Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead
Lost Hope: The Beginning
Chapter Five
We watched from the roof as Rick and Glenn made their way through the walkers towards the construction site. Rick's plan seemed to be working because they had not yet been chewed to pieces. Then we heard thunder.
"That can't be good." I said looking at the others with concern. "If it rains, do you think it would wipe the walker scent off them?"
"Let's hope not." Jacqui replied.
(Atlanta group. Carl's Pov.)
Since my dad's been gone, Shane has been spending a lot of time with me. Right now he was sitting on the rock beside me trying to teach me how to tie knots. I enjoy his company. He is fun to be around and it helps me forget about my dad. Then we hear the radio go off with someone's voice on the other end. Shane got up and walked over to the radio. The voice was T-Dog's.
"Hello? Can anyone hear me?" I heard him speak through the radio.
"Hello? Reception is bad on this end, but we can hear you." Dale replied holding the walkie-talkie.
"Shane, is that you?" T-Dog asked.
"Is that them?" Mom asked Dale. He responded by holding up a finger.
"We are trapped in the department store. There are walkers everywhere; hundreds of them. We are surrounded." T-Dog said. Then we lost connection. Everyone looked around at each other worried. Then we heard thunder.
"He said the department store." Mom said.
"That's what I heard to." Dale replied.
"We got to go and help them." I spoke up. My mom was thinking the same thing and was looking at Shane for a response.
"No, we can't risk the rest of the group. It's too dangerous." Shane replied.
"So we are just going to leave her there?" Amy said referring to her sister Andrea.
"She knew the risk. Now there is nothing we can do." Shane replied sadly.
Amy walked away angry and my mom was turned to walk away to. I could tell she was frustrated and wanted to help the others. Shane sadly put his hand on my head and we began to walk after my mom.
(Back at department building. Erin's Pov.)
"Dang it, we lost connection!" T-Dog said banging his fist on the ground.
"Don't worry if Rick's plan works, we will be back with them soon." Jacqui told him.
"But what if it doesn't?" Andrea said getting frustrated and nervous.
"It's working so far." Jacqui told her. "They are already half way there."
We looked down at where they were and saw that she was right. I felt a little more hope inside of me, but it didn't last long because it started to pour.
"Oh no…" Andrea muttered nervously.
I looked at the two on the street, anxiety beginning to replace the hope that was left. Walkers surrounded them and the guts would soon be starting to wash off. The others took turns with the binoculars to check on the two every once in a while. They seemed alright for now, but that wouldn't last long.
My hair began to stick to my face as the rain continued to pour down. I opened my bag and grabbed a hair tie that must have been in the bag from earlier because I didn't remember packing it. I pulled my wet hair back and out of my face and tied it into a bun.
Rick and Glenn continued to walk through the herd of walkers. Luckily the smell hadn't been wiped off them quite yet. The anxiety in my chest began to build.
"Maybe the rain cloud will pass over really quickly." Morales said trying to stay hopeful.
Then I saw a walker run at Rick, but he was quicker and smashed his head with the axe. They started running followed by the big group of walkers. They used the axe and crow bar to beat any that got too close.
"Come on, come on, come on." Morales pleaded under his breath. "Yes, they're almost there!"
I saw them leap the fence to the construction site and felt the hope come back.
"They made it!" I yelled.
"Go down stairs and wait for us down there." Jacqui instructed. I nodded and headed for the stairs.
"Holy….the walkers took down the fence." I heard Morales say as. I stopped and turned back towards them nervous. Jacqui gestured for me to continue down the stairs. I turned back towards the stairs and began climbing down with my back pack strapped to my back. I saw Jacqui, Andrea, and Morales come down the stairs carrying their bags.
"To the garage!" Morales said pushing me on forward with the others following.
"Where is T-Dog and Merle?" I asked them as we reached the garage.
"They're coming." Andrea told me as she and Jacqui grabbed the chains that opened the garage door so that they were ready for when Rick and Glenn came back. Then we heard a loud car siren. It got closer till it sounded like it was right outside and then it began to get farther away.
"What are they doing? They're going to draw more of them here!" Andrea said panicking a little.
"The walkers broke through!" T-Dog said as he came running in. Then we heard a knock at the door and they pulled the chains opening the garage door. Rick was standing there with a small moving truck. We throw our bags into the back of the vehicle and climb in. I jumped in the passenger seat next to Rick as he began to drive off. Morales shut the back of the moving truck and they all sat back and sighed out of relief.
"We made it. We made it." I said trying to catch my breath. Then I put my hand on Rick's shoulder. "Thank-you." Rick nodded in reply. I looked in the back and noticed Merle wasn't there and neither was Glenn.
"Where is…." I started to ask but I was interrupted by T-Dog saying that he dropped the key. "What about Glenn?" I turned towards Rick.
