Live jacket
.
Eleanor grimaced while she got out her blade of the skull of a corpse. She was tired, she was tense, And she was disgusted.
It was not help either that she recognized the person that she was now making sure was dead. It gave her the chill, the corpses were so fresh, so recent... that it looked as if she had killed them while they were still alive.
With a sad sigh, she stood and looked around, the casualties were far larger than she had imagined. All night, the people that were strong, alive and not injured; had tried to ensure that there would be no more raising undead by the next day. Slow but steadily, they had been piercing all the heads of the victims, then had been categorizing them: those that were walkers they didn't know would be burned; those that were people they had known would be buried. It irked her... that now Jim's tombs would come in handy... it also scared her, because to her it almost made him look like a fortuneteller.
.
.
"Eleanor?..."
She turned her head. Dale was standing beside her. He had a water bottle in one hand and a small handkerchief on the other. She blinked a couple of times, and then remembered...
She hadn't cleaned herself since yesterday.
She looked down, her pullover covered in blood. It was a shame, had she not decided to change her hoodie to her sweater at night time, it wouldn't have been ruined this way. It was even white! with another sigh, she took the implements and gave the old man a little smile. This one tried to answer it, but it was strained, and his concerned gaze made it look weird. Taking first a zip of the water, she then dumped some of it on the piece of cloth and started scrubbing her neck and jaw.
"I-I um...," he began, and Eleanor focused her eyes on him one more time. "I wanted to thank you... what you did yesterday, saved most of us,"
She certainly didn't look at it that way; but she guessed, that she at least managed to save this grandpa and Rick's family. Eleanor smiled, "You praise me too much. I only did what was meant for me to do from the start,"
"Doesn't stop me from being grateful," he half joked... and Eleanor could feel herself grinning. Curse the old man, he knew how to lift her mood.
"Thank you Dale," She said, giving back the bottle. She waved the handkerchief and walked away "I'll return this clean later,"
.
.
"Eleanor,"
She ignored the sheriff for a moment; Glenn and T-dog were passing by with another corpse. "You gonna burn that?"
"Yeah," Answered the black man with a gruff. In a continuous move, Eleanor pulled the white sweater out of her and let it rest over the dead body.
"Then burn this one too,"
"Eleanor,"
She turned behind her. Rick was the image of regret, or worry and even of anger. She took another breath, not really sure if she wanted to hear any more thanks or any more praise. With her thumb she signaled to where her tent was, and tried to smile. "I'm going for my hoodie, you think you can wait for me to get back?"
He nodded and she was moving to walk away when she turned to look at the RV.
Like a marble statue, Andrea rested immobile... hugging the corpse of Amy. Just the sight of it was heart-wrenching. It also filled her with guilt, had she arrived a moment sooner, had she taken her patrol earlier; maybe Amy would have been alive. The girl had bled out alone and scared inside that car; even that had been a horrible decision. In the end, Andrea entered the vehicle only to scream in pain, the body of the young woman already cold and pale. From that point on, the older woman had not separated from her little sister, caressing her head, veiling her eternal sleep... it would be as close to a veiling ceremony as it could get. She let out a defeated sigh and hugged her frame; she felt so cold. Eleanor was about to walk away, when she noticed Rick walking over to Shane.
.
"We can't leave Amy like that, we have to deal with it," he said, concerned.
"I'll tell her how it is-" began Rick, but Eleanor cut him off.
"You should leave her alone," Eleanor warned, Rick turned to her... confused and annoyed "Walkers wake up slowly, gradually... Even if Andrea is not strong enough to end it for good; give her the time to mourn,"
"But we can't risk the camp for her comfort," Rick argued and Eleanor shook her head, walking away. She was too tired, too spent... for even get in a fight.
.
How come that, no matter where she went, it always turned out the same.
Even if she wanted to leave now, she couldn't. Be it a sense of responsibility, or simple guilt, she could't leave this people right after things turned from 'good enough' to 'downright shit'. It would not only make her look like a coward, using around food and supplies only when it was convenient... she and Rick had a major role in the outcome of the situation. She didn't want to say it out loud, she guessed nobody wanted to, but Shane was right; Rick left camp with all of their manpower, promising that she could take care of it. Well... she couldn't take care of it, not to the level she had hoped; so many people died today, including Amy. It bugged her, because the girl was growing on her; she should have done something.
With a defeated sigh, Eleanor crawled inside her tent and snatched her hoodie away. She couldn't help but wonder... what if the one that wanted to go to the restroom had been Carol... or Sophia. What if... what if it had been Lori or Carl?
