Chapter Text

There was a rustling all around the trees as the sky almost looked a faint orange, fading into the darker red that signified that the sun was certainly going to be down soon as the four teens would be engulfed in the darkness of the forest she'd trekked so far into, the one filled with walkers, faded auras of people she might've known if this hadn't happened. But it didn't matter now, they were only the monsters they saw them as now. Nothing left of their torn skin and rattled bones or rotting corpses. They were gone, past their time of life by going through a horrifying death or one they weren't spared the mercy of going through. Leaving the few left to quite literally pick up the pieces or die trying. Whatever that had meant at the very least. From those who were old enough to understand the brink of the world collapsing around them, all to those who were too young to understand any of it. A generation of them living a majority of their lives within such a world. But they were trying at the very least.

Trying just like they'd been for eight years. It was like a comeuppance to all of them. To go through all their troubles and be sent to a boarding school to get them 'cured'. To get them a set of new faces and a set of new focuses on life to be happy or hopeful. To give them one less problem for those and others to go through, even to the point they might not have even been the same to themselves anymore. Only for the dead to start walking and for them to be among the far and few survivors that probably roamed the Earth. A strand of life stretched so far and thin it seemed to be in the brink of eradication. And no one knew if there was some sort of end in sight at all. Their best bet was to run with the path. Away from walkers and bullets that flew their way.

At least, those who wanted to survive in this indescribable hell. One where some went at their own terms or at the hands of someone, or something else. In the terms of it all changing in a matter of moments. No one truly got to choose, and when they did? They were considered the lucky ones. The ones who'd be a marker and an outlier over the rest. Where in reality it'd lie in the hands or teeth of another factor to change it so quickly. To quite literally rip it away either from their skin or from the brink of life they barely clutched onto.

She didn't think much of it, now it was just a daily routine, something to get her heart racing all while having to do seemingly meaningless tasks that would mean so much to their actual lives in the long run. A chore, something she didn't see other than normal now. Like many of those left, those who clung onto the only shred of humanity they still had left or those who would survive by any means necessary, even if that tore away the difference between them and the dead. To be compared to as such wasn't as big of a deal as many would've expected. Whether it be their hands gripping a deadly bite or wound, or a lessened skull of a person making their way towards another's neck. They were getting closer and closer to similarity until at some point, they'd be exact. They'd be dead and walking among them and if it weren't for those who actually cared about them, no one would know the difference. And it seemed that their own mistakes or those from the people around them were one of the primary causes because of it. And some would just simply never learn.

She knew they'd made plenty of mistakes. Far too many for anyone to in a place like this. Where one can and would be the end of someone's life. Whether it be a friend, family, or someone who meant the entire world to them. People who mattered and those who helped them live in a world like this. Where every one that would leave or be taken from them would lessen their chances more and more. Not only physically, but instrumenting the fact that while they may never get used to it, it was far from uncommon or rare to happen. Even to a group of kids.

They'd apparently learned that lesson thirty-four times. Those who had been the kindest souls to her, literally ripped away from her without a chance to say goodbye. Or those who were the most capable, sacrificing themselves for them even when she didn't think she deserved it. She frowned at the memory of it as the dead leaves crunched underneath her boot, one of them taped at the ankle still after an accident that had been one of their lucky ones. Somehow surviving an incident many hadn't. Or one where people had gone through something much less serious and died from themselves. Of course their fucked up world was unfair, but to experience it firsthand was a whole other monster next to the walker that had nearly gotten the best of her. And no one knew how much luck someone generally had, but they weren't taking chances with it.

Well, she'd been lucky for anything but her ankle at least, but it was better than her leg having to get bitten and amputated...or her life for that matter. Simply needing a quick fix that didn't have that much impact now, as if she took a single leaf from any of the trees around her, or killing a walker that had gone to close to them and their home. A simple problem that normally would have a complex solution like many of their other ones with their limited supplies. But thanks to the fact she was in the safety of walls after a short period of time rather than being out and within the woods right outside of it, she was fine.

