Walking Dead: To Be Loved
Chapter 26 of my Walking Dead story.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Chapter 26: Tension
It was startling how quickly things could turn on a dime. Especially when unexpected events forced them to change. Yet even then, some things remained constant. That was what Carl felt anyway as he now found himself at the police station, waiting for news.
'God, c'mon, I don't understand this…' He thought worriedly. 'What's taking so long, I thought they'd have said something by now, given all that hot air they spout.'
He was seated at the police station, waiting in an agony of suspense, wishing that they'd just hurry up and deliver news to him already. The Rose family were being interrogated, all three members separately, trying to get information from them. This left Carl waiting, seated restlessly in a chair in the main lobby of the police station, his leg bouncing restlessly.
"Carl, I know you're anxious, we all are, but we need to stay focused." Sophia told him softly, seated on his left. "This won't help things."
Carl swallowed. "I...I know, I just wish I could-"
Anna was seated on the other side and gently touched his shoulder. "We're here, we'll figure things out, they...they can't keep this up forever."
"I wish I had that optimism." Carl sighed. "Dammit, if only I'd convinced him to come with me, if I hadn't let him go home alone, maybe-"
"Carl, you could beat yourself up forever with what ifs and what you might've done." Sophia told him. "We can't change the past."
"Sophia's right; worrying about what you think you should have done won't change anything, we need to focus on trying to save Mikey from whatever's happened." Anna added.
Carl took a slow breath, trying to calm himself, he just hoped they were right and that it wasn't too late.
At the same time, forensic searches and tests were being done on the Rose family's car. Entering the garage as the search was going on, Rick looked around warily.
'This is proving more complicated than I thought, they truly have that much of a grudge against Carl and Mikey, and their motivations…' He thought to himself. 'They're so arrogant and boastful about some things...others they keep quiet about. One thing's for sure, they refuse to accept that they've done anything wrong and think we're being foolish for stopping them from trying to abduct Carl…'
He narrowed his eyes at that, before taking a deep breath, trying to compose himself, he couldn't let his anger get the best of him, even though it was his own son who had been threatened. He needed to stay focused, he had a job to do.
"How has the search gone, any luck?" He asked the nearest technician.
The young man shook his head. "Nothing directly linking them to Mikey Carr's disappearance. So so far just that confession they made to go on...but we did find some disturbing things which might have something to do with it."
That instantly had Rick on alert. "What did you find?"
He was wary, not sure if he'd like the answer. The technician directed his attention to the nearby table.
"Found them in the back, hidden under one of the seats...materials suitable for a kidnapping, wouldn't you say?" He remarked.
Rick stared in shock at the coils of ropes set up, along with a few rags and a bottle of liquid.
The technician then added. "Still have to test the contents on the bottle, but smart money right is, it's chloroform."
Rick grimaced, it looked like that kidnapping charge would be getting upgraded to Aggravated Kidnapping.
Two hours later and Rick ran a hand through his hair, irritated.
'Nothing but boasts and empty threats, nothing useful, even with all the evidence against them they think they're going to be let go, think nobody has any right to judge them.' He thought bitterly.
Finally he sighed. It was clear now the interrogations of the Rose's had revealed all they were going to and they didn't seem to care for any of the proof against them. Rick knew he had one thing to do right now. He had to speak to Carl, He knew Carl had a right to hear what had been revealed, but it was going to be a painful process. Swallowed nervously, Rick walked over to where Carl was still waiting, despite their wishes to remain with him, Sophia and Anna had to leave and go home. He looked up as Rick approached.
"Dad, what's happened, have you-?" Carl burst out.
Rick held up a hand. "Hold on Carl, come with me, we should talk privately."
Carl bit his lip, worried all over again, but nodded and followed his dad into one of the side rooms, mainly used for storage.
"Well, first...it's true. Mikey's been kidnapped and they were the ones behind it." Rick revealed. "They were pretty boastful about that, although they don't see it as a kidnapping."
Carl scoffed and muttered darkly. "I'll bet they don't...arrogant-"
"It's worse. Their motives Carl, they're certainly homophobic, they specifically targeted Mikey because of his sexuality and that's why they were going after you too." Rick revealed.
Carl froze at that, horror gripping him. He had suspected it, but for it to be so blatantly exposed like this was something else entirely for him.
He tried to shake off the fear he felt, he still needed to know.
"So what happened to Mikey, what have they done with him?" He asked.
Rick shook his head. "I'm sorry Carl, they took him to a 'friend' of theirs...who runs a correction camp. The same place they were gonna take you."
Carl nearly choked at that. "What, no, where-?"
"That's the problem." Rick snarled. "They won't say."
Carl heard the words, but could scarcely believe them, it was clear now they were trapped in a rather difficult situation.
End of chapter, read and review please.