CARL:
Carl wished he had an ice pack with him right now. Gareth gave him a painful punch in the eye and he thought that that eye could be blind now because of how powerful Gareth's punch is.
"You shouldn't have struggled Carl…." Rick said while looking at his son's eye
"We have to get out of here. I'm getting desperate dad…" Carl said with pleading eyes
He wanted everyone to be safe once more and lead them out here and lead them in a real sanctuary or even establish a new a sanctuary of their own like the prison. Carl wanted to be with Lizzie once more. He wants to prolong their relationship and have a bright future with her despite the hellish state of the world.
"Got to hand it to the boy…..he knows how to give spunk to anyone" Abraham said
"Yeah….you should see how he does it to his father" Daryl said
"We need to plan on how to get out of here and fast" Carl said
"I agree with him. Who knows what they'll do to us" Tara said
"There are guards out there for sure. It's suicide to be reckless" Sasha said while eyeing Carl
Carl just looked at the other direction and it made Bob laugh. He approached Carl and kneeled beside him at faced him to check on his eye.
"Don't take what Sasha said seriously. She didn't mean it that way. Let me chek your eye" Bob said with a smile
Though reluctant at first, Carl relaxed to be checked out. Carl saw Bob took out some medicine of some sort from a belt bag he carried.
"It's a miracle you actually have that" Tyreese said
"Well I guess they have plenty of medicine" Bob said, smiling
After Carl's eyes have been finished being treated, Carl laid back on the wall of their prison. He was thinking about Lizzie and how she was doing. He thought about how it can be possible that their romance is short lived and if she and the rest who were left behind already left.
"I have to get out of here…" Carl thought
Carl only laid back there, listening to the conversation of the people around him.
"Some of you have any good plans?" Michonne asked
"I got nothing…" Glenn said
"I guess we're stuck here forever" Rosita said
"And we'll never know if my theory is true" Eugene said
This gave attention to Carl. If he truly knows a theory to explain everything, then the world could go back to normal. All of them could have a good life where the dead won't disturb them anymore. Where they could run free anywhere they go.
"How can you…say that you know how to get rid of it? You know….wht caused all this?" Carl said
All eyes locked on Carl and Eugene looked at him with firm, stern eyes.
"I didn't say I know already. Like I said, it's still a theory which I need to test on a big lab" Eugene said
"You couldn't do it on your own lab?" Rick said
"I'm a college professor. My lab could hardly be alled a lab. I need the real deal to test it"
"Just one question…..what caused the dead to rise?" Tara said
"We were in a facility for researching viruses and bacteria. It's long since gone but the scientist that was in there showed us that the undead rising was caused by some sort of virus but they didn't know where it came from or how it can be stopped" Glenn said
Carl remembered that facility well. It was the CDC, the place they considered their first sanctuary. It was a high tech fortress that had supplies that could last them for years and a lab that would have helped them find a cure but it wasn't as it seemed. It was a sanctuary at first but there was only one scientist and he didn't know what to do. There was a very good sample to test it for a cure but it was destroyed. The scientist, who almost went mad, tried to bring them with him to the afterlife. The fortress did protect them from the walkers and any outside danger but it had the capability to destroy them from within. Carl was glad that somehow, they got out of that danger and the rest was history.
"To answer all of your questions, yes the rising of the undead or walkers, as you call them, are caused by a virus. A mutation of the rabies virus…" Eugene stated
"Rabies? Like the ones you usually find on dogs?" Maggie asked
"Yes, that is correct"
"Wait, how can you know this? You did a lot of science experiment huh?" Carl said
Eugene flashed a smile on Carl, obviously amused to the boy's statement.
"Well, yes I did do a lot of science experiment. Every one of you knows the new cure that was in the news before this happened?"
