Hours passed and Adria sat in the drivers seat of the fire truck. Eugene had been knocked out and had blood pooling from his nose. The blood vessels in his eyes had popped and he was completely motionless.
Abraham was kneeled a few feet from the trucks rear. He hadn't moved in hours; he just stared straight ahead and tried ignoring the images flooding his brain.
All the doors of the truck were opened. The temperature had risen greatly and they were running low on water.
Adira watched as Glenn walked past and stood next to Tara who had tried getting all the water from the tank. "They got no clue we're here."
Tara screwed the cap on one of water bottles. "It's great news for AGREATM. I just scraped the bottom of the water barrel."
"What is— what's AGREATM?" Glenn furrowed his eyes brows.
"Us." Adira popped her head out.
Tara nodded her head. "Group name. Solidarity. Band of brothers." But Glenn continued being confused. "AGREATM." Tara waved her hand around like a scene in a commercial. "Thinking about getting a tattoo on my knuckles." She gently threw a water bottle at Glenn.
Glenn glanced down and saw a G written on the cap and nodded. "Sorry, I'm just trying to think of something else, you know." Tara shrugged.
Maggie and Rosita finally walked up to the group. "Anything?" Tara asked.
"No." Maggie shook her head.
Glenn sighed, "should we get him to the church?"
"Moving him could make him worse." Maggie pursed her lips.
"What will make him better?" Rosita asked.
"Waking up. If he doesn't..." everyone seemed to know what Maggie was saying. In all honesty, Adira couldn't care less. She wanted to go back to the church, be with her people, and find Beth. Eugene wasn't that much of importance to her. Sure he was smart, but he had just lost everyone's trust.
Adria glanced over to where Abraham was kneeling. She hopped out of the truck and grabbed one of the water bottles with an A and handed it to Rosita. "He hasn't drank anything in a while." Rosita nodded and took it while muttering, "thanks."
She watched the raven haired woman walk up to the man and plead him to drink. The man swiped the water bottle, leading it the fall on the floor and spill. Adira got up and made her way over.
Abraham wasn't thinking straight at the moment. She could see it in his eyes and how his muscles were flexed. He was too close to Rosita and his hands were in fists. He towered over the woman and yelled at her.
"Get away from her." Adira clentched her teeth and watched as Abraham kept his gaze on the gun she held that was pointed at him. The man relaxed his arms and went back to his kneeling position.
Another hour passed before Rosita walked up to them with her AK-47 hanging off her shoulder. "There's a creek a few miles west of here."
"Y'all go. I'll stay here." Maggie said.
"You sure?" Glenn asked.
"I'll stay with her." Adira added from inside the truck. Glenn, Tara, and Rosita made their way over to the creek. Adira eventually grew tired and decided to go sit next to Abraham with her half empty water bottle.
"I know you're thirsty. "She held her water bottle out to him but he continued staring ahead. She sighed, "I reminded you of someone. I saw that earlier. We don't have to talk about it but we've all lost someone. It's what makes us stronger. I guess it makes us feel like we're fighting for them. You should do that. Survive for whoever you lost. Plans change all the time."
He finally looked at her. His eyes were different this time. They weren't just empty. This time they were half full of hope.
Eventually, Eugene woke up and the rest of the group came back. Abraham was finally in the right state of mind. The two had to work together to fix the truck again.
It was more like Eugene telling everyone what to do and Abraham ignoring him. But Glenn repeated the order and Abraham would listen.
•◦இ•◦
It didn't take long for them to get back. Michonne, Carl, and Gabriel were outside with Judith. The church doors were sealed shut but walker arms were seen through the cracks. Abraham decided to make a grand entrance and ran over the stairs along with blocking the doors.
Once they all hopped out, Michonne and Adira hugged each other tightly. "You're back." Michonne noted with a smile.
Glenn pursed his lips, "Eugene lied. He cant stop it. Washington isn't the end."
Michonnes smile fell and she shut her eyes in disbelief. "Where is everyone?" Adira asked, noticing that it was just them three with the baby. She had hoped to see Minho and Mitch but they were nowhere to be found.
