In the past, they would have gone to bed by this time, but after everything that happened today, Jason sat down to explain the situation to Rick and Shane.
"This is insane! Doesn't he realize how dangerous zombies are?" Rick exclaimed.
Hearing the news for the first time, Rick was stunned, barely believing his ears."You keep a bunch of zombies at your own home and feed them every day? Are you kidding with your own life?"
Shane, standing next to him, was equally speechless. Even a child understood how dangerous zombies were, yet Hershel — a man in his forties — didn't seem to grasp that basic fact. Worse, by keeping the zombies, he was endangering everyone around him, not just himself.
"So that's why I needed him to understand: zombies are dead, not alive," Jason said, spreading his hands helplessly and shrugging.
"The thing is, it's his own business. We can't force him to change, but we also can't just stand by and watch him walk into the fire. This was the only way to make him see reality."
"I get it now," Rick nodded. "No wonder you handled it that way. I honestly thought you were abusing an old man."
Hearing this, Jason's face instantly darkened. He glared at Rick fiercely."You're the one with elder abuse tendencies. I did it for his own good — to make him realize the truth as soon as possible."
Anyway, today's events would definitely make Hershel think long and hard. Maybe he had never truly understood the threat zombies posed, since he and Otis had always just captured them and locked them up in the barn.
Inside the wooden house, Hershel sat slumped in a leather chair, staring blankly at a photo on the table — a picture of his wife, now turned into one of the undead and locked away in the barn.
At the doorway, his two daughters hesitated. Sensing something was wrong, they wanted to approach, but Hershel covered his head with his hands and whispered,"Can you please let me be alone for a while? I don't want to talk. I'm confused... just leave me alone."
"Father, please take care of yourself," Maggie said softly.
Though she was still worried about him, Maggie chose not to disturb her father further. She took Beth's hand and headed upstairs.
In the upstairs bedroom, Beth sat on the bed holding a doll. She blinked and looked at her sister.
"Jason is really amazing," Beth said."No wonder so many people follow him. He can make weapons and lead others. Everyone helps each other when something happens, like earlier when they fought together."
"Maybe..." Maggie murmured, her voice uncertain.
She was upset, deeply shaken by what she'd witnessed today. Although she hadn't heard everything said downstairs, she had seen the fear on her father's face... and the zombie Jason had hacked to pieces, which somehow was still alive.
For the first time, Maggie realized: the zombies she fed every day might one day turn on her — rushing at her with open mouths, trying to tear her apart.
She remembered that once, they had been ordinary people. Now, they were nothing but monsters. They didn't recognize her; they only lunged forward, mindlessly seeking to devour.
"Sister, what are you thinking about?"
Beth noticed her sister spacing out. She stepped forward, gently patted Maggie's shoulder, then hugged her tightly.
In a small, panicked voice, Beth asked,"Are those zombies really dangerous? I really want to know the truth now."
I want to know too...
Maggie's eyes were dim with uncertainty and conflict.