The Walking Dead: 8 months on the road- The Story of Carl
Chapter 2
The shrill scream pierced the air, vibrating through Carl's head and causing him to shudder. Somebody was in trouble. In one swift movement, Carl snatched his gun from its holster, swung his left arm downwards to collect the duffel bag, and raced determinedly around the corner of the store. As Carl turned the corner, he collided with the source of the screaming - a girl, probably his age, before he fell on his back, banging his head against the hard ground, as she rushed towards him,still screaming.
''Help'' she screeched, ''Ma Daddy's been bit. There's walkers everywhere. Help him. Please''.
Blinking quickly to clear his vision, Carl got a proper look at the girl for the first time. She was dressed in torn jeans, a t-shirt so laden with dirt it was almost black, and a scuffed, worn pair of boots. She had a waterfall of golden hair, as well as sparkling blue eyes on a freckled and slightly grimy face. Although she was causing his eardrums to feel like a punch bag, Carl found he couldn't stop looking at her. Maybe it was the reason she had stopped at the edge of the side walk but was still calling for help, which wasn't looking likely. Standing shakily to his feet, Carl glanced questionably at the girl who continued to scream before him.
''She's gonna bring every damn walker in the area upon us soon'', Carl muttered under his breath.
Stepping forward to tell her to shut up, Carl was alerted to footsteps heading towards the alleyway. Raising his gun abruptly half expecting to see walkers, Carl was surprised when three men entered the alley and even more so when the girl stopped shrieking and turned towards them expectantly. One of the men was an older guy with a white beard and a torn shirt. The other two were middle aged - one a little older perhaps. The younger wore a t-shirt and shorts, both caked in dirt ,whilst the older man wore what looked like a tattered suit. All three men carried weapons. The girl turned towards the old man and immediately launched into an explanation:
''Oh David, you gotta help me. Me and Daddy were jus' walking down this here alley when walkers done jumped out and bit him. He told me to run so I did. We gotta help now. Those walkers are probably still there. Help him please'' gasped the girl in no less than three breaths.
The old man named David, who Carl realised must be the leader of the group, straightened himself up and barked out an order. ''Mark. James. Get down there and help Dan. Do what you can, we'll be down shortly''
''Why ain't you coming with us?'' questioned the younger guy, who Carl recalled had been named as James.
''Because if you open your eyes you might realise we have a small problem'' David answered casting his gaze on Carl.
Upon this three pairs of eyes shot his way. Carl was beginning to feel uncomfortable and slightly afraid. If these people thought he posed a threat to their community, they'd probably leave him for walker bait. The only thing he could do was wait and see how the situation panned out.
''Who the hell is this little runt?'' snarled the other man - Mark.
''Obviously I don't know yet'' replied David dryly, ''But that's for me to find out, now get down that alley and sort Dan out now!''.
Something about the way David had said ''sort out'', left Carl feeling chilled to the bone. If these people had survived this long, then they must know when a person isn't going to come back and somehow Carl wondered how long this 'Dan' guy had left. As Mark and James charged down the alleyway, Carl risked a glance at the girl. For some reason he was glad David hadn't sent her back into the walker infested alley. But why should he care? She wasn't his problem. But for some strange reason, Carl found that he did.
With the footsteps of the two men fading into the alleyway, David returned his gaze to Carl. He then gestured him forward with one hand, looking unsurprised when Carl continued to glare at him suspiciously.
''Ok I get it'', David acknowledged. ''I'm the enemy right? I just wanna talk though. Look I'm placing my gun on the ground''.
Carl watched tensely, alert for any attack, as David, placed his gun slowly on the ground before taking a seat on a crate just behind him.
''Why don't you take a seat so we can talk?'' coaxed David, nodding to a crate a few metres from his own.
Finally Carl realised it was time to speak: ''Ok, but if you try anything, I'll...''
''No need to threaten me son'' interrupted David. ''I don't want to hurt you and I don't think you want to hurt me''.
Realising this was the best he was going to get, Carl suspiciously glided over to the crate and slowly sat down, his right hand still grasping his weapon.
''Alright'' murmured David. ''Now we can talk. What's your name?''.
''Carl''.
''Nice to meet you Carl. I'm David and this young lady...'' David gestured to the girl who was still standing in shock ''...is called Ashley''.
Ashley. The name clung to Carl's brain like a spiders web, and for some reason, he felt he wouldn't ever forget it. Whilst Carl was staring at Ashley, David had begun to speak again.
''So Carl, a kid your age can't possibly be alone. Do you have a group with you, maybe your parents?''
