TWD: The Burden We Bear

A few weeks had passed since their unforgettable night together in the secluded cabin they had discovered. Although Eddie and Maria only spent two days there, those days were incredibly peaceful, a rare respite from the chaos that had engulfed their lives. They had left the cabin reluctantly, their supplies dwindling to dangerously low levels, forcing them to venture out in search of more food and essentials.

In the weeks that followed, their existence had settled into a monotonous routine: scavenging cars, looting abandoned houses, rummaging through stores, siphoning gasoline, and finding whatever scraps of food they could. Most nights were spent sleeping in hastily chosen hiding spots, and when they felt secure enough, they would have sex.

One evening, as they huddled in Maria's car. Eddie broke the silence that hung heavily in the air. His voice was laced with a playful curiosity. "Hey, Maria," he said, glancing over at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why is a coconut considered a fruit?"

Maria rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Fi chruu, Eddie? Dat a yuh opening line?" she teased, leaning back against the seat, arms crossed.

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep things interesting," he replied, feigning innocence. "Come on, it's a valid question. I mean, it's hard and hairy on the outside. Doesn't that make it more of a nut?"

Maria chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Mi nuh know, maybe a because a di way it grow? Like, it even grow pan a tree or a bush? Mi cyan memba. Mi jus know seh a nuh vegetable."

"Right? And what makes it a fruit anyway?" Eddie pressed on, warming to the topic. "Is it the seeds? Because, if that's the case, I could throw a rock at a tree and call it a fruit if it has seeds inside."

"Eddie, rocks definitely nuh grow," Maria said, suppressing a laugh. "Bot maita kuoknat speshal chruu dem flot. A like nature way fi seh, 'Hey, mi a one fruit, but mi can survive inna di ocean tu!'"

"Now that's a thought," he said, nodding sagely. "Coconuts are like the adventurers of the fruit world. They can travel the seas and still manage to sprout a new tree wherever they land. Maybe they're the ultimate survivalists, just like us!"

Maria raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, wi a coconuts den? Jus a float roun, a look fi a place fi plant wiself?"

"Exactly!" Eddie exclaimed, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "But instead of palm trees, we're looking for our own home. Maybe we should start calling ourselves coconuts from now on."

"Coconuts it is," Maria laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "But mek wi hope wi find a betta place dan dis car fi settle dung inna. Mi mean, who waan live inna a vehicle weh smell like old cheese?"

Eddie feigned a serious expression. "It adds character! A little aroma never hurt anyone. Plus, it's cozy, right? Just us against the world, like two coconuts on an adventure!"

"Jus two coconuts a try not fi get crack open," she shot back, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Alright, Mr. Coconut, weh next pan wi agenda—finding a tree or figuring out how fi open a coconut?"

"Definitely the tree," he replied, leaning back and sighing contentedly. "But if we can't find one, I guess we'll just have to keep looting until we hit the coconut jackpot. You know, I think I could really go for a piña colada right now."

Maria shook her head again, laughter bubbling up inside her. "Inna dis ya worl? Yuh woulda be lucky fi find a can a pineapple, let alone di rum!"

"Hey, a coconut can dream," Eddie said with a wink, and they both shared a laugh.

The warehouse loomed before them, its rusty exterior and shattered windows hinting at the decay within. The once-bustling structure now stood silent, a graveyard of forgotten goods waiting to be scavenged. Eddie and Maria exchanged glances, their hearts racing with the thrill of potential supplies.

"Stay sharp," Eddie whispered, gripping his machete. He glanced down at his right arm, the empty sleeve a constant reminder of his struggle. It still felt strange, adjusting to life with one arm, but he had learned to compensate.

They slipped inside, the echoes of their footsteps swallowed by the vast emptiness. Shadows danced along the walls as they moved cautiously, scanning for anything useful. Crates stacked haphazardly, old machinery rusted into place, and the faint scent of mildew hung in the air.

"Ova yah!" Maria called softly, pointing toward a pile of discarded supplies in the corner. They shuffled toward it, hearts racing with hope. Just as they began rummaging through the debris, a guttural growl echoed from deeper within the warehouse.