"He's…" Before Rick could finish answering we heard the car siren that we had heard earlier. I looked out the window and saw a red dodge challenger with Glenn driving it. He looked thrilled and was cheering happily as passed us up and went ahead.
"I think he's fine." Rick finished as he chuckled a little. I laughed a bit too. We continued to drive away from the city. I hope that I never have to go back there again.
"You are like a miracle." I told him.
"A miracle, huh? He asked me chuckling a little more.
"Yeah. You've been in so many close encounters, in which other normal people probably wouldn't have survived, and then you survive every one of them." I said beaming. "Next thing we know you will be finding your missing wife and kid perfectly fine and alive."
"I hope so." Rick said.
"Everything happens for a reason, and it's a miracle you have survived this long. Maybe it's so that you can get back to them to protect them, or protect us." I told him continuing to smile.
"Maybe." Rick said putting his hand on my shoulder. "You remind me of my son, Carl."
I laughed. "How so?"
"Your personality is similar to his. Both of you are very friendly, not shy, always wanting to help." He told me.
"I'm sure you will find them really soon." I told him and looked out the window as we continued down the road.
"So where is your group at?" Rick asked the others in the back.
"It's coming up in a few more miles. Just follow Glenn in." Morales told him.
I was nervous about meeting the rest of the group. I didn't know any of them and the circumstances were not very good ones. I didn't have any more family in the world. I was alone. I guess I can try to become like family to the others, but it won't ever be the same and it would be a bit awkward. I guess Rick doesn't know any of them either so maybe I will stick with him.
(Atlanta Group. Carl's Pov.)
"The more you fidget the longer it's going to take, so sit still." My mom told me as she cut my hair. I was not enjoying this at all. Shane was sitting across from us polishing his gun.
"I'm trying." I told her annoyed.
"Well, try harder." Mom told me.
"Think this is bad; just wait till you start shaving. You will be wishing for one of your mom's haircuts." Shane told me laughing.
"I'll believe that when it happens." I said sarcastically.
"I'll tell you what, if you get through this with at least some manly dignity, tomorrow I will teach how to catch frogs." Shane said smirking.
"I've caught a frog before." I told him remembering the time back at school when I had caught a frog and was running around chasing screaming girls with it.
"Frogs, plural. It is an art, my friend, and it is not to be taken lightly." Shane told me. "I can tell you all my secrets to catching frogs."
"So why do we need to catch frogs, plural?" I asked.
"Have you ever eaten frog legs?" he asked me.
"Ewww." I cringed.
"No, Yummm."
"No he's right, ewww." My mom said sounding disgusted as she continued cutting my hair.
"When you get down to that last can of beans you will be loving those frog legs, lady."
"I doubt that." She said laughing.
"We would be heroes, Carl, and feed these folk. They will be eating Cajun style Kermit legs." Shane said sticking his chest out.
"I rather eat Miss Piggy." My mom mumbled I look back at her with a strange look. "Yes, that came out wrong." Mom said laughing, facing my head back towards the front so that she can continue cutting my hair.
"We will be legends, Carl." Shane continued telling me how amazing we would be if we fed these people frog legs. Then we heard a car alarm blaring loudly and coming closer.
My mom stopped cutting my hair and we stood up to see what was going on. Soon enough a red car came zipping around the corner. Glenn stepped out of the car beaming.
"Holy crap, turn that thing off!" Dale shouted over the siren.
"I don't know how." Glenn said with his hands up. Shane went to the car and opened the hood while the others started booming a bunch of questions at Glenn. Shane turned the siren off as the others continued to ask questions.
Soon we saw another vehicle come around the corner; a small moving truck.
(Erin's Pov.)
Rick pulled the moving truck around the corner and we saw a bunch of people with a whole camp site set up around the area. The others in that back bounded out and began happily embracing their families and friends.
"Come on you two. Come meet everybody." Morales said to me and Rick smiling.
Rick and I slowly got out of the truck and got a better view of all the other people around, but one pair in particular caught my eye; a boy about my age and a woman who I assumed to be his mother. The boy was starting to cry out of sadness. I didn't understand, but then he turned towards Rick and his expression on his face turned from sad to surprise and happiness. I turned to Rick and saw his expression turn too. He looked like he was about to cry.
"Rick…?" but before he could reply to me he ran to the pair and hugged and kissed them. "Holy..." I said as realization kicked in. Rick had found his family. "You really are a miracle, Rick Grimes." I said under my breath.
"Oh, guys, this is Erin!" I snapped my head away from Rick and his family and saw Glenn coming towards me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to the group. "We found her alone in the city. She's a bold young girl."
Glenn brought me around and introduced me to nearly everyone except Rick's family because they were still too busy hugging each other and being overjoyed. There were a few kids my age. They all seemed to be friendly people. I really hope that I can fit in with them with them all.