Chapter 9: Struggle
LPOV
~10 years ago~
I drove home after a long day of work, pulling up at home, I looked up and saw Kat was by her window, she opened it as I looked up at her and saw her waving at me. Our dog Spot was by the window, barking at me and suddenly I saw Kat began to tumble.
Gasping, she rolled around on the small roof we had and gripped onto the ledge. She was too high to catch, so I looked up at her. She was clinging onto the roof for dear life. "Hold on tight baby! Momma's coming," I shouted up at her as I began to run towards her. Opening the door, I ran up the flight of stairs and into her room.
Carefully, I stepped over her window and along the roof. "Carl...baby, go to your room," I tell little Carl who was looking at me with those wide blue eyes they all had. He did as I said and this was when I quickly rushed to grab onto Kat's slipping hands. When I gripped onto her hands, I pulled her up slowly and watched as she grabbed onto me.
Her eyes wide with worry and fright. "Mommy...pick me up, please. Help me," she pleaded and slowly I raised her to me, lifting her in my arms and holding onto her as I climbed back into her room. Her small arms wrapped around me tightly in a bone crushing hug.
"I got you baby girl, momma's got you," I reassured her and gently placed her on the ground, her long brown curls slightly messy from the almost fall to her death. She looked up at me with those big blue eyes that I loved so much. Her face pale from the fright. I gripped her face lightly, checking her to see if she got hurt. "Are you okay baby? What happened?" I ask her worried for her safety, for her close call.
"I...I was waving to you and then suddenly...I think. I think it was Spot. I think he accidentally pushed me with his head out the window when he went to get down," she said as her eyes looked around the room, unsure of what exactly happened. "Please don't hurt Spot. It was an accident. It was an accident," Kat pleaded, her eyes getting wet from tears and her bottom lip trembling.
"I knew we shouldn't have gotten a dog," I mumbled to myself and then looked up at Kat's sweet and innocent face. "You're okay baby girl?" I asked her again and she gave me a quick nod, her tears making her not able to speak to me.
"Please don't hurt Spot. I...you saved me mommy. You had me like you said you would," she said and I gently pulled her into a tight hug, my hand held her back and the other gripped her comfortingly on the back of her head.
"It's okay baby girl. Momma's always got you. Always. God...I love you," I whispered to her and she told me she loved me too. The both of us holding onto each other tightly.
Present day...KPOV
"Don't worry about it, kid. We're gonna get you out of here in one piece," Shane told me kindly as he tied the knot tightly, my mom looking at me sadly as she handed me the torch. I'll be fine. I know I will be.
"Nice and slow, please," I tell them while they got ready to lower me down into the well. Swinging the other rope around my shoulders to hook the walker into it. So that we could later pull it up and out.
"We got you," Andrea reassured me, they all grabbed onto the rope, all but Maggie as she stood there and moved around on her feet.
"Oh, you people are crazy," Maggie commented, the group began to slowly lower me down and I carefully kept my legs up as to not get grabbed.
"You want to get it out of your well or not?" Shane asked her as I slowly got closer to the walker. It's eyes looked up at me while I slowly got further down. Little by little.
"Give us an eye there, Maggie," I heard Dale say as it got darker the deeper I went down. I switched the light of the flashlight on and looked up to see Maggie looking down at me.
"Doing okay?" she asked me, curious and worried for my well-being.
"Yeah, doing great," I tell her as I slowly went further into the well, the walker growling and gurgling beneath me. Carefully, I slipped the rope off my shoulder and let it dangle between my legs, ready to catch the walker.
"Little lower. Little more," Maggie instructed as I was almost at the bottom and close enough to hook the walker in the rope.
Suddenly, I heard something snap and then felt a drop, then another long drop. "Get me out of here! Mom get me out of here! Please!" I screamed as the torch slipped out of my hand and into the well. "Oh God! Help me!" I called up as the walker tried to grab at my feet.
"Get off. Get off. Get off!" I growled at the walker as I swung the rope to hook the walker and got it. Kicking it in the face lightly enough to keep it away from me while it swung its arms up at me to get me. "Get me out!" I screamed as I heard straining and groans from above me. "Oh my God. Oh my God!" I screamed constantly, the walker reaching up to get me as my heart was pounding against my chest and ear drums.
