Prologue
Glenn
"Carl!"
Glenn heard Rick's voice call through the noises of the crowd. He smashed the dull blade of his machete into a skull and turned around. The whole place was filled with dirty smoke. His eyes watered as he scanned the mob of humans and walkers mixed together into a sweaty mess. There were no clear lines of bodies, only faded shapes swaying back and forth in the open field. There was fire everywhere, flames reaching high up to the dark sky in the background.
Glenn swallowed a lump in his throat when he spotted Rick. The guy was on his feet and furiously firing at a head after another, eyes focusing aimlessly. Glenn called his name and Rick turned.
"Where's Carl?" Rick shouted at him from a distance. Glenn, after bringing down another walker, scanned the field once more.
"Can't see him!" he replied. His voice felt weak as he broke into a run, making his way towards the Old House. "He must be inside!"
Rick hollered something at him but he couldn't make anything of it, his heartbeat thumping too loud in his ears. Carl had to be alright. He had to, because Rick was a wreck already and if he lost his mind, Glenn would be left alone losing his own, trying to keep this group alive. He wouldn't allow it.
He went up the front steps two at a time, all while ignoring the growing aches in his body. He opened the door to the house and found Carl with the gun bag hanging from a shoulder, about to step outside. "Glenn, thank God…" a relieved sigh escaped the boy's lips. Glenn ran a shaky hand through his sweaty hair as the noises came back, a bit quieter now than earlier. He could actually breathe again. "Dad?"
"He's fine. Fighting the last of the walkers outside." Yeah, Rick was fine; but as he turned around and faced the now calm field, full of rotten bodies, he couldn't relax. The scene he had in front of him was pitiful. The surprise attack had cost them too many of their people. Rick's people. Hell, Glenn's people.
"Come on, Glenn," Rick was suddenly next to him, his gun tucked back to his belt, but he wasn't smiling. In fact, there was nothing showing in those eyes other than exhaustion. "Let's secure this place."
Glenn nodded and obeyed, following Rick towards the gate.