Chapter 21: Whispers in the Crack
Life on the farm flowed like a calm river on the surface, but beneath lay dangerous eddies. It had been a few days since Glenn had learned the barn's secret, and this knowledge was spreading like poison among the most trusted members of the group. Jayden could almost physically feel the tension. He tried to release it through his own methods: relentless training. He woke at dawn each day and trained himself in a remote corner of the farm where no one would disturb him.
One morning, he stood before a carefully prepared target, drawing his bow. His mind was calm, his entire focus centered on the target. The arrow flew from the bow and struck precisely the right spot. The blue notifications that flashed before his eyes had become his routine.
[Hot Shot! Basic Archery (Level 2) Skill +10 EXP gained]
[Basic Archery (Level 2) EXP: 255 / 500]
He fired another arrow. Another. Each shot slowly filled his skill bar. This tangible feeling of progress gave him a sense of mastery over events beyond his control. When his training was finished, he mentally checked his inventory. This was a new feature of the system and vital for resource management.
[INVENTORY SUMMARY]
Carbon Arrows: 24
Glock Ammo (9mm): 29
Throwing Knives: 3/3
Canned Food: 5
Medic Kit (Basic): 1
His arrow count was dwindling. He carefully collected and reused the arrows he shot, but some were damaged or lost. This was another reminder of how precious resources were.
As he walked back to the farm, he saw Dale and Glenn talking in whispers. Dale's face was more worried than usual. It was clear Glenn had told him about the barn. A short while later, Dale leaned on his cane and walked toward Hershel's house. Jayden kept his distance, watching the proceedings. He saw the heated yet quiet conversation between Dale and Hershel on the porch. He couldn't hear the words, but he could read their body language. Dale's insistence, Hershel's anger, and the harshness that finally dropped the subject... Dale hadn't gotten the answers he was looking for; instead, he'd encountered a wall. The seeds of this conflict had been sown.
As the days wore on, another secret was about to surface. Lori's constant tiredness and paleness, her morning sickness, hadn't escaped Jayden's notice. Knowing what had happened, he guessed. And his guess was confirmed when Glenn snuck up on him one day.
"Jayden," Glenn said, his voice low and strained. "I... I need a favor. There's a pharmacy in a nearby town. I need to go there."
"For what?" Jayden asked directly.
Glenn stuttered. "Um... personal supplies. For Lori."
Jayden understood. Lori thought she was pregnant and wanted to send Glenn for prenatal vitamins and a "Plan B." This was a dangerous mission.
"You can't go alone," Jayden said firmly. "Towns are always dangerous. I'll come with you as backup."
Glenn seemed relieved. Lori initially resisted the plan, but reluctantly agreed, knowing Jayden was the most skilled fighter of the group and would increase Glenn's chances of survival.
The two set out the next day. Reaching the pharmacy was relatively easy. But it wasn't as empty as they'd expected. Three walkers were quietly wandering among the shelves.
"You find the list while I keep them both busy," Jayden whispered. Jayden threw a can across the hall, making a noise. As two walkers headed toward the sound, Jayden leaped from the shadows. With a swift, fluid movement with his machete, he decapitated the first walker. Before the second could turn, Jayden tripped him with his foot, sending him crashing to the ground, and Jayden buried his machete in his skull.
[Basic Cold Weapons (Level 2) Skill +30 EXP gained]
[EXP: 1580 / 2000]
Glenn had, however, barely managed to dispatch the third walker with a crowbar. "Wow," he breathed. "You make it look so easy."
They found the list and packed the items into their bags. Just as they were about to leave, they heard a horse neighing and a woman screaming outside. They rushed outside to see Maggie had fallen from her horse and was walking toward a walker. Maggie had followed them.
Jayden didn't think twice. He drew his last remaining throwing knife and threw it. The knife sank into the walker's neck, sending him sprawling.
Maggie stared at them in shock and relief. Glenn rushed to her side. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous!" he shouted, his voice laced with concern and a touch of anger.
This moment was the beginning of Glenn and Maggie's relationship. But it also proved once again what an indispensable protector Jayden was.
Back at the farm, Lori secretly retrieved the supplies. Jayden walked away, pondering the implications of this secret. The cracks within the group were widening every day, and he struggled to maintain balance.