like real people do | c.g [#wattys2019]

H E L P L E S S

I WATCH as Glenn and Sasha hold a man named Henry down while Hershel I tries to shove a tube down his throat, a knife in my hand incase the guy turns. "Henry, you need to calm down. We're trying to help." Hershel says, as the man struggles.

He finally starts pumping the oxygen, Henry calming down as Glenn starts coughing. It almost looks like a chain reaction, because Sasha starts coughing after that, and I follow. "Drink a bit of that." Hershel says, nodding towards the tea. "The three of you."

I'm about to do so, but I'm stopped by my own coughing again. I feel the blood rising up my throat, the metallic taste filling my mouth as I cough into a handkerchief. Crimson tints the piece of fabric and I wipe my mouth, trying not to alarm the other three people in the cell as they talk. I'm unsuccessful, though, because Glenn, Sasha, and Hershel all look at me, eyes wide.

"You okay to take over?" Hershel asks Sasha, eyeing me warily. She nods, and he moves towards me.

"No, no, I'm okay. Seriously, I'm fine." I shake my head.

He ignores me. "Every five to six seconds, squeeze. If you start to feel lightheaded, grab somebody else to take over. We'll take it in shifts." He turns to me, but I shake my head.

"Other people need the medicine. I'm okay-" Glenn cuts me off, glaring.

"Casey, you're coughing up blood. You're not fine." Tears burn behind my eyes, but I push them back, swallowing the lump on my throat.

"You need to go on runs, right?" I ask Hershel, making him nod. "Let's go, then." I get up, feeling a tiny bit dizzy, but I try to push past it as Glenn gets up as well. He looks at me one more time, but sighs, knowing he'll lose this battle.

"How long will that keep him alive?" He asks, looking back at Henry.

"As long as we're willing to do it... As long as it takes." Hershel says before we start moving.

People cough as we walk around, and we check for walkers. We don't actually find any walkers, but we do find a dead man. Blood stains his face as he looks up, eyes glossed over and lifeless. I walk closer, taking out my knife again, when Hershel stops me. "No." He says. "Not here." He brings over a stretcher, Glenn stopping him.

"In a few hours, when Henry's dead," Hershel glares at him, but he keeps talking. "How are we gonna get his body down the stairs, across the cellblock, and through those doors without anyone noticing?" He asks, making me look down.

I don't want people to die, I don't want anyone to die. "If that happens, if. You're gonna help me." Hershel tells him.

Glenn hesitates before answering. "... And what if I'm gone?" I narrow my eyes, shoving him slightly.

"Shut up and help him." I say.

They struggle a bit, but do end up putting the man on the stretcher and I help the push it, cringing as it squeaks loudly. We're stopped abruptly by a voice. "What're you doing?" Lizzie asks, making us turn around.