really," she stated. "I mean, there wasn't much to do but kill time anyway."
"You know what I mean." Eden was surprised by how serious Luke's tone was. It was a definite contrast to his usually relaxed manner. "Nick's in a pretty dark place right now but when he gets out of it, I'm sure he'll be thankful for what you did. I've known him long enough to be able to tell when he's startin' to give up... " He sighed. "It couldn't have been easy for you to convince him not to."
Eden didn't say anything for a moment. Instead she glanced over her shoulder to be able to look at Nick who was trailing behind the group with his head hanging low. He didn't notice her worried eyes on him and although, Alvin walked close by the man, keeping an eye on him as well, Nick didn't even seem to take in his presence.
"Everyone's in a bad place sometimes," Eden waved off when she turned her head to look back to Luke. "All he needed was a little push."
"What exactly happened in that shed?" Luke asked curiously. Eden could tell he'd been waiting to ask her. "I know the story about his hand's bullshit. Did he do somethin' stupid?"
She almost smiled at Luke's parental tone and if the topic hadn't been this serious, she probably would have. Considering whether or not it was a good idea to tell Luke about the events of the previous night, she comes to the conclusion that it was better to tell him. Eden knew Nick was his best friend and Luke was just looking out for him. Knowing these things might help him understand Nick better in a way.
So she told him, "We found this stash of moonshine. Nick got wasted, started drunk talking about how he just wanted to give up... "
"Yeah, wouldn't be the first time he's been like that," Luke said lowly, his expression turning somber. "With Pete gone... he's lost his last anchor."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Eden disagreed with the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
