BROKEN BONES

      — EXCEPT THERE WAS     she was cornered in an old farm house by a STRANGER from the road . the roamers were one thing to be concerned about , but the LIVING were far more dangerous . she learned that the hard way over & over again .    ‘ what do you want ? i ain’t got nothin’ — ’ 

      cheeks turn PINK & plum-colored lips lift into a smile .    ‘ you’re always too sweet to me , drew . ’    she hadn’t done anything    ( at least so she thought )    she had just told him how much she loved his song . she had said that it made her heart happy — & that was the truth . 

Rick followed her inside, noting the pleasant smell as they moved into the kitchen. He studied how she moved and with the severity of the injury in mind she moved with relative ease. Clearly she was recovering well.

“Thank you”, he said, accepting the bag of jerky with a grateful smile that turned serious almost instantly. “No, I don’t. You’re a very capable young woman. If the world was what it used to be, I have no doubt you’d be fine on your own out there.” He paused, letting that sink in. “There is strength in numbers and I want you to be at least two people when you go outside these walls. The next time you plan a hunting trip, I want you to bring Daryl.” Another pause, another level gaze. “Will you do that?”

although she had told herself she didn’t need the reassurance from rick , it was NICE nonetheless . he was an authoritative figure and she aimed to please those above her . if he thought she was capable then she would try her hardest to believe it . she smiled gently at his words and nodded in understanding .

‘ sure . daryl . check . ’    she thought back to her last trip . how many close calls did she have ? she couldn’t keep having close calls while her son waited back behind walls for her to come home .   ‘ i rightly think you should come huntin’ sometime . i ain’t ever seen you hunt and i think it might be nice to teach you a thing or two . i wan’a bring my boy . he needs to learn a few survival skills ‘n honestly i think you’re the best teacher for that . maybe teach him some gun safety . ’

Boe glanced her way, mouth turned down as he thought. Her plan could work if they were fast enough. Once the walkers realized they were gone they’d be on the move. Those fuckers were quick it seemed like, too. “That’ll work,” he nodded. Pushing off the wall, he walked over to her and crossed his arms. “I’m going to check the garage for any gasoline or butane. Start packing up all of our things and setting them on the back porch.” Boe clapped his hands together and then headed for the door that lead to the garage. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m out there.” Turning the nob, he disappeared into the garage. It was dark and musty and he was sure he was eating cobwebs. To the left was a work bench with, thankfully, a few cans of gasoline. He hadn’t felt so lucky in months.

‘   alllll  in good time, pumpkin.   ‘      leather   digits   gently   nip   the   end   of   her   chin   once   more   before   casually   inviting   his   settlement   alongside   her.   porcelains    dazzle   with   delight   while    an    elongated   chortle,    flirtatious   charisma   gazing   down   at   her.    ‘   no reason to worry. really. you’ll be treated like a fuckin QUEEN in my home. hot food, nice clothes, and best of all ━  GRAND-O sex with me, when y’re comfortable of course.   ‘          

sapphire hues bounce around curiously as the two approach the community ------ she turns to smile gently at him , it was the best she could offer at the moment . ‘ GRAND-O SEX ’ swims around in her anxious mind , she knew what the DEAL was ------ she had agreed to what was to come the second she agreed to go with him , but there was no denying she wasn’t ready for any sort of INTIMACY of that level yet . so she’d do what she was good at ------ make him feel POWERFUL and WANTED by listening intently and responding to such flirtatious charm with positivity and DESIRE . and who knew ------ maybe one day she’d actually grow FOND of him . until then it was SILENT prayers and being totally subordinate .    ‘ thank you ------ ’    her voice hums softly in the car .    ‘ i’m lucky you found me , and it wasn’t someone else . ’    she motions to little-found settlement outside .    ‘ you did this ? this is yours ? ’    anyone else would have called her an ass-kisser , but they'd be wrong . she was simply a survivor .

   @dclilah  /  continued ! 

‘   well we just can’t have that, now can we?   ‘      boyish   charm   wanted   the   beaut   to   feel   comfortable,   relaxed   and   though   she   displayed   a   calmly   collected,   he   was   aware   of   her   discomfort.      ‘   can’t have a pretty lady like y’rself hungry. whattaya think i am.. an animal?   ‘