Confession

         Pippin and Mama Williams finally came back to the group. Pippin was clinging to Mama's arm with her face in her shoulder while Mama Williams gently lead her away from the rubble. She saw X and Lasso sitting off to the side, quietly watching everyone. She looked around and saw Shiny sitting on the ground next to Charlie who had Dallas asleep in his lap. Some of the old guards still stuck around, not sure where to go now. Mama and Pippin sat down with Shiny, Charlie, and Dallas. Lasso got up and silently walked over to them. At first they didn't notice he was even there until he gently nudged Mama. She looked up at him and he helped her up. "Can we talk?" He asked quietly. He still had his usual stern look and blunt tone so Mama wondered what he needed. She nodded and Lasso took her hand and walked off with her.

       Once they got out of earshot and sight from the others Lasso stopped and leaned against a tree, facing Mama. "What is it?" She sighed and he hesitated, looking at the ground. "Lasso?" She frowned and he didn't look up. "She told me everything" he started with and Mama Williams looked at him confused. "Who told you what and why?" She asked and he sighed and took his hat off. "Cypher's entire plan. She told me all of it." He told her and Mama's eyes widened. "While she was getting everybody out the gates. She told me to make sure everybody stays yards outside the gates so they wouldn't be collateral damage." He finally looked up at her. "You knew?.." she stared at him. Lasso sighed and nodded. Mama stood there silent. Lasso began to look around, feeling like they weren't alone.

        Charlie had given Dallas to Shiny and followed Mama and Lasso. He crouched in a bush, watching and listening to the conversation through silent tears. Cypher could've still been alive if that cowboy didn't just let her go. He thought repeatedly. Charlie wiped his tears away and glared at him through the leaves and thick branches of the bush he hid in. He listened to Lasso, dying for him to just stop talking. Charlie wanted to turn away, run, leave these people all together just to get away from that damn cowboy but he did not. He stayed frozen and listened, anger boiling up inside him. He had gripped onto a stick that was in front of him with such a grip his knuckles were almost white. He finally heard enough and sprung out of the bush.

       "You knew!!" He screamed and lunged at Lasso. The cowboy quickly stepped out of the way but grabbed his back so Charlie wouldn't crash into the tree trunk. That did not stop Charlie from swinging at him with the heavy stick he had grabbed. "You knew and you didn't do anything!!" Charlie roared but in a shrill voice. He swung at him once more but Lasso just grabbed the stick, ripping it out of his hands and tossing it away. Charlie just turned and tried to tackle him, throwing all of his weight against Lasso but he did not fall. Instead the cowboy stood there and grabbed him, unfazed at the child's hostility. He just wrapped Charlie up with his lasso and dropped to the ground, holding him tightly. Charlie tried to fight back even though he knew he couldn't win now. He was tied up and pinned to the ground. Charlie felt Lasso pull him back against his chest and held him there, making sure Charlie could not move.

      Charlie screamed and kicked at Lasso's leg but the cowboy did not budge. He just held him down which didn't take much effort due to how small Charlie was compared to him. Lasso held him but was taken back when he felt Charlie bite him. He knew Charlie wasn't a zombie so he wasn't worried about that. The main way Cypher would try to give free of someone's grasp was to claw or bite. Had that rubbed off on Charlie? Cause now he felt his arm bleeding and Mama pressed her thumb under Charlie's jaw which immediately made him let go. Charlie threw his head back, trying to head but Lasso but was only hitting his chest. Mama grabbed his face with both of her hands and made him look at her. "Charlie!" She yelled and he finally slowed down. He was breathing heavily and he tried to hang his head but Mama held his face. Lasso still held onto him while they both gave the kid a moment to catch his breath. His face was stained with tears and dirt, he closed his red rimmed eyes for a moment and Mama looked at Lasso.

      They both looked at each other unsure on what to do. They recognized outbursts like that which worried them both. "Untie him" Mama told Lasso and he nodded. He untied Charlie and gently laid him in Mama's arms. "Charlie.." she gently strokes his hair and he opened his eyes again. "What's on your mind hun.." she held him close and Charlie glared at Lasso. Mama looked up at him and motioned for him to leave with an apologetic look. Lasso just nodded and put his hat back on then walked off without a word. "He could have stopped her..." Charlie finally spoke up. He curled up in Mama Williams's arms and began to cry once more. "Why didn't he..." Charlie mumbled and Mama sighed and laid her head on top of his. "She wasn't going to make it anyway..." she told him and Charlie shook his head and looked up at her. "She would!.." he cried and climbed out of her arms. Mama didn't try to stop him, she just watched him scoot away, wiping away his tears with the palm of his hand.

"Charlie.." she spoke softly. He looked at her. "She was struggling...it was better to just let her go.." she tried to tell him but Charlie shook his head. "No..no..no.." he stammered but Mama continued. "She never let you see but she couldn't fight much longer..." she sighed and Charlie just pulled his knees to his chest and gripped the sleeves of the trench coat he wore. "I just want her back...." He sobbed into his arms and Mama quietly moved closer. "I know...I know..." she gently rubbed his back, he was trembling. He looked up at Mama, now looking exhausted. "I just want my sister back..." he leaned against her and cried. Mama just rubbed his back until he ended up crying himself to sleep.