I sometimes wish I was a superwoman. Or at least a superhero. But guess what? I'm not. The past weeks, I've been in a rollercoaster of emotions, and finally feel like getting some rest last weekend. I hope I can upload more regularly now, by means on the day I want to.
I bet we've all seen the season 4 finale by now. I don't know about you guys, but I loved it! It was so awesome, and I loved the scene with Carl and Michonne, with Michonne telling him about her kid and all. Danai Gurira and Chandler Riggs are both awesome!
Now, let's get on with the story, right? I hope you guys find this story worth continuing!
(Disclaimer; I do not own The Walking Dead)
Enjoy! ;)
Chapter 7: Harold
I jump down the last part, and turn around to help Carl get down too. He smirks at my extended hand, and jumps down himself.
"Suit yourself" I mumble, rolling my eyes. I take a look around, and stretch my back. We've been waiting all night for those walkers to finally find something worth waiting for. Luck seems to be on our side, because about half an hour ago, there was a loud gunshot not far away from here, which made them go there because those idiots are attracted to noise like bees to honey.
"So, what do we do now?" Carl says, a little too optimistic if you ask me. He plants his hands on his hips, and put his ridiculous hat a little further up his head.
"You do what you want, cowboy" I shrug. "I'm going this way. See yah."
"Wait, what?!" Carl says, startled. I keep on walking, not giving a damn about the sheriff's son. I can hear his loud footsteps running towards me. I swear, the ground is shacking, as if Bigfoot has finally come out in the open. If walkers didn't know better, they'd probably come running this way.
Carl comes to stand in front of me, so quick that I almost bump into him. I push him off me, feeling a little awkward.
"We're not splitting up!" Carl says clearly. I wipe some hair out of my face and chuckle.
"That's not what I said. I was just saying that we'll meet up somewhere later."
"That's not happening" he rejects, crossing his arms over his chest. "We need to stay together. The others are probably looking for us. If they only find one of us, they still need to look for the other. Besides; we have a better chance of survival together."
I turn my head a little. "Whatcha wanna do? Just sit here and wait, like a princes in a tower?"
"We can go look for them too, and maybe we'll find each other" Carl says, again with that nerdy glance on his face. I grunt of irritation. Why can't he just accept that I don't want to be stuck out here with him? It's been awkwardly enough, sitting in a tree the whole night, not able to interact, because we would draw to much attention.
My stomach makes a weird growl, and I feel really empty. I look at Carl, and decide that bragging on about this will make things only worse. It will only make me sit here alone with him, away from Ash. Poor Ash. He must be worried sick about me. This time, I don't find it funny.
"OK. We'll stay together. But before we go look for those good friends of yours; Imma need some breakfast. I'm starving."
There's a slight grin on Carl's face as he places a hand over his stomach. "Yeah, me too. Maybe we'll find a shed somewhere, or another one of those small shops."
I walk past Carl, annoyed by his stupidity. "Or we could do it hardcore, and just catch something ourselves instead of eating unhealthy canned food because it's easy."
Carl follows me, and I again annoy myself at his loud footsteps. If he keeps walking this way, I can forget about the breakfast, and start chewing on branches or something.
"How on earth would you want to do that, without any weapons?"
I roll with my eyes. "All we need is rope. I can make a small trap, and perhaps we can catch a rabbit or something."
"And you got rope?" Carl says sarcastically, but stops laughing when he sees the strong rope I hold in my hand, which hung at my belt the whole time. But of course, Carl's too stupid to look further than his nose.
"Impressive" he quickly recovers, and makes a tiny sprint, so that he walks next to me. Again. I swing the rope around myself, hoping to create some space between us. But he doesn't seem to care, and still walks a little too close to me than I'd like.
He steps over a branch with breaks with a loud crack under his shoe. I turn my head to look at him, but he doesn't care about the fact that his must've startled all the rabbits in the country.
"Could you keep it down with the feet?" I say through my teeth, really questioning why I'd let him come with me again. I try to tell myself that he'll bring me back to Ash, and that everything will be fine if we just stay together.
Carl looks at his feet, confused. He lifts his knee a little higher, and places his foot gently on the ground, as if he's walking on glass.
I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. He looks like an astronaut on the moon. As soon as Carl notices that I'm laughing at him, he grins. And that confuses me. The smile I had on my face quickly fades away. Is he…flirting with me? Does he think I'm…o my god.
I turn my head to the front, and fasten my pace, so there's a distance between us. I keep walking, not turning around.
