TAINTED YOUTH. .
015 
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ABBY STOOD IN THE COURTYARD, her eyes scanning the fields with a calculated perspective. Her days before the world turned were spent with a team of firefighters. A team, that was a family. With the training the academy supplied, Abby had learned to scope out an area before taking the best cause of action.

Abby could feel the intensity of the sun beating down on her as she cupped her hand over her forehead to shield her eyes. The conversation between Axel and Carol was nothing more than background noise to her at this point; her focus was elsewhere.

Her eyes darted to the nearby bushes, even though there was no wind, but they seemed to be moving. Instinctively, she reached for her gun that was holstered at her waist, letting it rest by her side as she raised her binoculars to her eyes.

And then, like a glimmering shard of broken glass catching her attention, a flash of light reflected off a sniper's scope caught Abby's eye.

Without a moment's hesitation, she instinctively yelled for her friends to take cover, the urgency in her voice piercing through the tense atmosphere. But before her warning had fully left her lips, the deafening sound of gunfire erupted, bullets tearing through the once-peaceful air with a destructive

"Down!" She yelled before bullets flew through the air and a surge of adrenaline surged through Abby's veins.

Reacting swiftly, Abby's body slid across the ground in a desperate attempt to seek refuge behind the sturdy protection of Hallie's abandoned car.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she crouched low, utilizing the vehicle's trunk as a makeshift weapon's platform.

Her grip tightened around the pistol, her fingers finding comfort in its familiar embrace as she aimed with unwavering determination towards the source of danger hidden within the swaying foliage.

The chaos intensified, the ground beneath her trembling with the weight and might of a van crashing through the gates. The walkers, formerly held at bay, were now granted unrestricted access to the once pristine fields.

Abby's pulse quickened even more, her expression hardening as she prepared to face the onslaught of threats that awaited her. In this world, she knew that her survival relied on her skill, instinct, and determination to protect herself and those she had begun to care for.

She watched ass bullets flew though the yard, one narrowly clipping her ear. Abby's eyes skanned the feild for any unwanted guests when her eyes fell in Hallie.

The girl was on her back, using her hands to pull herself backwards away from the walkers. The bullets began to waver, giving Abby a chance to get closer to the gate.

The woman gripped the metal fence, rattling it to attempt to distract the walkers but there was too much noise, and all they wanted was fresh meat.

"GUYS! I need backup!" Abby yelled, her eyes still trained on the teenage girl in the field.

Maggie ran up behind her, followed by Rick and Lee.

"What's Hallie doing in the field alone!" Maggie hurriedly question, worry present on her face and tone.

Lees eyes trailed her every movement. "Why isn't she getting up.." he asked, looking at Abby expectantly.

She shook her head. "Not a clue, I didn't even know she was on the field today."

Lee paused, searching around the area trying to figure out what way the bullets were heading.

"I can run, open the side gate and go help her but I'll need backup" He spoke, pocketing his gun and looking at the three others.

Rick placed a strong hold on Lees shoulder. "We cannot risk it" Rick stated.

"Hell yes we can!" Lee argued, pushing ricks hand off him.

Rick shook his head, "we need everyone up here!" The man was frustrated, sweat beads dripping down his face.

His inner turmoil caused him to flicker his gaze towards Hallie. She was struggling— the walker was gaining speed. Why wouldn't she just get up?

Lost in his own head, Rick missed Lee slipping passed him and running towards the gate.

The man was slipping through the wire and into the field, avoiding walkers and bullets with his eyes set on Hallie.

She was terrified, tears streaming down her face as she yelled, pleaded for help.

The walker tripped, its hands gripped Hallies leg with a force that reminded her of the man. She couldn't breathe, she kicked and kicked but it wouldn't let go.

Suddenly it dropped, its face slamming against her exposed ankle. A shooting pain travelling through her leg.

"No, no, no!" Hallie yelled, pushing the walker away from her. Her eyes blurred as sobs escaped her mouth. "Not now! Please no!"

Hands gripped under her arms, pulling her from the ground. "No let me go! No!" She screamed, trying to push the grip off her but to no use, he wouldn't let go.

She was yelling and screaming as she was dragged through the feild, the gunshots slowly seizing as she felt the metal drag across her body, ripping fabric and skin as she was pulled.

The sun beating down on her didn't lesson the impending weight on her chest as her feet skidded against concrete.

Her yells echoed the courtyard, catching everyone's ears as they watched the trail of blood follow her body.

The sun was covered by a shadow, and the cool sense of concret hit Hallies body. Lee sat behind her, grabbing a hold of her thrashing arms.

"Calm down, Hall's" he muttered, his face contorting into pain as her elbow embedded itself into his ribs.

Hershel's face came into her view, his face washed over with worry and dread.

"I was bit, I got fucking bit. I can feel the blood. Did it bite me, please god no" Hallie cried, her voice raw with such emotion that could only be labelled as terror.

Hershel's face was sympathetic. "I'm gonna help you, Hallie. Okay, you're gonna have to say very still okay." The man spoke softly, his hand gripping hers.

Hallie nodded profusely, trying to calm her breaths as a soft hand brushed hair from her face.

"You're gonna be fine, sweetie" Maggies voice soothed.

Lee's body held Hallie's weight as she sat between his legs, his arms compressing hers against her chest.

