━━━━𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓.

  𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 later, Joel walks back into the living room, Mason hard at work coloring, Tommy nowhere in sight. The man sits next to the girl with a groan, hand running over his salt and pepper beard.

"Tommy, leave?" She nods, handing him a crisp piece of paper.

Don't forget to come over for dinner.

Bring Mason; Maria wants to meet her, Tommy.

He huffs, placing the note beside him as he rubs at his temples. Of all things, Joel had to drag a six-year-old to Tommy, his, and Maria's weekly get together. The girl of topic sat next to the man, blue crayon in hand, tongue peeping out from her lips as she drew all her concentration to the coloring book on her lap. Joel couldn't help but find it somewhat adorable as he glanced at her, peaking over her shoulder. The printing on the page was a pure cartoon deer surrounded by a field of flowers and trees, filled in by out of the line color. That stuffed dog sat by her side, almost like a loyal protector as it lay on its arm.

The two sat in silence as she colored, taking in the silence of the peaceful afternoon. And before they know it, they're walking side by side down the busy roads of Jackson, finding their way to Tommy and Maria's. Mason clutched Joel's hand, the sleeves of her dark green zip-up lying on her knuckles, the shorts of her overalls hanging just about her kneecaps. The dog plush, Bear she decided to call it, was clutched in her fist, blue journal tucked safely under her arm. The wave in her short brown hair blew in the soft mid-summer breeze, the sun setting behind the pair as they walk.

Joel held her hand tight as people began to stare and soon came the hushed whispers.

"Who's the kid?"

"Is she Joel's?"

"Poor girl, barely any meat on her bones."

"Probably took her in."

The man soon cursed under his breath as Mason shrunk into his side, the smallest of whimpers arising from her chest. With great hesitance, he bent down, holding the little one tight to his chest as he kept his pace. She was incredibly tiny in his arms, barely weighed more than a penny. The reassuring sight of his brother's home came to view, a sigh of relief flooding from Joel's lips as he walked the steps, placing the little girl beside him as he raised his fist, knocking heavy on the door. Maria opened the front door, a small smile on her lips as she greets him.

"Joel." She gives him a nod before turning to the girl grasping his hand tight, tucked into his side. The blonde kneeled, offering Mason a smile.

"You must be Mason." The young brunette only sunk into the man's side. He gave his sister-in-law a sympathetic look, but she waved him off. The woman stepped aside, allowing her two guests to enter her home. Joel pried his hand from Mason's death grip, the girl trailing behind the two adults as they went through the hallway. The little girl strayed away from her small group, moving to the living room as the two adults continued. She buried herself deep into the corner of the couch, knees against her chest, head on the armrest with Bear held close.

She despised meeting new people.

Mason played with the brown ear of her companion, holding him tighter against her hammering heart. She wanted to go back to Joel's house; she wanted to go home. She glanced towards the front door, though tempting, she couldn't just leave. Yet something in the back of her mind tugged at her, something telling her Joel wouldn't care. That he wouldn't care if she ran on home, or better yet, packed up her things and went outside the walls. Her six-year-old mind told her that she was a burden, that if she took Bear, her coloring books, her canned peaches, and beans, and left Jackson, he wouldn't care.

No one ever did.

Mason stroked her stuffed animal's ear, playing with the soft fur at the ends.

Do it! Do it before he hurts you like mama!

Her voice screamed at her, begging for her to bound out the door. And if it weren't for Joel rounding the corner, she would've.

"Was wonderin' were you went." He lent on the entryway; arms crossed tightly over his chest as he looks at her. The little girl continued to stare at the sofa's fabric, paying no mind to the man. He rounded the back of the couch, lightly tapping her arm.

"C'mon, dinner time."

Nothing.

"Hey, time to eat. Let's go."

Silence.

"Mason, I ain't gonna tell you again. You gotta eat." His voice was stern, fatherly almost. This time, the girl flipped to a blank page of her journal, picking up a discarded pencil that lay on the coffee table.

go home

Joel sat next to the girl that filled with anxiety to the brim. He took a few glances at her, attempting to find comforting words.

