Author's note: To those who wonder where Mika is, well if you read the story closely, you could have an idea on where Mika is and some questions will be answered in the future chapters so yeah, Keep supporting guys, love y'all ;)
CAROL:
Carol couldn't believe that she would be reunited with the man who kicked her out of the prison although she fully understands why the ex-sheriff did it. Rick only wanted her to be away fromTyreese but that issue has already been resolved back at the grove. The other reason is that he prioritized the safety of everyone else. The other thing she didn't expect was being reunited with Lizzie. It was her daughter ever since she promised Ryan that she would take in Lizzie and Mika as her own but it just saddened her that she didn't take good care of both of them. The memory of what Lizzie did to Mika still haunts her up to this day.
Carol found herself hugging Lizzie, her daughter, when they found each other somehow, she was glad that she has found Lizzie once again.
"I was looking for you ma'am! I woke up at the grove and then all of you were gone. I'm just glad you're okay" Lizzie said while tightening her hug on her. It was a sign that Lizzie has missed her so much. She felt guilty on leaving her but she had her reasons
"We were searching for supplies but then walkers chased us and…got lost" Carol stated
She felt really stupid for lying to her daughter.
"I knew it! I knew that was the reason!" Lizzie said, apparently having the same idea.
Carol looked over the boy who had a sheriff's hat that suited him: Carl Grimes. He was looking at the bundle that Tyreese was holding with wide eyes and a wide smile
"Is that….is that really?" Carl stuttered
"Yes Carl. Come hold your sister" Carol said softly
She could see Carl come slowly towards Tyreese. His shoulders were tense and Carol could see Carl was nervous
"Here you go kid….It's Judith" Tyreese said with a warm smile.
Carl took the bundle and inside was the baby whom they thought was dead. The bot had tears in his eyes on the joy of seeing her sister again. Carl hugged Judith tight and it gave Carol a warm feeling inside her
"It's her…It's really her! Judith!" Carl cried who held Judith like he never wanted to let it go.
Carol couldn't help but smile on their reunion. Seeing the Gimes siblings reunited is a real beauty. Carol was the one who took care of them when their mother, Lori, died. Carol shifted her gaze on Rick who was as happy as his son.
"This isn't a dream is it? My Judith…..my little girl" Rick said as he took Judith from Carl and hugged his baby. He was crying tears of joy as well and she couldn't blame him
"Carol, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving Judith" Rick said with a wide smile and gave Carol a hug
"Don't thank me Rick. I didn't do anything. Tyreese did all the saving and….Lizzie and Mika" Carol stated.
Rick faced Tyreese and gave him a friendly hug.
"Thanks man" Rick said
"Don't mention it Rick…but the kids did all the work" Tyreese replied
"Lizzie did mention the events that happened after you guys escaped and still I' thankful for all of you" Rick said
Rick patted her adopted daughter's shoulder as a sign of thanks.
"Carol…where's Mika? I thought she was with you?" Lizzie asked
This was the question that Carol dreaded the most. The question she hoped that Lizzie wouldn't answer but that will remain a fantasy. How could Lizzie forget Mika? They were sisters and really close as well. She had to think of a good excuse to cover up what she had done. She remembers her promise to Lizzie back at the grove but it was a promise Carl had to break. She wouldn't take it if Mika came back as a walker. It would only break her heart even more. It will only remind her of Sophia. She had to lie to Lizzie. Carol had to lie to Mika's killer.
"Lizzie dear….we left Mika in a hospital" Carol said while crouching down to meet Lizzie's eye level.
"What?! Why did you left her there?! Is she alright?! Carol you kept your promise right? Right?!" Lizzie said, now hyperventilating
She did this whenever she was anxious, nervous, scared, or downright upset. Mika was the best when calming Lizzie down. How she wished she was still with her
"Lizzie, calm down okay? I'll explain everything but you need to calm down first…" Carol said
She searched for something that made her feel better. Carol stumbled of wild flowers growing on the side of the tracks. Everyone was beginning to panic on Lizzie's behavior. Carol held Lizzie in front of her and tried to calm her down.
"Look at the flowers Lizzie…..please look at the flowers over at the side of the tracks ok?" Carol said to the panicking girl
Both of them looked at the flowers and started counting one to three until her daughter calmed down. This was a big relief for her.