She didn't know why she was one of the lucky ones...though it was lucky in the sense she was able to spend her days longer in what was basically a living hell for everyone. She definitely felt more so to it as she heard possibly the most annoying sound behind her. Not from the sound or crunch of a walker groaning and dying or the sound of squeaking chalkboard, or even scraping metal on a plate or against another metal. This was more...lively.

Her best friend, cheerily walking with the damn chair leg he had since he was thirteen. She was surprised he hadn't even engraved it...yet. She wouldn't be surprised if he did just to get a smirk or an eye roll out of her, something he did very often to the point where they were now. Best friends who'd do anything to protect the other. Being complete opposites until it came to the ideals of what they'd do for one another if it came to it. Which seemed to be limitless within the years they'd gotten to know each other. Those in the once normal and relatively peaceful world, and the one they were in now among all the dead.

"How much longer until we're there, Marlon?" He groaned to a different blonde, though he got a smirk at his question rather than a scowl from the girl in front of him. "I could've played three songs by now!"

"It's close Louis, we're nearing the edge of the safe zone, you can tell by the marks in the tree Minnie made, see?" He pointed to some of the bare trees, where light scraping were made from an axe they'd found during one of their scavenging trips.

"You're lucky I thought of that." The redhead 'Minnie' quipped. Slinging her axe over her shoulder still while they walked along. She wasn't exactly sure what they were doing, but excited nonetheless so long as she didn't have to kill any walkers. A thing she grew to dislike for reasons even she wasn't quite sure of. Not because they were gross or literally the walking dead but rather because they were once people. People who were trying to survive just like she was, and here she was killing them like they were nothing. She could easily do it, it wasn't so much of a challenge to dispose of walkers and she would do it without question in the case of helping a friend or someone else who was actually alive, but on her own? She didn't know what else to think except for the detrimental and existential thoughts of the possibility of walkers themselves. Only drawn back into the conversation as she looked ahead, hearing the sarcastic retort like always.

"Seems like the only smart thing we've done in a while." The blonde ahead of them retorted, letting her mind wander back to the melancholy thoughts she had again. Listening to the wind peacefully only for it to be torn right into again by their voices practically erupting, she wouldn't be surprised if it drew walkers their way in general. Hoping that it wouldn't be a horde of them, though they'd probably even hear that over the commotion her friends were making.

"Well, Vi...that would be all but true. I'm surprised at all we've made it this far." Louis added sarcastically, walking up to her with a grin on his face to see if she even resembled a smile or had an eye roll. Only for her to turn her head away, not giving him the satisfaction of the fact his sarcasm actually was a little humorous, as she knew he'd take that across the miles they still had to walk and back.

"You say that now but you've probably jinxed us." Violet shook her head, crossing her arms once more as her hand grazed the holster to her cleaver. Her lifeline if she were to really get in a situation. Sure she stole it out of a school supply cabinet but what's better than chopping a few dead-heads with it?

Probably anything else, anything other than that. She'd even rather be working in the greenhouse instead of Brody, yet she didn't ask the girl to cover for her like she should have. Which definitely seemed like a missed opportunity right about now. Though she'd already asked her for so many other favors, Violet definitely didn't need to stack more on top of that now. She deserved a break for once after all the work Brody had done for their group stacked atop of her anxiety.

"Maybe, but you gotta live in the moment, Vi. None of us know how much longer we'll last. Whether we die today? Tomorrow? Longer than anyone else out there? Who knows? But as much as I don't want to see that happen, I still gotta keep my eyes ahead."

"That's...well you still gotta prepare though. You can't just go take some batting practice out on walkers whenever you please."

"Well, it's nice to have fun every once in a while, Vi, you never know when it'll run out."

She only nodded, even if it was someone Louis would always remind them of, it was some sound advice at the very least. Maybe he was right, maybe she should listen to at least little of it. Whether it be for her life inside of the walls or out, just because she thought Louis could and would be stupid sometimes didn't mean he always was.

She opened her mouth to respond, only interrupted by the bickering of the two behind them as Minerva had her arms crossed, still looking down to Marlon as he moved his arms dramatically as he spoke. The tension making the air thicker than the humidity among all of them as it even caused a shudder to course through her. Knowing that something had been especially tense in the last few times she'd passed by the mullet haired teen's office. And her curiosity spiked if this had something to do with it.