"Baby?! Kat! Are you okay?" I could hear mom call for me. "Hold on baby! Stay calm baby. We've got you baby" she tried to comfort me as I heard her straining on the rope, the dragging sensation of the rope lifting me up made me panic a little. "Pull! That's my daughter in there!" mom screamed at the others as they all forcefully pulled me up.
Gradually I felt my body begin to lift, straining against the rope with my weight and watching as the walker became more and more distant. Staying below me, growling as it tried to reach for me but wasn't close enough as it once was. When I reached the edge, Shane's strong arms pulled me out and laid me on the ground. "I gotcha," he told me as he dropped me to the ground, away from the well.
"Momma's got you. Baby are you okay?" mom asked me as she ran to me and cupped my face, checking my skin for any scratches or bites. Panting I laid there as everyone else was panting too, me more of fright and them more of the strength they had to use to pull me up.
"Back to the drawing board," Dale said sadly, Andrea, Shane and mom kneeled beside me as they all checked me for any bites or even a scratch. When I heard Dale say this, I looked up at him and shook my head.
"Says you," I tell him and laughed to myself. Trying to regain my breath as I looked up at him. Taking one of the ropes that was in my hand, I handed it him and got to my feet again. The walker snarling as I walked off to get the ropes off my body.
"Come on, guys, pull," T-Dog encouraged us as we all began to pull on the rope, dragging the walker up as T-Dog kept watch on the well. Still injured from the cut he made when the walkers were walking in the herd. "Almost there. Come on, pull! Come on. Almost there. Keep it coming. Just a little more," T-Dog kept encouraging as we soon saw the walker get out of the water and on the rim of the well.
It was snarling up at T-Dog, trying to grab at him but laid down on its back as it growled and waved it's arms around. "You got to pull it, man," Shane told him but T-Dog shook his head and complained to us, telling us it was stuck and that it wouldn't move.
We all were straining as we held onto the rope tightly, gripping onto it and pulling on it as hard as we could "Pull!" I screamed to them, hoping they would listen and that it would be the final pull to lift the walker out of the well. To our misfortune, the walker split in half and it's guts splattered down the well, the top half rolling around. All of us fell onto our backs on the floor. "We should seal off this well," I suggested.
"Yeah, might be a good idea," Shane agreed while he rubbed his head, frustrated at the fact we couldn't get the walker out and that we contaminated the water in the end.
"So what do we do about-" Andrea went to ask as she walked to us, looking down at the pathetic walker that now ruined our water supply. Before she could finish her sentence or any of us answer, we saw T-Dog go up to the walker with a pipe and bashed its skull in.
Grunting he kept hitting it until it's brains was a puddle of blood on the ground. "Good thing we didn't do anything stupid like shoot it," he said looking at me as he dropped the pipe and walked away. I stood there, folding my arms as I looked down at the ground. Mom stood beside me and rubbed my arms, pressing a gently kiss to my temple to comfort me. I tried...I really tried. I can't seem to do anything right.
CPOV
Gradually, my eyes fluttered opened, each closing of my eyes made my sight get apprehensively clearer. When I finally had a focused and not so blurred vision, I saw Kat leaning against the door frame. Her body seemed dirty from when I last saw her. I slipped my hand out from under the covers and raised it for her to take.
She gave me a small smile before she carefully walked closer to me, taking my hand in hers and taking a seat beside me. "Kat...you're here," I state, smiling more to myself than her. God...I missed her.
"Yeah...I am. I missed you Carl. I was so...worried," she tells me, this was when I started noticing her face. She seemed so...tired, dark circles under her eyes and her hair messy. Her lips looked dry and her skin looked dull, dirty and she seemed so...stressed. "I'm sorry I wasn't here but..." she spoke as she looked to our joined hands. "I had to look for Sophia," she tells me, giving me a good enough excuse that made me smile at her.
"Yeah...dad told me you guys found her. When?" I ask her but her bright blue eyes, her long dark lashes and slightly parted pink lips looked at me. Her eyes searching me, a small crease forming on her forehead.
