Deadland

Chapter 118- Hemlock

We're back at Alexandria, finally. They stopped needing my help and Gabriel was gonna have a stroke if Inejra didn't get back soon. As we're getting back and unpacking some supplies we were allowed to take with us, Daryl and Carol come back from wherever the hell they were with a Whisperer prisoner. 

"Dude, what the hell?" I mutter as Carol and Lydia walk out of the cell.

"We're gonna get fucking blown up." Inejra sighs, handing me a box of apples. 

"I'm gonna beat her fuckin' ass." I grunt, setting the box down and walking over to where Carol and Lydia are talking. "You fuckin' dumbass!" I hiss, storming over to her. 

"We need to find where that horde is before it shows up at our gates." Carol says, looking at me and then the approaching Gabriel.

"So you decide for all of us?! We won't have any gates if you keep flying off of your fuckin' tits and doin' shit without thinkin'!" 

"Adrian, please." Gabriel says, putting his hand up to me but then turning back to Carol and saying, "But what she said." 

"Doesn't matter anymore," Daryl butts in. "We still gotta find 'em." 

I huff, "No, Daryl, we don't. If we just listen to them, follow their goddamn rules, we're fine! They're not even askin' for much, just to stay off their property." I look and see Magna and Inejra watching as Alyssa distracts Beatrice from seeing me on the verge of strangling a woman. 

 "Adrian, how can you just sit by and let them live knowing what they did to Damien and Cato?" Carol says more than asks. 

I step so close to her that I can feel her breath on my face. "Because I want to keep my family alive. I'm not a bloodthirsty, revenge-seeking dike like you are." I'm so fucking pissed off. Jesus she's so egotistical, this could have just cost us everything. The last time we fucked with them, two of the few most important people in my life were killed and beheaded. I'll die before I let that happen to anyone else. "Go fuck yourself, beetle brain." I hiss, turning and walking away. 

"Adrian." Gabriel groans. I don't respond, I just hold up the middle finger. 

"That went well." Inejra says. "But," She puts a hand on my chest to stop me from walking. "Never disrespect Gabriel like that again." 

I scoff, "That was to Carol but, noted. Just- god fuckin' damn it she's so fuckin' stupid. Coulda' just cost us everythin'." 

Alyssa walks away from Beatrice after handing her a worm and says, "What's the plan?" 

"Slit Carol's throat while she's sleepin'." I mutter, grabbing the same box of apples and walking away. 

As I'm walking down the street, I see Siddiq standing on the steps to the cell. He's pale and is sweating, staring at the spikes of the railing like they're speaking to him. Immediately, I can tell that something's wrong. I've been through that shit enough to know that. "Siddiq, you alright?" I ask, walking over to him. 

He shakes his head to get out of his trance and looks at me, "Uh, yeah." 

I narrow my eyes, "Okay, dumbass, I'm not that fuckin' stupid." I nod to the steps next to him, "Sit." He doesn't say anything, he just climbs up his steps and sits next to me. "PTSD's a bitch." I grunt, scanning his face. 

"How'd you know?" 

I scoff, "Dude, y'know how much PTSD I have? I've had a panic attack over cleaning products before." 

Siddiq nods, "You don't seem like it phases you." 

"Now it doesn't," I say, shrugging. "It used to beat me the fuck up but I just got used to it. You will too." I stare into Siddiq's eyes. "The guilt is what gets you the most."