TWENTY FOUR. overwhelming thoughts

Silence became an overwhelming feeling, broken cries blending with the unspoken air. Adeline dug her fingers into the dirt, watching numbly as Shane threw a thick cover over the body of Sophia. Carol had broke out of Daryls hold several minutes ago, leaving them to deal with her newfound grief. The sobs coming from Beth Greene became louder as she pushed her way through the small crowd, all attempts to stop her becoming nothing but futile until she reached the body of her mother.

"Ma," She choked out, tears making a home down the trail on her cheeks. In an instant the silence was broken by the loud roar coming from the walker Beth leaned over. It's hands grabbing ahold of her daughters blonde hair and pulling her down to its rotted teeth. Everyone sprung from their spot, hands curling around the teenager to pull her away.

Pulling herself off of the ground, Adeline unsheathed the machete by her side as T-Dog kicked the walkers head away from Beth. Before it had the chance to claw at someone else, the machete found itself imbedded into its mushy brain which killed it instantly. Blood splattered against her skin as the silence came once again, bodies pulling away from the scene and slowly making their way over to the farmhouse.

Hershel held a broken Beth to his chest, Maggie and Patrica on either side of them. Rick, Adeline, Shane, and Glenn trailed behind them. The girl only came to make sure her husband didn't try anything stupid again, sliding her machete back into its place next to the throwing knives on her side. "We've been out combing these woods looking for her and she was in there all along?" Shane started his questioning, close on Hershels tail. "You knew."

"Leave us alone." Maggie seethed, throwing her eyes that were sharpened in a glare back to the talking man. "I-" Hershel started, but was only greeted with a loss of words as Rick curled his hand around Shanes bicep in attempts to pull him back - "Get your hands off me." He hissed, jerking his arm out of his grasp.

"You knew and you kept it from us." Shane continued, pointing his finger towards the elder. "I didn't know," Hershels voice was broken which caused Adeline to be struck with a bolt of sympathy and guilt. "That's bullshit, I think y'all knew." Her husband spat.

Adeline scoffed, "They didn't even know what Sophia looked like, Shane. Stop throwing accusations at everyone just because you want answers." her voice was sharper than the set of knives on her side, angry by the way he was doing things.

"You-" Hershel started, allowing Beth and the other two women by his side to go up the stairs leading into the house before turning to face an angry Shane. "Otis put those people in the barn. Maybe he found her and put her in there before he was killed." He guessed, throwing his hands up in the air with tired eyes.

"You expect me to believe that?" Shane retorted, his wife standing close to him with sharp eyes glued to his body. Adeline had become tired of being quiet, or letting things slide because she was too afraid of what her words would do and how they would effect the way things played out. "What do I look like? I look like an idiot?" He kept on.

As he stepped closer to the older man, "Shane please, let's just go." Adeline pressed her hand against his chest and pleaded for him to stop and step back. But the words that came out of Hershels mouth only added fuel to the growing fire of insanity, "I don't care what you believe!" He yelled - the same dark look from before glooming over Shanes eyes. "Get him off my land!" The vet instructed to Rick, eyes swollen from tears.

A sudden burst of anger courses through Shane, causing him to lunge towards the old man with clenched fists. The realization that her words no longer could have an effect on what her husband chose to do overcame her, a feeling of hurt and loss curling it's sinister arms around her body as Maggie stepped down the stairs and sent a hand flying across Shanes face. "Don't you touch him! Haven't you done enough?" The southern drawl left her lips as Adeline stumbled back, her stomach twisting with uncertainty.

Catching his eyes stuck on her and her only as the Greene family walked into their home, Adeline let out another scoff towards her husband before turning away. At all costs, she avoided going near the barn due to the small body covered with a blanket. There was a feeling of blame put onto her, feet carrying her to the RV. The camper creaked underneath her weight, rubbing underneath her eyes to rid of any signs of tears. Finding Carol sitting at the dinette seating inside of the vehicle, she gave a sympathetic smile laced with guilt to the woman.

Noticing the looming figure of Daryl resting against the counter, the brunette placed a hand against his leg before pushing her body against the surface to sit next to him. There were no words they could offer the mourning mother, but together they hoped that their presences were enough to bring the slightest amount of comfort.

Daryl took notice of the guilt lacing Adelines features, his hands curling around the edges of the counter. "Ain't your fault." He whispered after several minutes had passed, the silence getting to him.