"We...I...Carl...Sophia is still missing," she tells me sadly which made me look at her confused and worried. I went to sit up but a stinging pain in my side made me wince and shut my eyes from the pain. Kat's warm hands gently lowered me to lay back down on the bed. "Careful Carl. Don't want you breaking those stitches," she tells me and I nod as I slowly laid back down.
"Is...did you guys find any signs? Any clues as to where she might be?" I ask her, curious as to know anything of what was happening to my friend. Please let there be some sort of sign.
"No...but I did go in the woods last night in search of her with Daryl..." she said which made me wonder why she was out there alone with him in the dark. Isn't the woods meant to be dangerous?
"Kat...you...you missed it. There was this deer, so beautiful...so close to me. Looking at me right in the eyes but...then...there was this...bang and then...blackness. I don't remember much after that, just waking up here at times to find mom or dad or both," I tell her as I tried to remember what happened to me recently.
"I know Carl. I'm glad you experienced seeing that deer but...next time...be extremly careful. I thought I lost you," Kat told me sadly, her bright blues turned sad and she leaned in to kiss my forehead. "I don't know what I would do without you," she tells me and I just sigh, looking up at her as I felt my heart warm to her presence.
"We're Grimes...we're as tough as nails," I tell her which made her giggle, a few tears escaped her eyes and made me reach my hand up to wipe at them. Wiping them away as she shut her eyes tightly and pursed her lips in a small smile.
We then heard dad clear his throat, it was deep and then a knock on the door as he slowly stepped into the room. "Didn't interrupt a moment did I?" he asked us which made us look at him and giggle.
"No dad...I was actually about to leave," Kat spoke as she looked at him and then back down at me. Her eyes scanning my face while she gently caressed my face and hair. "I need to go find Sophia...is that fine by you?" she asked me and I nod.
"You're not going alone...are you?" I asked her, concerned for her safety and for the fact anything could happen out there on her own. She smiled and shook her head at me. "If and when you find Sophia...can you tell her 'hi' and that I missed her?" I ask her and she giggled before nodding her head.
"I'm not going alone. I'll be with Daryl. I'll tell Sophia, don't worry. Be here and be good? Rest okay? For me," Kat asked me and reassured me. This made me smile at her before she kissed my cheek and kissed dad's cheek. She wandered to the door, her back turned to me, her hair up in a pony tail as her curls bounced lightly.
"I love you Kat," I called up to her and she turned to me, a smile on her lips as her hand rested against the door. My beautiful, even when sad sister. My protector and best friend.
"I love you too Carl," she spoke softly to me, her emotion was raw as she spoke. I knew she meant it and it made me smile, with a small nod she walked out and left me and dad alone. Please keep her safe from any harm.
RPOV
I looked to the group as they all sat there or were walking around and doing whatever they needed to in order to set up camp. Smiling at those who would see me and smile up at me. "You need to reconsider," I tell Hershel, my back to him as I kept my eyes on the others, Hershel walked up to me and stopped behind me.
"I beg your pardon?" he questioned me. I need to do something. For Kat and Carl. For Lori. For the group.
"Asking us to leave," I start as I looked over my shoulder at him. "You need to reconsider. If you saw how it is out there you wouldn't ask. You're a man of belief. If you believe anything, believe that," I tried to reason, turning my body to face him.
"You're putting me on the spot," Hershel complained and shook his head once at me.
"Well, I mean to," I tell him getting closer to him, facing him as I spoke. "Those people look to me for answers. I wish they didn't, but they do...but I'm not asking for them or myself. I'm asking for my children. After the price your friend Otis paid, the least you can do is give it some thought," I try to convince him as I thought about all the things that have been happening lately.
"You're a plainspoken man," Hershel tried to explain to me, to convince me that it was my grief talking and not me. I may be sad, stressed and slightly tired but...I know that it's safer here than it is out there. Kat and Carl need somewhere safe, not where we were before all this happened. It seems to me we haven't found our place yet but...here it's safe and that's what we all need. Safety.
"I'm a father. They're the one thing I don't want to fail," I say as I sat down on the steps. "I feel like I do every day. I lied to him this morning. It wasn't a big lie, but it was enough," I admit to Hershel feeling the guilt overwhelm me for a second.
