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ACT ONE
(no luck)
VERONÍCA SIGHED in content as she folded another dirty shirt, glancing over as the two young boys of the group caught her eye.
She furrowed her brows a bit as she watched the two carry a large object, wrapped in tarp, towards Shane.
Getting an off energy from the man from the get-go, it wasn't a shock that she followed behind the two. Lori following behind her as she did.
As the woman reached them, she smiled a bit as she heard Carl's excited voice.
"It's an arsenal!" Carl said smiling, nodding at Rory as the pair looked between eachother before back at the man. "Rory told me about that word, it means collection of weapons!"
"That's cool, Bud. Go give 'em to Dale."
"Check this one out, It's a hatchet!"
"That's super cool. This was a really good find." Veroníca spoke seriously, looking in amazement at the weapons as well.
After that, it wasn't long before Rory picked up a weapon too. Sharing a look with his new-friend.
Their smiles only dropped when Lori finally spoke. "Don't play with those."
"They're really sharp."
"What did I just say?" Lori spoke again, a little aggravated. Which now made Veroníca's smile drop.
"Can I keep one?" At Carl's question, Rory glanced at his own mom, smiling when she nodded. Signaling he could keep one.
"Are you crazy?"
"No way. Rory gets to keep one!" Carl whined, causing Veroníca to slightly regret her decision.
"Well, i'm not Rory's mom, am I?" Lori said, bending down to fold up the arsenal.
"Shane. Shane. Tell her to let me keep one."
"Hey, man, go give them all to Dale. Now. Go." The man spoke, seeming upset with the young boy. At his tone, Rory and Carl were quick to leave.
Grabbing the arsenal, the boys made their exit. While Veroníca was following behind them, when she made it a few cars down she couldn't help but turn around, attempting to read the arguing duos lips as she did so.
While she couldn't make out what they were saying, she finally realized why she disliked Shane so much.
Despite the fact that he was not nice to Rory, he also reminded her of someone. Rory's father.
Rory's father was indescribable. Not in the positive way. In the way that made Veroníca glare at the air when she thought of him.
The way Shane attempted to cower over the women he spoke to, the way he held himself, it all reminded her of him.
And she hated it. She hated Shane, she knew it wasn't smart. Hating someone so close to the leader. She couldn't help it.
So as she finally turned around, making her way to the RV the boys disappeared into, she couldn't help but lightly shake her head. Thinking of the man.
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Veroníca didn't know how long it had been when Daryl, Rick and Aiden finally made their way back. Which didn't come as a shock to the girl seeing as after the apocalypse started, time had been strange.
"You didn't find her?" Carol asked, in obvious distress as her voice cracked.
"Her trail went cold. We'll pick it up again at first light."
"You can't leave my daughter out there on her own. To spend the night, alone, in the woods." Veroníca now frowned a bit as she watched the conversation intently.
"Out in the dark is no good, we'd just be trippin' over ourselves. More people get lost."
"She's twelve!" Carol cried, her voice completely breaking as she continued. "She can't be out there on her own. You didn't find anything?"
While Rick tried, and failed to comfort the woman, Aiden finally spoke. "We know she was out there, we have witness proof she was alive not too long ago, soon enough she'll be back."
"He's right, and we tracked her for a while."
"We have to make this an organized effort. Daryl knows the woods better than anybody. I've asked him to oversee this."
Veroníca understood what they were talking about was important, but it was also giving her a slight headache.
The leader was being insensitive, he was treating this like a police rescue mission when he should be reassuring her.
It was very easy to spot the many flaws in this group's dynamic, and Veroníca couldn't help but want to help them. They definitely needed it.
The woman then lightly shook her headache off as she zoned back into the conversation. Rick was still the one talking as he defended his actions.
"Those two walkers were on us. I had to draw them off. It was her best chance."
"Sounds like he didn't have a choice, Carol." Shane spoke, earning a quick look from Veroníca as she held her tongue. Seeing as this wasn't her official group, she felt wrong speaking on their personal matter.
"How is she suppose to find her way back on her own? She's just a child. She's just a child." Carol cried, Veroníca finally placing a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder.
As Rick continued talking about his options and choices, Veroníca frowned more.
The man seemed okay, but he was terrible at comforting a hurting mother.
So as Carol spoke once more, Veroníca wasn't surprised when Rick stood up, nodding his head.
He didn't take long to walk away, earning a small scoff from Andrea as the others frowned at the sight of Carol crying.
The silence was loud. It was deafening.
So when words began forcing themselves out of the woman's mouth she wasn't surprised. "We should take shifts."
"What?" Andrea questioned as she placed a hand onto her hip.
"We should take shifts. If—If Sophia comes back tonight, she'll be scared if everyone's asleep. One of us should be awake. For when she comes back." At Veroníca's words, Lori nodded along urging her to continue.
"I can take first shift. Carol, you can rest. I know it's difficult but you'll want to be rested when she comes back." At Veroníca's words, Carol sent her a sad nod as the rest of the group stared at her.
Their was a short pause before Glenn spoke up with a sad smile. "I'll take second shift."
"No. I'll take second shift, Lori can take third. Andrea fourth. T-Dog fifth. Aiden sixth. Glenn, we'll need you up tomorrow. You shouldn't have to be awake." Dale spoke, nodding as he did as if it would convince the man to agree with him.
Surprisingly it worked. As Glenn silently nodded, it wasn't long til the group dispersed.
Leaving only Lori, Carol and Veroníca.
Lori was the first to speak as she stood up. "We're gonna find her, and when we do, she's going to give you a hell of a big hug." Lori smiled a bit before beginning to walk away.
"I'm going to get Carl to bed. Goodnight Ladies." Lori spoke, walking into the RV just as Veroníca sat next to Carol.
There was once again a silent pause before Carol timidly spoke up. "Thank you."
"Hey." Veroníca responded, patting the woman's knee as she softly smiled at her. "From mom to mom, it's the least I could do. Sophia deserves it. You deserve it.
Carol didn't respond this time, she just shyly smiled before standing up once more. She quickly mumbled something about heading to try to sleep, before thanking the woman once more.
So as she watched the lady with the short grey hair leave. She couldn't help but smile a bit.
Although this group was originally just for Rory. She felt happy that she helped out the woman, even in the tiniest way.
Her thoughts were cut short as she abruptly stood up. Looking out into the dark forest where she had slept just the night before.
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