She felt her panic rising again. If that had happened, she wasn't sure how she could have faced Rick; how she could have faced Shane... or Dale. Still kneeling she grabbed her head in silent anxiety. What if Carl was killed?
Why was it that she was so scared of Carl being killed?
.
.
"Does you head hurt?"
"Motherfucker!"
With a jump, she stood but lost her footing, falling to the side. Next to her tent was standing Carl Grimes. Only a couple of seconds passed for Eleanor to realize what she just said and she blushed a deep red. She rose her hand and waved it in front of the child. "My head is fine... but you have to promise me you'll forget what I said,"
"It's a bad word, isn't it?"
"it is, erase it from your memory," Eleanor insisted, "You scared me out of my body, so that's why I said it... but you should never say it!"
.
.
"...I'm sorry I scared you,"
Eleanor stopped her own rant and, probably for the first time in that exchange, gazed at the small boy. His clothes were in disarray, his hair too. He looked even paler and had some dirt on his cheek. On top of that, he looked scared, as defeated as her. Eleanor slumped over, forgetting completely about the F word she just screamed. That child had just experienced the most terrifying night of his life.
Extending her hands, she beckoned Carl to her. Carl stood frozen in place, and looked down at her hands with unease.
.
"i just want to see if you are okay... if you didn't fall or were hit by anything,"
"I... I have some... blood,"
Blood? Eleanor frowned, and Carl reluctantly moved his arm over. A small stain of walker-blood, probably the size of a coin, had fallen and dried over his skin. Eleanor let out her breath relieved and grabbed the still damp cloth that Dale gave her. At the sight of it, Carl startled and hid his hand again.
"Sorry... Don't have any clean right now,"
"But... will I become one of those... things," he said confused.
Eleanor grinned. Was this the same intrepid boy that she met the day before? Carl tugged the hem of his shirt. She cleared her throat.
"Relax, the only way for a person to turns into a walker is if the blood or saliva enters your blood current," she made a flourish with her hand, thinking that she was being too specific "maybe a scratch, or a cut... or a bite! Bites are the dangerous ones. Okay? Remember that, if your get a stain of blood but you have no injuries... you'll be fine," she extended her hands and smiled. "I was covered in it earlier remember? But... do I look sick?"
"You took off your sweater to burn it,"
"That's because no amount of washing is going to leave that sweater white ever again... it's ruined,"
"Sorry for your sweater," Carl said. Eleanor extended her hand and the child once more extended his, so she began cleaning the spot.
"Don't be, it's just a sweater..." she said, shrugging. But at that moment, Eleanor remembered Carl, how he was screaming, and how his mother was in panic. "But now that you are here... I want you to promise me something,"
She was serious, and Carl recognized it. He stood straight and also showed a serious expression. He nodded solemnly, and Eleanor had to bite down a smile.
"I want you to promise me you won't freeze," she scooted closer, and took the boy by the shoulders. "Walkers are slow, but dangerous in groups. Don't freeze, don't be terrified of them. Run..., avoid the groups, look for a way to sneak away; fight, until the very last moment... understand?"
.
"Carl!"
.
They both turned. Agitated, Lori Grimes trotted to them. Eleanor released Carl's hand and this one turned to face his mother.
"Did I told you to not leave my sight? Especially after what happened yesterday,"
"But I was with Elean-"
"No matter who you were with," she kept on saying sternly. Eleanor let the dirty rag fall beside her and rose up.
"Your mom's right. This has been a frightening experience, so you better stay close to her," she dusted her legs and took the hoodie, walking away before that conversation could even start.
.
She was avoiding a lot of conversations today.
.
When she arrived back at where she was; she felt that something was not right. Eleanor looked one more time to Andrea; she could have sworn the woman had shifted. Eleanor realized she was right when she caught sight of the gun she had, safety off and still resting on the ground, near her free hand. Eleanor looked at Rick who was trying to avoid Andrea at all costs; Shane was no longer around and Daryl was menacingly standing some meters away from the former lawyer and her deceased sister.
Finally connecting the dots, Eleanor rolled her eyes and walked over to Rick.
"So you did it,"
"Yeah,"
"And she pointed the gun at you,"
"Why are you asking if you already know?" Rick asked annoyed and Eleanor grinned mischievously.
"I'm only taking a guess, but it must have been right on the mark," she pursed her lips and lifted her chin, "I told you to leave her alone,"
"...How long is it even going to take?"
.
At that question, Eleanor stopped smiling. She looked down troubled, and kicked a small rock with her feet, "for the people I've seen turn personally... It's always different. It could take hours... minutes... a whole night,"
Rick turned at her. It seemed he asked that to sour her mood or brush her off never expecting to get an answer. Eleanor continued "But I haven't seen that many. Amy died due to blood loss... probably she won't turn," Eleanor looked back to the RV, "is that why Daryl is there standing watch?"