Perking her eyebrow, she lifted her head from its stare with the ground and set her eyes like on him. "I could've... maybe if I-"

"Don't bullshit me, it ain't your fault." He repeated, his voice rough as it cut through her own. Adeline fell quiet, nodding her head slowly before casting her guilty eyes back to the ground. A sense of aggravation coursed through him at her actions, wishing he could make her see that if anyone took take the blame it should be himself for not tracking her faster.

"It's not yours either." The assuring voice interjected with his thoughts, the tawny color of her eyes blending with the wooden floorboards beneath them. Looking at her, he took note of the few blood speaks resting against her pale skin. At the close vicinity they sat, his squinted eyes realized how many freckles danced across her skin and claimed it to be their home.

Furrowing his brows, he quickly tore his eyes off of the woman next to him and brought them back to the ground. Making his mind move to the next possible thing, Lori walked into the RV and informed the three of them that it was time to bury Sophia and the others. Carol refused to go, but Daryl and Adeline reluctantly hoped off of the counter and walked over to the site. Standing next to the man underneath the shade of the tree, she caught the look her husband sent her way but ignored it throughout the entirety of the funeral.

It wasn't long before it was over and the Greene family retreated back to their house, then several minutes after Beth had collapsed due to shock and Adeline was rushed into the home. "Where's Hershel?" The question left her lips just as she stumbled into the room, feet leading her to the edge of the bed the teen was laying on. "Not here." Maggie answered in two short words.

"We can't find him anywhere," Glenn informed from the corner of the room with his arms crossed over his chest.

Brushing the girls blonde hair back, Adeline pressed her hands against Beths face. Her usual pale skin was even paler, a warmth radiating off of her body while her eyes stared blankly into the ceiling. The nurse examined the dilated pupils and held her wrist in search for her pulse. Once she felt the irregular beat beneath the skin, she looked to Maggie with furrowed brows - "She's in a state of catatonic shock. Make sure you keep her on her back and elevate her feet twelve inches. Have any pillows?" She instructed, watching as the girl nodded quickly before taking off throughout the house.

Once Maggie returned, the two of them stacked the pillows underneath Beths feet carefully. By the time they had finished, Rick, Shane, and Lori had walked into the room with worried faces. "I can help, but what she really needs is some benzodiazepine." The confused looks sent her way caused her to purse her lips and nod slowly. "Ok, more importantly she needs her father. Do you have any idea where he could've gone?" Adeline questioned.

That question led them to Hershels room where they found boxes packed with clothes and picture frames. Running her hand over a white dress inside of a box, she looked to her brother and husband who inspected the room carefully. "Your stepmother's things?" Rick inquired, taking notice of the boxes his sister looked at.

Standing under the door frame, Maggie nodded. "He was so sure she'd recover. That they'd just pick up where they left off," She informed with her hands tucked into her jeans pockets.

Watching as Shane picked up an empty flask sitting atop the dresser, he shook the container before looking at the others in the room. "Looks like he found an old friend." He said, tossing the flask to Rick who caught it easily.

"That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to Dad when he died." The farmers daughter spoke, stepping to take the flask out of Ricks hand to examine it. Adeline crossed her arms over her chest, "I didn't expect Hershel to be the drinking type." She inquired curiously.

Maggie shook her head, "No. He gave it up on the day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house." she informed with a slight confused tone. Rick took notice of that, "What's the bar in town?" He questioned the daughter with curious eyes.

"Hatlins. He practically lived there in his drinking days,"

Rick stepped forward, "Betting that's where I'll find him." he said knowingly. Glenn nodded his head - "Yeah, I've seen the place. I'll take you." He offered with digging his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"I'll go too," Adeline spoke up, running her hand through her hair with assuring eyes. Shane furrowed his brows at her words and was quick to shake his head in denial, "No, two is enough." He asserted with protective eyes.

Sighing, she looked to Glenn and her brother with a curious face. "What's the first two symptoms of catatonic shock?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side as the men stammered over there thoughts and shook their head defeatedly. "Someone has to explain to Hershel what Beth is going through, he'll know that it's serious and that he needs to come home. So yeah, I'm going. I'll be fine," Adeline assured with soft eyes, walking out of the room as her husband followed quickly.

"So you're seriously gonna go after this guy with everything that's going on, huh?" Shane questioned, carefully grabbing her wrist and pulling her into the bedroom Carl stayed in when he was shot.

"Shane, after everything that we've done... what we did, this is the least I could do for that man." Her voice was in a hushed whisper, shutting the bedroom door as she spoke. "I'm not going to sit around this place while everyone is out doing something useful. I survived for two months on my own, I'm sure I'll make it back from a small trip into town. I can take care of myself, why can't you understand that?" Adeline pleaded, sitting down onto the soft mattress of the bed and holding her heavy head full of thoughts in her hands.