"My father didn't bother with comforting lies. He used his fist. He was a loveless, violent drunk and no good to anybody. He drove me from home when I was 15. Didn't lay eyes on this place again for many years. I was not at his deathbed, Rick. I would not grant him that and to this day do not regret it," Hershel informed me of his past as he stood up beside me, his walking stick pressing into a step as he rested his foot on one, looking down at me.
"Some men do not earn the love of their sons or daughters," Hershel stated which made my heart pound a little in my chest. "I don't see you having that problem," Hershel said as he looked towards the group who were busy doing their things.
"Will you consider my request?" I asked him kindly, keeping my voice level and not too demanding.
"There are aspects to this, things that I can't and won't discuss...but if you and your people respect my rules...no promises, but I will consider it," Hershel said as he looked at me with warm eyes. "You have my word," he said with a small nod of his head.
"You have mine," I say after I gave a nod back, both of us standing up to our feet and shook hands firmly. I really hope he considers us staying. We need to stay, for my family...and the group.
KPOV
After talking to Carl and dad, I went to Dale to grab my gun and was still slightly shaken up from the well incident but soon got over it while I walked in the woods. The woods were calming and gave me a natural boost. One that relaxed me enough to feel a slightly numbing sensation. Even if there were the threat of walkers being around the corner.
"You seem so...normal about this world. Like you were designed for it," Daryl spoke as we wandered through the forest, close and yet far enough to keep watch for anything that could tell us Sophia was near or walkers were.
"Believe me...I'm not," I told him as he looked at me from the corner of his eyes, his side was always facing me and it was as though he kept up a barrier this way. "Why would you say that?" I asked him curious as to why he would think such a thing about me.
"Well...you know. You seem...different. Like you know how to protect yourself in this world and...strong...you know...survival," he tells me, he was fumbling for words to explain his thoughts on me and it made me unsure as to what he was actually asking me.
"I don't know much about survival. I just know what I know," I say as I shrug, my bow and arrow were lowly aimed, not aiming but enough to be ready to aim and fire if the moment arrived.
"I'm sure it's not just that. I mean...what did you want to do before this? What did you do to make you so...well...you?" he asked as he gave me a once over, the way his eyes trailed my body made me unsure of his intentions. Normally men who would look a girl up and down were examining them for some reason. Either it be sex or possible arguments. With Daryl it seemed this was a way of getting a good analysis of what someone's like or how they are emotionally.
"Well...last time I checked...I was 19, in college and lived at home with my parents during the weekends. I would still visit my parents during the week but...I wanted to be a...cop. I guess," I say shrugging. My head moving a little as I would speak, remembering the way life used to be before it all went to shit. To think it wasn't long ago that this happened.
"You guess?" Daryl asked me as he continued to walk, he stayed silent but kept his eyes on me and this made me look at him curiously. His light blue eyes examined mine as he watched me attentively.
"I wasn't like normal girls," I state as I looked back to where we were walking. "Most girls would play with Barbie's and not hang around with guys. I would spend my time doing things that made me mentally and physically fit," I admitted to him which made him arch an eyebrow curiously at me.
"Archery, gun training with dad and Shane as my mentors. Took a lot of convincing for mom to agree for both of those," I said giggling to myself as I remembered that day. "I did some martial arts in the past...I used to do gymnastics," I confirmed which all seemed to be useful in this new world.
"You're right...you're not like normal girls," Daryl said which made me look at him stunned as I made a noise that sounded like a mid-gasp like laugh. He glanced up at me from the corner of his eyes with a small smirk playing on his face. That smirk is actually quite cute...as are those blue eyes and...his ruggedly-rough-and-firm look. He's handsome in a way that I hadn't realized before.
"Says the one who was what? Outside in the woods, lost and suddenly became a great tracker and hunter slash survivor?" I suggested as I laughed lightly, this made Daryl blush lightly and shake his head. Chuckling to himself as he held onto his crossbow firmly in his hands. Even his chuckle is...handsome. Is this even possible?
