Chương 12: Reception

Hey, sorry for not posting in the last few days. I was on a trip, so I couldn't write or post, since I didn't have internet. Besides, of course, the huge headache.

This is a chapter, how can I say? Basic. Slice of life.

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Chapter 12

After a well-deserved shower, I stood in front of the mirror staring at my reflection. The wound hadn't started to heal yet. Which made sense, since I was starving and very sleepy.

I made a small bandage over the spot where Hershel had removed the bullet and stitched it up. Just in case. It would be more work if the wound got infected.

I put on a black tank top, jeans, grabbed my old pants, which were soiled with blood, and my bag to leave the bathroom. I headed straight for the living room, where I heard noises of conversation.

As soon as I entered the room, the conversation stopped and everyone looked at me. Some looked at me with pity, others with sadness, and I noticed that Maggie was the only one who looked at me normally.

"Um... hi." I greet them, and the men nod, while the women smile.

"Hi, my name is Annette. I'm Hershel's wife." The unknown woman gets up and comes to greet me. I offer my hand, but she nods and hugs me. Strangely, I look at Maggie, who gets up and pulls the woman close.

"I apologize for my stepmother. She's a bit... affectionate." She says and I nod. So she's Maggie's stepmother. She's probably Beth's mother. If I'm not mistaken, in the series, she had already turned into a zombie when the Group arrived. I'm snapped out of my reverie when Maggie takes my bloodstained pants and purse out of my hands. I'd like to protest, but it would be rather problematic to argue with her. As long as they don't touch it without permission.

"It's all right. I was just taken by surprise." I reply.

"Right. Let's start the introductions. You've met my father, Hershel." She points to the old man approaching and offers him a handshake. Not wanting to be disrespectful to the person who helped me, I shook his hand.

"That's a strong grip, son. You're pretty strong." He says, while looking at my hand.

"Thanks for helping me out. My name is Dean Winchester." After releasing each other's hand, Hershel steps aside and the couple approaches.

"This is Patricia and Otis. They're friends of the family. In fact, they're already family. They were farming when it all started." I show them my hands. No words were exchanged.

"And those two are my sister Beth and her boyfriend Jimmy." The two of them approach me. The two of them approach.

"Nice to meet you." Beth says, a little shyly. I see her boyfriend approach, puff out his chest and hold out his hand to shake.

"My name's Jimmy. Nice to meet you." He speaks in a forced voice.

"Is it just me or is your voice getting thicker?" Otis asks, trying to hold back his laughter. Everyone does the same or just smiles.

"No." He replies, still straining his voice.

"Yes, you are. Are you imitating Dean?" Annette asks with a maternal smile.

"No, I'm not. This is my voice." He repeats and I have to put my hand in front of my mouth to stop from laughing.

"Are you puffing out your chest?" - Maggie asked, amused.

"I am." Jimmy admits it, but he doesn't stop there. I shake his hand and give him a smile, amused by his attempt to look more masculine.

"Nice to meet you." I say, looking at Beth and her boyfriend. I look at Maggie and gesture towards the backpack. She approaches with her backpack and I with mine. Soon, I find the chocolate bars I was saving for a special occasion and show them to the Greene family.

I see them looking expectantly at the bars.

"As a thank you." I hand the bars to the person closest to me who didn't have her hands full, Beth. "It's for sharing." She nods and heads for the kitchen. They'll probably put them in the fridge.

Maggie brought over a chair and quietly told me to sit down. Taking advantage of the fact that my backpack was within reach, I also grabbed a cereal bar and a bag of snacks and started eating. Maggie gave me an amused look.

"What? I'm hungry." She shakes her head in response.

"Then I'll make you some food." Annette says, already getting up and heading for the kitchen.

"Wait. You don't have to..." I've barely finished saying the sentence and she's already disappeared from view.

"Don't even bother trying. She's quite stubborn and likes to help others." Hershel says with a touch of affection in his voice, as he looks over to where his wife has gone. Maggie rolled her eyes, but a small smile played at the corner of her mouth.