Looking down at her with clouded eyes, he pressed his knees against the wooden floorboards and took her hands in his. Holding back a flinch, she searched his face for any sign of insanity poking through. Shane took one of his hands and cupped it against her cheek, his thumb patting away at the single tear that left her eye without permission. "You're scared of me, aren't you?" He questioned, taking in every one of her features with a hurt expression. As her words faded into a stammer, the loud sound of a horn honking outside caused her to press a kiss to his forehead before standing up from the bed and walking out of the room.

━━━━ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

"Maggie said she loves me," Glenn announced to the siblings, looking back to Adeline who sat in the back. The Grimes nodded knowingly, both simultaneously letting out a hum of agreement. The boy let out a breathless chuckle of disbelief at their reactions, "She doesn't mean it. I mean.. she can't. I mean- well... she's upset or confused. She's probably feeling, like-"

Rick cast his eyes to the stuttering boy, "I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling." he spoke up with a small smile.

Adeline nodded in agreement, "If a woman tells you she loves you, she means it. In the world now, you're hanging on by a thread. If you love someone, you say it before you lose the chance to." She informed with a face full of assurance.

"No- no, no." Glenn stammered at her words, causing the siblings to chuckle at his denial."You know what? She wants to be in love, so she's- she needs something to... to like... to hold on-"

"Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone that Maggie loves you. And not just because you're one of the last men standing. So what's the problem?" Rick questioned, taking his eyes off of the road for a split second to glance at the boy.

He looked down to the shotgun in his hands before taking in a deep breath, "I didn't say it back." he informed. His words caused Adeline to widen her eyes, sucking in a gust of air and leaning back into her seat.

Glenn caught this in the rear view mirror and a look of worry covered his face, "I just... I've never had a woman say that to me before. Except my mom, of course, and my sisters. But with Maggie, it's different. I mean- we barely know each other. Wha- what does she really know about me? Nothing. We're practically strangers. But I- I don't know what to do with it. I just stood there like a jerk,"

"You don't have to really know someone to love them. You can love the idea of them, the thought of them. If Maggie truly loves you, she'll understand why you didn't say anything." Adeline advised with soft eyes, reaching her hand out to squeeze the boys shoulder.

Rick nodded in agreement at his sisters words, "She's right. This is a good thing, something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it. And when we get back, return the favor. It's not like she's going anywhere."

The conversation ended when the car pulled into the abandoned town, the bar coming into sight. Another vehicle was parked outside, which gave them the confirmation they needed that Hershel was there. Adeline popped the back door open, pressing her boots against the concrete ground before standing up and quietly shutting the door behind her. Stepping over a line of plants, she unsheathed her machete and walked alongside her brother and Glenn into the building.

The door creaked loudly as they entered, the room radiating a blueish color due to the lights being out and the tinted windows. Shutting the door behind them, Rick lowered his python as his eyes landed upon the vet who sat at the bar with his back to them. "Hershel?" He called out, the sound of Adelines machete sliding back into its sheath bouncing off of the walls.

"Who's with you?" The elder questioned, keeping his back turned to the three.

Rick stepped forward, "Adeline and Glenn."

"Maggie send the boy?" Hershel retorted, raising his head slightly as he talked.

"No, he volunteered. They both did. They're good like that," Her brother continued as he approached the elder with careful eyes. Glenn and Adeline stayed towards the doors, the two of them slowly taking a seat at the bar as the men's voice echoed throughout the room. "How many have you had?" Rick questioned, looking at the bottle of whiskey.

"Not enough."

Looking back to his sister, Rick sighed before turning to Hershel. "Let's finish this back at home. Beth, she collapsed. She's in-"

"She's in a catatonic state of shock. Irregular heart beat and the last I checked, she was burning up. You don't have the medicine for her so the best treatment is you being with her to help her through it." Adeline spoke up, twirling around on the barstool to look at the elder. "I think you're in the same position, but you just know how to handle it better."

"Maggie's with her?" He questioned, craning his chin up to look at Rick. The man nodded, "Yeah but like Adeline said - Beth needs you."

Hershel shook his head in denial, "What could I do? She needs her mother. Or rather to mourn, like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now."

Shifting on his feet, Rick glanced at his sister who shrugged her shoulders before turning back to the mourning elder. "You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope." He spoke, keeping his eyes on him.

