WHITE FLAG

chapter fifteen : the farmhouse
{ season two - episode three }

THE SUN HAD officially set, so all of Georgia had gone dark. Kloe's head tilted down at a map of Georgia. Before they had left, Glenn circled the house the girl on the horse had mentioned so Kloe could direct him while he drove.

"You just have to go straight ahead, then take a right when you next see one," she explained, squinting her eyes in an attempt to read the map in the darkness. "I don't know if that makes sense. I'm the shittiest map-reader of all time."

"No, no. I understand what you meant. You're doing great," Glenn briefly smiled, not taking his eyes off of the dark road, "Maybe you should've driven, and I read the map if we knew you'd worry about not making sense."

"Oh, so you're admitting I am bad?" Kloe joked, managing to hold back a grin and looked at him with a serious look.

"No, no, no. Not at all, no-"

"Relax, I'm teasing," she laughed quietly, "If I knew Dale would send us on this trip, I would've tried to learn how to map-read."

"Just get together already, you lovebirds." Kloe choked on her own breath, and so did Glenn as she slowly turned to the man who had muttered out the statement. T-Dog had a weak grin plastered across his tired face, "What? You two would make a good couple."

The brunette abruptly turned back around, her eyebrows raised with shock at what the man had just said. She glanced at Glenn in the corner of her eye and saw he had the same expression.

"See? You're not even denying it," T-Dog slightly snorted as he leaned closer to the girl, "Hey, Kloe, let me know when you get together," he whispered, causing her forehead to physically hurt from raising her eyebrows even higher than they already were.

"Jeez, that cut must be really bad," she commented, twisting her body around to face him. "Do you think the antibiotics are kicking in?" she asked, still a tad bit awkward about what T-Dog had just whispered into her ear. The only response she received was a weak shrug.

As she turned her body around, Glenn twisted the steering wheel to the right, causing her body to tilt to the left. "Okay, so, uh, what did that chick say their mailbox name was?" Glenn asked.

"Greene I'm pretty sure," Kloe responded. Glenn acknowledged with a small nod and began slowing down the car as he read the mailboxes. They were now on a dirt road. The second Kloe spotted the mailbox, she alerted Glenn. The car entered a large property.

There was a long field that looked as if it never ended and it was surrounded by trees. In the middle of the wide field, stood a white house and a barn. The windows in the white house were all lit up, so they guessed they had found the right house.

The car came to a slow stop at a barbed wire fence with a gate. Kloe seized onto the door handle and pushed it open since she guessed she had to open the gate. She walked over to it and pushed it forward. Her finger got caught on the wood, leaving a splinter that stung. She shrugged the pain away though.

She stood out of the way, allowing Glenn to drive the car inside. Once he had, Kloe pulled the gate shut tight and headed back to the car. She pulled open the car door and climbed back in, shutting the door.

Her head flopped down and she raised her finger closer to her eye as she scanned it, searching for the splinter. Once she spotted it, she began pulling at it, attempting to pull it out. A little hiss escaped her lips as she unsuccessfully pulled it.

"You okay?" Glenn asked with a soft tone, noticing the sound his best friend made with pain.

"Yeah, just a splinter," she replied, barely above a whisper as she continued to pull at it. With luck, she managed to pull the son of a bitch out and threw it onto the ground. "Sucker," she muttered under her breath.

The car came to a sudden stop and Glenn turned the ignition, making the engine power off. Simultaneously, the three young adults opened the car doors. Glenn had parked the Cherokee in front of the farmhouse, next to a tall tree. Kloe threw her backpack over her shoulder and her quiver as she held her bow in her free hand.

The three young adults made their way over to the front porch of the farmhouse. They stayed quiet as they got closer to the brick steps. The atmosphere reminded the girl of when she lived in Florida - in the countryside.

They came to a stop in front of the steps as they all noticed the blood drops on them. A hole pierced through my chest, knowing whose it was; Carl's. Kloe couldn't imagine what Rick and Lori were going through.