Michonnes smile returned and she glanced back and forth between Maggie and Adira. "Beth's alive. She's in a hospital in Atlanta. Some people have her, but the others went to get her back."
Adira suddenly felt the huge urge to smile. "Do we know which one?" Maggie asked desperately. Adira could tell that the woman wanted to cry. The sisters hadn't seen each other in around two months.
Michonne nodded, "Grady Memorial."
Maggie placed two hands on her head. A huge smile adorned her face and she turned to Adira who was also smiling. "Oh my God." Maggie gasped and threw herself at the girl. Adira laughed and almost lost her footing but hugged her tightly.
"Let's blow this joint, go save your sister." Tara suggested with a smile. She had no idea who Beth was but, it seemed to be Adira's happiness.
Without hesitation they all climbed into the truck. Abraham was in the drivers seat with Rosita beside him and the rest in the back, squished together. Tara and Adira were next to the window, listening to music once more.
In a few hours, they had arrived to the city. Tara and Adira had fallen asleep and woke up with sore necks. When they woke up, they found Tara's head on Adiras shoulder and Adira's head leaning against Tara's.
The group jumped out of the truck and through the large parking lot with dead walkers laying everywhere. They each had their guns up along with Adira who had an arrow ready. They took careful steps, making sure to take notice of everything. They didn't know who these people were. Adira didn't want a repeat of the facility nor of Terminus.
They stood at the back entrance for a couple of minutes before Rick emerged. Adira's eyes narrowed and she could feel the low energy emitting from the group.
Sasha and Tyreese walked out next with Carol. Then it was Mitch and Minho who both didn't look at Adira. The two stared at the ground with their rifles in hand. Adira's smile dropped. What was going on?
An unknown boy walked out next. And then the world stopped and Adira's breath was caught in her throat.
Daryl walked out those doors with Beth limp in his arms. Blood dripped from her head, staining her perfect blonde hair. This was the dream she had. She saw it coming. She could've stopped it. Why didn't she stop it?
Behind her, Maggie screamed and wailed. The woman dropped to her knees and began crying. Daryl was also crying. Adira could easily see the way his shoudiers shook with every sob.
She was numb. Completely numb. Her mouth was agape and didn't notice that her bow had fallen to the ground. She just continued staring at Beth's limp body. Her shoulders dropped and she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.
Daryl gently laid her body on the ground infront of Maggie. He took a few steps back and faced away from the group as they all watched Maggie hold Beth's head in her arms.
•◦இ•◦
Beth had been buried underneath a large willow tree. Maggie cried for hours and Adira hadn't muttered a word. She just clutched onto the piece of folded paper that Rick handed to her.
Gabriel had said a few words for Beth and everyone took turns planting a small flower onto her grave.
It all felt like a dream. Adira remebered specifically holding Beth in her arms before running away from the prison. She could feel the needle digging into her skin as Beth traced the image of a butterfly. If only she had been there, maybe Beth would still be alive.
It was all her fault. Adira sat in the truck with her head against the window. A few tears ran down her cheeks but she made sure to keep her face hidden. It was her fault. If she hadn't so blindly opened that door then she wouldn't have gotten split. Carl wouldn't have almost gotten assaulted. Daryl wouldn't have gotten almost beaten to death. She wouldn't have gone through the torture of the facility.
Koko and Beth would still be alive.
It was all her fault.
The paper was still in her hands. She didn't want to open it. If she opened it, she would break down. She couldn't break down, not now.
It was folded up messily, a large A scribbled on the outside. In the back it said, "love, Beth." It felt so heavy in her hands. She knew it seemed stupid to not open it, but the group was going through something huge right now, she couldn't break down now.
She couldn't stop now. She had to keep pushing. She had to keep surviving, because there was no living in this world anymore. She would survive until no one was left, until the rest were taken from her. And when she felt safe and complete, she's open that note. She'd open that note, and let herself feel again.
a/n
....no I didn't cry.
are you guys okay? because I'm not.