There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 15

While the paint dried on my crossbow, we talked about the group more. What they were like before I came, something about each person, how they fell apart. They had no idea what they were doing. Supposedly sheriff's wife and douchebag had an affair while sheriff wasn't around.

We talked about his brother. How much of an asshole he could be. How he had his "pick-up lines" for women. He was just like his brother, just not an asshole or a douchebag or a racist son of a bitch.

"What 'bout ya"

"What 'bout me?" I ask as I braid my hair

"Ya family..."

"Oh yeah, them" The memories flush back into my mind.

-At our camp, a quarantine zone my father had put together. Me, him, my stepmom, stepsister, two stepbrothers, my older blood brother, my daughter, and a few other families that joined. It was secure, if my father had the right security. Almost every night a dead one would get it. We were there for about 6 months. Every day I'd sneak out of the walls to catch some food. The food my father served was utterly disgusting.

Then the day came. When a horde was stumbling by, and took down the wall security.

"Get everyone together!!" My father screamed

"Get your families and go to the other side!" He continued

My older brother didn't bother to help our "family." He was by my side killing the dead.

"Why aren't ya savin' the family!?" My father screams in my face, then smacking me.

"They ain't my family!" I was 18, my daughter two. She was in her room, playing. There was no need for her to leave.

"Yes they are! Now go!" He screamed balling his fists

"No" I simply stated and went on killing them.

"Mama!?" My daughter yelled down the street, attracting the dead.

"Baby get back inside!" I turn to her, standing on the porch, petrified.

"Mama come wif me!" She yelled

I noticed my brother killing all of them that stumbled her way. He tried taking her inside, but she just threw a temper-tantrum.

"Just go help pa!" I yell to my brother. He puts her down and escorts the "family" out, my daughter still on the porch.

Once I cleared most of dead, my father stormed over to me.

"Why didn't ya clear them out huh?! A simple task ya can't do!? You worthless bitch!" He screams and smacks again, but much harder this time.

I know how this act goes. He then turned me around and started beating me. The belt, the whip, occasionally he'd come face to face with me and smack me. I don't cry, I'm used to the pain.

In the middle of the beating, she screams.

"MAMA!!" Her voice echoes through the street. A dead one making its way over to the porch.

My back bleeding now, I ran over to it as fast as I can, but it's too late. She tried shoving it away, but she was too weak. There was a gash in her shoulder. I stabbed it in its head. My daughter screaming and crying. I threw the dead off the porch and held onto my daughter, crying.

"I-I love ya mama..." She said between sobs

"I love ya too baby" I held her close and kissed her forehead

"I sorry..."

"Don't be, this is my fault"

"No I shoulda went inside when ya told me too..." Her voice is getting weaker with every word

"Baby it's alright. Ya jus' wanted ta make sure I was okay..." I gently rub her cheek

"I love ya so much mama..." She slowly closes her eyes

"...I love ya too baby..." I begin to cry harder, I know she's gone. Gone forever and it's all my fault.

I find some courage after some time crying and shove the knife through the side of her head. Her long brown hair covered in blood.

I know where to bury her. I pick her up carry her outside the walls. As I walk my father shouts at me. My back is screaming in pain, but that is the least of my worries right now.

I bury her under a Weeping Willow tree, her favorite tree besides Japanese Cherry Blossoms. I sit by her grave for the rest of the day. My family is gone, I have nothing to live for now.-

I must have been crying, because I was wrapped in his strong arms. He was saying soothing words into my ear trying to calm me down. I cried for awhile, but I calmed down

"Y'alright sunshine?" He asks kissing my forehead

"Yeah, sorry" I wipe my face.

"Don' be. Ya don' gotta tell me, I undastand"

"I gotta tell ya..."

"Ya sure?"

"Yeah... At our camp, a quarantine zone my pa had put together. Me, him, my stepma, stepsister, two stepbrothers, my older blood brother, and a few other families that he pulled in. It was secure, if my pa had the right security. Almost every night a dead one would get it. We were there for about 6 months. Every day I'd sneak out of the walls to catch some food. The food my father served was utterly disgusting... Place got over ran, pa beat the shit outta me. Lost the little family I had, wandered alone for the next 8 months. Then I found that girl..."

He hugged me again, but a little tighter for reassurance.

"I'm sorry" He whispers into my ear

"Don't be, it's not ya fault"

"Were ya cryin' 'cause 'e beat ya...?" He asked reluctancy in his voice

"...nah..."

"...How bad was it..."

I turn around and take off my shirt. My back full of thick and deep scratches and thrashes from the whip and belt he used. It wasn't just a few, every where you looked on my back was a nasty scar, except some of my lower back. I felt his hand gently on my back, feeling the scars. I don't mind, he tries to feel the pain I went through.

"...Why did 'e do it..." In his voice you can tell he wants to cry.

I put my shirt back on and sit on the workbench.

"All started when my ma passed. I was 6 at the time. Pa never liked me anyway, though. I was never the lil girl 'e wanted. My brother was perfect to him though. Once she passed, he became a heavy alcoholic. Said I was too much like my ma and I'd never be useful ta anybody. Started takin' the belt to ma back. Then the whip. Then both. Always had to avoid explaining the blood stains on the back of my shirt, why I always carried around bandages. He never made my brother watch, he never got beat. Called me useless, worthless, a bitch, whore, good for nothing, all ma life..." I'm not crying. My pa never loved me but I loved him. Over the years, I learned that the love that was never there.