"Are you okay now?" Carol asks
"yeah…but why is Mika in a hospital? I miss her." Lizzie said sadly
Now was the time Carol had to think of a lie or else she was going to get in trouble with Lizzie and seeing what she did to her sister, Lizzie is very dangerous when she finds out the truth.
"Well, she had a bad stomach and must've ate something bad so she had to stay there…" Carol said
"Is she alone there?"
"No….a doctor is taking care of her"
"When can we take her then? We have to take her to terminus"
"Of course we will. We'll see if terminus is safe then if it is, we'll pick up Mika, I promise" Carol said while stroking Lizzie's hair
"Okay….I understand"
"You found a hospital that still works around here?" Michonne said from behind Lizzie
Carol didn't expect this point. Of course, she lied about Mika in a hospital. Somebody was bound to ask questions.
"I'll…tell you later, all of you" Carol answered
Michonne nodded to Carol as a sign of agreement. Now she had the problem the lie she just created. Carol looked over them and saw three children that she has never seen before. Two of them were Lizzie's age and assumed that they were her friends.
"I see you have new companions with you" Carol said
"Oh yeah, they're my friends. I found them while looking for you guys. They know how to fight too" Lizzie said happily
Carol observed Lizzie's friends. One was a kid who had big eyes like a doll and had a moderately dark complexion, like a Filipino's. The other one was relatively white and had a somewhat Japanese look that suits her long, black hair. The last one was a white girl that had short blonde hair. Lizzie introduced them as Rose, Kiana, and Jamie respectively. Carol was glad that Lizzie has made some friends after all that happened to them in the world but she was hoping that Lizzie wouldn't kill one of them off like Mika.
"I assume all of you are going to terminus?" Tyreese asks
"Yeah, we saw the signs and might be worth our chances" Rick said
"Yeah and I even hoped that we would find you there ma'am" Lizzie added
"Well I guess we found you" Carol chuckled
"Then we should get going then. We should keep our pace while there are no walkers around" Rick said
They were on their way but Carol was stopped by Lizzie, who had her hand on Carol's.
"Are you sure we can't bring Mika yet?" Lizzie asked sadly
'Yes dear, we still can't"
"I really thought she was with you because eight days ago, I saw her out in the forest and went to a school but I lost track of her….."
Now Carol was intrigued by this. How could Lizzie have seen Mika? Carol already prevented her reanimation. Now she felt a pang of pain in her heart on that memory, especially when she looked at Lizzie.
"Maybe it was just that you miss her, you kind of see her everywhere…"
"Maybe but I know what I saw…"
"Lizzie dear, let's just go and talk about this later okay?"
Lizzie agreed with her and went on their way. The temperature around them is balanced but Carol was feeling pretty hot because of Lizzie and how she could handle the lies she made.
As they walked along the train tracks, they spotted what seemed to be a small warehouse that was a bit elevated. They could also see that the tracks junction a road and that meant there were buildings to replenish their supplies.
"You think its safe enough for us?" Carol asked
"Only one way to find out" Rick said
The warehouse door was open and they feared walkers were inside. They cautiously went up the steps, with Rick and Tyreese in front of them. What they saw at the front of the warehouse door gave Carol and the rest a shock. They saw a man who had a bloody face and had bruises all over his body.
"Kids, don't look" Carol said to the children. She noticed that Lizzie didn't look away and just kept staring at the corpse. A sign that Lizzie has seen many things involving violence and gore.
"How long do you think he's been dead?" Michonne asked who came from the back to check on the corpse.
"Not long. Maybe two or three days…" Rick stated
Carol looked over at the body that sprawled on the bloody cement floor. What caught her eye gave her goose bumps all over her. Right in the head of the dead man, an arrow was stuck on its head. When it comes to arrows, there was one person she always has in mind. Carol took out the arrow and examined it.
"This arrow…..is it possible he was here?" Carol said
"I don't know. It could have been anyone's arrow but it's a possibility" Rick said
One thing Carol cared about on the same level as the kids are the valiant hunter who wields his iconic crossbow like no one ever does. She missed him so much. She missed the one man that cared for her and helped her in any way that he could. How Carol wished he was in their side.
"Daryl…..where are you?"
The warehouse had some workbenches inside, as well as some cars and other various tools. Now they see that it was a car repair shop.
