Amongst The Storm

Saturday, 26 October 2013

2:43 PM

It was raining when Carl first heard the whimper. It disturbed him from his sleep as he tossed and turned, trying to close his heavy eyelids but the whimpering made it impossible to sleep.

Pulling himself from bed with a heavy sigh, he pulled his hat over his head and, glancing for a last look at the still figure of his sleeping father, squeezed through the cell door and out into the hall.

The whimpering was louder now; more desperate.

Treading quietly as to not wake anyone, he held his gun by his side, afraid it was something unhuman.

It had been quite a while since any walkers had found their way inside the prison but Carl knew better then to believe everyone when they said it was safe.

With another slight whimper, the voice cried quietly a word that Carl couldn't make out but the voice was unmistakable.

"Patrick?" Carl hissed, moving slowly closer to the older boy's cell.

With another whimper, he heard Patrick's voice say his name back in reply, saying softly, "I didn't mean to wake you."

Carl nodded even if in the darkness his figure was invisible to Patrick's eye.

Reaching for his glasses he settled them on his face, watching Carl enter his cell and carefully sit on the edge of his bed.

The young boy was not foreign to Patrick's cell and they'd spent many hours in there talking.

"You okay?" Carl finally said, his voice a harsh whisper between the sound of thunder and heavy rain. It didn't make sense to Patrick that the day had been so perfect yet the night could be so unpredictable as he had grown up so far away from the place he had previously lived in.

"I'm scared," he said.

The truth was he was scared but Carl's presence made him feel better. Is this what feeling in love feels like? he wondered, staring at the younger boy's lips as he imagined carving them with his.

"I am too," Carl sheepishly admitted, dodging Patrick's gaze. "We haven't had a storm like this since the first week we found you guys. I hope everyone's okay."

Patrick nodded.

What would Carl do if he was to kiss him? Would Carl push him away or kiss him back?

Still thinking, Patrick pulled the blanket over his shoulders and sank down into his bed, rolling on his side to sleep.

He felt the disappearance of Carl's warmth against his legs and then the blanket behind him was pulled up ever so slightly as the boy lowered himself into the bed beside Patrick with a loud yawn.

"Carl," Patrick breathed softly.

The young boy tapped onto Patrick's shoulder making him turn. Without a warning, he felt lips against him, almost as if hungry.

Feeling the need for air, Patrick pulled away, taking a deep breath as he separated his lips from Carl's.

"Sorry," the boy said quietly, his cheeks turning an unmistakable shade of red that made Patrick feel sorry for pulling away so suddenly.

Patrick leant forward and let Carl kiss him. It was passionate and soft, and as Patrick kissed him back, he couldn't deny he had waited weeks to finally do this.

As they both pulled away, desperate for air, Carl smiled at Patrick.

"Well," he said suddenly, "I... I love you, Patrick."

Patrick choked, unable to say it back until finally Carl kissed him again and then, when he pulled away, cupped Patrick's face in his hand.

"I love you," Patrick said quietly, "I love you, Carl."

There was a loud crack of thunder and Patrick jumped closer to Carl, making the young boy laugh and then wrap his arms around Patrick's waist. "I'll go back to my cell in the morning," he sighed tiredly.

And for once, Patrick felt safe going to sleep.