Chapter 10: CH10
After washing his face and grooming his beard, Arthur stepped out of the bathroom. He made his way down the stairs and spotted Hershel drinking a glass of water. As Arthur approached the kitchen, he noticed Sean sitting alongside Clementine, who was engrossed in a picture book, trying to coax Sean into reading it with her.
Arthur chuckled to himself, knowing that Clementine had likely figured out that Sean couldn't read and was determined to help him. He stepped into the kitchen and greeted the room.
"Hello, Arthur," Hershel said, looking up from his drink. "Sit down for a moment." Arthur nodded and took a seat at the table, eager to hear what Hershel had to say.
"I won't take up much of your time," Hershel began, his tone serious.
"Okay," Arthur replied, still nodding.
"You and Maggie," Hershel continued, causing Arthur to unconsciously straighten his back. "I've noticed you two getting closer than usual." Arthur nodded in acknowledgment. "You're older than her—more than a decade older, in fact. But to be honest... I don't mind."
"Thanks, Mr. Greene," Arthur said, feeling a sense of relief.
"Don't thank me. You're a decent man. I know you're willing to protect my daughter, aren't you?" Hershel asked.
"I am," Arthur affirmed, nodding once more.
"And… I wouldn't mind Clementine as a granddaughter," Hershel added with a small smile.
Arthur chuckled at this, appreciating the warmth of the moment.
———
Suddenly, four cars pulled up to the entrance of the farm. The atmosphere shifted dramatically as Arthur and the others rushed to grab their weapons. "Looks like there are about twenty of them," Arthur said to Sean, who was by his side. Shane, T-Dog, Rick, Glenn, Dale, Daryl, Andrea, and Jimmy quickly gathered at the entrance, ready to face the threat. The men who had arrived in the cars raised their weapons, their intentions clear.
"Y'all think you can shoot our people?!" the leader shouted, his voice booming with aggression.
"Go home," Rick growled back, his voice steady. "There'll be losses on both sides. This won't benefit anyone!"
Meanwhile, Arthur and Sean discreetly made their way to the barn. They slipped inside, climbed up the ladder, and reached the upper floor. Sean carefully positioned his sniper rifle on the windowsill while Arthur slung his shotgun over his shoulder and pulled out his Glock. Just then, two gunshots rang out. One of the attackers shot Jimmy straight in the face, and another shot Dale in the chest.
In retaliation, Sean took a shot, hitting the leader squarely in the chest. Everyone dove for cover as Arthur fired two precise shots, taking down two men. Out of nowhere, an enemy combatant approached the barn and hurled two Molotov cocktails, igniting the structure in flames. Without wasting a moment, Arthur and Sean leapt down, hitting the ground hard. The adrenaline coursing through them dulled the pain.
Arthur quickly regained his footing and helped Sean up. They retrieved their fallen weapons and dashed out of the barn. Arthur shot three men while Sean took down one as they sprinted for cover. Peeking out, Arthur saw Shane tackle an enemy and shoot him in the face.
"Fuck you all!" Shane shouted, firing at two more men. Just as Shane was about to reload, an enemy snuck up behind him. Arthur reacted swiftly, shooting the man just in time. Shane turned, surprise etched on his face as he saw the dead intruder. He glanced around and met Arthur's nod of acknowledgment; Shane nodded back.
Arthur and Sean spotted enemy combatants rushing toward the house, where Clem, Maggie, Beth, Carl, Patricia, Lori, and Carol were hiding. "Come on, Sean! To the house, quick now!" Arthur instructed, his tone firm with urgency.
"You got it, big man!" Sean replied, determination in his voice.
The two rushed toward the house. Arthur kicked open the door and immediately saw an enemy combatant, whom he shot in the face without hesitation. With Sean close behind him, Arthur raced to his room and found a man trying to drag Clementine out from under the bed. Clem was screaming in terror. Without a moment's hesitation, Arthur aimed and fired, putting a bullet through the man's head. He collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Arthur hurried to Clementine, checking to ensure she was alright. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, tears streaming down her face. "It's alright. Just stick close to Sean, okay? I need to check the rest of the house," Arthur said, his voice calm and reassuring.