"Hey" he suddenly says, and if I like it or not, my feet listen. I stop, but keep my back turned. "What are you doing?"
It's not like; "hey, haven't seen you in a long time. What are you doing at the moment?" It's more like a 'why are you walking away from me?' I don't really know what to answer. Am I running away from him?
"I'm finding breakfast" I reply, and bite my tongue soon after. Great answer.
"Not that" Carl points out something obvious. I can hear his loud footsteps again, and quickly turn around before he does something stupid. I try to keep a straight face, as he comes closer.
"Then what?" I ask as casual as possible.
"First, you hate me and try to kill me. Then, you save my ass and prevent me from chocking to death. We sit up there all night taking shifts. Next, you act like you don't care about what happened before, and treat me like I'm stupid. What is going on?"
I swallow. I'm a little overwhelmed by the words coming out of his mouth. They sound way better than the things he usually says, which always gives me the impression that he's the dumbest kid on the planet.
I blink with my eyes, and try to think of a decent response. I look at him, and think it through. He's the sheriff's kid. The same guy who killed two of my friends. Who brainwashed Ash in thinking that they are our new friends.
But Carl's also just a boy my age, who just happens to have an unfortunate family. But he can be a dick himself.
I narrow my eyes. "Well, I'm currently not trying to kill you. You've been lucky yesterday, for just holding on for so long. But I'm not saving your day again. If you keep waiting for others to come to the rescue, you might as well put a pistol in your mouth right away. You're lucky to have a big group of people who watch out for you. I only have Ash. I have to do more things myself, like you're supposed to."
Carl chuckles without humour. "Wow. You know how mean you sound?! You think you know all about this stuff, don't you? You think that because you didn't find the prison first, you're better than us."
"You killed people for guns" I say back, my voice louder than before, but I don't care. I've had enough of this. "How would you get them otherwise? You keep yourselves locked up in those cells, warm and comfy when needed. You've got cars, that can take you wherever you want to go. You can go out, get the shit you need and go back. Well, we didn't have that luxury! We were freezing during the winter! We lost a lot of people, because no one would take us in."
"You're not the only one who lost people!" Carl suddenly shouts, and his immature voice cracks a little, which kinda scares me. "You're not the only one with a sad back story! We've all had a rough time! You're not special, just because you went camping for 13 months!"
I'm so angry, that I can't find the words to say. I spit in his face instead. Yeah, that'll help. "Screw you!"
With that, I turn around, and run away from that bastard as fast as I can. I don't look over my shoulder, I just keep running. I'll find that prison myself, and tell that stupid Beard-guy I lost his stupid son because he was too stupid to listen to me.
I don't hear the loud footsteps coming after me. For the first time, he finally understands that I don't want him to follow me. I keep running and running. Thank god not for my life. I doing that once a week is exhausting enough.
After some time, I decide to spare some of my energy for the rest of the day. It's still pretty early, somewhere before noon. And I still haven't had my breakfast, thanks to Carl. Or C.A.R.L (Cunt Asshole Retard Loser)
I chuckle to myself. That's a fitting description. Even though I feel satisfied with leaving that Cunt behind, I also feel miserable. I had been mean again. I had promised myself to be a nice girl. Well, already failed after only one and a half day. My first approach was just trying to avoid him. That obviously didn't work and now we're stuck out here together.
In a calmer pace, I step over fallen trees and branches, enjoying the morning sun. It's nice to be out here instead of that ugly prison. I really felt like a prisoner, being in there. I missed the fresh air, and hated the stinky smell of sweat and metal everywhere. And the sound of walkers, ugh. Horrible. I can't understand why anyone would want to live there.
I wonder what Ash is doing right now. Is he looking for me, like Carl suggested? Or has he already given up on me and is digging a grave for when he finds my body? Did he even make it out? We saw the car turn around and drive off the parking lot, but what if something happened on their way back? What if the car broke down, or they drove right into a herd? What if they're all dead….?
"Stop it!" I say to myself, and instead of not thinking about Ash being dead, I stop walking. I make fists of my hands, and squeeze my nails into my palm. I shouldn't think like this. I should stay positive, and just believe he's still alive, out there, looking for me, waiting for me to come home.
Ash is the only person I have left in this stupid world. Everyone I once knew from my old life, the people I used to talk to, the people I went to school with; they're all gone. I didn't know Ash before it happened, but now that I do, I know I never want to lose him. I'm nothing without him. Maybe I have a good chance of survival on my own, but I wouldn't be able to hold it out mentally. I would go crazy after a while, and probably jump off a cliff or something.
