TAINTED YOUTH. 
018 tired
—————————

Hallie walked through the courtyard, the sun already creeping up, casting golden light across the familiar scene. She waved towards Carol and Scarlett, who were busy at the makeshift stove.

Scarlett caught her eye and called out, her voice warm and teasing, "You not gonna eat, honey?" A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she spoke.

"I'm good, Scar. Gotta go check on the fences before I head out for the run," Hallie replied with a wave, barely breaking stride as she made her way down through the fields, her boots kicking up dust with each step.

The walkers were becoming a problem again, the horde gradually building in numbers, their relentless shuffle growing louder each day. The fences were holding for now, but Hallie knew that if more of the dead piled up, the structure wouldn't stand much longer. The people inside the prison would be at risk.

"Roman," she called as she approached the fence line. The boy looked up from his work, wiping a hand across his forehead, a mix of sweat and blood smeared across his face. His knife clattered to the ground as he leaned against the fence, his fingers curling through the gaps, his posture relaxed but alert.

"What's up, Hal's?" he nodded at her, giving a small smirk as if to say he was already half expecting her.

"How many are down so far?" Hallie asked, her gaze flicking toward the mass of walkers gathering just on the other side of the fence. She could already hear the groans and moans echoing from the throng.

Roman tilted his head, his eyes calculating as he took a moment to assess the situation. "Probably around forty an hour, give or take," he said thoughtfully. "But with the way it's building, we might need to up the pace."

Hallie nodded, considering his words. She pulled the sleeves of her shirt up to her elbows, her muscles flexing as she worked. "You want me to send a few more down here?" she asked, the familiar weight of unintentional leadership settling in her chest. "I know we'll pull a few away when we head out for the run, but I don't think it'll be enough."

Roman gave a quick shake of his head, the faintest smile playing at the edges of his lips. "Nah, I think we're good for now," he said confidently, though his eyes never stopped scanning the horizon.

After a moment of silence, he glanced down at Hallie's foot, where the support bandage peeked out from underneath her sock. "Hey," he asked, his tone softer now, more concerned, "is your ankle feeling good enough to tackle a supply run? I heard this one's gonna be more than just in and out. We're gonna have to stay out a while."

Hallie leaned casually against the fence, her posture easy but her thoughts already shifting to the run. "Yeah, it's better," she replied, a little pride in her voice as she straightened up. "I've been working on my strength. It's just a little achy now, but Hershel said it's healing well, I'll manage." She offered a smile.

Roman hummed, lips pursed. "Just don't do anything stupid," he said with a grin. "Watch your own out there."

Hallie nodded slowly, her smile turning wry. "Don't worry about me. I've got it covered," she said, the quiet confidence in her voice matching his. With one last glance at the fences, she turned and started walking back toward the group waiting at the trucks. Her footsteps were light but purposeful, and when she reached the vehicles, she climbed into the bed of the truck, taking a seat on the edge.

Jeremy came to stand beside her. "She does not like him," he muttered, his attempt to hide his amusement failing as a mischievous smirk played across his face as he subtly nodded to Beth and Zach.

Hallie rolled her eyes but shrugged nonchalantly. "She does," she said, her voice flat with a hint of amusement. "She just doesn't want to get attached. Her last boyfriend... well, he got ripped apart by walkers." She paused, letting the weight of her words sit in the air for a moment, then added with a small chuckle, "I think she's still getting over that."

"Tragic, truly," Jeremy said, placing a hand dramatically over his heart, feigning sorrow. "I'm touched," he teased, shutting the tailgate with a clang.

Hallie couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at his antics. She sat back, closing her eyes for a moment, letting the sun's warmth soak into her skin. But the brief moment of peace didn't last long. Lee's clumsy feet clattered against the truck bed as he climbed in, his usual lack of grace on full display. He gave her a brief nod, silent as always.

———————

"Ain't this homely," Hallie hummed, her eyes wandering over the dishevelled camp. She ignored Daryl's gruff comment from the front of the truck, choosing to focus on the rhythmic rumble of the engine. But then Daryl's voice cut through the air, clear and commanding.

"Hallie, take Lee with you," he ordered, his tone brokering no argument. "Don't need you hurtin' that ankle anymore."

She gave him a lazy salute with two fingers, already unsheathing a knife from her waistband as she stood up and moved toward the abandoned camp. Her eyes were scanning constantly, sharp, taking in every detail. Every so often, she bent down to rifle through a bag that had been left to rot in the dirt. There was always something to find, if you were patient enough.

"Why don't you carry?" Lee asked, his voice low and cautious as his eyes darted around the camp, scanning for threats. "You're a good shot."

Hallie shrugged, pulling aside the flap of a collapsed tent. "Couple reasons," she said, her voice casual. "Knives are quieter; less attraction. Guns are heavier too, not that I'm opposed, but it's more of a last resort."

Lee nodded thoughtfully, his expression serious as he took in her words. "But with knives, you're closer to 'em. That don't freak you out?"

Hallie gave a short, dry laugh, glancing at him with a wry smile. "Hell, yeah, it gives me the creeps," she admitted, but there was a flicker of something darker in her eyes, something that said she had learned to push through it.

Just as they were about to move further into the camp, a shout rang out from behind them. "We got a problem!" Jackson's voice was full of urgency. The three of them immediately moved toward the sound of his voice, their instincts kicking in as they rushed into the building.

The moment they entered, Hallie's eyes went wide with shock. The roof had caved in, and walkers were everywhere. There wasn't time to hesitate. Without thinking, Hallie rushed forward, pulling a walker away from Sasha and driving her knife through its temple. The corpse crumpled to the floor, its skin peeling away in the process. She heard Bob's frantic shout from somewhere behind her—he was stuck under a fallen shelf.

Hallie's heart skipped a beat. She sprinted toward him, cutting down another walker as she went. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. She quickly yanked the walker away from Bob, driving the blade through its eye. It dropped with a sickening thud.

"Move! We gotta go!" Hallie called out, her voice rising in panic as she looked up at the roof above them. It was caving in even more, pieces of debris falling from above. Zach and Lee were already lifting the shelf, just enough for Bob to get free.

"Time to go!" Daryl shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos as he helped Bob to his feet. The sound of the ceiling collapsing sent a surge of adrenaline through Hallie's veins, and she turned to run. But then, a scream rang out. Zach—he had been bitten, a walker's teeth sank deep into his calf. The sight made Hallie's stomach lurch.

"Zach!" Glenn shouted, but it was too late. Zach crashed to the floor as another walker latched onto his neck. Hallie's heart twisted, but there was no time to mourn. Daryl grabbed Glenn, pulling him back as the ceiling finally collapsed, forcing them all to sprint for the exit.

The ride back to camp was a grim one. Hallie stared out the window, trying not to think about what had just happened. She hoped that the falling debris had put Zach out of his misery—better that than to be torn apart. She didn't cry. She didn't feel the grief that she knew she should. Zach was close to her age, but Hallie had long since run out of tears. She could see it in Beth's eyes, too. They were both tired of grieving.

Later, when the prison finally quieted down and lights out were called, Hallie gently reached a hand down from the top bunk. When Beth's hand grasped hers, she let out a breath, closing her eyes and finally allowing herself to sleep.

RIN SPEAKS

as you can tell, got my laptop on!