"Not because I'm curious, but where do you come from, Dean?" asked Patricia. Everyone looked at me, also wanting answers.

"Atlanta." I answered and everyone got excited. I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"How's it going there? We heard they had a refugee center built by the army." Hershel says and I shake my head.

"The last time I saw the city, it was being bombed by the military." I presented the news, but it wasn't well received. Maggie put her hands to her mouth in shock. Her reaction was accompanied by that of Beth and Patricia, who were hugged by their partners.

"What?! Why would they do that?" Hershel asked, horrified and surprised.

"As far as I know, bombing the city was the last line of defense to contain the spread of the virus." When I've finished chewing, I'll tell you. I can see that everyone is uncomfortable.

"What about the CDC? Aren't they looking for a cure? There has to be one!" Patricia asks, desperate.

"As far as I know, the CDC has been working on something related to the virus for over three months. Long before all this happened." I gesture with my finger. "Maybe there are people working, but many will probably go back to their families." I finish the subject, seeing everyone a little sheepish. "Sorry."

"It's okay. We just have to hope that everything will work out. The people left behind will find a cure." Hershel says, making his family's morale soar. I have to stop myself from retorting. I see that Maggie has noticed my reaction, but she doesn't say anything.

Annette returned to the living room with a plate of meat in her hands. She realized something had happened and looked at her husband, who just nodded, saying he would talk later.

"Here, darling. Eat it all." The matriarch of the family handed me the plate and then stood watching me.

"She's waiting for you to eat." Maggie whispers. I look at her and then at the food. I take my first spoonful and then another and another. The food was delicious. Put on the list: Hire chefs to prepare meals for most communities.

Before long, I had finished my plate of food. I saw Annette looking on expectantly. It reminded me of a lady who owned a restaurant I used to frequent in my past. She always expected a compliment when each customer finished eating.

"This food was incredible. Thank you so much for this delicious meal." I would compliment her with a sincere smile. The same one I gave the lady at the restaurant. Not the same, since the body is different, but the message I wanted to convey was the same. She reciprocated with a radiant smile.

"Oh, you're welcome, darling. You're very kind. If Maggie could get someone like you, I'd be much more relaxed." Annette says, to Dean and Hershel's shock, Maggie's embarrassment and everyone else's amusement.

"Mom!" complains Maggie, embarrassed.

"What? I was just commenting." Annette says, and before the conversation can continue, Hershel gets up and rubs his wife's shoulders to make her stop talking and calm down her cupid attempts.

"How about taking Dean to one of the guest rooms? He must be very tired." As soon as he suggested it, I felt like yawning.

"It's still early. It's not even close to dark." Annette complained.

"I am a bit, actually." I agreed with the old man. After eating, sleep comes.

"So, Maggie, can you take our guest to the room where he'll be staying?" Annette asked, and her stepdaughter agreed. As I got up to follow Maggie, I remembered that I didn't have all my things with me.

"Wait. Where are my other things? My guns and the other bag?" I asked. - I asked.

"Oh, yeah. Jimmy, can you get his things?" The boy agreed and left the room. I didn't have to wait long for Beth's boyfriend to return, dragging the bag and holding the holsters with his other hand. The Ar-25 was hanging around him. I don't see the rifles I stole from assholes 1 and 2.

He approaches me and hands me the weapons first. I check each one. Especially the ammunition. Seeing nothing amiss, I give a nod to the boy, who hands me the bag, which I easily lift.

"Dean, I know they're your guns, but I'd rather not have them on my property." Hershel says the same thing he'll say to Rick in a few months' time. I shrug at him.

"All right. I won't need them. But I'll keep them in the bedroom." I say and he nods. "Good night. Lead the way, ma'am." I ask Maggie, who laughs and guides me to the front of a room whose door is already open.

"Well, this is it. There are sheets in the closet. Sleep well, Dean." She says and leaves, without expecting a thank you or anything. Well, I need a long night's sleep.