"He's been growing impatient. He even said this was retribution for leaving his brother on that roof,"
Eleanor turned to Rick, frowning "Is it true what T-dog said? He cut his own hand to escape?" Rick nodded, pinching his nose, "the door had a chain and a lock... how did he control the bleeding? How did he even got out of there?"
"We don't know. All we know is that he was gone and... that trip was for nothing,"
"Maybe not for nothing. Merle could be alive somewhere; and you've got a bunch of guns and ammo that we can use,"
"We met a group, it could have been more,"
"Or... you'd have been left with nothing. You negotiated and avoided getting injured or killed; so for me that's mayor progress," Eleanor commented and let out another sigh. "Why don't you tell Daryl to keep helping the rest, I'll keep an eye out for Andrea, if Amy does wake up after everything... I'll help her get through it,"
.
Rick looked at her, and nodded; but he made to effort to move. He looked forward, probably at the horizon... probably at the line of smoke that emanated from the burnt corpses. It took a moment, for him to speak again.
.
"...I wanted to thank you," Eleanor turned to him and noticed he had a mixture of annoyment and worry, "for what you did to protect my family, and for what you did for the rest;"
"Only because it's you I'll accept it with grace, Rick. I'm sick and tired of hearing people thanking me, I don't feel like I deserve it and that won't change in a little while," she gave the former sheriff had a sad smile "Let's just say that I fulfilled my promise, and that will make me even happier,"
"Here," he extended his hand, and Eleanor was met with her other blade. She took it with a smile, and moved to tie it up once again to the holster she had, "It did gave me luck,"
"Really? Did you use it?"
"I had to... and I don't regret it," he said, signaling to her hip, "It's sharp, good weight... must be of a quite good material,"
.
Eleanor grinned delighted, and was about to tell Rick the story of said blade... when there were screams of alert.
Still shaken because of the previous incidents, they all ran as fast as they could to meet the new danger; weapons and other implements in hand. Much was the surprise when, once they arrived, they learnt that the one screaming was Jackie, and the one she was pointing at in fear was none other than Jim himself.
The black woman was accusing Jim of having been bit and keeping quiet about it. She claimed adamantly that the man was bleeding and that he had a bite mark somewhere in the abdomen. For his part, Jim said that the blood was not his, and was reluctant to let anyone near him. However, he had chosen a bad moment to ask for the trust of other people. Daryl ordered him to lift his shirt and show them he was not lying; soon... others followed. It was almost the same as the day before; scared, Jim lifted a shovel he had around and started waving it around him in warning. It was T-dog in the end, that got behind him and reduced the scared man. At that moment, Daryl stepped forward and tugged his shirt upwards, showing what they all feared. As if burnt, T-dog released Jim and this one repeated constantly that he was fine... that he was okay.
.
.
.
.
"I say we pickax his head, and the dead girl along with him," Daryl said, he was referring to Amy.
"Is that what you'd want for you?" asked Rick in disbelieve. However, as if it was affirmation that Daryl was serious, he stood straight.
"Yeah, and I'd thank you while you did it" there was no waver of doubt in his words.
.
This left an awkward moment behind, and Eleanor massaged her temple in exhaustion. This was the last thing they needed. She was sitting beside Jim, at the stairs of the RV. The others tried their best to keep away from the guy, truly invaded by fear. Eleanor couldn't blame them, the situation was turning from bad to worse, and they lack of knowledge about the infection on itself were moving them to take cruel decisions.
.
"Are you not scared I'll infect you too?"
Eleanor looked at the man, she dumped the alcohol on some cotton and moved to lift his shirt. The man jumped, but let himself be treated. "I know how it works... and you won't infect me at this point, even if you do bite me;"
He huffed, Eleanor was not sure if it was in mirth or in resignation. She looked up, certainly worried. From this point on, things would only get more difficult, more painful... more gruesome.
"You could have told me earlier, as soon as you were bit. Maybe it we didn't let the infection spread, I could have cut the area and patched you up,"
"Would that have worked?"
"I could have tried," She admitted.
"You know a lot about this," he said as an after thought, "Were you going to college?"
"Yup! You have another 'educated cooze' around," she said, and as soon she remembered Ed Peletier was dead, she cringed, "I'm sorry, that was in the worst of tastes,"
Jim half chuckled, not really minding, and Eleanor wished they wouldn't have started with the wrong foot.
.
Having that said, she had a sudden resolution. Eleanor stood then, and walked directly to the group that was still talking.
