Chapter 6:

Kids Awake

Carl didn't know where he was, the building was old and decrepit and looked like it had been set on fire at some point. Carl trod carefully… fearful that the floor would give way and he would fall though.

"Mom? Shane? Paula?" he called through the house, he heard his voice echo before he heard a bang from down the stairs.

He hit the bottom floor and looked through the house, he saw loads of expensive looking china figures and paintings, Carl didn't recognise the place at all but he was focused on the origin of the noise.

Carl followed the noise and slowly walked back into the hallway, he heard the same noise coming from just beside the front door, he reached out and felt the knob and he twisted it and was greeted by his father standing in the doorway.

"Carl…" he whispered as he knelt down, Carl tackled him at top speed and gave him a big hug.

"DAD! I thought you were dead! Mom said you died!" he said in his father's ear, his father's grip on him tightened and Carl returned the pressure, he felt safe in his Dad's arms once more and he never wanted to let him go again.

"Well son… your Mom is right." He said in a rough voice, Carl's insides froze as he pulled away from his Dad and looked him in the face, except it wasn't his face anymore but that of a walker that looked like his Dad. The left eye was hanging by a gooey thread and the skin around the mouth was missing and dripping blood, the eyes were bloodshot as he emitted a loud screech. Carl screamed and tried to run away but his father grabbed onto him tighter as he dragged Carl back to him, Carl cried out and sobbed as he tried to pull away but his Dad's grip tightened, he climbed on top of Carl and bit hard into his neck.

The whole world jumped as Carl opened his eyes, he nearly screamed before he realised where he was, in the bed at the motel. He felt hot tears stream his face and mix with the cold sweat but he fought the rest back. He was a big boy now… nearly 12, past the age where he could cry to his Mom and get a comforting hug.

Come to think of it…

The space next to him where his Mom should be was empty, the covers flung back. Carl nearly called out to Shane but he saw the empty space on the couch where he should be. For a terrifying minute he thought the left him there… but he knew his Mom would never do that to him.

Carl climbed out of the bed slowly, trying not to make any noise; he heard faint voices coming from the en-suite and deduced his Mom and Shane were in there. He pressed his ear to the door and the voices became clearer.

"Shane I don't know if we can keep going…" his mother fretted but Shane talked over her.

"Lori we promised Paula we would; besides I know we left food and supplies at your house and Carl wants to go there." Carl tensed at the mention of his name.

"I don't want to put him in danger…"

"You won't. I will protect him you know I will."

"But what happens if you die, or if I die? He has lost his dad I don't want him to loose us as well."

"You know I don't want to lose you either… Lori you know how much I care about him… and how much I care about you..."

"Shane don't! Not know!"

"It's true though Lor…"

The conversation had happened in less than 12 seconds but Carl already felt like he shouldn't be listening to this conversation, he pushed away from the door and crept back to the bed and climbed inside the covers. He thought of a life without Shane or his Mom… He would have to stay with Paula, Carol, Sophia and unfortunately Ed… He remembered his Dad for the second time that night and felt the bubble of fear and sadness expand within him. He had gotten over the crying a day after he heard his Dad was dead but it still burned within him.

He heard the voices die down and the door open slowly; Carl closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep as he felt his Mom climb into bed beside him.

He thought about what he heard but decided not to think too much about it… He wanted to sleep since he knew he would be tired the next day if he didn't sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sophia hated it when she was the first person to wake up, it wasn't that bed when she was at home but whenever she was at an aunty or uncle's house or at a friend's house she would have to wait awkwardly until somebody else wakes up until she could do anything.

She looked to her left and saw her Mom fast asleep, it had been years since Sophia had slept in the same bed as her, her Mom always told her not to come into her room when her Dad was home since he didn't like being woken up. On the couch Paula was asleep was well, Sophia hadn't really spoken to her properly since they met but she seemed nice when they placed rock-paper-scissors on the bed the night before.

Sophia slipped out the bed quietly, she tip-toed to the covered window and checked outside, the parking lot was completely clear and Sophia felt a bit sick, she wanted to open the window but she looked down to see a lock on the latch… Why the motel would lock it was beyond her but she needed air to settle her upset tummy.

Sophia quickly changed into her day clothes she wore the day before, if she was caught she didn't want to be in her frilly, white nightie.

She looked behind her to her Mom, she didn't want to wake her up and she would only be outside for a few minutes. She unlocked the door quietly and opened it; she grabbed a table-cloth off the side and used it to keep the door open. She looked around her nervous but there was no-one outside at all, it seemed that the walkers hadn't come like Mom said they would. She could still see the RV at the bottom of the stairs.

Sophia turned to her left and saw the room where Carl, Lori and Shane were staying, she remembered meeting them in the highway and how funny Carl was. She was glad to have someone to talk to who wasn't her Mom.

Sophia felt better almost immediately in the fresh air and decided to have a quick peek inside Carl's room before going back to hers, she saw a small gap between the drapes and she squinted to see through them. She saw something moving in there and it took a moment before she saw that it was in fact Carl. Her heart leapt as she realised someone else was up but it soon came crashing down when she realised she couldn't signal him without probably waking up Lori or Shane. Whenever they were awake Lori would just fawn over him and never leave them alone, something which annoyed Sophia since she didn't like talking near adults, she was taught that she was supposed to be seen and not heard if anything.

The boy inside seemed to be in the same state she was, in his day clothes but bound by his parents sleeping. Sophia feebly waved from behind the frilly drapes but he didn't see. Breathing deeply she tapped the window and he turned around shocked, he saw her and smiled, he moved to the door and opened it quickly poking his head out.

