Of The Valley (Joel x Reader)

Bullet Memories

You rode in silence for the rest of the way. That didn't help with calming you down either. Every inch of you was burning up at the thought of being outside Jackson again. Having to relive that nightmare all over again. At least it was nice out, but the hollowed out homes and burnt cars were anything but soothing.

Joel's silence was disheartening. You knew he was upset at you. In truth, you hadn't really talked to anyone you were close with in the past three months. You blissfully shut out everyone you were close to and had meaningless conversations with mere acquaintances at the bar. People came by and checked in on you, but you almost always pretended you weren't home, or you lied and said Mark was sleeping.

Joel deserved an explanation for your disappearance, you were avoiding him, but you weren't avoiding him because of something he had done. The explaining section was the hard part, you weren't sure where to begin or even when you should. Joel would listen. That was given, you just weren't sure you were ready to open up just yet.

When you finally arrived at the nest after a solemn ride, your breath hitched at the side of your old spot. It had been longer than three months that you had been there. It was your favorite nest to shoot out of. Secluded, hard to get to, views of all roads leading to the small perch.

Joel hopped down from Caesar and hitched him on the tree, you followed suit. You took a small sugar cube out of your old saddle bag and gave it to her. Levia was a spoiled horse.

You walked up the steep hill to where Tommy was waiting, when you finally saw him you smiled. Your worries drifting away momentarily.

"Damn girl, didn't think you would ever show up," Tommy joked, holding out his arms for a hug.

"Didn't think I was going to either. Maria convinced me to," You laughed, hugging him tightly.

"My wife is a convincing one, that's for sure," Tommy chuckled as he began walking over to the nest. Joel leaned against a tree watching you two interact. Tommy nodded to Joel. You pulled the rifle off your shoulder and kneeled down on the wooden hut that was on the side of the hill. Tommy kneeled down next to you. The rifle's weight was strange and clunky. It used to feel so natural in your hand, but now it felt like you were holding a stick.

"See them over there?" Tommy pointed towards the tree line. You pulled out your binoculars and looked at the group of infected. A couple of runners and two clickers.

"That's all of them?" You hissed out. Why were there so few?

"So far. Spotted some more earlier, but they disappeared into the forest, we might be able to draw them out from the gunfire." Tommy eyed you, speaking quietly.

"There's six infected and it's a two man job? Come on Tommy, you could have taken these out within ten minutes," You huffed, pulling your rifle up to your shoulder and looking out the scope.

"I promise there's more. I saw at least three."

"Three? There's only three more?" You stared at Tommy. Things were beginning to make less and less sense..

"There's more by the north lookout," Tommy explained. You sighed and picked up a bullet from the box Tommy had brought over. Feeling a bullet in your hand sent your nerves racing. There was suddenly a loud buzzing in your ear, growing increasingly louder and louder.

"You have to stay silent. If they see you, they'll kill you."

You blinked and it was gone. Whispers of a memory that would forever be etched into your mind. "Tommy, will you, take the first one?" You looked up at him with wide eyes, your voice vacant. Tommy nodded with an understanding look and took his own rifle and lined up his shot on a runner near the tree line. He pushed out the breath from his lungs and shot. You looked away, wincing, as the bullet hit its mark.