"Not everyone is what people would define normal," Daryl said as he continued to look ahead and I followed close to his side, closer than I originally was. "I saw you crying earlier...what was that about?" Daryl asked me as he began to chew on the inside of his cheek, he seemed sad and solemn for asking me this.
"Wait...what? Were...how did you?-" I stopped, surprised he even knew about me crying earlier. I thought we were alone, that no one was going to come in and disturb us. That no one was watching. How could he possibly know?! Was he spying on me?!
"I was walking inside to put those meds of Merle's in the cabinet so they could keep it so...it...kinda just happened," Daryl said as he walked ahead, shrugging as he kept walking. His voice didn't crack. Didn't quiver. He must have told me the truth.
"I was sad...I did what I felt was right by the group but to my heart...I should have been there the moment T-Dog and Glenn got to the farm. I should have been by my brother's side. Supporting my parents through a tough time...for all of us," I tell him as I looked to where I was walking. Feeling the weight on my shoulders weigh me down but slowly lessening as I spoke to Daryl.
"When I wasn't there I felt...guilt. An undying need to be beside Carl. Carl he's...my best friend. My baby brother. We've been through a lot and...I never like seeing him hurt or in trouble. I don't like seeing any of my family in pain or suffering," I tell him openly. He must know that I am loyal to my family and that I love them with a fire in my heart.
"I get it. Family means everything right?" Daryl asked me sadly, his tone low and rough. He must be missing Merle...God knows what either of them are going through. All I know is I would hate to be apart from Carl like that again.
"Yeah," I agree quietly, we both walked further into the woods and as I stepped on a twig, it snapped and I then saw Daryl crouch down.
"Shh. Shh. Shh," Daryl told me as he looked to me, a finger to his mouth as he signaled for me to crouch and to come closer. "See that there?" he asked me as I get closer to him and crouched. This was when I saw a small house in the distance. "Let's go...quietly," Daryl whispered, his manly, sweaty, dirty smell engulfed my nose and was oddly...nice.
His crystal blues looked into mine, our faces were so close as our eyes flickered from our facial features, studying each other's faces until we finally pulled away and slowly crept up towards the house. Daryl taking the lead as he kicked down the doors, we checked for walkers and found that there was a hiding space where someone once slept. It looked small enough to be where Sophia might of stayed the night.
"Looks like someone's been living here," I state out loud and this made him look at me. He gave a nod to agree but then we both stood there for a second, our guard down and with no other rooms to check for walkers.
"Yeah...check the bottom floor thoroughly while I check the top. Find any supplies, put them in your backpack and meet me outside," Daryl instructed as he slowly walked up the stairs, agreeing silently and about to walk into another room. "Knock on the door two times to tell me you've gone, got it?" he called down to me.
"Yes Sir," I answered as I went to check for any supplies of use to us. Food, drink, medicine, bandages and any weapons we could possibly use. When I was done, I walked out to the door and knocked two times to tell him I had left. Calling out to Sophia, I got no answer and decided to sit on the steps, waiting for him to come down.
When he finally stepped out, we called out for Sophia together and got no answer. Deciding to head back, Daryl suddenly stopped and walked towards a flower that was blooming from the ground. It was a...white Cherokee rose. He stopped to marvel at it and cut it off. Why is he being so...peculiar?
DPOV
Kat had been doing other things while I was waiting for her and fixing my belongings in camp. She then asked Dale for her gun and we were soon wandering in the woods, in search for Sophia and staying silent. Both of us at the ready with our weapons in case of walkers.
"You seem so...normal about this world. Like you were designed for it," I asked her as the silence started to mess with my head. Usually she talks until my ears feel like they're bleeding. Maybe she was just nervous last time because of her brother...
"Believe me...I'm not," she told me while I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. She seemed to be pleased about the walk yet...she seemed to be pondering in her thoughts as I watched her curious as to what she could possibly be thinking. "Why would you say that?" she asked me curiously as I looked to her.
"Well...you know. You seem...different. Like you know how to protect yourself in this world and...strong...you know...survival," I spoke, unsure of how to word what I wanted to say to her. Great...you now look like a fumbling mess that doesn't know what to say about anything. Idiot.
"I don't know much about survival. I just know what I know," she told me as she shrugged, my walk was slow as I tried not to make noise or to alert anything of us being out here too loudly. Well...you are talking dumbass.