.
"...The line is already drawn" cut Daryl again "zero tolerance for walkers!"
"But he's not a walker is he? at least... not yet," Eleanor said annoyed. Daryl turned to her, with that menacing stare that he always had on his face. Eleanor did not cower however, and sustained it with a menacing glare of his own, "He is a man condemned to death! Who the hell are we to decide for him,"
"And what in your fucking 'brilliant' mind do you think he'll decide?" Daryl growled back. He took some steps forward, and Dale grew restless, again grabbing Eleanor by the shoulder. She stood her ground and crossed her arms.
"Easy. Either someone aids him to end his life, or he stays behind to do it himself;" Daryl stopped and Eleanor glared. "And I'm not saying this because I'm scared he'll turn into a walker. I'm not scared," She let her arms fall to her sides, "Have you ever seen what happens when a person gets bit, and doesn't die instantly?"
At that, Daryl stopped, his resolute stare wavered with the sense of ignorance, an Eleanor took it as an advantage. "For the next hours, he's going to suffer the worst kind of pain. His body will die from the inside out and-"
"And have you seen it?" Asked Daryl, not convinced.
"I have seen it," she answered just as fast, "Every single moment, from the beginning to the end. And I'll rather help that poor man end his pain... instead of murdering him like some kind of unwanted animal,"
.
Another pregnant silence was made. Eleanor turned to look around her, and it seemed that her words were not only directed to Daryl. She looked at Rick, who also had that face of pity, uneasiness, and complete confusion. She looked at Dale, who was also conflicted.
Shane was looking at her from behind all those people, and Eleanor was a little surprised at his stare. There was only finality, and understanding.
.
.
"What if we try to help him, I heard the CDC was working on a cure" said Rick suddenly.
With a roll of his eyes, Shane stepped forward. Heard a lot of things when the world went to hell….. you saw Atlanta, the government is gone and the military have been overrun… there is nothing there"
Eleanor turned to him, and then blinked down. The facility at Atlanta... was it even running? For all she had searched for a safe place to stay, it hadn't occurred to her to try and enter the facility. Even if there were no more scientist that could help them...
There was no safer place.
.
.
"... If there are going to be somewhere, that has to be Fort Benning, the military are there," Shane's words brought her back to reality.
"That's 100 miles on the other direction,"
"Fort Benning is gone,"
They turned to look at Eleanor, and she let out a sigh. "I've been keeping tabs on every radio station of the militarized safe-zones. i came from one before reaching Atlanta, okay?... I know the messages. Fort Benning hasn't kept tabs on the other bases for at least three months. On the other hand... the CDC is not that much of a stretch," all eyes were trained on Eleanor, "Look; I'll be sincere... there are not many chances of saving Jim. But the CDC doesn't need people to keep on running. The place is a bunker, it has everything, from a medical bay to office rooms that we could use to sleep in. Not only that, in case of crisis like this, It can run on it's own. Rooms, supplies, food, generators. If there is a way to get inside..."
"But how do we get inside? Then?" said Shane.
"Well... normally if the system is not on full lock-down we can try guessing the code and get access, or mess with the electrical system,"
"Wait how the hell do you know so much of the CDC?" Asked Daryl annoyed. Eleanor smiled and shrugged.
"It was my dream job, you know? If the outbreak hadn't happened I would have finished college and be there instead,"
"Anyway. Eleanor says there is a way... and It's worth trying. Jim could get the help he needs, and we could get a safe place to stay. It's our only chance," Rick said, making them return to the previous conversation. He turned to Eleanor and this one felt her nervousness growing inside her again, he patted her shoulders. "If you are so sure that means you are following us right?"
.
She wide-eyed. Eleanor looked at Shane, who was not cowering from her gaze. He was the only one that suspected Eleanor was leaving as soon as Rick returned and now she had just appointed herself to stay for longer. She didn't like it, but was willing to tag along to at least make sure that Rick would be safe.
"yeah," she said meekly.
"hold up," Daryl walked over, still not convinced, "if you know so much, how is it that you didn't try when you were in Atlanta?" Daryl asked one more time. Eleanor blinked, and then blushed. To that, Shane walked forward with renewed interest.
"Good question,"
"It might be embarrassing for me but..." She said scratching her head, blushing even redder, "It simply never occurred to me before,"
Daryl looked at her as if she had three heads. Rick snickered, and patted her shoulder.
"I would want to believe that is a lie, but it fits your character,"
"Excuse me!" she said outraged and soon the snickers continued on Shane's part. They scattered, Daryl again strolling around Jim and Shane taking him away. Rick volunteered to gather the others and tell them what was discussed and Eleanor decided she would guide Jim inside the RV for safety measures. By the time she exited once again, there was no one waiting for her...