"Walkers?" Maria whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Looks like it," Eddie replied. "Get ready."

They turned, bracing themselves as the first walker stumbled into view—a decayed figure, its skin mottled and gray, eyes void of life. Eddie swung the machete with precision, striking it down. But more were coming; two more lurched forward, and Maria quickly followed suit, using her knife.

With each strike, adrenaline pumped through Eddie's veins, but he felt the weight of his missing arm. He had to adjust his movements, channeling every ounce of focus he had. Together, they fought through the small horde, dispatching the walkers.

Just as they finished off the last of the undead, a voice called out from the shadows. "Well, well, what do we have here?"

Eddie and Maria whipped around to see a group of five men standing at the entrance, weapons drawn. At their front stood the leader—a burly man around fifty-two with graying hair and a hardened face. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the scene.

"Looks like you've had your fun," the leader said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But this is our territory."

Eddie stepped forward, trying to sound assertive despite the flutter of fear in his stomach. "We're just here for supplies. We don't want any trouble."

The leader chuckled, a low and menacing sound. "What makes you think you can just waltz in here and take what's ours? You think you're the only ones surviving out here?"

"Look, we're not trying to start anything," Eddie replied, frustration rising. "We can split what we find. It doesn't have to end badly."

"Split?" the leader scoffed. "You're funny. You think a couple of kids like you can negotiate with us? You're in over your heads."

As the tension thickened, Eddie felt Maria's hand grip his arm tightly. He could see the fear in her eyes, a reflection of his own worry. "Just walk away," he urged, trying to keep his voice steady.

But the leader took a step closer, raising his shotgun. "You're not going anywhere."

Eddie's instincts kicked in. With a swift motion, he pulled Maria behind him just as the leader pulled the trigger. The deafening blast echoed through the warehouse, but Eddie had reacted in time, throwing them both to the ground behind a stack of crates.

"Eddie!" Maria gasped, her voice trembling as she clutched his arm.

"Stay low!" he shouted, adrenaline surging. He peeked around the corner, seeing the group of men scrambling for cover. They were outnumbered, but Eddie had no intention of going down without a fight.

The first shot rang out, and Eddie returned fire with his pistol. He fired twice, taking down one of the men who had tried to flank them. Three left. He glanced back at Maria, urgency flashing in his eyes. "Get out of here! Find a safe place!"

"Hel no. Mi naa lef yuh!" she protested, her voice shaking.

"Just go! I'll be fine!" he insisted, pushing her toward the exit.

With a look of pure terror, Maria finally turned and ran, darting into the shadows as Eddie focused back on the shootout. He managed to take out another man, but the last two were closing in, taking advantage of the distraction.

"Get him!" the leader shouted, rallying his men.

Eddie took a deep breath and fired again, hitting one of the men square in the chest. The last one fell quickly, but the leader was still standing, rage etched across his face. Eddie ducked behind a crate, trying to catch his breath—he was running low on ammo.

Suddenly, the leader surged forward, knife in hand. Eddie scrambled to his feet, but the man was faster, tackling him to the ground. The knife came down, aimed for Eddie's heart.

In a flash of instinct, Eddie grabbed the blade with his left hand, desperately trying to hold it back. The man pressed down with both hands, determination etched in his features. Eddie felt his strength waning, the pressure of the blade inching closer to his chest.

"Give up, kid!" the leader growled, pushing harder.

Just as Eddie thought he might succumb, a gunshot rang out through the warehouse, echoing off the walls. The leader's eyes widened in shock as he fell back, crashing to the ground beside Eddie.

Eddie looked up to see Maria standing there, breathless, her gun still smoking. "Mi get him!" she shouted, her voice shaking but triumphant.

"Maria!" Eddie gasped, scrambling to his feet, adrenaline flooding back into him. He rushed to her side, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I told you to run!"

"Mi couldn't lef yuh!" she replied, tears in her eyes as she glanced back at the fallen man. "Mi did so fraid!"

Eddie held her tightly, his heart racing as they caught their breath. "We need to get out of here. Now."