"So, do we ring the bell?" Glenn inquired, watching the hurt man and sorrowful best friend for an answer. He held tightly onto his shotgun, "I mean, it looks like people live here."

T-Dog, who was sweating tremendously, rolled his eyes, "We're past this kind of stuff, aren't we?" Glenn and Kloe shared a glance before walking up the brick staircase, T-Dog by Glenn's side, "Having to be considerate."

"Did you close the gate up the road when you drove in?" The three young adults' bodies came to an immediate stop and jumped back in surprise at the unexpected, familiar, thick country voice. They turned their daze to the same girl on the horse from earlier. She was sitting on a white chair, her legs brought up to her chest and her arms rested on her knees.

"Uh, hi," Glenn greeted as he lifted his thumb and pointed to the end of the field, "Yes, we closed it."

"Did the latch and stuff, won myself a splinter while I was at it," Kloe added on, pointing to her finger that was still sore from the splinter.

The girl leaned forward, slouching her back with a smirk on her face as she watched the three of them carefully. "Hello, nice to see you again," Glenn waved politely, expecting the girl to reply, but she stayed silent.

"We, uh, met earlier briefly, in the woods," Kloe noted, pursing her lips at the thick tension. T-Dog, who was half awake, sighed deeply and parted his lips to speak.

"Look, we came to help," he paused as the girl shot up from the white chair and slowly made her way towards the three, "there anything we can do?" Kloe watched as the girl's eyes lowered to T-Dog's arm that had a bandage wrapped around it, but blood was soaking through, making her gasp. "It's not a bite. I cut myself pretty bad though."

"We'll have it looked at," the accented girl instantly said, stepping forwards, being only around two meters in front of the three and leaned against the wall, "I'll tell 'em you're here."

Glenn scavenged through his backpack, gripping onto something that made a noise, "We have some painkillers and antibiotics," he pulled the two orange pill tubs that Daryl gave him and his best friend earlier that day, "I already gave him some. If Carl needs any."

The girl instantly took them out of his grasp, "Come on inside. I'll make you something to eat," she pulled open the door, stepping out of the way to let them enter.

As Kloe stepped in, her eyes examined the room. It was cozy and felt homely. It had been a while since she had been in a place as homely as that was. Even the CDC wasn't like a home, but a laboratory.

She turned around to the woman frantically, wanting directions to the room where Carl and his family were. Noticing the look the Schmidt girl was giving her, she pointed to a door that was at the end of the room.

In an instant, the four of them made their way through the silent house. As she walked through the door, Glenn on her heels, she saw the young boy on the bed, unconscious. On the bed next to him was an old man, testing his blood pressure. On the other side was Lori and Rick, who both had looks of panic written across their faces.

The all too familiar lump formed in Kloe's throat and she tried her best to swallow it down, but nothing worked. Beside her, Glenn relinquished his cap from his head, revealing his flicked back hair, "Hey."

Lori and Rick both looked up in unison, meeting their gazes. "Hey," Rick replied, his face pale as a ghost. Kloe glanced back down at the young boy, noticing a white bandaid plastered across his stomach with a red circle on it.

It felt like someone had just shot her chest. The two children in their group didn't deserve what they were receiving. The elderly man stood up from the bed and set his attention on the small group. He had a stethoscope over his shoulders.

"Um, we're here, okay," Glenn assured, noticing his best friend's speechless expression. Glenn knew that if she spoke once, she would just fall down and cry.

"Thank you," Lori nodded, tears stained her cheeks.

"Whatever you need," T-Dog sympathetically added, despite his own pain he was suffering, he would do anything to save the people he saw as family.

The four of them left the room, wanting to leave the Grimes' some privacy with their son. Kloe followed the girl into the living room, along with the two other men who were in front of her.

...

Kloe grimaced as T-Dog grunted with pain. Once they had finished the food the girl, Maggie, made for them, a woman named Patricia began to stitch up T-Dog's wound on his forearm. "You got here right in time," Patricia stated as she pulled the thread through his arm, "this couldn't go untreated much longer." T-Dog, who was sweating even more than before, continued to groan with pain. Patricia eyed the orange pill tubs. "Merle Dixon. Is that your friend with the antibiotics?"