"Looks clear enough. How about it, we stay here for the night?" Rick suggests
Everyone agreed to it and set up camp inside. Rick, Michonne, and Tyreese went out to the road to find some places that might have supplies. They were the tough ones but her, Carl, and even Lizzie is enough to protect them inside the warehouse. Carol looked upon the children that were in her vision. She sees Carl seated on one hood of the cars; holding Judith like there was no tomorrow. The girl who looked like the youngest, Rose was playing with the girl that had a Japanese feature on her look, Kiana. According to Lizzie, the two were sisters. The blonde who she remembers as Jamie was only seated on another car, tinkering with her gun. By the looks of it, Carol could see that the girl can fight but her concern about her if she is like Carl or like Lizzie and if Jamie turned out like Lizzie, this will be a major problem.
Lizzie was beside Carl, playing with Judith. She couldn't help but be impressed on how Lizzie managed on her own and eventually reuniting with them. Carol thought it was kind of a blessing but when she looks at Lizzie while she plays with Judith, Carol also remembers the faithful day when Lizzie planned on killing Judith to prove her point about the walkers. That memory scared Carol so much.
Carol was approached by Rose who was looking at her curiously with her big eyes that were kind of adorable.
"What is it little one?" Carol asks
"You don't look like Lizzie at all. Are you really her mother?" Rose said
"Well, not really. I kind of adopted them"
"You mean Lizzie and her sister were orphans?" Rose said with a shocked expression on her face
"Well…..almost. They had a dad but he died but their dad sid that I should look out for them"
"Well Lizzie did tell us that. I'm happy that you adopted them. At least Lizzie has a mom" Rose said sadly
"What do you mean Rose?"
"Well me and sis are orphans…..and we really don't know who are our real parents…Lizzie and her sister are pretty lucky"
Carol felt pity for the two. They didn't know how it is to have a real family. She reached out for the little girl and hugged her.
"Ms. Carol….can I ask you something?" Rose asks
"What is it?"
"Can you be my mom?"
Carol didn't want the kids to call her mom, not even Lizzie and Mika because of the memories she had of Sophia. She wasn't ready to be called a mother yet.
"You can't call me mom, I'm sorry"
Carol saw Rose had disappointment on her face. Seeing that from a child was kind of heartbreaking so she decided to do something on what she said.
"Although, you can treat me like one" Carol concluded
"Really?" Rose said with an expression on her face that could compare to a person that won a lottery. Rose hugged Carol and it she hugged her back. Kids that are more than one is not a burden for her.
"Can you do me a favor Ms. Carol?"
"Anything sweety…."
"Can you tie up my hair? I'm not very good at it…."
"I'll be glad to" Carol said with a smile
Now Carol can see why it was hard to tie Rose's hair. It was waist long and that was hard for a child her age to tie up. She twisted and folded up her hair until it was in a braid.
"There, it's done" Carol declared
Rose immediately rushed on one of the cars and looked at the side view mirrors. She saw Rose have a wide smile on her face and rushed backed to Carol.
"I love it, it makes me look pretty! Thank you!" Rose screamed and gave the gray haired woman another hug.
"You're welcome Rose. Why don't you go over Lizzie and Carl and play with Judith?" Carol said
Rose gave her a nod and ran for Lizzie and Carl. It has been a while since Carol saw that kind of innocence.
"Thank you…you finally cheered her up"
Carol looked behind her and saw Kiana.
"I hope she wasn't a pain to handle" Kiana said
"No, not at all. I'm glad that I made her happy" Carol said
Kiana sat down beside and adjusted herself
"She finally let her hair get tied up" Kiana said
"What do you mean? Does it mean something?"
"Well it's my sister's way of mourning…."
"Mourning? Did someone died?"
"Unfortunately…..it was Billy, Jamie's brother. Rose and him were pretty close. Shame that he turned into one of those walkers…."
The mention of a child turning into a walker brought back memories of Sophia emerging from the barn as a walker. It was one thing that sometimes haunts her in her dreams.
"That's so sad….I'm sorry" Carol said
"It was sad but it couldn't be helped. Around that time, Billy had Lizzie with her when we got separated. She said she did her best to help him. When we saw Billy as a walker, it brought us all to tears. Lizzie protested not to shoot Billy back then. She thought it was still him but we knew otherwise. Carl then stepped up and put Billy to rest…."