No one except Lori Grimes.
Damn great.
.
.
"Lori, hey," she said awkwardly "Rick just left,"
"Yes, I wanted to talk with you..." she looked as awkward as her, and thinned her lips; "I heard what you said,"
"About the CDC, well-"
"No, what you told my son," it was almost incredible, how her face changed when she talked about Carl. She looked angry, and Eleanor tried her best to not answer to that look with the same expression.
"Oh," Eleanor said, "What part exactly?"
"Everything," the woman moved her hands to the front, tense and stretched but waving them as if trying to grab something, "Look, I understand that you've come from a place that had many hardships and that you believe that... violence is the solution but," She cut herself short, and looked up front once again, "I mean, I get it... I'm thankful, for what you did yesterday. It was terrifying, and what you did saved our lives,"
"It did...," Affirmed Eleanor, frowning.
"-But I would never want for Carl to experience something like that again. The decisions we took, there's no way to revert them,"
"...So, you want me to keep a closer eye on Carl?" Eleanor asked, little by little, feeling more and more unsure. The woman was taking many detours and Eleanor was no longer sure of her first assumption, she moved to say, "I already told him that-"
"But that's the problem!" Lori cut her short, "You... I appreciate what you are doing; but if you care for Carl... if you really care for him, you'll keep your distance from now on." Lori elaborated, "You... are not bad. But you represent everything I wish Carl never knew and everything he's done since you arrived is trying to be beside you. I want him to have a normal childhood... and I don't think you are a good example for my son. I just want you to understand that-"
"What I represent," Eleanor repeated, Lori frowned... clearly wanting to be in this conversation as much as Eleanor; but the woman ignored it.
.
She already knew where this was going, it shouldn't be too difficult to comply but...
She felt so angry.
Angry because she was called violent. Angry because her actions were seen as excessive but necessary. Angry because these people thought, Lori thought, that once it had happened it would not happen again; that if they have two or three people that could protect the rest it would be fine... that they didn't need to worry for the future, because one way or another, the walkers were going to leave the earth as suddenly as they appeared. It unnerved Eleanor, because she knew that was not the case, because she knew that was the mentality that had so many people killed, and what was more... the idea was so ingrained on the minds of adults that the children couldn't do more than follow them blindly, not realizing that it indirectly sent them to their pitiful demise.
She didn't want this for Carl. He was intelligent, he was brave and he had aptitude for survival. Eleanor knew him so little, and yet.. a gut feeling told him that, given the chance, he could be proficient with weapons... proficient in leadership, far better prepared than she was. But he was a kid, in his mother's eyes, there was no need to learn these things because keeping his innocence was more important. How many lives did she waste on wanting to have the same? On justifying her fear on the fact she was still young?
Just as she had thought previously about Carl's death... she was uncertain Why... But she was sure that, for Carl, she wanted to act differently.
.
.
"What I told Carl is nothing but the truth,"
"No, that's not-"
"Where could he be if I hadn't been... 'violent'? What will happen if he's in that pinch again and people like 'me' are not there to save him,"
"He has me!"
"What can you do?!"
Eleanor raised her voice, and Lori stepped back. It was sick, telling a mother these things, but she couldn't stop herself, "THIS is not going away, Lori! Walkers won't go away. Even if there's a safe place, you won't be able to stay forever and sooner or later... Carl will have to fend for himself! Being scared and being helpless is not going to be of use in any way!" with her opened hand she patted her chest, "I've seen it! countless of times!... What is the purpose of keeping a child's innocence in the face of a herd of creatures that want to eat him! On the face of people that would want to maim him! All I'm doing is trying to make him understand that the world we once knew is gone-"
"Stop!" Lori said, also raising her voice. Eleanor stopped, the woman was a mixture of pain and anger; probably panic, and impotence.
It was at that moment that Eleanor started to feel guilty. Her self-righteous sails lost all wind, and she took a step behind. She sighed, and pinched her nose.
"I'm sorry-"
"Stay away from my family!" the mother, quite justified, now had no qualms on menacing.
She walked away, and Eleanor let herself sit on the ground, passing her hand through her hair and pulling on it lightly.
.
.
"...right,"
Eleanor turned in a jump. She had completely forgot Amy... and Andrea. The corpse of the young woman was still move less... it hadn't turned, and Andrea had kept still, so completely still that no one looked at her. Eleanor turned to her.
"What? I didn't hear..."
"I said, you have no right,"
Her voice was raspy, as if she had screamed on and on... until she couldn't anymore. Maybe the weakness of the voice, maybe the words she said, but Eleanor looked down in shame. She knew Andrea was right.