"If you eat a little...we can go home." He hadn't wanted to come that night either, and in truth, he would do anything to get home as quickly as he could. Mason nodded, sliding off the couch as Joel offered her a hand, in which she gratefully took it. He led her to the dining room with Tommy and Maria sat in deep conversation. The two made their way to their seats, Tommy greeting the girl with a smile. The four dug into their food, though Mason picked at it until Joel gave her a pointed look. The three adults conversed, the little girl tuning them out as she focused on her meat, nibbling at it. She soon gave up, placing her fork on her plate as she hugged Bear to her chest, legs slowly swinging under the table.

"So Mason, how's your stay been?" Maria asked, breaking the girl from her bubble of tranquility. Mason looked to Joel; she had left her damn book on the couch.

"Fine." The man quickly answered for her, taking a sip from his water. The little girl bowed her head, finding her sneakers particularly interesting. Tommy gave his wife a look, shaking his head; Don't.

Joel cleared his throat, standing from his chair, tugging the little one from hers.

"We should get goin'." Tommy stood next. "I'll walk ya'll out."

Mason walked ahead, snatching her journal from the living room. Soon she stood next to Joel, hand in his as they began their way home. She slumped against his arm, a quiet yawn breaking through her lips. The man looked down at her, the poor thing already dozing off as they walked, her steps stumbling. Before he could think, he secured her against his hip, her head on his shoulder. He walked up on the porch, the sight of the door alone bringing him a sigh of relief.

Joel closed the door softly, making his way towards his bedroom. He lays Mason on the bed, slipping off her light blue zip-up. The man pulls the quilt over her frail form, brushing away stray hairs from her forehead as she stirs. As his hand reaches for the lamp, it stops mid-air.

on

He remembers, pulling his hand back to his side. Quietly, he moves to the door, leaving it open a crack, moving towards the kitchen. God did he need a drink.

━━━━━━━━

Blood fell from the little one's mouth, dribbling down her chin. The woman above her huffed, boot pounding against her daughter's ribcage once more. The woman backed away from the little girl's form, panting as she brushed away her growing blonde hair.

"You almost got me killed, girl!"

Mason curled into a ball, the four-year-old sobbing as her mother beat her into the ground. She wanted it to end; she wanted everything to end. Maisie hadn't done a thing, had she? The young brunette had simply wanted to protect her mother from the infected; why was she being punished?

"Why the hell did I keep you? Should've left you to the damn clickers!" Billie Wright hissed at her daughter, hatred engulfing her blue eyes. That glare filled with hate and anything worse burned into the little one's mind, a look that would never fail to bring terror to her little heart.

A monster worse than the horrid one's outside the walls of the abandoned cabin stood before the girl, that's what her mama was—a wretched, horrible monster.

Joel bounded into his room, the horrible sound of Mason's sobs surrounding him as she thrashes in his bed. He shook her, calling to the little one trapped in her nightmare.

"Hey, hey! Wake up; it's okay, it's me!"

Joel's voice pulled her from her mother's horrible gaze, Maisie sobbing as she saw his comforting form. The man brought her to him, cradling her head to his chest as he held her so tight, he was sure he'd break her like glass.

"It's me; it's me. You're alright, Maisie." He pulled away from her, holding her tiny face in his hands. Oh, she looked pitiful. The bruise on her cheekbone was a deep purple, the bags under her eyes worse than ever before.

"Oh, baby girl." His southern drawl calmed her as Joel brought her back to his chest.

━━━━━━━━

The night breeze combed through the little girl's hair as she lay on Joel's chest, body limp on his lap, soft snores rumbling through her lips. The man sat on the porch, holding the girl as she slept soundly. After a good two hours, she had finally dozed off with Bear tucked under her arm, thumb hanging loosely from her mouth. Joel tucked the lightweight blanket tightly around the frail form curled in his lap, bringing her closer as she whimpered. His short salt and pepper hair was disheveled, yet he could care less.

All the man cared for at this moment was the little one in his arms; the broken girl who spread light into his dark heart the moment he saw her. That night, Joel Miller promised himself to let the wall crumble for one person. One little girl who needed him more than anything.

With a kiss on the crown of her head, Joel made a silent promise to protect Mason Wright until his dying breath.