"I'm sure it's not just that. I mean...what did you want to do before this? What did you do to make you so...well...you?" I asked her, my eyes trailing her body and outlines. Taking her in properly for the first time and needing to keep my distance from her. She looked tired, a mess. Her hair was unkempt, her face slightly dull and her entire body was dirty. She looks...rough. Especially with those dark circles under her bright blues.
"Well...last time I checked...I was 19, in college and lived at home with my parents during the weekends. I would still visit my parents during the week but...I wanted to be a...cop. I guess," she spoke with small movements of her head, shrugging as she thought it over and told me about herself before the world went to shit.
"You guess?" I asked her, my eyes glued to hers as she looked up into my eyes. How can you guess what you already know? If you aspired to be something, you would know...not guess what you wanted to be.
"I wasn't like normal girls," she told me as she looked down to her feet, her blue eyes shying away from mine. "Most girls would play with Barbie's and not hang around with guys. I would spend my time doing things that made me mentally and physically fit," she informed me which made me arch a brow at her. Curious as to what she meant to that.
"Archery, gun training with dad and Shane as my mentors. Took a lot of convincing for mom to agree for both of those," she said as she giggled to herself. That twinkling, light sound made my heart warm in a strange way. "I did some martial arts in the past...I used to do gymnastics," she confirmed which made me nod to myself. Those all seem useful for this new life.
"You're right...you're not like normal girls," I spoke which made her look up at me stunned as she made a noise that sounded like a mid-gasp like laugh. I glanced up at her from the corner of my eyes with a small smirk playing on the corner of my lips. She's cute when she's mad. Which...I don't say about every girl I meet. Hell...could barely stand women being too close to me in the past...but her...she's different. Truly.
"Says the one who was what? Outside in the woods, lost and suddenly became a great tracker and hunter slash survivor?" she teased as she laughed lightly, this made my cheeks burn slightly and shake my head at her comment. Chuckling to myself as I gripped onto his crossbow a little more firmly than before.
"Not everyone is what people would define normal," I said as I looked ahead and she followed closely to my side, closer than we originally were. "I saw you crying earlier...what was that about?" I asked her softly as I started to gnaw on the inside of my cheek. I don't know if I should have said that.
"Wait...what? Were...how did you?-" she began but I quickly stopped her mid sentence. She was fumbling with her words and I didn't want her to think bad of me. Fuck. Knew I shouldn't have said that. She probably thinks you're some weirdo stalker. Shit!
"I was walking inside to put those meds of Merle's in the cabinet so they could keep it so...it...kinda just happened," I tried to explain, walking ahead as to not show her how much I was actually freaking out about her probably thinking I'm some sort of sicko.
"I was sad...I did what I felt was right by the group but to my heart...I should have been there the moment T-Dog and Glenn got to the farm. I should have been by my brother's side. Supporting my parents through a tough time...for all of us," she explained to me as her voice sounded sad but slowly becoming more distant as she thought her words through. She meant exactly what she said.
"When I wasn't there I felt...guilt. An undying need to be beside Carl. Carl he's...my best friend. My baby brother. We've been through a lot and...I never like seeing him hurt or in trouble. I don't like seeing any of my family in pain or suffering," she spoke openly to me, showing me her soul and emotions in a way I didn't know how to respond to. She really cares about her family. More than anyone else realized.
"I get it. Family means everything right?" I asked her softly, unsure of what else to say to that. She seems to have such a strong bond with her family...I wish I could say the same but...not everyone's normal...right?
"Yeah," she agreed quietly, we both walked further into the woods and I soon heard a twig snap and this is when I saw in the distance a building that looked abandoned enough to be used as shelter. My body crouching in the bushes from instinct. It was big enough to be a small house, enough to be a hiding spot for a young girl. A young girl called Sophia.
"Shh. Shh. Shh," I told her as I looked to Kat, a finger to my mouth as I tried to hush her. Signaling for her to crouch and to come closer to me. "See that there?" I questioned her as she got closer to me and crouched accordingly. "Let's go...quietly," I whispered to her.