His head weighed on her shoulder. "You're gonna be okay, just breathe" he whispered, hoping to comfort her in any way he could.

Hershel slowly cut up Hallie's jeans, they were soaked in her own blood and gravel and grass were embedded on her skin. He tenderly wiped against it with a soaked bedsheet, and a sigh left his mouth.

Everyone's eyes snapped towards him.

"She wasn't bit" Hershel informed the group.

Daryl narrowed his eyes, "the blood?"

"She sliced her Achilles. Nasty, but shouldn't kill her."

Carol looked at Hallie with soft eyes, "I'll get the needle and thread."

Hershel nodded in thanks, "and the whiskey."

Beth perked up, "why the whiskey?"

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The whiskey burned. Hallies screams echoed through the cell block as Hershel poured it over her wound and the equipment.

Her eyes were red from crying and lees hands had to be bruised from how hard she was squeezing them. Her skin was pale and sticky, her lips chapped.

Rick and Roman were nowhere to be seen, everyone assumed they were clearing the outside to the best of their ability.

"The worst is over" lee whispered watching as hallies head fell against his chest in exhaustion as Hershel began stitching her wound shut. Hallies eyes squeezed shut to try bare the pain.

"Shut the fuck up" she spat through gritted teeth, crying out as Hershel pushed the needle through her skin once again.

"Nearly there" Lee encouraged, using a hand to brush her hair from her face.

"Distract me, please" she begged, gripping lees spare hand.

Lee's eyes widened, "I'm nineteen, I think... I dropped out of high school before the world went to shit. Uhm, I wanted four kids before this. Lee isn't a nickname, it's government. And your stiches are done"

Hallie looked down to see Hershel wiping his hands and throwing the blood soaked cloths into a metal dish that was beside her leg.

"Lee get Hallie to her bunk, she'll need rest. She lost a lot of blood."

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Rick couldn't think straight. He wasn't thinking straight. Ever since Shane tried to kill him, he couldn't. It was like his brain had been rewired.

Hell, he almost let Hallie die. He did let her die.

His goddaughter, the girl he promised to protect if anything happened to her parents. Yet he failed.

He failed as a father, a husband, a leader and he failed to protect Hallie.

She got bit, and I let her.

His ran his hand agasint his face, everyone who he had lost was probably looking down on him. Yelling indecency's from the grave. She's seventeen, she had years left and he took that. He could've helped, he should've helped — before lori he would've.

Shane was wrong, he was made for this world.

And that decision , in some sick and twisted 'full circle moment' proved it.

Roman was dragging bodies into a pile. He didn't know, Rick knew he'd kill him — or try to.

His eyes were glued to the sun that was setting, and with one last glance and roman he walked inside.

It was eerily quiet. The group that was once whispering stopped at the creaking sound of the gate opening and closing.

They looked at him, some blankly and some with confusion.

Rick ignored them, walking through the cell block before coming to a halt.

Lee was sat on a chair, his head dipped as soft snores left his mouth and his hand gripped onto hallies.

Her skin was pale, and sticky with sweat. There was blood on the sheets, not a lot but what was there had dried into a brown colour that was beginning to flake.

Her eyes were shut, ragged breaths leaving her mouth.

Rick felt a presence behind him, "how long has she got?" He asked, treading lightly as to ask such a question.

Abby leaned against the frame, her eyes set on Hallie. "Hopefully forever if you quit acting like a self righteous prick" she stated calmly.

She wasn't belittling him, even though she should have been.

Rick turned to look at her. "But.. we seen it, she-"

"She sliced her Achilles on a pair of shears someone left in the field. She didn't get bit, me and Maggie checked for bites and scratches once Hershel stitched her up. None from walkers, Lee won't leave her side  — worried about her, and you." Abby informed the man, his eyes widened with something she couldn't place.

He nodded.

"I can't tell if you're relieved or disappointed" she observed curiously.

Rick looked at Hallie, "Thankful."

Abby's eyebrows furrowed. "You were willing to let her die. Why?"

Rick felt his breath be taken, he didn't have a straight up answer. "I'm not sure, but I regret it" He spoke, his eyes trained on the floor. He cleared his throat. "I think  part of me still blames her. For Lori, that is — and Shane"

Abby scoffed. "She didn't get to pick her parents, Rick. You cannot blame that girl for actions her father committed. The only thing you can do is guide her and try help her before she ends up destroying herself because of thoughts like your own." Abby paused, breathing deeply as she tried to regain her sense of calm.

"She already blames herself for Lori — even though it most definitely was no one's fault. Hell, Rick you killed her dad. How do you expect a kid to react to the one person they knew loved and cared about them being ripped from them by someone they thought they could trust? And then have that person accuse you of killing someone who was family. Why would she burden Carl with what she's feeling?" Abby exclaimed harshly, her finger pointed to his chest as anger pent up in her body.

Their words were hushed but their intentions were loud.

Rick blinked. "It's kill or be killed."

"Yet that girl did nothing to you. Nothing."

ERIN SPEAKS...

long time no see, if it wasn't for Tayrn's incessant pestering about an update this probably wouldn't be here!

It's short I know, major writers block because as much as used to love it, I hate the prison era.

There's not much plot in this era besides Hallie and ricks beef and I just want Hallie and lee to be in love and all my other ocs to be introduced!!