Carol stood alone. The sky hung over her, empty, even the crows had left now. For two days she had ambled around confused and frightened. The winding maze of branches seamed to never end. The forest was so big. "Where are you" she whispered stumbling over a rotting carcass that was laid under a fallen tree trunk. Baffled she looked into its lifeless eyes. "Where are you" she muttered continuing on forwards in a daze. The phrase was imprinted on her mind.
It was all she could think about. It had consumed her mind. But from where its origin was she could not remember. She couldn't even remember why she was in a forest or who it was she was looking for. As she ceased walking again to reflect on her fate she could here a faint whisper in the wind "Run" the voice echoed. Her heart began to beat fast, the blood rushed to her head. "I cant," she rasped in response as she stood up forcing herself to push one aching leg in front of the other. Even though her body screamed at her to stop, to give up she scrambled on,, everything else became a blur, She could feel the tears pooling in her eyes as she escaped the forest into a all to familiar clearing. She wanted to scream but was too out of breath. As far as she could see body's lay disregarded everywhere. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of decaying flesh rotting under the sun. Unable to go on she collapsed to the floor weeping. "I'm back" she whimpered covering her face with her trembling hands. Back to the tombs she bitterly thought. The prison loomed over her making her fell small and helpless. All gone, all gone that's where you are. She wept even harder at the thought. Unable to do anything she shriveled into a tight little ball in a desperate attempt of blocking out the harsh agony.
He stood alone in a watchtower scowling anxiously. His little grey mouse had come back. But was she really back. He scratched his scruffy beard unsure of what to do. For now all he could do was stand in silent agony. He saw them all die. His little family had run but not fast enough. The memory was painful but true. As he contemplated her existence and the increasingly likely chance that he was slipping into madness he spied her getting up and frantically running. Confused Daryl stepped out on the watchtowers platform. The words she shrieked deeply horrified him. So much that he began to feel light-headed. "SOHPHIA!" she screamed "MUMMYS HERE ITS OKAY". He clinched the strap of his crossbow so tight his knuckles turned a ghostly white. "Carol" he sighed with a sad smile. Everything inside of him wanted to lunge out and reach her. As he clambered down the stairs of the watchtower he felt almost giddy with excitement and dread. "Carol" he cried out desperately the same way he had called Sophia's name. "I am coming"
"Carol" the voice wept. She looked at the figure but did not recognize A young man with dark brown hair and a scruffy beard lent down towards holding out his hand. She looked up at him with fear. His eyes had become red and puffy from crying but what carol could not understand why. "Who are you" she mumbled. Ignoring her comment her pulled her up with strong muscular arms. He then proceeded to run his hand over her cheek still sobbing. It was as though he couldn't believe she was really there in front of him. "I am so sorry" he whimpered pulling her close. "I tried to protect them but I just…." His voice trailed off. Unsure of how to react she only looked at him apologetically her fatigue had suddenly caught up with her. To weak to stand she felt her self falling but before she could reach the hard earth the young man caught her, picking her up as though she was only a mere doll to him. "I've got you," he whispered as he walked. "I'm so Sorry"
He took her to the watchtower. Daryl tried as best he could to create a bed for her out of old sheets and a blanket wrapped around a shoe box as a makeshift pillow. He gazed as his creation frustrated. She deserved better. When he had first reached her instantly his heart sunk. Her petite little body covered with bruises and scratches from head to toe. Even more concerning was the look in her eyes. She looked as him as though he was a stranger. That was what hurt the most. "We are in the prison?" she said weakly behind him. Breaking his train of thoughts. "Yep welcome home" he smiled handing her a red bowl filled with cold soup from the mountains of cans he had stored up. "You need to eat, keep your strength up" he in a stern but not unkind voice. She looked at the soup cautiously "what is it?" she said reaching her hand out to grasp it. "Soup with a little deer meat that I caught the other day" he said proudly. "Deer are majestic" she replied nodding her head like she was in some sort of trance. "And bloody hard to track nowadays" Daryl smiled as he watched Carol wolf down his soup. Behind them a soft mewing came from the corner of the watchtower. Carol looked up from her meal raising an eyebrow. "Judith" she whispered as a flood of memories streamed back to her. "Lil' Asskicker you mean" Daryl corrected as he smiled shyly turning towards the sound. As he approached her Daryl could feel his heart warm as Judith smiled wildly reaching her clumsy arms out longing to be picked up. As he held her walking towards Carol he could feel Judith bouncing up and down, gurgling at the sight of carol. "She remembers you," he said leaning down giving her to Carol. "I remember you too" Carol smiled as she held Judith close to her.
All though she could not remember everything seeing Judith alive and well filled her eyes with tears of joy. She felt embarrassed crying in front of a stranger but something about the young man made her feel calm. The soup had also helped replenish her strength. "Where is everybody else?" she said as she bounced Judith on her lap. The young man bit his lip and from his pocket produced a toothbrush handing it over to Judith. The little girl received it with wide eyes chirping happily as she played with her little toy. Carol looked at the man unsure of what to say. "That's not a proper toy for a baby" she concluded trying to lighten the mood. " Their gone." He said at last. Carol took a breath. She remembered screams; she remembered the sound of gunshots. "Of course they are," she said at last. The two of them looked at each other for support. oblivious Judith continued to gurgle at her toy as she tried to shovel it up carols nose. "That's a very nice toothbrush" carol smiled trying to hold back new tears. The young man sat next to her in silence fidgeting with his sleeve. After what felt like hours he finally spoke. "Do you remember me Carol" his voiced cracked a little at her name. "Are you ed?" she said desperately trying to remember. He turned and looked at her like she had slapped him right in the face. "No…" he whispered hurt. "Should I know you?" she asked suddenly feeling guilty. The man stood up unwilling to show his face to her. "I'm going out hunting, we're running low on food" he announced slamming the door behind him leaving Carol alone with Judith and the mountains of soup
The next three days went by like a dream for Daryl. Even though at first it was unsettling that she could remember almost everything else apart from him. Living in the watchtower with her and Judith was bliss. It helped heal the hole in his heart that had been left by the rest of his family's departure. Seeing Carols smile and giggles made him remember a time before when he had once imagined what it would be life to have Carol as a lover instead of a friend. At night in the watchtower they would huddle together for warmth. As she lay asleep beside him he would watch her chest rise and fall, he gazed at her closed eyes wondering what she dreamed of.
As Daryl returned to the watchtower slowly starting his accent up the stairs he could barely contain his excitement. His hunt had been successful. He only shot two rabbits but as he was exploring he discovered a corroding cardboard box inside a bottle of champagne and a purple scarf lay concealed. The find had excited him. When he was a boy he had always dreamed of escaping his family and becoming rich, drinking fancy drinks with beautiful women. Carol was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. She made him feel strong on the inside as well as the outside. She was the first person who ever looked at him as somebody who could protect instead of just being a threat. She may have forgotten all that but Daryl decided he could not. He had made up his mind that tonight he was going to treat her.