"yeah, I know..." she smirked "didn't stop me though, I can be a real bitch like that;" she let out a sigh, "It's just... I'm angry, that things didn't turn out differently," she gazed at the young woman that remained on the ground. "Maybe you don't want to hear it, but I'm sorry... about Amy,"
"You are right again, I don't want to hear it,"
.
What was she doing in this place? Eleanor let out another sigh, the imperious need to get up and run taking her over. She was only distracted from her self-destructive thoughts by a grunt... and another. Eleanor turned to look at Andrea alarmed, the woman had her eyes trained on the moving corpse that was once her sister. Andrea looked for a moment, and Eleanor kneeled and moved to get closer, both women unaware that others were returning and also looked at the scene. The strong sound of a gunshot echoed trough the air and Eleanor jumped startled at the blood that spat in all directions. Amy's awakening had been short lived, but sad nonetheless.
.
A funeral was made. Amy's body was the last one to be buried, and some words for the people fallen were shared between the people present. Eleanor remained on the periphery, feeling that she hadn't really known any of the people that died, her sadness being more due the sense of not belonging than to the actual loss of a friend. She gazed in Rick's direction, the man must have felt the same as her, at least his family was alright. She spared another look at Lori, but the woman only looked away, her expression a mixture of outrage and shame.
Eleanor refused to look at Carl in the eye.
.
.
.
.
.
Carl tried to hide away his tears, but after he head his mother sniffing on top of him; he stopped trying. The woman was caressing his head, oblivious that he had hid between the bushes and had heard her argument with Eleanor.
.
.
.
This is not going away, Lori! Walkers won't go away. Even if there's a safe place, you won't be able to stay forever
.
"If burying someone else is bad, I wouldn't dare to think if it were-" his father began, but with a shush, his mother stopped him. Carl glared to himself, was this because of him? Was this because, as Eleanor said herself, he was a kid?
What she said... was it true? Were never going to be safe?
Carl turned to look at his father, it seemed the man had the same thoughts as him, because their gazes collided.
"Are we safe now dad?... now that we are together?" The man kneeled, and looked him in the eye.
"I wont… leave… again" he said with a serious face "I promise you that not for anything…"
Right, because if his father had been here, things would have been differently. Carl let out a sigh of relief, despite still having Eleanor's words haunting his head. "Now… why don't you tag along Eleanor for a moment… I need to discuss somethings with your mom… okay?" he said.
"Rick, wait," his mother moved to say and Carl knew what it meant.
.
.
Before she could say anything more, he nodded and made a mad run to catch up with the young woman, who was walking alone in front of them.
He should feel angrier, Eleanor had said his mother she could do nothing to protect him; and yet... she was not wrong. She had said that his mother and father were trying to keep him and Sophia oblivious of everything that happened... and she was not wrong. She had said that she wanted Carl to be strong, to not be afraid, she wanted to be an example for him to learn later, how to protect... himself, and maybe his mother and father.
.
"Eleanor,"
.
The woman turned, she looked down, and once she spotted him... she frowned, and looked back up at his parents. Right, his mother had ordered her in the end to keep her distance from him, "I need to talk to you,"
"All the Grimes in the world need to talk to me today," she said, and gave him a resigned smile. She kneeled to be at his eye level. Carl took a step back, remembering the events of the morning and that she wanted him to promise her that he would fight. "Okay... Shoot,"
"I promise to fight, until the very end" now that he remembered, he better start with that.
Eleanor smiled, this time a brighter smile. Carl gazed into her eyes and noticed they were brown, a darker shade than his mom's. The first thing that came to his mind was...
Chocolate, like the one they drank in Christmas, like the color of the wood that burned in the chimney on cold nights.
.
He swallowed some saliva, knowing what would come next.
"Thank you, knowing that you'll do that... makes me feel more at ease-"
"Only if you promise me something,"
Eleanor stopped smiling then, and blinked confused. "Okay... what is it that I have to promise?"
"That no matter what my mom said... you'll teach me how to protect myself." He tugged the hem of his shirt one more time, "I know that my father is here now, and that means we'll be safe-"
"True, as long as both your parents are with you... you'll be okay," she cut him off.
Carl couldn't help but feel annoyed, that contradicted what she said earlier completely.
"But that doesn't mean he has to deal with all of that alone. Yesterday... I don't want yesterday to happen again," squaring his shoulders, he reached the part he most dreaded with finality, "so... before you leave, promise me you'll teach me to fight,"
.
