Chapter 7 (To Start With An End)

Chapter 7: To Start With An End

Valentine Evans

July 2023

About 14 months after outbreak

Florida, Parking Garage

Season 2

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"This whole group is a fucking joke."

"Dad, calm down."

"No, Riley, you know I'm right. We were doing better on our own; I should have never fuckin' listened to you." Riley sighed, trying to maintain her composure as her father's anger escalated. "Dad, are you high?"

Her question hung in the air, filled with concern and a hint of desperation. She had seen her father's temper flare before, especially when he wasn't sober, and now felt like one of those times.

"Don't act like you aren't."

"No, Dad, I'm not because I've been trying to get clean for you." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, hoping that her words would somehow penetrate his clouded mind. The tension in the room grew thicker as they both stood there, locked in a battle of emotions and past mistakes.

"Really, since when?"

"Since being on fucking drugs killed my sister, and you don't give a shit about that!"

"She wasn't really your sister, Ry." The words hit Riley like a punch to the gut. How could her own father say something so heartless? Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to hold back her emotions. The room fell silent."

"And you're not really my father. You fucking made me this way; no parent would do that to their kid; you did this to me."

"Stop crying; you're gonna make all your new friends think you're a goddamn baby."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Maverick interrupted.

"The end is coming, Riley; I don't give a shit anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"They're all coming, and you can't run from them. You remember when we tried? We're all gonna end up just like Jamie."

"Raphael, what did you do?"

"I gave everyone what we fucking needed, Ry. A new beginning. It has to start with an end."

Abby whispered, "Arwen, do you hear that?"