"Hope?" Hershel questioned, a short chuckle leaving his lips at the word. "When I first saw you two running across my field with that boy in your arms, I had little hope he would survive." He informed the siblings.

"But he did," Adeline spoke up, sliding off of the stool and nearing the elder with sympathetic eyes. "Because of you - he survived."

He nodded with a solemn look, "Even though we lost Otis." He stated, which sent a barreling wave of guilt ushering down Adelines spine at the name. "But you and your husband made it back and we saved that boy. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist." Hershel continued, digging his finger into the surface of the bar. "Only it was a sham, a bait and switch."

Silence overcame them as Hershel hopelessly looked up to the ceiling - "I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that. My daughters deserve better than that." He stated, gulping the rest of the alcohol he had in his glass down before pouring more into the cup.

Half an hour had passed and the three of them had made no progress with getting Hershel home, even Adeline shared a small conversation with the man. She stood at the open door with Glenn, breathing in the fresh air and taking in sunlight. After the CDC, she failed to go long without being outside or atleast being able to feel the air. "What do we do? Do we wait for him to pass out?"

"Go... just go!" Hershel yelled, overhearing the conversation by the door. Rick, who stood next to his sister, breathed in deeply before turning to face the elder. "I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe."

A chuckle bounced off of the walls as Glenn and Adeline allowed the door to shut once again, stepping back into the barn. "Like you promised that little girl?" Hershel retorted, causing the Grimes siblings to be greeted with a deep sense of guilt.

"Rick," His sister reached out as he stepped closer to the elder with a frustrated face. "So, what's your plan?" Rick ignores his sisters pleads, "Finish that bottle? Drink yourself to death and leave your girl alone?"

The sound of his glass thudding against the surface was all Adeline could hear as Hershel quickly stood up from the stool and eyed the man - "Stop telling me how to care for my family, my farm. You people are like a plague! I do the christian thing, give you shelter, and you destroyed it all!" He bellowed, throwing his hands out in a fit of anger.

"The world was already in bad shape when we met," Rick started, walking closer to him. Hershel eyed him, "And you take no responsibility! You're supposed to be their leader!"

"Well, I'm here now!" The voice of her brother boomed, Adeline taking a forward with careful eyes. "Aren't I?"

Hershel allowed his defense to falter, "Yes. Yes," he stumbled slightly while turning back to his seat. "Yes, you are."

Staying by the door, she took the last seat around the bar and watched the two men continue to talk. As Rick tried to grab the man's arm, he jerked it back and looked at him helplessly. "I didn't want to believe you. You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead, not sick. I chose not to believe that. But when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming, that's when I knew what an ass I'd been. That Annette had been dead long ago and I was feeding a rotten corpse! That's when I knew there was no hope." Hershel continued, tears welling up in his eyes.

"And when that little girl came out of the barn, the look on your face - I knew you knew it too. Right?" He questioned, looking over to Adeline who avoided his eyes. "There is no hope. And you both know it now, like I do. Don't you?" Hershel inquired, watching as the three that had came to save him shared a lost look. "There is no hope for any of us."

Rick ran a hand through his sweat laced hair and shifted on his feet, "Look, I'm done. I'm not doing this anymore, cleaning up after you. You know what the truth is?" He questioned, Glenn taking the seat beside Hershel as Adeline stayed put in her one by the door. "Nothing has changed. Death is death. It's always been there, whether it's from a heart attack, cancer, or a walker. What's the difference? You didn't think it was hopeless before, did you? Now there are people back at home trying to hang on. They need us, even if it's just to give them a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it ourselves."

Itching as his growing beard, he shared a look with Adeline before turning back to Hershel. "You know what? This- this isn't about what we believe anymore. It's about them." Rick assured - the elder next to him nodding slowly before turning his cup over and placing it on the bar. Just as he stood up, ready to leave - the door behind Adeline swung up.

Turning around, her heart beat harshly in her chest as fear began to creep up. Adeline came to face to face with two strangers, one giving her a nasty look laced by lust as she stumbled back slightly. "Addy, get back here." Rick was quick to insist, her feet leading her backwards as her eyes stayed glued to the men. Wrapping his hand around his sisters wrist, he pulled her behind him as the men chuckled.

"Son of a bitch," One spoke. "They're alive."

━━━━AUTHORS NOTE.
LWODMEKFMFIMD okay i'm dead
the next chapter is about to be so fuckin
crazy IM FREAKING OUT!!!

also INKWOLVES made this absolutely beautiful
gif and i hope it gives y'all a hint to what the future
of this book is 👀👀👀👀👀