"No, ma'am," Glenn responded, who was standing in the dark doorway beside Kloe. "Merle's no longer with us. Daryl gave us those. His brother."

"Not sure I'd call him a friend," T-Dog added, his voice shaking with pain.

"He is today. This doxycycline might have just saved your life," Patricia's eyes averted from T-Dog's arm and up at Glenn and Kloe, "You know what Merle was taking it for?"

"The clap," Glenn blurted out instantly. Kloe's hand quickly raised to the bridge of her nose with embarrassment as she pinched it.

She shook her head, releasing the pinch as she opened her eyes, "Venereal disease," she corrected, realizing the look Maggie was giving Glenn, "That's what Daryl said."

Maggie drifted her eyes away from the pair and back down at T-Dog's arm. "I'd say Merle Dixon's clap was the best thing to ever happen to you," Patricia stated.

T-Dog grunts became louder with frustration, "I'm really trying not to think about that."

Kloe's eyebrows quickly furrowed as Glenn left her side, making his way towards the door. She watched him carefully as he shut the door behind him. Maggie, who had also noticed, brought her gaze to Kloe's with confusion. The Schmidt girl shrugged and began to walk over to the same door Glenn had just shut.

As she stepped onto the porch's flooring, she felt the same cool breeze hit her skin. Her head snapped across to Glenn, who was sitting on the same chair Maggie was sitting on when they had first arrived. He had his eyes closed, as if he were praying. "Are you praying?" Kloe asked, causing him to tilt his head up to the side.

"Jeez, sorry, I didn't know you were there," he stated, rubbing his hand across his forehead. Kloe sent a small smile as she leaned herself against the wooden railing. "I was praying," Glenn nodded, "Trying," He corrected, making a wave of guilt flood Kloe's emotions.

"I'm sorry. It's always me that invades your privacy," she apologized, biting the flesh in her cheek to the point she could taste a small amount of blood. She spun on her heel, heading towards the door to rejoin the others.

"No, don't go," Glenn stopped his best friend, that same soft tone he always used which made her smile. "I don't even know if I believe in God, I just wanted to try."

She turned back around to face the boy as she leaned back against the railing. She crossed her arms over her chest and she smiled, "Maybe you should've let me go back inside so you can continue. Hopefully God will listen."

"I thought you didn't believe in him?" he queried, confusion written across his expression.

She shook her head simply, "I don't. But I'm not gonna stop you from believing in him, Glenn." He nodded his head in understanding, drifting his eyes to the wooden ground. "Anyway, what are you praying for?"

"Everyone in our group," he answered, twiddling with his thumbs. "Looks like they could all use a little help right now, even you. I know- I know you don't believe in him, but would you think he existed?" he asked, his chocolate brown eyes searching for her own.

She shrugged, "I'm not sure. Even if I don't believe, I could be wrong." Kloe sucked in a deep breath through her mouth as she looked out into the distance. "From the way things have turned in the world, maybe praying could do it some good. Even if he doesn't exist, it's good to try."

Silence lapped between the pair as Glenn nodded. Without realizing, she was staring at the boy as he ducked his head, attempting to pray. She eventually snapped out of her daze when Glenn lifted his chin up at her. "Okay, as much as I want you out here with me, it's hard to concentrate when I'm being stared at," Glenn chuckled, making Kloe return the same laugh.

"Sorry. I'll look off into the field," she twisted her body and stared off into the distance. She lifted her chin and glanced at the bright stars in the sky. She watched them twinkle brightly, causing a small smile to plaster her lips. When she was a kid, her biggest dream was to touch the stars; until she found out what stars actually were.

There were a lot of stars. She realized that ever since the world went fatal and horrific, the light pollution had vanished as if it was never there in the first place. She could even see some parts of the galaxy. There were a mix of colors: red, blue, yellow. It was as if they were calling out to her, or maybe they held faith.