He's like a big brother. Maybe even a dad. And a mom. He's my whole family.
While I'm standing there, I notice that's it's really quiet around me. It's kinda creepy. Especially when there are sudden footsteps nearing you.
I quickly hide behind a big tree, hoping the person didn't see me. I listen to the footsteps. It's a calm pace, like someone's taking a walk on a quiet Sunday. It's nothing like the Bigfoot-thing Carl did, or the astronaut-pace.
I move a little to the edge, and dare to take a peek. I immediately regret it, and crawl back. Theirs is one real creepy guy standing not far away from the tree. He looks normal at first sight; perfectly cut hair, washed face, clean clothes, good shoes and a gun at his belt. But when you take a closer look, you notice an eye patch covering about a half of his face. As if one eye isn't creepy enough.
I push my back as deep into the tree as I can, wishing I could somehow disappear into the trunk. I beg to any god I can remember the name of, hoping he didn't see me. He doesn't look friendly at all.
I suddenly think of Carl. Shit, man. I forgot about that little shit. What if that pirate got to him first? That blood is on my hands. And I feel more guilty about it than I would like.
Suddenly, creepy guy lets out a horrible chuckle. "Don't get me wrong, I like playing games. But I mostly like to play with people who are actually good at it. And really, little girl; you're the worst at hide and seek. Come on out, before you hurt yourself."
I bite my lip. What am I supposed to do? He has a fricking gun. I could never run away, he would shoot me. But turning myself in isn't the best plan either. With both choices, Carl will be dead anyway.
I decide to take another peek. He looks straight at me with his one eye, and has me caught in a stare. I can't move, terrified that he might do something unexpected. I look at his belt, at where his gun is. The guy follows my eyes, and laughs.
"Ah, I see. The gun, uh?" He lays a hand on it, and pulls it out. Instead of pointing it at me, he unloads the chamber. It falls into a bed of leafs. The man lifts one eyebrow at me, and throws the gun towards me. "That better?"
I narrow my eyes, and tiptoe the guy. It's too easy, he probably has another gun somewhere. I search over his jacket and his pants, but I can't find one. But I know there is.
Inside, I sigh. Seems like I don't really have a choice. I step from behind the tree, and fold my arms. I have no weapons, clearly. He doesn't even have to ask.
"Hi" the guy says, waving his hand like I'm an old friend. When I don't respond, he drops it. "What's a little girl like you doing out here alone?"
He tries to play nice and all, but I still don't trust him. He's not from around here. His clothes are all practically new, without a stain nor a scratch. His shoes are still clean, no dirt to be seen anywhere. He has a camp or something, not far away from here. Who knows what kind of man I'm looking at.
"I could ask you the same thing" I respond, and the man nods, as if he thinks I'm right.
"I was hoping you could help me with something" he says with a smile, and I blink with my eyes. Bad news, man. Bad news.
"See, I'm looking for a boy" he continues, and with only saying that, I have a nearly heart attack. So he hasn't gotten to Carl….yet. But he is looking for him. I don't know if that's worse or not. "He's about your age, little taller maybe, brown hair, blue eyes…mostly wears a sheriff hat."
"Haven't seen him" I casually answer, shrugging my shoulders and trying to play cool. "What about 'm?"
The guy smiles, as he takes a step towards me. "Nothing special, really. I just need to talk to him. There's some really important business that concerns us both."
"I see" I nod, not believing a word. "I'll look out for him, mister….?"
The man comes even closer, and extends his hand, as to shake. "Harold."
I slowly take his hand and shake it. "OK, mister Harold. I'll tell him you're looking for him….when I see him, of course. I doubt it. This forest is so big. The chance of us meeting is like finding a needle in a haystack."
Harold, or whatever he tries to be, lets go of my hand, and looks at me with his one eye. "I guess so. Maybe we'll meet again someday, little girl."
"Who knows" I say, gluing a smile on my face. All I want to do right now, is turn around and run as fast as I can. I need to find Carl, that stupid brat. This creepy guy is looking for him, and I bet that what he's planning on doing with Carl when he gets to him, isn't good.
With a last nod, 'Harold' kneels down to grab his gun from the ground, and walks back to get the chamber. Before really leaving, he waves. I just nod, keeping a straight face. I watch the man disappear, till I'm certain he won't be able to shoot me from that distance. Then, I start running.
I need to find Carl. I need to find him. Where would he go? He said he wanted to find the others, because they were looking for him somewhere in these forests. He would probably find a way to the road or something, and follow the car tracks. At least, I hope that it's what he would do.
