It couldn't have been more than two hours before Angelina shot into wakefullness. There were voices outside the tent; low and angry. She heard the hammer of a gun click back. She silently pulled on her shoes and jacket, listening intently.
"Move aside, Eric."
"Not a chance in hell. You stay away from her."
"She's not your daughter. I'm not about to argue with you."
"I'll gut you before I let you touch that little girl. She's a kid, Johnny."
"I said move."
There was a heavy thud of someone getting punched in the stomach, and a sharper smack of a punch in the face. Angelina reached for her bat, heart racing. She pulled out a small knife, stabbing through the fabric of the back of the tent as the scuffle outside grew more intense. There was a sudden schick, and Angelina felt sick at the sound. Someone fell to the ground, hard. She worked a big enough hole in the tent to squeeze out the back just as someone was unzipping the front.
"Hey!"
Johnny grabbed her foot, dragging her back in the tent. Angelina screamed, jabbing at his face with the knife. She slashed his face, and he clutched at it, howling in agony. Scrambling past him, Angelina got out of the tent again. She froze, looking down at the ground.
Eric lay in the dirt, bleeding from a wound in his stomach. He was grasping the handle of the knife, gasping for air. Upon seeing her, he gestured towards the cars.
"Run, sweetheart. Run!"
Tears were welling up in her eyes, but Angelina obeyed. She bolted for the cars, skirting carefully around the still lit fire. Someone lept out at her, tackling her to the ground. It was Greg, eyes foggy and drifting. He pinned her to the ground, fiddling with his belt buckle. She screamed again, panicking. Her bat was out of reach, the end of the metal resting in the flames. She punched at Greg, trying desperately to wriggle free. Other men gathered nearby, looking at them hungrily.
CRACK.
Greg slumped over immediately following the gunshot. Angelina scrambled to her feet, grabbing her bat from the flames. The end was red hot, and she swung it at the nearest man. It connected with a sickening, sizzling crunch, and he dropped to the ground and did not stir. The other men were drawing their weapons, looking around for the origin of the gunfire. Another two shots resounded in the night air, and she watched as two more men fell . The others began to ran, but suddenly there were gunshots seemingly from all sides, and Angelina dropped to the ground, covering her head with her arms.
When the shooting stopped, she raised her head. Nobody was moving, and she heard footsteps as she got to her feet. A boy appeared from the shadows, about her age and wearing a Sheriff's hat. He lowered his gun, looking around for signs of life. Angelina held her bat up defensively, until she heard a choking gasp from behind her.
"Eric!" she shouted, running over to him. A strange man stood beside him, pointing a very large silver revolver at his head.
"NO!"
Angelina swung her bat high over her head. The boy grabbed it, twisting it from her hands. Angelina snarled, putting herself between the man and Eric.
"He was trying to save me! Don't hurt him!" she demanded. The man lowered his gun, looking at the boy. He stood, shrugging his shoulders.
"I didn't see him. I shot the others, but this must've happened before we got here." he said. Angelina knelt beside Eric. His eyelids were fluttering, but he forced them open to look at her.
"Are…you okay?" he asked, gasping for breath. She nodded. He smiled. He twisted his head to look at the man with the revolver.
"Hey." he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Eric."
"Rick Grimes." said the man, kneeling to shake it. Angelina knelt as well, and Eric grimaced as he reached to ruffle her hair.
"Is that your boy, Rick?" Eric asked. Rick looked at him and nodded. Angelina was watching with a strange sensation in her chest; a feeling of loss she couldn't explain. Eric wagged a finger at Angelina.
"That's my little girl." he said. "You…keep her safe."
Rick looked away as tears began to pour from Angelina's eyes. Eric lifted his head, looking towards the boy, who had stepped closer while he was talking.
"You too. You keep her safe."
The boy nodded silently, and he and Angelina locked eyes for a moment. The determination, the hard look in his eyes let her know that he meant it. Eric dropped his head back down, staring up into the starry sky. He murmured something as his eyes closed, and Angelina could just make out what he said.
"Daddy's comin', baby girl. Daddy's comin'."
The last breath escaping his lips made the world awfully quiet. Rick stood, walking towards his son.
"I'm goin' to check for any others, see if we can find the keys to one of those cars. You take whatever supplies you can find." he ordered, gesturing around the area. He glanced at Angelina. "And help her too."
The boy nodded, and Rick wandered off, searching the pockets of all the dead men around. The boy walked up to her, kneeling by Angelina.
"We have to shoot him in the head." he said. Angelina looked at him incredulously.
"He's dead! Leave him alone."
"If we don't, he'll come back." he replied, pulling his gun. "Is that what you want?"
Angelina looked at Eric. Without the knife, he could have been sleeping. She shookd her head, brushing a lock of hair from her face. They had just met; and he had been so kind. He had died for her; to save her. The boy put the gun to Eric's forehead.
"Wait!" Angelina said, putting a hand on his to stop him. Their eyes met for a moment. "Let me do it."
The boy nodded, relinquishing the pistol to her. She turned her head, and pulled the trigger. Hot liquid splashed across her hand, and she dropped the gun. Her body ached; she was so unbelievably tired.
"What's your name?" she asked, hugging her knees. The boy sat next to her, legs stretched out front.
"Carl. What's yours?"
"Angel."
They were silent, each deep in their own mind. Angel felt the wear in her very bones. Her eyelids felt so heavy; she couldn't keep them open much longer. Not caring if it was alright or not, she laid her head down in Carl's lap, laying on her back. He looked at her in surprise, dark locks framing his crystal blue eyes. It was the last image she saw before falling asleep.