The young woman wide eyed, she was genuinely surprised. Carl resisted the urge to blush. The moment he heard she would be leaving he felt so sad, so angry... but probably she was tired of them; because they were so weak and useless.
What if Shane was gone next? What if he was alone with his mother?
Eleanor was right... in the end, he was scared, so scared, but even if he was... he didn't want to be a burden.
.
"Someone has heard far more than I imagined,"
He swallowed more saliva, finding it harder to keep his cool. The woman was not serious however, she was showing curiosity and she shifted on her position. "Don't tell me you also heard what happened to Jim,"
.
"I did, he was bit,"
"Does Sophia know? Was she with you?"
"No, she's been with Carol ever since..." ever since they found her father dead and eaten. He hadn't seen it, but he heard it. He spared a moment to hug Sophia, she was crying none stop, saying that she should have stayed with him when he asked, but she was scared of him.
Eleanor let out a sigh and nodded.
"Sophia is far more sensitive than you. She has seen and experienced enough for one day. Please keep it cool around her, she also needs to not be afraid beyond reason of the walkers, but that won't happen from one moment to the next,"
He nodded and waited. Carl wondered if Eleanor had forgotten what he was asking... but he soon scratched that possibility when the woman rested in place, her gaze firm on his featured.
After a minute that felt more like an hour, the woman smiled. "Let's do something," she said.
And extended her pinky.
Carl locked her finger with his own in a fast move, as if the chance would slip away. The woman began waving it up and down as he already knew, but said nothing. Carl frowned, completely confused, and once she let go of him... he started being consumed by panic.
.
"W-what... what did we promise?" He asked unsure.
"Let's get real. You are young, and I won't be able to teach you anything until one of your parents agree. We'll talk with Rick... and if he says you can learn now, great! If he says some things will only happen when you are older, also great!... I promise I'll be there to teach you when that happens,"
.
Carl was about to protest when the whole message registered on his head. He wide-eyed.
"...Does that mean you won't ever leave?"
.
She stood, and her hands fell on his head. She stroke hir hair and he closed his eyes. The feeling was so alien... and at the same time so comforting. She scratched his nape and Carl resisted the urge to laugh; he looked up and despite the shade that the sun casted on her face, he could she her tender smile.
"I'll stay by your side as long as you want me to stay,"
.
Then, she could stay forever. He smiled, and she grinned at him. "Ah... would you look at that! What a pretty smile, you should smile more often,"
He let his body sag in relief, suddenly... all he wanted to do was sleep. He skipped a little beside Eleanor who turned to move and walk again.
.
"Your parents are catching up! You want to join them?"
Carl hesitated for a moment, "...can I stay with you instead?"
"Against my better judgement," She said laughing and offering her hand. He rushed to take it... and only stopped at the last moment to rub it against his jeans before doing so.
"What does that even mean?"
"That despite knowing It'll get me into trouble... I also want you to stay around."
.
Good. Because probably her judgement wasn't that good to begin with.
.
.
.
.
"Eleanor"
.
She turned. Rick and Shane walked to her. "We've talked to the others... including Jim. He is willing to try the CDC, but Morales is not following,"
"We wanted to know if we could still talk about it, if Jim's got that much," said Shane.
After the funeral, Eleanor was constantly beside the mechanic. His condition was worsening by the minute, he had confirmed Eleanor that he got the bite since yesterday and by her own experience... the transformation shouldn't be past today.
"No, we can't wait anymore. The fever is going up fast and it will only go up later. Once he starts to be delirious... it will be too late,"
.
They nodded, and moved to work. It took another hour... but the tents were folded, the fireplaces were scattered, the cars ready. The people gathered around Shane and he gave clear instructions of how to use the speakers, what channel they would be using and how to keep track on one another.
Morales thanked the group up to that moment. Giving the man a gun and some ammo, Good bye's were made all along, and Morales took off. That was the signal for them to move as well. Meanwhile, Ellie and Carol did their best to control Jim's fever. The man had been tossing and turning all along, and Carol had to leave her to fend for her daughter. For the third time that day, Eleanor entered the RV with a bucket if fresh col water and clean towels.
.
"Jim you need to drink" she said, taking the bottle of water and opening it for him. He said nothing about it and let her lift his head and help him drink.
He went back to his resting position later and Ellie gazed at the bandage that was coming off. It was bleeding again, and the signs of an infection were even clearer now. She could get a sight of the pus that started to form and flinched in pain. She reached for her bag pack and proceeded to get alcohol and cotton to clean it, but Jim grabbed her wrist stopping her.
"it's not use….. and you know it" he said with a pained face.
"We are ready to leave. So all we need to do is hold for a little longer," she said, getting her wrist out of his grip gently and reaching for the cotton, lifting the bandage and cleaning the wound.
