Shattered Wings

Chapter Seven: Coffee

By the time Beth heard the door unlocking she had already took the tin can ling down and gathered herself. Willow opened the door slowly and looked inside, "Morning." Beth smiled kindly at the girl, "I've made coffee."

"Coffee?" Beth raised her eyebrows.

"I mean, the grounds are stale, but it's hot and it taste like coffee." Willow shrugged, "Come down when you're ready."

"You're not gonna escort me with a gun on my back?" Beth spoke out, surprised by her boldness.

Willow smiled, "Should I?" Beth looked away, "Right." Willow ducked back into the hall and Beth listened as her footsteps tracked down the stairs. The room didn't have anything to take in it, Beth already scoped it out, so she grabbed her bag and her gun before heading down the stairs herself. Beth found Willow in the kitchen, she had used the sink to start a fire, put an over grate over it, and boiled water. "Coffee?"

"No thanks." Beth smiled, "Never cared much for the taste. Always liked orange juice in the morning. My mama would make it fresh."

"Well...I'm fresh out of oranges." Willow shrugged.

"It's ok." Beth smiled again, "It's about eight, I've gotta be going anyways."

"How you know what time it is?" Willow sipped her cup, gritting her teeth as she swallowed the bitter water down.

"My daddy taught me. It's not exact, but it works." Beth looked toward the door, then back to the girl, "You said you stayed in a safe zone once?"

"Hill Top." Willow nodded.

"Where is that abouts?" Beth pulled her map out and spread it on the table.

There wasn't much more Beth could do to thank Willow for the kindness she spared her, so she gave her two more cans of wax beans and started on her way, following the markings Willow made on the map. Belle Haven, that's not too far. Be there in about six hours. Beth felt really good this morning, she woke up before the headache set in so she took the medication to prevent it instead of fight it.

The sun really was starting to get to her as she approached an old country club. It brought her back to when Daryl and her tried to find a drink, when Beth found a nice white sweater...hot Daryl ruined it with blood. Beth began to feel weak and her breath short as she couldn't cool down, determined to find Hill Top before dark. Dizziness overtook her, the heat filled her lungs and before she knew it Beth was falling to the ground and passing out.