Maybe they were signaling that things would be okay, and that she didn't have to worry. Or she was completely wrong and they were alerting her that something bad may fall upon everyone.

Little did Kloe know that while she was staring at the sky, the boy who was meant to be praying was watching her with a loving smile.

...

The sound of a truck pulled up outside the farmhouse. Glenn and Kloe returned inside shortly after he had prayed. Patricia had finished stitching up T-Dog's arm, so the four of them - Glenn, T-Dog, Maggie and Kloe - were left in the room on their own, hoping that the young boy in the room next to them would be okay.

Kloe quickly shot up from her seat as Rick and Lori burst into the room. Rick was still pale white from all the blood transfusions. Behind them, was the old man that was taking care of Carl. Kloe still hadn't learned the name of the elder man, leaving her curious since Maggie only told her hers and Patricia's.

The four of them followed the adults outside and noticed Shane in an instant, but he was alone. Maggie had told the new group that he and another man named Otis went to a high school nearby for medical equipment for Carl.

Shane breathed heavily as he limped his way over to the group. He had two extremely large backpacks wrapped over his shoulders and he quickly passed one of them to Glenn, "Carl?"

"There's still a chance," Rick replied, continuously blinking at the heaving man.

Kloe noticed the elderly man look around for the one guy that was meant to be there, but he wasn't, "Otis?"

Shane, who had his lips parted, stood there and shook his head, "No."

Everyone went quiet, especially the Greenes. Kloe turned her neck and saw Maggie's eyes going glassy and red. Kloe's eyes set on the elderly man, who had sadness and shock in his appearance, "We say nothing to Patricia. Not till after. I need her."

She watched as the old man, Glenn and T-Dog walked back inside, saying nothing. She stepped closer to Maggie, rubbing her hand on her back as a tear managed to escape her eye.

Rick pulled Shane into an embrace, Shane's dark brown eyes piercing through Lori's. Rick stepped away, but kept a hand on Shane's shoulder for comfort. "They kept blocking us at every turn," Shane shook his head breathlessly, tears brimming his eyes as he desperately stared into Rick's ocean blue eyes, "we had nothing left. We were down to ten rounds. Then he said- he said he'd cover me and that I should keep going. So that's what I did. I just- I kept going. But I-" he continued to shake his head as his lips tugged downwards, "I looked back and he- I tried..."

Kloe glanced back at Maggie, who was gasping for air while tears spilled out her eyes. She rubbed more circles on her back, in hope to comfort her. Rick whispered something, only loud enough so Shane could hear.

As Kloe stared at Maggie sympathetically, she felt her nose burn from feeling someone else's emotions. She couldn't tell what it was, but if someone was happy, she'd be happy. If someone was sad, she'd be sad. If someone was angry, she'd be angry and so on.

"Come on, let's get you inside," Kloe softly stated, attempting to smile at the girl, but she couldn't. Maggie only nodded as a response, so she turned her around with her hand on the Greene girl's back. The Schmidt girl tilted her head to Lori, signaling that it would be fine and to stay with her husband and son while she comforted Maggie.

As they walked inside, Glenn and T-Dog were sat on the couches. T-Dog was staring deeply into his now stitched up arm, and Glenn was hunched over, twiddling with his thumbs. Their heads snapped up into their direction as the door behind shut.

Kloe pursed her lips as Maggie stumbled over to the kitchen, soft sobs exiting her lips. Kloe lifted her hands, letting them know that she had this and that she could support her while she grieved.

She sped up her pace as she followed Maggie, and she had all ready curled up on a stool, staring down at the ground as small sniffles radiated off her.

"Are you all right?" Kloe asked supportively. "Is there anything I can do?"

Maggie sealed her eyes shut as she attempted to inhale, but only to be cut off by her cries that got caught up in her throat. "I've known Otis since I was a kid." She gulped, sniffling again. "He's run this farm before my mother died."