"Hey." He greeted.

"Hey." She answered with a smile; he looked behind him and slipped out closing the door behind him quietly. They stood awkwardly together outside once they realised they had nothing to do.

"Soooo… What you wanna do?" he asked feebly, he awkwardly shuffled his weight from one foot to the other.

"I dunno. Wanna play truth or dare?" she asked innocently, Carl smiled.

"Yeah! I rule at this game, you won't win." He said confidently, his smugness fuelled Sophia's competitiveness.

"Okay then Carl but don't be so cocky. You go first."

"Okay, truth or dare?"

There was a moment of silence as Sophia pondered the options.

"Truth."

"Okay… You ever cheat on a test?" he asked, she giggled at the feeble question but answered truthfully.

"Never! I don't like cheating… I get scared the teachers will catch me so I always back out. Ok you're turn… Truth or dare?" she asked, Carl's face rearranged in an expression of deep thought before answering.

"I will do truth as well."

"Um… You ever try and run away from home?" she asked, Carl's face expressed puzzlement.

"No. Never wanted to run away from home. Your turn, truth or dare?" he asked, Sophia was a bit shocked by his answer but decided to keep things simply in order to win.

"Truth again."

"Okay…" Carl seemed at loss for question before his face split into a cheeky grin, "You ever kissed a boy?" he asked cheekily. Sophia felt her face start to burn as she mumbled an answer.

"Um… No I don't have a boyfriend…" she mumbled and she saw Carl begin to giggle hearing this, Sophia decided to turn the tables.

"Okay then wise-guy what about you? You ever kissed a girl?" she asked and the smile slid off his face.

Ah the tables have turned.

"I didn't say truth or dare." He complained.

"Okay then truth or dare?" she asked politely.

"Dare." He said immediately.

"Steal Shane's gun and shoot the RV's windscreen." She challenged. Carl's eyes widened.

"Sophia! You know I can't do that!" he whined, Sophia smiled as her plan fell into place.

"Well then you choose truth then and you answer my question." She said, Carl's face twisted in an annoyed look and she knew he knew that he was defeated; his answer was quiet and filled with embarrassment.

"Um… No... I haven't kissed a girl before…" in the same feeble tone as Sophia, his face was turning the shade of red Sophia was sure hers was a few moments ago. Sophia giggled and punched Carl in the arm, he gave her an annoyed look and punched her back equally and the embarrassment was forgotten as they both laughed.

"Hey you wanna go for a walk?" Carl asked her, she cast a worried look to her Mom's room and had an idea.

"One second." She said and she darted inside, she found the complementary notepad and pen and scrawled a message on the page.

Good Morning Mom,

Me and Carl went for a walk around the motel, we checked and there are no walkers in the parking lot, we won't go far don't worry.

Love you

Sophia xxx

She left the message next to her Mom's pillow and closed the door behind her as she walked next to Carl. They walked slowly along the upper floor careful not to make too much noise; they decided to walk along the upper floor then around to where the RV was parked at the bottom of the staircase then go back up to their rooms and hope their parent were up. Sophia watch said it was only 7:13 so they had some time.

"So what was your life like before the walkers came?" Carl asked innocently, Sophia decided to be honest.

"It wasn't very good. I went to this middle school which was weird… It was connected to the high school by the cafeteria and it was painted weird mismatching colours. I had a few friends there but no best friends… Dad wouldn't let me have people over…" she said and she saw Carl nod at the apparently adequate story. "What about you?" she asked him.

"I lived in King County, the place where we are going, and I didn't like my school either. I had a few friends there and I lived with my Mom and Dad, I saw Shane a lot but Mom and Dad used to argue… and I mean they argued a lot, they always shouted as well." He explained, Sophia felt bad for him since she understood his pain, Mom and Dad often argued at her house… Although her Dad usually argued and her Mom just apologised… He never listened though…

"Sophia?" Carl's voice jolted her back to reality, she realised she had stopped walking. She then realised a single tear had started to form on her cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked but Sophia just walked past him, her Dad had taught her that no-one wanted to see a crying woman, let alone a man. She wiped the tear away and carried on walking ahead of Carl until he caught up with her.

"Hey are you okay?" he asked and Sophia felt the tears creep up again. She spoke in a shaky voice.

"Yes I am. I am just thinking about home and stuff…" she lied, she hated lying and Mom always taught her it was a sin.

"You sure? You look like you are gonna cry." He said, he had a fair point and even though she was using every muscle in her body to stop her eyes from watering but it wasn't working and she felt the all-to-familiar sensation of crying. She sat down on the bottom of the steps she has just descended and let the cry loose. Carl sat beside her and put an awkward arm around her, she appreciated the contact and it made it easier. Whenever she was sad at home Mom would put an arm around her and let her cry it out and Carl was doing the same thing, she put her head in her arms and willed all the tears to go away. She felt embarrassed to cry in front of Carl but she continued until her eyes felt dry…

It took minutes until she felt safe to rise from her arms, she looked at the boy beside her and there was an awkward moment when his arm was still around her before he cleared his throat and withdrew it. However the issue of what to say next was broken by the sound of Lori's voice.

"Carl?! CARL?!" the woman leant over the railing a floor above them as Shane came out behind her carrying his gun. Carl and Sophia stood quickly and waved as they took a step apart. Lori saw them and nudged Shane as Sophia's Mom came out of her room.

The look on their faces weren't happy ones.