I look up to the sun, trying to find the sun. I remember the road we took to the store came from the North.
"Comes up in the East, goes down in the West" I remember the phrase to myself. I remember saying to myself that it was just before noon and I hadn't eaten yet, and the sun isn't fully up the sky, which means the East is in that way, and the opposite the West.
I stand still, and extend my arms. Right is East, left is West. So I'm looking at West right now. Harold went East, which means the road is North.
I quickly turn around, and start running again. The ground under me is flashing by, a mix of green, red and brown. It's still warm, but autumn is already knocking at the door. Maybe I should've dressed more like the temperature, instead of the time of the year I think it is. Summer's almost over.
Which means the days are getting shorter. I'm losing the light, and the chance of finding Carl today is getting smaller.
"Shit, Carl, where are you?!" I say out loud, looking over my shoulder. I need to keep walking in the right direction, or I'll end up somewhere in the West instead of North.
I suddenly notice the atmosphere of the forest getting lighter. The trees are standing less close to each other, which means I'll be getting at the edge soon.
"C'mon, keep going" I say to myself, hoping to feel the asphalt under my shoes any time now. I keep going and going, and less branches are in my way.
I can see the road, and I'm about to encourage myself once more, when I step into something that disturbs me.
I immediately stop. There was a weird sound, as if I pulled my foot out the mud. I look at my shoe, and blink my eyes. There's blood on it. I touch it with the tip of my index finger, and look at it. It's still fresh.
"Shit….shit….Shit!" I say. I turn around, and look over the horizon. "Carl?! Carl! Where the hell are you?! Carl!"
I don't care if that Harold guy hears me or not. I have to find that stupid guy with the sheriff hat, before it's too late.
"C'mon, shit head! Where are you?!" I shout again, getting desperate. Maybe I'm too late. Maybe they found him. Maybe they killed him. And it's all my fault.
I run around in a big circle, mumbling to myself. I can't pronounce any decent words, only drabbles. I can't function, it seems. I can't do anything. I can't do anything. I'm just a hopeless little girl, who happened to be born in a universe with a shitty world full of dead people. I'm not made for this world. As hard as I try, is still fuck it up. Every damn time.
I kick my foot angrily against the trunk of a tree, grunting while I pull at my hair. It is then, when I hear a voice.
It's an echo, coming from far. But it's something. The first thing that tells me he is alive.
"Alexa!" he shouts, closer now. "Is that you?"
"Carl!" I say, throwing the ripped hairs on the ground. "Where are you?"
"I'm here! Follow my voice!"
I start running, not caring if it's East, West or anything other. I just trust my hearing, scanning the area for strange footsteps, and of course Carl himself.
Finally, I can see the silhouette of the guy with the sheriff hat. I start running even faster, stumbling on my feet. I feel so relieved , and I don't know why.
When Carl sees me, he's starts running too. It doesn't take us long before we reach each other. Before I know what I'm doing, I've fallen into his arms, and hide my face into his shoulder.
"Whoa, slow down!" Carl says with a chuckle. With a blush I let go of him, and take a step back.
"C'mon, we need to go" I quickly say, hoping it won't get awkward. "There's a guy out here looking for you. He must be really stupid for not hearing us."
"Wait, what?" Carl says confused. I grab his arm and start walking, checking the sun. North, right?
"Do I have to say it again?" I sneer, and I bite my lip soon after. How did I become so mean? "I'm sorry. I mean…I came across this weird guy with an eye patch, and he told me to keep an eye out for you. Said he needs to discuss something with you."
Carl stops walking, freeing his arm. I turn around, irritated, until I see his face. It's only horror I see.
"What? What is it?"
"That guy" he gasps. "That's the Governor."
I shake my head and grab his arm again. "He told me his name was Harold. Now, let's go."
"Wait, you have no idea who we're talking about" Carl tries, but I keep going.
"Who cares what his name is? All we need to think about right now, is getting home. That pirate can be around every tree right now. We just need to get to the road, and find a way home."
"You really think going out in the open is a good idea?" Carl chuckles, and I roll my eyes. Why didn't I kill him again?
"We're not going to walk on the road, we'll be walking aside it. Maybe your dad will be there, and we can take a lift back to the prison."
Carl frees his arm, and comes to walk next to me. "OK, sergeant."
I turn my head. "Seriously?"
"It suits you" Carl shrugs. He bumps his shoulder teasingly against mine.
"Stop it, man" I say, but I can't help to laugh a bit. "Just focus, OK? We need to get home."