"I know that. They said that it wasn't just some sort of vaccine but a cure for rabies. It was so powerful that it turned the 100% fatality rate of the virus to 0 and instead gave 100% curable status" Bob said
"That's….amazing. That kind of medicine is ingenious but how is it related to the virus of the undead?" Glenn said
"That's a very good question Glenn…" Eugene said
"Wait…I also know about that cure for Rabies but they said that it was too soon to be released to the public because it had too little tests to run on" Rosita said
"I was getting to that. The people responsible for developing and releasing it to the public were either drunk or really stupid when they decided to do it. It was tested poorly and when they got the results and saw it had positive results on the start, they decided to release it"
"Wait a sec…how do you know all of this? It's like, you were part of those people" Tyreese said
"I may be a university professor but believe it or not I was really part of those people"
Everyone stared at Eugene for a while and Carl was really interested now. Eugene knew how it started and now he believes that there is a solution for the outbreak and end the hell that they were living but since he was also part of the people who started all of this, he felt somewhat, suspicious on him at the same time
"You mean to tell me that you're one of the people who started this?! Why the hell did you did something like that?!" Daryl said while approaching Eugene.
Carl got worried because it was Daryl and he was pissed and whenever Daryl is pissed, hit was about to break lose but thankfully, Rick and Tyreese tried to stop him
"Daryl…brother….stop! It wouldn't make everything normal again" Rick said
"He's right….besides, he knows a cure. Let him go" Tyreese added
Daryl quickly backed down and glared at Eugene for a while which frightened the chubby scientist.
"You better hope that theory of yours work…." Daryl said
"Let's finish this fight…please Eugene continue" Sasha said
"Well yes I was involved but I wasn't like those guys who opted to send the medicine immediately without further tests. I wanted to stop them and I tried but they were just hard headed"
"Why couldn't they listen to you? Were those people mad?" Maggie asked
"The government and many pharmaceutical companies promised us a lot of money if the medicine was successful and so…."
"In the end, all they all wanted the money….." Michonne said with a disgusted face
"Money is the root of all evil after all…" Abraham said
"What they didn't do, I did. I tested the medicine on the rabies virus and I didn't get the results that we were supposed to get…"
"What did you get?" Carl said
"The medicine didn't cure the virus….It mutated it. It made the effects of rabies even one powerful…"
"..It made the virus that we had in our system. But if it was from a medicine, how did we all get it in our bodies?" Carl asked
"Eventually, the creeps found out about how it made the undead rise when a rabies patient had the medicine but was already beyond help. Then that rabies patient got up and running again but it started to eat the people. They got rid of it and it was dubbed patient zero. Those guys took him back to the lab for their experiments. They pulled out the medicine from the pharmacies and hospitals. But one truck that was delivering the medicine back to the government labs had an accident. The medicines were leaked and by sheer luck, the accident was very near at the water treatment facility….."
"Which gives us the water supply and that's where we got it. We drank the virus…" Carl said
"Everyone tried to stop it from spreading into the water system but…..there was nothing we could do. The virus was spread out until everything was out of control. One of my closest students got bit by one of them and…he was brutally devoured but he still made it but only for a short while. That student requested me to finish him of quickly but after he reanimates because…he wanted me to get some samples from his body so I could start fresh….."
"What a bold sacrifice…..for the good of the future" Abraham said
"Kind of reminds me of an incident that was mentioned to us at the CDC…" Carl said
Carl still remembered Dr. Jenner's tale about his wife. She was TS-19, who volunteered to be studied for the good of mankind so that like Eugene, they could find a cure for the virus but due to some mistakes that Dr. Jenner made, that sacrifice went in vain.
"I did as my student requested me and because of his request, I had my own research on finding a cure on fixing this because I felt responsible…"
"Hey, it wasn't your fault…..your dumb colleagues were the ones responsible" Tara said. Somehow, Glenn looked at her like he knew something about Tara that connected to what she said
"I'm just glad that there gone. They had their money but…..it didn't help them fend off the undead…." Eugene said
"In the end…..money is just paper…" Daryl said
"I was in the middle of my research but I had little resources in the university and the whole town was beginning to get swarmed. I packed what I need along with my research and went on the road…."
