Bloodied laundry
That night was not as eventful. After Daryl so graciously parked my new car… the brothers stuck to themselves and walked off somewhere leaving me alone.
Realistically I needed to figure this out.
Grabbing some loose paper that was left in the car I walked out to the centre of the campsite. Spotting the man who had gotten Shane aka Muscles to lay off was Dale. I headed towards the man.
“Hey? Dale, do you have a pen or pencil I could borrow to take notes” looking up from some metal he was toying with the older man smiled and nodded. “Sure Harry” reaching behind him where he say he began to look through a duffel bag when suddenly a small tug on my jacket made me look to my left.
A young girl maybe around 9 or 10 held out a pink glitter pen towards me. Smiling softly I took the pen before kneeling down to look at her better “thank you so much, I’ll be sure to get it back to you as soon as I’m done” she gave me a hesitant nod before running off.
Dale, who had stopped his search hummed “That was Sophia, Carol and Ed’s girl” gesturing to a tent a little ways away.
I gave him a curt nod before heading back to my newly stolen car, courtesy of Merle Dixon. Opening the boot and sitting on the edge I began to sketch out protective runes.
This was never my best subject in school…
After a few attempts I deemed it good enough and made a plan in my head. I’d wait till it was dark, only one or two people should be on watch then I’ll hit the main points of the campsite and carve the runes in preferably very small so no one will notice it. A shield spell would definitely drain my energy fast and I can’t risk that here.
Tucking the paper under a compartment in the boot I got up and shut the car deciding to make some connections while I wait for the sun to set.
A group of women doing baskets full o laundry caught my attention. Rolling my sleeves up I approached “hello, could you use another pair of hands?” The group turned to me questioningly.
“You” a blonde woman spoke up “are asking us if we want help… with the washing up?” Popping a hand to her hip.
I nodded. Stepping into the river not minding the cold since it was awfully sunny. “Of course. If I’m here even if it is for one night, I should pull my weight” the workmen around us where quite before the blonde shrugged.
“I’ll never turn down help with the cleaning” pointing to a basket at the edge of the river “wash the clothes from there then put them in the clean basket, we’ll hang em’ up later” giving her a nod I pick up a shirt and get to work.
After a while the women introduce themselves as Andrea, a blonde with a quick mouth. I see us either being best friends or enemies. Amy, Andreas little sister who is more outgoing and just like her sister isn’t afraid to give her opinion on matters. Jacqui, a quiet woman who didn’t seem to say much and kept to herself and then Carol. Sophias mother and possibly the human definition of a doormat.
I saw too much of myself in Carol.
I’m missing much of the conversation about sex toys? I hear the women giggle. Grinning I add “wish I woulda packed my vibe”
It was quite before carols laugh rang out.
“Harry!” She gasped as the others soon followed. I smiled as Andrea smirked at me “we should definitely raid a sex shop, a lot of us aren’t getting any action here” Amy slashed her sister with water as our laughter died down.
“Less giggling and more cleaning, eh?” The gruff voice made me itch. From my left I saw Carol go ramrod straight, eyes lowering. Ed. Right.
Andrea glared at him as I looked around seeing the women shift uncomfortably, the welcoming atmosphere was long gone.
Fucking men.
“You need some help, Ed?” I call out, successfully drawing his attention away from Carol. His eyes meet mine and suddenly my magic is violent.
DANGER DANGER DANGER DANGER
Ed crosses his arms over his chest “what?” He glares. “Do you need some help removing the stick up your arse? Or are you good?”
In hindsight, probably not a good idea to provoke him, but I didn’t care. Something about him set off warning bells in my head. I wasn’t thinking clearly.
The next thing I know Ed has lunged at me, tipping us both backwards and under the water. Stray punches and kicks are given before I feel a pair of arms haul be back and out of the water.
Looking up I see Rick holding me back as I jerk in his arms. Across from us Shane has Ed in a chokehold.
“BOTHA YOU CUT IT OUT!” Shane shouts. I stop struggling, realising the whole camp is now watching. Ed however doesn’t care, he meets my eyes and something for recognition flickers in them.
He snares and elbows Shane in the gut, the bigger man curses and let’s go of hun as Ed sneers at me “I knew there was something about you! That boys a curse! We’ll all be dead with him around” he goes to attack as Rick starts right shield me but someone punches Ed’s lights out.
“Man tha man talks a whole lotta nothing” Merle. He gets up off the ground looking at Ed whos slumped unconscious. I hear Carol cry out as she runs over to her husband.
Then all I feel is guilt. I escalated the entire situation. I did this. I fucked up. As usual