The Wall Four
A lone
alley against the outer wall led to an abandoned warehouse where guards stood
on watch at strategic locations. These were the Dead Heads, a moniker given by
the self-appointed ruler of New Charleston and the Dead Heads liked it. The
people thought the council of representatives elected this person but the Dead
Heads knew he had taken power when the opportunity presented itself. He rules
under the guise of a benevolent and unbiased leader but the tragic state of
those who were consider poor and weak proved otherwise; this was true in the
eyes of the Dead Heads leader, Carl Grimes.
Marla
followed a familiar path through inconspicuous check points to reach a meeting
place that was permanently etched in her mind. Here; in the middle of all this
desolation of overgrown streets and empty buildings, stood a small indoor glade
with a pond and sweet smelling flowers. Carl had meticulously restored this
greenhouse to serve as a mediation area for him after having to make such harsh
decisions. This was also the place her parents were transported to after being
shot; this sanctuary was where they died together, holding hands.
“Marla,
I’m so glad to see you.” A woman’s voice echoed in against the foliage covered
glass walls.
“Judy,
how’ve you been?” Marla embraced the woman with light brown hair that appeared
red in direct sun. Judith Grimes is Carl’s little sister and was born about a
year before her. Judy was her true childhood friend and Marla felt bad that by
cutting ties with the Dead Heads, she also had to cut ties with her.
“Can’t
really complain. You know, taking it one day at a time. How’s life as
a…umm…handler?” Judy seemed unsure.
“Close
enough, I’m a City Liaison but most newbies call us handlers…” Marla was
interrupted.
“That’s
because you show the newbies all the benefits of living behind the Wall but
none of the consequences.” A man’s voice spoke from the shadows.
“Carl,
that’s not true. Life behind the Wall is what we make it.” Marla had been
having this argument with him since their group arrived in the city.
“Of
course, if you have the power and influence. What you sell the newbies is a
lie, Marla. They come thinking they have a chance here, we know different.”
Carl stepped closer. Marla marveled at how much he looks like his father. Brown
hair and brown eyes with a strong jaw. He has the bearing of a leader and an
air of confidence about him. Carl Grimes is the type of person that when he
talks, people listen.
“Look,
I’m not having this argument with you again. You said you needed my help, first
you need to explain to me what the hell is really going on.” Marla demanded and
the three sat down for a talk.
Elsewhere
in the city, Hank McAdams asked his daughter something he never thought he
would have to ask her; whether or not she’d done her homework. That world of
schools and homework to Hank seemed so far away. Jen got angry and walked out
the front door. He let her go to blow off steam; was this really the third day
he thought.
Jen
McAdams walked down to the market, she just wanted to be out of the house. She
watched as people walked to places, from places; everyone had something they
had to do, somewhere they had to be. Living in camps and settlements, life
revolved around the next meal, the next horde of walkers to put down. Jen had
to admit, she kind of missed that.
“Hey.” A
male voice interrupted her thoughts. Next to her, leaning on a pole, was a
young man in a tattered gray shirt and vest. His jeans were fitted and his
shoes were mismatched but practical.
“You
talking to me?” Jen asked.
“Yeah,
my name is Kay.” He smiled.
“Kay?
Really?” Jen smirked.
“Yeah,
because my group found me at K-Mart when I was little. So they called me Kay.”
He stepped closer.
“Good
thing you weren’t found at Wal-mart, Wally.” Jen’s smile spread. Kay and Jen
sat on the curb and talked a little. He told her how he came to be in the city,
she told him how much she missed the settlement but that her dad wanted them
here.
“I hear
ya. At least it’s good you still have your dad. I don’t have anyone.” Kay
paused. “You wanna go blow off some steam?” He asked.
“What do
you mean?” Jen asked, her interest piqued.
“There’s
this place some of us go to when we want to…kill something. It’s on the
outskirts of town just by the outer Wall. Where we can get at some Zeeks
and…you know.” Kay was talking about killing some walkers…for fun. Jen thought
she should feel sicken; it’s what her dad would feel, but she had to admit, she
missed killing walkers.
“Let’s
go.” Jen said without further hesitation. The pair walked to the nearest bus
terminal and rode it towards the outer wall. More and more passengers got off
until there was only Jen and Kay left. The last stop was in an empty
neighborhood. The streets were bare save for a few burnt out cars. Once they
got off, Jen followed Kay in silence beginning to second guess this little
adventure.
They
arrived at an old high school, the signage called it M R Rivers. Inside the
abandoned hallways and classrooms were a group of kids in the gym. Jen counted
about nine of them with a walker in the center.
“Come on
man, hit him! Hit him!”
“Aww you
missed!”
“It’s
coming!” The kids laughed and squealed as a boy in the center fought the walker
with a knife.
“Come on
Jiff, get ‘em!” Kay yelled as they entered the circle. The boy called Jiff
dodged a lunge by the walker; it’s rotting flesh falling off from exertion.
Jiff spun on his heels and buried the knife to the hilt into the walker’s head.
Dark blood ran down to the floor as the group cheered. Their cried echoed in
the huge room when the walker fell with a wet thud.
“Hey
Jiff, this is Jen.” Kay introduced them. Jiff was taller than Kay with dark
black hair cut short and blue eyes. He wore jeans and a Ramone’s band tee.
“Don’t
you mean Jeff?” Jen asked.
“No
Jiff, I was found in a Jiffy Lube.”
“Of
course you were. So Jiff, what’s the deal here?” Jen asked.
“Just what
it looks like. A place to play. The people here are so soft. They lost touch
with the fact that Zeeks are still a threat. We come here to….keep our skills
sharp.”
“Cool.”
Jen looked around and felt a familiarity with these teens. They were like her,
feeling trapped by rules and regulations. “I want in.” Jen smiled.
Hours
later Jen stumbled out of the school knowing they were going to meet up again
next week. Jiff said it was getting harder and harder to get Zeeks from outside
so they don’t meet as often as they once did. Jen felt anticipation for next
week’s meeting and she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she ran right into
an authority figure that could cause her trouble.
“Jen?
What are you doing here?” Marla asked the young McAdams girl knowing how far
away she was from her home.
“Marla…I…I
was just exploring the city.” Jen lied.
“You
shouldn’t be this close to the outer wall. It’s not safe.” Marla spoke quickly
worried that Jen may have followed her to the meeting. She didn’t want to put
the child in danger. “I’ll make sure you get home. Come on, it’s late; curfew
will start soon.” Marla led the way back to the bus stop and they boarded the
last transport.
The summer
sun just began to set turning the sky from bright blue to deep orange. Elsewhere
in the city people were going about their daily lives not having to worry about
how to save the city from itself like Marla. She was going to need help but
there were few people she trusted. Maybe good help won’t be in old friends but
new ones. Marla hated to bring innocent people into this conflict but if what
Carl said was true, every life behind the Wall will be at stake. Luckily she
was bringing Jen home, so she had an excuse to talk to Hank. Marla just hopes
this is the right course of action.
To Continue….
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