It was a sad circumstance for them to have lost someone close to them. What scared Carol is that Billy was with Lizzie when it happened and she tried her best to help her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Lizzie had something to do with the boy turning into a walker and she was sure of it. But she had to find proof but it she had the capability to do it. After all, she killed her sister for her beliefs. Why can't she do it again? Carol just wished that she was wrong.
On the other hand, Carl shooting the boy turned walker reminded her of Rick back at Herschel's farm. Carl putting the boy to rest was like Rick did to Sophia.
"I'm sorry…." Carol consoled while stroking Kiana's head.
After hearing Kiana's story, Carol looked at Lizzie who was happily chatting with Carl. She had to take precautions if ever Lizzie goes overboard again.
LIZZIE:
Lizzie was very happy when she got reunited with Carol but was distraught when they couldn't take Mika because of a bad stomach. Maybe they fed Mika some bad rats or any other thing they fed her. She made a mental note to find some food that were clean and to remember that walkers can still get sick.
She was with Carl seated on a hood of a car. Thy were playing with Judith who Carl held with is dear life, that is until Rose took her to play with the baby. She was happy for Carl to have her baby sister returned to her. She wished that Mika was with them as well. For Lizzie, Mika is the only one left to complete her.
"Hey, you okay back there?" Carl said
Lizzie was dazed so much that she forgot that she had Carl with her. Lizzie thought that thinking about Mika too much is the cause of her daze and since she overthinks things, she had another headache but not that severe.
"Oh yeah, just thinking of stuff again" Lizzie answered
"Just keep your head on planet earth will you?" Carl said with a smile
"Oh shut up" Lizzie said
Lizzie thought that since it's only the two of them together and the people left at their temporary shelter was at a good distance from them. It was the right time to ask Carl the question that she wanted to ask for a long time.
"Hey Carl…"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you being too nice to me all of a sudden?"
Lizzie felt Carl get tensed on her question. There was something in her question that really made Carl nervous
"Uhhh….nothing. It's just that I feel like it" Carl replied
Lizzie examined Carl's body language and can tell that he was lying to her.
"You know, you're really bad at lying Carl" Lizzie said with a sly smile on her face
"Hey, I'm not lying!" Carl said with a nervous look that contrasted her smile
"Aw come on, you don't like secrets being kept from me Carl"
"That's why they're called secrets. You're never supposed to reveal it"
Lizzie was sure now that Carl was hiding something from her but she has to think of a way to suck it out of his head. It occurred to her that Carl always wore his sheriff's hat ever since they got out of the prison. Carl never wore it before and she never saw him without it. This gave her an idea
"Hey Carl what's that over there?" Lizzie said while pointing up the ceiling.
Carl looked at the ceiling just as Lizzie wanted. It was the perfect opportunity for her.
"What? I don't see anything…" Carl said
With precision and caution, Lizzie quickly snagged Carl's hat from his head. Carl turned around and was irritated from having his hat taken away from him.
"Hey, give it back!" Carl demanded
"Make me, officer grimes" Lizzie said playfully
"I said .BACK!" Carl said with a venomous tone.
Lizzie was right about his hat. Something about it is important to him and this was the right time to execute her plan.
"Want it? Catch me first!"
Lizzie ran away from Carl and the boy quickly ran after her angrily. The warehouse was small so they just ran in circles all while avoiding Rose playing with Judith, Jamie minding her own business with her gun, and Carol talking to Kiana. Lizzie was having fun being chased by Carl around the small warehouse. She also noticed that Carl's angry expression was gone and had a smile on his face while she chased her. Carl's smile gave her a weird feeling. That feeling that you have that is strange but relaxing. After running around, Lizzie was getting tired but fortunately, Carl has stopped on his tracks and was crouched down and was catching his breath.
"So, give up now?" Lizzie said as she approached Carl
"I'm not the kind of person to give up" Carl said under his breath
"Jeee…..looks like you're about to" Lizzie said
Lizzie could see that Carl wasn't planning on giving up but by the looks of things, Carl had no choice
"You know what?...Just…give me the hat" Carl pleaded
"On one condition…."
"What is it…..?"
"Answer my question, why are you being nice to me all of a sudden and why are making fun of me less?"
"Do I have to? Come on….I…won't answer those…."
"Suit yourself. Your hat suits me better anyway…"
"Wait, fine! I'll tell you…"
"Go on…."
Carl was catching his breath. Lizzie understood this, she did make him tired. When Carl had his composure back, he started to speak.
