Chapter 18: The Price of a Stag
As Rick, Shane, and Carl made their way through the woods, life moved slowly for those left behind at the church. Dale, as always, was skeptical. He wasn't sure of Shane's true intentions on this hunting trip and worried about Rick and Carl. Carol kept a close eye on Sophia, never leaving her side. Andrea and Amy, meanwhile, were practicing behind the church, shooting arrows at simple targets Jayden had given them. Amy's confidence grew daily. Her brush with death had made her stronger.
Jayden climbed onto the church roof, watching out. But his eyes weren't on the horizon. His mind was with those three people deep in the woods. He expected a gunshot at any moment, the tension of that anticipation tightening. He was alert for any warnings appearing on the system interface, but nothing came. Only that suffocating, foreboding feeling within him.
In the woods, the atmosphere was completely different. Rick was enjoying the company of his son. He was teaching him to track, to be silent, to listen to the sounds of nature. It was a precious, old-world moment for them. Carl gazed in awe at his father, listening intently to his every word. Shane, a little further back, watched them silently. For him, this wasn't a family outing; it was a moment of growing tension.
And then, the moment arrived. In a clearing in the forest, a magnificent deer appeared, more beautiful than any they had ever seen before. The animal stood with an air of nobility and purity, as if it weren't part of this rotten world. Carl's eyes sparkled. He walked slowly toward the deer, as if he longed to touch it, to be a part of this magical moment.
Rick watched his son, smiling. "Isn't it beautiful?" he whispered.
Carl approached the deer. The animal wasn't afraid of him. For a moment, there was perfect harmony between man and nature.
And that harmony was shattered by a single gunshot.
The sound of a high-caliber rifle echoed through the woods. The deer collapsed instantly. But then came a second, more muffled sound: Carl's anguished "Ah!"
Rick's smile froze. He turned to see his son lying on the ground beside the deer. Blood was seeping from his body.
"CARL!"
Rick's scream was the purest terror a father could experience. He rushed to his son's side, trying to press his hands against the bleeding wound. "No, no, no..."
Shane rushed to them in shock. They were at a loss. At that moment, a middle-aged, overweight man with an expression of incredible guilt appeared, running from the brush. He was holding a shotgun.
"My God," the man gasped. "The deer... I saw the deer. He... he got in front of him. I didn't see him, I swear I didn't."
It was Otis.
Rick shouted in pain and anger. "You shot my son!"
"I know! I know, I'm so sorry!" Otis said in panic. "But I can help him! There's a farm nearby! My boss, Hershel, he's a veterinarian. He can help him, I swear!"
They had no choice. This was Carl's only chance. Rick picked up his bleeding son without hesitation. His body tingled with shock and adrenaline. "Lead the way!" he shouted to Otis.
The three men began running through the forest. Rick felt his son's labored breathing, growing more desperate with each step.
On the church roof, Jayden had heard the gunshot. His heart clenched. It was done. Fate had found its way. He stared in the direction of the sound. There was nothing he could do. He could only wait. Minutes later, a small red notification appeared on the system interface. It wasn't an EXP notification. It was just one word:
[WARNING: Group Member in Critical Condition]
Jayden closed his eyes. The price had been paid. Now his only hope was that Otis could get them to Hershel in time.
When Rick emerged from the woods, he saw that farmhouse on a hill. A neat, white-painted house with a picket fence around it. In the midst of this terrible tragedy, it shone like a beacon of hope.