"And why he was on the road, we met him on a refugee camp in Atlanta. He told us about his research…" Rosita said
"I didn't believe him at first but he showed me what he had to show and I just felt enlightened that there was a chance for mankind to avoid total extinction. I believed that it was my duty to save the world and to do that, I had to help him.." Abraham said
"Please bear with him, my husband likes to be a superhero sometimes" Rosita said
Carl was kind of amused on how Abraham viewed himself. He was still registering that Abraham and Rosita are husband and wife. For him, it was like it was a joke because Rosita looks very young and they could be viewed as siblings because of that.
So if you have the samples and your research….where is it?" Rick asked
"I have it in my bag but…"
"We got knocked out and we woke up without our stuff remember?" Glenn said
Rick gave him a nod and got something out of his pocket. Carl smiled on the object of his father's hand and even smiled wider when he gave it to Glenn.
"They didn't get all you're stuff.." Rick said with a smile
Glenn smiled wide as he obtained the watch that was handed to him by Herschel. Maggie looked upon it and smiled as tears of joy fell from her eyes
"I don't know how you got it….but thank you" Glenn said with a smile
"Is there something we're not getting?" Sasha said
"It means to them a lot. Give 'em a moment" Rick said
Carl remembers well what that watch meant for the two of them. It was Herschel's sign of approval for their relationship. Now Carl suddenly missed the old man. He looked up to Herschel as a great man and his own grandfather to aan extent. Carl wished he knew a way he could have saved Herschel from the governor's hands. Now, it was a consolation prize that he found out from his father that the governor is finally dead. He looked at Glenn and Maggie and observed how sweet they were together. He envied the fact that despite they were trapped and faced a danger, at least they got each other. Carl felt that being separated from Lizzie is a worst case. He missed her and wanted to make sure that she was safe. Carl concluded two things on his mind. First, he had to get everyone out safe and sound. He was sick of losing good people like Herschel. Second, he wanted to be with Lizzie and lead her out of this danger. Carl stood up from where he was seated and got some stares from everyone.
"Something wrong Carl?" Rick said to his son
"No matter what dad….we have to get out of here and we are going to do it now" Carl stated firmly
"Hahaha so you're going to risk another punch in the eye? For your information, we don't have any weapons. How are you going to get out here using your bear fists?" Abraham said
"Don't underestimate me…." Carl said with a smirk
He reached down on his socks and grabbed a small gun. Everyone was surprised as to how Carl had a weapon on him.
"You actually hid it successfully." Daryl said
"I learn from the best" Carl said as Daryl smiled on him
Eugene approached Carl and examined the weapon.
"It's a small gun so it can be concealed easily and based on the history books, this gun was used for very close ranges" Eugene said
Suddenly, they heard a sound what sounded like a padlock being opened and chains sliding off on one another.
"I guess we have visitors again" Michonne said
Carl suddenly had an idea. He was sure one of those men will get in again and if Eugene was right about the gun being useful in really close range, they could escape. Carl went to a dark corner near the door and crouched down
"What are you doing?" Rick said
"Trust me dad…" Carl said
The doors clicked and slid open. Three men entered the container with them holding trays that had some sort of mush on them.
"Dinner time.." One man said calmly. These guys were harmless but Carl saw that they had weapons on their sides. The people haven't noticed them and when Carl looked outside, there was no people and it seemed that the three that they were with were the only guards. Carl looked at his father which in turn gave him a nervous look.
"Please…eat now. It is the request of our leader" One of the guards said
"It looks like it came out of the garbage bin" Rosita said pointing on the food.
"Do not worry, this is edible, it will give you strength"
"Just what are you people up to?!" Daryl said
"In time you will understand. Sir Gareth seems pleased with you and wishes for you to be alive"
"I'd rather have you guys unified with us" One guard said with a creepy smile.
Somehow, that smile made him scared and Carl thought on what these people mean about being unified.
