Disclaimer:
Carol Peletier, Sophia Peletier, King Ezekiel, Henry, Jerry, Shiva, and any other recognizable character or plot of The Walking Dead belong to AMC Network and Skybound Entertainment, Image Comics and Robert Kirkman.
In no way is the author claiming ownage of any of the characters nor is there any economic/monetary gain at any time. The author is extremely respectful of the original creators and is willing to take down this work of fiction if requested.
No copyright infringement intended.
Original characters are the property of the author.
NOTE: This story contains Carol/Daryl friendship, glimpses of Donnie and of Ezekiel/Other (Don't worry it's a carzekiel story thru and thru)
Leap of Faith: the Radio
She should have stepped out of the room the moment she heard him, but his deep voice pulled at her. She had resisted for a couple of seconds but it had been too strong. The part she had tried to block out and punish had reacted instantly by anchoring her to the ground, making her zero in on Ezekiel's voice until it was all she could hear. Her heart had speed up, her hands had gone sweaty, and she'd been unable to think of anything but the voice on the radio.
She'd only gone into the room because she'd heard the static of the device followed by the crackling as a transmission came in. She knew Judith was always communicating with Hilltop, but the young girl had a touch of the flu and Michonne had sent her to her room to recuperate. She'd probably forgotten to turn off the radio.
"The... searching for... mini samu..."
Carol waits to see if the voice she knew so well became clearer. A part of her worries something is wrong. A big part of her spirals into a quick panic that Hilltop is under attack and begs her to rush to the radio and reply, but instead she waits for his voice to come thru, holding her breath and praying, not daring to open the line in case she misses something he says.
"... King searching for mini samu... over."
He doesn't sound panicked, or worried, so she quickly pushes back her fear. A quick look at the timetable that Judith keeps near the radio tells her it is a scheduled call which further helps her to calm down.
"The King searching for mini samurai. Over."
She shouldn't answer, she knows she shouldn't. Last time she and Ezekiel had spoken she had tried to return his ring. She had left him behind, had run away, had done the very thing she'd promised him she wouldn't do. She had no right, no right at all to even speak to him and yet she can't move away.
Why is her hand moving to the receiver? Why can't she stop herself?
She knows this is all going to end in pain; the pain she's been running away from, the pain she's been hiding from all while telling herself it is what she deserves, but suddenly talking to him is all she can think about. Hearing him say her name is all that will give her another second to live.
"The King searching for mini samurai. Over."
"Don't." She admonishes herself, but the receiver is already in her hand, she's already pressing the button that will interrupt his message and push her voice thru. Her hand trembles as she brings the metal piece near her mouth.
She shouldn't do this, shouldn't hurt him this way. He doesn't deserve it.
"Ezekiel," she manages to squeeze out through the sudden lump in her throat. "Judith isn't here. She has the flu. I'll get you someone else. Over."
She needs to make a run for it while she still can. She's told him Judith isn't here and that she'll find him someone else. She's done what she can in not letting him worry or fret over the missed scheduled communication. Her work is done and she can leave and not go down the path of pain.
She's convinced herself that she's doing the right thing and the silence that greats her and stretches between them seems to prove it. She puts down the transmitter and turns ready to go search for Michonne.
The static and crackle cut off all movement she's managed to make. Her heart thunders against her chest almost painfully.
"Carol?"
What has she done?