𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥

016 drawing plans

TAINTED YOUTH.  .
016
—————————

COLDNESS LINGERED IN EVERY CORNER, in every place. It was an everlasting, hollow feeling that misted over towns and buried itself deep in your bones.

It had always existed, but the apocalypse amplified it. Depression creeped in as people lost things. Their homes, their loved ones and even themselves.

Death and hollowness. They went hand in hand, you lost your life or your mind — your sense of self.

Everyone felt it, no matter how happy they pretended to be.

Jackson felt it, and he had a wife, a home.

The gun in his hand was an easy carry compared to the weight on his chest.

He was always a curious person, his grandfather used to comment on it whenever he had a query.

He wondered if the girl he tried to save got out. Maybe she found her family, or maybe she was dead.

He wasn't sure.

His eyes wandered out of the window, the white ceramic mug in his hand was filled with stale coffee that was almost unbearable to digest.

Jackson didn't care though.

What if they never found that Godforsaken town? Would he be dead, would his wife be dead?

He wanted to know.

Jackson's thoughts were interrupted as his wife's hands circled around him and she rested her cheek against her shoulder. "Are you okay, baby?" She asked with a groggy voice.

Jackson nodded, his eyes still trained out the window. "Do you ever think about leaving this place?" He whispered. His wife nodded, they both wanted to leave — but the governor had his hands tightly around the residents throats.

"All the damn time."

—————————

Hallie felt almost useless, with the injury to her foot — her right leg was useless. She couldn't walk, she couldn't run, she couldn't hunt. She was a damsel in distress and she hated it. Judith was bundled up in an old flannel, her soft snores echoed in the cafeteria as Hallie held her. She was deemed one of the carers now that she wasn't 'useful' in the labour jobs.

She used the blunt pencil to sketch out the prison, if she could work physically— she could make a plan. She had been around the prison dozens of times, she knew it like the back of her hand. Daryl found a spare set of crutches from the prison infirmary — but she still didn't know where to start her recovery, so she drew.

She created exit plans, tried to find solutions to fallen walls and more. Hallie wanted to make this prison a home, and if she had to do it alone — she would. Hallie Walsh's middle name damn well may be ambition, 'cause she had a hell of a lot of it.

Her hands were stained from lead shavings, tinting her sallow skin grey. The drawings were well thought out and designed down to the t. Romans cleared his throat as he sat down opposite of her on the round lunch tables in the cafeteria.

"You good?" Hallie mumbled, her eyes meticulously scanned the paper for anything else she could add to the drawing. Roman hummed a short yes, his own eyes drawn on her face.

"Watch'a doing?" He asked, grasping the paper from under her fingers and lifting it to his eye line. "This the prison?" He asked with thoughtful eyes.

Hallie nodded. "Yeah, since I'm cleared from labour I thought I'd do something that benefits everyone" she explained briefly. Roman nodded, signaling for her to go on. Hallie took the paper back and placed it between them. "The part labelled A is the part we need to work on first — the most critical area. The walls down, same with the fence — so if we rebuild it the best we can we eliminate extra walkers and humans floating through the cracks so therefore we can kill any remaining easily." Hollie paused grabbing another piece of paper. She continued to explain every idea and plan she had come up with. Roman listened intently, agreeing and adding on whenever he had the chance between Hallie's rambles.

The two had been sat together for so long, the sun had set, Beth had taken Judith to bed and dinner had been served. Their trays discarded and not a crumb left the two still continued to talk and laugh. Reminiscing on the quarry and those they had lost.

Life seemed simple at those moments and Hallie had completely forgotten about the full ache in her foot, so much that when she attempted to stand without the support of her crutches or someone else she felt the pain shoot up her leg as she dropped to the floor. Roman almost fell from the table as he scrambled towards her his hands coming to her lower back as he looked at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked with a deep worry. Hallie but her lip as it trembled and her face fell into her hands.

The girls body shook with sobs as Roman pulled her against his chest, his shushing pushed to the back of her head. "I'm fucking useless! This goddamn leg, oh my god. I can't do anything— nothing!" She sobbed, her hands grasped her leg.

Roman shook his jeans and grasped her cheeks, "you aren't useless Hallie — you're the strongest person in this group and even without full mobility your head is enough." The big attempted to comfort her but Hallie pushed his hands away.

"No! Roman, you don't understand— I'm not some damsel, I can't just sit around and do nothing whilst everyone caters to my hand and foot! Just leave, please" she begged, using her hands to push herself against one of the walls where she sat, her hands in her hair as her body racked with hiccups and sobs.

Roman swallowed, his breath jagged as he pulled himself from the ground. "I was just trying to help.." he mumbled, walking out from the cafeteria. Maggie stood infront of Roman when he arrived in the cell block.

"Where's Hallie?" She asked, her eyes wide with concern.

"Cafeteria."

Maggie swerved around him, she walked slowly through the halls. As soon as she heard Hallie's cries she immediately ran towards her, and unsheathed her knife. She came to a halt as she watched the girl sobbing against the wall. Maggie placed the knife on the table as she slowly sat beside her and circled her arms around the teen. "It's not fair" Hallie croaked, her face wet and puffy.

"I know, sweetheart."

— ERIN SPEAKS

HEYY! long time no talk! A lot has changed since I've been here, I dropped out of school changed from part time to full time, mental health as improved immensely and my next goal is definitely towards finishing tainted youth! We're very close, book two is so soon! I missed you guys so much!'

Note and comment pls I love reading them