"Unified? What the hell is that?!" Glenn said
"Oh it's the process of—wait, isn't there are boy here with you?"
With that, Carl appeared in front of the guard and was obviously caught off guard by the boy. Carl squeezed the trigger and hoped that it would work. With the trigger fully squeezed, a bang was made and the guard that stood in front of him, had a wound on is heart and fell on the floor along with the mush that he carried. Without hesitation, Daryl went straight for the second guard. The guard struggled but eventually, Daryl snapped it's neck. The third guard tried to grab his gun but Rick was quick to knock the guard on the floor. Rick picked up the gun that fell from the guard and shot him.
All of them looked at each other.
"What are we waiting for? Let's run!" Carl said
With that they ran from the container and into freedom.
"Got to hand it to you little guy, you did good" Daryl said
"I learned from my dad" Carl said proudly. Which earned him a proud look from his dad. They got past another wide space when they heard danger.
"OVER THERE!"
From their side, a lot of guards appeared on swarms. It looked like that their freedom is going to be short lived.
"Where the hell did they come from?!" Tyreese said
"Must have heard the gunshots. What now?!" Bob said
"…..I'll distract them, you guys run" Glen said
"What?! No! I won't leave you!" Maggie said
"She's right. You're mad if you're thinking that" Michonne said
"I'll be okay…I promise"
"….if your staying, then so will I" Maggie said
"Go with them Maggie" Glenn said
"We're in this together. We did things together and I'm not going to pass on this" Maggie said while giving Glenn a serious stare
"…okay…you win…" Glenn said as he hugged Magie
"You two gonna stay? I'll fight" Bob said
"I'll stay too" Sasha said
"No! We got to get out of here!" Tyreese said
"This is my chance to do smeting useful Tyreese. I'm a grown up woman now and not just some kid. I have them so don't worry"
Tyreese stared at his sister for a while and looked Rick in the eye
"Rick..tell the kids that I'm fighting for them" Tyreese said
Rick only gave him a nod and knew what it meant. He was staying. Carl looked at the three new comers and Abraham and Rosita nodded at each other.
"You'll need some fire power. Even if we don't have weapons, we can do this" Abraham said
"Besides we faced a lot of shit before. Kid, you have a lot of spunk. You and the rest do me a favor will you?" Rosita said
"What is it?" Carl asked
"Eugene is the key to everything that's happening. Keep him safe
"W-w-wait…I can't leave you guys" Eugene said
"Oh please, we faced more tougher shit than this" Rosita replied as she gave Eugene a smile
Eugene fell silent and uttered a goodluck to them.
"Guys, please take Tara as well. She could help you guys" Glenn said
"What?!" Tara said
"…..Just go" Glenn replied with a smile
Tara was taken aback but uttered a good luck to them.
"Be careful guys, follow us when you're done" Rick said
Those who were staying nodded at them and Carl couldn't help but get sad on what they were about to do.
"Don't die.." Was all Carl could utter and they were off.
It was now him, his father, Michonne, Daryl, Tara, and Eugene now. Carl looked back and watched as the guys ran in the guards direction, ready to distract them.
They ran and were finding an exit when two guards spot them.
"HOLD IT!" One guard said
They stopped and Carl thought that all their efforts were now in vain. But suddenly, the other guard suddenly fell to the ground and that surprised the other guard then he too fell down. All of them went closer and saw that the two guards had gunshot wounds in their heads.
"If they're gunshot wounds…why didn't we hear any gunshot?" Tara said
Cal then heard someone panting and it sounded like it belonged to a girl. Carl looked beyond and saw a girl holding a gun with a silencer and had short, blonde hair. Carl had a smile on her face and was glad that he saw her.
"Funny how I ran on you guys" Jamie said smiling to them while panting
"You have no idea how glad to see you" Carl said
Author's note: Yay Jamie saved the day but Lizzie is still in trouble and what happened to her is going to be on the next chapter. So hope you guys enjoy =)