"All I'm saying is that you've got to get used to killing these things! It's been years Minnie!" He complained, waving his arms wildly as the anger practically seethed through his face.

"And I've survived all of those without killing every single one I see. I can do it as you've obviously seen before but that doesn't mean I like to!"

Marlon scoffed, turning away from her as Minnie simply ignored him now, looking forward and past the two in front of her as they exchanged worrying glances. Unable to distract themselves beyond the path ahead and beyond the argument that still rung in their ears like a gunshot.

"He's been really uptight lately, don't you think?" Louis looked to her, a frown on his face as he didn't let those behind them see it at all, or even hear them for that matter.

"Yeah...Especially around Minnie- or whenever we go outside and towards the end of the safe zone." Violet added, looking to the freckled boy as she tried to think. Something did seem to be up at the very least. "Has he seemed different around you?"

"He's been locked in his office a lot more than usual." Louis recounted, scratching his chin. "But nothing's wrong with the food supply or walker count near the walls so I don't know what might be bothering him like that..."

Violet was already suspicious with him to begin with. She didn't exactly want to sound like Aasim but a lot more seemed to cross the blonde's mind before the safety of his friends. And she didn't know why. He was their leader, but he didn't make Ericson's really seem like their home or a safe-place more than a forced living space.

They continued walking, silence rounding off around them as the sun began to set once more. Seemingly engulfing then in nothing but the moonlight as Violet was definitely awake now. Listening in carefully not to engulf herself in her own mind, but anything else instead. Maybe thinking about the other survivors like before or the future of what would happen. Anything other than what was truly around her.

Louis had staggered back, acting as a buffer between Marlon and Minerva just in case their bickering was to start up again. He didn't want it to happen especially when they were out so far in the woods. Knowing the dangers of the walkers around them were very similar to what the two had out for each other as well.

She kept walking, keeping her eyes forward and searching along with taking in any difference that would sound off. Any signification of a lone walker making their way towards them or any sort of threat out to snap them away from their world. Just like the sudden clicking noise she heard from her right-

"Hang on just a second girlie." A gruff voice appeared, causing her to freeze up immediately as she looked to the shotgun nearly in her face now, the shiny edges among the rusted barrel that was so close it was nearly blurry. Able to see the shadowy figures of what seemed to be two others going near them one with a rifle, and other with a shiny revolver pointed right at Louis. Their footsteps only being heard now as they crunched on tree branches and leaves without any care, their faces darkened except for the moonlight that shown on their grinning sneers. The encounter sending everyone's face in shock all except for Marlon, who had shown a regretful look across his face, one as though he'd known this was going to happen. That he was leading them right to these people, to these raiders who held them all at gunpoint now while they were as helpless as a fawn in a prairie.

It all was causing fury to build up in the blonde as the man who held a shotgun at her chuckled while they dropped their weapons slowly and shakily. They had never encountered other people like this before, not in this matter, or any at that. And all of it combined with the suspicions she'd been building up nearly caused her to act against him. To fight or lunge or do something. But as if she was listening to what Louis had said before, she waited. Hoping it wouldn't end with the sound of a gunshot like she'd heard so many of before. Stories and on her own so many years back, far before she even met her friends or had to deal with shitty situations like this.

"Are they fighters, Marlon?" He turned to him, seeing the faint nod on the blonde as he kept his head down, not wanting to see the looks of betrayal on his friends' faces. He'd known his name and even dared to say it, he'd met him before. It explained so much and brought up endless questions all at once like the endless forest they stood in. A deafening silence for a moment as all attention was brought onto the teen with the mullet. His face reddening again with shame and embarrassment, and for good reason as no one, not even Louis, gave him a look of pity.

"Yeah, all three of them."

"What the fuck?" Minerva called to him, seeing the twinge of pain he had as soon as she said it. But no response back. Only realizing now that this was his entire goal. And it was why he'd been on her ass recently to try and get her to kill more walkers. And it'd all gotten another laugh out of the mysterious stranger. Though he returned his gaze back into Violet as if she was going to do something, but she kept her death glare on him. She wanted to cuss everyone out right about now, but she knew staying silent just for a moment would be for the best. Whether it was for her life or someone else's, these random strangers weren't worth any sort of risk.

