Chapter 31: The End of Days
Sunlight filtered softly through the white gauze curtains, casting a gentle glow across Beth’s bedroom.
The room was painted in delicate shades of pink, with wallpaper blossoming with tiny rosebuds. In the corner stood a white wrought-iron bed of European design, a vintage lamp and several books arranged neatly on the bedside table. The bed was dressed in pink linens and pillows, each embroidered with intricate floral designs.
Beth’s wrist wounds had been tended to. Now she lay on the bed, her eyes vacant, staring into nothingness. Ever since the catastrophe, she had found life devoid of meaning, and over time, thoughts of ending it all began to take root.
At her side sat Hershel and his eldest daughter Olivia, both with reddened eyes. The once cozy sanctuary of a young girl now brimmed with a suffocating heaviness.
Maggie hung her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, fists clenched, her eyes rimmed with tears as she looked at Beth. “Beth, why would you do this?”
Beth merely shook her head, unable to utter a word.
Hershel’s heart ached at the sight of his youngest daughter, guilt gnawing at him. He had been powerless, and not long ago, he had almost led Maggie into danger as well…
Olivia gently stroked Beth’s shoulder. “Beth, you must be strong. We’re all here for you, to help you through this. You have to trust us…”
Hearing her father and sisters’ words, Beth’s pale face became streaked with tears. “I… I know, but I can’t see a future…”
This cursed apocalypse…
At her words, Olivia embraced Beth, and both dissolved into sobs. Hershel and Maggie looked on in silence.
When Beth finally wept herself to sleep, Olivia beckoned Hershel and Maggie aside, worry etched on her face. “Beth’s been down lately, but before today she’d never been so lost. Now, her mood is so dark… I’m afraid she might…”
She didn’t finish, but Maggie and Hershel understood.
Maggie thought for a moment. “Maybe today’s shock was too much. Hershel, you’re struggling too.”
Hershel sighed.
Olivia shook her head. “No, after the attack, Beth was shaken but still stable. It was after you told her that Chinese man was leaving that she spiraled…”
Maggie frowned, disbelief in her eyes as she looked at Olivia. “You’re saying Beth might have developed feelings for that bastard?”
Olivia nodded helplessly. “It’s possible. He did save her—she may have grown dependent…”
Maggie’s brows knit together. “I’ll talk to her myself!”
Olivia caught her hand, shaking her head. “It’s no use. Beth won’t listen to anyone right now. Maybe we should let that Asian man try to talk to her…”
Maggie’s frown deepened. “They’ve only known each other a day. I don’t trust him.”
Olivia sighed. “Let’s see what Hershel thinks.” She turned her gaze toward him.
Hearing Olivia’s remarks, Hershel turned to them, silent for a long while before speaking at last. “Let me ask him. I don’t think he’s a bad person. If he meant us harm, none of us here could stop him.”
With that, Hershel headed downstairs.
Upstairs, quiet sobs drifted down. Li Changsheng shook his head. He recalled how, in the original story, Hershel’s family suffered terribly.
The outbreak had taken Hershel’s relatives and neighbors at the very start. The walkers in the barn were their last, desperate hopes. When Rick’s group arrived, Hershel’s dearest neighbor Otis was killed by Shane. After joining Rick in the prison, Hershel himself was decapitated by the Governor. Beth was later shot in the head; Maggie’s beloved Glenn met the same fate at the hands of Morgan…
All these deaths seemed to revolve around the head…
While lost in thought, Hershel appeared, descending the stairs. Li Changsheng had intended to ask after Beth and perhaps discuss a trade, but Hershel immediately pulled him outside.
“Li, I need your help.” Hershel’s face was grave.
Li Changsheng hesitated. “Hershel, I’m not exactly in the charity business…”
Hershel interrupted, “I know. I’ll trade you the farm.”
He managed a rueful smile. “I can’t protect this farm. Any malicious group could take it from me. But I trust you—you’re not like those thugs. You have principles…”
That was quite the compliment.
Li Changsheng shook his head. “I’m not as good as you think, but I like what you’re saying. Tell me what you want. As long as it’s not too bizarre, we have a deal.”
Hershel breathed a sigh of relief. “I want you to talk to Beth.”
Li Changsheng blinked in surprise. “Talk to Beth?!”
Hershel nodded.
Li Changsheng was incredulous. “Are you serious? None of you can reach her—how can I?”
Hershel’s voice was earnest. “I’m serious, Li. I trust you.”
Li Changsheng was silent for a long time. “I’ll give it a try…” He added, “But Hershel, you need to think about your family’s survival. It’s not just walkers anymore—there are dangerous people out there.”
Then Li Changsheng told him about Civilization City, making clear his wish to recruit Hershel.
Hershel nodded solemnly. “I’ll consider it.”
They agreed that Li Changsheng would speak to Beth early the next morning. As dusk fell, Li Changsheng declined Hershel’s invitation to stay and instead spent the night in his car.
At dawn the next day, Li Changsheng found himself uncharacteristically nervous as he stood before Beth’s door. He had never felt this way even when facing special infected.
After a moment’s hesitation, he knocked.
Knock, knock, knock…
A long silence, then Beth’s voice drifted from inside. “I want to sleep a little more. Please let me be alone.”
Li Changsheng sighed. “It’s me. Hershel asked me to take you out for a drive…”
Another silence followed.
Beth’s voice came again, hoarse. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to go. I just want to be alone.”
Clearly, she hadn’t escaped her shadows yet…
This wouldn’t do.
Li Changsheng frowned, then headed downstairs. Meeting Hershel’s hopeful gaze, he managed an awkward smile before making up his mind.
If the door won’t open, I’ll go through the window.
If God closes a door, he always leaves a window…
He walked to the side of the house—sure enough, Beth’s window was open.
Li Changsheng smiled. Bracing himself, he leapt up, grabbed the protruding bricks, and with a flex of his arms, pulled himself up to the window.
Without hesitation, he climbed in.
But the scene before him left him utterly stunned.