"You know…The reason for that is because…."
"Yes?"
"Is because….because…"
"Cat got your tongue?"
"Well I…uh…"
Lizzie was getting impatient so she turned around and readied to leave when Carl finally shouted his answer
"I'm trying my best to get to know you!"
"What did you say?!" Lizzie said as she stopped in her tracks and was kind of confused on what she heard
"I didn't quite hear that…." Lizzie said trying to make sure what she heard was right
"I wanted to get to know you more…." Carl repeated
"Really? But why make fun of me back then?" Lizzie asked
"Because…I'm not used to communicating with girls my age. I'm shy and….I made fun of you because it was less of a pressure to do…."
Now it all makes sense to Lizzie. She was young but she knew about these kind of things. Back when the world was still normal, she used to hang out with only girls and when it came to boys, she was shy and to relieve the pressure on that issue, she just snobs boys her age because she doesn't know how to handle them . They may have different approaches but she and Carl are both the same. But unlike other boys, she felt comfortable with Carl despite being pranked by him. She felt that he was different.
"Here…" Lizzie said while putting Carl's hat back on his head.
She said that the hat suited on her head but it really suited Carl even more. Somehow, it made Carl look handsome. Lizzie looked up on Carl's blue eyes that always made her melt.
"You know, you could've just asked me nicely you know…"
"Like I told you…I'm kind of the shy type…"
"I'll admit, I was a snob with boys my age back then but somehow….I found you different. Like you were okay…"
'Really? You really mean that?" Carl asked
"Of course. You can get to know me but please no more pranks"
"Okay, I promise"
"Pinky swear?" Lizzie said while reaching her pinky finger to Carl
Carl smiled and reached his pinky to Lizzie's.
"Pinky swear" Carl said with a smile.
Lizzie was feeling weird but this was more intense. She wondered why and guessed that it was because they were interlocking pinkies. She felt her cheeks feel hot. She got embarrassed that Carl would see her blush but she saw that Carl was blushing too. Carl let go of her pinky and avoided eye contact.
"Um…I should..check on Judith." Carl said nervously as he went to Rose and Judith
Lizzie just stood there and stared at Carl. She was thinking on why the weird feeling she has was becoming more intense. She was getting confused now
"Looks like someone has a suitor" A voice said from behind her
Lizzie snapped out of it and looked behind her. It was Jamie who somehow was smiling slyly at her.
"What are you talking about? And why are you smiling like that? Last I checked, you were a total wreck" Lizzie said
"First off, I don't want to think about that thing now and second, what I'm saying is that Carl is crushing on you"
"WHA?!"
Lizzie couldn't believe what she just heard. That was definitely the most randm thing Lizzie has heard in a long time.
"Carl has a crush on me? Get out of here"
"Ahahaha oh come on, see the way he looked at you? And how he talks to you?"
"Well yeah but I just found it weird. I didn't assume it was him crushing on me"
Lizzie was now weirded out by what Jamie said. She didn't consider that Carl could have a crush on her.
"I'm too young for that Jamie, we both are. I'm certain that he doesn't have a crush on me" Lizzie stated.
"No were not Were entering this stage of puberty anyway and he is, just look at him! And you, I'm certain you like him too" Jamie said with a playful smile
"I do not!"
"Yes you do. You don't realize it but eventually you will. I know it because of the way you look at him."
Lizzie doesn't have a crush on Carl and treated him more like a frienemy but lately she had weird feelings for Carl. Lizzie doesn't want to assume this feeling n what others maybe thinking so she just shuts her mouth.
"I don't have a crush on him" Lizzie said
Jamie came close to her and put an arm around Lizzie.
"Look Lizzie, you may not realize it but maybe someday you will" Jamie said as she lets go of Lizzie and walks away laughing.
Lizzie didn't want to think about what Jamie said but she did a good job letting that idea sticking on Lizzie's head.
"What if Jamie is right?" Lizzie thought
Just when she was contemplating these thoughts, Rick, Tyreese and Michonne came back from their run and by the looks of it, have not failed on their quest.
"Look what I found at the woods…." Tyreese said
He bought something down on one of the workbenches and it was a deer that could feed them for at least days.
"I guess will be having venison for dinner" Kiana said happily.
"Everyone rejoices at this because no one has had any meat for days.