"Seems like none of you were willing participants." He smugly grinned. "You will be soon, and think of it this way, the rest of your friends will be safe as well."

He reached for Violet's holstered cleaver, watching her back away for a second as everyone's guns were drawn onto her now, not phasing the man as well while he simply smiled, hitting her across the face with his shotgun as she fell to the ground with a grunt, placing her hand to her cheek as she felt the heat practically radiating from it. Surely to leave a bruise as the others almost stepped up to help, freezing in place once the guns aimed at them once more.

"You weren't wrong, kid. I'm sure this one will be good for us. Though all three of you will be great, we'll even give you supplies you need."

"Fuck you." Violet spat at him, watching his frown appear as her own cleaver was held to her. Almost like it was being offered if it weren't for the sharp end nearly hitting her neck as her breath hitched in her throat. Watching the slightest glint from the moon as the man slowly moved it aimlessly across, nearly giving himself the satisfaction of actually harming her had he not needed her for their job.

"But if you go against us like that? We'll guarantee it won't be a fun time, unless your friends have anything else to say." He glared to the others. Waiting to see if anyone dared to say anything or spark a moment that might end up with them getting less candidates then they'd recently wanted.

Violet looked back, seeing the angered look Louis was giving Marlon now as it all pieced together, and the worried eyes she met that were plastered on Minnie's face. Watching the blonde girl if anything else were to happen. Wondering if she were to step in and what the issue it would cause might just be. Whether it was harm or...something else.

Violet was ripped up onto her feet, only to be shoved forward and away from her so called friend. Their so called leader. A so called human being as it only gave her the chance to start listening to the heavy steps and taunts they were giving to her friends as she kept growing in anger, finally led to a cage near some horses as she was instructed to get in. Barely even getting a chance before she felt something hit the back of her head, knocking her inside with dizzy vision while she stared up at the ceiling of the cage. Able to tell that Louis was in it with her, but not Minerva. Meaning she must've been put in the cage behind them while they rode off to the edges of nowhere.

She didn't even know how or why this would happen. Cursing herself for not suspecting Marlon earlier, she knew he'd been more tense lately and that he seemed distant from the three of them. That even Louis had noticed it. That she was the one who would normally call him out for things. She just...couldn't for this, as much as she wished she could and that she would've done so, she hadn't at all. She was rendered absolutely speechless.

She just didn't think a group of child snatching assholes was a part of the plan. A trap the entire time they walked out, and she didn't even know what he had planned for those back at home. Only that they'd be questioning why three of them suddenly went missing. How all three of them would've died in one night, leaving Marlon as the only 'survivor' left.

She felt another shake on her shoulder, forbidding her exhausted and dizzy self from even getting the rest she wished for, finally sitting up to see a look of relief wash over Louis while he glanced to the bruise on her cheek, whispering to her.

"I'm glad you're alright."

"Alright?! We've just been kidnapped by these random people and Marlon literally traded us away, how is that alright?!" She yelled to him. Watching as he backed to the other end of the cage for a moment before his own scoff came from his throat. Stressed beyond belief over what had happened recently.

"Well for a while there I thought you were dead-" he tried explaining, only interrupted by the man on the horse yelling at them and hitting their cage. Rattling the edges and echoing out into the forest as if they didn't care they'd definitely be heard by walkers throughout.

"HEY! Keep it down back there!"

Violet rolled her eyes, sitting at the back of the cage as she looked outwards. Barely conscious enough to see what was going on in the cage behind them, and more specifically, the one Minnie was in.

She seemed near the doors to it, her hands out and around the lock as both Violet and Louis kept their eyes on her. Worrying that she'd be caught, that she'd be hurt or killed for it. They could barely even tell what exactly she was doing before the door to her cage silently opened. Their eyes going wide as she jumped out, not making a sound as she made her way to freedom, and with no way of saving her friends who had been near the front of it all.

So there it left them, Violet and Louis. Out to watch her escape and hope that she'd be okay, while worrying for their own safety all at once as well. With only a shattered friendship and a hope for the futures of the other three among that single traitor.

And for once, Violet knew she should've listened to Louis.