.
"You are like a life jacket" he began and Ellie frowned "You can jump into the lake and leave the boat, you can float" he said turning his tired gaze to her "You can stay on float on your own, but you can also make one float…. Only one, if you try to save more, you'll also sink"
"Jim… you are not delirious now, are you?" she joked, half confused.
.
"you should just keep one… and keep floating" he said closing his eyes and trying to rest.
Ellie looked down unsure, a shiver traveled down her spine. She shouldn't be so attentive of his words... he was running a high fever and he would soon be delirious... and yet, he has predicted what would happen with the tombs he digged, and that made her even more terrified.
After that, Jim seemed to have stabilized. With him alternating within sleep and fever, the RV started moving. She was doing the trip only with Dale and Glenn, scared that Jim might turn on the highway.
.
.
.
Eleanor could only summarize the first miles as nothing but tortuous. There were many bumps on the road, and they not only reopened Jim's wound constantly... it made it almost impossible for her to make him feel less pain. To make matters worse, the RV from Dale over heated, and they were forced to stop. Shane suggested to search over near gas stations for something to keep the vehicle going; but that would mean there were going to reach Atlanta by night time.
.
Ellie walked out of the RV searching for Rick, giving a face of concern and no explanation. Rick sighed and walked to the RV. Eleanor hugged her frame, she wasn't sure if it was because of the virus... but his condition had deteriorated too fast to control.
.
"Don't worry… we'll be back on road in no time" said the former sheriff.
"Oh no… Christ," Jim said in pain "My bones feel like glass…. This ride is killing me; so please…. Leave me here" said Jim "I want to be with my family" he said looking at the window.
"you don't know what you are asking, you have been delirious for the past few hours…." Began Rick
"I know that…. And I also know that I'm good now so please… I know that I'm asking, my decision and not your failure,"
.
.
.
Ellie advanced with uncertainty to the feverish young man that rested under a tree, Shane and Rick lifted him out of the car and by Jim's instructions they left him under the shadow. He sighed in relief, and the people that were tagging along all got in a row to say their good byes. Eleanor was at the end if said Row... now wanting to face the inevitable. Only when the othed turned away from the hill and into their cars, Eleanor aproximated.
She sat next to him and extended him the bottle of water he was drinking on the way and three sleeping pills, something she found long time ago, but was never sure to use or to trow away.
.
"I know you don't want to take a gun….. but this might ease the pain" she said unsure.
"You gave me some earlier so that I could sleep" he said with a tired smirk "I could taste it," he took the bottle and the pills
With one last resigned sigh, she patted his leg and moved to stand. But as Ellue was walking down the hill she could hear Him say
"stay on float… life jacket"
.
Ellie resisted the urge to turn around, and climbed down as fast as she could, that's when she noticed she was not alone. Daryl also stayed behind, but said nothing and went after her.
.
.
.
The front entrance of the CDC was a combination of fear and desolation, corpses lying round everywhere, both military and civilians, more than anyone could count.
Just as she predicted, they arrived when the sun was already setting, and with the night coming, they forgone any safety measures and rushed to get to the front door and try to find an entrance.
Eleanor messed with the code panel, she tried to remember a few number of codes from her visits back at university, but none worked. She started growing nervous, Daryl returned saying that it was dark and he couldn't find an electric panel anywhere. That's when Rick walked forward and knocked at the metal roll up doors.
There was no response. People started to panic, walkers started to gather around. They needed to leave, and Shane moved to drag Rick away from the door. He then ordered Daryk to do the same with Eleanor and this one scooped her by the waste just as she was trying to get another code.
She wasn't sure why, but she gave a last look at the cameras when suddenly the ocular of one moved to fit her face, and the people that were far away, Her face illuminated.
"The camera… it moved" she said in a soft voice "it moved!" she managed to escape Daryl's hold and ran back to the door, now knocking on it with more force.
"Elle these are mechanical there is nobody!" said Shane.
"No! No, I know they're not!? Please open the door! We are out of fuel and food…. The walkers are approaching…. Let us inside!" she screamed to the camera.
"Daryl!" said Shane, the young man walked back to Eleanor.
.
"You can't leave us out here!? I know you are there, you turned to look at us! You know you can help us!" Daryl got a hold of her waist and Eleanor started kicking around. "Daryl, let go of me!" She turned to the door and pointed in disdain, "you prefer to stare at your computers instead of opening that door?! You are letting us die here!"
She stopped fighting, when the door was too far away, and she saged against Daryl. But, suddenly, a blinding light shone on their eyes.
The doors opened….
.