Her bright blue eyes looked into mine, our faces were inches apart as our eyes glanced around each others facial features. Studying each curve of her face, every detail and then pulled away when I felt the blood rush through my veins and make me feel queezy. Making my way to the house, I crept and kicked down the door. Examining the house, we found no walkers and a space where someone could have slept.
"Looks like someone's been living here," she stated bluntly and this made me look at her. I gave a nod to agree but then we both stood there for a second, silently. It seems small enough and secure enough for it be Sophia's hide out.
"Yeah...check the bottom floor thoroughly while I check the top. Find any supplies, put them in your backpack and meet me outside," I instructed as I slowly walked up the stairs, her footsteps telling me she was about to walk away and into another room. "Knock on the door two times to tell me you've gone, got it?" I called down to her as I stopped momentarily to suggest this tactic.
"Yes Sir," I heard her mumble to me as we went to check for any supplies of use to us. Food, drink, medicine, bandages and any weapons we could use. When she had finished, she did as I asked and knocked on the front door two times. I could then hear her call for Sophia outside, no answer or movement happened so I continued to search for anything else.
When I finally stepped out, I saw her sat on the steps outside and waiting for me. We called out for Sophia together and got no answer. Deciding to head back, I then noticed a flower blooming from the grass by the house. I walked to it and knelt beside it, looking down at it and examining it. A white Cherokee rose. I cut it off to place it into my bag. Silently we headed back to camp and soon found ourselves back at the farm.
When we got there, I headed to the RV where I heard Carol would be, along the way I found a beer bottle and pulled off the label so it was clear. When I stepped in everything was...neat and...clean. "I cleaned up. Wanted it to be nice for her," Carol told me as she was sat at the back, sowing something as she waited on her little girl's arrival.
"For a second I thought I was in the wrong place," I joked lightly as she looked up at me, walking in I placed the beer bottle with the flower in it on the side table so she could see it.
"A flower?" Carol asked me confused as to why I had brought a flower along with me. Her bluish gray eyes looked up at me, her pale face seemed restless and sick with worry. She acts calm but...she isn't. She shouldn't be.
"It's a Cherokee rose. The story is that when American soldiers were moving Indians off their land on the trail of tears, the Cherokee mothers were grieving and crying so much 'cause they were losing their little ones along the way...from exposure and disease and starvation. A lot of them just disappeared," I started to tell her the story, her eyes watching me as I spoke.
"So the elders, they said a prayer; asked for a sign to uplift the mothers' spirits, give them strength and hope. The next day this rose started to grow right where the mothers' tears fell," I told her as I was close to finishing the story for her.
"I'm not fool enough to think there's any flowers blooming for my brother...but I believe this one bloomed for your little girl," I tell her and she laughed lightly, wiping at her tears that began to form in her eyes. "She's gonna really like it in here," I admit as I gave a nod, looking over the place and began to walk out, I saw Kat stood there smiling softly at me, I just made a noise and kept walking.
RPOV
I was sat there patiently, hearing Lori tell me that Carl woke up and asked for me was...well...surprising. "Hey, dad," Carl spoke as he wriggled from his sleep, looking up at me with those blue eyes I had missed looking up at me. Carl and Kat...two of the most beautiful children a father could ask for.
"Hey," I replied softly, sitting up from the slouching position and leaning in to get a better look at Carl. He seems so...better since the last time he woke up. Clearing my throat I looked down at him sadly. "Carl, I told you something earlier today about Sophia-" I started about to tell him the truth about what happened.
"I know. Kat told me," he admitted up at me, this stunned me a little but didn't surprise me. Kat was the one searching for her, she also would never tell us a lie. Especially not Carl. She doesn't want to ever let Carl down like that. Not like I have.
"Here I was getting ready to confess. I didn't mean to lie. I just didn't want to worry you. It's a stupid excuse but it's all I got," I tried to explain as both of us would look away from time to time, I was unsure of what to say exactly and all I could think about was our safety...about Sophia.
"It's okay. Do you think we'll find her?" Carl asked me, he sounded hopeful enough but not enough to say he had faith in that we'd find her.
"I know we will. Well..." I stopped to sigh and looked down before looking back up at Carl "I don't know...but I truly believe it," I said, sounding as hopeful I could be after everything that happened to us so far.