"I'm so sorry, Maggie." Kloe softly stated, her tone causing her to take deep breaths successfully. Kloe's head turned to the side, noticing a refrigerator with photos of who she guessed was her family. She slowly walked towards it, scanning her eyes over the old photographs that were stuck to the fridge from magnets. "Who else have you lost? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Maggie lifted her head and looked into Kloe's eyes with her watery, glassy ones. Her bottom lip was quivering and her hands were shaking. She hesitated for a moment, crying more before standing up. She swiftly walked over to the fridge and lifted her shaky index finger and pointed to a woman on a photograph.

"Stepmother," She choked out. The woman had light brown hair with blonde highlights and her hair was tied up into a bun, revealing her shiny jewellery connected to her ears. She was wearing a light blue cardigan with a blouse underneath. Maggie drifted her finger over to a young boy. "Stepbrother."

She switched her gaze to me as Kloe sent her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. I know what it feels like, and trust me, you will be proud of him for sacrificing himself for a young boy. That shows what a kind, selfless man he was."

She shakily smiled, her lip quivering more and she nodded at her statement. "You said- you said you know what it feels like? Who have you lost?" Her voice shook with tears.

Kloe's heart immediately dropped into the same pit in her stomach. She began to think that pit in her stomach was growing permanent, and that it will be there forever, until the day she died. "My- my father. Before the whole apocalypse begun. He was in the army and I was fifteen at the time. I didn't want him to go, but he went anyway and left me and my family behind. He sacrificed himself, for the whole of America. I also had my mom, and my brother, Zayn. When my dad died, my mom changed and became an alcoholic by the time I turned seventeen. She didn't know what to do with her life. The second I turned eighteen, I moved out and lived at my best friend's house for a year or two before moving to a dormitory for college," she explained. "We've also lost a few people in our camp; Amy, Jacqui, Jim, and many more."

Maggie wiped away a tear that was stained onto her cheek. Kloe pushed away the thought of her father so she wasn't sad, well she was, but not as much as she'd usually be. "I'm sorry," Maggie sympathetically comforted through her tears, "I know how it feels, I lost my mom when I was little."

Kloe nodded her head. "If you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here. It's always good to talk to people who understands the same pain." She rubbed her shoulder gently as she sniffed again.

"Thank you, Kloe," Maggie thankfully smiled, gratefulness laced in her tone as it slightly shook with tears. "I'll keep that noted."

"You're very welcome," Kloe smiled, biting her bottom lip. "Everyone will have their moments with being upset about something. Especially in this world, the ones that are living have to be there for the other living, no matter what."

Maggie nodded, flickering her eyes down to the ground and stared at it. "I hope your little friend in there gets better." She snapped her head up to Kloe again. "Carl woke up briefly before you guys showed up. Believe in him, he'll make it. He's strong."

Kloe nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, he is. Thanks to Otis, who will always be remembered. I know I should probably thank Shane too, but he's alive at the moment, so we can thank him later. Otis is the true hero here."

A small laugh spilled out Maggie's mouth. "Otis has always been the hero."

Maggie and Kloe shared a few more happy memories, at times they shared some tears together. It felt amazing to finally talk to a girl that was Kloe's age for the first time in months. The last girl that was her age she had spoken to was her best friend, Norah. Sometimes she wondered if she was still out there, or if she was one of them and ate others.

But she didn't think about that. Her mind was set on trying to make Maggie feel better, which Kloe thought she achieved quite successfully. Nothing much more happened that night except the old man had succeeded in fixing Carl, meaning he'd live.

Kloe was more than happy, excited even. She couldn't wait for Carl to wake up and weight had lifted off her chest. There was still weight on her chest though, just not as heavy as it previously was, knowing that both Carl and Sophia were in danger. But now, Carl wasn't, and she couldn't be more grateful.

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Words: 4082
- 26th January 2022

hi! so i'm incredibly sorry that this is a filler. i've been really sick recently with a really bad cold. but i promise once i get better, i will make a lot more chapters.
i hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! votes and comments are appreciated <3