The evening became fun for all of them. Everyone was having fun even though they had to keep quiet because of the walkers. Michonne was talking to Tyreese and seemed like having fun, Rick was holding Judith tight and was playing with her and making up for the time he didn't spend time with his daughter. Kiana and Jamie were talking to each other and Lizzie had a feeling that Jamie was telling Kiana of their conversation. Carol was with Rose who were having a conversation.
She was with Carl, eating together. It was weird for her to be beside Carl.
"I'm envious of you, you know that?" Lizzie said
"How come?" Carl asked
"Well, you have your sister again. You're having a fun time with her"
Carl smiled at her and put one hand on hers.
"Look, I'm happy that I have my sister back. I know Carol left Mika because of some illness but I'm sure we'll get her back. You deserve to be happy" Carl said with a smile.
Lizzie felt her cheeks warm up and she knew Carl saw it because he laughed softly. It made her embarrassed and looked away. On her new vision, she could see Michonne giving her a weird look. The same look that she was giving her in the past days. She looked over on the others and made eye contact with Carol. Lizzie smiled at Carl and she smiled back with a nod. She looked again at Carl and she smiled at him and Carl returned it to her. Lizzie viewed Carl from a weird boy to a mysterious boy. Somehow being with Carl, made her feel at peace.
CAROL:
The night was very fun for them and it was a celebration for them getting reunited and of course having some meat after a long time of not having one. Everyone had fun especially the kids although she kept a good eye on Lizzie just in case.
Carol and Tyreese were on watch duty because everyone else was tired and didn't get enough sleep especially Jamie after she had heard her story from Kiana. Lizzie wanted to be o watch as well. As much as she appreciated her enthusiasm, she made her sleep. She tried to protest but Carol eventually won. She feared not of the fact that she might wander off outside the warehouse but on the fact that she might fall asleep and find everyone killed by her when she wakes up. The warehouse is pretty secure but they were not taking any chances.
"Hey…" Tyreese called from Carol's side
"What is it?" Carol said
"Do you think…..we did the right thing?" Tyreese asked
"I don't know Tyreese. I mean the one question I feared the most was asked by Lizzie just this morning and I lied to her"
"You had to do that because I know….you don't have it in your heart to hurt her despite what she's done"
"But what if she asks for Mika again? What if she searches for her herself even though…..she won't find her anymore?"
"It would hurt if Mika came back as a walker and I know as well as you that Mika wouldn't be at peace when she was left to reanimate…"
Carol remembered when she and Tyreese saw Lizzie with a bloodied hand and a dead Mika beside her. She promised Lizzie that they would wait for Mika to turn but she couldn't do it because they knew that Mika wasn't going to come back any time soon and what pained her most is that her own sister was the one who killed her.
"She expects Mika as a walker. But I already did what I had to do….I can't cover it forever. She will have to know that I broke my promise…" Carol said sadly
"We have no choice….it will come sooner or later." Tyreese said
Carol recalls Kiana's story on how a Jamie's broher was with Lizzie and tried her best to help him. She had an idea what kind of help Lizzie did but she didn't want to think about it and now that Lizzie and Judith are on the same roof again, she was more nervous than ever. Lizzie could snap anytime she wanted.
"Carol….are you still holding on to what you said back at the grove?" Tyreese asked
"I know what Lizzie did Tyreese. I know how she views the walkers but I'm still hoping…..hoping that one day her eyes will be opened and she'll understand everything…" Carol answered
Carol could still remember their last days at the grove like it was yesterday especially her ultimatum for Lizzie.
FLASHBACK:
"Please don't be mad at me! I'm sorry!" Lizzie cried
Carol decides that Lizzie was too dangerous for people all around her. She still couldn't believe that Lizzie could kill her own sister and for what? To prove her point about the walkers. She thought back then of waiting for Mika to turn so that she could use her as proof that she was wrong but it was just going to be painful for her seeing Mika as a walker.
"Just look at the flowers Lizzie…." Carol said
This was her ultimatum. Lizzie can't be around other people. No one could help her on this unforgiving world. It was painful to have another one of her daughters gone but she had to do it for everyone.
"Just look at the flowers…."
Carol raises her gun and kept her distance fromLizzie who was looking at the flowers
"Just look at the flowers…"
Carol turns her revolver to ready the bullet that will take her daughter's life
Her hands shake as tears fall from her eyes. This was truly painful for her. Her finger was now close to pulling the trigger. Just one more push and it will all be over.