"You look tired," he told me, a small smile on his face as he looked up at me. Believe me boy...I'm exhausted.
Chuckling I nod at him. "I am tired," I confirmed to him which made him gasp a little, his eyes widening as he looked up at me and touched his wound.
"Hey, I'm like you now. We've both been shot. Isn't that weird?" he asked me, his hand gently rubbing the bandage that hid his shot wound. Small splotches of blood showing us where it was and where stitches now in its place.
"Yeah, I think your mother would rather hear we got the same eyes. So let's keep that between us," I tell him which made him touch the bandage again, a small smile on his lips as he laid there on the bed.
"Since you're in the club now, you get to wear the hat. Didn't you know?" I tell him as I placed the hat on his head, it fell a little and he re-adjusted it, making us both laugh and make me look at him proudly. "We'll pad the rim tomorrow so it sits better," I tell him as I sat back down beside him.
"Won't you miss it?" he asked me as his fingers touched the hat lightly.
"Maybe you'll let me borrow it from time to time," I say after thinking about it. I'd rather miss the hat than miss you, your sister and your mom. Without you guys...I can't live. The hat doesn't compare to any of your lives.
"We can share it," he agreed as he gave me a nod, his hand holding the hat in place so it wouldn't slip.
"Okay. Sleep now," I tell him as I tucked him in, pulling the covers over him as he fiddled with the hat.
"Okay. I love you, dad," Carl said as he stopped playing with the hat and looked up at me.
"I love you," I whispered back, smiling at him softly as he watched me, my heart pounding in my chest whenever I was told that by either him, Kat or Lori. The love I have for them...is endless.
KPOV
Stepping out of the shower, I dried up and got changed. Heading to Carl's room to sleep beside him, I saw that he was wearing dad's hat and it made me smile at him. He was fast asleep, relaxed and he looked peaceful. I checked inside dad's room to see he was curled up on his side asleep and mom wasn't there beside him. They normally never keep their door opened.
When I went to the front room, I looked out the window and saw a figure crouching down that looked a lot like mom. Slipping on my weapon belt, I walked out and headed to where the figure crouched. Approaching her slowly, I could hear her cries as she had her head in her hands.
"Mom?" I called to her softly, keeping a distance as I watched her wipe at her eyes and hide something behind her back. She slipped on her pants and stood up straight as she turned to me.
"Hey baby girl...I was just...out here...doing a number 1," she informs me as she didn't look me in the eyes. I got up close to her, seeing the knife and then her hands behind her back.
"Mom...what's going on?" I asked her curious as to why she would be out here alone, taking a piss when she could be inside doing that or in the RV. The only protection she had was the knife that was dug into a wooden log beside her.
"Nothing," she lied and her eyes were wide as she looked up at me.
"Mom...don't lie to me," I tell her. "You expect me to believe that? You could have gone to the toilet at the farmhouse, you could go into the RV and do your business. Carl is fine. Dad is fine. I am fine...so why are you crying?" I asked her and she just sighed. She slipped her hand out from behind her back and gave me a white stick.
When I took it, I looked down at it and noticed what it was. A red plus symbol was on it. Everything added up now...made sense to me. She's crying, taking a piss alone and in the dark where no one would see..."You're pregnant," I whispered.
Mom started to hush me as she heard me say this. Her hair a mess and her face wet from her tears. "Please...don't say it too loud and...don't tell anyone. Please," she pleaded to me as her eyes started to pool with tears.
"You don't know who the father is...do you?" I asked her curious as to whose child could be growing inside my mom's stomach. She shook her head and began to cry silently. Grabbing onto her, I pulled her firmly to me and gently rubbed her back. Comforting her the best I could, while she gripped me tightly and sobbed into my chest...
What do you think? Did you like this chapter? Can you predict what will happen in later chapters? Can I have 5 reviews please? Do you like CPOV?
Do you hate Lori in this story? Or do you like her a little more than show Lori? In all honesty...I didn't hate Lori, I just didn't like some of the decisions she made when it came to how she cared for her husband, Shane and Carl.
Much love!
HeroJustInTime90 x
