We had been walking for what seemed like forever. There hadn't been that many walkers around, a couple here and there but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle. I could tell that Judith was getting tired, she had started to fall behind and I could hear her groaning. "My feet hurt Carl, can we go back now?" she moaned, stopping before sitting on the ground. I walked over to my sister, kneeling beside her. "We can't go home Jude, it's not safe anymore, do you understand that?" I asked. She looked at me with her bright eyes, they were just as blue as mine are. "But..." She began but I couldn't let her continue, I knew she was going to ask about dad. "But nothing, it's not safe and that's just the way it is". Her eyes started getting watery and I knew it was mostly because she was tired, and she, understandably wanted her father, as did I. "Come here, ride on my back for a while" I said, pulling her up from the ground and helping her onto my back. She wasn't that heavy, and even though I was tired too, I managed to walk for another mile or so before I decided that we would have to stop for the night. I was almost completely dark and it would be safe to continue until morning. Unfortunately I hadn't found an abandoned house to take shelter in so using what my dad had taught me, I climb a decent looking tree with a wide branch that I could sit on and then helped Judith up. We would be somewhat safe up here for the night, that is of course, if we don't fall down.
I woke with the sun the next day. Sometimes if I close my eyes I can imagine what life would be like if none of this had happened. But then I hear the growl of a walker and that fantasy ends. Judith woke shortly after I did and we continued our journey. We weren't sure where we were going, only that we had to find somewhere.
About 3 hours of walking had past when suddenly I heard the crack of a branch behind us. I spun around, but I couldn't see a walker anywhere. "Judith, get behind me" I commanded. She did it almost instantly. "Who's there" I yelled, trying to sound threatening. No answer. "Come out and show yourself or I'll start shooting. There was a rustle from behind a bush before the person who had been watching stepped forward.
To my surprise, it was a young boy; he looked about 8, maybe 9 years old. His hair was long and in brushed, his clothes look dirty and well worn. "Where are your parent's? Are you lost?" I asked. The boy took another step closer and smiled, before running in the opposite direction. "Hey! Wait where are you going?!" I shouted after him, all I could think was maybe, just maybe, he had a safe place to live and maybe, Judith and I could join. "Come on Judith!" I said running after the boy holding on to my sister's hand.
Suddenly the boy stopped in the middle of a clearing and turned to face us. "Where did you come from" I asked again. The boy looked up and I followed his line of vision.
My heart almost stopped when I saw the guns pointed at us.