He turned to Sean and nodded. Sean nodded back, a smirk breaking through the tension. Arthur rushed away, while Sean helped Clementine get up from the floor.
Arthur burst into Maggie's room, where he found a man attempting to tear her pants off. Realizing he couldn't risk firing his Glock without hitting Maggie, Arthur holstered it and charged at the man. Grabbing him by the back of the neck, he slammed the man's face into the bed's frame, cracking his skull and killing him instantly.
"You okay?" Arthur asked, kneeling beside Maggie and helping her to her feet. She let out a shaky breath and nodded, standing up alongside him. "Come on, we gotta go," he urged. She nodded again, following him closely.
As Arthur searched the house, he found that everyone else had escaped except for Patricia, who had sadly been shot by an enemy. Without hesitation, Arthur took out the enemy and then rushed outside. He spotted Shane, Carl, Carol, and T-Dog getting into a car, waiting for others.
Arthur and Maggie ran toward the RV. As they hurried, they noticed a herd of walkers entering the farm and spilling into the yard. They climbed into the RV, joining Rick, Glenn, Lori, Sean, and Clementine inside, and drove off. As they left, Arthur glanced out the window, watching the property engulfed in flames.
———
The door was kicked open with a resounding crash. Rick stormed inside, immediately firing a silenced shot that found its mark in a walker's head, causing it to collapse lifelessly to the floor. T-Dog quickly followed, wielding a fire poker, which he used to stab another walker right through the skull. The sounds of combat filled the air as Shane stepped in, swinging a machete that split a walker's head open with a sickening thud.
Arthur, Daryl, Sean, and Carl entered the house, systematically sweeping through the rooms in search of walkers and any supplies that might be of use. Arthur and Daryl made their way upstairs, Daryl's crossbow slung over his shoulder while Arthur gripped a fire axe tightly in his hands. They approached a set of double doors, exchanging a brief nod before they barged inside.
Daryl was quick on the draw, firing an arrow that struck a walker squarely in the head, while Arthur followed suit, cleanly severing another walker's head with a swift swing of his axe.
"Nothin'," Arthur said, scanning the room for any signs of life or supplies. "Come on." He gestured for Daryl to follow him. Daryl nodded in agreement, but just as they turned to leave, Daryl suddenly hushed Arthur with a raised hand.
Quietly, Daryl drew his bow and took aim at the window, shooting an arrow that struck an owl perched there. "Some good grub tonight," he said with a smirk as he picked up the fallen bird.
They searched two more rooms before heading back downstairs. T-Dog and Sean were already outside, dragging the bodies of the dead walkers away from the house.
Just then, Beth, Carol, and the heavily pregnant Lori entered, arms laden with supplies. "Maggie, Arthur, and Clementine will take the spare room," Rick ordered, his voice authoritative. "Lori and Carl will take the master bedroom. The rest of us will spread out around the house and find a place to sleep. Sean and Shane, you two will be guards tonight. Don't unpack; we're only staying for one night. Whatever you find, you keep."
Arthur made his way into the living room and settled onto the couch next to Maggie. She nestled closer to him, seeking comfort. Moments later, Carl entered, carrying two cans of dog food.
Rick watched as Carl fumbled with the can opener, but suddenly snatched the can from his son's hands and threw it across the room, where it smashed against the wall. "Walkers," T-Dog warned, standing up alertly. The group quickly grabbed their belongings and dashed out of the house, racing past the encroaching walkers.
Outside, Arthur opened the trunk of the car and tossed Maggie's and Clementine's things inside before slamming it shut. He ushered Clementine into the backseat before taking his place in the passenger seat. Maggie slid into the driver's seat, and they prepared to leave.
As they drove off in their respective vehicles, Clementine sighed in the backseat. "We'll have to sleep in the car again…?" she asked, her voice tinged with fatigue.
Arthur turned around to meet her gaze. "Well… it's way better than sleeping on the ground, isn't it?"
"Yes…" she replied, nodding, her tired eyes betraying her exhaustion.
Maggie glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a gentle smile on her face. "You can catch up on some sleep, honey."
"Okay," Clementine said softly, as she settled down, closing her eyes and allowing the rhythm of the car to lull her into a sense of security.