Jerked out of his though process, Carl suddenly began to panic. He couldn't endanger the group by telling a stranger about them. His Dad would kill him. Mind you, Rick was probably going to kill anyway. He was so stupid at getting himself caught. But he could handle it. He didn't really have a choice.
''I um...yeah. I'm with a group. But..uh... nothing special. We're just passing through. I should...uh...probably be getting back now''.
Rising to his feet Carl felt a jolt of fear when David stood up quickly, blocking his path. Pointing his gun at the old man, Carl felt a bolt of fear pass through him. He couldn't shoot a man. He was only 13! Killing walkers was different, this was a living, breathing guy.
''Now don't do something stupid kid'' growled David. ''You're free to go once you've answered me one question''.
''Oh yeah?'' spluttered Carl. ''And what is that?''.
David leaned forward, till his eyes seemed to pierce through Carl like an arrow.
''My group is starving. Haven't eaten for days. We only just got to this place. So tell me, how come one kid can walk in here, load himself with supplies and walk out unscathed, when my group is fighting for every last bone?''.
Feeling a stab of anger, Carl drew himself up to full height: ''Maybe if you'd tried looking, you would have seen a store laden with stuff. It's not my fault your group can't spot a lifeline when it's striking you in the face''.
David opened his mouth for a stinging rebuke, when the sound of running echoed from behind. James and Mark were returning but they weren't alone.
''Walkers'' they screeched. ''Coming this way''.
Carl spun around to see the two men being closely persuaded by a whole horde of walkers.
''Run'' whispered David.
Carl looked sharply up at David before hissing- ''Where?''.
''Back into that store you got them goods from. I now we'll be trapped but we don't have many options here, so do as I say''.
Silently agreeing Carl nodded, before raising his gun and firing at the rapidly approaching walkers. BANG. Head shot. BANG. Another walker down. However one walker was close. Too close. Seeing the danger, Carl aimed his weapon, firing just as the walker grabbed James. Bellowing in fright, James turned to watch the walker crumple, just as Carl took it out. Nodding to Carl, both James and Mark continued to run until they both shot past the defending group.
''C'mon'' hollered Mark, as James and David both began retreating.
Carl started to follow, until he realised Ashley wasn't following. She was still standing frozen in shock, and now frozen in fear.
Grabbing her hand, Carl pulled her with him as, to his relief, she began to run. Stowing his gun in it's holster, Carl managed to grasp the duffel bag, before they both shot out from the corner of the store, to hear David shouting for them to get inside. Once Carl and Ashley were safely inside, the men began barricading the door with anything not nailed to the ground. Once all three were satisfied, the five of them collapsed on the floor.
''Wha...what happened to Dan?'', David panted.
James sadly shook his head, causing Ashley to burst into tears. David crawled his way over to her and attempted to comfort her to no avail.
''What's he still doing here?'' snarled Mark, giving Carl a venomous look.
''He's fine'' objected James. ''He saved my life back there. A second later and I'd of been walker meat''.
''He'll go once those walkers have gone'' sighed David softly. Turning his head to Carl, David spoke again- ''Sorry about earlier kid. I was just uptight. Shouldn't have got carried away. You keep the food. No hard feelings''.
Normally Carl would have accepted this, but seeing Ashley sobbing into David's arms did something to him. Although she was a stranger, for some reason he wanted to help her.
''No'' Carl whispered.
All three men, even Ashley, rose their heads.
''You keep it. You're starving. I can't take this from you. You keep it. And I'll come back if you want. Help you find food. I promise you can trust me''.
For a moment there was only the sound of the walkers clawing at the glass, until David spoke-
''-That's very generous Carl, but what about you're group? Don't they need food?''
''They do but I'm not the only one capable of getting it. Please, trust me. I want to help''.
''And why should we trust you?'' interjected Mark.
''Because you don't really have a choice'' said Carl simply.
''Well if it's what you really want, then who am I to stop you?'' replied David. ''Will you be back tomorrow?''
''If I can get out of this walker infested dump, sure'' replied Carl.
''Then we are in your debt'' smiled David. ''I can't tell you how much this means to us''.
A murmur of appreciation rose from the group aside from Mark who pointedly turned his head. Looking around the rest of the group, Carl felt his heart quicken as Ashley smiled for the first time. At him. She smiled at him.
''Don't think about it'' Carl replied. ''It's worth it''.
Even though he knew Rick would kill him, and he knew he was being stupid offering strangers help, Carl didn't care. Ashley had smiled at him. And for a reason he couldn't explain, that made it all worthwhile.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Any comments or opinions would be gratefully received. I'll try and get Chapter 3 posted soon. Thanks for reading