"For everyone's sake…." Carol thought
She was willing to pull the trigger but her hands felt stiff. She tried to force her finger to pull the last puzzle piece that will end it all. Carol remained in that position but she still can't pull the trigger. A few minutes passed and all she could hear was her own, fast heartbeat and Lizzie's cry for forgiveness for Carol. Lizzie only thought of her pointing a gun at Carol and didn't even give even the littlest of remorse for what she has done with Mika. Carol stared at Lizzie. Her vision blurred and when it cleared, she saw Sophia was the one looking at the flowers. Tears flowed in her eyes, blurring her vision once more. She wiped her tears and now it was back to Lizzie.
"I…I can't…."
Carol slowly held down her gun. She sees in front of her, a rock that was double the size of her pal,. She picked it up and contemplated on something. She couldn't do it. She had to change her ultimatum. She now realizes that she couldn't kill a child that she now considered her daughter. Now she was sure on what to do. She gripped the rock tight and approached Lizzie. Without hesitation, she slammed it on the child's head, knocking Lizzie out cold.
It was now the middle of the night and Carol and Tyreese are at the living room. Carol was thinking if she did the right thing.
"I don't understand Carol…..why didn't you pull the trigger?" Tyreese asks
"I can't….I can't kill her. I'm willing to kill anyone may they be living or dead but….I can't kill her" Carol said with tears in her eyes
"But why? I thought you said she was dangerous? That she can't be around with other people…"
"I know what I said Tyreese but….Ryan entrusted me in taking care of Lizzie and Mika. I promised him that I will take them as my own. I know what Lizzie did to Mika was wrong…very wrong but she misunderstood things…"
"And you'll just let her live her life knowing she killed Mika in cold blood?!" Tyreese said
"Lizzie didn't have any fault on it, only half of it. The other fault was on me. If I knew sooner what she really is….if I knew what she would do to Mika….this wouldn't have happened.."
"But still…..why?"
"Because as got closer to the girls, I treated them like my daughters…they became my daughters. I already lost one before and now I lost another one at the hands on one of my daughters as well but Lizzie is still my daughter.."
Tyreese paced back and forth and finally rested his hands on the table, as if he has finished thinking on how to solve a very hard math equation.
"….I get it now. I now know how you feel right now. Lizzie and Mika….they're precious to you. You really live up to the old saying Carol….."
"What saying is that Tyreese?"
"That there is no mother that will neglect her child…."
That put a smile on Carol's face. Somehow, it cheered her up
"So…now what do we do about Lizzie?" Tyreese asked
"I've been thinking about it Tyreese…..We'll leave her here"
"Are you crazy?! That's way more crazy than you killing her"
"I know….we leave her here and we head on to terminus by dawn"
"Are you sure? How can she defend herself? You know how she is. She's unpredictable"
"She's strong Tyreese…she can handle herself"
"Hmmm….ok but what if she finds us somehow? What if she asks about Mika? She would expect that Mika would be with us and as a walker…."
"I'll take care of it. I'll take the burden of shouldering this decision."
Carol and Tyreese called it a night to prepare for their departure to terminus. Carol went upstairs and went to the room at the end of the hallway. She went inside and in the bed, laid a sleeping Lizzie. Carol thought that she must've hit her too hard because she was still out cold and probably be out cold in the morning. Carol sat on the bed and looked upon Lizzie. She looked peaceful when sleeping as if she was an angel from above. But Carol knew better. She knows that the child's mind is twisted. She knew how dangerous she is. But she still had hope for the child. She won't give up on her. She was sure on the decision she made. Carol reached for Lizzie and stroked her hair.
"Lizzie dear….I know that leaving you here to fend for yourself is wrong and I hope you understand this one day. You can't be around with other people because of how you think. I'm sorry for doing this to you. Don't worry if one day you realize what you did to Mika. You are misunderstood and I forgive you and I just hope that…Mika would forgive you as well."
Carol gave Lizzie a kiss in the forehead and she could feel tears in her eyes again but she forced them in.
"Always remember….that I love you as much as I love Mika…..and Sophia"
Author's note: I know I know this chapter is very long but questions had to be answered and there it is hahaha. Hope you guys like this chapter =)
I've been thinking of having a cover for my story but…..I can't draw XD
Anyway thanks again for your support ;)